months, what?”
“Since I’ve been on a real date. Five months. It was a
complete disaster set up by my partner. I could have shot him.” Cooper laughed.
“My, you jump track often?”
“It just came to me. Okay, how about you?”
“I don’t have time … I’m on the road more than I’m
home. I’m trying to keep—“
“I know, keep on-track.”
“Right.” Dallas
unsnapped her seatbelt and was out of the Jeep before Cooper had a chance to
respond.
“Dallas,
what type of vehicle is Bicsak renting?”
“I think it’s a … white van.”
“Great, here comes Romeo. How much you want to bet he
was following us?”
She glanced across the parking lot and watched him
walk toward them. “Hi. Thought you wanted to stay behind to analyze the crime
scene a bit more?”
“I decided I’d go over the evidence when it gets back
from the lab.” He held up Cooper’s evidence bag. “How about we grab an early
lunch and go over our notes, then we can get back here for that five o’clock
meeting?”
“I’m sorry, Art, I’d love to, but Cooper and I are
going to put these pictures into evidence. If we have time we might go back to
the first crime scene to check a few things out. You’re welcome to join us, but
I don’t think he should be going there alone.” Luke’s face flushed and he cast
a threatening glance at Cooper.
“You guys go ahead. I need to do some work before that
meeting. You know how I like to be prepared.”
“Catch you at the meeting, Art.” She stepped lively
after Cooper.
“I don’t think your partner is happy with your
decision. I guess if one of you has to babysit me, I’d rather it be you. You’re
better looking than he is.”
Dallas laughed. “Thanks, I think. A year … by the
way.”
“A year what?”
“Since I’ve been on a real date.” She loved how
Cooper’s laugh shot out with spontaneity.
“And I thought I was bad. Maybe Bicsak thinks you’re
playing hard to get?”
She rolled her eyes upward and shook her head.
Silently she followed Cooper through the lobby, into the elevator, then past
desks of detectives, fully aware of the attention she received. From their
expressions and postures she could feel the hostility they cast her way. She
wanted to scream, I believe he’s
innocent, just give me time to prove it.
“Hey, Cooper, can I interrogate her?”
“She’s better lookin’ than the last one you arrested.”
Cooper laughed. “Be happy to send her your way. IA
loves you smart asses.”
His comment took her by surprise and she couldn’t help
joining in on the laughter. “He has a point, boys. If you want an appointment
just let me know.” She heard several chuckles as she followed Cooper into
Captain Gulchinski’s office.
“Was wondering when I’d see you two. Come on in and
shut the door.” His loud voice bounced off the walls.
She couldn’t help wondering where the gentle, cordial
man that gave her a ride had disappeared to. She sat in a chair next to Cooper,
facing the large desk and man.
“I heard about your B&B, Dallas. I’m not happy
about this.”
“Can’t say I’m too happy about it either. I think it
was a warning. I just don’t know what I’m being warned about … or what I’m
supposed to wear. I lost everything.”
“Maybe we should take you off the investigation.
There’s no use taking the chance this killer has his sights on you. Serial
killers may have a profound personality disorder, but don’t kid yourself,
they’re keenly aware of their own criminality and certainly aren’t out of touch
with reality.”
“I don’t agree,” Dallas
said. “I mean, I agree with your hypothesis, but I don’t agree I should be
taken off the case. I don’t know if the man in my room was the killer or not.
He may have been someone the killer sent, but for whatever reason, this madman
has made a connection with me.”
“I concur.” Cooper leaned back in his chair. “Besides,
Dallas has
“Since I’ve been on a real date. Five months. It was a
complete disaster set up by my partner. I could have shot him.” Cooper laughed.
“My, you jump track often?”
“It just came to me. Okay, how about you?”
“I don’t have time … I’m on the road more than I’m
home. I’m trying to keep—“
“I know, keep on-track.”
“Right.” Dallas
unsnapped her seatbelt and was out of the Jeep before Cooper had a chance to
respond.
“Dallas,
what type of vehicle is Bicsak renting?”
“I think it’s a … white van.”
“Great, here comes Romeo. How much you want to bet he
was following us?”
She glanced across the parking lot and watched him
walk toward them. “Hi. Thought you wanted to stay behind to analyze the crime
scene a bit more?”
“I decided I’d go over the evidence when it gets back
from the lab.” He held up Cooper’s evidence bag. “How about we grab an early
lunch and go over our notes, then we can get back here for that five o’clock
meeting?”
“I’m sorry, Art, I’d love to, but Cooper and I are
going to put these pictures into evidence. If we have time we might go back to
the first crime scene to check a few things out. You’re welcome to join us, but
I don’t think he should be going there alone.” Luke’s face flushed and he cast
a threatening glance at Cooper.
“You guys go ahead. I need to do some work before that
meeting. You know how I like to be prepared.”
“Catch you at the meeting, Art.” She stepped lively
after Cooper.
“I don’t think your partner is happy with your
decision. I guess if one of you has to babysit me, I’d rather it be you. You’re
better looking than he is.”
Dallas laughed. “Thanks, I think. A year … by the
way.”
“A year what?”
“Since I’ve been on a real date.” She loved how
Cooper’s laugh shot out with spontaneity.
“And I thought I was bad. Maybe Bicsak thinks you’re
playing hard to get?”
She rolled her eyes upward and shook her head.
Silently she followed Cooper through the lobby, into the elevator, then past
desks of detectives, fully aware of the attention she received. From their
expressions and postures she could feel the hostility they cast her way. She
wanted to scream, I believe he’s
innocent, just give me time to prove it.
“Hey, Cooper, can I interrogate her?”
“She’s better lookin’ than the last one you arrested.”
Cooper laughed. “Be happy to send her your way. IA
loves you smart asses.”
His comment took her by surprise and she couldn’t help
joining in on the laughter. “He has a point, boys. If you want an appointment
just let me know.” She heard several chuckles as she followed Cooper into
Captain Gulchinski’s office.
“Was wondering when I’d see you two. Come on in and
shut the door.” His loud voice bounced off the walls.
She couldn’t help wondering where the gentle, cordial
man that gave her a ride had disappeared to. She sat in a chair next to Cooper,
facing the large desk and man.
“I heard about your B&B, Dallas. I’m not happy
about this.”
“Can’t say I’m too happy about it either. I think it
was a warning. I just don’t know what I’m being warned about … or what I’m
supposed to wear. I lost everything.”
“Maybe we should take you off the investigation.
There’s no use taking the chance this killer has his sights on you. Serial
killers may have a profound personality disorder, but don’t kid yourself,
they’re keenly aware of their own criminality and certainly aren’t out of touch
with reality.”
“I don’t agree,” Dallas
said. “I mean, I agree with your hypothesis, but I don’t agree I should be
taken off the case. I don’t know if the man in my room was the killer or not.
He may have been someone the killer sent, but for whatever reason, this madman
has made a connection with me.”
“I concur.” Cooper leaned back in his chair. “Besides,
Dallas has
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