Dancing In Darkness (10 page)

On the other side of town, Nina had located Abi and her kids. They were shopping and had a basket full of items. It was a surprise for Abi to see Nina there, since it was in a completely different section of town. Nina told her, “I need you and the kids to come with me when you get through. I’ll walk with you.”

“Nina, what the hell is going on?” Abi asked quietly so as not to scare the kids or even capture their attention,

“Priscilla had a note presumably from the killer that told her she was next. We aren’t sure that they aren’t watching you as well. I know the police were going to check on you at the house, but since you aren’t there, I don’t know. Pris asked me to come check on you and bring you and the kid’s home with me. It would be a safer alternative.” Nina said.

“Oh dear God. Okay, well, I can’t really take this stuff all home then, but I do need diapers for the baby and some other things. Would it be okay to bring our groceries with us? I have nothing else to do with them.” Abi asked her. “Is Priscilla doing okay?”

“She’s fine. She is staying with a friend for now.” Nina replied.

“Good, I’m glad she has someone that she can stay with. I know it had to be hard on her not only for obvious reasons, but poor Megan.” Abi said.

“This will do her good in more ways than one I imagine. Now all we have to focus on is who in the hell is doing this and what possible motives could they have?” Nina agreed with Abi.

Getting the kids ready to go through the checkout, Abi asked Nina a serious question. “Priscilla said something quite some time ago and it never dawned on me until recently. She said something about Yvette Dornan and you having a disagreement the night you fired her. I mean it might be nothing, but at this point anything is worth taking into consideration. What do you think?”

“Good point. I hadn’t thought of that, always assumed that Yvette was more talk than anything else. I think we should call the police with even any shred of information. It might be nothing, but it could be what we were looking for.” Nina said. “Why don’t you go ahead and take care of this, I’m going to step outside and call either Det. Ward or Tony. They need to hear this. I believe she was brought up after Zena was found, but I need to stress the importance. ”

“Ms. Powalski, do you not think it would have been important to pass this on to us immediately?” Det. Ward spoke into the phone.

“Look, I didn’t think about it then. We always had little spats, but she was a damn good employee and always came back. She was just one that had to be reined in from time to time.” Nina explained to the officer.

“I’ll add this to the report and new information file. Is there anything else, I mean
anything
that you should have told us months ago?” He snipped.

“I told you months ago. There was no reason for me to believe that she could possibly be involved.” Nina replied. “If I can think of anything else I will call back.” She said, ignoring his condescending tone.

CHAPTER TEN

Sitting at his desk looking at the information that Nina Powalski had just called in, why hadn’t the woman said anything earlier? That isn’t something that you forget. Every one of them were nothing but loser strippers in his mind and nothing would change it. He held them no differently than prostitutes. Selling their bodies for money. It didn’t matter if one had sex and one didn’t. You couldn’t tell him that those women weren’t fucking someone for money. He crumbled up the piece of paper that he had written on and threw it in the trash bin. It wouldn’t make a difference, one whore wasn’t killing the other whores over being fired. There were many clubs in this city and he thought wryly that she was probably already at one of them.

When Tony came back into Homicide to pick up papers from her desk, she noticed the dark expression on his face. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing. Thinking a little, but other than that, nothing. Did they find anything in the way of fingerprints off of that note or out of that woman’s apartment?” He asked her, trying to change the subject.

“No, there were hers of course and in her apartment there were hers and a couple others, but running them it showed that they belonged to the cleaning crew that came in between tenants.” She replied. “This is too far gone. Three murders and now a direct threat to another woman. What bothers me the most is that when she gave me that note, the handwriting seemed familiar, like I had seen it before, even though I knew there was no way that I had.”

He looked up at her quizzically. “What do you mean? No, I know what you mean, but where would you have seen it?”

“That’s the thing, I have no idea.” She said.

“You are letting your brain work overtime and it’s getting to you. Let this sit for a night and chill.” He told her as he began straightening up his desk and putting papers away. It was time for him to get out of here as well.

“Hey Ward, I have a question for you. I’ve tried to answer it myself but came up with nothing.” She said to him.

“Shoot.” He replied.

“If you were this killer, why would you be killing these women and leaving them there in the park for all to see within a short time? Almost as if this guy isn’t even trying to hide them.” She asked.

Stunned into silence he had to think. “I have no idea. I would take a shot in the dark and say that he wants them to be found quickly. It’s all I got.”

Tony didn’t say anything and took his thoughts into consideration. These cases were the single most frustrating of her life. Now the city had workers in the sex industry in some fashion all up in arms about catching a serial killer that was targeting members of that community. She couldn’t find the words to give them any sort of relief from worry and she wasn’t getting any help in an official capacity from her partner. Calling it a night herself, she closed the file on her desk, shut down the laptop and tablet in front of her and walked away. Maybe Ward was right about needing to let it go for the night.

Just before seven, Adam carried a tray with dinner on it, into Priscilla’s room. She had been asleep for almost three hours. Stress only intensified exhaustion and he couldn’t fathom the stress she was under. Sitting the tray carefully on the vanity, he walked over to the bed and softly called her name. She murmured in her sleep and moved her head. He laid down next to her and started to stroke her cheek, causing her to stir. When she opened her eyes she was startled by her surroundings and by him next to her. It took her a second to remember where she was and why.

“I’m sorry to wake you, I thought you might like some dinner.” He told her.

“Thank you, that is sweet. How long have I been sleeping?” She asked, looking confused.

“Almost three hours, you obviously needed it. There are clothes in the closet for you if you would like to shower and change.” He said.

It was only then that she realized he was still stroking her cheek and hair. She liked the feel of his touch. She reached a hand out to touch his face. This is what she needed, human touch. It had been far too long and now this man lay here with her in bed.

“Don’t.” He said. “Around you I have almost no control. I fight it constantly. I’m terrified that your touch would make any boundaries go away.”

She withdrew her hand only slightly before saying “Don’t fight it.” Laying her hand across his cheek, she felt his resolve slip away.

He groaned quietly under her touch. Moving his hand from her face down to her waist he pulled her closer to him. “Priscilla. Are you sure?”

“Yes sir.” She whispered.

Those words were his undoing. He held her tightly against him as he lowered his hungry mouth to hers. His kiss deepening until their tongues met in a feverish dance. She returned his kiss just as passionately. His hand sliding up and down her body over her clothes. He sat up and pulled her with him. “Raise your arms above your head and don’t move them until I tell you to.” He demanded.

She looked at him with curious eyes as she did what she was told. With her arms up, he gripped the bottom of her shirt and lifted it straight off. The pushup bra she wore beneath defining her breasts. He watched the rise and fall of them as she breathed. Instinctively she started to lower her arms to wrap them around him.

“No. I said do not.” He commanded her.

Quickly raising her arms like she was told, she realized she did not want to disappoint him. He raised his arms to meet her hands, his fingertips trailing across her skin, finding their way to her sides, his thumbs finding the apex of her breasts. She sighed as he continued his journey. He stopped when he reached the waistband of her jeans. Waiting for the next movement, she was surprised when he turned her around so she was facing away from him. “Lower your arms.” He said.

Instead of unbuttoning her jeans he started at the nape of her neck and kissed all the way around to her shoulders. Both sides. He placed his hands across her stomach as he left a trail of kisses followed by licks, down her spine. Her heart pounded against her chest as the first chills crossed her body. Slowly covering every inch of bared skin with his mouth, he felt her give in to it all. Over her jeans he slid his hand between her legs, roughly lifting her and pulling her back against him at the same time. “I want this, this is mine.” His whispered voice breathed against her ear. She could say nothing.

Undoing the button on her jeans he began to push them down. Wiggling her hips, she worked them down to the point they slipped over her legs. As she removed the jeans from around her ankles, she felt him at the clasp on her bra. As he stood looking at her she began to unbutton his shirt slowly. Freeing it from his pants, she continued until she could push it away. Her hands returning to his chest, drawing her fingernails lazily up and down his stomach and across his ribs. Finally closing her arms around him she could feel the muscles tense in his back. Tenderly wrapping his fingers in her hair he pulled her neck back and bit into the curve between her shoulder and her neck.

She hissed in pain at the first bite and he backed away. “No don’t stop.” She begged him. He didn’t have to be told twice. Sitting on the bed in front of her he closed his arms around her hips, his hands holding her back. He looked in her eyes as he closed his mouth around the peak of her breast. Her fingers found their way into his thick hair and pulled him closer, urging him on. With her cue he closed his teeth down on her sensitive nipple. Arching her back against him she allowed her head to fall back. The sudden pinch on the other nipple caught her off guard. She gasped and stood up. He was driving her mad, all she could feel was the emotion flowing through her like molten lava. There was nothing he could do that she wouldn’t allow.

Taking her by the hand he guided her down to the bed. He slowly stood up and threw his pants in a pile on the floor. Sliding his hands inside her pink lace panties, he pushed them to her ankles and added them to the pile below him. “Are you positive this is what you want, Priscilla?”

“Yes sir.” She answered, her breathing coming quick and uneven.

It was all she had to say. He lowered himself over her and kissed her gently. His lips brushing against hers, across her eyelids and her forehead. Staring into the dark walnut colored eyes beneath him, he pushed slowly into her. She gasped and tightened her hold on his back. Yes, this is what she needed and she needed it with him. Sliding deeper and deeper inside, he felt it difficult to retain control. Her heat surrounding him was pushing him closer to the edge and this time he wanted to make it last. Buried deep inside of her he began to find his rhythm. It was something slow and sweet, blissful. No rush, no race to finish. This was perfect. Her hips matched his move for move and he could hear her moans. When she called his name it brought him that much closer. As they moved faster and harder together, they both climbed that wave of passion that was going to bring them to the edge and beyond. “Oh God, don’t stop Adam, please don’t stop. I am so close.” She cried.

Hearing her voice he grabbed her leg and pushed it back towards her chest. Everything falling into place at once, he knew that he wouldn’t last much longer and wanted to reach that point with her. She grabbed him by the hips and pulled him against her as her body tensed, her legs were trembling, her breathing erratic, the release of all the pent up stress and anxiety, followed by pure, raw sexual tension, was mind shattering for her. As she began to contract around him, all he could say was “Priscilla.” He fell into a million pieces along with her. Holding on to one another as they fell apart was an emotional moment for her. She wasn’t used to having anyone that cared enough. He wasn’t used to being so emotionally attached to anyone during sex. This wasn’t just sex, even if he didn’t want to admit it, he had made love to this woman with great passion, tenderness and love. The thought scared the shit out of him.

“Oh my God, that was excellent!” She told him as she lay there trying to catch her breath and regain the use of her limbs.

“You felt amazing.” He admitted.

The two lay on the still made bed and held each other close.

Priscilla broke the silence when she made the announcement that dinner was probably cold.

He couldn’t help but laugh. When he laughed, she did in turn as well. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she felt true happiness. Turning to face her, he kissed her softly on the forehead and told her that she would always be safe here.

Playfully smacking her on the bottom, he suggested she go shower so they could go for a walk through the grounds tonight. He had wanted to show her during the daylight, but for now they could use it for a romantic evening stroll. “What the hell is this romantic shit, Linston?” He thought to himself.

When she turned the water on for the shower, she still somewhat expected it to be only lukewarm. It wasn’t, it was hot. The entire room steamed in just a few minutes, but the water felt good. Very good. She lingered in the water as long as she dared. He wanted to show her the gardens, so she would graciously speed up her lingering in the luxurious shower.. Although she couldn’t get their lovemaking out of her head. He had felt amazing and her body was so in need of it. There would be no regrets about this one. Hell it was her first time in over a year. Battery operated toys didn’t count, only real human interaction.

Feeling refreshed and relaxed after her shower, she went to the closet to see what had been stored away for her. She was in shock when she saw not just a few things, but one entire side filled in the expansive room. It couldn’t be called a closet, it was a full size room with a dressing table and armoire in the center. There was even seating in there. She chose a pretty, floral sundress and a white lace bra and panty set to go under it. The sizes were a perfect fit, even down to the shoes. Taking a last look in the mirror, she pulled her still damp hair into a low pony tail and went to join Adam. First, she had to find him.

When she finally found him, he was having a drink in his office area. She knocked quietly on the door before entering. “You don’t have to knock, Priscilla. I told you, please, make yourself at home.” He said. “How was your shower?”

“It was fantabulous. However it came in a very distant second compared to earlier events.” She said with a wink.

“I want to talk to you for a second, I want you to know that you can tell me to stop at any time. If something hurts you or you don’t like it.” He told her.

“I would have, I promise. I won’t lie, it did hurt at first when you bit me but it was weird, it hurt and felt good all at the same time and the pain gave way to pleasure.” She stopped to think before continuing. “I don’t understand it, but I enjoyed it.”

“I’m glad you are comfortable enough to tell me that.” He said in response to her answer.

“Normally though I don’t have sex with strange men that I just met. I guess I don’t consider you a strange man that I had just met and that in itself frightens me a bit.” She admitted to him.

“Come, let’s go for our walk. It’s nice outside this evening. Would you like a glass of wine to take with you?” He asked her.

“That sounds perfect.” She smiled.

While Adam and Priscilla walked the gardens on the estate, a man was shopping at a hardware store two counties away. His purchases included rope, plastic bags, coveralls, shoe covers and bleach. This should have set off alarm bells in the clerk, but in this sleepy little town nothing happened. She didn’t even bat an eye. Rang him up, completed the transaction and sent him on his way.