Faceless (Sinister Secrets Book 2), Candle Sutton [dar e dil novel online reading txt] 📗

Dak choked on his pizza. “Pete?” He rasped. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “From SWAT? Caiden’s friend?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”

He took a swig of the root beer she’d offered. “No. Of course not. I didn’t realize you two were a thing.”

What did he care? She studied his face, but he seemed nonchalant. Definitely a little surprised, but not bothered. “We’re not a thing. We’re friends. We meet up most Fridays at that pub down by the waterfront to play pool.”

The pub was a popular choice amongst law enforcement. There was always a dozen or so police officers in there, playing pool or darts and tossing back drinks.

“Does he know that?” Dak stared at her for a moment. “I’ve known Pete a long time. He’s not normally one to be happy hanging in the friends zone.”

“He knows. I made it clear from the start that I don’t date law enforcement.” Sure, he still flirted shamelessly, but it was all in fun.

Right?

She’d have to pay close attention next time they were together. Make sure he knew where he stood. She’d never been one to lead anyone on and she wouldn’t start now.

“Good. I’d hate for Thanksgiving to be awkward this year if you two had a falling out.” Dak grinned. “Although it might make for a highly competitive basketball game.”

“We’re taking them down this year.” Last year’s game had been close. “If we can get Sid out on the court over the next few months, maybe we can give him some pointers.”

Dak’s rich laugh filled the room. “I don’t think all the pointers in the world will help him. He’s a lost cause.”

Could be true. She remembered well his lack of grace on the court last year.

They finished eating and she plopped the plates in the dishwasher. “I was thinking of cueing up a movie. You want to hang around for a while?”

Dak spread his hands on the counter and leaned forward. “Make it a comedy and you’re on.”

Warmth spread through her chest. Good. Even though she hadn’t wanted the chaos of the pub tonight, it was nice to have a friend around.

And even nicer that there didn’t seem to be any strain between them.

Now she needed to make sure to keep it that way.

₪   ₪   ₪

Tio scanned the communication he’d received from Russ.

Yesterday’s urgent request had contained a very specific, somewhat rare list of requirements, but Russ had located a good match.

Tio pulled up his email and tapped out a response, including an inflated price.

The offer would be accepted. The uniqueness of the situation and the wealth of the requesting party almost ensured it.

He looked up from the classic sitcom as his longtime girlfriend walked into the room, her slinky satin nightgown sending a clear message. “You coming up to bed soon?”

Her tone contained no condemnation at his working late, only an invitation to quit for the night.

“In a few minutes, babe. Let me clean up down here.”

She nodded and turned, silently padding down the hallway to their bedroom.

It was time to call it a night. He reached for the empty beer bottle on the table as he rose.

A ding signaled an incoming message.

Offer accepted.

No surprise there. Now, he had to acquire the object.

He brought up Zane’s number and placed the call.

Zane answered on the second ring.

“We’ve got another one. Have your guys at the warehouse by ten tomorrow morning for instructions.”

He had two missions for them. First, fulfill the customer’s request. Second, find out more about the mystery woman Mitch had been meeting.

If Mitch had told him the truth, which he seriously doubted, then maybe he could trust Mitch enough to let him in on the business.

If Mitch had lied, then little option existed. Mitch would have to be eliminated. Along with the mysterious blonde woman from the coffee shop.

Ten

Monday morning dawned clear. The sun glared off her windshield as Kevyn drove toward the heart of downtown.

It’d been a quiet weekend. No new abductions, at least not that she’d heard about, and she definitely would have heard if a new one had come in.

She’d spent the weekend putting in her yard and her lower back protested the time spent hunched over. At least she’d gotten all the weeds out, the ground prepped, and grass seed planted. It wasn’t the best time of year to lay seed, but it should still take.

The ringing of her phone competed with the music crooning from her speakers. Spinning the volume dial all the way down, she answered on Bluetooth.

Calls on the way to work weren’t usually a good thing.

“We have another abduction.” Dak’s announcement confirmed her suspicions. “Meet me at the scene.”

He told her where it was and she quickly adjusted course.

This abduction had not occurred downtown as the other three had. No, it happened at a restaurant north of downtown, a good twenty minute drive from the previous abductions. Twenty minutes if traffic was light.

Right now, it’d take her at least thirty minutes to get there.

When she arrived, she found a police cruiser and an unmarked sedan, as well as the forensics team, already on site. Dak stood in the center of the action. Felicia and JD had joined him, but there was no sign of Sid’s red hair.

At least she wasn’t the last to arrive.

An old red beater of a car appeared to be the epicenter. The driver’s door yawned open, as if the owner had simply forgotten something inside the building. There was something on the ground by the open driver’s door, but she was too far away to clearly make it out.

Two uniformed officers stood beside the car, along with a plainclothes detective. The same detective she’d met at the