Locked in Temptation Read online

  Joy’s smile widened when she thought of the blossoming friendship between her, Margo and Randi. They decided to get together for lunch and a spa day the next time Randi was in town. They even discussed the possibility of a girls’ night out. It had been a long time—probably not since college—since she’d hung out with women other than her mother and sister.

  When Stonewall had taken her home he had spent the night. No surprise there given the sexual chemistry that continued to burn between them. Even when Margo and Randi had teased her about it, it hadn’t bothered her like she’d assumed it would. She had been more than relaxed around his friends. Other than congratulating her about her work and saying how awful it was about that pharmacist and doctor, no one pried about her work. Without knowing they were doing so, they had shown her there was life beyond work and you didn’t have to bring work home with you.

  Sunday morning she’d awakened to breakfast in bed. The last time she remembered that happening was when she’d come down with the mumps at ten and her mother had kept her in bed but had made her favorite pancakes for her.

  While she slept Stonewall had left to grab muffins, coffee and bacon from a deli on the corner. He’d joined her in bed to nibble on bacon and muffins and drink coffee. After breakfast he had talked her into a walk around her neighborhood, and she was glad. She’d seen things she’d not noticed before. Like the construction of a new library a few blocks away and several new mom-and-pop restaurants. The house just a few doors down that had been vacant for months now had new owners. When had that happened?

  Being outside and walking the neighborhood made her realize what she missed when leaving to go to work at sunup and not returning until after dark. The world moved on without her. A part of her tried not to feel guilty about it or dwell on those things she’d missed by convincing herself that she always had to be somewhere keeping the world safe.

  Her thoughts shifted to Stonewall and how he’d dominated this weekend. Not that she was complaining. For lunch they had devoured leftovers from Saturday’s cookout. After making love to her, he’d left her Sunday evening with a lot to think about. Going to the cookout was one thing, but she still hadn’t decided what place he had, if any, in her life. He was becoming more than a diversion, and she wasn’t certain how to deal with it.

  His grandmother’s wise words ran through her mind on a loop, though. It was something she figured he believed—that at some point what they shared would become a relationship, as a matter of course. She couldn’t dismiss or deny their chemistry. That was for sure. Considering the pleasure aches in her body after a weekend of intense lovemaking, she didn’t want to dismiss or deny it.

  She turned at the sound of the knock on her door. Having an office would take some getting used to. “Come in.”

  Chief Harkins walked in and glanced around before he looked over at her. “Glad to see you’ve moved in already. I meant to swing by on Friday but had a dentist appointment.”

  “No problem. Everything is going great so far.”

  He nodded. “I heard about that double homicide on Friday. Sad situation. Any leads?”

  “Not yet. Acklin and I are meeting with Sykes around ten to compare notes. Then I’m meeting with the ME at noon.” Tyrel Sykes was a detective in the Felony Department and had investigated the robbery at Skinners Pharmacy Friday night.

  Chief Harkins nodded. “Keep me apprised of what’s happening with that one. The city expects us to find the persons responsible and bring them to justice. The last thing we want is for pharmacists to begin arming themselves against possible robberies.”

  “I agree.”

  “And what about that Clay case? Any updates on that?”

  Joy told him about her and Sanchez’s visit with Oliver Effington and what he’d let slip about Mandy Clay’s hair color. “It might be nothing, but I plan to check out a few things. I have a gut feeling he knows more than he’s admitting to.”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me. Get with Taren. She’s good at what she does.” Taren Corker was the department’s technical analyst and could do research on just about anything or anyone.

  “I have a meeting with her today, as well.”

  Harkins chuckled. “Sounds like you’re going to be quite busy today. Remember what I said. Learn to balance work and your personal life, Lieutenant Ingram.”

  She thought about what she’d done over the weekend, specifically the time shared with Stonewall. A part of her could admit at least she was trying.

  * * *

  “HEY, MAN, JUDGING from your droopy eyes I would think you didn’t get much rest this weekend.”

  Stonewall shook his head as he stepped back and let his friend inside his home. “You’re a long way from Alexandria, aren’t you, Drew?” Like Striker and Quasar, Andrew Logan was someone he’d met at Glenworth Penitentiary. He had gotten out a few of years ahead of them after being exonerated, and now he was a detective for the police department in Alexandria.

  “Was passing through and decided to stop and see the little princess.”

  A smile touched Stonewall’s lips. He knew Drew was referring to Shep’s daughter. It was hard to believe with three sons of his own and after mentoring so many young men, Shep had a baby daughter. “Did you see her?”

  “Yes. Shep’s a proud dad and Carson a happy mom. I can’t think of two more deserving people.”

  Stonewall had to agree with him. “I was about to grab breakfast. Want to join me?”

  “Sure, why not?” Drew said, removing his jacket and exposing the Glock he wore in a shoulder holster. Stonewall thought it was amazing how far all of them had come from the days they’d been considered hardened criminals. Drew had given the wardens hell. He’d pretty much given Shep hell as well, but Shep had refused to give up on him.

  “So what’s with the tired eyes, Stonewall?” Drew asked again as he followed him into the kitchen and sat at the table.

  “You’re imagining things,” Stonewall said, going over to the stove.

  “And you’re stalling.”

  Stonewall glanced over his shoulder. Leave it to Drew to have that don’t-bullshit-me look on his face. Some things never changed, but then some things did. Not only did they change but they were full of surprises. Drew going into law enforcement was one of them. Who would have thought a man who hated cops would become one? But then, Stonewall could say the same about himself. He’d disliked cops as well, although not to the same degree Drew had. Yet here Stonewall was, dating one. At least, he figured they were dating, although he’d taken her out only once. The rest of the times had been spent at her place or his, mainly in their bedrooms. He needed to fix that.

  “I’m waiting, Courson.”

  Stonewall turned and sat, placing two plates on the table. “I would say interrogation isn’t your style, but it is.”

  “And since you know that, just answer the question.”

  Stonewall had to remember the man was his friend. There was nothing the two wouldn’t do for each other. Shep had made damn sure of that. As long as it was legal. Shep made sure of that, as well. “Busy weekend. Striker had a cookout Saturday. You know how it is when the three of us get together. We played cards well into the night.”

  “Hmm, and their women let them do that?”

  “Okay, so it wasn’t well into the night, but I had a busy weekend nonetheless.”

  “Evidently. I understand you and the detective are an item now.”

  Stonewall didn’t have to wonder where Drew had gotten such information. Either Striker or Quasar had talked. “And what of it if we are?”

  Drew shrugged massive shoulders before he began digging into his food. “Nothing. I’ve known Joy a little longer than you. She’s a nice person. Dedicated to the job.”

  Stonewall stared at Drew. “What do you mean you’ve known Joy longer than me? I wasn’t
even aware the two of you knew each other.”

  “Of course we know each other. We’re both detectives.”

  “So you’re both detectives. But you’re in Alexandria and she’s a detective here. Before transferring here she was in—”

  “—Baton Rouge. I know. I met her years ago at a law enforcement seminar. First glance I thought she was a looker, but then I saw that engagement ring on her hand. You know I don’t impose on another man’s territory.”

  Yes, I know, and I also know the reason. “You met her that long ago?” Stonewall asked, fighting back his annoyance at knowing that Drew had met Joy before he had.

  “It’s been close to five years. I was equally attracted to her friend who didn’t have a ring on her finger. She’s the one I ended up spending most of my time with.”

  The smirk on Drew’s face left no doubt in Stonewall’s mind just how most of that time was spent. He met Drew’s gaze. “Yes, Joy and I are an item.” He didn’t want Drew getting any ideas now that Joy no longer had an engagement ring on her finger.

  “Thanks for letting me know.”

  Stonewall chuckled, knowing he and Drew understood each other. “Don’t mention it.”

  * * *

  JOY FACED LENNOX and Detectives Acklin and Sykes. Sykes had just finished briefing her on his investigation. Both he and Acklin agreed the robberies at both pharmacies were the work of the same men. Although the two had been careful not to leave fingerprints, they had been picked up by security cameras. Only problem was that the masks they’d worn made identification impossible. There was no guarantee the two were even men. The time recorded on the security cameras indicated they had hit Skinners Pharmacy first, left there and headed to Park Ridge.

  The detectives had pulled traffic cams near both places to verify the route taken and the time. Everything fit. A black SUV in the parking lots of both places had been identified as the vehicle used in both robberies. It had also been verified from the license plate that the vehicle had been stolen. Currently police officers were on the lookout for the vehicle. The National Association of Medical Professionals was offering a fifty-thousand-dollar reward for any information, anonymous or otherwise, on the two killings.

  Joy switched her gaze from Acklin and Sykes to Lennox. “Are you ready to close the ME case on your end?”

  Lennox smiled warmly. “Umm, not exactly.”

  “Why not, exactly, Lennox?”

  Lennox tapped on her bottom lip with a manicured nail a few times. “A couple of things seem off. First, I would agree it appears both victims were caught off guard. That’s evident from the position of their bodies. Mr. Fowler had looked over his shoulder, probably to see who was coming into his area, when he was shot, which is why he was shot the way he was, in the back with his head slanted toward his shoulder. However, I’m puzzled by a few things concerning how and where Dr. Langley was shot.”

  “She was shot in the chest, right?” Acklin asked. Joy wondered if he asked because he needed clarification or he just wanted Lennox to address him directly.

  Lennox turned to Acklin, smiled and gave him her full attention. “Yes, Detective Acklin. However, the position of the bullet and the way it entered her body, as well as how her body was positioned in the doorway, indicates the person was standing directly in front of her when the shot was fired.”

  “What’s unusual about that?” Sykes asked.

  Lennox switched her attention from Acklin to Sykes. “What’s unusual about that is, the person had to have been anticipating her opening that door and was waiting for her to do so.”

  “Yes, but it’s plausible they knew she was in the office. Her car was in the parking lot, and more than likely there was a light showing beneath her door. I would think they would have anticipated someone opening that door to investigate the noise they’d made and were intent not to leave a possible witness behind,” Acklin said.

  At this point Joy had to agree with Acklin. “Chances are they did know someone was still at the office since both victims’ cars were parked in the lot. The intruders had probably sized up the situation already and knew what they were dealing with, although not whom.”

  “True,” Lennox agreed. “However, what’s been keeping me up at night is the—”

  “Something is keeping you up at night, Dr. Roswell?” Acklin asked, and Joy wondered what vision was floating through the man’s mind. Lennox up at night, pacing around her bedroom and wearing hardly anything while doing so. Joy shook her head. Thanks to her two older brothers, who’d been real players before settling down, she knew how the male mind worked.

  “Yes,” Lennox said. “When something about a case bothers me, even the smallest little thing, I tend to think it to death. Well, what’s bothering me more than anything is not so much the entry of the bullet as the mark.”

  “The mark?” Joy asked.

  “Yes, it was a direct hit to her heart at close range. When I say close, I mean close. The gunpowder samples taken from her clothes show the gun was pressed to her clothing.”

  Joy frowned. “Are you saying whoever shot Dr. Langley intentionally shot her in her heart?”

  “I can’t say if it was intentional or not. It might have been a coincidence. But I find it odd the person got that close and took aim without her having a chance to fight back. It’s like her body was at a total standstill.”

  “Probably because she was in shock,” Acklin offered. “She stepped out her office into the complex’s corridor to find a gun pointed right at her.”

  Joy now saw where Lennox was going with this. “But only if the intruder anticipated her coming out of her office. Then what happened to her and how it happened would make sense,” Joy said.

  She and Lennox made eye contact, and Joy knew they were thinking the same thing. How could the intruder anticipate such a thing?

  “I think I’ll go back over to the crime scene,” Joy said, tossing a pen on her desk.

  “I’ll go with you,” Lennox said.

  Not surprisingly, Acklin quickly stood and said, “I’ll join you two.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  “I’M GLAD YOU agreed to meet with me, Dr. Fuller. I certainly would have understood if you’ve decided not to.”

  Randi Fuller stared across the desk at the man sitting behind it, FBI special agent Tommy Felton. She clearly remembered the first time they’d met a few years ago. From the first he had refused to believe in her psychic abilities. It hadn’t mattered that she’d already assisted various police departments around the country in solving close to fifty cases, most of them unsolved murders, rapes and missing persons. Nor had it mattered to him that she’d garnered national attention when she helped federal agents on a number of cases, such as bringing to light a human trafficking ring and aiding in the rescue of a well-known senator just moments before he was to be put on a plane to Libya for his execution by ISIS. It had taken them working together on the case involving mobster Murphy Erickson that had finally made him a believer.

  Her approach to solving a crime was different than those of a number of other psychics. She didn’t just depend on her psychic abilities but also an in-depth knowledge of the case. That method was more readily accepted by the skeptics, especially those like Agent Felton who believed their way was the only way. She had the ability to work as both a behavioral analyst and a psychic investigator.

  “I understand congratulations are in order, Dr. Fuller. On your upcoming marriage.”

  Randi smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Now, down to business. We need your assistance solving the Murphy murder. You’ve reviewed the file?”

  Randi had met Murphy Erickson. Had come face-to-face with the sinister gangster. She doubted there was a more evil individual. “Yes. I see you think Erickson was killed by the person intent on taking over his territory.”

&n
bsp; “Yes. I want to think the person responsible did all of us a favor, but I have a strong feeling the man is worse than Erickson ever was.”

  Like everyone else, Randi had heard the rumor that someone new was moving in on Erickson’s territory. And it was someone with even more sinister plans than Erickson had ever come up with. Rumor was the person was going to make sure Erickson didn’t leave prison. And that’s exactly what had happened. Erickson had been found dead in his jail cell. The authorities were still clueless as to how Erickson had died. Footage from the security cam had revealed nothing. And so far the medical examiner hadn’t been able to pinpoint the cause of death, either.

  “We need your help, Dr. Fuller. I refuse to retire before this case is solved.”

  Randi mulled over what she knew and said, “I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not sure that I can help. In order to find someone’s killer, the victim has to reach out to me. I doubt if Erickson will do that. The one time I met with him, I picked up so many negative and evil vibes I could hardly stand being in the same room with him.”

  Felton nodded and she could see disappointment in his eyes. “You were our last hope. Trust me when I say we covered that cell from corner to corner, every nook and cranny. We checked out every single person who came within ten feet of his cell in the forty-eight hours before and after the murder. I’ve looked at the footage from the security camera until my eyes got crossed. I honestly don’t know how Erickson died.”