Hell Is Burning Read online

  At the description, Curtis flinched.

  Emma moved to stand behind him. She placed both hands on his shoulders, and immediately he leaned back, trying to draw from her strength. When the tension was gone from his shoulders, she continued with the job.

  “What else?” she asked.

  “Again, we had to troll the boards for this one. She mentions that she’s marrying a gentleman by the name of Noah Smith, and that he’s a roadie here in Vegas.”

  “Let’s see her,” stated Croft.

  Paris pulled up the before picture. “Here she is with her sister. She’s the one wearing pink.”

  They all studied the woman on the screen. Like the first victim, she looked like a sweet, normal woman.

  “We need information on him,” stated Emma.

  Paris started laughing.

  Both Crofts glanced over at him.

  “What’s the joke?” Greyson asked.

  “Well, normally, getting information would be a bitch, but it just so happens that he works for you, Emma. We don’t have to jump through hoops to get his information.”

  She didn't get it.

  “He’s roadie for one of the Vegas productions you own.”

  She closed her eyes. “Of course he is.”

  That amused Greyson. When she gave him the look, he shrugged. “What?”

  “News flash, husband. In Vegas, anything that I fall into, you get half. This mess is partly yours now too. So it’s the business WE own.”

  He winked at his wife.

  “Who do we call to get his details?” Tessa asked.

  Emma had no clue. She only hoped her brother-in-law could answer that for her. “Call Dante and ask for the personnel records. He should know where the hell they are. I don’t know where they’re kept or who has them, but he’ll know. This whole business mogul thing is out of control.”

  Tessa pulled out her phone and took the number that Greyson had scribbled down for her. She left the room to make the call.

  “What did we learn about this roadie?”

  Paris pulled up the details. “He’s a wild man, and likes to get into trouble. His rap sheet is pretty long. The woman was clean. Talk about opposites attracting. In fact, Blanca is a bank teller with perfect credit, and not so much as a smear on her record.”

  “We’re going to need to do interviews today. While we have time, we need to lock down their alibis and go from there,” Croft stated.

  Curtis noticed that no one was going to bring up Brynn, so he did it.

  “What do you have on victim three?” he asked, waiting for them.

  “Curtis,” Paris said, “you don’t have to do…”

  He cut him off. “I do. We all do. This is part of the job and the reality of the situation. Brynn is dead. Don’t let this killer take away her dignity in death. We need to give that back to her.”

  There was silence.

  “Now, how about victim three? If you don’t want to do it, I will.”

  They were all very uncomfortable.

  Curtis ignored them and pressed on. “We have Brynn Westmore-Briggs, and she also had brown hair and blue eyes. That might be our connection. It’s possible the killer has a type. With the last big assignment we all worked on, that was the case.”

  No one said anything.

  They were well aware of the last case, and how it blew up around them. Brynn nearly died, the Crofts got skewered by the man before them, and their happy team was shattered.

  No one wanted to go there.

  Greyson watched his agent. In place of the pain was fury. Yeah, Curtis was definitely not getting his badge back until he worked through this.

  There was going to be a battle to get him back to where he once was. Even Emma was watching him with a concerned look.

  “Fine. I’ll continue if no one else will. She was a detective with the vice division of the LVPD and was working the second shift when she went missing.”

  No one spoke.

  “She was married to an FBI agent, who is a suspect in her murder. Since he has no alibi, he could very well be the one who murdered her. You’ll have to interview him too.”

  Ford stared at Emma.

  This was going too far.

  Emma stepped in and took over. “We will be interviewing him. Since I’m a personal acquaintance with the man, as is most of this team, we’re going to be passing this one off because we can’t be impartial. In this job, you have to have objectivity.”

  He stared at her.

  Curtis looked a little surprised that she wasn’t going to be doing the interview.

  “I’ll take it,” Ford said. “It’s either me or Detective Spencer. You can make the choice, but it’s not going to be anyone else sitting at this table.”

  Emma knew her boss was throwing Curtis a bone. The two potential interviewers knew both the victim and Curtis, and they’d go easy on him--despite what he was saying.

  It was an out.

  Curtis didn't care. “You’re fine.”

  Emma went to thank her boss, but was cut off.

  “Son, you don’t get to make that decision. If you were my employee, you’d be sashaying your ass to the shrinks office before I’d even let you into the building. If you go crackers, and someone gets hurt, Detective Croft’s head is in the noose on this one. So keep that in mind. What you do, Curtis, from here on out, is going to come down on her.”

  There was his warning.

  Well, so much for taking it easy on the man.

  Greyson spoke up, going to his wife’s defense. He had to believe that Curtis wouldn’t risk Emma. This would only work if that were the case. “He’s going to be visiting the shrink. Doctor Archer will be conducting his evaluation shortly.”

  Ford seemed a little better once he heard that. “That’s more like it. I’m sure your doctor will be thorough.”

  Before Curtis could complain, Emma’s phone chimed, and so did Mace Bristol’s.

  They knew what that meant. Doctor Bentley was giving them the heads up. Someone had called in a body, and they were being tagged into duty.

  “We have another one.”

  They all looked toward Paris. He’d been right. He’d predicted the timeline, and confirmed what Doctor Bentley had pointed out.

  “Score one for my profiler. He is on his game,” Croft said, grabbing his tablet and messenger bag. They were going to be heading out.

  Emma grabbed her things, but she knew this was going to be a problem. They were going to have to find someone to do the interviews. Before, her go to people would have been Brynn and Curtis.

  Now…

  Yeah, not so much.

  “Tessa, can you and Paris handle some interviews?” she asked. “I know you don’t go out into the field unless it’s to get your profile on, Paris, but we’re going to be tied up and could use the help.”

  “I’d love to handle it. I’m free until you get me more information,” he stated.

  “Great. Start with Marleen Web, and by then you should have the information from Dante on Noah Smith. If he gives you a hard time, inform him that his boss will fire him if he yanks your chain.”

  Croft laughed.

  Even Emma found that absurd. She really wanted to kick Randall Mason’s ass. If he were alive, she’d kill him for saddling her with this mess.

  “Mace, you, me, and chuckles here are heading to the crime scene. I have a feeling we’re going to be under the gun. Every two days, we’re getting a body. That’s going to make for a shitty weekend for all of us unless we stop this maniac, and fast.”

  He grabbed his things and headed toward the door. “I’ll meet you downstairs. I’ll get us coffees to go.”

  When he was gone, Paris wheeled himself out to go give Tessa the good news.

  “What about me?” Curtis asked.

  Ford was about to remind his detective that she couldn’t play fast and loose with the rules. They had to get this case to court and already, they were risking it by having the man anywhere near t
he evidence.

  “You’re about to have your interview,” Greyson admitted. “Welcome to Ford’s interrogation. Be nice, tell him everything, and if you do…there’s a chance that you can stay on the team.”

  “So another babysitter?” he asked. “I told you that I’m fine.”

  The man just lied, and the Crofts knew it.

  They could see it in his eyes.

  “Kid, I’m not your babysitter. I’m her babysitter. I’m the man who is going to find you an alibi, so shut up and get ready. While they put up with bullshit, I don’t.”

  They grabbed their gear, knowing that Curtis wouldn’t be able to sneak away from Captain Ford. If anything, he was your worst nightmare when it came to keeping an eye on someone.

  He had eyes everywhere.

  That’s how he managed his detectives. Prisoners had a better chance of breaking out than cops under Ford’s watch.

  Outside, Emma glanced over at Greyson. “You have a problem on the horizon.”

  He was well aware.

  “I already know. I’m going to have to pull his badge. There’s no way he’s going to bounce back from this. I have to find a solution, and fast.”

  She saw it too, and she didn't envy her husband.

  This was going to suck.

  * * * Croft & Croft * * *

  Paris was back out in the field with his partner, and it was amazing. It was like nothing had ever happened to keep them apart. Tessa was behind the wheel, sunglasses on, and looking just as tough and badass as she always did.

  It was hot.

  He really missed this.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked, glancing over at him. Paris was grinning, and it was very infectious. There was something sexy about that boyish grin. She wanted to see it every day for the rest of her life.

  “I missed this. I forgot how great it was being with you out in the field.”

  Tessa took his hand in hers as she drove. “This is pretty awesome. I missed you too. Don’t get me wrong. I love working with Curtis. He’s a great agent, but it’s awkward when I picture him naked.”

  He stared at her. “Tessa!”

  She laughed. “I’m kidding. I have a thing for sexy, geeky doctors. It appears that’s my type.”

  Paris was thankful for that.

  “What do we have on the missing person report that Marleen Web filed?” Tessa asked, getting prepped for the interview.

  “She only said that the woman went out, was supposed to return later in the day, and never came back.”

  “I thought they lived in separate places.”

  “When we lived in different houses, you were always at mine, and now we live together. Maybe she was crashing there. It’s easier to get your sex on and not have to roll home.”

  He had a point.

  “If I recall, you showed up at my place and I couldn’t get you to leave,” Tessa teased.

  “Yeah, well, I know a good thing when I see it. You cook, I don’t,” he joked back.

  In all honesty, that night was the best thing he’d ever done.

  Tessa couldn’t help herself. She was dying to talk about their wedding. This seemed like the perfect time. “I can’t wait for you to see the dress.”

  He glanced over. “For the wedding?”

  “When else do I ever wear one?” she asked, laughing at the look on his face.

  “Well, I’ve seen you in one a few times.” He paused. “I bet you’re going to be the most beautiful bride in the entire world. Are you sure you’re okay with eloping?”

  Tessa pulled into the parking spot and turned to face him. “I’d marry you right now if we had a spare hour. I just want to be your wife.”

  He leaned over, sealing his mouth to hers. The kiss was more than chaste, and the heat brewed in his gut, clawing its way up his pale flesh in a red flush.

  Yeah, he wanted her not only as his wife, but as his partner in everything they did for the rest of time.

  This woman was the one.

  When they broke apart, he kissed her on the knuckles. “I love you, Tessa Brass. You’re going to be mine forever.”

  She grinned at him. “You better believe it, but for now, are you ready to be my partner?”

  He pushed his door open and waited for Tessa to get his chair. “Let’s get this done.”

  She couldn’t help but grin wickedly.

  Paris Archer was back in the saddle, and she couldn’t wait to watch him work.

  It was like old times.

  Inside the apartment building, Tessa knocked on the door. They waited until they heard footsteps approaching. When the door opened, there stood a very beefy woman.

  She looked like a weight lifter.

  “Marleen Web?” Tessa asked, holding out her badge as Paris did the same thing.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Special Agent Tessa Brass, and this is my partner, Doctor Paris Archer. We’re here to talk to you about Shirley Golden. You called in a missing person report on her.”

  Immediately, her face softened.

  “Please come in,” she offered. “I figured someone would be coming by, and soon. I know the police were going to want to interview me. I didn't expect FBI.”

  Paris wheeled his chair to a stop beside a couch and took out his tablet. Tessa was going to do the interview, and he was going to make notes. He wanted to absorb it all.

  “Shirley is the first victim, and we believe more have been connected, so the LVPD has asked us to assist.”

  The woman sat. “Oh God.”

  “Can you tell us what happened the day your girlfriend went missing?” Tessa asked.

  The woman thought about it. “It was a normal day. Shirley and I woke up, and she had errands to run.”

  “Do you co-inhabit together?”

  “No. She has her own place. I mean… she had. We weren’t really out as a couple. Well, I’m open, but Shirley, she’s not. I mean she wasn’t. She was really worried about her job. It’s not easy being gay in the world. You’d think Vegas would be easy, but it’s just as tough here.”

  “I imagine it would be difficult.”

  The woman pointed to her ring finger. “You’re getting married?”

  “Yes, I am. Doctor Archer is my fiancé,” she stated, glancing over at him. Tessa wanted to giggle ridiculously. She couldn’t help herself. Paris had that effect on her.

  “I wanted to get married one day, and Shirley was the one. I guess that dream is over,” she stated, grabbing a tissue.

  “Can you tell us if someone was bothering Shirley?” Tessa asked, pushing on with the interview. They had to get the woman to talk if they wanted to get any viable information.

  “No. If they were, she never mentioned it to me. We would go to work, meet up at the gym, and then head home for dinner. That was our plan for that day, only Shirley never showed. She missed the gym, and I didn't think anything of it. Really, she only went because I love it there. Then when I kept calling her, there was no reply.”

  “What time was that?” Tessa asked.

  “She got out of work at four and was then planning on grocery shopping. After that, she was going to hit the gym at six when I got out of work. I stayed here until eight lifting, and then headed to her place. I thought maybe she had a bad day and blew it off.”

  “When did you realize something had happened?”

  “When I started backtracking her steps through the day. I went to the school, and her car wasn’t there. I headed to the grocery store, and again, there was no car. Then I hit the gym. That’s where I found it. At first I thought, ‘Shit! I missed her’,” she stated. “Then when I went over to the car, her purse was inside, and the doors were unlocked.”

  Tessa watched the woman. Her face showed so much pain and horror as she relived it.

  “That’s when I knew. No one saw her inside, and she never checked in. Our car keys have this tag on it, and you scan when you get in the door.”

  “So you called the police?”


  “They didn't care. They told me I needed to wait until at least forty eight hours.”

  Tessa knew the rest. There was no reason to make the woman relive that. The time passed, Marleen filed the report, and then Shirley Golden was found in the game lands.

  It all played out as a horror story for this woman and her girlfriend.

  “And no one was bothering her?” Tessa asked. “Not even at the gym?”

  She shook her head. “Shirley was a sweetheart. It was my job to keep her safe, and I failed. How am I supposed to live with that?” she asked, tears streaming down her tan cheeks.

  Paris knew exactly how she felt.

  That was how he felt about Tessa when they were working.

  “We’re so sorry for your loss,” Tessa said, handing her a business card.

  “When can I see her?”

  This was always hard for the victim’s family.

  “We’re in the middle of the investigation. As soon as we can, we’ll release Shirley to you.”

  The woman nodded. “Thank you.”

  “If you think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to call me. Sometimes, when you least expect it, something comes to you. It might be that one thing we need to find who did this to Shirley.”

  The woman nodded. “I will. I promise.”

  With that, they headed out. After Paris pulled himself up and into the vehicle, Tessa stowed his chair. When she got in behind the wheel, he was watching her.

  “So, still miss this?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “This part I could do without.”

  Yeah, so could she.

  * * * Croft & Croft * * *

  When they pulled up to the coordinates, there was no doubt in Emma’s mind that Steele Bentley had been right.

  They had to have two killers, or the one they were chasing was screwing with them.

  Once more, they were back at the game lands.

  As they jumped out of the Navigator, Mace Bristol headed toward the media to calm them down. It appeared that they had a mess brewing there, and someone had to handle it. There was no doubt that they were a bad choice, since the second the news reporters saw them, they were stirred into a feeding frenzy.