Behind the Badge, page 1
“I don’t buy it.” Crys seemed to be waiting for his reply.
“Excuse me?” Luke’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. He wasn’t sure he’d heard everything she’d said. “You don’t buy what exactly?”
Crys frowned. “That you’re only here to help me with my investigation. What do you really want?”
Studying her delicate features, being pulled into the challenge glinting in her coffee-colored, long-lidded eyes and tracing the curves of her heart-shaped lips, Luke chose not to answer that question. “What do you think I want?”
Crys kept her eyes on him as she settled back against her seat. She regarded him in silence for a beat before responding. “I believe you want to help find this serial killer. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate your help. But you have another agenda. What is it?”
Either she was scary insightful, or he’d lost his poker face. “It’s obvious I’ll have to work hard to earn your trust. I hope you’ll give me that chance.”
Dear Reader,
Have you ever felt so guilty about something that you were unable to talk about it even with the people you love most? Whether or not you were to blame, you allowed your guilt to propel you into actions that were unwarranted—maybe even dangerous.
That’s one of the challenges my Crime Sisters—Crystal, a rookie homicide detective; Amber, a rising star in the city attorney’s office; and Jade, a former crime beat reporter—are dealing with. They each blame themselves for the murder of their beloved aunt. But the shame of their guilt prevents them from sharing their secrets. Instead, they promise themselves and each other that they’ll solve their aunt’s cold case homicide—or die trying.
Fortunately, they don’t have to walk their roads alone. Along their journeys, they each find someone who needs healing just as they need to be healed.
Thank you for taking a chance on my Crime Sisters trilogy. I hope you enjoy their journeys.
Happy reading!
Patricia Sargeant
Behind the Badge
Patricia Sargeant
Note to Readers
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Page numbers taken from the following print edition: ISBN 9781335471826
Nationally bestselling author Patricia Sargeant was drawn to write romance because she believes love is the greatest motivation. Her romantic suspense novels put ordinary people in extraordinary situations to have them find the Hero Inside. Her work has been reviewed in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA TODAY, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, Library Journal and RT Book Reviews. For more information about Patricia and her work, visit patriciasargeant.com.
Books by Patricia Sargeant
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Justice Hunters
Behind the Badge
The Touré Security Group
Down to the Wire
Her Private Security Detail
Second-Chance Bodyguard
The Coltons of Arizona
Colton’s Deadly Trap
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com.
To My Dream Team:
* My sister, Bernadette, for giving me the dream.
* My husband, Michael, for supporting the dream.
* My brother Richard for believing in the dream.
* My brother Gideon for encouraging the dream.
And to Mom and Dad, always with love.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Excerpt
About the Publisher
Chapter 1
“Detective Rashaad. I’m Special Agent Lucas Gilchrist.” The conservatively dressed, thirty-something stranger swallowed Crystal Rashaad’s outstretched hand in a firm grip. A warm grip that sent disturbing—though not unpleasant—currents up her arm.
Crystal slipped her hand free. Ignoring the echoes of his touch on her skin, she tipped back her head to meet his deep-set, black onyx eyes. “Agent Gilchrist—”
“Luke.” He turned to escort her from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s utilitarian lobby into a wide hallway early Wednesday morning.
Crystal’s black, faux-leather loafers were nearly silent against the gleaming white-and-green-tiled flooring as she matched her strides to the agent’s. The paper white walls added to the strict establishment vibe oozing from their surroundings. Luke pressed the Up button beside a black stainless-steel elevator.
The BCI was housed in a two-story building. Crystal was a fit five-nine with her loafers’ two-inch heels. Luke had about five inches on her, not including his black oxfords’ one-inch heels, and he was built like a tight end on a professional football team. So why were they waiting for an elevator?
“Let’s take the stairs.” She strode toward the staircase farther down the hall. Luke’s footsteps sounded behind her. “I’d sent my case file to Special Agent Kim David. I was told I’d be meeting with her today.”
Crystal had contacted the BCI’s Special Investigations Unit almost a week earlier to request their assessment of her two homicide cases. SIU had assigned her to Special Agent David. They’d had a brief conversation before Crystal had hand delivered her files. Crystal was still grouchy over her clock tossing her an hour into the future ten days earlier with the Autumnal Equinox time change. Fatigue made her irritable and this game of Agent Musical Chairs made her crankier. Why hadn’t anyone warned her about the switch?
As she mounted the stairs, Crystal assessed her new SIU contact. Everything about him bellowed “Conformist!” From his classic fit, navy-blue suit, matching tie and blinding-white shirt to his short, dark brown curls, clean-shaven brown face, square jaw and stubborn chin. He was trying hard to fade into the background, but Crystal saw through his subterfuge. His piercing eyes under thick, black, arched eyebrows, coupled with full, well-shaped lips, signaled this brother had hidden depths.
“Agent David has a full plate.” Luke ascended the steps beside her. “I offered to take a few cases off her hands, including yours.”
Crystal arched an eyebrow at the agent. “She doesn’t let you call her Kim?” This dude was def uptight.
Luke’s dark eyes gleamed with appreciation of her sarcastic wit. “I’ve reviewed your documents and can assure you I’m up to speed with your case.”
“Good. Two people have already been murdered. I need to catch their killer yesterday.” This was her first big case since she’d become a homicide detective eight months earlier. She was anxious to prove herself to her department—and to herself.
Luke stopped beside her. His eyes were inscrutable as he scanned her face. “I understand.”
Why did she have the uneasy feeling his sentence was only half finished? What wasn’t he saying to her?
Her thoughts scattered when he gestured toward the end of the bright hallway. She followed him into a small, sparse space that cried out for a personality, anyone’s personality. Where were the little touches that gave visitors insight into the person who occupied the office forty-plus hours a week? The photos that reminded him of the people and places that mattered in his personal life? The knickknacks that kept treasured memories within arm’s reach?
The lack of individual touches left a vacuum filled by beige walls and institutional furniture. Ah. Crystal corrected herself. Luke had mounted a large tan corkboard on the far wall and pinned neat rows of bureau memos and resource lists to it. Fun. His L-shaped, silver-and-white desk stood against the opposite wall with its requisite black computer, black phone, pens, pencils and notepads. She wanted to scribble a note across his black-and-white desk calendar: Buy Toys! Do something that would make him seem less like AI and more like a warm-blooded, three-dimensional human being.
“Please have a seat.” He gestured to the black-vinyl-and-silver-metal visitor’s chair.
“Thank you.” Crystal lowered herself into the seat.
He had very nice manners. She liked that. Her eyes landed on the closed hutch above his desk. What was he hiding in there? Perhaps some personal touches?
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Luke paused beside his black cushioned swivel chair.
Crystal glanced at his plain black coffee mug. “No, thank you. I’m fine.” She opened her writing tablet on her lap and uncapped her pen.
Luke shed his jacket and hung it on the back of his wheeled chair before sitting. “How long have you been working this case?”
Crystal gestured toward the unopened manila folder centered on the desk in front of him. “As I noted in the files I shared with Special Agent David, my partner and I have been investigating these murders for a little more than a month.” Five weeks and two days. “The first victim, Rita Gomez, was identified February 9.”
“Why isn’t your partner here with you?”
Crystal raised her eyes to meet Luke’s enigmatic stare. “He’s unavailable.”
Her tone was flat and final. She didn’t want to discuss the reason her partner, Victor Hansen, wasn’t at this meeting. Not now. Crystal was grateful when Luke didn’t push for an explanation.
“According to your case files, the victims don’t appear to have any connections to each other.” He opened the first folder on the stack. “Rita Gomez was a Hispanic woman in her early thirties. Your most recent victim, Alfred Murphy, a white man in his late fifties, was recovered fifteen days later, February 24. They worked for different companies, lived in different neighborhoods, had different hobbies and interests.”
Crystal took over the review. “They attended different churches and graduated from different colleges. The only thing linking them is the method of murder and the recovery location. Both were found at Griggs Reservoir.” The dam was constructed in northwest Columbus on the Scioto River. “The lack of blood or signs of a struggle indicate the area was a secondary crime scene. The suspect killed them at a separate location before bringing them to the reservoir.”
Luke made a noncommittal hum. “The suspect used a knife and twisted it in the victim’s back.”
“That’s right.” Crystal found Luke’s steady stare distracting. “We’ve identified the weapon as a straight, double-edged, eight-inch blade.”
“Like a dagger.” Luke finally dropped his eyes from Crystal, returning his attention to the folder and allowing her to breathe.
Crystal angled her head. “Why do you say it that way? As though using a dagger somehow makes sense to you?”
He looked up at her again. “These murders feel like revenge killings, a knife to the back with the blade being twisted.”
His description gave Crystal chills. “I’d wondered about that. The phrase ‘Twist the knife’ kept playing in my head. But I thought I was being too literal.”
“You have good instincts. Never second-guess yourself.” Luke’s crooked smile was both charming and very human. It gave her a glimpse into the man behind the virtual reality simulation.
Crystal’s face heated, both from his appeal and his compliment. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
Luke’s expression sobered as though he regretted sharing that sexy smile. “Stabbing the victims in the back could indicate the suspect thinks the victims broke their trust.” He flipped through the folder. “Your notes also mention a fishing lure.”
“Yes. The killer left one fishing lure in each victim’s mouth. It was a plastic silver minnow.” Emboldened by his previous encouragement, Crystal shared her thoughts. “I wondered if there could be a connection to the phrase ‘Taking the bait.’”
Luke nodded. “I think you’re right. Again.”
Crystal expelled a frustrated breath. “But who took the bait, the victim or the killer? And how did these victims break the killer’s trust?”
Luke searched her features again with an intense, lingering scrutiny. “You sound very committed to this investigation.”
What a strange comment, especially from another member of law enforcement. “Of course I’m committed to it. Someone is killing people in our community. Regardless of the reason, they have to be stopped.”
“Of course.” Luke closed the folder. He laid his hands on top of the stack of files. “As I said, I’m caught up on your case. I’d be happy to partner with you on it.”
Warning sirens tripped in Crystal’s brain. Why would a BCI special agent offer to partner with her to chase down a killer? The bureau offered its expertise to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including its laboratory services, DNA testing and background checks. Crystal wasn’t aware of them partnering with detectives on their cases, though.
Then she remembered the intense looks the attractive agent had been giving her since they first met. Could that have anything to do with his interest in working with her? To tell the truth and shame the devil, the idea held some appeal. She wasn’t going to lie. But Crystal didn’t mix business with pleasure, not when her community’s safety was at stake. Now, if he wanted to give her his number for later—once the suspect was caught—she wouldn’t give it back.
She capped her pen and closed her writing pad. “Thank you for your offer, Special Agent Gilchrist—”
“Luke.”
“—but my partner and I have this covered.” She caught her breath at the thought of her partner. She forced herself past her grief and rose from the chair.
“Are you sure? I would be able to better assess the case if I were on-site with you.” Luke’s eyes cooled.
Had she offended him? Crystal didn’t have time to worry about his ego. She had enough on her to-do list. More than enough. “I’m sure. Thanks, though.”
Luke rose, pulling a business card from the holder on his desk. He handed it to her. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“I won’t, but thank you.” Crystal took his card, then raised her hand as Luke circled his desk. “I can find my way out. Thanks again for your time, Luke.”
“Good luck, Crystal.” Luke walked with her into the hallway. “I hope our paths cross again.”
Perhaps. But if they did meet again, she hoped it was after she closed this case. Then she could focus on the pleasure and not worry about the business.
* * *
Crystal Rashaad was a beautiful woman. Luke could stare into her long-lidded eyes all day. They were the exact color of morning coffee. But it wasn’t wise for him to become attracted to the target of his investigation.
He watched her stride down the hall to the staircase. She moved with a confidence, energy and grace he found hypnotic. Despite these distractions, he’d also noticed that her baggy gray blazer, tailored black slacks and polyester white blouse with red roses weren’t out of reach of a detective’s salary. Neither was her watch, which must have cost all of ten dollars. So what was she doing with the money she was allegedly collecting from bribes?
He waited until Crystal disappeared down the stairwell before returning to his office. He unlocked the hutch above his desk and removed his thick case file on Detective Crystal Rashaad before meeting with his boss.
Luke tapped his knuckles twice on her open door. “Do you have a minute?”
Special Agent in Charge Martina Monaco tapped a series of keys on her computer before swinging her wheeled black cloth executive chair to face him.
Martina was in her mid-fifties, average height and solidly built. She’d accessorized her plain white scoop-neck blouse with a collar-length, thin copper necklace and matching earrings. Her makeup was heavily but expertly applied to her pale white features. Her chin-length, blond hair was salon styled in layers that framed her round face.
She gestured toward one of the two visitor’s chairs in front of her large cherrywood desk. The scent of designer perfume asserted itself over the aroma of coffee rising from the large, rose-pink porcelain mug beside her keyboard. “How was your meeting with Detective Rashaad?”
“It was a good start.” Luke lowered himself into the black-vinyl-and-silver seat. “But she didn’t confess, of course.”
The corner of Martina’s thin pink lips curved in dry humor. Behind her rimless glasses, her brown eyes glinted. “You’ll have to work a little harder if you want the detective to admit she and her partner have been accepting bribes to tamper with criminal investigations.”
When Martina had approached him about looking into allegations of corruption against Crystal and her partner, Luke had jumped at the opportunity. He couldn’t stand the idea of illegal activities of any kind, either in the private or public sector. He especially abhorred criminality by public officials. Luke’s temper stirred thinking about it. Those acts betrayed the community’s trust and reflected badly on all public servants. The deception also made it harder for honest officials to do their jobs of protecting neighbors’ lives and property.
However, other than the complaint filed by the anonymous source Martina had interviewed a little more than two months ago today, Luke didn’t have any indication Crystal wasn’t an honest broker of the public’s trust.
“I reviewed Detective Rashaad’s personnel file before meeting with her.” Luke put his right ankle on his left knee. “It’s impressive. Her evaluations are excellent. She’s received commendations from supervisors as well as members of the community. Based on those reports, it’s hard to imagine her being involved in anything illegal.”
