Foley & Rose Mysteries Collection - Books 1-4

Chapter 9-2

He was tired. He had been working around the clock on the murders and still had no real leads. The killer left no trace of his presence at any of the other murders, and he knew this would be no different. He knew it was the same man. He didn’t know how he knew; it was a feeling born of years doing the job he did; an instinct that rarely let him down, and he trusted that instinct. What he was looking at was not the work of a copycat killer, or any other deranged individual; it was the work of the same person responsible for the other three murders. For the first time he could remember in his entire career, Russell Foley felt concern they might never catch this guy.

His thoughts turned to Sam Rose. What was he doing snooping around? That was all he needed, that horny bastard poking his nose in where it was neither wanted nor needed. After Rose left the job, he hoped never to cross paths with his former partner again, but in a city as small as Darwin, he supposed it was too much to hope for. Both he and Rose had amassed friendships within the force over the years, friendships they shared. He should, he supposed, consider himself lucky they had never run into each other until Sam came to his office asking for information about the murders. The guy had a nerve; Foley would give him that. Fancy thinking he could coerce information from him. He was a civilian for Christ’s sake! What was he doing here in the middle of the night? Foley knew full well it was not admiration for the police, or even idle curiosity that brought the former cop here at this hour. He guessed that O’Reily had rung him. Paddy was everywhere, sometimes even before the cops, which was embarrassing. But why would Paddy ring Sam? Was Sam working for the media? Was he hired to work with Paddy? Was the media’s faith in the police to find the killer so degraded they would hire a private investigator instead of letting the police do their job? He hoped not, but the question gave rise to an apprehension that bothered him.

* * *

When Sam entered his home, he heard the shower running. He looked in the bedroom, and found the unmade bed empty. Ann had picked up her discarded clothes, and they now lay neatly folded at the foot of the bed. He walked along the hall to the bathroom. The door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open and stepped inside. Steam hung heavy in the air in the confined space. Through the opaque glass of the shower cubicle, he watched Ann as she went through the motions of showering. Sam was unable to drag his eyes from the outline of her body. He listened for a moment to the soft tune she was humming, oblivious to his presence.

Finally, he reached down, untied his shoes, and discarded them where he stood. Soon the rest of his clothing lay in a dishevelled heap in the middle of the bathroom floor. He moved silently to the cubicle, reached out and slid open the door.

Startled, Ann gasped loudly, then relaxed when she saw who it was. She allowed her eyes to wander slowly over his naked body. “You were not there when I woke up. I missed you.” She looked into his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wake you; you were sleeping so soundly.”

“Where did you go?”

“I got a call. There was another murder.”

“Oh no,” Ann groaned. “Not another one, who this time?”

“A solicitor from Legal Aid, his name is… was, Kevin Thiele.”

“I don’t think I know him,” she mused.

“That’s not surprising,” Sam commented. “He was never a particularly conspicuous character. From what I knew of him, he kept pretty much to himself.”

“Is it the same person responsible?”

“I honestly don’t know. The police are not talking, but I’m willing to bet it is.”

Once again, Ann’s eyes roamed slowly over his body. “You didn’t go out like that I hope?”

“Of course,” he smiled, “it’s hot outside.”

Ann’s eyes lingered on his groin, noticing he was unable to prevent the transformation happening there.

“It’s a big shower,” she invited. “There’s more than enough room for two.”

Sam stepped into the cubicle and took her into his arms, pulling her body hard against him. The water cascaded, strong and hot, over their bodies. She raised her face to his, and he kissed her hungrily. Beneath the noise of the rushing water, he heard a soft moan escape her throat. He supported her weight in his arms as she bent her knees slightly, then jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist. Sam crossed his arms in the small of her back, and gripped her tightly to him. He stepped forward and supported her back against the wall of the alcove. Steam swirled around their faces as they kissed and whispered into each other’s mouth. Sam freed one hand from behind her, reached down between them, and guided himself into her. Ann settled onto him and sighed deeply. She tossed her head back and let the powerful spray strike her full in her upturned face. It was over quickly, neither of them able to contain their urgent need for the other. Under the hot, stinging needles of water beating down on them, they came together in a frenzy of loud moans and tangled limbs.

Afterwards, they washed each other, alternatively sponging and soaping the other"s body. Sam lavished in the pleasure of it. He felt like they had been together always, and yet it was as if they were young lovers exploring themselves for the very first time. Sam wanted to ask where all this might be leading, but he knew it was too soon.