Snapdragon

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Chris leaned against the back of the Tahoe while Dylan and Ron stood to his right. They remained in the alley as the police arrived in full force and the news crews set up along the perimeter of the crime scene. Even in this Midwestern city, it wasn’t the first time a serial killer had terrorized Spring Harbor. No doubt, that case was tumbling around Dylan’s mind, as well. Only two years before, Dylan and Ron had been responsible for the capture of The Gentleman Killer, John Darton, who had left flowers with the victims, like these two recent murders.

But this time felt different and it filled Chris with concern. Why was the knife through his image in the picture? Why did the guy attack him?

Chris rubbed his forehead, hoping to ease his headache. While tonight had been rough, it was exciting to work with Dylan and Ron. He’d spent his college days on a computer programmer career path, but when Dylan announced he and Ron were starting the agency and wanted Chris to join them, he’d jumped at the chance. He might be sore tomorrow, but he was happier there than navigating a corporate Help Desk job.

Yet there was still something about Dylan’s mood that troubled Chris. While the job was fulfilling, nights like tonight were too disturbing to shake off easily.

Dylan held his gaze for several breaths before he looked at the Ford Fusion that parked at the end of the alley. Whatever troubles swirled in Dylan’s mind would remain there until they were alone.

Detective Skinner got out from behind the steering wheel of the Fusion. His gaze locked onto Dylan as he pulled his pants up over his beer belly. Skinner’s glare was accusatory as always, so Chris looked at Detective James Harris as he stepped out of the passenger side.

Chris met James’s blue eyes as James approached them, his athletic body filing out his suit. With their gaze holding, Chris’s heartbeat quickened. James’s eyes appeared to shine as their contact held, which sent a rush of desire through Chris.

Dylan and Ron stood ready to meet the two detectives. It wasn’t the first time they’d clashed since Dylan and Ron had left the Homicide department to start their own detective agency and Chris planned to stay out of the way.

“Want to tell me what happened here?” James asked, locking eyes with Dylan.

“Someone meant to hurt my brother, that’s what,” Dylan said.

“Why were you even here?”

“Someone wanted to meet with us, said he had some information about a recent murder,” Dylan said. “We expected tonight to be a trap.”

“We found her body,” Ron said. “We didn’t kill her. We recorded everything, so we can prove that as well.”

“You recorded your actions tonight?” James asked, then glanced at Chris.

Chris nodded.

“I’d like to see that video,” James said.

Dylan scoffed. “If we’re being charged, then I think you can go through the proper channels to get it.”

James glared at Dylan. “Your card was found at the scene and it has been confirmed that the victim was here to meet with you. Were you working with her on a case?”

“We couldn’t disclose it if we were; you know that,” Dylan said.

“Were you going to meet with her?” James asked, not losing any momentum.

“No, we weren’t,” Dylan said.

Across the street, two men wheeled a gurney out of the building with the victim’s body in a black bag. Chris bowed his head as she was loaded into the back of a white van.

“Someone is just using our name,” Dylan said. “We wouldn’t kill anyone, Harris, you should know that.”

“The leads are all there, Mason,” James said. “You know I have to follow those.”

“You’re being handed a false case then,” Dylan said.

“Just because you’re ex-cops doesn’t mean you get a free pass. We go by the book,” Skinner said.

“You need to find the killer, not mess with false accusations,” Ron said. “There’s more at stake here than just random victims.”

“Like your brother,” James said, meeting Chris’s gaze.

Chris shifted his weight and bowed his head.

“There was clearly a threat to him tonight,” Dylan said. “We don’t know why.”

“This a Darton copycat? You realize it’s brought us all back together,” James said.

“It’s possible,” Dylan said.

Chris met Dylan’s glance, but then looked down the alley. The night bothered Chris. It had to be about more than the Darton case. He’d had nothing to do with that investigation, and yet he was the target tonight. Something more was going on, he just couldn’t see it.

“All the flowers are the same this time, though,” James said.

“We’re checking for prints on the knife,” Skinner said. “It was probably the murder weapon.”

Ron sighed as he ran a hand over his face.

“You don’t have anyone you suspect would do this?” James asked. “Ron?”

“No,” Ron said. “No one.”

“The man who attacked you,” James said, meeting Chris’s gaze, “what can you tell me about him?”

Chris shrugged. “He was a few inches taller than me and strong, but I didn’t really see anything that will help describe him. He was wearing a mask.”

“I’m curious why the threat is to Chris,” James said, looking at Dylan. “Is it to hurt you both or just you?” He turned toward Ron.

“I don’t know why he’s being threatened,” Ron said.

James said, “You don’t know why.”

Ron shook his head. “No.”

“Do you know of anyone who would be after you?” James asked, looking at Chris and catching him off guard. “Any jealous exes or anyone who expressed feelings that you turned down?”

“No,” Chris said. He believed he was just a target because of Dylan and Ron. He’d never considered having his own enemy.

“No one who would be jealous of you and Abrams?” James said.

Chris looked at Ron with the mention of his name. “No.”

James turned his attention to Ron. “Is there anyone you know of?”

“No,” Ron said. “There’s no reason to threaten him because of me.”

“Someone is picking up the Darton case and trying to challenge us,” Dylan spoke up. “Chris is just connected to us both, that’s all. We need to solve this before it gets worse. We didn’t kill anyone.”

“You can be sure we’re going to do all we can to stop this guy, and quickly,” Ron said.

Skinner said, “No doubt the great Mason and Abrams will solve the case—probably before dinner.” He glared at Dylan and Ron.

“Someone has to catch the killer, Skinner,” Ron said.

“Watch it! You’re not my boss anymore,” Skinner said through clenched teeth.

“Gentlemen!” James said.

The group fell into a strained silence, which made Chris doubt that they’d be allowed to leave anytime soon. He was getting tired and was ready to get home and take something for his headache.

“If I let you see our footage, can we go?” Dylan asked.

“I’ll decide that after I see it,” James said.

Chris took Dylan’s nod as his cue to show the video footage of their night to James, so he led the group to the passenger side and opened the door. After he started the video on the laptop, he stepped out to let James and Skinner get in closer. The video ended with Chris’s attack. He felt the concerned looks cast his way, but kept his gaze down.

“I will need a copy of this and I’ll go through the proper channels to get it,” James said.

Dylan nodded. “We’ll get you a copy.”

“Thank you,” James said calmly, then looked at Chris. “Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone.”

“Sure.” Chris glanced at Dylan and Ron, then followed James away from them.

James stopped, turned to face him, and then glanced over Chris’s shoulder as he put his right hand on Chris’s arm. “Are you okay?”

“I am. I can defend myself.” He smiled bashfully.

James looked directly at Chris. “You need to let me know everything that happened tonight.”

Chris nodded.

“I’m worried about you,” James said, then quickly scanned the scene before looking at him with a cute smile that warmed Chris’s heart. “Your brother is glaring at me. He still doesn’t know about us, I take it.”

“Not yet.”

“I think he’s got bigger problems than us going to dinner. We are still on for tomorrow?”

Chris couldn’t hide his smile. “Yes.”

“Good,” James said, “now get home. You look tired.”

Chris was quiet as they walked back toward Dylan and Ron. Dylan wore an angry expression as he stared at Chris. Hopefully, he wouldn’t cause a scene, but Chris never underestimated his brother’s reaction when it came to James.

“You three can go,” James said. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow. Don’t leave town.”

James was a few feet away when Dylan said to Chris, “You’re riding with me.” Dylan moved to the driver side’s door of the Tahoe.

Ron walked away from Chris without a word and headed toward his truck. Chris expected Dylan’s anger, but not Ron’s avoidance. Irritated by the two men’s actions, he climbed in the passenger seat and kept his gaze straight ahead.

“What was that about with James?” Dylan asked as he turned onto the main road.

“Nothing.”

“It didn’t look like nothing to me. Why did he pull you aside?”

“He’s my friend and he’s worried about me,” Chris said, looking at Dylan briefly before facing front. He knew he needed to tell his secret, but he didn’t want to deal with the consequences.

“You know we call him Hotshot, right?”

Chris scoffed.

“You know he’s the detective who’s always pissing us off even now that we don’t work together?”

“I don’t care about his job, Dylan. You and Ron have that issue with him, not me.” Chris looked out the side window. “I like him.”

Dylan shook his head and let out a disgusted sigh. “Hotshot is the guy you’ve been seeing?”

“How did you get that from him talking to me?”

“He touched your arm and smiled at you a lot, which isn’t something an investigating detective does with suspects,” Dylan said in a loud tone as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “No wonder you wouldn’t tell me who you were dating.”

Chris shook his head. “I like James and you’re not a part of that. And we’re going out to dinner tomorrow…We may even have sex.”

Several moments passed before Dylan said in a gentler tone, “I didn’t even know he was gay.”

“Well, he is. He broke up with his boyfriend a few months ago. I didn’t tell you about us ‘cause I knew you’d freak out.”

“I’m not going to freak out,” Dylan said as he glanced over, then quickly back at the road.

“You are! Good grief, you always try to ruin my relationships.”

Dylan let out a huff and shook his head. “And I was just afraid you were dating Ron.”

“Ron?”

Dylan shrugged. “He stays at your house a lot. He’s always flirting with you.”

“I’m not dating Ron. Wow, are you going to keep every man away from me?”

“No, just the wrong ones.”

“So, who is the right man? What qualities does this mystery man possess that you would approve of? And Ron and I are close and have fun together, so what is so wrong with him?”

“I don’t have to explain this to you.”

“Uh, yes you do.”

They were quiet a moment, then Dylan said, “What do you want from me?”

“Well, I know liking James won’t be an option for you.” Chris shook his head and looked out the window, avoiding Dylan’s glare. “You’re always trying to control my life, always voicing an opinion I didn’t ask for. Always treating me like I’m a part of your life and not my own.”

“I don’t do that,” Dylan said.

“You’re ruining the one moment when I’m actually happy after tonight.”

“Hotshot is a jerk. You haven’t seen his attitude when he’s working a case.”

“I don’t want to see him working a case. I want to see him naked,” he said.

“You’ll get your heart broken, trust me. Stay away from him.”

“Fine.” A mixture of anger and disappointment swirled inside him. He knew Dylan was looking at him, but he kept his own gaze out his window.

“I’m just telling you the truth.”

“I know. It’s fine,” he lied.

They spent the rest of the ride to Chris’s house in silence. Ron got to the house before them, which surprised Chris since Dylan had been driving fast. Dylan led the way to the front door, opened it, and then marched in. Chris stepped in, followed by Ron. He knew Ron wouldn’t choose sides, which was okay with Chris. It wouldn’t matter how many allies he had, Dylan would never admit to being wrong.

Chris shut and locked the door, then watched as Dylan and Ron moved through his house as if they lived there.

“We’re staying here tonight,” Dylan said.

“Probably best,” Ron said. “Make sure you’re safe.”

Chris caught Ron’s glance at him, then headed down the hallway to his bedroom and slammed the door. He dropped down onto the bed, letting his body ease into the mattress as he tried to calm his emotions. He knew dating James would be an issue, but not like this. Now Dylan and Ron were staying the night and making him feel like a prisoner in his own home.

He laid a hand over his eyes as he tried to turn his thoughts to James’s bashful smile, but a different image came to him that made him feel sick: the picture of him and Ron pinned to the wall with the knife through his face. His heart began to race as he remembered the feeling of the strong hand around his throat and the demonic voice returned to his ears.

You’re going to suffer.