Psychotic SKIU Serial Read online

“Maybe today I’m just not beautiful enough for his tastes? Is my skirt short enough?”

  She would ask me to look at her legs.

  Ry groaned at the sight. “Yes, Amy, your skirt is definitely short enough.” “Maybe I should undo a few more buttons on my blouse, show more cleavage. He’s always picked a woman with lots of cleavage showing in the past and I had more than normal showing when we met.”

  That did it for him; his eyes and mind went straight to her breasts and his daydream expanded from there. They were perfect, or he imagined that they were since he hadn’t actually seen them. The occasional cleavage her outfits had shown told him they were large, firm and milky white.

  He imagined his hands and mouth closing on them, causing her to cry out in pleasure, tightening her long legs around—

  “Ry? Ry? Are you listening to me? Hank what’s wrong with Ry? Why isn’t he answering me?”

  Ry sensed Hank looking over at him and grinned. “I think you should. Like you said, this guy likes his women with lots of cleavage.”

  “Two or three buttons, Hank?”

  Ry couldn’t respond. His tongue refused to cooperate. He listened while Hank gleefully tortured him with suggestions of what Amy should do to make herself look more inviting. He decided then that when this case ended, he would repay Hank for his advice in full.

  “Three, Doc. A little lace might wet his appetite.”

  Of course she has to agree,

  Ry thought in agony. “Three it is, and to top it off didn’t that file say all the victims had their hair down? I know I did that first night. Maybe he doesn’t recognize me.”

  Please not that, anything but that,

  Ry prayed. “Yup, Doc, it did.”

  “Then down comes the hair.”

  Ry couldn’t help himself. He looked up from his drink and watched her long dark brown tresses fall down her back in waves. Her hair was so long that it passed the hemline of her skirt, bringing all sorts of thoughts to his mind.

  “Ah man.”

  “Well what do you think? If he doesn’t go for it, tomorrow I’ll wear a sundress.”

  “I’m calling in sick if it comes down to that.” Ry mumbled.

  “No, you won’t. You’d be worried sick that the replacement wasn’t watching her properly or watching her too closely.”

  Damn, I hate it when he’s right.

  “So, Ry? Do I look sexy, sleazy or seductive?”

  “Yes, Ry, how does she look?”

  Sexy, seductive, hot and Min

  e, he told himself, getting the thought out of his system before answering her. “You look exactly like all his other victims,” he remarked sternly. “Oh.”

  He wanted to kick himself when he heard the disappointment in her voice.

  “Good now time to play. Here kitty, kitty, kitty.”

  “Amy, be—”

  “I’m going radio silent, I think I see my pigeon walking in.”

  “Hey, Doc. You look damn sexy tonight. How about a beer later?”

  Ry bit back his jealous retort, wishing he’d thought of saying that.

  “I’d like that, Hank. Turning my receiver off now.”

  Ry felt gratitude for the tech department for supplying the tiny receivers and the mike’s they offered for this sting. You couldn’t see the little receiver in her ear, and her mike was a pretty little butterfly pin. Nothing about her should make the perp suspicious. “Amy be—” Damn infuriating woman.

  “She’s really pissed at you, partner.”

  “Why? What the hell did I do?”

  “You have been trying to entice her for weeks. The minute she shows a spark of interest, you go and jeopardize it. Like tonight, you called her a tart and don’t even try to deny it.”

  Ry winced at the blunt reprimand. “I’m a dope.”

  “Heads up, partner. There he is and there she goes. Damn she’s good, not only has she made contact, he doesn’t look one bit suspicious.”

  Ry seethed in his chair, watching them dance around the floor. The last place he wanted to be was here where the perp could see him, but as her ex in this little scenario he had to be visible. According to Amy, part of the allure for the killer was having his victims’ ex-boyfriends watch as he took them away.

  The fact that her receiver was off saved Ry’s hide during this stakeout. Listening to this guy sweet talk his woman drove him to say stupid things. “Amy, goddamn it, turn your receiver back on.”

  “Well, my little beauty, let’s see just how well you move in my arms.” Kazinsky whispered softly into her hair.

  “Amy, don’t you dare let him—”

  “She’s fine, Ry. Just be happy she didn’t pull her mike after what you said to her. You know the doc has a temper.”

  Ry glared at his partner. “The minute she does something that foolish, cover or not, she’s out of there. I don’t care if we blow this case.”

  “She’d never speak to you again.”

  “Too bad—” Ry’s answer was cut short when Amy ran her hand up the perp’s chest.

  “So, handsome, are you ever going to tell me your name?”

  “Call me Jim, my beauty.”

  Ry clenched his jaw every time she called the guy handsome. He had to force himself to keep still every time the suspect touched or stroked her. Amy had nailed his profile perfectly; he was a few years younger than himself and handsome. He had most of the women in this club watching him, envious of his Amy, wishing they were her.

  “Well Jim, do you like how I move?”

  “Is she crazy?” Ry had never felt so angry. How dare she lead him on like that?

  “I wouldn’t call her that, partner. I’d use the word determined when you talk to her.”

  Kazinsky purred. “That, my beauty, is impossible to answer. Your moves leave me speechless. How about we get out of here and see how well you move under me?”

  When Ry heard this Kazinsky’s suggestion for them to leave, he pushed back his chair in fury.

  “Sounds promising.” Amy purred into his ear. “Where exactly are we going?”

  Ry was ready to tear the guy’s head off, and he might have if Hank hadn’t grabbed his arm and forced him to sit back down.

  “Somewhere private and secluded where we won’t be interrupted.”

  “Afraid someone will steal me away?”

  Ry’s jaw was starting to hurt from clenching it so hard.

  “Something like that. I happened to notice your ex across the dance floor.”

  “How sweet.” Amy cooed at him, spiking Ry’s jealous haze up a notch. “Just let me go freshen up first then we can go.”

  “Make it quick, my beauty, I want to get you alone.”

  Ry closed his eyes and counted to ten. What the hell is she doing flirting with him?

  “I just need to pretty up a bit.”

  “Darlin’, you couldn’t get any prettier if you tried.”

  Ry could picture the seductive smile Amy gave him at that comment as she waltzed towards the ladies room.

  “He’s good, a crazy, insane serial killer, but good. You could learn a thing or two on how to handle women from him,” Hank teased.

  Ry glared at Hank in disgust. “Are you planning on being a part of his defense council? Really, Your Honor, his way with the women was sheer murder!”

  “I’ll go see what—”

  Ry reached out and grabbed Hank’s arm stopping him form moving. “After that little comment, you stay put. I’ll go.”

  “Adams?”

  “I’m on my way, Amy.”

  “No. I want Hank to come. No offense, Detective Stevens, but he’ll be more believable walking into the ladies room.”

  He heard the panic in her voice and ignored it. “I’m the senior officer on this case and I am your ex on this assignment. So you will be dealing with me whether you like it or not!”

  “If I see one hair of yours anywhere near me before it’s time to take him out, I’ll go with Jim without telling you and I’ll cut my mi
ke.”

  Damn infuriating woman

  , he thought angrily for the second time that night. “You will not. The moment your mike is cut, I will pull the plug on this little assignment of yours and all the women who get killed as a result will be on your head for breaking protocol.” “Then send me Hank!”

  “No!” The word was short, clipped, and to the point. Nor did it go over well at all.

  “Put it this way, you can pull your plug, but I’ll already be gone. Without backup, your threats don’t scare me—Jim hey.”

  “I got lonely, what’s taking so long darlin’?”

  “Line up handsome, it shouldn’t be much longer. See, the line is moving already.”

  “Are you stalling?”

  The slight chill in his words caused goose bumps to break out all over her arms and neck. Shit, shit, shit, shit. Come on, Doc, think of something.

  “Not a chance. I just gotta freshen up and tell my brother I’m leaving.”

  “I can be patient, darlin’. I’ll be at the bar when you’re ready.”

  Ry watched her from the corner of the hallway; his jaw clenched painfully tight. His jealousy ate him alive at the sight of her with another man. He tapped it down before approaching her.

  “Now don’t go picking up someone else,” she said, running her finger down his cheek.

  “Don’t worry, darlin’ I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Ry waited just long enough for their suspect to leave before making his approach. “Hey, Amy.”

  “Detective!” she replied coolly.

  He knew she wouldn’t be impressed, but hell, that response was really cold. “Now, now, Amy, don’t sulk.”

  “I warned you, Stevens. I told you I didn’t want to see you.”

  The urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her was almost more than he could take. “And I told you I was in charge. Now tell me what you have planned.”

  “I plan on fixing my make up, then letting Jim take me to his secret hide out.”

  Ry advanced on her. “With your mike on the entire time. Do we understand each other?”

  The smile she flashed him stopped him cold. “Then start acting like a jealous ex-boyfriend and kiss me, Stevens.”

  That was far from what he expected her to say. “What?”

  “Ry, Jim is coming this way. Kiss me damnit!”

  He’d been so stunned by her demand, he wasn’t sure how to respond.

  With a painfully pasted smile Amy tried again. “If it helps to tone down your revulsion, you can pretend I’m the woman of your dreams.”

  “Do what she says partner. He’s almost on you two. Just do what she suggested, pretend she’s the woman of your dreams.”

  Ry could picture the grin Hank was wearing and wanted to strangle him for that comment. “It’s not that simple, and you both know it.”

  “Then walk away and blow her cover.”

  Ry cursed them both. He wanted their first kiss to be memorable, not rushed or end with her leaving with another man. “That also isn’t an option.”

  “Then you should have let me go like she asked. I certainly wouldn’t have a problem kissing her right now.”

  Ry looked down at Amy. “I’m sure you wouldn’t, partner, except you’re supposed to be her brother. That would blow her cover for certain.”

  The blush that covered her cheeks at the conversation decided him.

  She must have sensed that he’d decided, cause she glared at him. “I’m not your girl anymore, you can’t tell me what to do.”

  Ry returned her glare, forcing himself into character. “Well, I don’t accept it. You’re my girl until I say differently. You will always be mine, Amy.”

  Amy’s breath caught at the intensity of his words. “Too little, too late, Ry. I met someone else, someone who thinks I look beautiful tonight. I’m leaving with him and nothing you say or do can stop me.”

  Ry had expected the rush of jealousy her defiant words evoked in him, he just hadn’t expected how strong he’d feel about it. “I know one thing you can’t resist.”

  He closed the distance between them with a step and crushed her body up against his. The moment his lips touched hers the acting stopped. His arms lifted her off her feet, his hands cupping her ass as he lost himself in her taste.

  ***

  Her arms came up and wrapped themselves around his neck. Mentally Amy knew she should be fighting him. But emotionally this is what she’d wanted since the first day she was introduced to Detective Ry Stevens.

  What girl wouldn’t with his dark Irish looks? The black hair that tempted you to run your fingers through it and those emerald green eyes that made him look dangerously sexy.

  And every woman she knew was attracted to dark and dangerous, even her. But she knew that he wasn’t dangerous. He was kind, sweet, and loving. Seeing him with his little niece proved that. Then there were his lips, those beautiful, sensual lips that made her knees buckle when he smiled. Caused his dimples to appear when he laughed. Those very lips that were passionately kissing with all the skill of her dream lover. That combination made him doubly dangerous to someone like her.

  “See I told you, you couldn’t resist,” he whispered against her lips.

  When she finally opened her eyes and saw the sneer he wore, she knew that he was still in character and the passion she’d felt wasn’t real. “I’ve had better,” she told him coldly. “Stay away from me. I won’t tell you again.”

  Ry reacted like she’d slapped him.

  “And consider that kiss a going away present; it’s the last one you’ll ever get from me.” Amy turned away from him before she started crying and blew her cover. “Jim, I was just on my way. I got a little side tracked.”

  “Is he being a problem?”

  “No, he just wanted to say goodbye. Just ignore him. Shall we go?”

  “I can’t blame him, darlin’. You are quite a piece of ass.”

  ***

  Ry was certain the anger showing on his face when he returned to the table told Hank all he needed to know.

  “So, good first kiss?”

  Ry pushed his way passed drunken patrons, knocking over a chair to get out the door to keep Amy in his sights so they wouldn’t lose her, ignoring Hank in his single minded determination to keep her safe.

  “That good? I mean the look on the doc’s face right after. Anyone watching could tell she reveled in it. Or she had until she looked up at your face. Tell me you weren’t frowning at her, or worse, pretending you didn’t love it.”

  “Hank, we’re partners at work. My personal life is off limits. Stop trying to act like my mother. For the record, I didn’t frown; I had my character firmly in place when she opened her eyes.”

  “Jesus Christ, Ry. Why not just tell her—”

  “Off limits, Hank.”

  “Am I or am I not your best friend? More to the point, am I not Doc’s oldest friend?”

  Ry stopped walking so suddenly Hank walked right into him. “That is beside the point. You, as my best friend, should be helping me keep my Amy alive, not berating me for being the biggest dumb ass on the planet.”

  Chapter 4

  “Nice car, what do you do for a living Jim?”

  “I’m in management.”

  Amy couldn’t stop thinking about Larry and his reaction to their first kiss. She’d been such a fool to think that he’d want to be with someone like her. “What kind of management?” she asked a little distracted.

  “Talent management. I look for beautiful women to manage. Help them get into acting if they have talent.”

  Feigning interest with a man while distracted turned out to be harder that she thought. But she pushed forward; she could deal with Larry and her humiliating experience later. “A talent agent! How exciting! Have you managed anyone I might know?”

  “A few; does that excite you darlin’?” Amy steeled herself not to pull away when he reached out to gently stroke her cheek.

  She giggled at him. “A little, I�
��ve never met a person who knew celebrities before.” This man looked so calm and collected. If she didn’t know whom she was dealing with, she’d have been very flattered by his attentions. Especially now that she knew detective Stevens wasn’t interested. That hurt. Over the past year she thought they might have been… well no matter. She’d been deluding herself the entire time; he hadn’t been making a move on her and she’d been in no position to accept.

  “Darlin’ you seem to be in a world all your own. Thinking about that man at the club? There seemed to be an intense attraction between the two of you.”

  Amy looked at him, burying her true feelings. “Lust pure and simple. Which can be sated just as easily with you if you’re willing; and you, I like.”

  “Well I’m certainly happy to hear that.”

  Amy looked out the car window and realized she was all alone in the middle of nowhere with a suspected killer. She started to get nervous and desperately wanted to turn on her receiver to hear the boys’ voices.

  She would even welcome Larry’s cool voice right about now. “When you said you wanted to take me somewhere we would be alone, you certainly meant it. I thought we’d go to a hotel, or even back to your place. Not somewhere this secluded.”

  Jim laughed at her entertained. She was sure he could sense her unease and seemed to be enjoying it. “We are going to my place. I have a little cabin not too far from here.”

  ***

  “Can you see his car?”

  “Sorry partner, I lost them about five minutes ago. There are so few cars down this road I had to hang back so he wouldn’t spot us following him.”

  Larry berated himself; he’d been so busy trying to figure out why Amy didn’t react to their kiss that he’d forgotten to keep an eye on the real woman. “Damn, Amy we need you to tell us where you are honey. We lost the tail.”

  “Partner you know she doesn’t have her receiver on.”

  Larry sighed, his fingers absently stroking his lips. “Yeah I know but, I have to do something or I’ll go crazy sitting here.”

  ***

  Amy hadn’t seen any headlights behind them from her side mirror for the past twenty minutes and she started to worry. Where can they be? They promised not to let me out of their site. Ry wouldn’t… No he’s too professional. The thought that perhaps they had lost her flashed through her mind in a panic. “Is that a stream I hear?”