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CHAPTER 161
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Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 162
LincolnI’m almost asleep, but something’s bothering me. I get up and walk to the living room. I peer out the front window and stare sleepily at the empty space where Shelby’s car should be. Son of a bitch. She’s out doing her do-good bullshit. I’m instantly awake and angry. Also hell of worried.I’m driving to Central Avenue within ten minutes. It’s eleven thirty when I hit the section of town known for fulfilling every man’s desire if he’s willing to pay. These aren’t the high-dollar escorts by any means. Most of the ladies here have drug habits and other assorted problems.My first pass is non-productive. On the second, I notice a commotion on my right and crane my neck just in time to see Shelby fly backward and land on her ass. I pull my truck to the side of the road and charge out the door.A large woman dressed in skintight spandex with more hanging out than can be controlled by the unforgiving material is standing over Shelby with her hands at her waist.“I tol’ you get lost.
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 163
Lincoln“Hey, sleepyhead,” Shelby nudges me. “I need to take Daisy for a run. You coming?”I can’t even dignify her with an answer. I peer at the bedside clock, which reads five in the morning, tug the pillow Shelby used last night over my head, and fall back to sleep with Shelby’s soft laughter floating through the room.I wake up to the smell of bacon. The clock tells me it’s a few minutes after seven. Even with my late-night adventure, I feel refreshed. I jump in the shower and then dress and present myself in the kitchen within ten minutes. Shelby, in her running clothes, is sitting on my kitchen counter with a cup of coffee in hand. I walk over, take the coffee, and set it aside. Her lips are inviting and warm. She tastes of coffee and Shelby, and I think I could do this every morning for the rest of my life.Just. Like. This.I deepen the kiss and run my fingers under her shirt and beneath her bra. Her nipples are stiff peaks caused by the piercings. Always standing at perfect a
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 164
LincolnAs I’m leaving my office for the courthouse, my sergeant calls and asks me to come to his office. I’m in a hurry but take time to give him the rundown on the previous murders in Louisiana. And though it’s a very long shot, I tell him about the prostitute I plan to work a composite sketch with. What was once the glamorous job of an actual artist can now be done on a computer by any detective who’s been trained. A few years ago, I went to a free class taught by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to receive my certification. The department bought the software and it’s standard for us to do our own computer-generated photos now. They’re accurate as hell but like I said, a long shot.“I’ve spoken to Officer Wilder’s supervisor and we’re assigning him to assist you for the next two weeks.”I don’t reiterate that this guy’s timeline could include several murders in two weeks. Before that happens, I’ll make the call to the FBI myself. “Thank you, sir. Wilder’s a good
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 165
LincolnSeveral hours go by before I have the entire story. I didn’t take a knife off Donald Terry when I searched him. The knife was discovered on Shelby’s coffee table. Blood surged through my veins when I saw it. All I could picture was Shelby’s bloody and lifeless body.I sent two uniformed officers to accompany Terry to the hospital. One called an hour later while I was working with the crime scene techs and told me Terry had tendon damage that will eventually require surgery. Terry is medically cleared to go to jail.Shelby was driven to another hospital to be checked out. She wasn’t happy but I sent a text to her phone from across the room where we were surrounded by officers and evidence techs.Go, for me. PLEASE!She’s now wearing jeans and a T-shirt, which I retrieved from her room. She’s not acting like the crazy wild woman I care so much about and it guts me. She glances down at her phone then turns my way with a forlorn look before walking out the door. A female patrol of
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 166
LincolnI have forty-eight hours to deliver my report to the district attorney’s office. They press the formal charges. The next step will be presenting my case to the Grand Jury so they can decide if I have enough evidence to move forward. If I don’t have my report in, Terry walks and the process starts over while he’s a free man.With report and case file in hand, I carry it into the district attorney’s office with time to spare. I bring the entire case file to answer additional questions while the report is reviewed.It goes smoothly. I head to JFCR offices to pick up Shelby. She insisted on going into work and having a normal day. I didn’t tell her it would be far from normal with the media blasting what happened.She looks frazzled and relieved when I walk through the front door. She grabs her purse and leaves a group of people surrounding her desk. “I need to get out of here,” she whispers. I place my arm around her waist and we walk out. “My parents are requesting us at their h
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 167
LincolnWe walk into Shelby’s house so she can pack a bag. She removes a few scarves from the assortment spread throughout her home. Daisy is with us. He follows Shelby from room to room refusing to let her out of his sight.When she’s ready, we lock up and head over to my place. I’m carrying two large bags and Shelby has a small one. By the weight of the two bags I hope she’s moving in permanently.I place everything in my bedroom. Shelby carries her smaller bag into the bathroom. I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m still exhausted. I remove my shoes and socks, lie back on the bed face up, and close my eyes. I’m sideways, so my feet are touching the floor.The bed dips a few minutes later when Shelby scoots in beside me. Her lips touch mine and I don’t bother opening my eyes. I reach over, grab her hips, and pull her on top of me. She’s naked and I smile against her lips. I hear a soft whine from the doorway and ignore it. Daisy needs a playmate for just these times. I’ll think ab
Hotter Than Hell CHPTER 168
LincolnMy parents’ home is a far cry from Shelby’s parents’ mansion. We drive up the dirt road leading to their property. I can tell by Shelby’s smile that she’s already in love. I knew she would be and that’s why I refused to answer any questions about my parents throughout the week.Their Pueblo-style home has orange stuccoed outer walls. There’s an iron gate that leads into a small comfortable courtyard complete with a Mexican chiminea for the cooler winter months.I park and open my door. Shelby waits for me to walk around and help her out, but Daisy has no manners. He jumps down and begins sniffing the desert landscaping. I’m unconcerned. My parents own several acres.The yapping alerts me that the dual terrors are on the attack. They fly out of the courtyard with my mother on their heels. “Come back here you pig-headed bandits,” she yells. They attack Daisy, who has no idea what’s happening. They jump and bite and growl. Daisy looks at me like fleas are attacking on him.“You’r
Hotter Than Hell CHAPTER 169
Lincoln“I loved them,” Shelby sighs wearily on our way home.“They love you too,” I say with absolute conviction.“If it bothers you to talk about it, it’s okay, but I was hoping you would tell me about your brother Rutherford?”The question hangs for a moment. I do my best to keep my voice neutral and not show how much the topic angers me. “He went to Afghanistan, did three tours. The war changed him. He had a best buddy who died over there too. That was bad enough. Then my brother Andrew was murdered while working the border. Rutherford didn’t handle it well to say the least. He didn’t make it home in time for the funeral. He showed up two months later, no longer in the Marines.”“I’m so sorry,” Shelby says.“He went to Mexico to find the men who killed Andrew. It didn’t matter what we all told him. The government was doing everything they could to find and prosecute the drug cartel. He didn’t call my parents for months at a time. My mother was sick with worry, my father furious. H
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