lips.
Standing in the doorway, he gazed at her through narrowed eyes. His voice cracked with humor and another stronger emotion.
“Don’t get used to having that big bed all to yourself, sugar. This is one genie we’re not even gonna try and put back in the bottle.”
Lexie lay quietly reveling in the tremors still raking body. A slight smile crossed her lips. She sighed with relief and whispered to herself. Thank you, God. Now I know what it is supposed to feel like.
Chapter 27
Lexie huddled in a ball on the sofa, staring unseeing at the television. The dark haired newscaster could barely suppress her excitement, describing the horrific killing. Over and over, Bella’s beautiful face flashed on the screen with quick cutaways to the crime scene. As if in a dream, she heard snatches of Dannie and Shelly’s interviews. Their voices were as excited as the newscaster’s. The camera continued to scan from their heavily made up faces to their risque costumes. Dannie must have made a backroom deal with the cameraman. Every close-up managed to catch a full frontal view of her plentiful breasts. From her suggestive smirk, it was obvious she was enjoying her ten minutes of fame.
Lexie groaned at the spectacle. Talk about a made for television circle jerk. She could only imagine the news station executives licking their lips over the salacious story. Like sharks smelling blood in the water, they must be shrieking at their luck. A beautiful call girl killed inside the most prominent strip club in town? Not only killed. Mutilated, dismembered? And a cast of supporting players like Dannie and Shelly, only to eager to show off their nearly naked bodies for the camera. Occasionally, the screen went to shots of Sergio rushing into the club, his hands in front of his face. Lexie managed to grunt in approval. At least he had some decency.
“You fucking bitch! It’s your fault! Goddamn it! Bella’s dead and it should have been you! Do you hear me? It should have been you! Not Bella…not…not my Bella.”
Over and over, Lexie replayed Sergio’s message on her cell phone. Its shrill ring had wakened her from a deep sleep. His angry diatribe made her stomach heave, no matter how many times she heard it. She didn’t bother to get up, even when she felt like she might throw up. She’d already retched her guts out. There was nothing left. No need to crawl to the bathroom again. She’d rather lay here and watch the television glorify Bella’s murder than lay on the cold bathroom tile thinking that she might throw up when she knew she couldn’t.
Ignoring the clanging sound she heard in the recesses of her mind, she turned her attention to the television to see Chief Burton on the screen. Like Sergio, he held up his hands with a curt “No Comment” to the dozens of reporters shoving microphones in his face. Their excited questions and jostling bodies confirmed the sideshow was the one they’d been waiting for. The opportunity to make their careers. It was too bad Bella had been so beautiful, Lexie thought. Ugly victims didn’t get this kind of attention. She knew from experience that it was hard to get the press to pay attention to the ugly ones, the poor ones, or the ones that had been abused. That story had been done too many times to make it newsworthy. No, this was the kind of news story the vultures dreamed about, waited for their whole career.
~~~
“Lexie, where are you, darlin’?”
Jake unlocked the door and called out. He’d rung the bell at least ten times. It was clear that she hadn’t heard it. Or more likely that she didn’t want to answer it. From the doorway, he heard the television blaring. He almost didn’t see her crouched in a tiny ball on the sofa. Fuck. He wondered how much she knew. Probably everything, from the vacant stare he received. It was much like the frozen fugue state he’d seen when she read the autopsy report.
He shut off the television and kneeled down beside the sofa. The silence in the room was deafening. The smell of bile and traces of vomit on her rumpled t-shirt left little to the imagination. Her pale face and the haunted expression in her eyes underscored her pain.
“Oh, darlin’, let me hold you.”
Jake wedged next to her and dragged her limp body into his arms. He stroked her cheek, pushing her tangled hair back off her face.
“I’m so sorry, Lexie. So goddamn sorry. I know she was your friend. It’s hideous, baby. Wicked and hideous.”
She muttered something, but so softly that he couldn’t hear.
“Say it again, Lexie. I couldn’t hear you.”
“It…it was supposed to be me.”
Jake grimaced. How the hell did she know about the note? He’d only heard about it minutes ago from the chief.
“What do you mean, Lexie?”
“It’s my fault. It was supposed to be me.”
When he started to disagree, she shook her head and clicked on her cell phone. Jake groaned at the gruesome message, damming Sergio to hell in his mind. The fucker was going to be sorry, sorrier than he’d ever been in his worthless life. Nothing like attacking the innocent, not acknowledging the danger he’d ignored in his midst.
“Listen, baby. Sergio is striking out. He knows damned well what was going on under his nose. He let it happen. Didn’t care who got hurt as long as he protected his ass. He preferred to ignore it and get a monstrous payoff in the process. He’s a piece of worthless shit, Lexie. Don’t let him get to you.”
Jake debated whether to tell her about the note, but before he could decide, she broke in.
“I know who killed her, Jake. It’s the same person who killed Anthony. Isn’t it?”
Jake sighed. “Yeah, darlin’, it’s looking that way.” He muttered, “Or at least someone wants us to think so.”
She stared at him. Her eyes were dark pools of agonized pain.
“You don’t understand, Jake. I know who it is. It’s that man. The Watcher. I know it is. And Jake, he…he… might be a cop.”
Jake jumped to his feet, nearly knocking her off the sofa. Seeing the fear on her face, he did his best to stay calm. Not alarm her further.
“Okay, Lexie. That’s quite a bombshell. Tell me what you know, baby.”
A massive tremor shook her body. She buried her face in her hands.
“You don’t understand, Jake. I…I could have prevented it. It’s my fault Bella is dead. I didn’t tell you last night. If I had, she’d be alive…”
Her voice trailed off to a grief-stricken whisper.
Jake took a deep breath then knelt in front of her. He bracketed her face between his big hands.
“Lexie, listen to me. Whatever you know, or think you know, you could not have prevented her death. Darlin’, Bella was killed while we were fighting those fucking drug lords in the alley. The cops found her when they answered our call. The chief didn’t call me until after I left here last night. I didn’t have the heart to come back and tell you. I hoped that I could get to you this morning before anyone else did. But somehow the fucking press got wind of it early and…well, you know the rest.”
He picked her up and stood her by the sofa.
“But, before you tell me what you know, we’re gonna take care of you.”
He steered her toward the bedroom, then on to the bathroom. He held her in his arms, hating how fragile she was. He tipped her chin up and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“First, darlin’, we’re gonna get you cleaned up. Then you and I are going to have a long conversation. And while we’re doing that, you are going to sip on the tea I’m about to make and maybe even eat a piece of toast. Meet me in the kitchen, sugar, when you get rid of that smelly t-shirt. And wash your face.”
