They sat in silence for a long time, and Gavin revisited the laughter and joy of those two minutes.
“He loved B.B. King.”
“Afterwards…” Gerri stared at him with big questioning eyes. “Did you dream about it? Did you have nightmares?”
She sounded like such a little girl in that moment, like she didn’t really want to know the monsters she asked about. But Gavin had to be honest.
“Sometimes I still do.”
He looked over at her, and was gutted by the emotion on her beautiful face.
“You need to talk to Dr. Newman, Gerri. He can help.”
She burst into tears, and Gavin scooted closer and wrapped his arms around her. He held her for a long time while she cried, cooing softly and whispering words of encouragement.
He truly did know what she was going through, he’d lived it. He knew the guilt she couldn’t help but feel, no matter how misguided. He tightened his arms around her, wanting only to take her pain away.
Gerri looked up into his eyes, and Gavin was lost in her hypnotic beauty — so lost he had no idea what was happening until he felt her lips on his.
“Gerri…”
He tried to pull away, but she clung to him.
“Please.”
She kissed him again, this time with clear intent.
Gavin was powerless.
He gently took her face in both of his hands, and kissed her deeply, his hands sinking into her silky black hair.
He felt her hands at his waist, pulling at his shirt and lifting it up as their kiss became something fevered and urgent.
Clothes fell away, along with all of his reasons for not getting romantically involved with her.
“I need a condom,” he mumbled.
“I don’t care.”
“I do. Don’t move.” He left her to fish a condom from the pocket of his pants, thanking his lucky stars he’d never tossed them aside after the divorce.
He rolled it on in total disbelief that this was actually happening. Then he reached for her.
Her body was everything he’d been fantasizing about ever since she’d let her feelings for him be known — full, perky breasts, a tiny waist, rounded hips and a tight, firm ass.
His hands didn’t know where to begin, so he led with his mouth, exploring every inch of her with his lips and his tongue, bringing her to vibrating completion before he’d even entered her.
When he finally did, she wrapped her long shapely legs around him and hung on for the ride.
He pounded into her with an abandon he hadn’t expected. Hearing his name drop from her lips, first in moans and then in screams, triggered emotions inside him he’d thought were long gone.
They sailed over the edge of ecstasy together, and Gavin knew with every fiber of his being that he never wanted to be without this woman again.
5
Back at the station, Isaac and Pete spent the afternoon looking into Bobby Cook’s background and his friendship with Craig Wentworth.
“Listen to this.”
Pete’s tone said he’d just stumbled on something interesting, and Isaac looked up from his computer.
“What you got?”
“It seems Kim Barns was right about our vic being a loner. Even in high school he was kind of an awkward duck with very few friends.”
“Okay.” Isaac drew the word out as he tried to piece this kid together.
“But he was always tight with Craig Wentworth. They go as far back as fourth grade from what I can tell.”
“Hmm. Long time.”
“Yeah,” Pete continued. “His social media didn’t raise any flags. He’s got a presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Snap Chat, but not much of one. He doesn’t post often, and when he does there’s not much engagement. Nothing that would make you think someone was pissed enough at him to string him up and cut him. No girlfriends. No enemies. Just nothing.”
“Huh. Well, I’m not finding anything unusual in Bobby Cook’s financials,” Isaac stated. “His parents pay his tuition in full, and keep a small amount of spending money in his account. He doesn’t seem to have a part time job. No unexplained big purchases. Nothing.”
He sat back and thought again about touching the victim. He knew it would be the easiest way to get a lead they could follow, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to do it. He couldn’t open himself up to that kind of torment right now.
He was about to say as much to Pete when a presence suddenly loomed over his desk. He looked up to see Dr. Clark Newman standing there.
“You’ve been avoiding me for two weeks, Sergeant. I’ve let it go for as long as I can.”
Isaac sat back in his chair with a sigh.
“You can’t be serious, Doc.”
Newman smiled at him. “You know the rules, Detective. I don’t make them up; I only help enforce them. With your lieutenant’s help, of course. In fact, the only reason I’ve let it slide this long is because I’m aware of how shorthanded the homicide unit is right now. But we’ve got to get it over with sometime.”
Isaac rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll be in your office in ten minutes.”
Dr. Newman cocked an eyebrow at him.
“I give you my word, Doc.”
“All right.”
He turned and walked away, and Isaac looked at Pete, who smirked at him.
“Stop killing people and you won’t have to see him anymore.” Pete chuckled at his own joke.
“Just wait. Your turn is coming.”
Isaac stood and walked straight for the break room. If he had to go head-to-head with Doc Newman again, he was going to make sure to be on his toes. He grabbed one of
