All the Deadly Lies Read online

  They called it a night at ten-thirty. Chloe never left the house. The light in her room went out at ten-fifteen. They circled the block a couple of times to make sure she wasn’t on her way out. He dropped Officer Jones at the station at ten forty-five.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

  “Good night, Tara. It’s been nice working with you.”

  “Same here, sir,” she said, getting out of the car.

  Chapter 20

  Jake pulled up outside Louie’s house, an old Victorian, at eight forty-five. Louie barely got his ass in the seat before the door closed and Jake took off.

  “We need to pick up Houston before noon. I promised the vet. We have to do it before the interviews.”

  Jake agreed and drove to the vet’s office. Two cars were in the parking lot. Jake hoped they belonged to the staff. He had to get to the office and had no time to wait around. Jake pulled his collar up to block the wind as soon as he climbed out. Once inside, Louie walked right to the desk. The receptionist led him to the back of the place. Restless, Jake paced the waiting room until a dog with sad, chocolate-brown eyes came out of the back. When the puppy saw Jake, she cowered in the corner and started shaking, peeing on the rug. Jake approached it, holding out his hand. The dog sniffed it and drew up into itself further.

  Poor thing. He stroked its back and neck until the dog started to relax a bit.

  “Sad, isn’t it,” Doctor Glass said from behind him. “Some idiot abused the poor thing. She shies away from men. But she seems to be taking to you.”

  Rubbing the dog’s back, he got lost in her brown eyes. “I find people are crueler than animals, Doc.”

  “People, animals—cruel is cruel—I guess we both see it in our professions. Louie’s still in the back with Houston. He’ll be right out.”

  “Thanks. Are you giving the dog back to the abuser?”

  “Not in a million years. After I finish treating her, she’ll have to go to the shelter. I hope and pray someone will adopt her before they have to put her to sleep. She’s a good, gentle animal—she’s a beagle mix with a little Dalmatian in her.” He eyed Jake. “Do you want a dog?”

  “I’d love one, but I work long hours. It wouldn’t be fair to her.”

  Doctor Glass walked to the treatment area, leaving him with the dog, who now rested her head on his knees as she looked up at him begging him for a home.

  “I wish, but you’d be alone all day. What kind of life would that be for you?” The Gaelic girl’s name Brigh popped into his head. It stood for strength, power, and force, things she’d need in order to survive. His heart opened a little wider.

  God! I’m already naming her.

  No, he couldn’t take her. It would be an injustice to her. Taking her face in both hands, he looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  He hadn’t had a dog since his and Eva’s had died. Their dog, Roger, died less than six months after Eva. God, he swore the dog had died of a broken heart. Jake pushed up as Houston came bouncing out before Louie and jumped up on him. The dog in the corner backed away and tried to make herself smaller. Jake grabbed Houston’s collar with his left hand as Brigh inched over to reclaim him.

  “A new addition to your house?”

  “No, Louie.” She is beautiful, though. “Let’s go. We have a lot to do.”

  But Brigh was on his mind for the rest of the day.

  * * * *

  Saturday night while dressing for dinner, Jake looked back over his day. In today’s mail, he received his notification letter from the parole board. Spaulding would come before them on October fifth. There was no mention of the DNA test he had requested. I guess the family’s not privy to such information. Blindside them when they come to testify. What rights do they have?

  Thank goodness Shamus let him know Monday would be the collection of the specimen. He hadn’t slept a full night since Shamus had told him about Spaulding’s request. Every time that bastard came up for parole it affected every part of his life.

  The interviews with Meryl Drake and Mark Cavilla had given him few answers and more questions. He would listen to them again tomorrow, or maybe Monday.

  According to the detectives who followed Chloe around all day, the only time she went out was to the grocery store with her mother. For the remainder of the day she stayed at home.

  The detectives on shift also reported in. She was still home at seven. Jake figured if she went out, it would be around nine or ten o’clock, what he considered the normal time for a Saturday night adventure. He told the detectives to call his cell phone and leave their updates in a message, because he wanted no interruptions this evening. By ten tonight, he hoped to be immersed in dinner and dessert.

  The letter sat atop his dresser as he got ready for dinner. Jake tried to shake his morose thoughts from his head. Tonight, nothing was going to distract him from Mia. Or at least he hoped not.

  At seven-thirty, he headed out to Mia’s condo. Hitting no traffic, he arrived at eight. A whole week had gone by, with a heavy caseload, mounds of paperwork, and new leads. Every spare minute he could find he’d spent it with her for a quick lunch, dinner, or a fast phone call. They talked about everything, and never hit a low in the conversation. He was glad her concerns were behind them and wouldn’t present any issues to interfere in the actives he had planned.

  Woodbury, a small, quaint New England town located fifteen miles outside of Wilkesbury didn’t fit in with the cosmopolitan woman in his head. Why Mia had settled here was food for thought. She owned a condo/townhouse in one of Woodbury’s exclusive areas. As he raised his hand to ring the bell, the front door opened. His cop’s eyes missed nothing as he absorbed his surroundings. He stepped into a generous foyer done in shades of gray. A huge vase filled with various types of colorful flowers in the far corner sat on the gray slate floor.

  To his right, the living room caught his eye. Furniture done in bold reds and whites accented a big bow window dressed in red drapes and long, white flowing sheers, and lots of red throw pillows strewn about on the white leather furniture. Green leafy plants scattered throughout the room. The hardwood floor, polished to a high gloss, poked out from under the oriental area rug, which was white and red, with specks of yellow and black. A tidbit of information slipped into his thoughts from his last case. The psychiatrist told him red stood for blood, fire, and emotions. Didn’t psychologists shy away from it?

  The room was beautiful, but it was the woman who drew and held his attention. Mia wore a black, sleeveless, body-hugging dress, which emphasized each and every curve. The wide v-bodice further heated his blood. His eyes took it all in, from the skinny belt accenting her waist to the sexy, black strappy high heels adding to her height. I’m a goner. He leaned in for kiss.

  In her response, he felt the promise.

  She pulled away and said, “Hello.”

  “You look amazing.”

  “Thanks, come into the living room.” Jake followed her into the room.

  “What smells so good, besides you?” He rubbed his hands down her arms and took her hands in his, not wanting to break contact.

  “I went simple with steak and potatoes, and a side salad. You must smell the appetizers. It’s a pastry stuffed with spinach and cheese.”

  “It sounds great. Do you want me to grill the steaks?”

  “No, I’ve got it. What would you like to drink?”

  Their voices stretched as tight as strings on a violin as they performed the mating dance. They both knew where tonight would lead, dinner, a prelude to the ultimate event. Food would not quench the hunger each experienced.

  “I’ll have what you’re drinking.” He didn’t sit down.

  “White wine?”

  “Yes. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “No. I have it under control. Instead of the living room why don’t you come in the kitchen and kee
p me company while I put the finishing touches on the table?”

  He followed her down the hall. One wall was covered in photographs both in color and black and white, offering a glimpse into her life. His training kicked in as he took in everything he saw, including the teasing sway of her ass with each step. In the huge kitchen/dining area, three large windows faced the woods in back, giving him a full view of the deck and yard. Mia walked to the center island and began chopping lettuce for a salad.

  Jake continued to scan the room for exits before banking the contents in his head. The oval mahogany dining table could seat at least twelve people, but was set for two. An easy elegance that was Mia was reflected in the bone china and crystal, along with fresh flowers and the low lighting that set the mood.

  Mia set the tray of appetizers on the island, then poured the wine and handed him a glass. Jake clinked his glass to hers, took a sip, and never took his eyes off her.

  “You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble,” Jake said, eyeing the fancy table.

  “It wasn’t any trouble. I like to entertain and don’t do it enough. And it’s a special night.” With a seductive smile over the rim of the wine goblet, she brought the glass to her lips and took a sip.

  He set his glass down and went to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. She shivered in his arms.

  “What makes it so special?” he whispered, nibbling on her neck.

  She leaned into him and moaned. “Your first time here, and…” She blushed, all of a sudden shy.

  “And…”

  Disengaging his arms from her waist, she walked to the fridge “Here, I changed my mind. Why don’t you cook the steaks? It’ll keep your hands busy.” She smiled.

  “I liked where my hands were,” he answered.

  “Mmm.”

  “Mmm, that’s it?”

  “Yep.”

  “Mia, you have to give me a little more encouragement.” He shot her a grin.

  “If I gave you any more encouragement, we’d be on the floor right here, right now, having sex like dogs.” She fluttered her lashes.

  “It works for me,” he said.

  “Well, it doesn’t work for me, Jake. So go out and cook.”

  “Boy, you’re tough.” He took the steaks outside, fiddled with the grill until it lit, and then placed the steaks in the center of it.

  She had timed everything to the minute. Mia put the salad on the table when he walked back in with the steaks. She grabbed the bread off the counter and set it on the table between them before she sat down next to him.

  Jake broke off a piece of bread, buttered it, and handed it to her. Though the food was good, he had a taste for other things tonight and couldn’t wait to sample them. Her arctic-blue eyes drew him in until he was lost. With her it was easy to speak about his caseload. He told her as much as he could without stepping over the line.

  Mia spoke in depth about her book, piquing his interest. He asked to read it, but she told him no, not until it was finished. She spoke about an article she’d written and sold to Cosmo magazine. The excitement in her voice pleased him.

  Again, it bothered him how she skimmed over her family. It left him curious but he figured in time she’d talk about them.

  Through the meal, they ate, talked and laughed but most of all, they flirted. The sexual tension in the room grew to the bursting point.

  “You’ve enchanted me. I’ve got nothing on my mind but you.” He rubbed his hand over hers.

  “You don’t know how much I’ve looked forward to tonight, to having you all to myself for the entire evening…”

  Jake stood, his plate in his hand.

  “No, don’t, Jake. I got it.”

  “No, I’ll help, it’ll go faster.”

  “Why, are you in a hurry for dessert?” Mia looked at him from under her long black eyelashes.

  He pulled her up from the chair and cradled her in his arms. “Oh yeah, if you mean dessert is being served upstairs.”

  “You’re so transparent. Put me down or the kitchen will never get cleaned.”

  He put her down. “As I said, let’s work fast.”

  “Do you want some coffee with your dessert?” She grinned.

  “You’re serious. You’re serving dessert?”

  “I am, unless you have a better offer.” With a coy twist of a strand of hair, she batted her eye lashes at him.

  He chuckled as she had intended. “Oh, you bet. Do you have any whipped cream?” He picked her up, threw her over his shoulder fireman style, as he raced up the stairs. Mia giggled. “No.”

  “It’s a pity. What I can do with whipped cream would make you crazy.” He laughed, hoping he could slow down, because he was as hard as the dining room table.

  “I’ll hold you to it for the next time.”

  At the top of the stairs, he asked, “Which way?”

  “To your right and down at the end of the hall.” Mia pointed.

  His trained eyes took in everything and nothing as his blood pounded through his veins. I need to make love to this woman, was his only thought. He wanted his hands and mouth on her. In this moment, nothing else existed for him but her.

  With care, he laid her upon the bed, caressing her body with his eyes as he sank in next to her. The black dress exposed her toned arms and full breasts. Good God, those legs drove him crazy strapped into those sexy shoes. He hoped he could exercise some control, because he felt sixteen again, and he needed to remind himself to slow down and breathe.

  He ran his finger over her throat, tracing a path to her cleavage, circling around the bare skin. Mia shuddered under his touch as he continued to run his fingers down the length of her. Rolling on top of her, he followed the path of his fingers with kisses. He laid his head on her breast and listened to her heart gallop as it almost pushed him over the edge. The dress needed to go. He grabbed the hem and inched it up over her thighs. The garter belt would be his undoing if he didn’t get a grip on the emotions swirling around inside him. Slipping the dress over her head, he locked eyes with her. Now, all she wore was the garter belt, stockings, and heels.

  Mia was the fantasy he didn’t even realize he had.

  Not wanting to rush his exploration of her body, he’d bring her to the edge, then back off before he sent her there again. Rolling to his side, he ran his hands and eyes over her. Her body invited him to experience more. The time she spent in the gym showed in every muscle and curve of her body. He traced circles over her biceps, down to her hands, over to her flat stomach as he explored each indent and flare of her body. On overload, he was ready to take her. Reaching for her, she dodged him and pushed him onto his back.

  * * * *

  Her lips parted as she watched him through half-closed eyes as she gripped the sheets in her fists, panting, arching into him. Each sensation more tantalizing than the last as his gentle touch floated over her. If he didn’t take her soon she’d go mad. When she thought she couldn’t take more, he sent her flying higher. In a fog, she heard a husky voice begging him to finish it. Realizing it was her own, she increased the motion of her hips, shuddering with need—hoping he’d join with her and shoot her up and over to heaven.

  Then it was her turn to discover. Undressing him, she glided her hands over his exposed flesh, teasing to the point of no return. His taut body excited her as he reacted to her touch. At the silky, hard muscle pointing straight up, she stopped, admired and caressed as it vibrated in her hand. His body felt warm. Oh yes, a well-disciplined body. She loved his reddish-brown hair, which surprised her—she always went for blondes. When they were together, she got lost in his green, green eyes. When they weren’t together, she dreamed of them. His intelligent eyes always looked at her as though they could devour her. As if no one else existed or mattered but her. No one had ever looked at her with such passion and need. His focus was all-encomp
assing and she loved it. She trailed kisses down his body. When she took him in her mouth she felt the power as he begged her to finish him off.

  She was ready when he reached down and lifted her on top of him and glided into her with a slow, steady rhythm, her need building with each stroke. She thrusted her hips to match his as their rhythm synced, until at last, together they jumped over the edge—the orgasm shredding them both. The act of love was completed with their eyes and bodies locked on each other.

  She stretched out on top of him, spent but wanting more.

  She felt the wild beat of his heart against hers. Looking down into his eyes, she moaned and in a husky voice said, “Wow.”

  “I don’t have words for it.”

  “I’m looking forward to the next time.” Mia rolled onto her back and pulled Jake on top of her as she laughed. “So, are you ready?”

  “You bet.”

  “You’re a man of few words.” She cocked her head.

  “Let me show you how a man of action speaks.” Jake wiggled his brows.

  Jake woke at six o’clock on Sunday morning, thrilled to find Mia spooned into him. He pressed his body closer to hers as he nibbled his way down her neck.

  She stirred, turning toward him. “Good morning.”

  “Morning, I didn’t wake you, did I?”

  “No.”

  When he kissed her on the mouth, she pushed him away. “I have to brush my teeth.”

  He grabbed her, kissed her again. “Don’t go.”

  * * * *

  Sunday they stayed in, made love, and then made love again. Content in each other’s company, they kept the world at bay.

  Having no choice, he checked his voicemail throughout the weekend. Chloe didn’t go out on Saturday night. Meryl Drake and Mark Cavilla did. Meryl had gone to a friend’s house in New Britain and stayed until eleven. Mark drove over to a country and western bar in Southington and hung out until one-thirty. Both went home alone. On Friday, Jake had subpoenaed Chloe’s phone records. The subpoena covered both home and cell, something he’d follow up with on Monday. He’d also request one for Drake and Cavilla’s phones.