LITMIR.BIZ

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investigation, he kept a close watch on it. Something about it niggled at him. Still trying to pull the thread from his mind, he got slammed back in time as it betrayed him. Jake’s last case with its similarities to his sister Eva’s was never far from his consciousness. The horror of it never left him. Shanna Wagner, a young girl, had been killed, thrown away like garbage because a man’s ego refused to handle her rejection.

      A cruel reminder he hadn’t heard back on the results of the DNA test George Spaulding had taken a few weeks ago. Not that he needed one. Every chance he got, Jake studied Eva’s file. He wanted to be prepared for the parole board when the time came. Inside his head, he understood murder. Though never far from his mind he wished in his heart…no use going there. In his sanctuary, his home, he philosophized, though it got him nowhere. From the beginning of time, man had killed man for his needs, wants and greed. Who was he to question the grand plan?

      The Missing Persons’ case files sat on the coffee table. Jake grabbed the top one, the Church file. He’d need to speak with Stack soon. And won’t that be fun. He started reading it then closed it. He snatched up his phone and hit redial. Again it went to voicemail. What was Kyra up to tonight? Gambling? Dating? Reconciling with her ex? Like he had the right to ask these questions or even wonder. How stupid was he to get involved with an almost-divorced woman? Jake closed his phone. The Missing Persons file needed his attention, not his libido.

      * * * *

      Carl checked to make sure Carrington was in homicide and not headed down to Missing Persons. He grabbed several Missing Person forms off his desk and started to fill them in with bogus names and interviews. He’d fix Jake and make him out to be a fool. If Carrington couldn’t find the people, he’d tell him he caught them at a floating crap game. He wanted evidence, he’d give it to him. His last lieutenant had never reviewed their files. It’s a pity Caulfield had chosen to retire. Why of all the damn lieutenants in the department had they picked Carrington to run MP?

      I better fill the rest of the forms out at home in case that bastard decides to stick his nose in my business again. And what should he tell Phil? God, he’d kill him for sure if he was the one who had set Carrington on him. The time isn’t right, but when it is, I’ll inform him of the problem.

      * * * *

      Where to begin, Kyra mused. She sipped her coffee and ignored the burning sensation in her gut. Her head spun with a dozen answers. “Joe Dillon’s my host at the casino—I’m in debt way over my head—he made me an offer to pay off my debt. It’s a chance for a fresh start,” she said, as she looked deep into Phil’s shadowy eyes. Phil was impossible to read and that bothered her.

      She inhaled, and finished her story. Bile choked her.

      “Is this out of the norm for you?”

      Of course it is. “Yes. He gave me two options. Neither appealed to me, both were out of the question, but I don’t have a choice.” She dropped her head in defeat.

      “Then why are you here?”

      Her head jerked up. “Excuse me?”

      “I asked, why are you here? It’s a simple question.” His voice hardened.

      “I told you I have no choice.”

      “Who said?”

      “I understood I had no choice when Joe presented it to me.”

      “We all have choices, Kyra. You can choose one of the options Joe presented to you or walk away and never look back.”

      “Without any trouble?”

      “I don’t cause trouble for anyone.”

      A lie I’m sure. “Okay.”

      “I understand you have a son. It must be hard to work full-time and be a parent.” He smiled. Though he tried for benevolent, it missed its mark.

      “I don’t want to speak about my son.”

      Now she was scared from her head to her toes. It was evident Phil liked fear. Was that how he controlled people?

      “Most times I can’t shut a mother up about her children.”

      “Trevor doesn’t come into this, understand?”

      “Are you threatening me, Kyra?” He smiled without mirth.

      “No,” she whispered.

      “Good. If I decide to use you, you’ll have no say in anything. Anything. You got that?”

      “Yes.”

      “Good. I don’t hurt children. I’m insulted that after spending less than half an hour with me you believe I do.” Anger peppered his words.

      “Trevor’s everything to me. I needed…I had to make sure.” Her voice quavered.

      “I understand. But you understand, if we move forward, I own you. Own you, Kyra.”

      She lowered her head, sat in silence. Her hands trembled. She paused to gather strength before she replied. “What you mean by ‘own me?’”

      “Exactly that. Do you need a dictionary?” He raised his left brow, the corner of his mouth twisted.

      “No. I’m under the impression I’m here for a certain function. What other things do you have in mind?” She raised her head, making eye contact again.

      “You’re here for a certain thing which might have to occur on more than one occasion. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

      “Yes.”

      “What are your reasons for accepting Joe’s deal?”

      She contemplated before answering. “I want my son back, Phil. I’ll do anything to get him back.”

      “How did you lose him?”

      “Gambling.” The flash of anger burned up her neck as her emotions, as always, showed on her face. It was times like this she wished she was a brunette.

      “I’m sure it was a tough lesson. How did it get out of control?”

      “I—” She stopped. I don’t know isn’t acceptable here.

      “Well?”

      “I let it take control of me. At the time I cared about nothing else.” She’d never said it aloud. For the first time, she realized the simple truth in her statement. Her heart—awash in shame—had to deal with the fact she hadn’t put Trevor first.

      “You didn’t care about your son?” A cruel man. He pushed her buttons.

      “From the moment I became pregnant, I loved and cared for my son. I can’t explain it to myself. How can I explain it to you?”

      “The answer should be simple. You control your actions. I control mine.”

      Cruel, yes. “I’m aware I made the wrong decisions, harmful decisions, decisions I have to live with, Phil, not you.”

      “You’re annoyed. Good.”

      “Good?”

      “Yes, good. Your answers are honest. Your anger is pointed at you, not at anyone else. I like that, because that’s where it belongs.”

      His words crushed her. Kyra waited for him to continue his attack against her character. It baffled her when Phil got up and walked to his desk. He pulled out his chair then sat. Next, he opened a drawer. “Join me over here, Kyra.”

      The man’s devious. He must be through testing me. She pushed off her chair, went to his desk. For some reason it hit her—that was the longest yard of her life.

      “Why are you smiling?”

      Startled. “Nothing.”

      He tilted his head at her. His scary eyes stared her down.

      She exhaled. “I didn’t realize I

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