Before the Dawn(26)

He took the flowers toward her bed. He put them on her pillow.

She'd find them when she came back that night. The flowers that he'd selected especially for her. They'd be in her safest place.

They'd terrify her.

Her terror was exactly what he wanted.





  CHAPTER SIX

"NO, JINX ISN'T HERE." The guy behind the counter-a tall, thin man with sleeve tats and a dragon that circled his neck-frowned as he stared at Tucker. "We got plenty of other artists in the back, though, if you're looking to get inked."

He wasn't looking, not at the moment. Tucker pulled out his ID. "I need to ask Jinx some questions and I was told her shift started at noon."

The guy's expression immediately became shuttered when he saw the badge. "Look, I get that Jinx had trouble with the law a long time ago. She told me all about that, and I hired her because I believe in her. This is the first time in a year that she hasn't shown up like she was scheduled. Jinx is a good-"

"She didn't show up for work today?"

The man glowered. "Didn't I say she wasn't here already?"

"Did she call to say where she was?" The first time in a year. That wasn't a good sign.

"She didn't call." The man crossed his arms over his chest. "But she's probably just sick. Like I was saying, she's a good tattoo artist. The best I've seen in this town. I don't want the law hassling her."

He needed to play this better. So he switched gears. "I know a friend of hers, okay?"

"What's that friend's name?" Suspicion was heavy on the man's face.

"Dawn Alexander." The name would probably mean nothing-

A wide smile broke across the guy's face. "Should have started with that." He shoved aside Tucker's ID and offered his hand for a shake. "I'm Malone Blade. I own this shop." He pumped Tucker's hand. "Dawn... How's she doing?" He cocked a brow. "Still loving those tats?"

Dawn has tats? He kept his face expressionless. "Absolutely."

Malone nodded. "Jinx did a great job on them. When you're dealing with scars, you always have to be extra careful. Covering them can be a tricky business."

A lump rose in Tucker's throat, but he swallowed it back.

"Covering scars, though, that's a specialty with Jinx. She can turn something that was an ugly reminder into something beautiful." Malone gave a low whistle. "I swear, those roses look real on Dawn. The detail that Jinx did with the petals is truly amazing. Got to give my girl props. She is one talented woman."


      ///
       
         
       
        

And she was also a woman who wasn't there. "Any idea where I can find her?"

Malone sighed. "Honestly, I'm not sure. Like I told you already, she's not usually late like this."

"You tried calling her?"

His eyes narrowed. "Yeah. But I just got her voice mail." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not the kind of boss who keeps twenty-four-seven tabs on his employees, you know?" But there was still an edge of worry in his eyes. "Why did you need to ask her those questions?" He put his hands on the counter once more. "Did something happen to Dawn?"

"Dawn is fine."

A relieved sigh slid from Malone. "Good. Because I owe that woman and getting Jinx to tat her...hell, that isn't payback. Not even close to payback."

He owed Dawn?

Malone reached behind him and pulled a framed photo off the wall. In the photo, he had his arm around the shoulders of a young, redheaded girl. "My baby, Melanie." He swallowed. "She got involved with drugs. I told her to stay away from that lifestyle, but she got hooked and then she ran away. The cops couldn't find her. Hell, I don't think they even tried. Another junkie on the street. Not exactly high priority for them."

Tucker tilted his head as he listened.

"Dawn took my case. She found my girl within the week. And twenty-four hours after that, Dawn and I had Melanie in rehab." He smiled as he stared down at the photo. "She's at Tulane now-going to be a lawyer. Turned her whole damn life around." Carefully, he put the framed photo back up on the wall. "The tats were supposed to be part of my thank-you to Dawn, but she and Jinx, they got to talking...and the next thing I know, Dawn found a place for Jinx to live."

She moved Jinx into her building.

"She's a fixer," Malone murmured. "You tell Dawn your problems, and she makes them go away."

But no one makes her problems vanish.

"I owe her," Malone said again. "So if there is trouble, I want to know about it."