Her Cowboy Doms(30)
“There’s been another murder. Same M.O. as the other one.”
“Shit.” Her stomach churned. “How many?”
“A family of five. The Harpers. They lived in the same area and the kids went to the same school. Other than those two things, there’s no connection between the cases.”
“What’s going on? What have we done so far?” She was up and moving toward her suitcase. Getting back to Atlanta was the priority. Even more important than getting to know Paul and Destin better. “I can be there in a few hours.”
“No. You can’t come back.”
“What? Of course I can. I have to. I’m the one who knows the most about the first case.” It was her duty to help.
“Georgia, we got a lead, a solid lead, that the killer left town a few days ago.”
“A few days ago and you’re just now calling me?”
“It’s not as simple as you’d think. You need that time off and I don’t want to ruin that for you.”
“So do you know anything more? Do you know who it is?”
“Yeah, an informant gave us a name. It’s Victor Manah, but the name’s probably a fake. We can’t bring any info up, not even a driver’s license. The captain thinks he might be an Iraq veteran that’s gone off his rocker. Our contact mentioned the tattoo of the snake with a white cross in the middle of its head. On the right arm, too.”
“And he’s sure he’s left town?”
“Yeah. We’ve got the word out around the country, but we don’t have a clue where he went. At least not yet. Georgia, our informant also said that he was asking around about you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. We don’t know how he got the information that you were the cop that saw him that day. Maybe from the papers? I don’t know. At any rate, our snitch said he was snooping around, trying to find out where you live.”
“Then that’s another reason for me to come back. If he comes looking for me, we can nail him.”
“According to the captain, that’s another reason to keep you out of town. We’ve got a patrol cruising by your home every so often, in case he shows up.”
“Does he know that I’m not there? Or where I am?”
“Not that we can find out. But this guy’s smart. I wouldn’t put it past him to dig that info up somehow. That’s part of why I’m calling you. I don’t want you to get blindsided. Stay alert, okay?”
“Okay, but I’m still coming back. I can’t stay here and do nothing. If he wants to find me, then let’s let him.”
“No, Georgia, you can’t. The captain knew I’d wind up telling you and that you’d go ballistic when you heard the news. He says he’ll make up charges, or call it protective custody and toss your butt in jail if you show your face in town. And me in the next cell.”
“He can’t do that.”
“I wouldn’t push it if I were you. And, Georgia?”
“Yeah? Spit it out. What else?” She held the clothes she was going to throw on against her chest.
“Stay there. The captain doesn’t want you here. He says you’d be in the way.”
She’d been stabbed once in the line of duty. That didn’t hurt half as much as what the captain had said. “That’s messed up,” she whispered.
“Yeah, it is. But that’s how it’s going down. I’m sorry, partner.”
She hung up, knowing Mack would understand when she didn’t say good-bye.
Victor Manah.
She’d waited a long time to put a name to the killer and now she couldn’t do anything about it.
* * * *
Georgia stared at her reflection in the mirror. The studded halter top and skirt hugged her body, bringing out curves even she didn’t know she had. The boots fit perfectly and she turned to study her legs. Wearing only her policewoman’s uniform as well as jeans and T-shirts most of the time, she’d forgotten how shapely her legs were.
But could she go to the club in the getup? Especially since she wasn’t wearing any underwear?
“I can’t do this.”
She’d taken an hour to get dressed, doing the best she could on her makeup and her hair. Then she’d sat and stared at the outfit laid out on her bed for thirty minutes more before she’d had the nerve to put it on.
What choice did she have? She could get her regular clothes on and head to the airport. But going back to Atlanta to sit around in her home while other cops were handling cases—including her case—would drive her insane. And if the captain found out, she might get Mack into trouble. The captain was tough and fair, but when he told an officer to do something, that officer damn well did it. Or else. She’d always liked that about the captain.