Chapter Eleven
Con nodded at the cops gathered around the table when the captain introduced him as a DAMN liaison.
He didn’t blink or react, but the room went silent, and he was pinned with stares.
Not all of the looks were friendly. A few challenged his right to be involved in an investigation, but Rey shut them up, promising the reasons would become clear.
Two additional detectives, a forensics scientist, a profiler, and a psychologist sat at the table. A large whiteboard was in front of the room, and Rey’s boss had a tight grip on the only marker. Power.
Water, paper, and pens were laid out, but everyone seated, except Con, had an electronic pad. He’d keep his notes in his head. The new people glanced through the case files, instructed to read them thoroughly later.
The captain asked Rey to summarize and share what they knew so far—not much. She outlined the steps they had already taken, their suspicions, and their plans.
“For now,” said the boss, still writing Rey’s points on the big board, “assign Lou and Simon tasks.”
She glanced at Con. He could tell she was trying to think of non-essential jobs.
“Great. Maybe you guys could check with the morgue and pick up George’s report.
And the one from forensics. You might have to kick ass to get the ball rolling with Mommy.
And how about interviewing patrons at Blood Sport.
According to Con, some of the clients are real vampires.
Check them out. Get a subpoena for the records of George’s clients and serve it at his place of work.
We’ll meet later to go over everything.”
Lou and Simon perked up when they realized they were going to a sex club.
Basically, she doled out mundane tasks that would keep them busy. But maybe they’d turn up something useful. Con figured Rey wasn’t into sharing her case, and he was okay with that. The fewer involved, the better.
“Con and I are off to re-interview Laz at Blood Sport since we already have a relationship with him.”
“Good. Good,” said her captain. “I like progress. We’ll meet each day at 3:00.”
Con heard Rey’s teeth grind together.
Once they were alone in the car, he said, “We gotta check on the out-of-town murders. That wasn’t on your captain’s tidy big board.”
“No. I have to make sure it’s our assignment. I don’t want Doofus One or Doofus Two to get it.”
He puzzled a brow. “Who would they be? The other detectives on the task force?”
“Yes. Lou and Simon. I doubt they’d volunteer to leave town. Too much time away from bars, but why risk it? If they do out-of-town work, I’ll assign them to Buffalo and Ithaca.”
After he rolled down the window, he stuck his elbow out as they drove to Blood Sport. The fresh air kept him from getting a whiff of the enticing Rey.
Once inside the sex club, Con walked to the stairs with Rey following.
He sneaked a peek. The bullpen was already busy.
They needed to make this trip fast. He didn’t need the pheromones adding to Rey’s already delectable scent.
When a guard stopped them, he let his mouth slide open to reveal his fangs. “We’re friends.” The guy stepped aside.
Upstairs, Mordy leaned against the door. His alibi for George’s murder had checked out, and a few contacts had mentioned he was a respected warlock. Con scratched him off the suspect list.
Mordy waved them in. “Tragedy. Mommy was a good employee. She’ll be missed.”
Laz waited for them as before. Behind his desk. They settled into the same chairs for another conversation.
Con studied the vampire. He looked genuine, but with a bloodsucker, you could never tell. They were cold bastards. Not to the touch but inside where it counted. “Whaddya know about the latest incident?”
Laz shook his head. “Nothing. I wish I had news. This is bad for business.”
“Really? I’d think with your crowd, it might be an incentive.” Con glanced at Rey, who had her electronic pad out as she entered notes.
Laz chuckled. “You’d think, but our clientele are wannabes. They don’t want real violence.”
“Mommy’s not our killer’s usual type,” said Rey.
“Meaning?”
“She’s a woman.” Her gaze dropped to her pad again.
Laz’s eyes flicked from side to side. “So you believe she was killed for a reason other than personal gratification.”
Con nodded. “It’s possible.”
Mordy stroked his chin. “She was acting different after you talked to her about George.”
“How so?” Con asked.
“Looking over her shoulder. Afraid.”
He gazed at Rey. Perhaps Mommy had seen the killer. “Mind if we talk to a few of your employees? Who was close to her?”
****
Rey left with the names of employees who might be Mommy’s friends. Fortunately, the night was about to get lively, so the women were in the dressing room prepping.
Con knocked, swung open the door, and waved Rey through first. She held up her badge and wanted to close her eyes. Lots of gigantic boobs, leather bustiers, thigh-high stiletto boots, whips, and shit she didn’t recognize. As a professional, though, she kept her lids up.
Wary stares met Con and her. Expected. Sex workers rarely had good experiences with the police.
“Ladies,” said Con with a wolfish smile. “No badge. Think of me as a consultant.”
That earned him a few sexy hmms and one comment. “You can consult with me anytime, honey.”
“How about now?” he answered, suggestive grin still in place. He pulled up an empty chair, turned it around, and straddled it.
A few women fanned themselves.
Rey took another seat, allowing Con to lead the convo. The sex workers seemed to respond to him. To her? Not so much.
“Who’s first? Or should we do this as a group?” he asked.
A woman dressed as a little girl gripping a large lollipop spoke up. “I love groups.”
“Then let’s get started,” said Con with a wink. “What can you tell us about Mommy? Anybody here a close friend?”
Lollipop held up her hand. “We hung out.”
Rey settled in to listen, her electronic pad on her lap.
“Everybody loved her, especially her subs.” She glanced at Rey as if she wouldn’t understand. “Her submissives. Mommy was a dom. A dominant. None of the subs would have hurt her.”
“Anybody else you can think of? How was she after George was killed?” pursued Con.
Another dom stroked a whip with her palm. “She was okay. A little sad. But after—after she talked to you—she was a little ... uh ... edgy.”
“Yeah,” said Lollipop. “When I called her on it, she said it had something to do with a trip she and George took. That’s the first I’d heard they were together.”
“I didn’t think she knew him.” Rey glanced up from her pad.
“Not here. He paid her to be with him. On the side.”
“What did she say about the trip?” asked Con.
“Nothing else.”
Rey asked, “Where’d they go?”
Lollipop paused. “Upstate somewhere.” She shrugged, her curly wig bouncing on her shoulders.
“Anybody know?” Con’s amber eyes surveyed the room.
“Wait,” answered Lollipop. “She said they stayed in a hotel that catered to the porn crowd. Vibrating bed, mirrors, lots of channels. Nudity allowed at the swimming pool. Trips from room to room. Fun shit. He took her to meet his brother. Can you imagine? Bites all over her when she came back. But she didn’t mind. Bro must be into role-play, too.”
Rey arched her brows and glanced at Con.
“The hotel?” Con slid out of his chair and posed, leaning against the wall, arms folded, muscles bulging. Even Rey swallowed, her throat dry.
“Something about a flower. Blossom Inn. Rose Petal Inn. Something like that.” Lollipop waved her sucker through the air.
“The Orgasmic Orchid Resort?” asked Rey.
Lollipop snapped her fingers. “That’s it.”
Con and Rey shared a smile.