Borderline (12 page)

“I’m terribly sorry about all of this, Mrs. Leviston.”

She patted his hand. “It’s not your fault, Mac. You had no way of knowing that monster was stalking our daughter. Do you know when we’ll be able to get back into her apartment? I need to get some clothes for her to be buried in.”

He winced internally at the thought. “Let me check.”

After shifting through his papers, he read one note and nodded. “You can go in. We’ve picked up what evidence we think we might need from there.”

“Thank you.”

“Detective Guzman.”

Mac stood when Tanner spoke from behind him. Turning, he met his lover’s gaze, and something in his face must have told Tanner the people sitting with him were important.

“Agent Wallace.” They shook hands, and Mac turned back to the older couple. “This is Mr. and Mrs. Leviston, Marissa’s parents.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Tanner shook hands with both of them. Somehow he managed to make those trite words sincere.

“Are you working with Mac on the case?” Mr. Leviston asked.

Mac spotted the coroner’s assistant and waved her over.

“Yes, I am. There’s an entire task force trying to catch the man who did this. We’re getting closer every day. I’m going to tell Captain Billingsley I’m here. I wish we could have met under better circumstances.” Tanner dipped his head toward them before heading in the direction of Billingsley’s office.

“Here’s Ms. Powell from the coroner’s office. She’ll help you with all the paperwork and everything you need.” Mac handed Marissa’s parents off to the lady. “Please let me know when her funeral is.”

“We will. Thank you again, Mac.”

He watched the Levistons follow Ms. Powell until they disappeared into the elevator. After they left, he scooped up the list of gyms and stalked to the captain’s office. Knocking on the door, he waited to hear Billingsley call for him to come in. He walked in and spotted Tanner leaning a hip on Billingsley’s desk while gesturing with his hands.

He paused as both men turned to look at him. Billingsley folded his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow.

“I wanted to let you know someone informed me about your connection to the last victim. I appreciate the fact you came to me before I found out from a different source.”

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry I didn’t come clean as soon as I figured out who she was. I just wanted to work this case and catch this killer.” Mac kept his hands behind his back.

“So this is personal now?” Billingsley asked.

Mac grimaced. “No, sir. It was personal before Marissa was killed. Any case I get becomes personal to me. I work 24-7 if I have to. You know me, sir.”

His statement must have been what Billingsley wanted to hear, because the captain relaxed slightly.

“Seems our killer has taken a liking to Agent Wallace, Mac.”

Mac shot Tanner a quick glance as the agent handed him a copy of a letter. He read it and suppressed the growl rising in his throat. He started to crumple the sheet in his hand but stopped in time.

“How did he know you were on the case?”

“Any good reporter could find out who was working it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was mentioned in the news.” Tanner seemed unconcerned.

“Why you, though? And this sounds like a threat.”

“Because any killer knows a profiler is the person trying to get inside his head. He did it to see if he can get me off my game. The threat is another attempt, but I’m not worried. He’s only killed women so far. I don’t see him changing his pattern.”

“Wait. What about that SUV parked down from your house last night?”

Mac ignored Billingsley’s slight frown.

“I told you it was probably just the neighbors or something. It didn’t have anything to do with the killer.”

He stepped closer to Tanner. “I checked with HPD and the DEA. None of them were conducting any sort of sting in your neighborhood, in case it might have been a stake-out.”

Tanner tensed, and an annoyed expression crossed his face. Something was up, and Mac wanted to get to the bottom of it.

“Well, they weren’t there when I got up this morning, so whoever they are, I doubt I’m their target.”

Mac started to say something else, but Billingsley interrupted.

“As interesting as this all is, Tanner told me you found a connection between our victims.”

Calming down, Mac wanted to slap himself upside the head. He needed to stop acting like an overprotective boyfriend, especially since he didn’t want anyone to know about him yet.

“Yes, sir. I brought the list of gyms our victims used. Only two went to the same one, but we think that’s how he’s finding them.” He nodded toward Tanner.

“Okay. Take Sorensterm and go ask questions at those gyms. See if anyone remembers seeing anything unusual around the time each victim disappeared. Oh, and Agent Wallace said you were going to get him access to the physical evidence from the case.”

“Yes, Cap. Tanner thinks the evidence might give him some more stuff to add to the profile he’s writing.”

“I just gave the captain my preliminary report. There’s a copy in there for you as well.” Tanner pointed to the file sitting on Billingsley’s desk. “It’s everything I found from looking at the photos and reading the crime scene descriptions. As we go along, I’ll be adding more to it until it’s fleshed out as much as it can be.”

“Good. Now get out of here and find the killer for me.” Billingsley waved them out of the office.

“Yes, sir.”

They shut the door behind them, and Mac grabbed Tanner’s arm, dragging him down the hallway to an empty room. He pulled Tanner in with him. After making sure the door was closed, he whirled back around.

“What the hell was that?”

Tanner frowned and sat on the edge of the table, arms folded. “I don’t know.”

“You didn’t say a word to anyone about me knowing Marissa?”

“I probably should be insulted you’d think I’d run to your captain behind your back, but I guess since you don’t know me that well, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.” Tanner rolled his eyes. “Of course I didn’t say anything. Why would I when it would get me in trouble as well? Plus you already told me he knew.”

“Yeah. I wonder who told him.”

“More than likely the Levistons said something about knowing you. You know you can’t really hide things in your past, especially from law enforcement.” Tanner paused, and something flickered in his eyes.

“Yeah, even though I deserve it for not saying anything.” Mac scrubbed his hand over his face. “Okay. I need to take you to the evidence room before I grab Sorensterm and head out to interview people.”

His day went straight to hell with the thought. He’d have to deal with Sorensterm all day. Not killing the asshole would be difficult, considering how much he wanted to choke Sorensterm.

Tanner’s phone rang, and Mac waited while Tanner answered it. He saw Tanner stiffen as whoever was on the other end spoke.

“It was just a letter. I’m fine, and there isn’t any danger. He’s not coming after me.” Tanner paused for a second, listening before continuing. “I can’t talk right now.”

He hung up and dropped his phone in his pocket.

“Who was that?”

“Just a friend. No one to concern yourself with.” Tanner winked. “I think it’s cute you’re jealous, though.”

“I’m not jealous,” Mac protested as he headed toward the door.

“Right.”

Tanner snagged Mac’s arm as he walked past him. Swinging toward Tanner, Mac opened his mouth to say something, but Tanner covered his mouth with his own. Mac stiffened, aware that on the other side of the door were all his fellow rangers. Before he could push Tanner away, Tanner let him go and stood.

“Let’s go. You want to meet at my place for dinner tonight? We’ll regroup and see what we’ve got.” Tanner glanced back at him as he walked toward the door. “And quit freaking out. I wouldn’t have done that if we weren’t alone. I’m not interested in ‘outing’ you if none of your fellow rangers know you’re gay.”

“It’s not really that,” Mac mumbled. “I just don’t like public displays of affection. Not used to them either. We need to talk.”

“You should get used to them, especially if we go out to the clubs.” Tanner winked at him before opening the door and walking out.

Mac winced slightly but followed the other man. He lifted his gaze from Tanner’s jean-covered ass when they joined the other rangers out in the main room. Sorensterm stood next to Mac’s desk. Tension tightened his shoulders as he walked over to the man.

“How’d the talk with the captain go?”

Something in the man’s tone alerted Mac. He shot a look at Tanner, but his lover kept his gaze on Sorensterm.

“It was fine. He liked the fact we might have a connection between the victims.” He could be civil when he wanted to be.

“Captain wasn’t pissed about anything?”

Realization hit, and Mac lunged for the man. “You were the one who told Billingsley.”

Tanner grabbed his arm, pulling him away. “Not here, Mac. Too many eyes.”

Sorensterm chuckled. “I thought the boss would like to know the lead investigator on the case might be compromised. Of course I figured he’d pull you.”

“Are you jealous? Is that what this is all about?” Mac shook his head. “You’re willing to destroy my career and fuck up this case because you’re jealous of me?”

“Of course not. Why would I be jealous of a queer?” Sorensterm shrugged. “We stuck working together today?”

Mac wanted to punch the smirk off Sorensterm’s face, but he wouldn’t allow the man to get to him. He would do his job and solve the case. It was the only thing that mattered at the moment.

“Yeah. We’re going to check out some gyms.” Mac picked up a copy of the list and handed it to the other ranger. “I thought we could go and question the people there. See if they noticed anything weird or if they even remember the women.”

“Good idea.” Sorensterm glared at Tanner. “What’s your boyfriend doing here?”

Tanner rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut. Mac snorted silently, glad Tanner could keep his temper.

“He’s going through all the physical evidence from the crime scenes. Never know what he might find.”

“Do you really think you’re going to find something we haven’t?” Sorensterm rested his fists on his hips and stared Tanner down. “Are fags better investigators than straight people?”

Mac bit his lip. Tanner could take care of himself, and it wouldn’t look good if Mac stood up for him. He opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out his gun and holster.

“I might find something you didn’t think was important. As a cop, you’re looking for clues to identify the killer. As a profiler, I’m looking for anything to help me get inside his head. Even the most insignificant item could help me give you a better profile to work from.” Tanner shrugged. “I’m not saying you aren’t doing your job, Sorensterm. I’m simply saying I’m looking for different things than you are.”

“I’m willing to use any option at our disposal to catch this bastard. If he wants to waste his time looking through evidence we already looked through, then good for him.” Mac clipped his gun to his belt and grabbed his hat from the hook on the wall. “Let’s head out. It’s going to be a long day.”

“Good luck. I’ll get someone to take me to the evidence locker. I’ll talk to you later, Detective Guzman.” Tanner nodded to both of them as he walked away.

Mac watched the agent for a few seconds before giving himself a mental shake and gestured to Sorensterm. “You can drive.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to Tim’s Gym to start with.” He gave Sorensterm the address. “We still don’t know why he chooses the ones he does, but it’s a place to start.”

Sorensterm grunted but didn’t say anything else about the case.

Mac looked through the pictures of the victims. “Do you think this perp’s mistake is going to be he picked two girls from the same gym?”

“Stranger things have caught serial killers.” Sorensterm shot a look over at Mac. “Do you really think your fuck buddy is going to give us better information than our own profiler?”

Mac shrugged. “Stop calling him names. It’s not professional, even if it’s in private. You’re going to push me too far one day, Sorensterm, and I’ll show just what
I
can do. Wallace isn’t interested in getting any glory for himself. He’s quite happy working in the background.”

He glared at the other man, anger swelling in him. “We need the help, and your personal beliefs aren’t important. Hell, I’m not going to kick off the case just because you’re a bigoted asshole, Sorensterm. I’d work with Satan himself to catch the killer.”

Sorensterm curled his lip but wisely kept his mouth shut.

* * * *

Everything was set. He’d cleaned and set up the room for his newest guest. It was time to get her and bring her to his place. It would be easy since she’d never once noticed him following her. Stupid bitch. Didn’t she understand there were dangerous people out there just waiting to take advantage of her unobservant nature?

He resisted the urge to rub his hands together in glee. The need to feel the shock of his blade cutting through flesh and the warmth of blood coating his hands built until he could barely contain the pressure. The voice in his mind telling him to do it had grown louder until there wasn’t anything else left except the want for someone dying by his own hand.

Damn his former boss for firing him. If the fucker hadn’t given him his walking papers, he’d be able to have another outlet for this need. Oh, he’d thought about going after the man, but there wasn’t any way he’d be able to get close enough to kill the way he needed. His old boss surrounded himself with men willing to die for him.

A knife let him get up close and personal with his victims. He loved seeing the fear in their eyes when they realized he wasn’t going to just rape them and let them go. The shock as he sliced them for the first time, and the dull resignation in their face when they understood they were going to die, hanging like a piece of meat in the kill room.

Oh, but his last victim had fought long and hard, and he actually thought he would have to break his habit of no more than forty cuts. He disliked going over the allotted cuts. It ruined everything for him, but he’d managed to bleed her out before he had to start a new ritual.