Dancing In Darkness (8 page)

“No sir, I do not. I can’t afford an armed guard. I want to be able to live in the privacy of my own home, live my life with the freedoms I had before. It all makes me wonder if it wouldn’t have been better for me to be homeless on the street instead of taking this damn stripping job.” She was pissed. At herself and at the world.

“Wait, what? What about being homeless?” He questioned her.

“All of this and you pull the almost homeless part from it?” It was her turn to be perturbed with him. “Of course I wouldn’t expect someone with your financial status to even be able to comprehend that.” She spit the words out before she could control herself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” She said, sounding genuinely contrite.

“My financial status and what I comprehend are two different things, Ms. Barnes. Do I make myself clear?” He said angrily.

“Yes sir, I didn’t mean to say it.” She said softly.

“You have to understand that for whatever reason, I want to keep you safe. Not just because I believe the murder of any human being is inherently wrong, but because I am quite fond of you. I wouldn’t normally admit that, but you have a stubborn streak that I am totally not used to in my women.” He said.

“I’m not one of
your women.
Let’s be clear on that. I don’t take orders well, I don’t follow directions well and I for damn sure will not be on some fucking leash like a dog. Am I understood, Mr. Linston?” She practically screamed into the phone.

“Okay, okay. I took that too far. I accept when I have screwed up.” He apologized.

“This is not going the way it should. I know you are concerned, but I seriously cannot pack up and go. Not like you could. You have to understand that.” She said in a much calmer tone of voice.

“Come here. Stay here until this monster is behind bars.” He stated.

“I can’t stay there. I don’t even know you.” She argued.

“There’s enough room here that we wouldn’t even have to see each other if we didn’t want to. The only time we would absolutely need to interact would be on nights that there were parties held, if you agreed to dance again. Other than that, nothing. That part is up to you.” He told her.

“Let me go to sleep. I will call you when I wake up and we can talk about this. I am not in the right frame of mind to be discussing anything, especially moving into your home. Mansion. Castle. Fucking fairytale. Whatever we choose to call it. It’s way out of my league.” She stated flatly. The fight was out of her but the sass remained. She was too exhausted emotionally, mentally and physically to fight with him, or to even pitch her side of the argument.

“Call me as soon as you wake up.” He said. The phone beeped as he hung up.

“What the hell was that?” She thought to herself. Too tired to even shower she laid across her bed and fell asleep. Clothes and all. “Yeah, because it’s my house and my rules. Fuck a leash.” Was her last conscious thoughts.

She woke up to a hard knock on the door. Her eyes half closed she made her way to the door and opened it. In front of her were Detectives Ward and Tony. Beth Tony started to speak first. “Ms. Barnes, apologies for the early morning visit. We need to talk to you for a moment if you could.”

Struggling to open her eyes, she replied, “Of course. Come in.”

Mike Ward told her, “With the current situation you probably do not want to open your door to just anyone like that.”

“Detective, you are correct, but how do you know that I didn’t look through the peephole in the door?” She responded. It was too early for condescending bullshit and she hadn’t had a cup of coffee. “Make yourselves at home, I have to put a pot of coffee on.”

The two officers walked in and looked around. She knew that it was something they just did. Detective Ward particularly interested in her surroundings. That angered her to no end. Here was a killer out there somewhere in the city and he was more interested in looking at her things, as if she were a suspect. That’s when he started to speak. “Ms. Barnes, where were you last evening between seven and midnight?”

“Me? I was working last night.” She replied truthfully.

“Working? But you weren’t at the club when we were there.” He said.

“No, I have a side job that I just started, ironically, last night.” She responded.

“Where are you employed on the side? Sorry for all of the questions, it’s just something that we have to do.” He told her rather snidely.

“I don’t know the exact address, but I can give you the business card of the man I was working for.” She said.

“Let me get this straight. You were working a side job, somewhere that you don’t know the address or location, but have the business card of the man that hired you?” He asked sardonically.

“Yes, that would pretty much be an accurate description of what I just told you.” She was less than impressed with his demeanor. She made a mental note that the female detective, Beth Tony, hadn’t opened her mouth.

“Ms. Barnes are you aware that prostitution is illegal in the state of Florida?” He asked her.

“Who the hell said anything about prostitution, Detective Ward?” She responded. “Drawing conclusions of your own might be a job skill that you need, but you couldn’t be farther away from the truth.”

“Well what else would you be doing?” He snapped.

“Ward, take it easy. You’re going overboard.” His partner said quietly.

“I was dancing, Detective. Dancing. That is all, at a private event. Does that make you happy?” She retorted.

“Look, I don’t need your sarcastic crap right now. We have murders that we are trying to solve. You work with all of the victims, you were financially unstable until recently, and we have to investigate all avenues.” He told her.

“Perhaps you should think about trying to find someone to protect me? I’m obviously on that list to fucking die. Do you think this doesn’t bother me? I considered these women my friends. Especially Megan Dryer. She was my best friend.” Priscilla said. She was trying to stop the tears that were filling her eyes but it was to no avail.

Detective Tony shot her partner a look that would kill. “Ms. Barnes, I am sorry for your loss. All of your losses. In essence he is correct, we have a job to do and that is to find out who is responsible for all of these murders. We have a news conference this afternoon to announce a possible serial killer. It isn’t easy. It can’t be easy for you.”

“While I appreciate that, even if you were investigating me as a possible suspect, which I highly doubt, the old saying you attract more flies with sugar than vinegar, sure does ring true for this visit.” Priscilla replied.

“You have our cards, if you hear anything or need anything, do not hesitate to call one of us.” Tony told her.

“It sure wouldn’t be him.” Priscilla said sarcastically.

“Good day, please stay vigilant and safe.” The detective told her.

Walking out of the apartment complex, Beth Tony looked at her partner and asked him, “What the fuck is wrong with you? You can’t do that.”

“You know, I know it’s my job to find this guy or woman for that matter, but really, what is the loss of a few skanky ass strippers? No sweat off my back and most of them have criminal records anyway. Honestly, other than hours, I’ve lost no sleep at night.” He said.

Detective Tony didn’t even respond to her partner. There was nothing to say. He needed to recuse himself from these cases. If that’s how he felt about another human being, then he was in the wrong profession.

Walking back to their car, she looked at him and said, “The problem I am having with these cases is the fact that there is zero evidence. Not even a partial fingerprint, no DNA, no shoe imprints or anything.”

He took a deep breath and replied, “I know. It’s the only troubling thing about this.”

Seeing how she was so rudely awakened, she decided that she better call Adam. She told him she would first thing. He didn’t seem like the one to anger so much.

“Good morning. You’re up earlier than I anticipated.” Adam answered her call.

“Not by choice.” She sputtered. His voice sent chills through her. That wasn’t a bad thing.

“Are you okay?” He asked, concern filling his words.

“I’m fine. It was the police detectives. Not sure why they were here, other than finding out where I was yesterday. Or last night rather. That Detective Ward is a work of art.” She told him.

“What did he do? Sometimes they irk me with their practices.” He said.

“Just his attitude with me in general. A total prick if there ever was one.” She replied.

“You know, I really wish you would reconsider our conversation last night. If I’m in fear of your life, perhaps you should be too.” He said gently.

“Adam, I don’t know what to do honestly. I sure as hell do not want to end up dead. On the other hand, I don’t want to live in fear of being alone either.”

“I understand that. I have to come into the city today, let’s meet and grab lunch. Please?” He asked her.

“I don’t see a problem in that. I’m supposed to work tonight at Nina’s, but I’m even scared to do that.” She admitted.

“Then don’t go. Call her and explain why, I’m sure she would more than understand. There is someone out there trying to kill her girls.” He said.

“Maybe we could stop by and see her this afternoon? If it isn’t too late when you get in?” She questioned.

“That’s fine with me. We’ll see if she doesn’t agree with my idea as well.” He laughed.

“Don’t do that, you already know that she will.”

“Yes, she will and so would any sane human being on this planet.” She could hear the smirk in his tone. It was better than his anger, that’s for sure. Funny thing though, while feeling a slight bit threatening even his anger wasn’t scary.

“I’ll see you then.” She replied.

CHAPTER EIGHT

At the downtown precinct in the Homicide Unit, Beth Tony was frantically trying to piece things together to stop yet another murder. There was something that she was missing that she couldn’t put her finger on. It wasn’t going to stop her, she hadn’t worked so hard for her career to say, “I give up.” If she worked long enough, she would find the tiny piece of the puzzle that she had been searching for. After hearing her partner say what he did today, she wasn’t involving him any more than was required. He didn’t care that these women had families and friends. All that mattered to him was the fact that they were ‘skanky strippers’. Not to her. She had known many women that put themselves through college by dancing. It didn’t make them bad people.

“Tony, give it up for the night. Don’t you have a life outside of this department?” Ward called as he walked back into the room.

“Well, you’re still here so there’s no room to talk. Why are you here anyway?” She asked.

“Thought I would traipse through and see what was going on.” He replied.

“Surprise, surprise, nothing. That’s the problem. Absolutely nothing. What are your thoughts on the whole thing? Not the misogynistic crap you were spewing today. You’re professional opinion.” She asked.

“I don’t know. There is nothing to go on at all. We’ve watched how many hours of security video both from that club and neighboring businesses and from the park. Unless we know where the murders are taking place, we aren’t going to have anything to go on. It’s almost as if someone knows exactly what we need to look for and find. That part is disturbing.” He said seriously.

“Yeah, I had thought that also, but it would mean that the person responsible for killing these women was somehow tied to law enforcement. Even so, we will find them eventually. No one is perfect and they slip up. I can only hope that it’s before another life is taken needlessly.” She stated.

Mike Ward picked up some files from his desk and opened the top one. In it was a photograph of Zena Wilkins. He did the same with the other two. Diamond Jacquere and Megan Dryer. Reading through each report, he closed them and shook his head. Tony could work on these, he didn’t want to see them. Maybe she was right and he should take himself off of the case. He didn’t want to do that because he would be out of the immediate loop. Laying them back down, he picked up his jacket and walked out the door.

Adam parked his car and walked through the apartment grounds until he reached her building. Looking around and scanning the area, he realized exactly how correct he was. This was a dangerous place for her to be right now. Her apartment building sat behind the first row of buildings and was obscured from sight by trees and shrubs. Security was something that he took very personally. He was concerned about his which made him concerned about anyone he cared about. “Wait a second,” He thought to himself. “Anyone he cared about? Where in the hell did that come from?” Yes he cared about her in the way one human should care about another, or is that only what he told himself? You can’t care about someone after only a short time, as in days. Yet he did. He felt this deep seated need to protect her. “Of course you do. You want her for a sub. That’s what you do, you protect.” He thought again.

Knocking on the door, he waited patiently. He did notice that she checked the peephole before opening it. That was good, at least she was being somewhat vigilant about it. He really did not want her here alone. She opened the door and greeted him with a smile. “Hi you.”

“Hi yourself.” He replied.

“You want to come in for a minute before we go? I need to slip on some shoes. You caught me just a few minutes early.” She asked him.

“Sure. Take your time.” He smiled. He was glad she invited him in. If she couldn’t be convinced to stay with him, then he had to make sure that she was taking all precautions here on her own.

Walking back out of her bedroom she saw him looking at her sliding door at the patio. “What exactly are you doing?” She asked incredulously.

“I was checking to see how secure the door and windows were. I’m not so concerned with the bedroom window, but this one here and the sliding door need to be secured more than they are. The other way to achieve this is to simply come stay with me until this person is locked up.” He answered as nonchalantly as if they were talking about what to get to drink.

“Let’s have lunch before we get into that argument again. Please?” She said as she looked at him over her shoulder.

“Fine. You win this one. Don’t get used to it. I’m used to getting what I want.” He said with a wicked look in his eyes.

“Oh really. We’ll see about that Mr. Linston.” She countered.

“Where do you want to eat?” He asked her, quickly changing the subject. It was not in her best interest to challenge him much today.

“Your call. I shall follow.” She laughed.

“After you.” He told her.

Grabbing her bag from the sofa on their way out the door, she waited while he double checked the lock. As they walked down the stairs towards the sidewalk that led to the parking area, he told her that she needed to be extra cautious of the shrubbery around the buildings and around the staircases. While she appreciated the concern, she was beginning to wonder why he was so hell bent on ensuring her security himself.

He decided on a beachside bistro for lunch. The fresh ocean air and the warm sun was good for anyone. On top of the food being very good here. He didn’t tell her he came here all the time. Some things could be left secret for now, making his good choices look even better. That part didn’t matter, he did find it rather humorous himself though.

Priscilla opted for the vegetarian grilled Portobello salad. She wasn’t a vegetarian but could live without red meat if she wanted to, and it was clear that Adam could not. His burger was huge. It was quite possibly the largest burger she had ever seen in person. With his excellent manners and impeccable taste, she was curious if he would actually eat it all or even most of it.

“How on earth can you eat all of that?” She asked before he started.

“Pretty easily really. I just pick it up and take bite after delicious bite.” He smirked.

“Smart ass.” She shook her head.

Lunch turned out to be a really good time. They talked, got to know each other a little better, they laughed. Both of them being on the sarcastic side, his humor a little drier than hers, but it sort of flowed between them. As she was finishing her salad, she noticed him staring at her.

“What, do I have a piece of spinach in my teeth or something?” She said, smiling as wide as she could for good measure.

Laughing at her, he said, “No. Not one tiny piece. Do you know how beautiful you are?”

She sat her fork down on the plate and contemplated what he had just said. It was the first time in twenty eight years that a man had ever said that to her. That is a man that wasn’t drunk and watching her dance. It made her feel good and she knew that she was blushing because she felt the warmth creep into her ears.

“Don’t blush when I say that, it’s perfectly true.” He replied quietly.

“I’m sorry, I’m not used to hearing it.” She answered truthfully.

“You should be told that on a daily basis at least.” He said. “By someone who means it.”

“You sir, have your game on point, don’t you?” She giggled.

“Maybe. This isn’t a game however. It’s point blank truth. You are fucking beautiful.” He replied.

She was floored at his directness. While it wasn’t unpleasant, it was a little unarming, but she thought she could get used to it. Thinking to herself that while she could, maybe she shouldn’t. Then he floored her with his next statement.

“You need to go back to your apartment and grab some clothes. I’ll have movers pack everything else, tell Nina that you can’t come in until they catch this killer and bring your ass home with me.” He said.

“Wait a minute. What? I thought we were going to discuss this. As in you and I both, not you telling me what to do.” Her answer was quick and short.

“If I leave you to discuss it, we will be sitting somewhere tomorrow while you still try to figure it out. That’s a day that could be too late.” He countered her attack.

“I can’t just up and leave my apartment. I signed a one year lease and I’ve not been there very long. I’m grown and capable of making my own decisions.” Her anger was coming fiercely to the surface. “I will not have some man demanding that I do this or that for any reason.”

“No, that man won’t have to demand, you’ll do it willingly because you want to and you know that it will please that man.” He said as he shrugged his shoulders. In what should have been a nonchalant gesture, it pushed her over the brink of insanity.

“Let me tell you one thing. I am not, I will not be and don’t even think about me as one of your subs. Do you get that? No man is going to do that to me, ever. You might think that you can get into the heads of everyone else, but you won’t do it to me.” She kept her voice deadly quiet.

Pondering her statements, he smiled. He knew that he had gotten under her skin. Not so much to where she would agree to it, but she was definitely thinking about it. While he sat in his chair smiling, Priscilla looked like she had seen a ghost. He wasn’t sure where this look came from but he didn’t mind it either.

“Adam, you need to take me home right now. If not, I will call a taxi and take myself there.” She demanded.

“I’ll take you home, you are a free woman. Holding someone against their will isn’t exactly my style.” He said, his eyes were sparkling from the exchange. She had a fire in her that he found extremely attractive.

Without saying another word, she grabbed her bag and started to storm out of the restaurant. Unfortunately she had to go back through the main doors to exit. There was no gate on the railing anywhere. He laughed silently as he laid a one hundred dollar bill on top of the check and stood up to follow her.

“Why are you so upset? I’m taking you home like you asked.” He offered.

“If you have to ask why, then you aren’t as smart as I thought you were, my friend.” She volleyed back to him.

He had to admit that she was quick witted and able to slash her target with words. Another quality he admired. Something told him that she wouldn’t use those words to hurt, only protect. He walked along with her at a fast clip. She was on a mission and he wasn’t going to interrupt her. What he had to say could wait until they arrived back at her apartment and he had her safely locked inside. It was a horrible way for anyone to have to live, but in lieu of the alternative, it was the safest thing for her to do. No, coming home with him would be the safest, he wasn’t sure that was going to happen at the moment.

The ride back from the beachfront was quiet. She didn’t offer up any more smart ass remarks, he didn’t offer up any of what she thought were ridiculous ideas. Her facial features had softened and she didn’t look as angry by the time they pulled into the parking lot.

“I’m walking up with you, so give me one second.” He said.

“No thanks, I don’t need a babysitter.” She said as coolly as possible. She really didn’t feel like fighting with him. She had a long day, dealing with the death of her friend, the police so rudely waking her up and then him. Then there was him. Part of her wanted to choke him and the other part wanted, well, she didn’t know exactly what the other part wanted. It wasn’t to argue that was for sure.

“I don’t think you do need a sitter, I think you need a friend to walk up with you to make sure everything is alright.” He explained, trying to gain her trust.

“Fine, if it will make you feel better and get you off my ass about it, fine.” She replied.

They walked up to her door and he asked her for the key. When she handed it to him, he looked surprised that she didn’t put up much of a fight. He walked in first with her following behind him. He checked the slider and the window in the kitchen. Both appeared to be as they left them. He did a quick walk through of the rest of the apartment and it was clear.

“I’ll leave you, nothing out of place and everything intact. If you need anything please call me. I mean it. All I want is for you to be safe. Oh, you might want to contact Nina and let her know that you won’t be in. That is imperative.” He said to her, his demeanor slightly different.

“I can do that. I won’t leave my home though.” She acquiesced.

“I’m going to run. If you need me you know how to get in touch with me.” He said.

She walked him to the door and closed it behind him, locking the lock and the security lock. Going into the bedroom she noticed a piece of paper folded on the kitchen counter. Not remembering having it there, she assumed that Adam left it. Opening it expecting to find something silly, all she could do was scream when she read it. Grabbing her phone she dialed Adam immediately. He didn’t have time to get out of the parking lot yet or so she hoped.

“Priscilla what’s wrong?” He demanded.

She couldn’t speak, only cry as she read the note to him. “You’re next.”

“Priscilla right now you get your bag and come straight down those stairs, I will meet you midway between the buildings. If anyone is there you scream, do you understand me?” He yelled into his phone as he swung the car back in the other direction.

Leaving the car running and the door opened, he ran through the lot and the first building, he met her almost halfway. “Are you okay?” He asked her, holding her by her arms to keep her from falling.