Out to Protect (3 page)

“If you say so.”

“If you say so,” Parker mimicked. “Look, dude. I’m not saying you’re bad or anything for being gay. That’s your business. Just don’t try to drag me into your situation. I’m not like you,” Parker said.

“I understand your frustration, Parker. I’ve been in your shoes. In fact, I’m guessing your family doesn’t have a clue that you’re a homosexual.”

There he goes with that word again
. Parker’s body tensed.

“Tsk.”

“Yup, I hit a sore spot for you. Here’s the deal. I understand, Parker. My family had a holy heart attack when I told them I wasn’t going to get married and have children. Shit, my mother had been trying to fix me up with every available woman she could find. She wanted to fix me.”

“How’d that work out for her?” Parker hadn’t expected to engage him, but curiosity got the best of him.

“It didn’t. She couldn’t fix me. I wasn’t broken. I just don’t like women.”

Parker could relate. He knew he’d have the same issues if he decided to tell his family. The chances of that happening were highly unlikely, though. He knew what his parents expected, but he would never be able to give it to them.

“How are they now, with, you know…you being gay?” Parker relaxed his shoulders and eased deeper into the passenger seat. He turned his gaze to the front window instead of the side one. He couldn’t help but wonder about the outcome for Grant.

“They’ve accepted the fact that I’ll never marry a woman. They’re not happy, and I don’t bring anyone home to meet the parents.” He laughed.

Parker found it great that Grant could laugh about his life. His only wish was to one day look back and have this all be a distant memory. A life without being looked at with repulsion for being different. Now that would be heaven.

“How does that make you feel? Not being able to share your lover with your family?”

“I’m not currently in love with anyone.”

“Why the hell would you stir up so much craziness if you’re not in love with anyone? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Parker wanted to punch something, namely Grant. He risked all his friendships over no one? God, this guy was just plain ole stupid. He was the biggest dumbass he’d met in a long time. Another reason they were not alike.

“For the future. I’m more concerned about my future relationships than I am about the present.”

“Yeah, well, I’d say you’re a fuck head.”

Grant let out a hearty bellow. “I appreciate your honesty.”

Grant was weird but charming, and if Parker was honest, he wasn’t bad-looking. Parker preferred blonds, like Grant, and his blue eyes would make any man or woman swoon. Only Parker wasn’t interested in getting involved, especially with the one guy who felt honesty was the best policy. Parker needed secrecy. In his world, staying in the proverbial closet was the only option.

“Coffee?”

“Sure.” Parker leaned his head against the headrest and closed his eyes. Today was going to be a very long day.

“After we grab coffee, I have a few people I think we should talk to.”

“Whatever you think is best.” Parker wouldn’t argue. As long as they didn’t have to talk about being gay, he was fine.

Grant drove them to a coffee shop close to where some of the bodies were dumped. Parker lagged behind, letting Grant do the talking. These were his people. He knew the area, so they’d feel more comfortable talking to him. Besides, Parker wasn’t sure he could talk sensibly at this point. His mind still reeled with the events of the day. All the talk about coming out bothered him, and to be partnered up with Grant added more pressure.

What would the guys think of him if he made nice with Grant? Would they assume him gay? It wasn’t unheard of. Parker had no intentions of coming to Grant’s defense now or in the future, but the truth of the matter was he wasn’t a bad guy. He seemed really nice, and he suffered a terrible blow today by his fellow officers. Deep down Parker felt sorry for him.

The fact that he was sexy as all hell didn’t go unnoticed either. Parker knew he couldn’t act on any attraction for his partner. There were too many neon signs hanging over Grant’s head for Parker to consider admitting any desire he felt for his partner.

“So you didn’t see anything suspicious?” Grant raised his voice as if trying to grab the attention of all the customers in the coffee shop.

The owner shook his head and lowered his eyes. Parker could tell he felt embarrassed and probably nervous having the cops in there badgering them for information.

“Well, if you hear the slightest bit of information regarding these women, you give me a call.” Grant handed the man a business card, took his coffee, and turned to leave.

“Where’s mine?” Parker asked.

Grant shrugged. “You want coffee, get it yourself.”

Okay, so now he wanted to be a prick. This day couldn’t possibly get any worse, could it?

As if on cue someone came running into the coffee shop.

“Officers, there’s a body around the corner. Looks like it was just dumped there. Come quick.”

Parker skipped the coffee and charged out the door following the guy. Grant quickly passed Parker and the guy running toward the heap lying on the ground. It was clear to see the victim was dead even from a distance.

Grant came to a halt, reached down, and shook his head.

He looked up at Parker. “He’s dead.”

Yup, he could’ve determined that the minute he saw the guy. The question was how did he die, and who was he?

Parker called for a coroner and pulled on some latex gloves. The quicker they searched the scene, the sooner they could get some answers.

Nothing stood out as he glanced around the sidewalk. The victim was naked, and Parker wished there was something he could throw over him, at least partially. People were gathering to get a look at the dead guy. This was one part of the job Parker would never understand.

“Back up,” Grant instructed. “This is a crime scene, and unless you’re related to the victim or have information about catching his killer, I suggest you move on.”

“Yeah right,” he mumbled.

“You got something to say, Parker?”

“Dude, you know these people aren’t going anywhere. They can’t help but get a rush by seeing the dead guy.”

“You can address me by Matteson or Grant, but don’t call me ‘dude.’”

Parker took a step back and raised his hands defensively. “Sorry,
Matteson
. Didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Respect, Parker. It’s all about respect.”

Parker understood his sudden need for respect. They were at a crime scene, he’d been dissed by the department, and now he wanted someone to show him some respect in front of the onlookers. Parker would give him that. He deserved it. After the day he had, Parker would feel the same way.

“So anyway, I’ll keep the rubberneckers at bay while you tend to the John Doe.” Parker walked away and urged the crowd to move back from the scene or they’d be arrested for tampering with evidence. He knew it wasn’t true, but at this point they needed as much room as they could get.

“Shit,” Grant said behind him.

“What’s wrong, Matteson?” Parker didn’t bother to look in his direction. He kept a close eye on a woman who tried to slowly inch her way closer. Parker glared at her, daring her to take another step. He moved his right hand to his handcuffs. She backed away.

“Seems he’s fallen victim to the same MO.”

“As the women?” Parker didn’t hide his surprise. He thought the women were being killed by some woman hater, or someone with a mommy complex. He never dreamed a guy would fall victim.

“That’d be my guess from the track marks on his arm.”

“I’ll be damned.” This new evidence would make the case very interesting.

“What do we have here?” Parker turned, surprised to see Stanley standing over the dead body. Ralph stood close behind. He could tell by the look on Grant’s face he was shocked too.

They both knew the duo was assigned to the investigation as well; Parker just assumed Ralph would keep his distance, given the earlier encounter.

“Another vic,” Grant said.

Parker watched Grant, his heart going out to the guy. Grant struggled to keep his composure while he continued to check the body.

“Parker and I have it. No need for you guys to be here.”

“Sorry, Grant. Chief wants us to determine if this is the work of the serial killer.” Stanley nudged the dead guy with his foot. “What’s your thoughts?”

“Is he gay?” Ralph asked.

Bile rose to the base of Parker’s throat.

Parker moved closer. “Look, guys. This is serious business. We need to stick to protocol, nothing more.”

Ralph shot him an evil look, and Stanley shrugged.

“I’m not looking for trouble, Parker. I’m looking for a killer,” Stanley said.

Parker believed him. He thought he saw the fellow detective wince when Ralph asked the question. This wasn’t the time or place for causing trouble.

He sized up his fellow officers. Stanley was a big, gruff man. His voice was rough from years of smoking, but he appeared in shape. Ralph, on the other hand, had a few extra pounds on him, but nothing a few days at the gym wouldn’t cure.

Stanley lit a cigarette and took a long drag.

“I’ll go talk to some of the onlookers,” Ralph said.

“Good idea,” Stanley said. “I’ll wait here for the coroner. I’d like to see what he thinks.”

“You can take off too, Stanley. I’m sure he’ll tell you the same thing I did. It’s the work of the serial killer.”

“While I trust your instinct, Matteson, I’d prefer to stick around.”

“Whatever.” Grant stood up and turned his back on them.

Parker wasn’t sure if he should stay or go. He felt he should stay in case Grant needed him, but he also wanted to get out there and question people.

The coroner arrived and pronounced the guy dead. His first assessment was the same as Grant’s. He felt the guy was pumped up with antifreeze. There were track marks all down his arms and even some on his leg. His veins were weak and looked like they’d seen a little too much action recently. The coroner couldn’t be positive, but that was his first guess, the second a drug overdose. They’d have to wait a day or two to find out. There were enough track marks to lead them all to the same conclusion. Now they had to wait for the final analysis.

Grant shook his head; Parker assumed he finally realized the enormity of the situation. If the victim suffered the same fate as the women before him, it was a game changer. There was a good chance the guy was a prostitute and an even higher chance he was a drug addict.

Fear ran deep in his veins. They had a better chance of profiling the killer when he was killing only women. Now that he’d moved on to men, it would make their jobs a bit more difficult. A more challenging case meant more time spent with Grant. More time spent with Grant meant a higher probability he’d be exposed as a homosexual.

Parker swallowed back the groan that threatened to escape.

How the fuck do I get out of this?

* * * *

Only a fool would ask how the day could get any worse. Grant was no fool. His day had gone from bad to worse; there was a great chance it’d get even worse if he were to ask. He thanked his lucky stars Parker had brains enough not to ask either.

He knew the guy wanted to vomit if he had to spend another minute tied to him. He could barely look Grant in the eye.

Grant knew better than to press the issue, but he wanted make Parker see that hiding behind his sexuality was a mistake. He refused to push him into a decision he wasn’t ready to make; Grant only wanted him to see the positive side of coming out.

“Matteson, I’ll see if I can lift any fingerprints off the body.”

“Be sure to let me know,” Stanley interjected.

Grant’s anger grew with every minute he had to spend with Stanley and Ralph. He couldn’t believe Ralph had the balls to ask if the vic was gay. How could he bring their issues to a crime scene? He thought he knew his former partner better. He believed he could separate business and personal issues.

Yes, he’d brought his personal stuff to work, but when they were in the field, Ralph should act like the professional he was.

“Thanks, Ken. I’m not sure you’ll be able to find anything. This guy seems to know what he’s doing. A little too well if you ask me,” Grant said.

“A smart killer. That’s never a good thing,” Stanley said before walking away.

A chill passed through Grant’s body. Stanley’s words echoed in his head. A smart killer. He looked at the detective with a new light. He’d never considered the killer smart until now. No fingerprints. No evidence. Nothing to tie him to the murders.

Grant wondered if the killer had a background in police work or a connection. He seemed almost skilled at what he did. Maybe he watched too many of those detective shows on cable. Either way, he needed to grab his partner and get away from the scene. They needed to start asking questions in the neighborhood. He wanted to be one step ahead of Stanley and Ralph. Call it childish, but Grant wanted to be the one to shine this time. He planned to catch the killer.

“Hey, Parker.” Grant turned to speak with his partner when he noticed him sticking something in his pocket.

“What’s up?” Parker walked toward Grant.

The waver in his voice didn’t go undetected. Parker was hiding something from Grant, and he would find out what. If he found a piece of evidence that could crack the case wide open and planned to use it, Grant would find out. He would not allow Parker to stand in the limelight on his own. They were a team, and they’d be credited together.

“Ken is going to see if he can find any hint of fingerprints on the guy’s body. I’m not sure he’ll be successful, but it’s worth a shot.”

“Mmmm.”

Damn it, he’s definitely hiding something.

Dealing with a serial killer was more than enough; he didn’t want to deal with a sneak too. Grant would fix his wagon. When the time was right he’d figure a way to expose him.

“Something bothering you, Parker? Other than the conversation in the car?”

Parker’s eyes widened, and his nostrils flared. “I don’t want to talk to you about the car ride.”