Phoenix Arizona (2 page)

Matt pulled a stick of gum out, shoving it into his mouth. Some days he wished he hadn’t given up smoking. What he wouldn’t give right now for one long hit. As he chewed, his eyes roamed over the empty space. Aside from rat droppings and dead roaches, there was nothing there to use as evidence, none that he could see anyway. Whoever had done this had taken the murder weapon with him. He was sure Valentine was right about clues. The crime scene unit wasn’t going to find any trace evidence. The killer was just too careful about cleaning up behind himself.

There was no evidence left behind with the first victim either.

The apartment Matt stood in was located in the seedy side of town and Matt knew he wasn’t going to get a witness from the neighbors. In this part of town, no one ever saw anything. “Call me when they get an ID on John Doe.”

“You got it.” Valentine nodded as Matt walked out of the apartment, trying to swallow as much fresh air as possible. That was hard considering the building stunk of urine and bad cooking. The killer had picked the perfect place to commit his crime. No one around here would have paid him any attention. There weren’t any surveillance cameras in the hallway, and the noises coming from the apartments were so loud that no one would have heard a man moving a limp or struggling body inside the place.

The detective in him screamed that the two cases were related. He’d bet his pay on it. As Matt walked down the steps of the filthy hallway, he pulled up what he remembered about the last victim in his mind.

It wasn’t much to go off of, but then again the killer hadn’t left any clues to work with. The last victim worked at a diner not too far from here, and it had been late night the last time he had been seen. The guy was a blond with blue eyes, slim and twinkish. From what witnesses had told him, the man had hung out at a club called Cisco’s. The man hadn’t been a bad person, just single and fun-loving.

So the victim’s friends had said.

Matt had a feeling he would get the same report about this man as well—single and fun-loving.

He had to find the string that tied these two together besides their similar appearances. Maybe it was working in a diner? Did this victim work in a diner? There were too many in this city for Matt to check them all out. But with nowhere else to look, Matt spit out the gum that tasted like the apartment and got into his car, heading over to East Fifth.

Maybe he could grab a bite to eat while he was there.

He pulled into the lot of the diner where the last victim had worked. He didn’t believe the killer would strike the same place twice, but he needed to check things out while he ate. Maybe he missed something the last time he was here.

After grabbing some dinner and talking with the employees and the manager, Matt didn’t have any new information. He really didn’t think he would. He leaned against his car, pounding his fist on the roof in frustration. There had to be something else that tied the victims together. Like any detective worth his salt, Matt was determined to find the killer before he struck again.

His eyes scanned the area as his mind worked to solve the puzzle. One week had separated the murders.

Seven damn days.

This meant if a serial killer was at work here—and his gut was screaming that the two cases were connected—then he had seven days to catch the guy before he killed again.

Matt rolled his shoulders, feeling his vertebrae crack, and then climbed back into his police-issued sedan. He hadn’t slept in thirty-six hours, and it was starting to catch up with him. His head was beginning to hurt, and his eyes were burning from lack of sleep.

He also needed a run. His wolf was getting cagey. Matt knew he would start to snap at everyone if he didn’t take better care of himself. But being a detective, and a shifter, sometimes that just wasn’t possible.

There were too many crimes to solve and not enough hours in a day.

His wolf was itching to get free and run for a while, and Matt knew that if he didn’t release his wolf soon, he would start to become aggressive. It happened every time Matt worked seemingly endless shifts.

Matt decided to let his wolf run before he crashed for the next twelve hours. He was officially off duty as of five minutes ago, so driving out to the countryside was perfect. Maybe running would help clear his head. He hoped so, because if he didn’t catch the killer soon, someone else was going to die.

Matt drove out to the country, parked his car on one of the pull-off paths for cars, and then walked into the woods. Once he knew he was alone, he stripped down and shifted. It was a feeling of freedom he would never tire of. Matt’s wolf took over and he ran for miles. The air smelled fresh, and the earth felt moist under his paws.

His wolf gloried in chasing after deer and other smaller animals, the thrill exciting it. The breeze sliding along his fur was a welcome caress as he inhaled the scent of living creatures all around him. It was a welcomed aroma compared to earlier. Matt thought he would never get the foul taste from his lungs.

Slowing to a stop, he dropped down to the leaves as he rested. Matt tried to think about the case, but his wolf wasn’t having it. It pushed the thought aside and just enjoyed its time out in nature. Matt knew his visits to the woods were few and far between, and that was something he couldn’t help. Extra time for himself was something he could hardly ever find. And as much as he wanted to stay here and enjoy the beautiful scenery, he knew he needed to get going.

The cases weren’t going to solve themselves.

Reluctantly, Matt got up and trotted back to his folded clothes. He shifted, dressed, and then headed back toward the city. His wolf was appeased for the moment, but the detective in him was still feeling restless. He was tired as hell, but found himself driving to the station.

This job was going to kill him one of these days. Matt was all work and no play. And yes, that made him a very dull boy, cranky as hell, too.

After about two hours of catching up on paperwork, his exhaustion was catching up with him quickly. Matt stood and stretched, feeling how truly tired he was. Grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair and pushing it over his shoulders, Matt was ready to leave.

Until his phone rang.

Damn it.

He knew if he answered the phone, it could mean he would be stuck there longer, and exhaustion was finally creeping into his weary bones. Cursing his inability to just let things go, he picked the receiver up.

“Calico.”

“Detective, this is Denny.”

Shit.
He knew he should have let it ring. Going home wasn’t in his near future. Denny was a snitch for him on one of the other cases he was working, and he needed a lead. The case had gone cold, and the captain was on his ass to get it closed.

Matt prayed Denny had something to give him. Anything would do right about now. If he had to listen to the captain yell at him once more, Matt wasn’t so sure he could restrain himself. “Yeah?”

“Damonee will be at Cisco’s tonight. He and his goons plan on picking up some random boy toy to share. I just thought you’d want to know.”

The line went dead, and Matt gripped the receiver in his hand tighter.
Fucking Damonee.
Why did he have to get horny tonight?

And in the one place that hated cops.

The gay club had a lot of illegal activity going on, and it was a hot spot for the ATF. They made a bust about every three months. Matt still couldn’t figure out how the place stayed open. The owner always somehow got out of the charges.

Hanging the phone up, he strolled toward the door as he resigned himself to a night of waiting for the scumbag to show himself.

* * * *

Phoenix was dead on his feet. They felt like two whimpering puppies by the time the dinner rush had ended. He had even worn some gel pads inside his shoes, but not even those had helped his aching feet.

He had eight tables in his station, and they had stayed packed all evening. The tips hadn’t been that great either. It made Phoenix want to smack every last customer who walked out without giving him
at least
ten percent. He knew times were tough, but he was trying to scratch out a living just like everyone else.

Phoenix rolled his shoulders to try and alleviate some of the tension that had been building all evening as he walked over to booth five. The guy looked as though he didn’t need anything else, and Phoenix prayed he wouldn’t order another shred of food. He was ready to shut down his stations.

“Can I get you anything else?” He smiled tightly at the gentleman sipping his coffee as if he had nothing better to do for the rest of the evening. Phoenix did. He wanted to get out of there.

The guy casually turned his head and eyed Phoenix for a moment before he politely smiled. “Nothing else. I’m done here.”

Thank god
. Phoenix ripped the check from his pad and placed it on the table facedown as he let out a long breath. “You have a nice night, sir.”

“Oh, I plan to.”

Phoenix stared at the stranger for a long moment.
What an odd thing to say.
He brushed it aside, happy he could clean the last station and go home. If he’d had to fake one more cheerful greeting, one more smile, his face would have cracked. He rubbed his lower back, thinking of the hot bath he was going to soak in once he left this dive. It was mid-August, but Phoenix would just put a fan in the bathroom with him. His back needed some serious heat to relax his tight muscles. Since he was boyfriendless, a good massage was out of the question.

“Girlfriend, you look like shit.” Armando mock slapped Phoenix on his shoulder and then grabbed the shakers to refill them. “It was a rough night, wasn’t it? I thought I was going to have to slap one guy in booth twelve. His paws were all over my ass, not that I minded, but his girlfriend did.”

Phoenix smiled at his friend since childhood. The guy always knew how to put Phoenix in a better mood, even when he felt grumpy. “I know. That must have been the most demanding crowd I have ever had. I swear if that large woman pinched my ass one more time I was going to take my sneaker off and bash her over the head.” His damn rump was still smarting.

Armando laughed as he set the shakers on the various tables. “Poor thing, at least my ass assaulter was a guy.” He gave an allover body shiver. “You should have told girlfriend you didn’t swing that way.”

As if.
“You know that only makes women hornier. I’ll never understand that. How can a woman get horny over a gay guy? It doesn’t make any sense to me.” And the women that frequented the diner he and Armando worked at seemed to love pinching his ass. Phoenix would never understand it. He had to have the horniest crowd in town.

“That’s because we are some fine-ass men.” Armando laughed as he smacked his own ass. “Just look at this body. It’s to die for.”

“I guess.” It still didn’t make any sense to Phoenix.

“Oh my god, Nix.” Armando’s face lit up as he ran toward Phoenix, jumping up and down as he grabbed Phoenix’s arm. “Let’s go clubbing tonight!” When hesitation gleamed in Phoenix’s eyes, Armando huffed. “Neither of us has to work tomorrow. Come on, it’ll be fun!” Armando started dancing around the diner, shaking his ass at Phoenix. “We both can find some hunks and get laid.”

Sighing dramatically to please Armando’s need for theatrics—because the man was as theatrical as they came—Phoenix rolled his eyes as he threw his hands up. “I guess so.”

“Ehhh!” Armando squeaked and danced Phoenix’s hands around as he jogged in place. The guy was such a character, but Phoenix loved his best friend. Flamboyant to the nines, Armando was a force to be reckoned with. He had mocha-brown skin and was a whopping six foot three. He was slightly muscular and tough, but more feminine than most women.

The man was the greatest friend to have.

“Now I have to find something to wear. We need to get out of here and get ready. Are you finished?” Armando asked impatiently.

Phoenix smiled at his roommate as he went to wipe his tables down and sweep up. “Okay, I’m finis—” Before Phoenix could get the full sentence out, Armando grabbed him by the arm and was rushing for the door.

“Honey, it’s been weeks since I got laid. We don’t have time to waste,” Armando said as he pulled Phoenix from the diner and began to rush home. “Henry hasn’t called me in weeks and I’m tired of waiting on him to come around. I’m ready to have some fun!”

Phoenix laughed as he let his friend drag him from the diner. They hurried to their two-bedroom shithole. It wasn’t the best place to live, but it was in their price range, which meant it was dirt cheap and falling apart, but it was home.

He knew not to rush. Armando would take forever primping and preening in front of the mirror as he got ready. The man was a true-to-the-heart diva. Armando spent more time in front of a mirror than a glassmaker. Phoenix wouldn’t be surprised if the man slept with one tucked under his pillow.

“Ready whenever you are.” Phoenix knocked on Armando’s bedroom door and then pushed it open, sticking his head in. “If you want any good pickings, you better shake a leg.”

“Girl, there better be some hot men left, or I’m going to throw a damn BF,” Armando said as he stepped out of the room looking like…Armando. The man wore leather pants that looked two sizes too small, a tight midriff shirt, and a dazzling bright red boa around his neck. His sandals were decorated in sequins to show off his highly polished toenails. The toes sparkled with the polish and glitter Armando had applied, making them look spectacular. The makeup was expertly applied and the man looked like he was ready to party. Phoenix grinned as they left the apartment and headed to the club.