State's Evidence: A Beverly Mendoza Legal Thriller (45 page)

“Stone, are you with me, man?” Chang lowered
his eyebrows with annoyance.

Stone focused in on his partner and realized
he hadn’t been entirely. “Drifted off there for a moment,” he
admitted. “What were you saying?”

“I wanted to get your take on the Butterfly
Killer. Just who the hell is he and what makes him tick?”

Stone tasted more beer and ruminated. Their
latest case involved a serial killer who had strangled three women
over the last six weeks. The press had dubbed him “The Butterfly
Killer,” because the killer had left a butterfly in the mouth of
each nude victim, all of whom were pretty, redheaded, and had been
sexually assaulted.

It never ends. Not for them anyway. All they
could do was keep going after the bad guys and hope that maybe some
victims could be spared along the way.

Much like Beverly and Grant had been.

Abruptly Stone got to his feet.

Chang looked up. “You gonna take a leak?”

“I’m going home,” he answered
unceremoniously. “Think I’ll take my wife out to dinner.”

Chang, who was divorced, frowned. “What about
the Butterfly Killer?”

“Something tells me he’ll still be out there
tomorrow,” Stone said. “And we’ll be hot on his ass. Tonight I need
to take a breather and remember what’s really important. See you
later.”

Outside Stone breathed in the spring air and
got on his cell phone. He hoped Joyce hadn’t made any special plans
for dinner, as he had.

CHAPTER SIXTY

The private balcony in the suite offered
breathtaking views of the Hawaiian Islands and endless sea. Beverly
had come to treasure all the beautiful things in life that she may
have once taken for granted. That included a lifetime commitment to
the man who stole her heart and soul and made his own.

They had cemented their love through marriage
and taken a cruise as the perfect way to explore one another in an
idyllic, romantic setting.

After making love for the umpteenth time,
Beverly was exhausted and incredibly happy to be in the virile arms
of her man. She was finally Mrs. Grant Nunez and intended to soak
it up for all it was worth.

She thanked God again and again that they had
escaped Rafael Santiago’s wrath. Not in small part due to the
heroic efforts of Stone Palmer. Grant had made a full recovery
after being shot in the shoulder, with only a half moon scar left
to remind them.

Jaime’s nightmares, lasting several weeks,
had stopped. When they had invited him to go on the cruise, he had
declined, opting instead to stay with his friend Paco and his
family. Stone and Joyce had graciously agreed.

Beverly no longer allowed the stress and
strain of a case that went awry before ending on a more positive
note make her question if she were in the right profession.

Indeed over the last three months, she had
found herself reenergized as a trial lawyer, using the unusual
nature of the Santiago case and its eerie connection to an alliance
with Manuel Gonzalez as a motivator to press forward with her
career. Along the way, Beverly had been given more responsibility
and now believed that some day she might even be able to join her
husband on the bench.

She lifted her mouth so that it brushed
against his and turned into a passionate kiss.

“Love you,” she murmured, their naked bodies
pressed together, the perspiration from the earlier heat they had
generated beginning to dry.

“Love you, too, baby,” Grant assured her.
More than he could ever say, but not more than he could show
Beverly. He fully intended to do all the little things that spelled
love in a big way.

Both his and Beverly’s careers were in full
swing, making it all the better in their personal lives.

Just last month indictments were handed down
against thirteen people, including a sitting judge, in connection
with the investigation into bribery, fraud, and racketeering
charges first initiated with Judge Sheldon Crawford. Grant fully
expected some convictions and serious prison time to come out of
this, with Beverly prosecuting several of the defendants at the
state level.

He kissed the top of her head. “So are we
going to spend all our time in bed or what?”

Beverly could feel his erection beneath her,
causing her temperature to rise once again. “You tell me, Mr.
Nunez. I’m game to see what’s happening on the ship, if you
are.”

Grant thought about it for a moment or two.
Recognizing his overpowering desire for her and his need to be
inside her, he declared, “Well, maybe later. Right now, I think I’d
like to enjoy the view inside this cabin a while longer.”

Beverly laughed amorously. “Sounds like a
plan. A very good plan.”

She waited till his mouth descended to kiss
hers. It happened like clockwork and the ticking began once
again.

# # #

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. Barri Flowers is an award winning,
bestselling author of crime, mystery, thriller, suspense, and young
adult fiction. His novels include DARK STREETS OF WHITECHAPEL, DEAD
IN THE ROSE CITY, JUSTICE SERVED, MURDER IN MAUI, PERSUASIVE
EVIDENCE, KILLER IN THE WOODS, CHRISTMAS WISHES, GHOST GIRL IN
SHADOW BAY, and DANGER IN TIME.

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