Adelle Laudan - Killer Scents

“See anything interesting?” He walked toward her.

Becca startled, spinning on her heel to face him. “Nothing yet.” She stepped around him.

Randy touched her arm. “I think we need to talk.”

“Oh, do you now? When did you decide this?” Her eyes blazed with anger.

He flinched. “What the hell are you so pissed off about?”

“It’s okay for you to shut down, avoid me, give me the silent treatment, but it’s not okay for me?”

“Becca, you don’t understand.” Randy reached for her hand, struggling with the desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.

She waved his hand away. “Save it. In case you’ve forgotten, there’s a killer out there—a sick bastard who killed my sister.”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten. Give me a chance to explain.”

“Becca.” Rick called from the doorway. “Can you look at something for me?”

With her gaze trained on him, she walked away. “I’d be happy to.”

He kicked at the dirt road and watched her disappear through the doorway. Wow! I didn’t see that coming. He raked his fingers through his hair. Somehow he’d make her understand, but it would have to wait. They were almost done with the interviews and so far it hadn’t uncovered anything that might lead them to The Florist.

“Is everything okay?” Jacob pulled up beside him.

“Oh, yah.” Heat warmed his cheeks. “I guess my mind is someplace else.”

Jacob looked to the empty doorway. “I can see that.”

Randy quickly changed the subject. “We’re almost done with your boys. Is it alright if we take a look in their bunkhouse next?”

“Sure. That’s not a problem.”

“I meant to ask after we left here the last time, but did you happen to see or hear that bike again?”

“Nope, I even asked around a bit with no luck.”

Randy patted his back. “Thanks for all of your help. We’ll try to wrap this up as soon as possible.”

He clamped a gloved hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh. It seemed almost criminal to be in such a good mood. Get it together. This could be your biggest challenge yet. He smirked, patting his pocket for the umpteenth time. Thank God for my secret weapon. A tremor of anticipation brought actual goose bumps to his skin as he went over a mental checklist.

After a quick look up the road, he made his move and reached up to give the light bulb a turn. The doorbell pierced the still of night. He knew it wasn’t loud enough to alert a neighbour, but he still held his breath. He firmed his hold on the package in his hands. A cellophane-wrapped flower simply wouldn’t cut it with this guy.

Only a few seconds passed before he was rewarded by a string of curse words and the light switch flickering on and off several times. The door opened with the chain intact.

“Whatever you’re selling, I ain’t interested.”

“I have a delivery for a Mr. Kevin Baird. I’ll need a signature, sir.”

“It’s kind of late for a delivery, don’t you think?” Kevin grumbled, closing the door to unhook the chain.

A bear of a man stood in the doorway with one hand remaining on the door. His dishevelled appearance gave him a cave man air. In the same instant Kevin took the package from him, he pulled out his gun and pressed it against the guy’s temple.

“Step back into the house nice and slow or I’ll blow your fucking head off your shoulders right here.”

“What the f...? Are you fucking nuts?”

“Step back,” He snarled “Now!”

“Whoa, easy does it, I’m moving.”

The door barely closed behind them before Kevin threw the box at him, momentarily knocking him off balance. When he looked up, his adversary smacked a baseball bat against his open palm.

Amused, he chuckled. “Nice move, big guy. I’ll give you to the count of three to put that toy down. You don’t seriously believe you have a hope in Hell of using that on me, do you?”

“I don’t know who you are or why you’re here, but you better pray I don’t get my hands on you, because I’ll rip your fucking head off if I do.”

He smirked. “One...two...three....”

The click of his gun filled the space between them, followed closely by the thud of the bat hitting the floor. Each step he took toward his victim, Kevin Baird took one back until his calves hit the sofa. With lightning speed, he took the secret weapon from his pocket and plunged the syringe into Kevin’s upper thigh. The sudden move knocked the guy backwards on the couch like a tree being felled.

“Ahh...what the hell?”

His laughter bounced off the walls. “Just a little neuromuscular blocking drug, but don’t worry, you won’t miss out. You’ll see and feel every little thing that is about to happen.” He put his face close to his. “You just won’t be able to do a damn thing about it.”

Kevin’s eyes grew bright. “You’re The Flor....” His facial muscles froze in mid-sentence.

“Oh, I’m sorry, where are my manners?” He took the big man’s hand in his and pumped it twice. “Yes, I am The Florist. Nice to meet you.”

He took out rope and duct tape from his pack and held them up. “Not that you’ll be giving me a hard time, will you?” He pinched his victim’s cheek hard and then slapped his face, moving his head from side to side. “Good boy, I didn’t think so.”

The journal in his hands brought him comfort. “How about I read a little before we get this party started?”

Kevin seems to enjoy the fear he instills in me by going over every detail of his job as bouncer and how he bashes skulls. I can see the rage in his eyes, which is almost lethal. I fear for the day he turns his anger on me.

The only drawback to drugging him was not being able to see his reaction when he put two and two together and figured out the reason he was there. Oh well, I’ll just have to be happy he hears every word I say. He put his lips to the big man’s ear and whispered her name. “There, now you know.”

By the time they stepped out of the last hot house, the sun had begun its descent behind the buildings. A frustratingly long day turned up nothing. The men were all sweaty and tired and undoubtedly just as disappointed as Becca was.

“Thank you for all of your hard work. Let’s call it a night.” Randy rubbed his neck.

Becca walked up the road with Rick and several officers. “I would have bet money we’d find something to lead us to him here.”

The officer blew out a long breath which lifted his blond bangs. “He’s bound to slip up.”

“I wonder how many more lives he’ll take before that happens?”

Her question didn’t warrant a response. She just said aloud what was on the mind of ever man involved today. Thankfully they left before Randy had the opportunity to face off with her again. She definitely wasn’t in the mood for that.

They drove toward the city in silence.

“Before you take the boys back to the shop drop me off at home first.” She suppressed a yawn.

“No way. I don’t think the chief will like that idea too much.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a cop. I think I can take care of myself until you come back. It’ll give me a chance to grab a quick shower.”

“Okay, I don’t like it, but I’ll be back in ten or fifteen minutes tops.”

Becca climbed down from the truck and waved to the crew in the back. “Thanks. See you in a few.”

She felt for her gun before trudging up the driveway. I feel like we took ten giant steps backwards. Before going inside she unlocked the garage door and flicked on the light to find her baby shining in all her chrome glory. She nodded decidedly and turned off the light and went into the house.