Dark Wings Descending (19 page)

Rafe slipped out of Ashley’s arms to stalk off a few steps only to turn around again. “Is there nothing you don’t fucking know about!”

Ashley’s quiet voice broke through Rafe’s agitation. “I don’t know how you feel about me.”

One look at Ashley’s face and Rafe’s heart reached out for her. She took an involuntary step forward as if physically pulled by it. “How can I tell you when I don’t even know myself?”

“But you care for me, right?”

“You’ve been in my house, slept with me and my cat, and I made breakfast. That’s more intimacy than I have shared with most of the women I’ve been with.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets and again caught sight of the board displaying the scenes of crime. “We have a duty to these women to find their killer. Until then, we have to stay focused.”

“I am woman. I can multitask and focus on many things at once.”

“I’m a detective, and I need to concentrate on one thing at a time.”

“So how many dates are we talking, Detective, before you can speak of soul mates without freaking out?”

“I don’t know. Our dates seem to be a little odd in and of themselves.”

“And this is what, our third one already? I’d say things are looking bright for you with me.”

“You deserve better,” Rafe said.

“But, Detective Douglas, you forget, I can see you too. All the way through those strategically placed walls, past the badge, right through to your heart. Because I feel like I’ve known you forever too.”

Rafe reached for Ashley’s hand just as her phone rang loudly in her pocket. She snatched it up quickly, fearing another dead body found. “Douglas here.” She let out a soft breath at the voice on the other end. “No, it’s okay. I’m…” She gave Ashley a look. “I’m not home yet. I’ll phone you when I get back.” Rafe checked her watch. “Give me half an hour or so.” She finished up the call. “I’ve got to go. I have to return a call to Blythe about this case.”

“You could talk to her here. You don’t have to leave.”

Rafe was torn between duty and need. She threw caution to the wind and caught Ashley up in her arms. The kiss she gave her was almost bruising in its ferocity and in her desire. She only pulled back when she could no longer breathe. Ashley was left gasping in her wake.

“Soul mates, eh?” Rafe rubbed her nose against Ashley’s. “Just when I think you can’t surprise me any further.”

“I’ve got to keep you on your toes to keep you interested,” Ashley said before Rafe kissed her again, long and hard.

“Oh, I’m interested.” Rafe dragged herself away from Ashley’s tempting body. “Just for the record again, there was never anything at all between Blythe and me.”

“I know. That’s why I’m letting you go.” Ashley touched her lips with shaking fingers. “For now.”

Rafe pulled the door open, wondering if she was crazy to leave behind what Ashley was so obviously offering her. “I’ll see you in the morning?”

“I’ll pop into the office before I go do some of my own work.”

As she stepped over the threshold, Rafe paused in the doorway, hesitating to shut the door behind her. “Why don’t I want to leave?”

“Because your heart recognizes what your head doesn’t yet,” Ashley said.

“Which is?”

“That you belong with me.”

Rafe’s whole being filled with a soothing warmth that was unfamiliar.
Peace. Is that what this is?
“I’ve never belonged to anyone before. Other than Trinity, and I think she only stays for the food and the scratching post.”

“You should go back to your cat. She’ll be feeling lonesome.” Ashley edged nearer. “Are you going to tell Blythe about any of this?”

“You mean tell her about the demons running rife in my life? Hell no! She’s my friend and I love her, but she doesn’t need to know. I want her to be blissful in her ignorance.”

“Can you keep it from her?”

“I’m going to give it a damn good try. I don’t tell her everything; what’s one more secret?” Rafe made herself take another step away. “I’d better go. I need to ask her about reworking the profile.”

Ashley grabbed Rafe by the lapel of her jacket and tugged her down for a long, lingering kiss. “Go. Be careful driving home.”

Rafe ran her tongue over her lips, relishing the gentle throb the kiss had left behind. “Sure I will, because if the demons in Chicago aren’t trying to kill you, the crazies on the road are.” Rafe left before she found another excuse to stay.

Alone in her apartment, Ashley took off her jacket and waited for Eli to appear. His sense of timing was always impeccable, so she knew it wouldn’t be long after Rafe had left that he’d show up. Ashley felt cut adrift without Rafe beside her. She missed the warmth that naturally radiated off Rafe, missed her presence and her intelligence. Now that they were getting more intimate, Ashley was loath to let Rafe out of her sight. She touched her lips gently with her fingertips. They still tingled from the forceful kisses they had shared. She smiled and hugged the sensation to her.

“You look happy.”

Ashley spun around to greet Eli. “I had my detective over to share some quality demon-watching time,” she said.

“So I saw.”

“Were you spying on us?”

“No. I was merely doing my job observing humanity.”

“Do you watch
everything
I do?”

“No. I grant you your privacy when it’s warranted. I’m not a pervert. I know when to draw the veil over my eyes.”

“Are you ever afraid you’ll be tempted?”

“I saw what it did to those I considered brothers. I don’t envy their life and what they have become.” Unexpectedly, he brushed his knuckles across Ashley’s cheek. “But your father helped bring you into this world, and sometimes I envy him for that. You are a marvelous woman.”

Ashley’s eyes welled up. “May you always think so.”

“I have no doubt you’ll continue to surprise me, but you will always be favored.”

“Because you’re my guardian?”

“Because you are the daughter of my beloved brother angel and you are my friend.” He smiled at her, a truly beautiful smile befitting such an angelic soul. He then turned his attention back to the board filled with photos. “Anything new?”

Ashley followed him so they stood side by side, just as they had every single night since the second killing, staring at the stark images pinned on the board. “There’s nothing significant that points to one man or demon. I fear he’s going to have to kill again and hopefully slip up. So far, he’s invincible. He kills at will and no one can stop him.” Ashley stared at a photo and something tugged at her memory. “You know, I’m sure I’ve seen something like this pose before.” She studied it harder, racking her brain for an answer. “I just can’t think where.”

“A statue perhaps? Some kind of sculpture?”

Ashley chewed at her lip, pensive. “I’m not sure, but something about it is nagging at my brain.”

“Maybe it will become clearer as the hours pass.”

“Maybe. But not tonight. I’m going to bed.
Alone
,
might I add.”

“Your detective didn’t want to stay?”

“I think she wanted to stay but wouldn’t let herself.”

“An honorable woman, a rarity these days.”

“Honor is overrated, Eli. Sometimes you just want a warm body to cuddle up with on a night like tonight.” Ashley wanted Rafe like no other woman she’d been with. Not just for the physical release their lovemaking could bring them both, but for the comfort, the tenderness, the sheer need to just be with her. This feeling was soul deep and almost desperate.
And I sent her home to talk with another woman instead of keeping her here with me. What’s wrong with that picture, Ashley?
She continued to berate herself as she took herself off to bed.

*

Settled in her living room, her lap taken up by her cat, Rafe called Blythe’s number. She answered on the second ring.

“Tell me you weren’t really still at work this late not long after being discharged from the hospital.”

“No, Mom. I was out on a surveillance that saw me just sitting around on my ass. I got fed and everything, so you can quit worrying.” She heard Blythe’s exasperation with her loud and clear through the phone. “Honestly, I’m getting stronger every day.”

“Your hair is too damn short.”

“I had them just shave it all so it was the same length instead of me looking like a complete fashion disaster. It’s growing already.” She brushed her hand over the soft bristles on her scalp.

“You frightened me,” Blythe finally admitted.

“Yeah, well, I frightened myself there for a while. But I’m on the mend, and the guy who did this is well and truly dealt with.”
In every way
. “So how’s the FBI treating you these days? Are you in charge of the DDU yet?”

“No, and I don’t think I want that responsibility either. I like my job just fine as it is. I spend way too many hours working. I have no time for a social life. Sometimes I barely find a moment or two in the day to breathe.”

“And you love every second.” Rafe knew that feeling well.

“Yeah, I do. I just wish I could do something more about my woefully lacking love life. I really don’t want to strike up a romance with someone in the office, though. If it ends badly, I don’t want to be the one reassigned from a job I love so much.”

“You’ll just have to trust that your heart will lead you on the right path.” She listened to the silence on the other end of the line. “Blythe?”

“Just how badly were you hurt in that fight, Rafe?”

“Enough to shake my perspective on life. I’ve come to realize it’s too short. You need to grab happiness wherever you find it.” Ever the cop, she couldn’t resist adding, “As long as it doesn’t compromise the evidence or interfere with your case.”

“What happened to By the Book Douglas?”

“She’s still here, but sometimes you have to step into the gray areas. I’m treading in some now.”

“Are you okay, Rafe, seriously? Health-wise? And no fudging.”

“I’m fine. I am healing and getting my strength back more every day. And I’m…seeing someone.”

“A woman?”

“Yes, a woman! I do date, you know.”

“Yes, but it’s so rare and I never hear about it until well after the fact.”

“This is still new. Early days if I’m honest.”
Literally days
.
God, it seems like forever.

“She must be special if you’re mentioning her.”

“She’s special, all right.”

“What’s her name?”

“Ashley Scott. She’s a PI assisting on the case.”

“Ashley Scott? Where do I know that name from? A PI, you say?” Rafe could all but hear Blythe’s brain ticking away. “Not the same Scott involved in the child porn ring we busted?”

“Small world, isn’t it?”

“I remember meeting her briefly. She was more involved with the Internet side of the ring, but I saw her in the department a few times. Small and blond, right? Very pretty.”

“That would be her.”

“And she’s helping you how?”

“She has contacts on the street, some of the great unwashed who don’t want to talk to cops. She’s also checking into the weirder aspect of these killings. She’s investigating an occult angle.”

“I don’t recall any occult references in the profile I gave you.”

Rafe knew her lame excuse for having Ashley involved in the investigation was going to cause more trouble than it was worth. She considered for a brief moment just telling Blythe the truth, to have someone else see how crazy the world had gotten since she’d had her head caved in. To have someone to confide in, worry with, be frightened with. She thought of Ashley and the trust she had placed in Rafe and decided against it. “It’s just another angle. It’s not in my team’s investigation; it’s something she is pursuing on her own.” Rafe fingered the scar on her forehead. “She’s not on my dime, so she can chase after shadows as much as she likes.”

“And you’re dating.”

“Kind of,” Rafe hedged, gasping as Trinity chose that moment to stick her claws through her pants almost in reprimand. “Yes.” She glared down at the cat, who blinked at her, unrepentant. “We’ve seen each other a few times now.”

“But?”

“No, no buts, well, not really. I’m just cautious, and it’s all happening so suddenly. I’m still getting my head around the fact I nearly died in that alley, and now I have this woman in my life and she’s wonderful and funny and makes my head spin worse than the medication does.”

“Oh, Rafe, that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Rafe shifted in her seat, needing to get off this topic of feelings and romance before Blythe started asking about Ashley’s background.
Oh yes, she’s wonderful and funny and just happens to be the child of a fallen angel. We watched a demon being banished tonight. It’s the latest craze in dating for lesbians.

Rafe cleared her throat indicating the need for a subject change. “Did you get the information I sent you about the new guy, Epcot?”

Blythe had no problem changing tack with Rafe. “Yes, I did. He’s a classic attention seeker. I predict a long line of sibling rivalry, starting with the vying for attention from their parents. He’s trying to go one better than she did on him. She slept with his girl. His move was to remove that object from the playing field. He failed, though, in his intentions so he had to up the stakes. His admitting to the serial killer’s crimes is his way of proving his superiority.”