The Blood In the Beginning (15 page)

‘We have footage of him coming off the bus crash, video from bystanders. It's dark though,' Rourke said. He checked over the artist's rendition. ‘I don't know how much that's going to help.' The painted face morphed his features into a ghost-like creature.

I glanced toward Tom and lowered my voice. ‘It's not far off from the 1960s sketch. The one that was dismissed.'

Rourke nodded. ‘I'll see if the original's in the archives.'

‘We'll run facial recognition,' the artist said. ‘It's a long shot, but forensics might be able to do something with it.' The artist packed up his portfolio case and left.

I sighed.

‘We're going to nail this guy,' Rourke said. ‘Just …'

‘You need me to keep being the bait?'

‘If you're up to it.'

‘I am.' After the victims' eye view of what this guy had done, my dedication was solid.

When Rourke left, Tom was back to the couch, pressing for more info.

‘Tomorrow, Tom. I'm exhausted.'

‘You kicking me out of my own lounge?'

‘Yep.' I flopped down and pulled the pillow under my head.

Tom covered me with the lightweight sleeping bag. ‘I want to hear more in the morning.'

‘I have classes.' My eyes were closed as I spoke.

‘Soon then.'

‘Sure.'

It took me all of a minute to fall asleep.

* * *

Thursday was a steady stream of uni work, and plenty of food via Tom's nurturing gene. I finally got caught up on my classes, and actually felt physically healed, almost. Rourke had no luck with the DNA, drawing or the video. No surprise there. It was like the guy wasn't in the system, but he promised me they'd find him. I hoped it'd be soon.

So much had happened in the last few days, I'd completely forgotten about Friday night's tentative dinner with Daniel Bane. Cate, on the other hand, had not. She called me about it first thing in the morning to remind me. I'm pretty sure she hadn't been to bed yet. We talked it over while I braided my hair in Tom's bathroom, phone on speaker. The meal before work thing felt odd, but every time I tried to get my head around it, I slipped into a nest of cotton wool. A warning tone sounded in the distance. It dissipated before I could decipher it.

Cate insisted that it was Poseidon policy for security staff to get to know the boss. ‘He takes them all out to dinner,' she said. ‘Or the shooting range. Something like that.'

‘Why?'

‘It's good business.'

‘More like monkey business.' I wiped the mirror with my palm when it fogged up. ‘I'd rather be on the shooting range.'

‘Ava, just go to dinner. You're working anyway, right.'

I had to agree.

‘So you leave a few hours early and have a free meal.'

Silence seemed my only defense.

‘He has connections,' she taunted.

I stopped braiding my hair and looked at the phone. ‘What kind?'

‘CDC for one.'

That had my attention. ‘With the board?'

‘Go to dinner and find out.'

I blew out my breath. She was impossible to argue with. ‘Okay, but I'm dressing for work.'

She swore through the phone. ‘At least wear your long green skirt.'

‘The one with the slit up the side? You're kidding.'

‘It'll look great with a black top. Then all you have to do is change into pants and you're ready for work.'

‘Okay, but I'm keeping the Tims, if I go.'

She paused as if imagining the ensemble. ‘Perfect.'

‘I'll think about it.'

I swiped off, finished my hair and headed for the kitchen.

* * *

When Daniel rang, he said straight up, ‘How are you feeling?'

It was such a normal question, I ended up telling him more about the stalker calling after he dropped me off, and the bus crash–second attack two days ago, than I'd planned.

‘You aren't safe in your home.'

‘I'm at a friend's.'

‘Where?'

I had to fight the urge not to spill. ‘It's secure.'

When he confirmed dinner, I couldn't say no. Literally couldn't do it. In the back of my mind, I wrestled with puffs of air. Worries became formless, especially with Daniel's confident voice in my ear. We agreed on a time before I realised I'd said yes. I did manage to cut him short when he offered to pick me up. ‘I'll meet you at Poseidon.' I swiped off the call, thinking about him for a moment. His
influence pouvoir
— persuasive power — was not subtle. All I could muster was
hmm.

I went about my day on campus as if it was the same as any other, and tried not to be paranoid. The house-to-house search turned up dry, so psycho-stalker was still on the loose. By six-thirty in the evening, I was back at Tom's, getting ready for dinner and work. I checked the mirror for bruises. They were clearing up fast; a good thing, as I didn't have any makeup on. My skin was smooth and always looked beach-girl tan. My eyes were lined with black lashes, brows tame and gently arched. I think one of my parents had Asian blood, but I'd never done a test. I was curious, but I was more worried about my real DNA getting into the system. Besides, what difference would it make? We all came from somewhere. More important where we were headed.

I shoved clean black jeans into my backpack, strapped on my ankle holster and retrieved my .32 pistol from the broom closet shelf where I'd stashed it. One last check in the mirror, and I was set.

‘You ready to drive me?' I said, leaning my head into Tom's room. He was hunched over his laptop, an empty plate and mug on the floor next to him. I stepped in all the way.
Long time since I've been in here.

‘Sec.' A moment later, he closed his browser, saved docs and turned to me. ‘Ava?'

I laughed. He was actually gaping. It couldn't be my hair in its familiar French braid or the small gold earrings I'd chosen. He'd seen them a million times since gifting them to me three birthdays ago.
Must be the green silk skirt and black lace top.

He stood slowly. ‘I thought I was dropping you at work.'

‘You are.'

‘Dressed like that?'

‘Dinner first.'

‘With who?'

‘The boss.'

He paused to grab his keys and wallet. ‘Is that wise? There's a killer after you, and …'

‘Relax, Tom. Rourke has me covered if anything goes down, and you know I can handle myself.' Tom wasn't going to sway me, but I did like to have his support. ‘What can happen?'

‘Dressed like that, anything,' he mumbled.

We discussed it all the way down the hall, into the elevator, through the parking lot and on to Poseidon, the conversation verging on an argument. He didn't think there was any universe where I should be having dinner with Bane. Way to ruin the ride in a perfectly luxurious Tesla.

‘Fact-finding mission,' I said, trying a new tactic.

‘That's what the internet's for.'

‘He knows people at the CDC. People on the board.'

Tom puffed up, ready to tear that line of thinking to bits, so I cut him off. ‘Don't forget, you're picking me up at three a.m.'

That sobered him.

‘I thought it was one a.m.'

‘Friday night.'

For the next few blocks, he focussed on the traffic and I enjoyed the ride. My phone buzzed as we turned down Grand Avenue, an incoming call. I caught the screen. Rossi.

‘My doctor,' I said to Tom. ‘Hey,' I spoke at the phone.

‘How's the shoulder.'

‘Out of the sling and feeling fine.' I waited for the real reason Rossi called.

‘Have there been any signs of …'

‘The stalker? Yeah. He tried to kill me last night.'

‘What?'

‘Relax. I'm alive.'

‘Ava, we should talk.'

He'd have to wait in line. ‘About what?'

‘Your origins, for one.'

That floored me. I couldn't respond. I mean, what could he possibly know about that?

Tom pulled up in front of Poseidon. ‘We're here.'

I played it light. ‘Off to work now, doc. Keeping the clubbers safe from the rowdies.' I held the phone away, kissed Tom on the cheek and thanked him. ‘Three a.m. I'll text if it's later.'

‘Be safe.' Tom gave me a quick hug.

‘Is that Daniel Bane?' Rossi said his name like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

‘What's it to you?'

‘You shouldn't trust him.'

‘And you shouldn't tell me what to do.' I hung up, tucking my phone back into my pack. Rossi's opinion I couldn't care less about.

Daniel came out through the tall, black doors of Poseidon and a Caddy pulled up as Tom drove away. Jason got out and handed the keys to Daniel. He went back inside without giving me more than a nod. As Daniel opened the passenger door, I caught the scent of his cologne. Nice. Fresh and oceanic. I sat in the soft leather seat, wondering about Rossi's warning. How the heck did he know Bane?

‘Ava, gorgeous. You look fantastic.' Daniel took the driver's seat. His eyes stayed on mine. No wandering to my legs or my breasts.

‘Thanks.' He looked good too, but I kept that in my head. It didn't stop him from smiling as I thought it though.

He drove to a quiet cafe, fusion Italian, with checkered tablecloths and soft lighting. The air con filtered out the gritty night air and filled the dining room with aromas of freshly baked bread, olives, pesto and garlic. My mouth watered. Daniel ordered for both of us, in Italian. I found it a little strange to be out to dinner with a guy I hadn't met online first. Even Tom and I had spent months chatting on Date Night's science geek forum before we met face to face, and we went to the same uni. Bane and I didn't know anything about each other, hadn't met in a single online chatroom together. But in spite of that lack, the conversation was easy, the banter light as we enjoyed minestrone soup and homemade bread. There was only one awkward moment. Daniel said the security boys were happy to have me on board, which I took as an opening to tell him about my buddy, Jeff.

‘He trained me up and is solid as they come. Jeff's been at Lucky's since …'

Daniel shook his head before I even got rolling. ‘He's not what we're looking for.'

‘Oh.' How could he know that without meeting the man? It stunned me, but then more food came and Daniel started talking about his property in Baja. The ease and flow came back. I didn't let the food woo me though, or his smooth voice. I kept the line drawn firmly where it ought to be. He was the boss; I, the employee. But somehow, even when I said it to myself, puffs of nothing-thought floated away on the breeze.

‘You've recovered remarkably well, Ava.'

‘Not bad, considering.'

‘Did they catch him?'

‘No, but we have his DNA, maybe prints.'

‘Does he have a record?'

‘Nothing turned up.'

‘Is he linked to your first attack?'

Lots of questions from Mr Bane tonight. ‘Think so.'

‘Was there a ribbon?'

I choked on my soup. ‘Pardon me?'

‘I have eyes and ears at City Hall, and you have a thin bruise around your wrist.'

He could see that? Even I needed a magnifying glass to pick it up. ‘What bruise?' I held his gaze as the waiter swept away our bowls and replaced them with an oil and vinegar salad.

‘This one.' He traced my wrist with his finger.

I pulled back, dropping my hands into my lap. Time to ask a few questions of my own. ‘The girl who disappeared a few weeks ago. She was last seen at Poseidon.'

He frowned. ‘I hadn't heard that.'

‘The killer may be targeting people coming out of clubs.'

He blotted his mouth with a white napkin.
Must be one of Teern's.

My ears pricked.
Teern?
Rossi had mentioned the name as well, in much the same way. ‘Did you say …?'

‘That's a valid point, about targeting people.' Daniel cut me off. ‘They would be vulnerable, possibly disoriented. I'll talk to Jason about securing the surrounding blocks.'

I looked him in the eye. ‘Who's Teern?'

The waiter was back, refilling Daniel's wine. I hadn't touched mine. I was on duty in one hour. Daniel swirled his glass, watching the dark liquid catch the light.

‘Teern?' I prompted him when the waiter left.

He cleared his throat. ‘A sister company, you might say.' His phone went off and he took it. There was a moment of quiet before he said, ‘I'll be right there.'

So much for the main course.

Daniel was out of his seat, a hand resting gently on my bare shoulder.
I can keep you safe, Ava. Just say the word.

Warmth washed through me at his touch. In the moment, it felt natural. Normal to hear his voice in my mind.

‘Forgive me, Ava,' he said aloud. ‘I have something I must attend to. Finish your meal and take a cab to work.' He dropped a stack of bills on the table. He seemed to have no qualms about telling me what to do. It made me bristle, vanquishing some of the warm feelings. ‘I'll check in on you later tonight.' He bent down and brushed my cheek with his lips, ending with a light kiss.
Think about it.

A rush went through me, and not the bad kind. He left and I took a small sip of my wine.

Once he was out the door, I relaxed; I hadn't realised how much tension was between us. Sexual tension, but I didn't want to admit that, even to myself. With him gone, my appetite tripled and I enjoyed the rest of the meal, chowing down without reserve. I knew a line had been crossed, but I had a handle on it. I was in control.

I also enjoyed the walk to work. Poseidon was only two city blocks away, no need for a cab. In the back of my mind, I made a note to look up this sister company, the one both Bane and Rossi had mentioned. Did Bane think I was undercover for some rival club? I pondered it for a while. How was Rossi connected? On impulse, I pulled out my phone. ‘Call Miguel Rossi.'