Under Suspicion, With Child

Swanson stared down at the list and whistled. “This is a pretty comprehensive list. We’ll get started on the interviews right away. I’ll have Mitch Chapman go after the two boarders, the fisherman Alex Gibson and Assistant DA Grant Bridges. Grant won’t be happy, but too bad. I’ll take Mayor Wells and his assistant, Rick Simpson, myself. They’re touchy about everything since Perry admitted to taking illegal bribes. Not to mention his acquittal in Theodore Fisher’s murder.” Captain Swanson snorted. “Hard to believe a public servant in his position would be so low.”

“Unfortunately, it happens all too often. But I know what you mean. It’s disappointing when an elected official, responsible for upholding the laws, not only bends but breaks them.”

“It gives people the impression that politicians think they’re above the law.” For a long moment the captain stared at the list. When he looked up at Andrei, a steely glint shone in his eyes. “This is the first real lead we’ve had in this case. This could be the break we need.” He smacked his palm to the desk.

Andrei nodded.

“I want you to become a permanent fixture inside Cliffside Inn. I don’t care how you do it, but you need to find out who’s been stealing the plant and nail him.”

The potential for action cleared the blockage in Andrei’s throat, his blood humming in anticipation of capturing the bastard who’d killed Sofia. “Any suggestions on how I’ll hang out at the inn without alerting whoever it is to the fact I’m on to him? Send a cop in there and he’ll back off.”

The captain planted his elbows on the desk and steepled his fingers, his brows dipping low. For two long minutes he sat without speaking.

Ready to rush out and shake the truth out of people, Andrei had to put a cap on his aggression. Instead of marching down to the inn and blowing any chance of making this work, he turned and resumed pacing the length of the office. How could he get inside without tipping off the murderer? For that matter, how could he stay away? There were other women at risk at the inn should the killer strike again.

An image of the beautiful Jocelyne appeared in his head. He could still feel the warmth of her breast pressed against his chest. He was surprised a line hadn’t formed outside the inn. A line of men ready to date the pretty redhead. Her pregnancy was only just beginning to show and, on her trim, lithe body, it made her all the sexier.

Captain Swanson pushed his chair back and stood so fast, the chair rolled away and crashed into the wall. “I’ve got it!”

Andrei stared at the police captain. “Got what?”

“The answer to how you’ll get inside the inn without arousing suspicion.” The captain’s mouth turned up at the corners. “You already know Hazel’s daughter, Jocelyne, don’t you?”

“I only met her yesterday when we discovered Angela’s body.” Andrei shook his head. “Why?”

The older man waved his hand as if encouraging Andrei to find the answer. “She’s single, isn’t she?”

“So?”

The police captain snorted. “Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“Please do.”

A grin stretched across Swanson’s face. “In order to get inside the inn without arousing suspicion, you can pretend to be Miss Baker’s new boyfriend.”

“Do what?”

The captain’s grin slipped into a frown. “You heard me. You’ll pretend to be Jocelyne Baker’s boyfriend. That way you have every reason in the world to be at the inn…at all hours.” A single brow rose over his eye. “Get my drift?”

Oh, he got it all too well. Andrei could already tell how the charade would go over with the independent Miss Baker. “Assuming she goes for this charade, it doesn’t solve the fact that I’m a cop. With a police officer hanging around, the murderer will play it safe and avoid anything that draws attention to himself.”

The captain’s grin slipped and he scratched his chin for another minute, then his smile returned. “I have the solution to that problem as well.”

“You do?” Even before his superior clued him in, Andrei’s stomach twisted. “I get the feeling I’m not going to like this.”

“Sure you will.” Swanson rounded the desk and slapped his hand against Andrei’s shoulder. “Seeing as you’ve been somewhat of a renegade, what with bringing all that Bronx attitude with you to our small town…you and I had a falling-out.”

“I am? We did?” He knew he’d been a bear to get along with since his sister’s death, but going against his captain? Okay, so maybe he had been in his face once or twice.

“That being the case, Officer Lagios…” Swanson rocked back on his heels, the corners of his mouth tipping upward. “You’re fired.”

“I’m what?” Andrei staggered backward and stared at his boss as though the older man had lost his mind. Even the thought of being fired made him burn all over.

“If you’re going to spend time at the inn, it has to be solely on the basis of your relationship with the Baker woman, not as a cop.” The captain spread his hands wide. “You’re fired. Problem solved.”

Andrei could see the idea had merit. Still, he’d never been fired from a job. “Unfortunately, you’re making sense, and I’m not sure I like it.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not really going to fire you. But we have to make it look real enough the entire town buys it. You can’t tell a soul, other than Jocelyne.”

Andrei shook his head. “What about my family?” They wouldn’t be happy.

“Especially not your family. It has to be convincing. We have to make it look like you and I had a major difference of opinion. We can’t have the murderer thinking you’re still on the payroll.”

“I don’t know.” The thought of lying to his family didn’t sit well with Andrei. They’d already been through so much because of him. Moving from the Bronx to Raven’s Cliff had been his idea. Had they stayed in the Bronx, his sister would still be alive, not just another name on the growing list of the Seaside Strangler’s victims.

“If you can think of another way to keep an eye on that inn and that plant, you let me know. In the meantime, you’re fired. Turn in your weapon.” The captain held out his hand.

“You’re taking my gun?” The sinking feeling only got deeper as he handed over the gun to Swanson. His family would be devastated. They were counting on him to bring the Seaside Strangler to justice. Getting fired from the police force would seem like he’d failed yet again.

“I know you have guns of your own. Now, make it look like you’re upset. Yell a little, do something rash. I know you’ve wanted to throw something at me on more than one occasion.” The captain placed a hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, Andrei, this is the only way.”

“You’re assuming a lot if you think Jocelyne Baker is going to just go along with this.”

“You’re good with the ladies. I’m sure you’ll manage. Now, yell.”

Andrei inhaled and let out a long breath. So be it. He drew in a deep breath and summoned all the anger he’d bottled inside over the senseless deaths of the young women thus far claimed by the Seaside Strangler and let it loose on a man he had nothing but respect for.

Captain Swanson handed him a wooden chair. “Go for it.”

His breaths rasping in and out of his lungs, Andrei raised the chair and slammed it against the wall. Let the gamesbegin. “You can’t fire me! I quit!”

Chapter Five

At first she thought the odor might be something rotting on the shore nearby, but as the nasty smell grew stronger, permeating the air of Cliffside Inn, Jocelyne’s sensitive nose wrinkled. With her stomach burbling and threatening to upend, she pushed away from her computer and descended the curved staircase to the first floor of the inn.

Having missed lunch, every one of her senses seemed on heightened alert, her olfactory nerves especially. When she rounded the corner to the expansive living area, a man dressed in rubber boots and wreaking of fish, bumped into her.

“Pardon me,” he said, keeping his head down, barely meeting her gaze. An intense pair of bright blue eyes flashed up at her and back down again. He had to be around thirty, but the harsh weather and sun had leathered his skin and emphasized the fine lines at the corners of his eyes. Alex Gibson was one of her mother’s boarders, a quiet solitary man who’d moved to Raven’s Cliff during Jocelyne’s long absence.

“Morning, Mr. Gibson. I’m looking for my mother. I don’t suppose you’ve seen her?”

“No, no. I haven’t.” He moved around her as though he was in a hurry and didn’t have time for casual conversation. As he rushed past, he darted a look back at her, his face reddening when he caught her staring.

Strange man. Somewhat attractive, but too reclusive. Dismissing Alex with a shake of her head, Jocelyne continued her search for her mother and the source of the stench.

“Mom?” Jocelyne wound her way through the elegant mansion, filled with antiques from a bygone era of opulence. Finding no sign of her mother in the meticulously clean modernized kitchen, she noted that the door to the cellar stood open, the stench wafting upward from the stairwell.

Jocelyne grabbed a paper towel and pressed it to her nose, fighting the rise of nausea, a band of annoyance tightening her gut. A tiny foot kicked the inside of her uterus in protest. With a hand pressed to the gentle swell of her belly, she moved down the steps into the basement. What was her mother up to now? “Mom?”