“Close your eyes and don’t worry about me sending you anywhere.” Keegan kissed her forehead and put her arm over Sept’s chest. “Even if I tried, Jacqueline would claim you before you reached the door.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Keegan admired how long Sept’s lashes were in the sunlight. They were still as dark as her eyes, compared to the completely white hair. Keegan was glad Sept hadn’t dyed it, because the color suited her.

  She glanced back at the clock once more before she trailed her finger down Sept’s forehead to the end of her nose and to her lips. The relaxed features tensed enough for Keegan to know that Sept was waking up.

  “Good morning,” Sept said without opening her eyes.

  “Good morning.” Keegan stretched out on top of the covers next to Sept and ran her fingers through her hair like she had the night before. “Is this enough sleep for you to be okay at work?”

  “What time is it?”

  “Fifteen past seven. I would’ve let you sleep longer, but I didn’t want you to have to rush.” Sept had gone to sleep immediately, and Keegan had stayed up an hour afterward to watch her. Sept didn’t appear innocent and young when she slept, contrary to the old saying. She didn’t look haggard or old, but her rapid eyelid movements indicated that she was trapped in a bad dream.

  When a door slammed down the hall, Sept lifted her head. “Thanks for last night.”

  “That’s Jacqueline coming back from her run, and you don’t have to thank me because you’d do the same for me.” Keegan kissed Sept’s forehead and folded the blankets back. “Take another shower, then meet me downstairs.”

  She waved to Sept from the door before closing it. The night had been way too short in that she needed more sleep, and she’d enjoyed the way Sept felt beside her. She hadn’t had anyone stay overnight in this house in a couple of years, but the nights had never been lonely. That only happened when you allowed someone in so deep that they left a void when they decided to leave.

  “You’ve been mighty domestic this morning,” Jacqueline said as they descended the stairs together. “Laundry, French toast, and ironing all before eight—I’m impressed.”

  “It was a rough night and I didn’t want her driving. We went over all this already.”

  “Sweetie,” Jacqueline put her arm around Keegan’s shoulders and pressed her cheek to the top of her head, “you can wake me up demanding boxers whenever you want. But remember that no matter what, you can talk to me about anything.”

  Keegan handed her a bowl of oranges and a knife. “Thanks for saying that, and for the boxers.”

  “Adam’s loss, so tell Wyatt Earp she can keep them,” Jacqueline said as she started the juicer. “Did you read the paper this morning?”

  Keegan shook her head.

  “According to the headline, some poor woman was killed in a satanic ritual.”

  “Leave it to them to get it wrong,” Sept said. She dropped her shoes by the table and crossed the room to kiss Keegan. “Thanks for taking care of my clothes and me.”

  “Sit and get your shoes on and tell us why the paper’s wrong.”

  “I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation, but I can say it was no satanic killing.”

  Jacqueline finished her juicing duties and poured three glasses. “If you can’t comment on what happened, what are the benefits of having you around?”

  “I come in handy if you have outstanding parking tickets, and if you get arrested.”

  Keegan laughed and held her spatula out like a pointer toward Jacqueline. “Keep Sept in your good graces, then, because if anyone’s likely to get locked up, it’s you.”

  “True, but my money’s on Gran to be the first.”

  They spent the meal Keegan had prepared laughing, which was what Keegan had wanted. She couldn’t protect Sept from what she saw or the crazy people who wanted to hurt her, but while they were together she could try to give her peace. Even if they were never more than friends, she’d try to give her that.

  “I’ll see you back here tonight, then?” Sept asked before she left.

  “Why don’t you pick me up at the restaurant? I’ll have Jacqueline drop me off.” The hip holster Sept was wearing creaked even now that it was dry. Keegan didn’t touch it, but she did run her fingers on the shield Sept had clipped to her belt as well. “Call me if you need anything before that.”

  “The same goes for you. You know that, right?” Keegan nodded and opened her mouth when Sept kissed her. It was the kind of kiss you shared after spending a passionate night with someone and you wanted to make them feel loved.

  Their night hadn’t had any of the usual passion, but Sept had clearly put as much compassion into her touch as she could. Keegan felt like she was immersed in a warm lake with a strong undertow like the ocean’s. She felt safe in Sept’s arms, but she could be swept away by passion just as easily.

  “The French toast was great, but it doesn’t compare to this,” Sept said, and kissed her again. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “It’s a date.”

  *

  When Sept arrived at the precinct, the pictures from the new scene were already up. There were so many that her father had moved them to a larger space on the second floor. She sat and drank the coffee Keegan had handed her before she left, watching as Alex methodically pinned up the new ones. He clustered them by body part, just as he had done with Donovan and Robin Burns.

  “Good morning,” she said as he finished the last of the stack, the images of Tameka’s heart completing the weird collage. “What time did y’all finish up?”

  “A crew’s still working. George is there because he wanted to make sure they were doing okay. He said he’ll be back in time, though, so don’t worry.” Alex sat next to her and stared at the wall of pictures.

  “Did you guys find the sacrifice Dr. Munez talked about?”

  “We took that front room apart and didn’t find a thing.”

  “Then whatever was going through this sick fuck’s pea brain didn’t count for anything.” In the light of the upstairs bullpen, Sept could see how attractive Tameka had been.

  “What a waste, then,” Alex said. “But why does this Munez guy think the killer would’ve left this thing?”

  “Because these gods he’s trying to please are obviously big fans of a well-written note.” Sept drained her cup and set it aside to wash later. “How the hell should I know? When I was growing up, you used a strand of rosary beds to communicate with God—or as a weapon, depending on which nun you happened to be sitting next to when the sisters made you go to church. The way those women could wield those things would make a dominatrix proud.”

  Alex laughed and nodded, and his long, jet-black hair fell into his face. “I remember those days, and I don’t miss them.”

  Nathan came in and sat on Sept’s other side. He plucked at the ironed crease in her shirtsleeve and wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Fuck off, wonder boy,” Sept told him.

  “And good morning to you, sunshine. How’d last night go with Ms. Parrish?”

  “Not great, but Brandi’s a survivor.” When Nathan plucked the crease on her pants again, Sept pinched his earlobe between her fingers.

  Sebastian entered and said, “Do I need to separate you two?” He was followed by Royce and someone Sept wasn’t expecting. Everyone in the room stood.

  “Detective.” Fritz Jernigan stood in front of Sept and held out his hand. The tall, fit African American man had a great smile. He and Sebastian had gone through the academy together, and since then Fritz had made it all the way to the top and recently become chief of police. “Your dad tells me we’re in for a wild ride with this one.”

  “If you look at the crime scene photos, you’ll see he’s right, sir. This guy puts a new spin on murder, and it seems like he’s gearing up, but we’ll do our best before his kill count gets any higher.”

  “I told Sebastian and Royce to make sure you get whoever and whatever you need to make that happen. If you run into any snags, let me know, and I expect regular updates.”

  “Yes, sir, of course.” The others remained on their feet until Fritz left, followed by Royce.

  “You heard him, tell me what you need,” Sebastian said.

  “If another one of these scenes is found, no one goes inside to sightsee until Nathan and I finish.” Sept dropped back into her seat. Her clothes might’ve looked great after Keegan got through with them, but she was still exhausted. “And I want George and Alex on this. They’ve worked all three scenes so far and it’ll be easier to compare evidence.”

  “You need more that that,” Sebastian said as he moved from picture to picture.

  “If you want to add detectives to this just pick another team, but Nathan and I are primary.”

  “We’re strapped, so your choices are some beat cops or the feds.” Sebastian glanced back at her as he said it.

  “I’ll take care of it, then,” Sept said. “Guys, give me a minute here.” Sebastian didn’t take his eyes from the picture of the candle and the heart until they were alone. “Strapped? What kind of shit is that?”

  “Fritz doesn’t want to turn this into a feeding frenzy when it comes to the media, so low-key is how he wants to play it.”

  “How do you want to play it?”

  “I taught you, so I trust you, but we need more people. Not a knock to you, but we both know what this is going to become if we ignore it. Pick your team of uniforms, but choose wisely.” Sebastian put his hands on her shoulders and whispered the next part. “I love Fritz like a brother, but if this goes south it’ll be about politics, not family, and he and the mayor will be looking for someone to blame. Don’t let it be you, kid.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I’ll keep you in the loop.”

  Sebastian kissed her cheek and hugged her. “Go to work. You can tell me about it Sunday.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Is Keegan coming with you? Your mama and sisters-in-law really liked her.”

  “Get out of here, and tell Mama if she wants the scoop to call me.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The morning went by quickly as Nathan checked a few things out for Sept and added the first two people to their team. Lourdes Garcia and her partner Bruce Payton had actually called her first. They’d been the first two to report to Blanchard’s when Donovan had been discovered.

  Sept had accepted them even though she’d realized that they were using the opportunity as a springboard on their detective’s exam. Right now Sept needed ambitious people.

  “Where do you want us first?” Lourdes asked.

  They’d ordered lunch in so Sept and Nathan could catch them up to speed, and so Sept could plan their investigation. “This last place had more evidence than the first two, but still nothing of the killer.”

  “Are we sure this guy did the others?” Bruce asked.

  “I’m sure about Robin Burns, and ninety-five percent about Donovan Bisland,” Sept said. “He found his signature with Tameka, though, so that’s where we’ll start. You two track that candle down for me. Try every location in the city still selling them right now, and call me if any of them have to do with Santeria or voodoo.”

  “We’ll start now,” Bruce said.

  “Sept, can I talk to you first?” Lourdes looked concerned.

  When they were on the back patio that some of the secretaries used for lunch, Sept asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “Before I get too involved in this case I want to make sure you’re cool with the fact that my mom, Maria, believes in Santeria.”

  For a moment Sept felt like she’d been asleep half her life and had woken up in a place she didn’t recognize. Since when did so many people practice something she personally found bizarre? “If you can vouch for her that she didn’t do this, we’re good.”

  “I can even give her an alibi.”

  Sept laughed. “Then we’re cool. Hell, if she’s willing, she might even be able to help us.”

  Lourdes appeared relieved as she headed back inside, and Sept took the opportunity to call Blanchard’s. “Keegan Blanchard, please.” The warm temperatures were gone and Sept was feeling the chill through the cotton of her shirt. “Detective Savoie,” she said when the suspicious-sounding person on the other end asked.

  “Are you calling to try and impress me, or to cancel our date?” Keegan asked. “If it’s to cancel, should I remind you that I washed your underwear this morning?”

  “My ass is too grateful for me to consider canceling.” Sept held her hand up to Nathan when he came outside.

  “Stop by your place and pick up a jacket.”

  “Not a change of clothes, huh?”

  “I think we’ve established what a great job I do with the laundry, so don’t worry about it, but it’s too cold to be running around in shirtsleeves. If you won’t do it for yourself, think about me. I can’t have the sniffles and cook.”

  “With incentive like that, consider it done.” Sept pointed at Nathan and glared at him as he inched closer. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Stay safe, Seven, or I might have to get rough with you.”

  Sept laughed, then stopped as she faced Nathan, who was less than two feet away. “What’s so important that you’re willing to lose a few teeth?”

  “Brandi Parrish called.”

  She waited for him to say something else, but he delivered the news like he was announcing he’d won the lottery. “And?”

  “She wants to know if we can come over.”

  “We?” Sept narrowed her eyes.

  “All right, you. She wants to know if you can come over now, instead of tonight.”

  “And you thought you’d tag along? Is that what you’re so peppy about?”

  He lowered his head a little and shrugged, making him seem like a six-year-old whose mother had told him there’d be no Christmas that year. “You don’t have to take me and I’m sure you won’t, so forget it.”

  “Have you ever been?” Sept walked around the building to where she’d parked her car, happy that she wouldn’t have to reschedule Brandi and her mystery man.

  “No.” Nathan followed like an obedient puppy.

  “You do realize they don’t walk around naked and fuck in the living room, right?” She laughed at his blush. “Come on, eager beaver. Let me introduce you to one of the places in New Orleans that doesn’t exist.”

  Tameka’s last date was definitely innocent because life was never that easy, but they still had to talk to him on the off chance he’d noticed someone hanging around.

  Sept stopped at her apartment for a jacket on the way to Brandi’s. When they arrived Wilson made it to the door in only a few seconds, as if he was expecting them, and Sept shook hands with him and introduced him to Nathan. The house was quiet, with only a radio playing forties music filtering in from one of the rooms.

  “I thought you were coming alone?” Brandi asked, and Sept almost laughed at the way Nathan’s mouth made a perfect “O,” probably because of her negligee.

  “This is my new and inexperienced partner, Nathan. Go easy on him.”

  “They gave you a rookie?”

  “Yes, so tell me what I want to know, since I’ll probably be dead by next week.”

  Brandi smiled, but only one side of her mouth lifted. “At least he’s cute.” When Nathan blushed again she added, “And bashful too. How sweet.”

  “I hadn’t noticed.” Sept took her notebook out as a hint that they were there for a reason. “But he’s as trustworthy as an eagle scout.”

  “In the office, then,” Brandi said as she took Wilson’s arm and stepped away.

  Nathan followed Sept down the hall and said nothing.

  “Whoever is behind that door, no reaction, okay?” Sept turned her head when he didn’t say anything, but he nodded.

  When they reached the study Sept took a breath before she turned the knob. From the back, the silver-haired guy in the pinstriped jacket could’ve been anyone, but when Sept sat next to him, she had to fight hard to follow the advice she’d given Nathan.

  He was the president of one of the larger banks in town and a frequent dinner guest of Sept’s parents because he’d grown up with her father. And he was a married father of four with thirteen grandchildren. She should’ve paid closer attention when Brandi had said that she wouldn’t need a name, but Brandi couldn’t possibly know just how well Sept knew him.

  “I came because I realize you won’t make this any worse than it has to be,” he said, his eyes glued to the wall the entire time.

  “Embarrassing you isn’t my aim, sir, but you were the last person to see Tameka alive.”

  “The second-to-last person to see her alive. There’s no way I had anything to do with her death. We’ve had a standing appointment for two years.”

  “Sitting with you at my parents’ house with your wife, I would’ve never guessed this.” Sept placed her hand on his forearm with her father’s advice in mind. Every story always had two sides, even if one side was lame and inexcusable. “I’m sure you have your reasons for befriending Brandi and her girls, and that you did won’t leave this room.”

  “Sept, you have to believe me. I had nothing to do with this.”

  All the people Sept interviewed said they had nothing to do with anything ever. Every crime was committed by some guy who never slept and had an insatiable appetite for mayhem.

  “Just give me a breakdown of the time you spent with her, and try to put times in when you can.”

  He described their time in the hotel room, when they left, and the drinks and dancing afterward. “I opened the car door to take her back and she turned me down. Said she wanted to walk, and I knew better than to argue. When Tameka made her mind up, no amount of money could persuade her.”

  “No one on the street stood out?”

  He closed his eyes like someone had photographed the scene and painted it on the back of his eyelids. “It was late and I didn’t see anyone at all. Despite what you must think of me, I’m a gentleman, Sept. It was less than a block.”