The Marine Next Door by Julie Miller

Author:Julie Miller
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Suspense
ISBN: 9781459227620
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-05-02T00:54:27+00:00

Chapter Eight

“So KCPD’s finest haven’t been able to figure out squat yet.”

He turned the black newsprint to the single lamp that illuminated the dark office and smiled at the news story in the early edition of the Kansas City Journal. Hot off the presses. The ink was fresh enough to smell, and if he used his imagination, the paper was still warm to the touch. He trailed his finger along each line of the story.

It started with a historical account of what had been labeled a “troubling chain” of sex crimes attributed to a single, unknown attacker. Then it went on to make mention of his latest conquest, calling her “the stepdaughter of one of Kansas City’s wealthiest businessmen.” Wealthy? Beautiful? Entitled? Then the woman deserved to be taken down a peg. He’d done the city a great service.

The woman’s injuries got less comment than the discussion of her stepfather’s assets and a lame quote about how a “substantial reward will be offered” for any solid leads on the attack. The story mentioned Fairy Tale Bridal Shop and a street name, but there wasn’t even a description of a vehicle or alleged attacker mentioned.

For all the fine writing, there really wasn’t a lot of meat to the story. There was more talk about the commissioner announcing a new task force than there was about anything else. It was a weak story. Far too weak. He read few facts beyond the names of the police officers, advisers and support staff assigned to the investigation.

One. Two. Three women’s names were listed. He stroked his finger across each one. These women had no power over him. They couldn’t touch him, couldn’t hurt him. And this one woman, Maggie Wheeler—make that Sergeant Maggie Wheeler—had the nerve to brag that she’d been the first one to break any kind of lead on the case when she’d gotten the witness to open up to her.

A familiar, predatory urge stirred in his loins.

Maggie Wheeler. Worthless bitch. She only thought she’d gotten something useful from her interview with the blonde woman.

There was something extraordinarily satisfying about outsmarting the entire police department, about putting these women in their place. His nostrils flared as he breathed in deeply and savored the triumph coursing through his veins.

“Not a clue,” he gloated. “Not one, single clue.”

Yet a niggling bit of annoyance whispered in his ear. He hadn’t done enough to assuage the hurt yet. The story wasn’t important enough to make the front page. He wasn’t important enough to be taken seriously. The Gabriel Knight article was buried on the second page between a political cartoon and an advertisement for a local theater.

“That’s a good thing.” The voice in his head tried to reason with the rage brewing inside him. “You can’t hide in the shadows any longer if you’re plastered all over the front page. You made a mistake, had a moment of weakness. But you’re better than that. You can control this.”

That’s right. He was in control. No beautiful damn woman would ever make a fool of him again.

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