Armed and Dangerous by Jo Davis Page A

not?”
    â€œWho knows? I never could fathom why a big pillar-of-the-community type would show up, but then again we’ve all seen on the news just how many of them have a hidden side, eh?”
    â€œCan’t say I’ve heard of William Wakefield,” Shane put in. “What does he do for a living?” At that moment, a buzzing noise sounded, interrupting their conversation. Shane reached for his pocket and glanced at his phone. “Excuse me, would you? I have to take this.”
    â€œUm, Shane,” she said, giving him a warning glare. Too late, he remembered his supposed role.
    â€œI mean, may I take this call, mistress?”
    â€œYou may.” Shit, they sucked at this.
    He stepped into the hallway, and she tried to act casual. Shane wouldn’t have left unless they had a lead, and she wanted to be gone. After she’d chatted with Jimmy for a few more minutes, Shane walked back inside, pocketing his phone.
    â€œMistress? I’m afraid I’m not feeling well.”
    He had something important, she could tell. “Poor baby. Is it your stomach bug again?”
    â€œYes. May we come back next week?”
    â€œOf course, dear.” Taking his arm, she found Giorgio. “I’m so sorry, but my sub isn’t feeling so hot. We’d love to come back next week, if you’ll have us?”
    â€œAbsolutely! We insist.” Giving her a kiss on the cheek, he waved over Ivana, who expressed dismay at their leaving so soon.
    At last they were in the hallway, and her relief matched Shane’s. “Thank God,” she hissed. “I think we narrowly escaped being eaten like hot fudge sundaes.”
    â€œNo kidding. Did you see that the other couples were starting to drift off and get cozy with each other? Some were starting to get naked.”
    â€œYeah, I saw.”
    They walked quickly away, scanning their surroundings to be sure they weren’t overheard. Shane waited until they had retrieved his truck from the valet before he risked discussing the call.
    â€œThat was Taylor,” he said, pulling down the fancy drive. “They’ve got another body in the water by the dam.”
    She frowned. “Okay. But what does Taylor’s case have to do with us?”
    â€œBecause it’s not just his case anymore. The victim is Vanessa Hall, one of our missing players.”
    â€œNo way,” she breathed. A chill slithered through her veins.
    â€œOh, yes. Three guesses how she was found.”
    She thought for a moment, recalling what she could about the first body. “Naked, with a rosary around her neck?”
    â€œGot it in one,” he said grimly. “And the killer is escalating—this one was tortured before she was murdered.”
    â€œNow what? Are we going to the dam to take a look at the body?”
    â€œHeaded there now. Taylor’s waiting for us.”
    Daisy mulled over the recent development on the way, mind spinning with possibilities. On the surface, Taylor’s murder case and their missing persons one had seemed totally separate.
    And now, all of them were searching for a serial killer.

4
    Shane pulled the truck into the parking lot by the dam and shut off the ignition.
    Floodlights had been set up to search the area, which was typically pitch dark at night. Police and the forensics unit moved about in the glare, shadows that didn’t belong in the otherwise peaceful landscape, giving the whole scene an eerie vibe.
    As did the body Shane could see lying on the ground not far from the water.
    Getting out of the truck, he walked over, Daisy at his side. She fit there, and he liked working with her. Liked pretty much everything about her, but he reminded himself not to get used to having her around. Shoving that depressing thought out of his head, he waved as Taylor glanced up.
    â€œSo, our cases meet right in the damned middle,” Shane said, gesturing to the dead woman.
    Taylor followed his gaze,