Partners: Beyond The Shadows Read online

  PARTNERS: BEYOND THE SHADOWS

  by

  Kira Chase

  TORRID BOOKS

  www.torridbooks.com

  Published by

  TORRID BOOKS

  www.torridbooks.com

  An Imprint of Whiskey Creek Press LLC

  Whiskey Creek Press

  PO Box 51052

  Casper, WY 82605-1052

  Copyright Ó 2013 by Kira Chase

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  ISBN 978-1-61160-478-8

  Credits

  Cover Artist: Gemini Judson

  Editor: Sara Kent

  Printed in the United States of America

  Other Books by Author Available at Torrid Books:

  www.torridbooks.com

  Partners: The Wrong Corpse - Private Investigators Frankie Barker and Johanna Obrien are baffled when the woman they are hired to tail is murdered in a motel at the exact time they are following her to her mansion.

  Partners: The Other Woman - When a former lover shows up, Private Investigator Johanna Obrien's life becomes unraveled as she tries to come to terms with her demons from the past and the secret she's been hiding from her partner Frankie Barker.

  Partners: Blinded By the Trees - When a body is discovered in a Christmas tree lot, Private Investigators Frankie Barker and Johanna Obrien uncover some disturbing facts about the victim, which also connects to a case they've been working.

  2 IN 1 Partners - Partners: The Wrong Corpse and Partners: The Other Woman

  Chapter 1

  Frankie stretched and then yawned as she turned her head slightly to see if her wife, Johanna, was awake. She smiled. Johanna looked so peaceful and innocent with her long auburn hair fanned across the sides of her pillow. She was beautiful, and at forty, looked thirty. They had a unique working and personal relationship and Frankie knew that she and Johanna had the kind of connection many people never found. They complemented one another's weaknesses and strengths. She adored Johanna, and the life they had built together. Still, she knew better than to take anything for granted. She gave thanks for each day they had together. She knew only too well how quickly things could change in the blink of an eye. How happiness and joy could instantly be replaced with heartbreak and grief.

  Frankie rolled onto her side and watched as Johanna began to waken. Her eyelids fluttered but stayed closed. Frankie slid down under the pale pink satin sheet until her face was near Johanna's smooth thigh. She loved the smell of her. Every scent Johanna used from soaps to lotions to perfumes had a light lilac fragrance. She snuggled closer to the silky naked flesh and with one hand, lightly roamed over Johanna's flat stomach. As her hand descended, her fingers caressed Johanna's soft pubic hairs and then slid to her opening.

  “Now this is how I like to wake up,” Johanna murmured. “Let's forget work today. I want to stay in bed making love all day.”

  Frankie raised her head. “Wish we could, sweetie.” She teased the outer lips for several seconds and then slipped a finger inside. Johanna was moist and ready. Just like she knew she'd be.

  Johanna moaned quietly. “This is the only way I want to wake up from now on,” she said breathlessly. Her legs parted.

  Frankie removed her finger and edged closer until her face was right above Johanna's tempting vagina. She lowered her head and tenderly kissed Johanna's inner thighs before flicking her tongue teasingly at the opening. She took her time savoring the taste of her lover.

  Johanna moaned loudly and sucked in her breath as Frankie's tongue finally plunged inside. She teased the hot throbbing clit a little longer before tenderly sucking on it while Johanna squirmed beneath her.

  “Honey, I can't wait. I'm going to come,” Johanna panted.

  Frankie loved the sensations she knew were surging through Johanna as the woman wriggled beneath her. She continuously brought Johanna to the edge and back again, finally releasing her to an explosive climax.

  A few minutes later Frankie eased herself up next to Johanna. She lay on her side facing her.

  Johanna sighed contentedly as she ran a hand over Frankie's cheek. “Do you know how much I love you?”

  Frankie grinned as she rolled onto her back. “Why don't you show me?”

  Johanna cupped Frankie's face and kissed her deeply. “I intend to,” she replied as she moved her mouth to Frankie's breast.

  Frankie closed her eyes enjoying the sensations erupting within her as Johanna's mouth softly took her breast into it. Frankie's nipples were hard and when Johanna gave the same attention to Frankie's other breast, she felt the pangs of raw hunger surge through her. As Johanna's tongue tenderly flicked her nipple, Frankie dug her nails into Johanna's firm strong back. She spread her legs, and then brought them up wrapping them around Johanna. She panted as she grew hotter.

  Johanna shifted her weight and her mouth sought Frankie's, parting her lips as her tongue found Frankie's. Frankie released her legs as Johanna broke the kiss and with the tip of her tongue descended slowly down Frankie's throbbing body taking her time to lick every inch of Frankie's bare flesh. She licked Frankie's inner thighs and gently spread her apart softly blowing inside. When Frankie thought she could stand it no longer, Johanna took her throbbing clit into her mouth. An electrifying pulse vibrated through Frankie's body. She never wanted this moment to end. She gripped the sheet as she bucked up and down trying to hold on to savor every second for as long as she could, but her intense need finally forced her to give in. She screamed Johanna's name as she came.

  Minutes later, as they lay side by side, Frankie knew that if her life ended at this moment, she would die a happy woman.

  “What are you thinking, baby?” Johanna asked softly. Her fingertips wound through Frankie's chestnut hair.

  “Just how much I love you. Have I told you that lately?”

  “At least ten times a day.” Johanna propped herself on an elbow and stared down at her. “And I love you. I never knew what love was until you, Frankie.”

  Frankie smiled, but before she could reply, her cell phone rang. She groaned. “Who would be calling this early?” She sighed as she reached for the phone sitting on the nightstand table. She looked at the name displayed. “It's George.” Her heart began to pound. Sheriff George Ryker wouldn't be calling unless something was wrong.

  She flipped the phone open and put it on speaker. “Good morning, George.”

  “I'm sorry to bother you so early, Frankie, but I'd like you and Johanna to stop in my office before you go to work.”

  “No problem,” Frankie replied. “Do you have some summonses you need delivered?”

  “Yes, but there's something else I need to talk to you about.” He paused. “I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.”

  Frankie frowned. “What's wrong, George? Has something happened?”

  “I'll explain when you get here.”

  He disconnected before she could ask another question.

  Chapter 2

  Frankie stretched h
er long, jean clad legs out in front of her. She swept a hand through her medium-length, chestnut brown hair as she scrutinized the pictures Sheriff Ryker had set before her a few minutes earlier. Johanna peered over her shoulder.

  “Do you recognize him, Johanna?” Frankie asked, slightly turning her head to look at her. She sniffed appreciatively as Johanna's soft feminine scent teased her nostrils. Johanna was dressed in a sleek dark brown skirt with matching blazer and a beige blouse. Dark brown pumps adorned her feet. Her jewelry consisted of a gold chain, which coordinated with her earrings. Frankie wasn't comfortable in dresses and skirts and tried to avoid them as much as possible. Her slim frame was usually attired in a pair of jeans or dress slacks with a comfortable pullover or sweater. Today she'd chosen jeans with a dark red sweater. A pair of tiny gold earrings was usually all the jewelry she wore, except for the gold cross she always wore around her neck. Her feet were clad in a pair of black boots.

  Johanna shook her head. “Never saw him before.”

  George eyed them carefully as they studied the pictures. “She wouldn't recognize him, Frankie, but you might.”

  “Me?” She scrutinized the pictures again. “Is this what you dragged us down here so early for, George? To look at this picture?” She lifted an eyebrow as her eyes shifted from the picture to the sheriff. As usual, George's gray hair was in bad need of a trim. It never seemed to bother him, though. He worked long, hard hours. Being sheriff was his life. She suspected it was all he lived for. Keeping his hair trimmed wasn't one of his top priorities. “I've never seen this man before. What makes you think I'd know him? What's he done?” She peered at him. “Is he connected to one of our cases?”

  George rubbed his jaw. “No.” His features softened as he looked at the women. “You know I wouldn't have asked you two to come here if it wasn't important, Frankie.” He shifted his heavy body in his large worn leather chair.

  “You've already said that, George.” Frankie nodded. “It's fine. Today's mostly paperwork.” She screwed up her face. “My least favorite part of the job.”

  “And what I usually get stuck with,” Johanna said, frowning good-naturedly at her.

  “You're much better with paperwork than I am,” she replied, with a wide grin. “I don't have the patience, so you can do the paperwork, and I'll deliver the summonses.”

  George smiled faintly as he shifted his weight again and sat quietly observing them. “You're sure nothing at all looks even a little vaguely familiar about him? Take your time.”

  “No.” Frankie turned her attention back to the sheriff. She wondered what was really going on. George wasn't his usual jovial self. His movements were stiff and the obvious tension in his face made him look like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Something wasn't right. As far as she was concerned, he'd never call them first thing in the morning if it weren't a matter of life and death. But why was he stalling instead of just coming right out and telling them what was going on? And why did he think she, and not Johanna, may know this stranger in the photograph? If she'd met the man at some point in her life, then it had to have been years ago, certainly many years before she'd met Johanna. And if she had met him, he obviously hadn't left any kind of impression on her or she'd remember him. “I don't know him from Adam,” she said looking him squarely in the eye. “I'm positive.”

  George frowned. “I was hoping the mug shot would maybe trigger your memory.”

  “Are you sure?” Johanna asked brushing a fallen strand of hair away from her face.

  “Positive.” Frankie glanced over her shoulder at Johanna. “I know I've never seen him before.” She sat continuing to stare at pictures of a man she knew she'd never seen or met before while she waited for George to tell her what the hell was going on.

  “Just study the pictures one more time,” George prodded her. “Take your time. Concentrate.”

  She slid her feet under her chair and focused intensely on the pictures for a few minutes tuning out everything around her. After a few minutes of staring at the pictures something suddenly seemed to nag at the back of her mind triggering a vague memory that refused to come fully to the surface. Her forehead furrowed as she tried in vain to search the recesses of her memory. She rubbed her temples. If she'd met this man, why couldn't she remember? More importantly, how was he connected to her? She let her breath out in exasperation.

  “Does he look familiar at all?” Johanna asked. She placed a hand on Frankie's shoulder. “Maybe just a brief meeting?”

  Frankie sighed heavily. “No, I don't remember him.” She chewed her bottom lip. “But, yet, the more I look at him, especially this picture,” she stabbed her finger at the picture of the man taken when he was booked years ago, “a part of me feels like I do know him from somewhere. But where? Maybe I've heard his name before.” She shrugged. “Heard it on the news or read it in the newspaper.” She stretched. “Carson Fellows.” She said the name slowly. Her eyebrows knitted together deep in thought as she forced her mind to focus on the picture of the nondescript gray haired man and then back to the picture of the man's mug shot taken over thirty-five years earlier. Except for the gray hair and obvious signs of aging, his features hadn't changed much. In the mug shot, his face was pasty and gaunt with a pronounced, elongated, angular nose and small gray eyes set too close together. His curly brown hair hung down to his shoulders.

  “Maybe this will help you to remember.” George slid a file across his large cluttered desk toward her. “I wish you didn't have to read this. Some of it is quite disturbing, Frankie. Maybe something in there will jar your memory.” He hoisted his heavy body out of his chair and walked to the back of his office where a small table held a coffee maker, cups and an assortment of creamers and sugars. He poured three cups of coffee and then brought two cups back to the desk before walking back to the table and retrieving the third cup and some sugar and coffee creamer packets. He kept his eyes focused on Frankie as he seated himself in his chair.

  As Frankie thumbed through the file, Johanna moved to the chair next to her. She mixed some cream and sugar into two of the coffee cups, and then slid one in front of Frankie and picked the other one up and sipped at it as she peered at the page in the file Frankie was reading.

  “Anything?” Johanna asked.

  “No.” Frankie picked up her cup and brought it to her lips, took a sip of the hot brew, and then set it back down. “None of this makes any sense.” She cocked an eye in George's direction. “I'm assuming somehow this man has something to do with me or else I wouldn't be sitting here looking at his file.”

  George sat stiffly. “Keep reading and tell me if anything, no matter how trivial, triggers your memory,” he replied. “Maybe something you've forgotten all about.”

  Johanna skimmed the file. “According to this you would have been about four or five when he was convicted, Frankie.” She screwed up her face as she shot a look at George. “How is she supposed to remember anything at that age?”

  George sat sipping his coffee keeping his eyes focused on Frankie. “You've never heard the name Carson Fellows while you were growing up?” He directed his question to Frankie.

  “The name does sound vaguely familiar, but I don't remember him.” She tensed. “Why would I? I was just a little kid when he went to prison.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked again at George. “What's going on? Level with me, George, what are you not telling me? If I'm somehow connected to this piece of garbage, I have a right to know.” She thought her chest would explode as the adrenalin gushed through her body making her movements jerky. She hoped to God she wasn't related to this monster. Could he be some relative her parents had disowned and never wanted her to know about? From what she read in his record she certainly wouldn't have blamed them if that was what had happened.

  The sheriff shifted his heavy body and then rubbed his stubbly jaw thoughtfully before exhaling loudly. He kept his eyes level with hers. “Frankie, the reason I called you two in is because Carson Fellows was rel
eased from prison six months ago.” His jaw tightened. “He's recently threatened to take care of those who put him in prison and now he's disappeared. His parole officer hasn't heard from him in weeks and he's left no paper trail.”

  Her eyes widened. The way George was looking at her, with so much sympathy in his eyes, caused her throat to constrict and her blood to run cold. What was he holding back? Why didn't he just come right out and tell her what the hell was going on? If she could manage to keep her own emotions in check, he'd tell her. He was gauging her reaction and preparing her for bad news. The more she looked into his eyes she finally saw something else there, too. Something he was trying hard to hide, but failing miserably at. Fear mixed with a good dose of sympathy. She'd never seen Sheriff George Ryker emit an emotion of fear before this moment. It made her uncomfortable. Why would George be afraid of an ex-con on the run? And what did that monster have to do with her?

  “So, this Carson Fellows knows that now he'll be going back to prison for violating his parole once they catch him. Probably for life.” She drew a shaky breath. “You want us to keep an eye open if he comes around this area? Is there any reason to think he would?”

  George rubbed his head again. It looked like the color was draining from his face right before her eyes. An eerie feeling crept up her spine. She sought to keep her composure, but it was quickly slipping away. Her palms began sweating. She glanced at Johanna. Johanna's eyes were frozen on George's face.

  “George,” Johanna said weakly. “You didn't answer Frankie's question. Is there a reason Fellows would come to Charlestown?”

  George cast an uneasy look at Frankie. “Yes.” He hesitated. “For you, Frankie.”