Chapter 20: Chapter Back on the Case

Answering the door Shannara met Jessie’s stern concerned features with a sigh.

“I’m fine!” She insisted.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He shook his head as he entered the home. Placing his bag down by the couch he proceeded to give her a once-over. Checking her for anything out of the ordinary. Any other circumstance and she would have shoved him off, but given that the killer had been standing right over her that very night... she let him gather whatever samples he wanted. “Your clothing from late night?” He queried.

“In the wash basket in my bathroom.” She answered.

He handed her an evidence bag. “Here, you know the drill. Oh and take these as well, I assume your crime scene pack is in the car.”

She sighed again but nodded. Putting on the white gloves she also turned over her phone to him as well. Just as she was about to leave the room to retrieve her laundry Arion came in.

“What’s he doing here?” Jessie asked with a frown.

She caught the sideways glance that the demon King gave her. A small gesture to let her know that the ball was in her court. “He’s living here while he’s helping with the case. We met back in the city, I’ve worked with him before.” It was a flat-out lie.

“There’s plenty of motels or inns, is that all this is?” Jessie frowned glaring at Arion.

“Is there a problem with me staying here?” Arion’s smooth voice cut in before she could respond.

“Not a problem no, but it’s okay to tell her co-workers if she’s seeing someone.” He raised a brow at Shannara.

What was with the testosterone levels in this room? She had known Jessie to be overprotective when it came to Masie and her dating, but this seemed different somehow. it’d never been directed at her before.

Arion’s bold laughter set butterflies loose in the pit of her stomach. “I won’t deny that I’ve tried, but it appears the detective is not interested in a romantic relationship.” He stated rather matter-of-factly.

Jessie appeared to relax a little. He handed over more bags and a pair of gloves to Arion. “Well then, since you know your way around, make yourself useful. I’ll need her bedding too.”

Arion bowed low. “As you command.”

Rolling her eyes she let out a light laugh. “Where are the others?” She asked.

Jessie was pulling more gear out of his pack as he responded. “Desmond is outside, checking all entry points. Masie called in sick, I would suggest giving her a call and filling her in.”

She glanced at her phone that was now in an evidence bag, then back up to him. He pulled out his phone from his back pocket and handed it over. “Use mine.”

“Thanks, I’ll get the clothes and give her a call.” She left the room and headed down the hall, Arion close on her heels.

“He’s jealous.” He commented as they reached her room.

“Nonsense, there’s no way he would be interested in me.” She headed for the en-suite while he began gathering her bedding.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit.” He lightly called after her.

She scoffed a laugh as she emptied her entire laundry basket into the bag, as was protocol. “Are you the expert on human feelings now?”

He emerged in the doorway, taking her slightly by surprise. “Just because I’m not human doesn’t mean I don’t know, or understand feelings.”

Sealing the bag she tilted her head to look up at him. “So you understand that I don’t have feelings for you?”

He took a step toward her, his eyes locked with hers. “I understand that it’s not love or admiration that you feel, but you do feel... something.” Reaching out, he gently cupped the side of her face as he leaned in, his lips hovering just above her ear. “Something that is quite primal.” He whispered in a deep husk of a tone.

She could feel her face heating up, it was pretty obvious that she was attracted to him. But one thing struck her as odd about this whole situation. It appeared that this feeling was only around him. Only with him would she allow the lust and desire free, it was out of character for her. She’d never really wanted any sort of sexual release even when she had been in a relationship, it always felt like a chore. But when she was around him it was like he awoke something deep within her. Something that was clawing for freedom, something that craved him.

Lifting her chin to allow her own lips to reach his ear she proceeded to whisper back. “Behave yourself today and I might reward you.”

He let out the slightest groan, the sound resonating deep within her. He had said she was driving him mad, but the same could be said of her. She twisted out of his reach with a smirk, she liked the reactions she evoked in him. But now wasn’t the time to be lost in each other.

“Can you get these to Jessie? I want to call Masie.” She asked holding out her bag of clothes.

“Anything for you, my lady.” He cooed as he gathered the bags and headed out.

She pulled out Jessie’s phone from her back pocket and dialed Masie. Holding it to her ear, she waited, but it rang out. She frowned, it was unlike Masie to not answer a call from her. She must be pretty bad, she made a mental note to swing by later and check up on her. Maybe even bring over some medication for her. Heading back into the living area she caught the tail end of a conversation between the three men, Desmond now having joined them.

“So Arion, you into sports? We could meet up after work sometime and watch a game.” Jessie casually asked.

“I can’t say I see the appeal, but if you want to suss me out, I’ll bite.” Arion was now handing over bags so Desmond could document them and pack them away for testing back at the lab.

Desmond huffed a laugh. “He’s got you there!”

“Is it wrong to want to get to know our new team member?” Jessie protested.

“I’d be happy to, though I don’t know how long I will be in town once this case is over,” Arion responded truthfully.

“Hey man, a new contact from the city is still an added bonus in this industry,” Jessie smirked. Catching sight of Shannara he straightened up and addressed her instead. “Oh hey, Dezy’s just about done. I’ll be hanging back to process the room, run the blue light, dust for fingerprints, the usual. Did you want to head back to the station with him and make an official report?”

She shook her head. “I want to run down the lead you found first, I’ll fill in the paperwork all at the same time.”

“Ever the hard worker.” Jessie smiled with a nod. Retrieving a file from the back of his bag he handed it over. “I had it ready for you, since I figured that would be the case.”

“You know me too well.” Taking the files she ran over the information he had accumulated. Trisha’s parents lived in town, which was good. Though she was adopted, she had only moved here around six months ago with her adoptive parents. Alongside the info were images of them and of Trisha, as well as two addresses. “Two?” She questioned.

“Yeah, one looks like her own apartment. The lease is in her parents’ name though, the other one on Marco Street is the parents’ home. I wasn’t able to get a warrant for the girl’s private address since she hasn’t been reported missing yet.”

“What?” She frowned, that couldn’t be right.

Jessie shrugged. “It’s not uncommon, she may not reach out to her parents as often as some people do. If the timeline is right it’s only been two days.”

Shannara cringed, thinking it was plenty of time for any victim to be taken advantage of and killed. “She’s been sold off to some lunatic and taken god only knows where, and no one cares? Not even friends?” She was finding it hard to believe that anyone could be so isolated.

“No one knows she’s missing yet.” Jessie’s voice was low as he responded, a hint of sadness reflecting in his eyes.

“I’ll get the okay from the parents to search her place.” Picking up her keys from the wall she went to hand Jessie back his phone.

“Hold on to it for now, Dezy can call you and vice versa while I have your phone.” He paused for a second looking at Arion. “You’re going with her, right?”

“I had intended to, yes?” He half questioned in answer.

“Good, I really don’t want her alone. It’s starting to feel like...” Jessie couldn’t find the words.

“Like I’m a target.” She finished for him. “I don’t need a bodyguard.” She added.

“You say that, but look at what happened only a few days ago, you’re barely healed.” Jessie protested.

“That’s unrelated.” She huffed in protest, though she couldn’t exactly say that the reason she had her arse handed to her was because the guy had been a demon from another dimension.

She left the room shaking her head. “I’ll see you at the station later today.”

“If nothing else comes to light today,” Jessie called back.