Free Taken by Cassandre Dayne Page B

darkness. Kink. The heated darkness continued to terrify and tempt her.
    “Can do.” Betsy placed the stack of folders on her desk and started to turn around then stopped.
    “Is there something else?”
    “Just that you seem very preoccupied lately. Are you worried about the case?”
    “The case?” She should be. Mr. Walter Martin’s alibis were rock solid. There was no way he could have sliced and diced three women and be in another city at the same time. What was she missing?
    Betsy nodded. “I’ve never seen you so, well nervous I guess.”
    Jess rubbed her tired eyes and sat back in her seat. “I’m just not sleeping well. I admit I’ll be glad when this is over.”
    “He’s guilty you know.”
    She smiled. Her assistant was tenacious, doing everything she could to get ahead in the firm. The girl stayed late, went to every criminology class she could register for, and generally sucked up to the powers that be. She’d also followed along with this case in particular, helping Jess locate witnesses and other evidence. Too bad the case wasn’t adding up. She had a week to pull everything together. “You’re so certain?”
    “I am,” Betsy said defiantly.
    “All right. I’ll bite. Talk to me.”
    She sat down in the chair slowly, a wry grin on her face. “Do you remember when you talked with the family of the first victim, Rena Showalter?”
    “Vividly. They had no desire to talk with me.”
    “Did you ever wonder why?”
    Jess narrowed her eyes. She could tell by the very intriguing look on Betsy’s face the girl was hiding something. “Of course. Go on.”
    “Well it took me a little while to figure out, but I managed to sift through lots of bullshit, finding out Rena’s daddy has direct connections to Mr. Martin.”
    “Connections?” They’d checked and rechecked everything, trying to make any connection. Mr. Martin was on paper an upstanding citizen.
    “Yep,” Betsy cooed, her head bobbing up and down. “You see, about twenty years ago they were in business together and from what I’ve been able to determine, a bit shady if you know what I mean.”
    As Jess thought about the information, she realized the one thing Mr. Martin couldn’t have was any dirty laundry hanging over him, especially since he had aspirations for running for Congress, some said the Whitehouse. “This is documented?”
    Betsy grinned and pulled the bottom folder from the pile. “You bet and I’m not there yet, but I think the families of the other victims have the same connection.”
    “Holy shit. If you’re right, then this is nothing more than a blood bath to keep the families quiet. You’re freaking brilliant!”
    Beaming, Betsy smoothed down her skirt. “I thought you’d be pleased.”
    Jess rose from her chair. Instantly the thick plug made her cringe. “Girl, if this pans out, I’m not going to just be happy. I’ll make sure you get that promotion you’ve been pining away for.”
    “Really?” she squealed.
    “You bet. We have a hell of a lot of work to do and not much time.” She grabbed the file. “I think I need to pay another visit to the Showalter family. Keep digging.”
    “Can do!”
    Jess grabbed her purse and keys, her phone last and headed out the door. “Shit.”
    “Did you forget something?”
    “Just a quick phone call I have to make.” Why did her voice sound so sheepish? Because you’re a whore, a submissive who has duties. Suddenly the room was stifling.
    “No problem. I’ll see what I can find. When you get back I’ll be ready to strategize.”
    Exhaling, she waited until Betsy walked out of the room then unlocked her iPhone. She flipped to her text page.
    I’m leaving for an appointment, sir.
    The rules to text Craze when she arrived and when she left was a daunting practice, but she hadn’t failed as of yet. For some reason she had a feeling he’d know if she failed.
    She waited for a full two minutes, as if he’d answer then shoved her phone into her purse. There