Lawyer Trap

92





DAY THIRTEEN–SEPTEMBER 17

SATURDAY–2:00 A.M.


After Draven screwed Davica Holland the second time, he rolled onto his back and stared at the wood beams on the ceiling, amazed at how much her struggle had intensified the feeling.

He patted her stomach.

“You did good.”

Then he pulled off the rubber and dropped it on the floor.

She tried to say something but the gag kept the words mumbled. No doubt she was telling him to let her go; and what an a*shole he was.

Well, guess what?

He didn’t give a shit.

He tweaked her left nipple. “What are you trying to say? How pretty I am?” He laughed. “Yeah, that’s it. Save your breath, I already know.”

Then he got curious and removed the gag.

She gasped for breath.

“You a*shole!”

The words startled him. Not the words themselves but the sound of her voice. He recognized that voice from somewhere. In fact, it was so familiar that he sat up, straddled her and brought his face in close. “Do I know you?”

“Jesus, a*shole, it’s me—Swofford.”

The minute she said the word, he knew she was right.

She was Swofford.

The boss-lady herself.

In the flesh.

“What the hell’s going on?”

“I’m here to save your ass,” she said. “Get me out of these goddamn ropes.”

He stayed where he was.

“What do you mean, save my ass? How?”

“Let me loose.”

“Sure. Just tell me first.”

She pulled at the ropes and screamed. He let her struggle until she calmed down.

“Feel better now?”

She turned her head and said nothing.

“Tell me how you’re saving my ass and what the hell you’re doing here,” he said. “Then I’ll let you go.”

She grunted in frustration. “Things were getting too hot,” she said. “The cops have been investigating the shit out of the four women at the railroad spur. They already figured out that Brad Ripley killed one of them. They even got their hands on his snuff film. And now they’re on the edge of figuring out who killed Rachel.”

“So what? Who gives a shit?”

“We do. The more they figure out, the closer they are to us,” she said. “Then you went and killed that tow-truck woman. I’m not blaming you. You had to. But that’s bringing even more heat.”

“I don’t get it,” he said. “Even if you’re right, I don’t get why you’re here.”

“To give you an alibi,” she said. “It goes like this. I called you and set myself up as a new victim. I did that so that when you took me it would be real. The detective in charge is too smart to fall for a charade. I didn’t want to be hurt, though, which is why I kept telling you not to mark the woman up. Once you took me, then I’d stay with you for a day or two while the cops figured out I was missing. Then I’d show back up and tell them that I was abducted by a man who admitted being involved in all these murders that they’re looking into. I’d say I escaped. Now here’s the important part. I’d describe the person who took me. It wouldn’t be a description of you. Then the cops would be looking for the totally wrong person. In the meantime, you go back to California and then we cool it for a while, until things are safer.”

Draven smiled.

“Brilliant,” he said. “Gutsy, too.”

She tugged at the ropes.

“So this whole thing was to give you an alibi,” she said. “Now say Thank you and untie me.”

He ran his index fingers in circles on her nipples.

“I never pictured you to be this beautiful.”

“Well I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, because you weren’t supposed to. Now untie me.”

They ended up in the kitchen drinking Jack and eating Lays potato chips, reminiscing about all the snuffs they’d been through together. Draven was particularly interested in knowing more about the clients and how Davica got them.

But she wouldn’t tell.

Not even close.

“Here’s something you’ll find interesting,” she said. “Do you remember Angela Pfeiffer?”

He nodded.

“Yeah. She was a knockout.”

“Me and her were lovers,” Davica said. “She pissed me off and I decided she needed to die. So I told you that the client wanted her in particular and had you take her. Actually, he didn’t care who he had as long as she was beautiful. The day you took her I made sure I had an alibi. Same thing for the day the guy snuffed her.” She smiled. “The cops won’t figure out my involvement in ten million years.”

“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” Draven said.

She laughed. “You? Never. That’s why I wanted you to bury all four of those women near each other. If the cops ever did find her body, she’d look like part of a bigger plan and they’d forget about lowly old me even though I had a motive. By the way, did you like the show I put on for you yesterday afternoon?”

“You mean in the back yard?”

“Right.”

“So you knew I was watching you?”

She nodded. “You should be more careful.”