I wasn’t ready to explain to him why my dress looked like a bear slashed through it, but hopefully, I could get him away before he tried to kill Chazz. Finding one of his coats, I slipped it over my tattered dress before walking out the door.
Jason pulled in just as I came out of the house. He got out of the car and raced up to me. “Are you okay? Why are you wearing that?”
“I was cold. Let’s just get out of here.” He opened the car door for me and rushed around to his side. “What happened with Angelica?”
“She’s passed out in my bed. As soon as you left, I went straight to your room and put some serum in her wine. I don’t think I said more than two words to her the entire time.” The second he sped us out of the driveway, I breathed a sigh of relief. I wanted him as far away from Chazz as possible. “Now tell me what happened,” he demanded.
I shrugged. “I don’t think Chazz is who we’re looking for. He took me for a tour of the house before anything ever happened.”
He grimaced. “I was wondering what took so long.”
“Everything was pretty normal until we got to his basement.”
His head snapped my way. “Basement? What the fuck was in there?”
“A sadist’s dream come true.”
“You can’t be serious. Are we talking whips, chains, and all that bullshit?”
I nodded. “He gets his jollies by using them.”
His anger filled the car, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel. “He didn’t use any of that on you, did he?”
“On the contrary, now he’ll be the one needing a rubber donut to sit down.”
Thankfully, that brought a smile to his lips. “No, you didn’t.”
“Oh, yes I did. He’s going to be uber pissed when he wakes up.”
“Good. Serves the fucker right. I was thinking we should call Chatfield and get her to pick up her girl. That way we can get her out of the way.”
“Good idea. I can also give her the news we’re back at square one. I have no clue who the killer is.”
“We’ll figure it out. It could still be one of them. The victims weren’t knowingly with any of them the nights they died. We just have to wait and see who comes after you next, if anyone.”
“Ryan’s not going to like this. We probably need to get in touch with him in the morning.”
Jason tucked my hair behind my ear and I leaned into his touch. “We’ll take it one step at a time, baby. It looks like you’ve had enough for one night.”
I was disappointed, but shamefully, also relieved. Solving the case meant we were done, that I had to leave Jason. I wasn’t ready for that, but I also had a duty. Duty had to come first.
“Thank you for calling me,” Ronnie said, coming through the door.
“You’re welcome. I called you as soon as I was done with Chazz.” Jason and I had just walked in ourselves. I hadn’t even had time to change clothes. Luckily, she brought a buff young man to help—Thor, a male escort. Jason led him to the bedroom and he came out carrying Angelica in his strong arms.
Ronnie sighed and nodded toward the door. “Take her to the car, please. I’ll be down in a minute.” As soon as he left and the door shut, she faced me. “What happened? Do you know who the killer is?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t been able to find anything on anyone. We’re not going to give up though. Did you know Angelica was going with Chazz tonight?”
“No, she failed to tell me. You might have just saved her life. I wish I knew how to keep my girls safe.”
“Like you said before, you can’t. It’s a dangerous profession, just like my job. It’s something you can’t control.”
Her lips pulled back in a sad smile. “You’re right. I guess I shouldn’t get attached. Okay, I’ll keep in touch if I hear anything or if any of my girls go missing.” She started for the door and walked out, leaving me alone with Jason.
“You ready to call it a night, babe?” he asked softly.
“Sure, just let me get some clothes out of my room. Do you mind getting me a bottle of water? I feel a little dehydrated.”
Narrowing his eyes, he raked them up and down my body. “You sure you’re okay?”