Daddy's Adorable Assassin (Daddy's Little Deviants)

HUNTER

Aknocksoundedon my door as I was downing my third cup of coffee. When drinking the second cup, I’d started feeling more like my old self, but I had poured myself another just to be on the safe side. Last night, sleeping had been hell. I hadn’t gotten more than two decent hours of sleep. Every time I drifted off, clips from the disturbing videos I’d watched of how Cosmo’s family had treated him popped up in my dreams, and I was wide awake again.

Last night when I’d visited him, I’d sensed he’d been the best version of himself since he was locked up. He’d been capable of holding a proper conversation with me, though he’d still seemed timid. The way he’d spoken, the wispy quality of his tone, and the desperate need behind his words to be cared for plagued me and wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace.

Another knock, more forceful this time. I dropped the morning’s paper, which wasn’t that interesting anyway, even with the bold headline that after all these years, the Handkerchief Murderer had been caught. Governor Roffe had wasted no time getting the information out that the streets of Cross Keys were safe again. As if all criminal activities had stopped. The Handkerchief Murders were only a small percentage of the crime problem we had in this city.

Coffee mug in hand, I opened the front door, not surprised to find Barney on my steps. He’d called me several times yesterday, but I hadn’t been in the mood to talk to him and told him I would get back to him. I never did.

Barney’s face was red. “You fucking asshole. You couldn’t call me back?” He punched me in the gut, and I grunted as coffee spilled over onto my hand and shirt.

“Fuck, Barney. What the hell, man?”

He bulldozed his way past me into the house. “You had that coming. I’ve been calling you all day, and you wouldn’t pick up the fucking phone this morning either.”

“Haven’t looked at the thing since I woke up.” I walked to the kitchen, his footsteps echoing behind me. I dumped the rest of the coffee in the sink and grabbed some hand towels to dab the coffee stain on my shirt. Fucking useless. I would have to change my shirt.

“Is it true?” He raised the newspaper and turned the headlines around to me. “You really caught him?”

“Yes, we did. I mean, the guy blew his own fucking brains out, but with all we found at his farmhouse, there’s little doubt he’s the killer.”

“So what now?”

I shrugged.

“Come on, you have to know.”

“Everything happened yesterday, Barney. You, of all people, know how difficult it can be to go through every piece of evidence we uncovered. It’s going to take a few days, if not weeks. In fact, this information shouldn’t even be in the paper until we come up with a proper statement for the press. All this will do is have them bombarding us with questions we don’t have answers to yet.”

He took the seat I’d been sitting in earlier. “What questions? You said there was no doubt he’s the one responsible.”

“Yeah, but we have questions about his victims. Why were they killed? What linked all the deaths? Plus… look, Barney, there’s still a lot to process.”

“The evidence didn’t come in to our department.”

“Of course not. The FBI has it, and I really need to change this shirt. We’re supposed to meet with the governor today, but I don’t know what time. I need to speak to Knight about something.”

I walked out of the kitchen, and Barney followed me. “Does this mean you’re coming back to the precinct sometime today?”

“I don’t know, Barney. There’s still a lot to go through in the case.” I grinned at him over my shoulder. “Ah, don’t tell me you miss having your old partner around. Thought you said I slowed you down, kept you from having fun.”

I pushed through the door into my bedroom, and Barney walked in after me.

“That’s not funny.”

“Chill out, man. I’m not going to jump ship and join the FBI. Too fucking old for that now anyway. I’m counting down to retirement.”

Rows of pressed shirts lined my closet. I plucked a dark green one from the rack.

“The burgundy looks better.”

I glanced up at Barney. “Yeah?”

“Yes.”

I swapped the shirt, then quickly changed. “Barney, can I tell you something in secret?” I tucked my shirt into my pants, my heart leaping in my chest.

“Of course. What?”