Love by Association

“Which they never would.”

“No, but I did.”

“You aren’t either of them. Why’d this person think to tell you about it?”

“Because I knew about a rape, and because this person is in the emergency room. And has seen some things that are bothersome.”

Chantel’s nerves started churning until she really did have to pee. “What things?”

“This person hears details and says that there have been at least three other cases in the past ten years that all have a similar, very bothersome situation.”

“He’s done it more than once. Julie isn’t his only victim.”

“The paperwork Albertson left was in a sealed envelope. My source was sworn not to open it. Ever. Of course, my source did open it. She needed to know what she was holding on to, or she wasn’t going to hold it. She knew they were dealing with powerful people and didn’t want to get herself in trouble. At least not without knowing why.”

“She.”

“Let it go, Chantel.”

For now. She might need testimony. And to get her hands on that report, which could come later.

“She told me that all three victims were drugged in the same way. A unique cocktail combination with aspirin added.” Max delineated each component in medical terms. Again, something she could get later. “And all three were violated in the same way.”

She wanted to ask more but didn’t. Colin had said Julie had been brutalized. She didn’t need to impinge any further on Julie’s privacy. She had the details she needed.

“The rapes were similarly situated in ways that are unique enough to leave a signature.” She pulled out the point that was important to her investigation.

“That’s my conclusion. And my source’s, as well. And, Chantel...the most recent was less than a year ago.”

Mind spinning, Chantel held her stomach, leaning back against the gas station bathroom wall. “He has to be stopped.”

“I know. But you’re dealing with some powerful people here, Chantel. Three victims and no charges have ever been filed. Someone’s willing to do what it takes to see that nothing is done.”

“Your source checked on that?”

“If your suspect had other charges against him, you’d have known that.”

He had her there. “And if I don’t do something, he’s just going to keep on, and there will be a lot more than three victims for us to talk about. For that matter, there probably are more. We only know of the ones who’ve gone to the Santa Raquel hospital for help. But what I also know is that the next one will be on my head.”

Which brought another link to Julie’s and Leslie’s cases. Now they both presented current danger.

“I hate your job.”

“I know.”

“Be careful, my friend.”

“I will. And, Max? Thanks.”

She rang off before he could suggest, again, that she get a desk job.

* * *

USUALLY ONE TO sit back and let the business at hand take its course—using his father’s advice not to grab at the first chance but rather to build business relationships that would last a lifetime—Colin drove his clients, and their potential Japanese business partners, to work until everyone was almost too tired to think. He had someone call for a meal catered in. And he still didn’t stop. He’d already pushed powerful men to work through the night. It was Monday night at home. And Tuesday morning in Japan. And he was starting to question what in the hell he was doing.

Strong, lasting business deals, decisions of that magnitude, weren’t to be made through pressure or exhaustion. Some people did business that way. Successfully, even. If all they wanted to do was take the money and run.

Now Colin just wanted to run. By the time he’d spent one full day away from home, his instincts were screaming at him to get back there.

In one sense, it was as though the night Julie was raped was happening all over again. He was working, focusing on the deal in front of him, with his sister on his mind.

That night he’d been waiting for her to get home.

Because he hadn’t wanted her to go to the party in the first place? The thought rose unbidden. The Smyths had been close family friends for years. They had all spent Christmas together! But there’d been something almost unsettling to him in the way young David had looked that night as he’d picked Julie up. A strange energy about him.

One Colin hadn’t acted on. Or allowed himself to dwell on since.

Smyth had looked Colin in the eye. Been perfectly respectful. He hadn’t smelled of drugs or alcohol. There’d been no reason not to let his sister go to the party in the company of so close a family friend. One sanctioned by the friendships their parents had formed with and through them over the years.