Mosquito bites. That was the first thing Evangeline Laguerre felt when she opened her eyes in the dark. Then, the coldness and stench of dirty water invaded her nostrils. Where the hell was she? The last thing she remembered was talking to Remy, and then... nothing.

The sun had already set over the horizon, and the crickets were enjoying a melodic celebration all around her. The aroma in the air revealed that she was in a mangrove. But which mangrove? There were five! She had heard enough stories to know that she shouldn't be here after dark.

"Hello? Is anybody out there?" she shouted as fear crept into her veins.

The dark had never bothered her before, yet maneuvering through the mangrove activated a different kind of terror, and she walked faster. Evangeline avoided touching the trees, fearing it might be a snake and felt the muck glide between her toes.

"Oh great. What else could go wrong?" she mumbled. Two steps later, Evangeline stepped on a thorn. "Ow!"

Her brain didn't register the pain until she took another step and inhaled deeply, then released a piercing cry that silenced the creatures.

"FUCK! HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" but no one answered. The fear of snakes overshadowed her pain, and she limped on.

Above the trees, Evangeline noticed the moon hiding behind a cloud, as if it, too, was afraid of the darkness.

As Mama Etienne would say, it was bad Joujou.

As a peace offering, a gentle yet warm breeze blew a few fireflies her way, and she looked at the sky in relief. The clouds had released their prisoner, and the moon gave her enough light to see a small cottage a few feet ahead of her.

"Oh my God, thank you," she whispered and went towards the structure.

However, her joy was shattered when three men emerged from the house. Evangeline had just enough time to hide behind a large fallen tree. Holding back a scream, she watched as they sat on the drums and waited.

Then they began a steady beat, followed by a chant. Like the winds through the trees, Evangeline felt her body sway to the traditional Yanvalou dance.

Lost in the soulful experience, Evangeline had her eyes closed and didn't notice the man behind her. The moment the beat of the drums halted, she opened her eyes. The last thing she saw before the man swung his hand was the glistening knife.

***

Evangeline awoke screaming and covered in sweat. That was the third time she had that dream this week, and she took it as a bad omen.

She needed to talk to someone. She needs Mama Etienne.

---

"You're late, Laguerre," Lieutenant Stevens grumbled and gave her his usual look of disapproval. If it wasn't for his multi-colored eyes, he would be the station's ogre, and he knows it! "Do you know how many times I've called you?"

What you need to do is stop dressing like you're in the fucking mafia and mind your damn business, she thought but instead chose to say, "Good morning to you too, Lieutenant. What do we have?" she asked and flashed him a cheesy smile as he lifted the yellow tape.

Zade Stevens had been her partner for three years and recently got promoted to lieutenant. Depending on the day he was having, the curly-haired, forty-five-year-old had tried every possible way to get in her panties. But he wasn't her type. Stevens was sexy as fuck, but he was too muscular. She preferred them lean and heavily bearded.

"Claudette Mireille. Twenty-eight years old and a mother of one," he replied, walking away from her to take a statement from the man who had found the body.

This was the second time this week she had been called to a body dump in the woods. And with each murder, she experienced a reoccurring nightmare.

As the cameras took pictures of the body, the crowd of onlookers grew, and so did their boisterous chatter.

"Get those people back, Vince. Secure the damn perimeter. This isn't your first rodeo!" she ordered.

"I knew her, Detective," he admitted.

"You'll know more than just her when these people fucks up the crime scene," she scolded and ushered the onlookers back.

People were like scavengers when it came to a crime scene; they would follow the scent anywhere, and trample over the evidence if someone wasn't present to stop them.

When Evangeline returned, she stood beside Greg and watched as he carefully lifted a fingerprint, most likely the victim's, from the body. Whoever did this had always been careful; the CSIs had never found any hair or fibers that belonged to the perpetrator.

The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and she spun around. Someone was watching her.

She scanned the crowd for a familiar face, someone she may have noticed at an earlier crime scene but no one stood out. Perps love to revisit their art, and by the looks of this recent victim, he or she loved to put on a show.

Evangeline closed her eyes then quickly reopened them and gulped as she stared at Claudette Mireille's body. Her throat had been slit from ear to ear, and where her eyes should have been, there were two empty holes, just like the others. And just like the others, all Claudette's organs had been removed, except for the heart.

"Whoever did this must have a medical degree. These cuts are to precise, Vannie," Greg said to her.

"Well, that narrows it down. Who did this to you, gorgeous?" Evangeline muttered as she took notes and tried to ignore Greg as he shook his head at her. "If you have something to say, Greg, just say it!" She mumbled.

"Zade is mad as fuck that you're late, Vannie," he said.

"I have a life, Greg," she replied and rolled her eyes at her colleague.

"Come, take a look at this," he said and held up a photo from the victim's purse. "Does he look familiar to you?"

Evangeline shook her head and muttered, "Well, I'll be damned, Micah Ripton. The murdered guy from Central Bank. They were friends?!"

"A picture speaks many languages, Vannie."

"Did you find anything else?"

"Yes, the killer's signature," and he gave her the picture.

It was a photo of a headless goat surrounded by red candles. A similar picture had been found at fifteen different crime scenes over the past two years, including one from her past.

"Thanks, Greg."

At the station, Evangeline reviewed Claudette's and Micah's files, and after an hour, she found a clue.

"They were married, Lieutenant!"

Zade looked up from the computer and asked, "Make some sense, Laguerre."

She smiled and said slowly, "Claudette and Micah were married, and they hid it from the public. Because during his murder investigation, her name never came up. I'll bet my lottery ticket that they were the duo who robbed Central Bank two years ago. They both fit the profile," Evangeline replied, and her whole face lit up.

"Drop the stupid smile, Laguerre. I remember that case. Many witnesses claimed a black car screeched to a halt in front of the bank and almost collided into an elder couple as two people dashed out wearing the Grinch and Cindy Loo masks. The customers said the duo waved guns at them and ordered everyone to lie on the ground. And then robbed the bank, taking only diamonds from a safe that belonged to Jennifer Odette."

"Well then, let's pay a visit to Mrs. Odette."

---

"I can't believe she's dead!" Evangeline mumbled and bit a licorice stick.

"What about her family? She must have had children," he offered and pulled on his cigarette.

"You're a genius. If you weren't married, I'd kiss you," she muttered and punched his arm.

He smirked and replied in a husky voice that no man should be allowed to have, "I'm legally separated, Laguerre."

"You don't say," Evangeline muttered and searched the database. "Yesss! You wouldn't believe what I found, Lieutenant!" she exclaimed and closed the cruiser's laptop.

"You know I hate your guessing games, Laguerre. Out with it."

"You're no fun."

"The fun starts when I'm off duty."

"Fine. Jennifer Odette had two children: Jonathan and Claudette Mireille. And get this; Jonathan is the owner of Mosaic's Gallery. Don't you like art, Lieutenant?"

He gasped and asked her, "Don't you?"

"Eww, no. Let's go make you a friend."

---

"Of course, you have an alibi. Why wouldn't you?" Zane said to Jonathan Mireille.

"Are you accusing me of something, Lieutenant?" Mireille asked as the muscle in his jaw twitched and the six-foot-five-inch man stood.

"I don't know. Do you think that I'm accusing you of something, Mireille? What were you doing on September 22nd, 1997, around two-thirty PM?" he continued, ignoring Mireille's looming presence.

"How the hell am I supposed to remember? That was over two years ago. Am I Mr. Fucking Elephant?"

"It was just a question. Calm the fuck down."

Evangeline kicked his foot and muttered, "Behave." Then she turned to Mr. Mireille and said, "There's no need for the hostility. It was just a question."

The Lieutenant looked at his watch and sighed, "How well did you know Mr. Ripton?"

"Is that what all this is about? That gold digger died over two years ago, and you're still investigating him? Why?"

"I don't answer to you. Where did you get the money to purchase this business?"

"My inheritance! My mother passed away a year ago, leaving me the sole beneficiary."

"But didn't your mother also have a daughter?"

Jonathan's eyebrows rose, and he shook his head. "Someone did their homework. Do you make it a habit of prying into people's lives, Lieutenant? Oh, by the way, did you guys ever find my mother's missing diamonds?"

"Just answer the question, Mr. Mireille. We don't have all day to entertain your theatrics."

Jonathan folded his arms and then replied, "Mother disinherited Claudette when she ran away with Ripton."

"Are you saying that the Riptons had marital problems?"

"Why the hell don't you ask, Claudette? Or better yet, the man she was having an affair with!" Jonathan shouted.

By his admission, both Evangeline and Zade watched one another.

"What's going on?" Jonathan asked, looking at the duo.

Evangeline cleared her throat and stood. "No one from the police department called you?"

He scrunched up his face and snapped, "No! What's going on?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mireille, but your sister's body was discovered early this morning in Pontuc's mangrove," Evangeline said and watched as his face turned ashen.

Jonathan gripped the edge of the table, and his expression closed up. "Do you know who did it?"

"We are not at liberty to discuss that with you."

"But she's my sister!"

"I'm sorry," Evangeline murmured.

"I've got to go. I need to pick up my niece from school. If you have any more questions, direct them to my lawyer. This is his number." He flung the business card at them and bolted for the door.

They watched as he ran down the corridor, and then Zade said, "He's either a great actor, or he's telling the truth."

"I don't trust him," Evangeline mumbled.

"You don't trust anybody. Let's go."

---

Whenever Evangeline visited a crime scene, memories of her mother always resurfaced and she hated it. Now, with another body emerging, she was convinced it was the same person who murdered her twenty years ago.

EVANGELINE'S POV

When she was seven, her father carried her and her sister Beatrix to their mother's home in Haiti.

"Mama, we are here! We brought you the pies that you love so much! Mama!" Bea shouted and grabbed her little sister's hand.

"What is that smell, Bea?" Evangeline asked and crinkled her nose.

"I don't know, Vannie. Maybe it's the garbage. You know Mama sometimes forgets to take it out," she said and pushed open the kitchen door.

"Move, Bea! I want to see Mama too," little Evangeline cheered, dancing behind her sister, unaware of what Beatrix saw.

Impatient, she pushed past her and entered the room. "Bea?"

"Look away, Vannie. Look away," Beatrix murmured, her voice shaking.

Before them lay what was left of their mother. She was long dead, covered in flies and maggots. On the table was a photo of a headless goat surrounded by red candles. The smell of her mother's remains was what the girls remembered the most.

But with that memory also lurked memories from her grandmother's home in Haiti.

END OF POV

"No, I would not allow you to consume my thoughts today!"

Evangeline quickly showered and bolted out of her apartment.

---

"Bounce on my dick, Vannie. Arghh, fuck. That's it, grind that pussy on me," Remy begged and stuck a finger in her ass.

"Oh shit, Remy, oh shit," Evangeline cried, bouncing faster on his erection.

"Take it, take my dick. Ughh fuck, your pussy feels so good!"

Remy sat forward, bringing her small body closer to his as he pushed and pulled her toward him, inserting his finger deeper into her ass.

"Oh God, that feels good, Remy. Ughh, I'm cumming," they shouted together. Evangeline held onto the bed frame and rode out her climax as Remy squeezed his eyes shut and tilted his head back, grunting as his body spasmed when his release came.

"That was so good, Remy. Thank you. But I've got to go," Evangeline muttered breathlessly and kissed his lips.

"When will you be back?" he asked while slipping on his boxers.

Evangeline threw on her jersey and paused. Now was better than any time. "Um, I'm not coming back."

It took him a moment to get what she was saying before he shook his head and muttered, "Oh."

He knew she didn't want a commitment, and yet he always pushed for one!

Without another word, Evangeline walked out of his apartment and drove to the beach.

***

A week later, while her colleagues exchanged ideas in the briefing room, Captain Baptiste gave her a file on a new case and announced, "We have another one. This latest victim is Freda Johnson, Vince's CI."

Everyone turned to Vince and nodded. "Find this bastard. The mayor is coming in next week to hold his monthly conference. Do not make me look bad."

"Yes, Captain," the officers replied.

"Oh, and Laguerre."

"Yes, Captain?"

"I want to see some progress. Dismiss."

---

"Why is he always chewing me out? It's not like I have a direct line to this asshole. It's because I'm Haitian, isn't it?" she asked her lieutenant and sighed.

Zade smirked and said to her, "Yes, it's exactly that, Laguerre. What else could it possibly be?"

"Come on, let's see if we can get one of the girls to talk while Vince reviews those tapes. He's going to be awhile in there."

---

"Why isn't anyone willing to give a statement? We are trying to help them! Can't they see that anyone can be a target for this psycho?"

"In their eyes, we are making their jobs difficult, Lieutenant. Let's go, I'll give my CI a call."

Twenty minutes later, Evangeline got off the phone, sporting a smile as wide as a runway.

"You got a name?" Zade asked, returning her smile.

"Someone's in a good mood," Evangeline teased and rubbed his arm.

"Did you get a name or not, Laguerre?" He asked and smacked her hand.

"I got a name," Evangeline squealed. "Mjatu. I don't know if it's male or female."

"Where can we find this person?"

"That's the thing. He finds us."

"Well, that's bullshit!"

"That's the game."

---

She needed to call her nursemaid, Mama Etienne. The old but strong Creole woman had been a part of the Laguerre family for as long as time itself. Her solution to every problem was a bush bath followed by a glass of Rhum Barbancourt, a dry butterscotch-flavored drink.

But Evangeline's problem was beyond Mama's beliefs, and she had outgrown the superstitions she was made to believe as a child, much to Mama Etienne's displeasure.

Ever since the picture murders, his presence was all she felt. With her body feeling as if it was about to combust, Mama Etienne's remedy seemed more appealing by the second.

The phone rang, causing Evangeline to jump. "Fuck!" But she already knew who the caller was: Mama Etienne.

"Ki pwoblèm nan pitit?" Mama asked in her thick Haitian Creole accent.

Evangeline inhaled and replied, "Nothing, mama. Everything is fine."

"Poukisa wap bay manti?" she continued, letting out a sigh.

Even though Mama Etienne was miles away, Evangeline felt the woman's stern gaze, "I'm not lying to you, mama."

"Kisa ou te fè pitit?" Mama asked.

"I didn't do anything, mama. Look, I've got to go, okay? I'm running late for a work dinner. I love you."

"Come home, Evangeline," Mama said and hung up.

Returning to Haiti, meant confronting her past and she wasn't ready for that. Her mind was made up, she'll never go back. Evangeline dropped her phone and picked up the novel. Nearing the last page, the familiar scent of her lover made love to her nostrils, and she turned around.

He was leaning against the wall with a warm smile on his lips, "I thought you weren't coming," she muttered.

"Did I tell you that I wasn't?"

Evangeline never blinked as he pushed off the wall and glided around the couch, then knelt between her legs and pulled her panties down.

"You're my addiction," he mumbled and licked her wet pussy. "Mmm. This is what I love about you. You're always so wet."

"That's what you do to me," she replied and arched her back. "Ohhhh, fuck! Mmmhhh, just like that," she muttered, as her breathing became fast and heavy.

"Open your legs, Evangeline. Don’t deny me what's mine."

She was his puppet, moving against her will, and she didn't care.

"Yes, that's a good girl. You're going to get fucked so hard, and I won't stop until I'm satisfied. I'd hold on to something if I were you," he warned and slammed into her pussy.

"Oh, fuck," she shouted and grabbed the bottom of her feet.

It could have been minutes or hours; Evangeline couldn't tell. But just like before, when she opened her eyes, she was in bed alone.

Three weeks later, after another day of being singled out by Captain Baptiste, Evangeline slammed his office door and went to lunch.

Halfway through her meal, her phone buzzed, "You're my favorite place to go to when my mind searches for peace," the message read.

"How can I eat in peace when you give me butterflies in my vagina?" She wrote back and continued to eat.

Five minutes later, her phone buzzed again, "Show me."

"I would, if you were here," she wrote and watched as the three bubbles moved.

Two words he sent and Evangeline knew that she would regret it later, "Turn around."

---

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, baby. Suck my dick. Suck it. Oh, Jesus!" he hissed, squeezing her breasts.

Evangeline hopped off Zade's engorged flesh and swallowed its length. "Mmmm," she moaned, bobbing her head and slobbering on herself.

Zade's gasped as Evangeline slurped his dick. "Mm, mm, ah fuck, Vannie. Ah fuck, yes, just like that, yes! I'm cumming, oh fuck, oh fuck. Jesus," he shouted and thrust his hips.

She glanced at him and continued to suck even when he'd climaxed. "Jesus, Vannie, stop! I can't take much more of your wickedness. You'll give me a fucking heart attack," he cried, but he still thrust. "I'm cumming, oh shit, I'm cumming again. Ughhh, ugghh. Fuck! You're going to hell for this!"

When she finally released his dick, Evangeline smiled, licked her lips, and sat on the chair opposite his bed.

"You surprised me," he admitted and lit a cigarette.

"Better to be surprised than disappointed," she replied and opened her legs, smirking when he choked on the blend.

"Stop that! Another erection from me, and I'll have to sit with an ice pack between my legs."

"Come," she whispered, watching his eyes squint as the smoke blew like a kite in his face. Zade stumped out the cigarette and obeyed her command.

He glided to her to the rhythm of a tune that only he could hear, and Evangeline felt her stomach leap. Why had she never noticed how sexy he walked?

"Let me see your tongue," she said. When he showed her, he wiggled the organ. "Make me cum."

Never taking his eyes off his partner, he spat on her pussy and slipped two fingers into her warmth.

"Arrgh, fuck, Lieutenant, let me feel your tongue," she begged and wrapped her legs around his head, pulling him in.

"So fucking gorgeous," he cooed. "And you taste just as sweet as you smell. Lilies?"

Evangeline scrunched up her face and bit back her moan.

"Let it out, baby. Let it out. Let me hear your sweet cries," he whispered and slowly circled her clit, taking the nub in his mouth.

"Mmm, Oh fuck Lieutenant! Oh God, that feels sooooo good, mmmmm!" She mumbled and grabbed her trembling legs.

"Beautiful. Now come ride my face."

Evangeline's legs felt like Bambi's as she crawled over to his outstretched tongue. "Oh fuck. Mmmm." From his forehead to his chin, Evangeline closed her eyes and coated his face, then settled on his tongue and sighed.

"Right there, keep that rhythm. Oh fuck, yes! Yes! I'm cumming. Oh Zade, right there, right there. Fuckkk!" Evangeline thrust her hips faster and finally released on his face.

As she lay there, gasping, Zade gripped her legs and continued to feast on her pussy.

"Fuck me," she mumbled over and over. "My body is on fire, Zade. Fuck me!"

His dick was fully erect when he guided her down his sweaty body and impaled her and she inhaled deeply. "Oh God, you're so big."

Zade gave her a second to adjust to his size, and then he began to thrust deep and slow.

"Argghh, oh fuck, Zade. Fuck me like you hate, baby. Yessss. I'm cumming. Arhhh." His workouts were paying off, and she loved every moment.

"You have a dirty mouth, Evangeline. Let me fill it. Get on your knees."

"Good girl," he murmured and glided his cream-coated dick down her throat and pumped her full of his tangy cum.

"Shit. That feels so good, Vannie. You're a goddess with that mouth," he whispered and collapsed on the bed, "Arhhhhh. I enjoyed that."

"Don't get mushy on me, Lieutenant."

"I would never," he remarked and slapped her bottom.

"Good. Now feed me. I'm hungry," Evangeline admitted and pulled him to his feet.

---

A month later, Evangeline's team still didn't have a lead on the picture killer, and Captain Baptiste blew her ears open, threatening to put her on traffic duty. No way was she letting that happen. The sun had been hotter than a furnace in recent weeks.

"What are we missing?" Evangeline muttered and flipped through the files. "Somebody give me something!" she shouted.

Greg appeared from behind her and announced, "I've got something," and held up a file.

She turned around and grumbled, "Well, don't stand there, Gregory. Share it with the rest of the class."

"Okay, I'm sure you all remember the last victim, Claudette Mireille. Well, I heard from a reliable source that her brother found someone who could forge their mother's will. The mother left half of everything to her children. And that's not even the best part."

Zade squinted his eyes and muttered, "Well! Out with it."

"He has a mistress that he meets every Thursday at a hotel ten blocks from his business," he bragged and tossed the file on the table.

"No fricking way!" The lieutenant cheered and slapped the table, "Good one, Greg."

"Do you know who she is?"

"No. But when you do, let me know."

---

Five miles from home, Evangeline came across a massive yard sale at Cooper Mitchell's residence, and against her better judgment, she slowed down and joined the crowd.

Half an hour later, the only thing she found was an attitude from the man who tried to get her number.

Evangeline was about to leave when a black book grabbed her attention. She remembered seeing one similar to it in her mother's room back in Haiti. Now here she was twenty years later, and another had found its way in her path. Faith? Only time will tell.

When Evangeline got home, she threw her bag on the chair and lost herself between the pages. It was a dark romance novel.

Halfway through the book, a paper fell at her feet, and she looked down. Without touching it, she could see a phone number and something else. A quote.

"I will take you, I will ruin every perfect inch of you, making certain you crave only ME,” and it had the initials G.Z.

"Holy fuck!" Evangeline muttered and felt her clit pulse.

The vibration from the phone broke her concentration, and she placed the card between two books.

"What?"

Zade remained silent for a second, then muttered, "I didn't think that anyone could calm my soul until I heard the sound of your voice."

Jesus! And he thinks I have a filthy mouth? "What do you want," and smirked.

"I'm picking you up in an hour. Wear a dress," and he hung up.

---

"That meal was delicious. Thank you," Evangeline admitted. "I'm glad that I came."

"So am I. You look lovely in that dress," he said and kissed her shoulder. "Mmm, you smell so good?"

Evangeline felt her stomach flip. Unaware, her grip on his shoulder tightened.

"What's the matter? Are you in pain?"

"Yes, no," she whispered, squeezing his arm tighter.

"Shit," he said, taking her into his arms and racing to his van, which was parked at the far end of the restaurant, away from prying eyes.

He settled her, and she mumbled something when he was about to close the door, "Can you repeat that?"

"I want to feel you, Zade!"

He glanced at the passing couple and whispered, "We can't, Vannie; We're in public."

"Please, I need you," Evangeline murmured.

"Fine, remove your underwear," he told her and unbuckled his pants.

"Who says I'm wearing any?" she teased and opened her legs to reveal her glistening pussy.

Zade raked his fingers through his hair and muttered, "Oh fuck, Vannie. You'd be the death of me. Scoot closer."

"Mmm, you have a beautiful dick, Lieutenant. So thick and veiny," she said with barely a whisper.

"You have a dirty mouth," he replied, tapping his erection on her pussy before slipping three inches inside her.

Evangeline gasped and inhaled, "Don't tease me!"

"Wrap those brown legs around me, goddess."

Feeling compelled, she moved her hands from the seat, wrapped her legs and arms around him, and held on tightly as he pounded into her. "Do you like that?"

Evangeline gripped his neck and said, "Yessss. I love it. Arghhh, oh fuck,"

"Mmmm, that's it, Goddess. Bounced on my fucking dick," he demanded and increased the tempo.

Evangeline leaned in and licked his neck, "I love your groan, Lieutenant. You make my pussy pulse."

"Oh fuck, Evangeline. Don’t do this to me," he begged, never losing momentum.

"Cum for me, I know you want to," she teased. And felt his dick thicken, and he shot his hot cum into her.

"Argh, Arghhh. Oh fuckkkk, mmm, mmm, mmm," he grunted and slammed into her.

"Magic," she replied.

"Jesus, more like voodoo," he replied and shuddered.

"I need more of you, Lieutenant."

"So do I. Let's go," he growled.

---

"Tell me why you're breaking up with me again. Because I'm not seeing your logic," Zade said to her the next day.

"This wasn't a relationship. Now drop it; the Captain is speaking."

"Do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class, Laguerre?" Captain Baptiste asked and everyone kept their eyes on the board.

Evangeline smiled, "I can't, Captain."

"Why not? Am I supposed to know the answer to your puzzles, Laguerre?"

"No, Captain, but everyone knows better than to eavesdrop."

Captain Baptiste's usual stone-cold demeanor got colder. "See me after roll call," and he continued to address the room.

"Shit," Evangeline muttered, slouching in her seat.

Zade chuckled and murmured, "That mouth, Vannie. Let me fill it for you."

Evangeline ignored her lieutenant and kept her eyes forward as the Captain glared at them.

"This morning, Jonathan Mireille was arrested for the murder of his sister Claudette and the attempted murder of her five year old daughter. Stevens, I want you to interrogate him. Find out what he had to gain from their deaths."

"Yes, Captain."

"Laguerre!"

"Captain?" She answered and continued to write in her ledger.

"What's the holdback on Mjatu? How far are we from making an arrest?"

"As far back as your hairline," Evangeline muttered, prompting Zade to snicker. "Nothing so far, Captain."

"Keep at it."

"Yes, Captain."

"Dismissed. And as usual, have a safe shift," he said and glared at her on his way out.

"What an ass! Now, all day, I'll have him on my mind. Shit!"

"Let me give you something to clear your mind," Zade teased. "Meet me in the car park in five minutes."

"Don't you have an interrogation to conduct?" Evangeline muttered.

"Five minutes, goddess, and don’t keep me waiting."

Ten minutes later, Evangeline opened Zade's van and groaned as she watched him pump his erection. "Why do you do this to me?" she asked, holding her stomach as it leaped.

"Pussy, mouth, or ass?"

"All the above," she muttered and got in.

---

"Did you kill your sister, Mr. Mireille?" Zade asked Jonathan forty-five minutes later.

Jonathan looked weary, a shadow of his former self. "As I told the detective who rudely barged into my home this morning, I didn't do it. Why would I? Claudette was a great person and mother."

"Which brings me to my next question: what would you gain from the death of your niece?"

"That wasn’t me! You must believe me, Lieutenant. I awoke to her cries and coughing. I would never hurt her."

"So the smoke alarm conveniently turned itself off, Mr. Mireille? Come on now. Do I look stupid?"

"It wasn't me! The last thing I remembered was going to bed around eleven PM, and I awoke to Beth's cries two hours later. Someone must have broken into my home and started that fire!" He shouted.

"Someone magically broke into your gated community and started a fire? Leaving you comfortable in yours to dream of art. Is that it?"

"Yes! No!"

"Which is it, Mr. Mireille? What were you doing on September 22nd, 1997, at two-thirty PM?"

"I can't remember!" He shouted.

"Well, I can tell you exactly where you were," he said, opening the file. "At sixty-two Premier Boulevard. Isn't that a hotel?"

The color drained from Jonathan's face and settled on his cheeks. "I was with a companion," he admitted, lowering his head.

"Convenient. I thought you didn’t remember. Who is this companion? I'd like to have a word with them."

"I'd rather go to jail than give you a name," Jonathan stated, glancing away. "I'd like to speak to my lawyer."

---

Evangeline shot out of her seat when Zade returned. "Did he confess?"

He dropped into his seat and tossed the file. "No. And he refused to reveal his lover's name. The things lovestruck people do."

"How do you know he met up with someone? He could have rented the room to escape his wife and her kids. Twelve years ago, he was married to Patricia Browne."

"You may be right. But I need proof of who was in that room with him. They say people do crazy things when they are in love. But going to jail rather than reveal a name? Ridiculous!"

"Well, I wouldn't know about that. Love gets you killed. So I stay away from that spirit. Did you get a search warrant for the hotel registry?"

"No. Can you draft an affidavit while I speak with the Captain? I want to get Judge Matissie to sign it before he leaves today. I heard he's getting married on Saturday."

"Good for him. While you're in there, ask him if he still wants to see me."

---

"He still wants to see you, Goddess," Zade teased, twenty-five minutes later.

"Shit!" Just as she was about to say something, Greg approached their desk, "We have another body, guys, and you wouldn't believe who it is."

Evangeline and Zade asked in unison, "Who?"

"Remy Matissie, son of Judge Matissie. I've always wanted to meet that guy. He was a God on French Kiss."

Evangeline's face paled, and her head spun. "W-What?" she muttered and gripped the table.

Zade caught her before she could fall and gasped, "Are you alright, Goddess?"

Evangeline turned her face towards his chest and inhaled deeply before she smiled and replied, "Yes, I missed breakfast. I'll be okay."

"Get her a bottle of that cane juice that she likes, Greg. Hurry!" While Zade helped Evangeline into a chair, Greg ran back with the juice.

"Thank you," and she took a large gulp.

"What's going on, Goddess?"

Evangeline covered the bottle and replied, "Do you really want to know, Lieutenant?"

"Of course," he answered and gripped her hands.

"I missed breakfast. That's all, so let's get out of here before the Captain flies off his broom when the Judge calls him."

And then they heard it, Captain Baptiste shouting at someone on the phone. "Let's go."

---

When they arrived at the crime scene, the whole landscape was bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun, and with it, a crowd had already formed, and they were in tears. A few feet from Greg were Remy's parents.

Shit! Just what we need. More pressure.

"What the fuck is wrong with people? He wasn't even that good of an actor," Zade mumbled to Vannie and ducked under the caution tape.

"Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" Evangeline asked and followed him.

"What have I got to be jealous of, goddess? I'm hot."

"Of course you are. What do we have, Greg?"

"Remy Matissie, thirty-two. Son of Judge Matissie and Olivia Matissie. You know, I saw him at a club once. Whoo, that man looked scrumptious. If I wasn't straight, I would have gladly fucked him."

I did! Evangeline thought and looked away.

"Focus, Greg," Zade muttered.

"Sorry, Lieutenant. Remy's throat was slit and rigor has already set in, so I'm guessing the time of death was approximately three to four hours ago. And from his clothing, he was dressed for bed."

"The perp must have broken in or he was welcomed in," Evangeline said and tried her best to push past Remy's body lying in pine needles.

"Who discovered his body?"

"A kid. A freaking kid, Lieutenant. He's over by the cruiser with his parents."

"Shit," Zade mumbled, and Evangeline swallowed past the lump in her throat.

"Just like the others, all of his organs are missing and his throat is slit," he commented and lifted Remy's shirt. "And his heart was removed. Clean cut too, and no damage was caused to the pericardium. See?" he said and pointed to the area.

"What the fuck! That's something new."

"We need to catch this guy. The citizens are running scared."

"Do me a favor, will you?"

"Sure," Greg answered, pushing up his glasses.

"Lift his shirt."

Her pulse quickened as Greg slowly lifted the shirt, muttering, "What a waste of a good man. What are you looking for?"

My name. He had it tattooed on his ribcage on their sixth date. "Nothing. I wanted to see his abs." Looks like he'd have it lasered off. Thank God!

Greg chuckled and covered the body. "Another thing, Vannie. He had two pictures," and she was given a clear evidence bag.

"Thanks." One was a headless goat, and the other a large knife. A knife similar to what she had dreamt of.

"I'll be over by the family," Zade mumbled.

Evangeline felt dizzy. So she left the scene and walked along the edge of the pine trees and stumbled across something that looked like a phone. She squatted next to the object and gasped. It was Remy's!

"Greg, get over here, now!"

Behind her, a twig snapped, "That was quick. Were you following me?" But it wasn't Greg.

Evangeline's face grimaced, and she grabbed her neck. "Ouch. What the fu..." she muttered and collapsed.

When her eyes reopened, the area was dark. "Ughh," she groaned and reached for her head, but her hand wasn't cooperating. Was she having sleep paralysis again? "Ughh."

Through the trees, Evangeline saw blurry lights and she heard her name being called. She struggled to retrieve her flashlight, but her hands were still numb. "Fuck!"

"I think I saw something. Someone's over there!"

Before she lost consciousness, someone yelled, "Get me the machete. Hurry!"

By the time they got to her, Evangeline was sobbing and shaking.

"I got you, Goddess. I've got you," Zade cooed and took her in his arms. Through the thicket, he carried her to the ambulance and secured her.

"What happened?" Greg asked her.

"Not now, Greg. Can't you see she's hurt?"

"Sorry, Vannie," he replied and touched her arm. All she could do was nod, then turn to her side.

"Get her out of here, Mark. I'm right behind you."

As the ambulance sped off with sirens blaring, he surveyed the area where Evangeline had been and swore that someone was watching him. But when he shone the light on the area, no one was there.

"Let's go, Greg. This place is creeping me out."

---

Three days later, Evangeline was back at work and in Captain Baptiste's office.

"So you thought getting lost would spare you from an earful, Laguerre?"

"It was worth a shot, Captain," she replied and closed her eyes. Someone had tried to kill her. Was it the picture killer? The Captain and everyone else had thought she'd gotten lost, but now wasn't the time to set things straight.

"When will you start taking this job seriously, Evangeline? You know, when your father was your age, he'd already had his gold wings? What is stopping you from being your best? You have so much potential."

When would he stop with the comparisons? I'm nothing like my father. "Are we done here, Captain?"

"No! How are you feeling? And don't think I didn't know about you and Remy."

"No offense, Captain, but you need to mind your business."

"None taken. Did you love him?"

"Again, none of your business."

"Answer the question, Evangeline!"

"Why do you care so much, Roman?"

When he continued to stare, Evangeline sighed and glanced out the window. "He was just a fuck buddy. Nothing more."

"He loved you. Did you know that? He spoke about you all of the time." When she didn't reply, he continued, "Beatrix has been asking about you. She wants you to stop by for dinner on Thursday. Meatball night. Your favorite."

"Then she should answer her phone when it rings."

"Please, Evangeline. She misses her little sister."

Evangeline sat forward on the soft chair and asked, "And what would we discuss, Roman? How her husband has been fucking me for longer than they have been married? Or how I enjoy it more than I should? Or how you can't sleep without your mouth on my nipples, so you sleep in my bed three days a week and leave before dawn. And your wife is none the wiser because she is always with her lover. Who happens to be the main suspect in a murder case and you keep tampering with evidence? Which is it? WHICH IS IT?!"

"I'll tell her you're busy," he quickly replied.

"Good answer. Now, are we finished?"

"I miss you," he muttered when she stood. "You need to stop pushing me away."

"What you need to do is visit a fucking barber!" she shouted and stormed out of his office.

---

"It looked heated in there," Zade said while he ate his pork sandwich.

Evangeline ignored him and opened the file on her desk. "Where are we on the Picture Killer? Anything new came up?"

He wiped his mouth and replied, "Yes. It appears Remy had a skin tag removed three days before he died."

"What does that have to do with his death?"

He swallowed and then replied, "Nothing I can prove just yet. What are you doing Thursday night?"

"I'll be sleeping. What do you want?"

"I have tickets for an art exhibition at Mosaic's. I was told a masterpiece would be on display. Would you like to go with me?"

"I knew you were an art lover, Zade. But tickets for their show! Damn! You always surprise me."

"There are many things you don't know about me, goddess. So, do you want to attend?"

"I can't. I have plans."

"Ditch them. Come on. I'll make it worth your while."

"Ughhh. What time?"

"I'll pick you up at seven."

"I'll meet you there. Just in case I need to leave early."

"Fine."

While she read through Claudette's file, her phone buzzed.

"You're fucking him?! Zade Stevens, of all people?! Find yourself at the house after work."

Evangeline reclined in her chair and threw her head back. Why won't he leave me alone?

Zade knocked on the table and muttered, "Are you alright?"

"What? Yes, I'm fine."

"Great. Let's go; we need to see Greg."

---

When they entered Greg's lab, the strong scent of chemicals assaulted her nose, and she wiggled it. She hated coming in here. "Can you repeat that? But in layman's terms."

Greg sighed and dropped his arms. "All the victims had the same blood type, same birthdate, and they all shared similar tattoos between their middle and index fingers," he said, handing them a picture. Before Evangeline even saw the image, she knew what it looked like. The Eye of Horus.

"What do you think this means?" Zade asked and stared at the picture.

"How am I supposed to know?" Greg replied and scooted his chair next to the computer.

---

"Do you think they were in a cult?" Zade mumbled.

Evangeline hated to admit it, but the Lieutenant's suspicions could be true. That would confirm Remy's late-night disappearances and his secretive phone calls, "It may seem so."

"We need to visit the victims' families first thing tomorrow morning. They won't talk to us at this hour."

"You're right. Our shift ends in half an hour. Would you like to go for a bite?"

"No, there's somewhere I must be. Rain check?"

"Sure."

---

At eleven on the dot, Evangeline entered Roman's dark kitchen without knocking and found him sipping whiskey beside the staircase. When he saw her enter his home, he set the glass on the counter and strolled toward her.

"Don't come near me."

"Why not?" he asked, accelerating his pace.

"I came because I needed closure, Roman."

"If you didn't want to be touched, Evangeline, why are you wearing the robe I bought for you?"

When she remained silent, he closed the gap between them and grasped her throat. "If I opened that garment, little one, would I find you naked underneath?

Evangeline's eyes rolled back, and she groaned.

"Answer me!" he hissed.

"Yes," she admitted and glanced at his towering frame.

Roman smirked and parted the robe. His hands grazed over her hardened nipples as he squeezed one and then the other.

Evangeline moaned and pushed her small breasts against his large hands, "Mmmm."

"Open your legs," he ordered with his whiskey-filled breath. When she complied, he dropped to his knees and inhaled her pussy.

"This is mine? Do you hear me?!" And placed her leg on his shoulder, licking her inner thigh. "Mmm. Lilies. And you still wear the scent I love."

"Oh God, Roman. I hate you. I hate you so much," Evangeline chanted, thrusting her pussy against his lips.

"Sure you do, little one," he muttered and sucked her pussy.

"Fuckkkkkk!" Evangeline shouted and held his head in place. "Suck it harder! Please. Oh fuck, yes, just like that. Fuckkkk, fuck, fuck," she squealed and gripped his shirt. "No one can fuck me like you," she cried.

"I know. Now cum in my mouth, little one. I want it all," he commanded.

Evangeline leaned against the door, placed her other leg on his shoulder, and thrust on his mouth like a dog in heat. Exhausted, he laid her body on him and caressed her hair.

"So you do listen. You look good."

Roman smiled and caressed his bald head. "Thank you."

Evangeline smiled and climbed over him, then sank her wet pussy down his rigid shaft and squeezed her core.

"Oh fuck. Don't do that. You'll make me cum too soon," he begged and grasped her hips. "Your body is so fucking tiny, yet you have so much power over me. Grind that pussy on me. There's this thing in your cunt that tickles my dick. Let me feel it. Ride me! Yes, that's it. Oh shit, I feel it. Ahhh. Oh God. You're my sweet hell," he sighed and repeatedly slammed into her.

---

The following night, Evangeline met Zade at the Art Gallery and he whistled when she stepped out of her car, wearing a long-sleeved black lace dress.

"Damn, Vannie, you look amazing. I don't even want to go inside anymore," he admitted and spun her around.

"Don't even think about it, Lieutenant. This is the second time you've made me wear a dress, and I intend to show it off!"

"Would it be alright if I kissed you?" he asked as his eyes darkened.

Evangeline placed a palm on his chest and whispered, "Where?"

"Mmmm, let's get inside before I bend you over your car."

"Promise?"

"You're playing with fire, Goddess. Come on," and he guided her inside the packed building.

"Wow. These are gorgeous," Evangeline marveled as she was taken from one painting to the next.

"Wait until you see the masterpiece. I heard it's spectacular."

"I bet it is," Evangeline remarked and watched as Jonathan Mireille got up on the podium. The judge had granted him bail a few days ago and the entire department was pissed. As he welcomed everyone to the event, their eyes connected, and he smirked, before raising his glass to her.

"And now, the moment you have all been waiting for," Jonathan announced.

Everyone watched as he walked over to the painting and slowly pulled the sheet off.

The gasp that escaped their mouths came as a well-rehearsed chorus, and their hands covered their mouths, Evangeline included.

"Isn't she a beauty? What you all are viewing is a painting called Anarchy, a picture drawn by an unknown artist from Florence. And it's estimated to be over four hundred years old," Jonathan gushed.

But the crowd remained quiet and Jonathan was confused by their reaction; they all appeared bewildered. "What's the matter?"

"There's nothing there, Mr Mireille," someone said.

"What?" He mumbled and walked to the front of the display and gasped. His painting was missing. And in its place was a white piece of paper.

---

Twenty minutes later, the building was swarming with police. "Who was your conservator-restorer, Mr. Mireille?" Zade asked and glanced at the faces of the guests.

"It was Claudette. After she died, I couldn't find someone who wouldn't cry when I raised my voice at them," he grumbled and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Do you have enemies?"

"Doesn't everyone?" he replied and glared at her.

"Who was the last person to come in contact with the painting?"

"Um, that would be Kai. After he brought it onto the stage this afternoon, I was unable to get a hold of him."

"Are you sure that he brought out the painting?"

"Yes, I checked it after. He and I were the only ones here. Do you think he took it?"

"I don't know, Mr. Mireille. What about the rest of your staff?"

"Are you deaf? Kai was the only person here this afternoon. The rest of the staff came in, an hour before the gallery opened. That painting was worth over four million dollars, Lieutenant? Please find it."

"What about Kai?"

"What about him?"

"Don't you want him to be found safe?"

Jonathan scrunched up his face and replied, "I don't give a fuck about him! Find my painting! It's worth more than what you will ever earn," he shouted and stumped off.

"What an ass!" Zade muttered. "Let's have a look around."

Evangeline watched Jonathan exit the room and said to Zade. "You go on ahead, I want to use the washroom."

"Are you sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be, Lieutenant? Go!"

When he left, Evangeline went in the direction Jonathan had disappeared to and she opened and closed several doors until she found one that took her to a basement. Halfway down, she heard someone arguing and then a thud.

"Shit," she muttered, then ran down the remaining steps and removed her service weapon. With her back against the wall, she counted to three and then peeped from behind a painting.

"Is this what Judge Matissie gave you bail to do, Jonathan? I'm so disappointed in you," Evangeline commented and pointed the gun at him. At his feet lay a bleeding Kai, as he held his throat and struggled to get away from him.

Jonathan glanced at Kai, then at Evangeline, and stepped back. "Detective? What are you doing here? I thought you left. Where is your partner?" he asked and looked over her shoulder.

"That shouldn't concern you. Let me see your hands. Keep them up," then she ran towards Kai while calling for an ambulance.

"You're safe now, Mr. Williams. Move your hands so that I can take a look at your wound." Shit, it was bad. "Can I use your tie to wrap around your throat?"

When he nodded, she wrapped the cloth and stood, "That should suffice. The medics would be here soon."

"On your knees and face the wall, Mr. Mireille," and he went down without a fight.

"He was down here when I arrived, I swear. When I approached him, he lunged at me with that knife. He left me with little choice, Detective, I swear to you. It was self-defense," he confessed.

The closer Evangeline got to Jonathan, the more she realized his erratic breathing, and she chuckled.

"Are you afraid of me, Jonathan?" Evangeline asked and removed the handcuff from the strap around her thighs.

"Should I be?" he muttered, but his body betrayed him.

"I'm not the one with a gun pointed to my head, now am I? So yes, you should be. Stand up."

Before he did, Jonathan glanced at her and then stood.

"Where is the knife?"

He swallowed and then muttered, without looking at her, "It's under that cloth."

Evangeline went to the spot and removed the cloth, then grasped the knife without a second thought. "Open your hands," she ordered and went back to him.

Jonathan's face got white, and his body swayed, "W-What?" he mumbled and made a fist, "No."

"Open your fucking hands, Jonathan! Or do you want to end up like him? Or worse, behind bars? When I tell my Captain that I saw you tackle him, and when I tried to arrest you, you tackled me, who do you think he would believe? You? Or me?"

"Why are you doing this, Detective?" he asked and closed his eyes. But Evangeline remained mum. Defeated, Jonathan did what he was told and took a deep breath. With a clean and precise movement, she sliced his palm.

"Arhh," he screamed and brought his bleeding hands to his chest.

Evangeline glared at him and then wiped the blood on his shirt, "The other hand. Quickly."

"Why are you doing this?!" He cried and doubled over.

"GIVE ME THE OTHER FUCKING HAND, JONATHAN!" She screamed and smiled when he lifted the trembling hand. Evangeline slashed it and then wiped the bloody knife on his pants.

"Arghh, fuckkk."

"That's for giving me an overdose of Propofol. You could have killed me, you fucking idiot! And you left me alone!"

"I'm sorry, Mjatu. I'm so sorry. I got a little carried away," he whimpered and stumbled across the room to grab a cloth to tie around his hands. When it was secured, he took her hand and kissed it. "I'm sorry. I stayed with you until help arrived. I never left your side. How can I make it up to you?"

"I'll let you know in due time," Evangeline muttered and went towards Kai. He was still alive but barely.

"Did you really call for a medic?"

"Of course not, you idiot?"

"What do you want me to do about him?"

"I'm still deciding. Did you have to wound him?"

"Yes! Did you rather him get out and ruin our entire operation? Do you know how many people depend on those harvested organs? This month alone we banked ten million dollars! And don't get me started on your career. Inmates would have a field day when they are graced with your presence."

Evangeline glanced at Jonathan and smirked, "You just reminded me why I've never had the urge to kill you."

"Thank you. Your generosity is appreciated. Kai saw the room at the back, and he was taking pictures when I got there. That asshole threatened to go to the police. I was left with little choice," Jonathan confessed.

"Ughh, fine," Evangeline muttered and knelt beside Kai. "Who else did you tell about what you saw, Kai?"

But he couldn't answer. "Prepare the theater and remove the organs before his body shuts down. Oh, and carefully peel his skin off. I'll give it to Olivia. She's having a party next week, and you know that she's famous for her soups."

"Yes," Jonathan smirked and checked for Kai's pulse.

With the tip of the blade, Evangeline carefully dug out his eyes while Jonathan held him down. "He's strong," Evangeline muttered. "Dump his remains in the incinerator when you're through. Did I ever tell you that I saw my father kill my mother when I was a child, Jonathan? He thought I didn't remember, but I did."

"Yes, you did. Where are you going?" He asked and placed Kai's body in a wheelchair.

"If you must know, I've got to go home and change and then return to work. Somebody stole your expensive painting, remember? I've got to find it," she muttered and caressed the lost art on her way up the stairs. "Burn this. Your insurance would cover it."

Before Evangeline reached the top, she popped Kai's eyeballs in her mouth and moaned. "Mmmm, delicious."