In the Flesh. Rita Herron

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СКАЧАТЬ menial job he feels is beneath him. He craves power and control.”

      Raul studied her earnest expression, knew she believed the hogwash she was saying. “What good does all this do us? It doesn’t tell us who our killer is.”

      Her gaze was steady, unfaltering. “If you understand how the perpetrator thinks, get into his head and understand his motivation, you can use it to weed out suspects.”

      “I am in his head,” Raul shot back. “He’s a sick sadistic monster who takes young women’s lives. Now I need evidence, clues that will show me where to find him or where he’ll strike next.”

      Jenny sighed. “If you learn more or want to share details with me, let me know. The more information I have about the victims and the crimes, the more I can fine-tune the profile.”

      “Right,” Raul said, although he didn’t hide his contempt.

      Black cleared his throat and sent Raul a sharp look, but she actually offered him a smile. A condescending smile that knifed through him as sharply as her comment about family had.

      “You have my number,” she said, then headed up the path to her car.

      Raul tried not to admire her body or the fact that she’d stood her ground when he’d cut her down.

      “You’re a piece of work, you know that, Cortez,” Black growled.

      He shrugged. “I tell it like I see it.”

      “I asked Dr. Madden here on a consult,” he continued, pissed, “and I don’t expect you to undermine my authority by implying that she’s incompetent.”

      “You know how I feel about shrinks,” he said between clenched teeth. “We don’t need her.”

      “Maybe you do need her,” Black said. “You’re letting your past and your emotions cloud your judgment.”

      “That’s bull.”

      “Is it?” Black arched his dark brows. “You’re too wrapped up in your bitterness, and blaming every shrink in the world for your wife’s death, that it blinds you to the fact that Jenny Madden might be of value to our case.” He paused, but barged on before Raul could argue, “You haven’t dealt with your wife’s death yet, Cortez. You need help.”

      “The only thing I need is to be left alone so I can do my job.”

      Black pinched his fingers together, then parted them a fraction of an inch. “You’re this far from being suspended pending a psychiatric evaluation, Cortez. Either straighten up your attitude yourself or you’re off the case.”

      Anger heated Raul’s blood. “You wouldn’t do that.”

      “Try me.” Black narrowed his eyes. “Maybe Jenny Madden is just the person you should see. And on a professional basis. I could make that happen.”

      “Over my dead body.”

      “Then prove you don’t need counseling by working with her.” Black folded his arms. “Show her the respect she deserves. She might teach you a thing or two. She knows the mind of the sexual predator better than anyone around.”

      He bit back a caustic remark, and fisted his hands by his side.

      “After you finish here, and interview the family, then take copies of the files on the other vics to Dr. Madden. Let her study them and see what she says.”

      Raul silently cursed but nodded. He couldn’t disobey a direct order.

      Not when it meant his job.

      Besides, he could handle one little Jenny Madden. He could always pretend he was accepting her help. But he didn’t have to like it. And he sure as hell wouldn’t let her get inside his head or pour out his heart to her.

      After all, that heart had died the day he’d lost his wife and child. And it was dead forever.

      J ENNY ROLLED her shoulders to alleviate the tension knotting the muscles as she climbed into her car and started the engine. It was only midafternoon, and she’d already had a hell of a day. The visits with her mother always drained her, but she normally took a long run afterward to relieve the stress.

      Not today. No, she’d had to endure Raul Cortez, a man with a mountain of an attitude and dark eyes that were sinfully sexy, but haunted by some demons that only he knew. Because he obviously wasn’t a sharing kind of guy.

      But dealing with the detective was nothing compared to the anguish she’d felt at the sight of Judy Benson’s dead body. An innocent girl who’d died before her time.

      Nothing she or Raul Cortez could do would bring her back.

      Tears burned her eyelids, but she waited until she was driving away before she let them fall. She’d cry now, and then she’d focus on work.

      Finding the girl’s killer and giving her justice would ease the pain of the family. She’d dealt with enough victims to know that. So she would help, regardless of how much it hurt her to see the family and friends suffering.

      She’d even tolerate the surly detective for Judy Benson’s sake.

      The wind tossed her ponytail around her face, and she pushed it back. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but the scent of the girl’s corpse lingered on her skin, and her appetite vanished.

      With a sigh, she made the turn to her place, knowing she had to shower before she could stomach food. When her cell phone rang, she checked the number, half expecting it to be the hospital. Sometimes her mother became agitated after she left and she had to return, or the nurses had to give her extra medication. Instead it was Captain Black.

      “Dr. Madden speaking.”

      “Dr. Madden, this is Adam Black.”

      “Yes?”

      “I want to apologize for my detective today. He can come across as being rude, but he’s a good cop. One of the best I have and totally dedicated to the job.”

      “No problem.”

      “Good. Because I—we at the department—value your expertise and I’d hate for his behavior to dissuade you from assisting us.”

      “Trust me, Captain, my skin is thicker than that. Working with him won’t be a problem.”

      His sigh reverberated with relief. “I’m glad to hear that.”

      “So it’s my job, not me personally?”

      A long hesitation. “I really can’t say any more. If Raul wants to tell you, well, he should explain himself.”

      Curiosity nibbled at her, but she refrained from asking more. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the reason for the man’s brusqueness. It was probably best that they agreed to dislike each other and leave it at that.

      “He’s going to drop by later with the victims’ files. Maybe you can pick up something we missed.”

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