Page 14 of The Crime of Intensity

Laughter rips from me and I quip, “Including orgasms, got it.”

Her cheeks flush and before she can swing a remark at my head, I slink away to check the messages on my phone.

“Dean has finally been able to ID the body that was found buried at the edge of Eastlynne’s property,” I muse.

Kathleen grabs the dishtowel and starts to dry off our plates. “He did?”

“The woman went missing years before all the other bodies were dumped and found,” I muse as I thumb through Dean’s info. “It might not be connected with the serial killer.”

I feel her coming up behind me to get a glimpse of the info as I scroll through it.

“Iris Riggs,” Kathleen muses. “Riggs, why does that name sound familiar?”

I scroll back and show her the info as well as voice it, “Iris was the daughter of Lucian Riggs, Arthur Bronson’s ranch hand. He reported his daughter missing six years ago. The forensic anthropologist who examined the bones concluded that she was killed and buried six years ago. So, it’s safe to say Iris was buried there the whole time.”

“Cause of death was stabbing,” Kathleen states. “Stab wounds were deep enough to slice through the ribs. They listed what size and type of knife was used by the killer by measuring the V-nicks on the second and third ribs, along with the distance between the ribs that gives the width of the blade. Combined with the striation on the thoracic vertebrae gives the length of the blade. Stabbings are personal. Wait…it’s the same size and type used in the recent killings, right?”

Kathleen takes her phone and checks her notes. “Yes, look.”

She turns the screen to me and I glance over the coroner report that mentioned the size and type of the knife that caused the wounds of the most recent victim.

“Fuck. Maybe it is connected and she was the first victim,” I grunt.

“It would explain why the killer made a point of dumping a body in front of the ranch. Maybe the killer wanted this body to be found as well. We need to find out exactly what happened to this woman. Come on, let’s go.” Kathleen grabs her keys from the table and shoves her phone back into her pocket.

“Now hang on, where are we going?” I ask and quickly fall in step behind her.

Wrench trots out the door along with us when Kathleen states, “To the Iron Hot Blood ranch. We still need to talk to the first generation and with this information landing in our lap? We shouldn’t wait any longer.”

I’d like nothing more than to make sure Kathleen gets a good night’s sleep, but she’s right. With the information we just obtained it might give us more insight in Iris’s life, and maybe her death along with it.

“I sent my father a text. Most members will be waiting for us in church,” Kathleen says once we’re on our way.

“I could have done that,” I mutter.

She turns her head to glance at me for a breath or two before focusing back on the road. “You can take lead in the discussion once we’re in church. This time it’s not just me who is law enforcement working with the MC. You are now a member and the undersheriff. Which means you belong in there and I don’t ’cause technically I’m not a member.”

I shouldn’t say this when she’s driving, but I can’t keep my mouth shut. “You’re the daughter of a member, and as of today, you’re my old lady. You definitely belong in there.”

Her knuckles turn white from holding the steering wheel in a death grip. “It’s a good thing you just–”

“Made dinner, gave you a massage, and am excellent in giving orgasms? Yeah, your old man has more qualities, and you’ll get acquainted with them very soon.”

A muscle jumps in her jaw as if she’s grinding her teeth. “I’ve recently told Cosima and Eastlynne that there’s no way I’ll accept a man to take charge of my life.”

Her words put me on edge and now I’m the one grinding my teeth.

Kathleen brings the patrol car to a stop in front of the Iron Hot Blood ranch and turns to face me. “You take charge, but every action is done with my safety and wellbeing in mind. You’re very, very annoying and make it damn hard not to fall for you.”

“I’ve been feeling uneasy since the first time I laid eyes on you,” I confess. “I had no clue why until it hit me full force while I was away from you. It was easy to entrust and swear my heart to you and the moment I did I felt calm within the havoc surrounding me. You belong to me, boss lady. Which is why I don’t want to take control of your life. It’s a partner I crave who will stand strong beside me. One who shares the same law enforcement passion, who doesn’t back down, and can handle anything in life including my asshole self.”

“You’re definitely an asshole,” Kathleen murmurs as she turns to face me.

The corner of my mouth twitches. “Thanks for noticing.”

I gently reach out to let her get out of the car if she wants to. She stays rooted as I place my hand against the back of her neck to pull her close. My mouth covers hers in a soft and sensual kiss. I intended to keep it light and fast, but her taste is like adding fuel to a fire. My tongue dances with hers and when she groans into my mouth I’m ready to pull her close and make her straddle me.

Instead, our kiss is rudely interrupted when someone knocks on the passenger side window. We turn our heads to see Decker glaring at us. Fuck.

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