Shifting Sands (The Hourglass Killer Trilogy, Book 2)

By LR Potter

The Angry One had wanted her from the very first time he had laid eyes on her; with her fiery-red hair and laser-green eyes. And she had wanted him as well. But as is typical of women, she tried to play coy with him and had told him no with her pouty lips. He smiled to himself, but he knew the game. He knew what she was really saying; she wanted to be pursued. She wanted him to earn his prize. So he had boldly taken up the challenge and like a quarterback jockeying for position, he had weaved first this way, then that. But it seemed no matter what he had done, she had somehow escaped his grasp.

Colorado Springs detective Tess Champion thought her life would return to normal once she moved back home and away from the nightmare she endured in Aurora. Then suddenly a woman from her past is found dead, accompanied by an hourglasses and poem. Who is this killer? A copycat? The original Hourglass Killer is dead....right? In the midst of trying to find a killer, new and past love present themselves and Tess is forced to decide a course for her life. Will the killer be found before he has a chance to end her new life or the lives of those she loves?

• Language: English
• Publisher: LR Potter
• Release date: Jun 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476468303

LR Potter

LR Potter, a central Florida native, currently resides close to the sandy beaches of Perdido Key in the northern part of Florida. Potter loves losing herself in the magic of a good book while listening to the sounds of the surf and hopes whoever reads her books finds the same escape. Being a lover of all literature, she writes over several genres. Check out my newest releases, Flawed Beauty and The Rush Series: Rush of Innocence (Book 1); Rush of Redemption (Book 2); Master of the Game (Rush series #3); Mastering the Devil Rush series #4) contemporary romances. Upcoming Works: Blood Havoc Sideswiped Cash on Fire Feel free to email me @ [e-mail] ~ I love to hear from my fans!

Book preview

Prologue

It was noisier than usual in the bar. The pounding music was giving her a headache. She signaled Jim to give her another round. With raised eyebrows, he gave her a questioning look but complied with her wishes. As the amber liquid burned a trail from her throat to her stomach, Tess glanced around the bar and saw the regulars. There was Dolores, who was seventy if she was a day, and still dyed her hair a platinum blonde - still looking for Mr. Right, but usually ending up with many Mr. Wrongs. Cashus, who’d gone to Vegas in his youth to be an Elvis impersonator but finally retired when people began questioning, Who’s Elvis? There were retired policemen, a scandalized ex-bank president, bored housewives, recent divorcees – and some not so recent widows and widowers – the list went on and on. Tess knew these things about these people and many more in the bar, not because she engaged them in conversation, but from just the repetitive retelling of their stories to others. Having been back in Colorado Springs for little more than a month, she smiled to herself as she realized that she was a regular now as well. Who would have thought this would be how she would spend every night? But it sure beat the hell out of prattling around her little house all alone. Besides, all she wanted was to forget, and alcohol was a great conduit for that.

Pushing her curly red hair off her face, she thought, God, how had her life gotten to this point? What had she done to deserve this life? She remembered being happy and…normal. But that was such a long, long time ago. Now her days were filled with going through the motions and hiding the fact that she was hanging on by a thread. The little glass box she’d used to contain her pain had long since been shattered. Now every hurt lay like an open lesion in her chest: Dane, her father, her attack…Thom. God, sweet Thom, sweet demented Thom – the man she’d fallen in love with. The man who’d turned out to be a monster. The lesion in her chest widened and hoping to dull its pain, she signaled Jim to give her another. She couldn’t remember how many rounds this made, and that fact alone made her happy.

As the hour grew late, the younger crowd filtered into the bar. Before long, man after man approached her to dance. And man after man, she declined. For them, it was almost a challenge to see who would eventually win the prize. But she wasn’t interested in any of them. As the night progressed and the alcohol flowed, the interest in obtaining the prize mounted.

An obnoxious blonde frat boy, looking to prove his manhood to his buddies, started to become a nuisance. He didn’t know how to take no for an answer. Tess tried to ignore him, but he was obstinate. Finally tired of the game, she paid her tab, stumbled off her barstool, and started to leave. The young frat decided this was his opportunity to pounce. His biggest mistake was assuming he could strong-arm her. He grabbed her and forcibly maneuvered her onto the dance floor. He enclosed her tightly in his arms and began trying to force her lips open with his own while pretending to slow dance. Even as drunk as she was, she waited for her moment, and then easily flipped him onto his back.

As frat boy landed on the floor, he crashed into first one guy and then another. This action caused a hailstorm of violence. Before long, total chaos broke out. Punches, as well as people, were being thrown and pummeled. Tess backed away from the action only to have her arms grabbed from behind as frat boy began walking her backwards away from the dance floor. In his inexperience, he wasn’t paying attention to her; his only goal was walking backwards without stumbling into something. Without warning, Tess spun around and placed a roundhouse kick into the side of his head. He slid to the floor without uttering a sound.

Tess casually went back to the bar and signaled Jim for another round. Her nice, warm buzz was in the grips of fading. He shook his head at her actions, but poured her another drink. She sat at the bar, ignoring everything going on around and behind her, sipping her drink. Eventually she felt someone slide onto the barstool next to her. She blew out an exasperated breath. Annoyed, she jerked her head in the direction of the newest intruder, striving to cut him with her cold laser gaze. To her surprise, it was Dane Carver, Chief of Police, her new boss, and old flame from a thousand years ago – or at least it seemed that long ago. Dane, one of the lesions in her chest.

Gently, he removed the drink from her hand. What’s going on, Tess?

Giving him a confused look, What do you mean?

Astounded, Dane glanced at the chaos in the bar and the cops who were attempting to break up the consuming fights. I think it’s time we got you home, what do you say? Can I offer you a ride?

Casting an annoyed glance towards the bartender who had obviously called Dane, Tess said, No, thanks, I’m fine. She plucked her drink from Dane’s fingers before turning away from him and continued to sip it.

Dane sat next to her awkwardly, not sure how to handle the situation. Since her return, he’d treated her with kid gloves. She’d been through a lot and he definitely wasn’t her favorite person, even under the best of circumstances.

Standing up, he leaned towards her and spoke lowly in her ear so only she could hear him. Tess, I’m sorry, but it’s time for you to go home. Please don’t make this any harder than it has to be. Let me drive you home, okay?

Hearing the firmness in his voice, Tess sat still for a minute, considered her options, and finally flashing a smile at him, she said, I think that’d be great. I wasn’t looking forward to the walk anyway. It’s cold out there. She said it as if he would somehow be unaware of the cold.

They drove in silence. It wasn’t far to her house from the bar. Once there, Dane walked around to her side of the car and opened the door for her. She gave him a small smile and stumbled out of the car. He walked with her up the cracked sidewalk to her house and was surprised to find the front door was unlocked. Immediately on alert, he stepped around her, stayed her at the door with an uplifted hand, and crept into the house with his other hand on his service weapon. He went through the house, turning on lights as he went. He checked every room to ensure everything was as it should be.

While Dane was doing his search, Tess was unconcerned and nonchalantly leaned against the front door for support. Who would have thought that Dane Carver would end up being the only person who cared whether she lived or died? That thought made her simmer. How dare everyone turn their backs on her! Wasn’t she allowed even one mistake in life? She wasn’t the leper or piranha they made her out to be.

Casually, Tess crossed her arms, watching him as he returned to where she was standing.

Did you lock the door before you left?

Heaving a sigh, she said, Nope. I don’t lock the doors anymore. It doesn’t matter, if someone wants in, they can get in, whether you lock it or not. So I just save them the trouble and leave it unlocked.

Dane’s lips drew into a thin line. He was going to have to talk to her tomorrow about the safety of securing her residence. He looked at her in the improved lighting of the house. In the bar, it’d been too dark to see clearly. What he saw filled him with dismay. Her clothes were disheveled from her ‘disengagement’ from the young gentleman and her fiery red hair was flying in every direction. She looked tired and too thin. She was leaning with her back to the front door, eyeing him peculiarly.

He walked to her and almost lifted a hand to tuck her hair behind her ears as he had done a thousand times before in their youth. But instead, he tucked his hands into the pockets of his pants. How are you, Tess? Are you holding up okay?

She looked down and scuffed her shoe against the floor. Yep, I’m fine, why?

Keeping his expression completely bland, he smirked and answered, I don’t know, it’s not every day I get called to pick up a Detective from my department for initiating a bar fight.

As fury, self-pity, and self-loathing flooded her body, Tess could feel the bile rise up into her throat. Slamming a hand over her mouth, she made her way quickly to the bathroom.

Dane spun around to watch her disappear into another room. He followed her almost to the bathroom before he heard the familiar sounds of vomiting. He stood undecidedly. He wasn’t sure how best to help her. Gingerly, he made his way to the bathroom. She was kneeling in front of the commode with her face lying on the seat’s side. She groaned when she saw him.

Please go away, she moaned, closing her eyes.

He bent down and gently brushed the hair out of her face. He looked around the bathroom until he found a washcloth and he wet it. He helped her to her feet and handed her the cloth.

Turning he said, Clean up and I’ll go put on some coffee, okay?

Leaning against the sink, facing away from him, she merely nodded.

As they sat together on the couch each holding a cup of coffee, Tess watched him covertly from under her lashes. She was embarrassed, feeling vulnerable, and really needed him to leave while she was still holding it together.

Dane sat beside her, fiddling with his coffee cup. There were so many things he wanted to know and many things he wanted to say to her. She was just so…fragile. Because of past sins, he felt he owed it to her to help her. Setting his coffee cup down, he turned to her and gently removed her now empty cup from her cold hands. Swallowing nervously, he took her hands and tried to rub some warmth into them.

Feeling better?

Eyeing him cautiously, she nodded.

Shifting a little uncomfortably, he said, Can I ask you something?

At her acquiesce, he asked gently, What happened in Aurora?

Caught unaware, she didn’t have time to stop the onslaught of anguish his question brought. She swallowed convulsively trying to stay the coming tears. She withdrew her hands from his and stood, striving to put distance between them. I can’t…I don’t…I think you should go.

He stood as well, and with her back facing him, he placed his hands gently on her shoulders. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m only trying to understand. I’m worried about you.

For the briefest of seconds, she leaned her cheek into the warmth of his hand. Clearing her throat she gave him her patent answer, I’m fine.

Swearing, he spun her around to face him. Dammit, Tess. You’re in the bar every night and you’re obviously wasting away to nothing. How can you say you’re fine?

She jerked at his tone and struggled to maintain her composure - but lost the battle as her fragile hold broke. He was right, her life had gone from falling apart to being utterly and completely shattered. Her rail-thin shoulders began to shake. She dropped her head down as tears fell. He gathered her to his chest. I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.

She struggled against his hold, embarrassed at showing him this weakness. But he wrapped his arms tighter around her, keeping her tucked close to his body as he murmured soothing words of comfort. Gulping in deep breaths, and with sheer force, she slowly pulled herself together – her tears and shudders ceasing. With her cheek lying against his chest and his chin resting on top of her head, she found she liked the feel of his arms around her. She felt safe and comforted. She breathed him in deeply. He wore the same aftershave he’d worn in college. It brought back memories of tender moments…intimate moments. Flashes of nakedness, whispered words of love, and the heat of their bodies intertwined flitted through her mind. Slowly she lifted her eyes to his, looking for something to stop the insanity which raged inside her, and she leaned towards him as if an invisible cord pulled her. Not wanting to see the rejection she feared, she closed her eyes and placed her lips gently on his. Her breath caught at the first contact of her lips against his firm yet soft lips. She began to slide her hands slowly up his well-formed muscular chest, intending to wrap them around his neck. She felt him stiffen then gently place his hands on each shoulder and push her away from him. Tess, hold on a minute...

She shrugged out of his hands and again leaned into him. This time she did wrap her arms around his neck to prevent him from removing her. More aggressive now, she slid her tongue over his bottom lip until he gave her reluctant access. At first he just endured her advances, but there was a lot of history between the two. Eventually, as thoughts of the past flooded his mind, he began to not only return the kiss, but become the aggressor as he plunged his tongue into the depths of her mouth – ravishing it. Groaning, he ran his hands up and down the sides of her body. God, she felt good. He closed his eyes and felt the regrets of the past wash away. He could see her as she had been, with sparkling green eyes which had always looked at him so adoringly.

But eventually, the image of her lying in the hospital bed filled his mind. It’d been no more than two months before that Carter had called him from Aurora to come and help him with her. Shame flooded him and he once again put his hands against her shoulders and slowly disengaged taking a step back. In desperation now, she attempted to once again grab him and bring him back to continue what they’d started.

For Tess, once she placed her lips on Dane’s, she felt like…like she was home. She’d struggled with intimacy since her attack nearly a year before. But with Dane, it felt…right…normal. It felt safe and familiar. She was thrilled when Dane hadn’t rejected her, but actually seemed to want her as well. He’d drawn her in and her body had responded to his without fear or reservation. But then he began pushing away from her. At first she didn’t understand that he was actually trying to stop what could only be described as…magic.

He grabbed her hands within his own, his breathing rapid, and leaned his forehead against hers.

No, Tess, I can’t do this.

Slowly, comprehension dawned as her senses cleared. She pulled her hands from between his and let them fall. She tried to suppress a sob as tears began to pool in her eyes again. Disconcerted, and with a painful twist in his heart, he gathered her into his arms. Ah, Tess, don’t cry. I’m sorry. But I think you will thank me tomorrow.

As her tears flowed, she stepped back from him as the helplessness of her pitiful existence hit her once again and she sank to her knees on the living room floor. Maybe it would have been better for everyone if she’d actually done what everyone assumed and ended it months before. She was alone now, anyway, so what would it have mattered? Dane kneeled in front of her and again wrapped his arms around her, rocking her and murmuring, Its okay, everything will be okay.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and buried her face into his neck as she cried. Almost incoherently she sobbed, What’s wrong with me? I don’t understand what I did wrong.

Continuing to rock her, he whispered, There’s nothing wrong with you, honey. You are absolutely perfect.

She pulled back with the tears still sliding down her cheeks. She looked