Shelter During the Storm

By Stephanie Jean Smith

Jenna Tierney faces several changes in her life after the murder of her sister Laura. She is disgusted with herself for being attracted to the detective investigating her sister’s murder. In the end, she will have to trust him in order to save her life.

Detective Michael Johnson is more than a little attracted to Jenna Tierney. At first he fights his feelings for Jenna and tries to focus on Laura Tierney’s murder case. It doesn’t help that his partner Mack is constantly ribbing him about his obvious attraction for Jenna.

Michael breaks rules to be with Jenna, first and foremost getting involved with the victim’s sister. His partner Mack comes across an old case file involving Jenna and her sister Laura. The case was dismissed, but Michael thinks something happened that may be related to Laura’s murder case. Someone has a lot to hide, and Jenna may be the next victim.

(For adult audiences, sexually explicit)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie Jean Smith
• Release date: Feb 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458004178

Stephanie Jean Smith

Stephanie Jean Smith is the youngest of ten children and was raised to believe that she could be anything she wanted if she was willing to work hard. Stephanie found it easy to get lost in the shuffle, her siblings were quite older than her so she often played by herself, she even created her own soap operas using cut outs from newspaper and magazine advertisements for her own entertainment. An avid reader even as a child she can finish 4-5 books a week and enjoys writing stories about everyday life. She has written several plays for her church, children's books, short stories, and romances. Stephanie believes that the next best thing to reading a story is writing one.

Book preview

Shelter During The Storm

By

Published by Stephanie Jean Smith at Smashwords

Hootyhoo Media Publications

Copyright May 2010, All Rights Reserved

This book is for mature audiences only it contains explicit sex and violence. This book is a work of fiction, the characters were created by the author and do not resemble anyone either living or deceased.

Prologue

Laura stepped out of the shower and thoroughly dried herself off. Usually she preferred a long hot bath after one of her sexual rendezvous. The Hughes brothers were good. It was the best threesome she had ever had, but they wanted more than she could give them, her love. She walked back into her bedroom and stripped the sheets from her bed. The bedding smelled of sex, and that is the last thing she wanted to detect when she went to bed tonight.

Laura didn’t usually take her fuck buddies home she liked her sex hard, fast, and uncomplicated. She met them either at their place or at a hotel. No matter how much prodding she got, she never stayed the night. Donny and Larry made her feel loved and on some extent that scared her. The only people who cared about her are her sister Jenna and her best friend Connie.

She pulled out clean sheets and began fixing her bed when she heard a noise in the hallway. Laura was sure she locked the door after Donny and Larry left. She double checked the locks before she took her shower. She turned on the hallway light peeking around the corner, but nothing seemed amiss in the hallway. Laura checked the living and dining rooms before returning to her bedroom. Before she made it, someone grabbed her from behind. Laura fought for all she was worth. Whoever grabbed her was just too strong. She tried to reach for his face, but all she felt was a mask. She was rapidly losing consciousness this can’t be happening; she had so much to live for.

The man in the mask watched Laura's body dispassionately. It was time to make good on his promise. He wished things could be different, he had his orders, and he had to follow through. He loved her and wanted to give her everything, but she didn’t want what he had to give. If only Laura had come to him first, he could have protected her. Mother said she was a whore.

***

When Laura gained consciousness her mouth was taped, she was naked and handcuffed to her bed. She saw someone out of her peripheral vision. As her rapist approached the bed, she noticed he had taken off the mask. She couldn’t see his face clearly for the tears in her eyes, but she recognized him. She had not seen him since that terrible night so long ago. Her eyes were pleading with her captor let her go; he pulled the tape off her mouth.

I’m glad you’re awake. You were a pretty girl, and you've turned into a beautiful woman. I’ve waited years for you, but you never saw me. This is the only time we’ll have together, and I’m going to make it a night I’ll never forget. He had some of her sex toys spread out over her bed.

Her mouth was dry and her throat hurt from screaming. Why? What did I ever do to you?

He looked down at her body; he was remembering that night so long ago; the night when she should have been his. You’ve been a naughty girl, and it’s time for you to pay the piper. I want you to know that I'm your one and only true love. I waited years for you, even killed for you. I could have protected you, now it’s too late. I made a commitment to make things right. I love you Laura, and I’m sorry it had to end this way.

Laura knew she was going to die. She thought about Jenna and Connie, she even thought about her mother and father. Thinking how she would never see them again.

***

Chapter 1

Detective Michael Johnson was tired. As soon as he cleared one case, two more eagerly took its place. Ten years of working homicide have sullied his views of the human race, but he’d never seen anything quite like this. The victim, Laura Tierney was tortured a long time before she met her untimely death. The initial crime scene would lead one to believe that this was a sex crime. It was clear that Laura was sexually assaulted, but there was so much more going on. From the savage marks on her nipples and vagina, he guessed it was a crime of passion than sex games gone wrong. He won’t know for sure what actually killed her until he received the autopsy report. The crime lab had come and gone, and the coroner was bagging up the body.

Who found the body? Michael questioned his partner Mack.

Michael’s partner came back into the bedroom with his findings. The apartment manager found the body, according to first responding officer. Evidently Laura Tierney left the water on in the bathroom, water was coming through to the apartment below.

So, did she leave the water on or was it the killer?

Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe the killer grabbed her before she could turn the water off or maybe the killer left it on so the body would be found sooner. What we found in the bedroom leads me to believe the latter.

What else did you find?

Several used condoms. A set of sheets on the floor. Miss Tierney was changing the sheets when she was attacked. You won’t believe what I found in the closet.

Michael followed Mack to the closet, inside sat a large chest. It looked like the old cedar chest his grandparents used to own. Mack lifted the lid and let out a curse word that turned Michael’s ears blue. Inside the chest was every sex toy every created: paddles, whips, dildoes, anal beads, etc. Michael considered himself a worldly man, but there was some shit in that chest that he’d never seen before.

Also, I found another address book, it seems more like a little black book, and some of the men had stars by their name.

Michael rubbed his chin, I'm thinking it's a clientele list?

If not, she was one busy lady. According to Laura Tierney’s other address book her parents have two addresses they have a place here in Omaha and another one in Orlando, Florida. I’m guessing that Jenna Tierney is her sister she lives in Bellevue. I have her contact information as well let me know when you’re ready to go.

Michael needed a drink. The last thing he wanted to do is notify and question Laura Tierney’s family tonight. Hell this morning he thought after a brief glance at his watch, and it was already 2:00 am.

***

Jenna unlocked the door to her house, shut and locked the door behind her. She kicked off her shoes and threw her purse on the dining room table. She was tired. The near disaster in the technology building kept her busy all night. Jenna loved her job as a disaster recovery planner, but sometimes it encompassed her whole life.

She made her way into the kitchen and rummaged around in the fridge. She needed to go grocery shopping soon, one of her least favorite things to do. She poured herself a tall glass of orange juice and made her way back to the living room grabbing her mail along the way. She sat down in her favorite chair, put her feet up on the ottoman and perused the mail. As soon as she got comfortable, the doorbell rang.

It wasn’t even eight o’clock. People should know better than to visit this early in the morning. She was in no mood for visitors, so Jenna took her time getting to the door. She looked out the peephole and saw two men in suits standing on her front porch. Shit this can’t be good.

She opened the door and addressed the two men. What can I do for you gentlemen?

She studied the two men while waiting for them to respond. The taller of the two probably topped out at 6’1; he’s broad shoulders and muscular body gave her the impression that he worked out regularly. There’s just enough dark hair on his head to run her fingers through. His greenish gray eyes shined with intelligence; his square jaw line and full lips teased her equilibrium. He might have been considered pretty except for his nose, it obviously had been broken, maybe more than once. The other man wasn't much taller than her maybe 5’7, sandy brown hair, soft brown eyes, and a slightly bulging belly. This led her to believe that he spent a lot of time behind his desk.

Are you Jenna Tierney?

Yes, how can I help you?

Both men flashed their badges, and then the taller man began speaking. Miss Tierney, my name is Detective Johnson, and this is my partner Detective Lowe. May we come in? We have some unpleasant news, and we need to talk to you?

Jenna opened the door and ushered the detectives into her home. Fuck! Detectives, what had her parents gotten themselves into now? Jenna followed the detectives into the living room, Can I get you anything to drink?

We’re good Miss Tierney. Could you have a seat? I have some upsetting news for you. Detective Johnson motioned Jenna to sit down.

Jenna wasn’t in the mood to sit down. In addition, she didn’t like taking orders from authoritative men. They obviously had some terrible news, and she could take it standing up. Just tell me what’s going on. Jenna could tell by the look on Detective Johnson’s face that he was used to having his orders followed.

Is Laura Tierney your sister?

Jenna felt emptiness in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes began to water, for she knew something terrible had happened to Laura. Her throat seemed to close up. What happened to Laura?

Ma’am I’m sorry to report that your sister is dead. Miss Tierney’s body was discovered in her apartment late last night.

Before Michael could catch her, Jenna’s knees hit the floor. Damn it! They never listened, he told her to sit down. Why did she have to be such a hard ass? She couldn't stop crying, she looked up at him for confirmation that what he said was true. He picked her up and sat down on the sofa with Jenna in his lap. This was a singularly terrible idea. His cock went into overdrive at a most inappropriate time. "Mack, please get Miss Tierney a glass of water.

Jenna clung to Detective Johnson as she broke down. The person she loved the most in the world was gone. She looked up as Detective Lowe brought her some water. As she shifted herself off of Detective Johnson’s lap, she felt his hard on. Her sister was murdered, and this fucker was aroused. Her momentary anger was usurped by grief. "I’m sorry detective; I didn’t expect to fall apart. I just can’t believe Laura is