All The Way: Logan's Way Detective Series, #3

By T. E. Killian

Logan and Sam are back for a third time and this time is going to be very different and dangerous for both of them.

Someone is kidnapping and murdering women in Lakeland – appears to be a serial killer. The women are all tall and have long black hair, just like Sam. They find out a man Sam put in prison fifteen years ago is out of prison and he had vowed to kill her when he got out.

Sam, Logan, FBI agents and the local police agencies work together to get this killer but each time they think they'll get him, he disappears.

Both Sam and Logan have to take their families to a safe house – even there the killer finds them.

As Sam and Logan work closely together, they have to address the growing feelings that are developing between them. But with Logan's loss of his wife seven years ago and Sam's divorce eleven years ago, can they overcome their losses to build a new relationship? Will they be able to work together?

How many women will be killed before the killer is found? Will he get Sam or her daughters before he is caught? Will Logan's way be enough to solve this case and build a relationship? Will Logan finally go all the way?

• Language: English
• Publisher: CCM
• Release date: Jul 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223235385

Book preview

Chapter One

Logan McKenzie wanted to hit someone. And that someone was Sergeant Mark Talbot. The guy was a chip off the old block. His dad had been Logan’s sergeant and then captain in the detective bureau for fifteen years before he retired back in January.

That old guy had been a good detective, but he’d been the worst supervisor Logan ever had.

He shook his head as he steered his unmarked SUV around a corner. That was another problem he had with the department. He missed his old Crown Vic. To be fair, he couldn’t blame that part on the department. Ford had quit making them. If they’d thought to ask him, he’d have told them it had been the best police vehicle ever made. Why did they stop making it?

Back to Mark Talbot. The guy had made it his mission to give Logan trouble whenever and wherever he could. It had started the day Captain Talbot retired. The kid must have waited, thinking if he gave Logan too much trouble before then, the brass might go after his dad.

Well, for the last nine months, the kid had made up for lost time. That was for sure.

Logan wasn’t far from the station when the radio came to life with a report of an armed robbery in progress at a jewelry store downtown.

Logan grabbed the radio mic and told dispatch he was responding to the call. He flipped his lights on, made a U-turn, and raced back toward the jewelry store on the opposite end of downtown from the station.

Logan knew Talbot was the patrol sergeant on duty that day. But it still disappointed him when he saw the guy getting out of his vehicle when Logan pulled up in front of the store.

As he got out of his car and headed toward the door, Logan gritted his teeth and braced himself for the confrontation he knew was coming.

Talbot was waiting for Logan just inside the door.

What are you doing here, McKenzie? We can handle a routine robbery without the high and mighty captain of the detective bureau getting in our way.

He fought the urge to smack the kid. He smiled back at him, or at least he tried to.

I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d get familiar with the case, since it’ll come to us later, anyway.

Don’t you have enough actual crimes to solve without getting in my way?

Logan ignored Talbot and followed him up to the counter where a uniformed officer was taking the owner’s statement.

Fifteen minutes later, Logan was back in his car, headed toward the station. He had a hunch there might be more robberies like this one in the next few weeks. He’d seen the pattern too many times over the years.

Jewelry stores, liquor stores and convenience stores were easy targets. Jewelry stores because of the easy to fence merchandise and the other two because they took in more cash than other stores.

Logan soon parked his car in the gated compound behind the station. It was Friday, and he was looking forward to spending Saturday with his daughter Melissa. He’d have to share her with her new friends, Angie, and Tina Farley.

He laughed to himself. That wasn’t such a bad thing since Sam Farley would be there too.

Sam!

He’d never met anyone like her. She was a great detective, and they worked well together. But! She was much more to him than a partner or even one of his sergeants.

How had that happened?

His cell phone vibrating, interrupted Logan’s thoughts. He looked down at it and saw Commander Wiley’s name on the screen.

When he answered it, Wiley was his usual blunt self. My office. Now!

Logan had halfway expected this. He’d tried to talk himself out of telling dispatch he was there. But the brass would have yelled at him for that too.

Instead of going up the stairs to the detective bureau the way he wanted to do, Logan turned down the long central hallway toward the front office, where the chief and the three commanders had their offices.

He snorted. He would stay away from the chief’s office if he could.

Commander Wiley’s door was open when Logan stepped up to it, so he knocked on the door facing.

Come on in, Logan, and close the door behind you.

Logan breathed a silent sigh of relief. If the commander had planned to yell at him for real, he would have left the door open, so the chief would know he’d done so.

Have a seat.

Commander Bill Wiley had been the detective captain before he’d made commander five years ago. So, Logan knew him well. In fact, Wiley had been Logan’s sergeant when he’d first made detective fifteen years ago.

Since then, there had been many occasions where Wiley had served as a buffer between him and the chief. Logan was thankful for that.

He knew Wiley so well he could describe the guy with his eyes closed. He was an inch taller than Logan’s five ten, but was five years older and twenty pounds lighter. His short brown hair was turning gray around the edges. But his most distinctive feature was his pale complexion like he should have been a redhead, but didn’t quite make it.

Logan slipped into a chair facing the desk and waited. He didn’t have long to wait.

Logan, what am I going to do about this battle that goes on every time you’re around Mark Talbot?

Logan gauged Wiley’s mood and decided it wasn’t too bad. Now, Bill, you know he’s the one who always starts it.

That may be true, but you never back down and you never try to smooth things over with him.

He knew Bill had him there. Sometimes, he enjoyed seeing how mad he could get Talbot. But he knew better than to admit that little fact to his commander.

He wouldn’t let me if I tried.

Have you tried?

Logan grinned and looked to his left to gaze out a large window. He couldn’t see anything out there, so he looked back at the commander.

Rather than answer, he shook his head. But when Wiley kept glaring at him, he figured he’d better say something.

Did the jerk make another verbal complaint about me?

Wiley shook his head. No, he didn’t.

He held up a paper. This time, he filed a written complaint saying you interfered with his investigation of that bar fight down in Little Mexico.

Little Mexico was what most people called the Hispanic area that stretched across the south from Phoenix all the way west to Lakeland.

Logan waited to see what he might say next.

Wiley tossed the complaint in his out basket.

I know this report and everything Talbot does is nothing but his attempts to get back at you for what he thinks you did to his dad over the years.

Logan waited for the rest.

But, the chief wants this nonsense between you and Talbot to stop.

He took a deep breath and let it out. We want you to take the initiative and settle this dispute for good.

But Bill, it’ll be a lot of work to get that kid to back off.

Wiley held up both hands.

You’re the senior officer here. It needs to be you doing the work, as you call it.

Before Logan could come up with anything else, Wiley waved his hand at the door.

Go!

* * *

Sam Farley looked around her kitchen. Her kitchen! Her house! She still couldn’t believe she lived in a house now. Her own house, too. For the last five years she’d been with the DEA, she’d lived in dinky, temporary apartments all over the southwest and Mexico. This was great!

She thought back over the last year. This time last year, she’d been in San Diego doing undercover work to help flush out a narcotics ring working on both sides of the border.

Now, she had retired from the DEA and was a detective sergeant with the Lakeland, Arizona Police Department. Wow! Things sure had changed for her.

That wasn’t all either. Her two daughters were living with her now. Angie had finished college and was teaching in a high school right there in Lakeland, and Tina was a junior at ASU. It was great to have them with her again after so long apart.

Sam realized that one of the biggest changes in her life was her new boss, Captain Logan McKenzie. Her last DEA assignment last year had been to help him with a drug ring operating in Lakeland.

She laughed aloud when she thought of the day they met. Logan had been one of those cops who thought women had no place in law enforcement and he didn’t like having partners, either. So, their bosses threw them together as partners. Bad! Really bad! At least it was at first, but things changed.

Good morning Mom.

Sam looked up at the sound of Angie’s voice and saw Tina right behind her. Something was up. She could tell by the sheepish look on Tina’s face.

Her daughters both looked like their mother with their tall frames and long black hair.

Even though they were two years apart, they looked enough like twins that people confused them all the time. But there were definite personality differences. Angie was calmer and less predictable than her younger sister.

Sam could usually tell what Tina was thinking, but not Angie.

They each poured themselves a cup of coffee and joined Sam at the table.

She knew Angie had something she wanted to tell her, but Sam looked at Tina for a sign. Her expressive daughter couldn’t sit still. She was fidgeting in her chair and playing with her ponytail.

Angie sat there, staring into her coffee cup.

Sam decided that if she didn’t say something, no one else would.

What do you girls have planned for the weekend?

That broke the dam. Angie looked up then.

Michael and I are engaged, Mom!

She kept going, as if after starting, she had to get it all out at once.

We’re not planning to get married right away. Maybe in a couple of years. We’re even going to wait to get a ring.

Sam didn’t know what to say. She tried to keep the shock from showing on her face. Angie had only been going with Michael for a few months. He was another teacher at the high school where Angie taught.

Sam struggled with something to say. Well, I guess congratulations are in order. When did this happen?

Last night.

Tina looked from her mom to her sister and back.

I’m hungry. Do you think we have time for omelets?

Glad for the interruption, Sam jumped out of her chair and stepped over to the refrigerator. Sure. Let me get the stuff out and you can whip the eggs while I chop.

Thirty minutes later, they were all on their way out the door.

On the ten-minute drive to the station, Sam decided not to think about Angie getting engaged. She had to let that settle in her mind for a while before she could give it serious consideration.

Instead, she thought about Logan again. Boy, had it ever been rough at first. But somehow, they’d become real partners through all the danger they’d faced together.

And they’d sure been in plenty of that. They’d been in several shoot-outs and even escaped an explosion once. That had forged a trust that had turned into a friendship she now cherished.

When she arrived at the station, she went straight upstairs to the detective bureau. As was her habit, she stopped by Logan’s office on the way to her office next door. He was there as usual.

When she stuck her head in his open doorway, he looked up and motioned her into the room. She stepped inside and sat in a chair facing his desk.

He was writing something on a notepad and didn’t look back up at her for a few more seconds. When he did, something hit her. Logan McKenzie wasn’t what most people called handsome, but he had rugged good looks that sometimes turned female heads. His brown hair didn’t set him apart, but his bright blue eyes did.

But that wasn’t what hit her this time. It was something else, but she couldn’t put her finger on it right then. He was talking, so she’d better listen.

I think we’ve got another string of robberies starting. They hit the jewelry store over on Summit this morning. I’d be willing to bet they’ll hit a liquor store or a convenience store tonight or tomorrow sometime.

Sam groaned. That’s all we need right now. We’ve got all those home invasions up in the heights. And the gangs are getting a little too active again. We’re up to our eyeballs in cases already.

Logan shook his head. Yeah, I know what you mean. We’re stretched thin all right.

Have you heard any more about the plans to add a fifth detective to each of our squads?

He shook his head.

Why don’t you check with Commander Wiley about it this morning?

He shook his head again with a huge frown on his face. No way! I was in his office a few minutes ago. He reamed me out for what he called the battles that Talbot and I have been having.

She snorted. What does he expect you to do? You haven’t done a single thing to provoke that guy. He’s just got it in for you and that’s that.

Yeah, I know, you know, and Bill knows, but someone needs to get it across to the chief. He’s pushing Bill to get me to stop it.

Sam stood then. Is there anything else right now? I need to gather my notes to get ready for our briefing.

He shook his head. No. Go on. We’ll get into all of this and more when we get together with Dave for the sergeant’s briefing.

She left Logan’s office and entered her squad room. Pam Stillwell was the only one of her detectives there yet.

Pam was Sam’s best detective. She was also one who could lift Sam’s mood up in a flash when needed. But this wasn’t one of those times. Sam was already in a good mood. Or was she?

How did she really feel about her little girl planning to get married? She sure hadn’t done well in that department. She’d divorced Frank Farley over ten years ago and should have divorced him long before that.

The big question was why had he married Sam? Why, the man didn’t even like Mexicans and she was a third generation Mexican-American and proud of it.

* * *

Logan watched Sam leave his office and marveled again at how attractive she was. She was tall, in fact, she was the same height as him, but it didn’t bother him at all. Her long black hair complimented her olive skin. On duty, she kept her hair in a bun on top of her head, but he loved it when she let it hang down her back.

Whoa! What was he thinking here? He liked Sam. Yes. But those thoughts could be dangerous. She was one of his sergeants, his partner and even his friend, but that was all there was to their relationship. Right?

Not liking where his thoughts were heading, Logan was glad when his phone rang. It was the Watch Commander, and that always meant more work coming their way.

Commander Henderson wasted no time on pleasantries. He and Wiley were the only ones of the top brass that Logan got along with most of the time. There had been a few times, though, when they hadn’t.

Logan. I’m giving you that new robbery this morning. Talbot wanted to keep it, but I’m passing it on to you for two reasons. Number one, he already has plenty to keep him busy. And number two, I’m thinking this won’t be the last robbery these guys pull.

Logan didn’t have to hide the grin that spread across his face. He could imagine how much that had irked Talbot.

Yes, sir, I agree. I’ll send someone down right away to get the file.

He called Sam and asked her to send someone downstairs. In a few minutes, he saw Pam Stillwell go by on her way to the stairway door.

For the next fifteen minutes, Logan did something he seldom did at work. He sat there daydreaming about how much his life had changed in the last year.

A sound brought him out of his reverie. He looked up to see Sam and Dave coming in for the sergeant’s briefing.

Once they were both settled in the chairs across from his desk, Logan slid the Patrol Report over in front of him and opened it. He’d scanned it earlier and knew most of what was in it.

It looks like they had a normal Thursday night with half a dozen domestic calls. One of which turned into a DV with the husband in county lockup and the wife in the hospital with broken ribs and a concussion. Patrol will follow up on all of those cases.

They were both taking notes. He looked at Dave as he wrote. Dave Hernandez was a good detective and a good sergeant. He’d been with the department a year longer than Logan, but he’d made it clear he didn’t want to be the captain when Talbot retired. He was great in Little Mexico.

Logan looked at Dave. There was an armed robbery at the jewelry store over on Summit this morning, a little before seven. The owner was the only one there, and the perps walked through the glass front door to get in.

Dave looked up from his notes. Are we getting it?

Sam beat Logan to it. Pam brought the file up a few minutes ago.

When Dave looked back at Logan, he pointed at the file. Sam’s squad is up next, so they’ll be getting it.

They finished the Patrol Report, and the sergeants were getting ready to leave when Logan’s cell phone vibrated on his belt.

It was dispatch. Captain McKenzie. Some hikers found a woman’s body in Red Lake Park.

Any details?

No Sir. Sergeant Talbot is responding right now.

Okay, thanks. We’ll be on our way too.

He hung up the phone and motioned to the file in Sam’s hands. Sam, why don’t you give that to Dave? It looks like we have a murder to investigate.

As Logan was rounding his desk, Sam handed the file to Dave, and she jumped up to follow him.

On their way down the back stairs, Logan threw over his shoulder. You drive Sam. I want to call dispatch on the way over there to see what else they’ve learned before we get to the scene.

Once they were in Sam’s car, she turned to him. Where are we going?

Red Lake Park.

Haven’t there been bodies found out there before?

Yeah, there’ve been three or four over the years, but none in the past year.

Sam drove out of the compound and headed for the foothills where the lake was.

Logan looked through his side window and tried to visualize the places where they’d found the other bodies.

There’s a hiking trail that goes around the lake. Near the beginning on the East side is a ravine where they found several of the other bodies. I’ll bet that’s where this one is too.

When Sam parked the car in the lower parking lot, they could see a group of people standing at the side of the hiking trail about a hundred yards away.

Logan snorted. Just like I thought. They’re at the edge of that ravine.

They were both quiet as they made their way up the trail to where the others were. Logan stepped up beside Talbot and tried to modulate his voice and his mood before trying to speak.

What do we have, Mark?

Talbot turned to look at Logan and gave him an intense look. Logan didn’t think the guy was going to answer at first.

Then Talbot looked back down the ravine to where two uniformed officers were standing near the body which was just visible under a clump of manzanita. Female in her mid-thirties.

Any sign of what happened to her?

Yeah. He paused again so long Logan was about to prompt him.

Scarf wrapped around her neck real tight and her eyes are bulging out.

Okay. That settled whether it was a murder.

Connie on her way?

Yep.

Logan turned away from Talbot and motioned for Sam to follow him. He stopped twenty feet away and gave her a look that implied he was trying.

We might as well stay over here until Connie gets here and go down with her. He grinned at Sam. It’ll be safer over here.

Who for?

He laughed loudly then, and Talbot turned to give him a dirty look.

Sam turned and looked down at the parking lot. Here she comes now.

They both watched as the county medical examiner climbed the slight incline to where they were. Dr. Constance Cunningham, who insisted everyone call her Connie, was a huge woman in her early fifties. At over six feet and way over two-hundred pounds, she stood out in a crowd. Her bright red hair and green eyes made her stand out even more. She’d never lost her Eastern Kentucky mountain country accent.

Logan had always enjoyed being around Connie. Her accent alone kept him laughing most of the time. But what she said was always even more outrageous than her accent. She had stories to fit every occasion.

When she reached them, she stopped and looked at Logan. What you got Logan? Tell me this will be an easy one for once.

He laughed. Aw Connie. They’re all easy for you. Besides, everyone knows you love a challenge.

Connie snorted and marched off toward Talbot, so Logan and Sam followed her.

* * *

Sam followed behind Connie and Logan as they made their way down the steep slope to the body. By the time they made it, Connie was wheezing and had to stop to catch her breath before resuming.

Sam wondered how the big woman would make it back up the hill.

Connie wiped sweat off her forehead with her hand and rubbed it on her slacks. I sure am glad it’s the last of September and not July.

They all laughed as Connie squatted next to the body to examine it. Logan and Sam stood ten feet away with the uniformed officers.

While Connie worked, she told one of her outrageous stories of the Kentucky mountain people. Sam had already heard a few of them, but Logan assured her that there were lots more to come.

Dead bodies bothered Sam. Not that she was squeamish about blood or gore. No, it was more that she couldn’t help wondering what kind of person they had been and how many people out there would grieve over their death. She was glad that patrol usually did the death notifications, not the detectives. She didn’t think she could do that.

Connie