Murders & Romance: A Psychic Detective Romantic Mystery (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 5) by Lashell Collins (ready player one ebook .TXT) 📗

Isaac grinned at her and took another bite.

“No, seriously. Tell me more. I mean, I was witness to some pretty shameless flirting during our game night a few weeks ago, but you didn’t tell me you actually saw them together in a vision.”

Isaac nodded. “Yeah. The kiss I saw was pretty hot and steamy too. I don’t actually care to see it again, thank you very much.”

Sidney laughed, and Isaac smiled at her. He was happy to see her feeling better.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, and he thought about his picnic plans and whether or not he should proceed.

“So tonight is your late day at the shelter, right?”

“That’s right. Dinner will be late. I’ll pick up some take-out on my way home.”

Isaac took her hand and looked into her eyes.

“You know what? Don’t worry about dinner tonight. I’ll take care of it.”

“You will?”

“Yep. Leave it to me.”

From outside they heard a car horn, and Isaac immediately recognized it as his car.

“There’s Pete. I’ve gotta go.”

He leaned in and kissed her lips. Then he stood and clipped his gun to his hip and gathered his things.

“Be safe today.”

Isaac looked down at her and lightly ran his thumb over the small bruise on her right cheek. The swelling was down, but it was an angry shade of purple this morning, setting off ripples of rage in Isaac’s stomach.

“You do the same, darlin’. No more kung fu or gun slinging for you today, okay?”

Sidney giggled. “I make no promises.”

He kissed her again and then left the house.

Outside, he walked to the driver’s side of his car, where Pete sat behind the wheel.

“Get out of my car.”

“Come on, just get in. We’re going to be late.”

“Get out of my car, Pete.”

“Ah, jeez. You are such a control freak.”

Pete unhooked the seatbelt and got out of the car, grumbling all the way, and Isaac tried to hide his amusement.

“Your car likes me better than she likes you,” Pete said as he walked around to the passenger side.

“In your dreams.”

Isaac slid behind the wheel, adjusting the seat for his long legs. Then they took off.

Once they got to the station, he stole a few minutes before roll call to place another personal phone call.

“Isaac?”

“Hey, Bree. How you doing this morning? I apologize if I’m interrupting something important with the baby.”

“No, you’re fine. Isla is down for her morning nap. What’s going on?”

“Well, I got this silly idea to take Sid on a little backyard picnic tonight, and…”

“Oh, that’s not silly at all. It sounds sweet. And romantic! She’s going to love that.”

Isaac grinned at her enthusiasm.

“Well, I was talking to Emily about what food to eat, and she suggested some kind of char… charcu… something or other?”

“You mean a charcuterie tray?”

“That’s it! And I wondered if that’s something I could buy somewhere instead of having to make one myself? I was hoping you might know the answer to that.”

Bree wasn’t simply an amazing cook. When Adam met her, she was the head chef at a successful catering company. When it came to food, the woman had all kinds of skills.

“As a matter of fact, I do know where you can get a beautiful and delicious one. Me!”

“You?”

“Yes. Let me make you one!”

“Oh, no, no, no. Bree, I don’t want to bother you with this. You’ve got so much going on with the baby and everything.”

“Nonsense! Ike, I would love to do this for you. Let me do it as a thank you for getting Isla and me through the delivery safely. Please?”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. And I’ve even got most of what I’ll need right here. What time do you need it by?”

“Um, well. I can come pick it up after work tonight. Say about six?”

“Perfect. It’ll be ready and waiting. But hey… what’s the occasion?”

“No occasion. I just wanted to do something nice for her. Something romantic, like you said.”

“A romantic backyard picnic? You will score very high points for this one. Make sure you have a nice comfy blanket to spread in the grass.”

“Good tip. Hey, thanks again for doing this. You’re sure it’s not a problem?”

“It’s going to be so much fun! Go to work. I’ll see you this evening.”

He thanked her again and ended the call. Then he got up, not wanting to be late for the morning briefing.

“Taylor. Vega.”

Isaac turned to see Gavin Hayes coming their way.

“We were just headed to the morning briefing.” Isaac chucked a thumb in the direction of the briefing room.

“Skip it.” Gavin handed him a piece of paper.

“What’s this?”

“College student at Cleveland State came home to find his roommate slaughtered. Castrated, just like the other two.”

“Wait.” Pete held up a hand. “Cleveland State? Not Case Western?”

“Yep.”

He looked at Isaac with an oh-this-is-bad expression.

“You thinking it’s our missing bachelor number three?” Isaac watched him carefully.

“Aren’t you?”

Isaac shrugged a shoulder. “Only one way to find out.”

“Let’s go.”

“When you get back, I want a full update.”

Isaac glanced at the information on the slip of paper — dorm name and room number. Then he nodded at his boss.

He and Pete hustled from the pit and down to the waiting unmarked cruiser.

When they finally arrived at the dorm, the place was swarming with a crowd of onlookers, and a handful of uniformed campus cops trying to keep them contained to the lobby of the building.

“Shit,” Isaac mumbled, staring at the small mob. Then he took a breath and braced himself. Pete shot him a look.

“Allow me.”

His partner turned toward the crowd and raised his badge.

“All right, people.” Pete’s voice was forceful as he called out. “Part like the Red Sea. Now! Don’t make me ask again.”

The small mob did as they were told, making a path in the lobby, and Isaac followed Pete through them and up the stairs to the third-floor dorm room.

“I’d say thanks, but I think you enjoyed that.”

“It was fun.” Pete grinned at him.

Isaac chuckled and stepped into the room.

“Wow.”

Blood was everywhere.

Blatant signs of a struggle.

Dead, half naked body across