Page 146 of Crow
“Yeah. It’s one of my go-to places when I need to get the fuck away from everything.”
Leaning against him, she said softly, “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
The quiet encroaching night was broken by a nighthawk’s croak as it swooped low to seize its prey, the circular rhythm of the whip-poor-will’s call, and a coyote’s plaintive howl. The beauty and sounds of nature wrapped around him, feeding his soul with stillness. Having Angie by his side took the experience to a whole new level.
Crow gazed into her eyes, then at her mouth, lingering for a few seconds before returning to her eyes. He placed his hands on her waist and slowly pulled her to him until she was flush against him. Lifting his fingers to her chin, he tilted her head back and melded their mouths together.
Surrounded by the canyon’s powerful beauty, they were frozen in the moment, suspended from reality, existing only in their love.This is what fuckin’ matters.
When they came up for air, he said, “The badges found Jim’s body.” Then he held her tight, never wanting to let go.
“Oh, Crow, I’m so sorry,” she said in a quivering tone. “I wish I could say or do something to make you feel better.”
“You are just by being here with me. Fuck, I love you, woman.” He squeezed her tighter.
“I love you too.”
They clung tightly to each other for a long time, then drew apart to sit down on the blanket. Angie pulled up her knees and wrapped both arms around them, her gaze never leaving his.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Crow cocked his head to the side and shrugged one shoulder. “There’s nothing to say except a good man didn’t deserve to die like that.”
“Was it the serial killer?” she asked.
“Yeah, the fuckin’ shadow man, and I’m gonna find him.”
“Were our searches close to where Jim was found?”
“Nah. He was in a field about ten miles outta town.”
“How did they know it was him?”
“Badge said they found Jim’s driver’s license and fingerprints. That tells me he was recently killed ’cause they were able to get prints.”
“But he’s been missing for at least three weeks.”
Crow’s jaw hardened. “Yeah, the fucker did shit to Jim before killing him.” Streams of anger coursed through him.
Angie took his hand in hers. “You’ll drive yourself crazy if you think about what happened to him. I did that with Abe, and it didn’t erase his vicious death; it just made me tense and weepy.” She scooted close to him. “I’m here for you.”
“I know, babe, and that means everything.” He twisted around. “I want you, woman. Real bad.”
“You have me,” she whispered, lying back on the blanket.
All he wanted was to suspend his feelings of hate, rage, and sadness for one night. After that, he’d need those emotions to fuel his determination to track down and punish Jim’s murderer.
But at the moment, his woman was the only thing that felt real to him. Lying on his side, Crow raised himself on an elbow and looked at her while his hand cupped one of her tits.
“Crow,” she whispered, reaching up and burying her fingers in his hair.
Holding Angie’s gaze, he slowly began unbuttoning her blouse …
* * *
One week later.Detective Onofrio walked into the Durango office, beaming.
“I’m going to make your fucking day.”
