Read Online Dark Wings Descending by Lesley Davis - Free Book Online Page A

nonplussed Ashley flashed her a cheeky grin. “Call me before we get another body, Detective. You and I have a lot to talk about.” She closed the door behind her, then hurried to the street to hail a taxi. She stood on the street corner, watching the moon begin its steady climb into the night sky. Ashley prepared herself for yet another night out in the cold.
    “Like I don’t have enough to deal with one killer on the loose, and now there are murmurs of another demon rampant in the city. Since when did Chicago become Demon Central Station?” She flagged down a taxi and got in, giving him directions to where Eli had reported a sighting.
    “Cool night,” the taxi driver said as he pulled away from the curb. “You going into work?” He obviously knew the office buildings Ashley had given him the address for.
    “Yes, another late night, trying to keep the company afloat,” she said.
    “No rest for the wicked, eh?” he said, turning onto the main street and heading into town.
    With one last look at Rafe’s building, Ashley finally turned around. “You got that right,” she said humorlessly, watching the lights from the street lamps streak across the night.
     
    *
     
    Rafe got to work early the next morning. She sat before her computer searching for Ashley Scott through every database she could enter her name into.
    Alona walked in, stopped dead in her tracks, and blinked at her. “Geez, you’re in early, Detective. I’m used to having this office to myself for at least a few hours.” She moved to her own desk and started up her computer. “Can I get you anything?”
    Rafe distractedly tapped her pen against a Starbucks cup. “I’m fine, thanks.” For the umpteenth time that morning she frowned as she brought up yet another screen and began typing Ashley’s name in the required box.
    “Anything I can help you with?” Alona asked, sidling over to see what Rafe was doing.
    “I want to run this person through every system we have, but all I have is her name. I’m getting too many hits.”
    Alona pulled her chair over and straddled it. “You’ve got no other data at all? Date of birth? Address?”
    Rafe shook her head, thought for a moment, then fumbled for her phone. “I do have her cell phone number, though. For Christ’s sake, why didn’t I think of that half a fucking hour ago?” She thumbed through her list of contacts but couldn’t find Ashley in the A’s so continued through the S’s. “There’s no Scott,” she said, then found a new listing. “Damn woman.” She shook her head at finding a new entry for “Sparky” displayed on her phone. She read the number out to Alona, who began her own search.
    “Please don’t let it be a disposable.” Rafe peered over Alona’s shoulder as she worked.
    “This some woman you just met, ma’am?” Alona asked carefully.
    “She’s someone who says she might have information about our killer, but I’d like to know a little more about her before I accept what she says is true.”
    “If she can help.” Alona brought up a screen full of Ashley Scott’s details. “Wow, she’s one pretty lady if this is the one you’re after,” she said on seeing Ashley’s driver’s license photo. “Looks like trouble is her middle name, too, by the twinkle in those eyes.”
    She’s trouble all right . Rafe read what details Alona had found. Twenty-nine years old. Rafe was surprised she was only six years younger than her. She looks so much younger. I wonder if that’s got anything to do with all that golden glitter that surrounds her.
    “Says here she’s a private investigator,” Alona said. “Hell, she even got a commendation from the mayor of Kansas City for cracking a child porn ring. Says she helped save the kids from a group of predators.”
    Rafe wondered which variety, human or otherwise.
    “Pedophiles are the worst scum,” Alona said as she continued scrolling down the page. “I’ve got an address for you.” She printed it off