Say You Love Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

least a hundred times before she crawled beneath the
     sheets.
    That she
     slept without underwear.
    That he’d seen her naked in the shower, her own hands stroking over
     sensitive private places that he ached to touch.
    Yet, the seductress that he saw thrived on
     privacy. She was an enigma. He’d discovered that in his research. In her own
     way, she was hiding from life itself.
    The vulnerability in her eyes had drawn him. She
     wanted someone to reach out and make the pain of her past dissipate. But she
     was afraid. After all, underneath her physical beauty lay lies, weaknesses,
     false promises. Evil.
    Yes, a bad girl lurked inside Britta Berger and he would show the
     world her true self, just as he would with his other subjects. If it hurt
     them, then so be it.
    His own pain had brought him to this point. He used it. Thrived upon
     it. It had inspired the theme for his work, which would hopefully gain him
     acclaim.
    Then the
     beautifuls would be erased, their ugliness exposed forever.
    * * *
    I RRITATION KNOTTED Jean-Paul Dubois’s
     shoulders as he drummed his knuckles on R.J. Justice’s desk. Dammit. Time
     was critical. He had a murder to investigate and the magazine owner had kept
     him waiting for half an hour.
    Long enough for him to decide he didn’t like the
     man. That he was weird. His office collections indicated an interest in S
     and M, witchcraft, bestiality and photographs that bordered on
     porn.
    Justice finally
     loped in, tugging at his tie. “Sorry about that. My meeting ran
     over.”
    Jean-Paul
     ignored the feigned apology and studied the man’s features, sizing him up.
     The women might call him handsome but a cold hardness that Jean-Paul had
     detected in other suspects hinted that he was ruthless and calculating. He
     would do whatever he had to do to protect Naked
     Desires . And to get what he wanted in his personal
     life.
    â€œYou met with
     Britta already?” Justice asked as he settled into his desk
     chair.
    Jean-Paul nodded.
     “She was very helpful.” Britta had claimed she and Justice were simply
     business partners. Just how did Justice feel about her?
    â€œShe was upset,” Justice said. “Were
     her fears justified?”
    â€œI’m afraid so.”
    Justice ran a hand over his sleek desk. “Damn. So the crime scene was
     real?”
    Jean-Paul
     nodded. “We found the woman in the photo murdered earlier.” He leaned
     forward, his gaze penetrating. “You don’t seem surprised.”
    Justice shrugged. “I realize our
     magazine caters to the…adventuresome side, so we get some odd mail. But we
     certainly don’t condone murder.”
    Jean-Paul narrowed his eyes. “I asked Miss Berger
     to bring all the mail she’s received in the past month to the station. It’s
     possible this guy wrote in before.”
    Justice hesitated. “I suppose that sounds fair,
     although I would like to keep our magazine out of the investigation when you
     talk to the press.”
    â€œYou don’t want the publicity?”
    Justice shrugged. “I can stand it, but I was
     thinking about Britta’s safety.”
    â€œOf course.” Jean-Paul cleared his throat, not
     certain he believed the man. What if Justice had killed the woman, then sent
     the photo to Britta anonymously to stir publicity?
    â€œDo you keep a record of the submissions with the
     sender’s name and address?”
    â€œYes. In a secure file.”
    â€œWho sent this photo?”
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t know,” Justice said
     matter-of-factly. “I checked and the envelope wasn’t logged in. Ralphie must
     have found it in the overnight-mail slot and put it on Britta’s
     desk.”
    â€œThen I need
     to speak to him.”
    Justice punched a button on the intercom and ordered the boy to come
     to his office.
    Jean-Paul stood. “Mr. Justice, can you tell me anything