by B. B. Hamel
“Seriously, you’re a pig.”
He squeezed me against him. “I know, but I wasn’t joking about the same room thing. Separate beds, or I can get a blow-up mattress or something, but think about it. CGK is very good at what he does, and so long as you’re in another room, there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to get there in time.”
Crude jokes aside, I let that sink in. He was right, the CGK was good at sneaking into places. He didn’t wake me up when he broke in the first time to write on my mirror, and he seemed to move like a ghost through the woods on my second encounter. I had a feeling the only reason I noticed him that time was because he wanted me to follow.
I could easily see CGK being able to break inside and kill me without a sound.
“My room might be big enough,” I said, glancing away. “It’s the master bedroom.”
“I can bring a mattress in and leave it on the floor. There’s a twin bed in the other room, right?”
I nodded, chewing my lip. “That would work, honestly.”
“It’s up to you. We can start sleeping with our doors open instead, but that might be even worse.”
I shuddered, trying to imagine falling sleep with my door open, knowing CGK was out there waiting for me. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Then I’ll drag the mattress over when we get back.”
I wanted to argue, and came up with a few things to say—but they all disappeared as soon as I opened my mouth. He was right, having him in my room was safer than anything else, and the closer we could stick together, the more likely it was that he could protect me. After all, he was the only thing standing between me and the killer.
“What if he doesn’t come with you around?” I asked.
“He’ll come.”
I hesitated and sowed. “Why are you so sure? You keep saying that.”
He looked at me, his hand still on my body, but I felt a distance come between us. “I’m not sure you want to know.”
“Tell me.”
His jaw worked for a moment. “I’m not supposed to. This sort of shit—it’s confidential. If it ever leaked…” He shook his head.
“I might get murdered, Nick.” I felt the words come out hot. “If you’re holding something back, I need you to tell me. I don’t give a shit what your fancy boss with his weird name thinks.” I glared at him and felt my anger rising again, burning white hot. These fed Hunter guys, they seemed to act like they knew what they were doing, but in the end, it was all secrets and bullshit. They needed my help and the least they could do was tell me everything they knew.
“He wrote me a letter.” Nick said the words slowly, as if to empathize each word. He stepped away from me, fingers dropping from my back, and I felt a strange emptiness as I leaned up against a tree for support. I didn’t completely need it, but my head felt dizzy, maybe from the run, or maybe from his words. “Showed up at the office a few weeks back.”
“How?” I asked, my voice hushed. “He knows where you work?”
“I’m a government employee. There are public records.” He seemed to hesitate as he paced along the path, side to side. We were in a small wooded area next to a drainage runoff with houses fifty yards away. Our voices felt hushed under the thick leaves, and the sun slanted dark and light across the ground.
“But that’s not it, right?”
He shook his head. “We almost caught him in Houston. We tracked him down, followed a few leads—he got sloppy at the last kill and left some fibers. I figured out who his next victim would be, and we set up a sting operation.”
Horror set in. I felt in deep in my bones. My feet tingled from the overwhelming sensation. “I’m not the first girl you used as bait.”
He couldn’t look at me. “It wasn’t my idea. We didn’t tell her, but the local PDs knew about it. There was this detective, old-school guy named Dutt, good old boy, you know the kind. We set the whole thing up, had the girl surveilled, and one night a guy showed up outside her place, staking it out. I was there, told Dutt not to engage, that it was CGK, but he was only there to scout it out. Dutt didn’t listen though, he got too eager, and moved in. CGK slipped away.”
I let that story sink in. He stopped talking and looked up at the branches, arms crossed over his chest, breathing like he’d started running again.
“That doesn’t explain how he got your address.”
He squeezed his eyes shut. “He followed us back to our hotel. Broke in the afternoon before we left, stole some stuff, some stationary with the office letterhead, little trinkets like that. He wrote a letter on that stationary and it showed up two weeks later.”
“When did this happen?” I whispered.
“A month ago.”
“Shit.” I thought I might be sick. “You hung some poor girl out there—”
“No,” he said, his tone sharp. “Even if it wasn’t my idea, she wasn’t in danger. We had her locked down. If Dutt hadn’t gone rogue—”
“Sounds like that detective was thinking about the girl instead of about making the arrest.”
“If he hadn’t been thinking at all, then we wouldn’t have a body in Philly right now, and CGK would be behind bars.” Rage tinged his words, made them hard. I stared at him, not ready to back down.
“You have no right not telling that girl the truth. You can’t use someone’s life in your little game.”
“You’re right,” he said, some of his anger deflating. “That’s what I told Head, but he insisted. Cal was in on it, and I was outnumbered.” He glanced at me. “There’s a reason we’re telling you everything this time.”
I let out a breath. “So you fucked up once, and now you’re doing it the right way, and I should thank you?”
“No, you should try to understand. CGK is dangerous. He’s very good at what he does, and he’ll keep killing if I don’t stop him. I didn’t agree with the call in Texas, but it would’ve worked if Dutt hadn’t been a stupid asshole.”
“Now you’re trying to make up for it, huh?”
“He wants me as much as he wants you.” Nick walked toward me, muscles tensed and hard, eyes rough and angry. I thought he looked like a wolf, tensing for the kill. “In that letter, he said I’d be his first male victim. He said he wanted to bring me into his little harem, into his world. CGK’s going to come because we’re together, and if we’re alone in a single room, he won’t be able to help himself.”
“You’re another one of his targets,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s why you’re so sure.”
“He thinks it’s a goddamn game, like he’s collecting points.” Nicks’ hands tightened into fists. “I’m not letting him get away with this. I’m not letting him destroy families, like mine—” He stopped himself suddenly, like he’d almost said too much.
“Like your what?”
“Nothing.” He turned from me then and I saw him shut down. It was like all that anger he had radiating out from himself suddenly turned inward and disappeared. “We should get back.”
“What were you about to say?”
He shook his head and started walking.
I watched him go then cursed and tried to follow. My leg hurt, but I kept up, limping with each step. After a minute, he fell back and let me lean against him again, but the spark was diminished. His fingers on my back didn’t feel like heaven anymore.
They felt like more secrets.
I wondered how many more layers there were with him. Each time I thought I got close, there was on more step, one darker pit to tumble down into.
I was the sacrifice and he was the altar.
Together, maybe we’d make magic.
But only if he could tell me everything. Otherwise, I had a feeling we were doomed.
9
Nick
I got Rose home, gave her some ice, and made her lie on the couch with her leg elevated on pillows.
“Seriously, I’m fine,” she said. “I just want to take a shower.”
“Give it twenty minutes, then shower.” I wa
lked back into the kitchen and made coffee. “Trust me, if you want to run tomorrow, you’ve got to heal.”
She stopped complaining when I put the morning talk shows on TV for her and put a mug of coffee in her hand.
Goddamn Texas. I left her there on the couch and sat alone on the front porch. I could only imagine how she’d envisioned that story. From that perspective, it must’ve sounded exactly like her situation—except we hadn’t warned the girl. And in a lot of ways, she was right.
But in others, she was dead wrong. There’d been way more men involved in that operation, way more locals staked out around that house, and there was no way in hell the CGK would ever have gotten inside without getting caught—which was exactly what happened.
The problem was, Dutt moved too soon. It spooked CGK and when he got away, he went to ground, just not before breaking into my hotel room. He must’ve followed us after the chase, doubled back and snuck along like a snake in the grass. It was demeaning, and disorienting, but he got the drop and could’ve killed us both if he wanted, Cal and me.
Except he took trophies instead.
That was CGK. For him, this was a game. My mistake back then was trying to play something else, instead of falling into the pattern he wanted.
CGK couldn’t help himself. He was smart, and talented, and skilled, but he was obsessed with his own vision of how things were supposed to play out. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist the little honeypot we had set up for him here, and I made damn sure that this time there wouldn’t be too many people around to scare him off. It was going to be the three of us, and that was too much to resist.
Even still, I’d made mistakes. That girl should’ve been warned. CGK should’ve been caught, even with Dutt moving too soon and blowing the whole thing open. I’d made mistakes, but I wouldn’t make any more.
I finished my coffee and went back inside. Rose was in the shower, rinsing off. I was tempted to join her, and thought of that kiss, the way I tasted her lips, and stretching her out in the grass, the way she blushed as I got closer and touched her. I was a little more hands-on than strictly necessary but I couldn’t help myself. Even after all that, I still kept thinking about the way she looked at me.
I dragged the mattress into her room while she showered. She left the bathroom door open a crack and steam spilled out into the hall. It was almost an invitation, but I knew she wouldn’t be happy if I took it, not based on the way the silence hung between us as we finished the walk back. She needed time to process what I told her, and I didn’t want her to press me on what I’d almost revealed.
The mattress fit at the end of the bed. I got the sheets and pillow situated, then brought my things over from the other room. I set the gun down on the end table.
She came in, wrapped in a towel. I hadn’t heard the water stop, and was surprised when I turned around. She started, then looked down at the mattress, and stopped herself, hand over her heart, holding the towel up. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. Wanted to get this set up.” I kicked at the pillow. “Should be good.”
“Right. Yeah.” She lingered. “I need to get dressed.”
I gave her a half smile. “Go ahead,” I said. “Don’t mind me.”
She didn’t smile. We weren’t there yet. “Please.”
I grabbed a change of clothes and left the room. I took a shower next, and when I finished, the steam had fogged the mirror in a thick layer. I pulled on jeans and a button-down, my hair still damp, and walked out into the hallway.
“Rose?”
No answer. Not in her room, not in my old room. I checked downstairs, and saw nothing.
“Rose,” I yelled, feeling a moment of spiking panic—
The basement door opened and she stepped up, a roll of trash bags under her arm. “We ran out.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. “Right. Okay.”
She gave me a weird look. “I can go into the basement, right?”
“Of course. Sorry. I’m just on edge.”
She replaced the trash and handed me the full bag. “Since you’re the man of the house now.”
I took it and grunted as she tidied up, throwing out the coffee grounds, rinsing out the pot. I stepped onto the back porch then down into the grass, which needed to be cut as soon as possible, and tossed the bag into the cans on the side of the house.
Movement in the woods caught my eye. I walked toward it, frowning slightly, then turned to my right.
Something stood on the metal table nearby. At first, I thought it might be a flashlight—but it was a piece of paper, rolled into a tube, and taped shut.
My throat felt tight as I broke the seal and opened it. How’s our girl doing? I hope she’s not hurt too badly. I can’t wait to see you both!!
I felt raw, like I’d been dragged across concrete until my skin tore down to the bone. I looked around and knew he was watching somewhere nearby. I took a few steps toward the woods, ready to chase after that shadow I’d seen—but stopped myself.
This was what he wanted.
He wanted me to run off, half-cocked, and leave her alone. He could break in behind me and kill her before I got back. All he needed was minutes, and he could have his prize, and revel in the fact that he did it beneath my nose.
Fucking bastard. I wanted to crumple the paper, but it was evidence now.
Car tires on the gravel driveway pulled my attention. I ripped myself away from the woods and went inside. “Someone’s here,” I said.
Rose perked up and followed me to the door. Detective Starch parked and got out of her car, walking lazily toward the front door. She stopped at the bottom step and looked up at me.
“Morning, Agent,” she said. “Morning Rose. How are things here?”
“Good timing.” I held the rolled paper toward her. “He paid a visit.”
“What?” Rose hissed.
Detective Starch took the paper between thumb and forefinger and did her best to unroll it without making too much contact. She read it out loud, probably for Rose’s benefit. “What happened?”
“Rose hurt herself on a jog this morning. I don’t think he saw it, though.”
“How could he know then?” she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.
“I helped you back, remember? He must’ve seen that. He’s watching the house.”
“God, this is so creepy.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “How can you stand it? Knowing he’s out there?”
I didn’t answer and gave Detective Starch a look. “I need a word.”
“Sure thing, Agent,” she said. “But maybe we should talk in front of her?”
“By your car, please.”
She shrugged and turned, strolling back. I gave Rose a look and she glared back, but didn’t answer, as I followed the detective.
“What do you need?” she asked, leaning up against the trunk.
“Hardware,” I said.
That got a raised eyebrow. “Not sure what you mean by that.”
“Guns, preferably something Rose can shoot. Motions sensors, if you’ve got them. Lights, flashlights, things like that.”
She gave me a perplexed laugh. “I’m a local PD, I’m not sure what sort of stuff you think we’ve got lying around.”
“Come on, ever since the Patriot Act, local departments have been gobbling up ex-military hardware by the truckload. I know you’ve got some fun toys stashed away.”
A cunning look crossed her face. “Maybe that’s true, but it’s all department stuff. Not sure why you think you could have it.”
I clenched my jaw. It was the goddamn same everywhere. “What do you want?” I asked, voice low.
“Well, since you ask.” She stroked her chin. “There are some cases we could us fed help with.”
I snorted, shaking my head. “I thought local departments didn’t want the feds poking around their stuff?”
“True, normally we don’t, but these are cold cases I want to close. You get your guys—” She waved her hand at me,
gesturing vaguely into the ether, probably to signify Head. “You get them to help me, then I’ll help you.”
“I’ll talk to my boss.”
“You do that. I might have a weapon I could loan the girl, under the table. As for the other stuff you want—” She shrugged.
“Do what you can.”
“You got a steal then.” She cocked her head then spit onto the gravel. “How about manpower? You sure you’re good out here alone?”
“You bring men around, it’ll spook him. Bad enough having you here.” I turned and headed back to the house. “Why are you here?”
“Got a call from your partner this morning.” I paused and looked back. “He said the body’s a little different. He wants you to call.”
“Why didn’t he call me?”
“Who the fuck knows? I’m not playing messenger for you two. If you’ve got a problem with your partner, you deal with it your goddamn self.” She stood up and waved the paper in the air. “And this is evidence, by the way, so quit touching it with your grubby hands.”
I waved as she got back into the car and slammed the door. I walked back to the house and stood next to Rose. She stared at Detective Starch’s car as it rolled away.
“What was that about?”
“I asked for a favor and she wanted one in return.”
“You couldn’t do that in front of me?” She made a face. “I thought no more secrets.”
“I’m telling you now. I doubt she would’ve played ball in front of you, since you’re a civilian. I doubt she’d want to ruin the facade of law enforcement.”
“And what’s that facade?” she asked as I opened the door and stepped inside. She followed, limping a bit. I hoped that leg would heal.
“That we’ve got our shit together.” I looked at her. “You want lunch?”
She glared at me, but softened. “Yeah, okay.”
“Cops are the same everywhere. They’re political as much as they are anything else. Detectives are bureaucrats on top of being cops. It’s a double layer. They’ve got paperwork like the rest of us, and they hate it just as much—maybe more.”
“What deal did you make?”