The Deadly Series Boxed Set

by Jaycee Clark

  Taylor got up to answer it, but Gavin stayed her with his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get it.”

  Settling back on the couch, she watched the movie and grabbed another handful of popcorn from the coffee table.

  “I probably should have called first,” Christian’s voice said from the front door.

  “No, come on in,” Gavin offered.

  Taylor flicked the television off and walked out of the living room to see Christian and Tori coming through the door.

  “Hi,” Taylor said.

  “Sorry, I have a huge favor to ask.”

  “Well, I won’t do it, unless you come in and sit down,” Gavin told Christian.

  “Where’s Ryan?” Tori asked.

  “Upstairs.” Taylor jerked her thumb towards the ceiling. “Follow me and I’ll show you to his room.”

  The little girl, dressed in khaki shorts and a blue tank top, follow her, carrying a long black case.

  “Not so fast, Tori Bori. Where is my hug?” Gavin crossed his arms over his chest.

  A single dimple winked in the little girl’s cheek as she smiled up at her uncle. Setting the case on the floor, she hurried over and let Gavin lift her up.

  “I’ve missed you, squirt.” He pulled back a bit. “Have you grown on me? Got an extra rib? I think I should count them.”

  “No, Uncle Gavin!” She squirmed even before he started to tickle her.

  “One, yeah, you still have that one.” His finger squiggled in her side and laughter rang out. “Two. Three. Four.”

  “Stop. Stop.” Her giggles ceased as Gavin set her on the floor. “Really, Uncle Gavin. You just saw me last weekend.” She straightened her shirt.

  “Well, a lot’s happened since then.”

  Tori turned back to Taylor. “Can I see Ryan now?”

  “Sure, come on.” Taylor saw Christian and Gavin go into the living room. She and Tori went upstairs and down the hallway. “Here it is.”

  Knocking quickly, she turned the handle. Ryan was looking out the window.

  “Ryan? There’s someone here to see you.” He turned towards her.

  Tori wiggled into the doorway. “Ryan!”

  “Tori!” There was his freckled smile Taylor loved so much. “What are you doing here?”

  “I brought my keyboard,” she said, lifting her black case. “I thought we could play some songs together.”

  “That’d be cool.”

  Taylor walked back downstairs, leaving the two kids to their mini-performances.

  “You really think she’ll try something?” Christian asked.

  “We don’t know, but we’re not taking any chances,” Gavin answered as he paced down the length of the living room.

  Christian sighed. “Look, I don’t want to add to your worry, but I don’t know what else to do. Bray’s in a meeting till three, it’s Becky’s day off, and Grams and Pops are playing golf. I got the call a little while ago and these clients are big with a capital B. Really important. They stopped in D.C. for the day but are booked later. This is the only time I can meet them.”

  “Today is Saturday, can’t you wait until Monday?”

  “They won’t be here. It should only take an hour or so. I’m supposed to meet them for lunch at the Four Seasons.”

  Gavin’s sigh huffed through the room. “Fine. We’ll order pizza in or something. I’ll call my brother and let him know what’s going on.” His frown tensed his face.

  “I’m sure it’ll be okay, Gavin,” Taylor offered.

  His glare shot arrows across the room as he turned it onto her. “I don’t want you or Ryan hurt. And I’ll be damned if I drag any more of my family into this.”

  Like she dragged him. “I’m sorry,” she said.

  A muttered oath whispered out as he waved her off. “I didn’t mean you were to blame, for God’s sake.” His cheeks puffed out on his exhale.

  “Never mind,” Christian said. “You’re right. She can go with me and sit in the lobby or I’ll get her room or something. I’ll figure something out.”

  Gavin’s glare told them both what he thought of Christian’s comment. “Nina Fisher isn’t the only crazy nut out there. And dragging a kid along would hardly make a professional impression.” One large hand raked through his hair. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just testy from lack of sleep. Everyone’s right. It’s fine. You go to your meeting. We’ll take care of the kids. I’ll call Bray and let him know what’s going on. Besides, we’ve got a cop sitting outside the house. So if I get called to deliver a baby, someone is here to keep an eye on things.”

  The drive-by had become a sitting surveillance after Lieutenant Morris, working with the Austin P.D. and the Texas Rangers, realized that Nina had indeed killed a cop, a guard, besides the shooting of the Shepards. A judge’s shooting was also linked to her. When the phone calls started two days ago, an unmarked car was always sitting across the street. Though their presence was a relief, it was also stressful. Taylor wasn’t used to people always watching her, but with Gavin on call, it was nice to know that the good guys were sitting outside, keeping their eyes open.

  Christian looked at her watch. “Okay, I’m supposed to meet them at one, and it’s after twelve, so I’m going to get going.” Walking up to Gavin, she leaned up on her toes and made him lean down so she could kiss his cheek. “Thanks. I owe you one.”

  “Just make certain you remember that when I come and ask you to babysit.”

  “Yes, sir.” As she reached the doorway where Taylor stood, she reached out and gave Taylor a hug. “You hang in there. This will all be over before you know it, and that woman will be behind bars where she belongs.”

  “Yeah, but will she stay there this time?”

  In a hurry, Christian swirled out the door. Music drifted down the stairs, a piano mixing with the strains of a violin. Gavin pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her.

  “Why does it seem like I’m overreacting, but I know I’m not?” his voice whispered into her ear.

  This was where she loved to be more than anywhere. Right here in his arms.

  “You’re not overreacting. I don’t think we should let our guard down, or underestimate Ms. Fisher,” Taylor mumbled against his shirt. “But I think one hour will be fine. Besides, you should have seen Ryan’s face when he saw Tori. Those two are as tight as thieves.”

  “Let’s go order some food.”

  “You know, since you’ve moved in, we’ve eaten out more than in. It’s really not healthy and you’re a doctor. Soon as things settle down, we’re cooking dinner every night.”

  • • •

  Nina Fisher watched from the minivan—which they’d traded the old car for—parked down the street as the woman climbed back into her silver Volkswagen Bug. Money, that one. Not so much the car, but the way she moved, the way her clothes were just so, her hair a perfect cut and shade. Where in the hell was the little girl she’d had with her? Didn’t matter.

  “Where’s the girl?” Rod asked.

  Maybe he was a bit smarter than she gave him credit for. “Well, I guess she’s still inside.”

  “I don’t know about this, Neen.”

  She hated his nickname for her. Neen. Bean. Clean. Then again, she’d always hated her freaking name too.

  “Don’t know about what?” She straightened her crisp blue shirt. “We’ve watched them for two days. The SPOC up there in that unmarked.” Like the damn cops were so smart. Idiots. “The rich doctor leaves at all hours to deliver babies.” Good-looking doctor too. Ms. Reese remarried, another rich man, this one a baby doctor. Nina would bet he knew how to really please a woman.

  Her glance shifted over to Rod with his bleached hair. Unlike some people. Not that Rod was completely incompetent, she’d had worse, but then again, she’d also had a hell of a lot better.

  “Look, just stick to what we talked about, okay?”

  His head shook. “I don’t know.”

  “Damn it, Rod, I want my kid back. We hope the do
c’s out, but if he isn’t, then we still hit them.” It was a good plan. Nina was rather impressed with herself. She wouldn’t be breaking and entering. No, the door would easily be opened for her by the very people she was plotting against.

  Costumes were wonderful things. She buckled the belt on, replacing the fake gun with her own nine-millimeter. The world was a strange place. Yeah, this plan would work.

  Easy as one, two, three. Not that she really wanted the brat. It was the principle of the thing. And from what she had seen of the doctor, the newest sucker of one Taylor Reese, he came from money. If he was at home, she’d have to make certain they didn’t kill him. After she acted out her little fantasy against the new Mrs. Doctor, perhaps he’d pay to have the little bastard back. Not that she’d give the kid over.

  “What about the cop?” Rod asked.

  What happened to the days of working with smart people? “You think he’ll think twice when I walk up to him? You let me worry about Mr. Bodyguard.” Nina climbed from the back into the driver’s seat, her uniform completed. “You just get dressed, pull the car around and wait for me. If you see I need some help, then get off your ass and help me. Got it? Just don’t screw it up. They have to open the door for us, or it’s all lost.” The alarm she didn’t know how to work around, or have the time to find out.

  Her gaze was pulled to the house. One happy freaking Brady Bunch. Probably made certain the kids’ seat belts were buckled and all that shit. She started the engine and took the next block, driving over three and parking the van. In this neighborhood, a dumb-assed minivan would look as at home as a daisy in a flower bed.

  “And we know when to hit ’em. Timing is everything.” She flicked the lid of the console and got out her bag of stash. It glinted pale blue in the sunlight, pure as new-fallen snow.

  “You really need that?” Rod nagged.

  “I say we get ready. Ready to rock and freaking roll.”

  The powder hit her nose, tingling, stinging until it numbed. When it dropped, the constant irritation she felt towards Rod started to fade.

  Rock and Roll. ’Bout damn time.

  The waiting was the hard part, but wait she would. Half an hour later, she climbed out and shut the door. Rod wore his old uniform, close enough for the neighborly glances.

  “Give me five minutes, then pull around to the front of the house,” she told him.

  Nina walked quickly down the sidewalk.

  “Afternoon,” a woman said and waved from her porch.

  Nina stopped, put a finger to her hat. “Afternoon. Have you seen any unusual people hanging around the neighborhood, ma’am?”

  “Why, not that I can think of. What’s happened?” the woman asked, all full of concern.

  “Not a thing, ma’am. Not a thing. If you happen to see anything unusual, please let us know.” It was all she could do not to laugh.

  “Okay, I will.”

  Nina walked on down the sidewalk and turned the corner. There was the unmarked sedan. Carefully, she unclipped the gun. Walking up, she planned to tap on the window, but realized the man inside had already rolled it down.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, his gaze raking over her.

  “Just a patrol of the neighborhood. No one’s seen anything out of the ordinary, sir,” she told him companionably.

  “I didn’t know about any canvass of the neighborhood.”

  Nina smiled sweetly and brought the gun up into the window. The two silenced pings were lost in the interior of the car.

  The man slumped in the seat.

  “That’s because there isn’t one.” She carefully shifted and put the gun back in her holster. Scanning the neighborhood, all was quiet. As if she had every right to be there, Nina walked across the street towards the house.

  • • •

  Gavin dug around in the pantry looking for plates.

  “I like the princess one,” Tori said.

  There they were. Paper plates were one of man’s greatest inventions in his opinion.

  “It’s a girl’s movie. How about the other one with the underworld guys?” Ryan tried yet again.

  They were still arguing over what movie to watch. Taylor was upstairs. Gavin tossed the plates to the table and watched as the two kids left the kitchen.

  “How ’bout the one with the girl warrior? I like that one,” Tori compromised, her voice fading as she and Ryan walked down the hallway.

  Okay, plates. Gavin shook his head. He turned back to the pantry. They needed cups and paper towels. The pizza should be here any minute.

  The doorbell rang.

  “Pizza!” the kids yelled.

  Gavin leaned into the hallway. “Wait, I’ll get it.”

  A uniformed blue shirt shifted through the glass top of the door. Gavin tossed the cups on the table and started down the hallway.

  “Ryan, wait,” Taylor said, coming down the steps.

  But Ryan had already unlocked the door and started to open it. Suddenly, he went white, gasped and froze. Gavin had seen that look before. In the car when Ryan had seen something, the night on the stairs when he’d seen something, and the night he’d witnessed the Shepard shooting.

  “What’s wrong?” Tori asked Ryan.

  Gavin started running. The door flew open, knocking Tori back.

  A uniformed officer grabbed Ryan and pressed a gun to his head. “Stay back.”

  Gavin skidded to a halt.

  A woman. The officer was a woman. Dark short hair. Nina. God help them and she had a gun.

  Her eyes flashed at him. Ryan squirmed in her grasp, strained against arms that clearly lifted weights. “Be still.” She tightened her hold on his son.

  His.

  “Let my son go,” he told the woman.

  Her head tilted. “Your son?”

  She tsked and Gavin saw her arm squeeze tighter. Ryan twisted and turned.

  “Don’t hurt him. Please, don’t hurt him,” Taylor pleaded from the stairs.

  Damn it, why couldn’t Taylor just be quiet. Gavin couldn’t see her, but he knew she was above him on the stairs.

  The woman’s eyes swiveled at the sound of his wife’s voice, and her mouth lifted in a grin.

  “Ms. Reese. Long time no see.” Nina pulled Ryan harder against her, the long black silencer too damn close to Ryan’s head. “I’m just retrieving some stolen property.” She glanced at him, then back to Taylor. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Please,” Taylor begged. Gavin saw her pale hand on the banister. “Please just let him go. Don’t hurt him.”

  Again the woman smiled, and it was far from pleasant. “Now, why would I hurt him? He’s my flesh and blood. Mine.” Her eyes pierced them both. “Mine.” She shrugged and looked to Taylor. “But he’s not the one I want to hurt, is he?” She brought the gun up and aimed it at Taylor. He could see the intention in her eyes.

  “No!” Gavin shouted.

  Two short pings shot through the air.

  “Mama!” Ryan screamed.

  Gavin heard Taylor tumble and fall down the stairs. Oh, Jesus. He took three steps forward.

  “Stay.”

  Her gun leveled back at Ryan. Gavin stopped. Taylor lay on the floor, blood pooling around her. Her eyes stared at him, blinking and unfocused.

  Oh, God, baby. Hang on.

  He looked back up to see Ryan still squirming in her grasp as she inched closer to the open door. He could rush her, but what if she did hurt Ryan? What if she just shot him? He couldn’t chance that. God, what the hell was he supposed to do?

  “Let him, go,” Gavin rasped.

  Her throaty chuckle answered him. “Not a chance. He’s my ticket to better things in life, Doc. You, know, I was going to leave you alive, but . . .” She started to bring the gun around.

  Ryan leaned down and bit Nina’s arm.

  “You little shit!” Her hold slackened and Ryan wiggled free.

  Gavin flew at her, slamming her back against the wall. Another ping sounded and ice burned acro
ss his upper arm. Gavin knocked the gun away. It clattered into the living room.

  “Run, Ryan! Run!” God the woman was strong.

  “Mama.” Ryan just stood there.

  He heard a whimper from behind the door. Tori!

  Nina Fisher was much stronger than she looked.

  Her eyes flashed an evil fire at him. “You’re pissed ’cause I did your wife? Trust me, you were wasting yourself on her,” she spit out. Her nails raked down his face.

  They grappled and wrestled. Pictures flew off the walls as they stumbled into the living room.

  Her fingers clawed down his neck.

  Gavin hooked his leg around her knees and pulled them both down.

  Bitch.

  “Run! Ryan!” Gavin glanced over his shoulder to see Ryan holding Tori and pulling her towards the door. Taylor lay still on the floor.

  The alarm shrilled out.

  Gavin didn’t care. A red storm raged through him. He squeezed her throat. “You’re not getting your hands on him.”

  “No!” Ryan yelled.

  Nina slapped her fist against his ear right before something crashed into the side of his head and the world grayed and blackened.

  • • •

  “’Bout damn time,” Nina told the man who hit Gavin over the head with the little round entry table.

  Ryan tried to push Tori back behind the door. They’d set off the alarm. Gavin lay on the floor, not moving. His arm and face were bleeding. Was he dead? Had they killed his dad too?

  Taylor. Taylor. His mama. Blood seeped slowly across the floor.

  “Get the kids,” Nina said, her voice raw.

  Ryan tried to make himself move, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t leave Gavin and Taylor and Tori.

  The man’s hands closed around his arm. The contact broke him out of his stupor. Ryan fought against the hold. “Let go! Let me go!”

  “Help! HELP!” Tori screamed. “Help!”

  “Be still.” Nina stumbled into the entry, grabbed Tori, and hit her. “Shut up. You,” she said and pointed to Ryan. “You do what you’re supposed to and I won’t have to hurt your little playmate here.”

  “Just leave her here,” Ryan tried. Please let her leave Tori.