Common Enemy

by Sandra Dailey

  “The doors are bolted. The windows are locked. You set the security alarm yourself. But, I have a surprise for you.” Connor opened the drawer in the bedside table and brought out a white electronic device. A green light glowed below its speaker.

  “Is that what I think it is?”

  “Yep.” He grinned. “It’s a baby monitor. I picked it up at the store while we were out today. We can hear her, but she can’t hear us.”

  He removed the towel from around her and threw it on the floor before sitting on the bed and pulling her onto his lap. She lazily lay against him as he ran his hands across her shoulders and down to her breasts. He lingered there, to tease her nipples, his erection stirring for attention. One hand came down to slide between her legs. She was more than ready for him.

  “You take over from here, baby,” he whispered over her shoulder as he passed her a condom.

  This time when they made love their actions were more physical than emotional, more urgent and varied. She had a need to work out the tension of the last few hours. Jordan was amazed at the way their minds and bodies synchronized to accomplish mutual waves of excitement, ecstasy, satisfaction.

  Connor rolled onto his side, his arms still wrapped around her. They slept better than they had in weeks.

  The next morning they woke together feeling well rested. They stretched lazily as the morning sun washed over them through the window. A tap on their door alerted them both to the fact they were totally naked. They scrambled out of bed to find clothes. Thankfully they’d had the presence of mind to lock the door the night before.

  Lizzy bounced into the room as soon as the door opened. “I’m hungry. When are you guys going to come make breakfast? Your bed sure does get messy. The covers are all on the floor.”

  “You need a bath before you do anything else,” Jordan told her. “Those clothes are filthy.”

  “Well, okay, but do I have to wash off my tattoo?”

  “What tattoo?”

  “The one the man gave me at the carnival. After Uncle Cal left, he said a tattoo would make me feel better. He said you’d like it too, Mommy. He said it was a surprise for you. He did it with a marker like the ones I have. Are you surprised?”

  “Show me your tattoo, Lizzy.”

  Lizzy proudly lifted her sleeve to reveal the outline of a cross on her shoulder. Jordan could barely breathe. The drawing on her daughter’s shoulder was almost an exact replica of the tattoo Bobby Ray wore. He’d touched Lizzy, spoken to her. He’d practically been alone with her while she and Connor rode on a Ferris wheel. He could have killed Caleb. Images ran through her mind of all he could have done to Lizzy. Jordan wanted to throw up.

  “I’ll call the police.” Connor eased her back to the bed.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  After Lizzy’s bath, she ate a bowl of cereal. Jordan and Connor quietly sat across the table sipping their coffee.

  “Can I have the picture you took, Daddy?”

  “No Lizzy, I have to give it to the police. They’re going to be here soon to ask you some questions.”

  “You took a picture of it?” Jordan exclaimed.

  “Yes, I did. I couldn’t expect Lizzy to wear the evidence on her arm.”

  Jordan ran from the room and up the stairs. Her bedroom door slammed a few seconds later.

  “Why is Mommy mad? Did I do something bad?”

  “She’s not mad, monkey, she’s just upset. The man that drew the tattoo on your arm was the bad man. The one the police have been looking for.”

  “He’s the man who killed my Tom?”

  Connor nodded as he wiped a drop of milk from her chin.

  “I’m sorry,” she whined. “I didn’t mean to talk to a stranger, but I didn’t know where any of you were. I was really scared.”

  “I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry the whole thing happened. But, now you know what he looks like. Do you think you can remember if you see him again?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “That’s my girl. Now go up to your room and try to remember everything he said so you can tell the policemen. I’m going to call Uncle Cal at the hospital and see how he’s doing.”

  Lizzy left the room with her head down. Connor wished so badly this was over. The tension was getting to all of them.

  Normally, Lizzy would still be talking about the carnival, laughing and happy. Jordan would be basking in the afterglow of lovemaking. He missed her sexy, secret smiles. Would they ever be that carefree again?

  When the doorbell rang, he opened it to find two plain clothes police detectives, one male and one female. After introductions, Connor and Jordan agreed to allow the female, Detective Shannon, to take Lizzy for a walk around the yard. The male, Detective Tucker, seemed anxious to talk to them privately.

  “Have you found out anything new, Detective?” Connor asked.

  “We haven’t found Butler, but we did find the car. It was three counties away in a wooded area of a public park. It would have taken us forever to find it if they hadn’t been conducting a search in that area for a missing camper.”

  “Did they find the camper?”

  “No, not a sign of him. Have you noticed any strange vehicles lately?”

  “No, but we were mainly looking out for the red Honda.”

  “He had to have had another vehicle to get back from the park. There’s no doubt in our minds that Butler was the man who spoke to Lizzy last night. We’re just trying to determine if he said anything to her that may give away his hiding place. A current description is good, too.

  “We’re going to have a patrol car pass your house frequently. Don’t let it alarm you. Also we need your brother to make a statement. Tomorrow will be soon enough. I know he doesn’t have much to tell us, but we still need it on record.” He turned to Jordan. “Is there anything you can tell me about Butler that I don’t already know? Any habits, phobias, or fetishes? I hate to ask, but we need to get this guy off the streets.”

  She hung her head and thought for several minutes. Connor sensed her discomfort. He stood and walked toward the kitchen. “I’m going to make some fresh coffee.”

  After he’d left the room, Jordan spoke. “He hates homosexuals and prostitutes. He has a fear of diseases, especially STDs. If any kind of bodily fluid touches his skin, he goes crazy. He has a way with women. He likes young pretty girls. The innocent types who don’t seem promiscuous are his favorite. He’ll target a woman who seems lonely and shy. He charms and flatters them into trusting him. At first, he seems too good to be true. Before you know what’s happening, you’re trapped. You’re too ashamed and embarrassed to complain. My first time was on my wedding night. I was so stupid. He convinced me that it was a wife’s duty to fulfill her husband’s every fantasy. The next morning I had to scrub blood off the wall. He said it would never happen again, but that was just the beginning. I think he may be worse now.” She gave a shy smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t think this was the information you were looking for. I guess I just got carried away. I’ve been remembering a lot about him lately.”

  Connor pushed himself away from the other side of the doorframe where he had been listening. His hands shook as he ran water into the coffee carafe. Detective Tucker came up behind him and took it from his hand.

  “She’s gone upstairs to rest for a while. I’ll finish the coffee. Maybe you should get some air.”

  “You knew I was listening?” Connor asked.

  “I know I would have if it was the woman I loved.”

  Connor walked out to the front porch and found John sitting in the rocking chair by the living room window.

  “How long have you been here?”

  “Long enough.”

  “You heard everything too then?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m sorry you had to hear that. I guess it brought back some unwanted memories for you.”

  “I’m sorry you had to hear it too,” John replied. “If anyone knows how bad it hurts when someone you love has been trea
ted that way, it’s me. Beth would have been twenty years old this year. It’s hard to believe she’s been gone four years now. I think, if she’d survived her attacker, I’d just concentrate on making sure she was happy and letting her know how much I loved her. Nothing else matters as much as that.”

  “I know you’re right John, but I have one other thing to do first. I have to make her safe. That won’t happen until Butler is history. We’ve got a lot of people looking now, and enough evidence to put him on death row. I think it’s about time for you to get back home. You have a family waiting for you.”

  “I was hoping you’d be coming back too, after all this was over. Now I see that you’ve made a home here. I’m happy for you, Connor. If anybody deserves it, it’s you. I hope you’ll both be as content as Laura and I have been.

  “Even Josh is starting to straighten up. He took Beth’s death harder than we’d expected, but I think he’s finally coming to terms with it. He’s given up the black lipstick and eyeliner. Maybe some of that jewelry in his face will be gone by the time I get back.”

  “Well, good luck with that, John, seriously. I sure appreciate all you’ve done for us. If you need anything, you just call. We’ll send a wedding invitation as soon as we can.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.” John stood to shake Connor’s hand.

  John walked to his car and drove away. He had been employed by the firm for twenty years, but more than that, he’d become a member of the family. They’d been through an awful lot in all that time. The only time Connor had come close to Tampa since the attack was to visit with John and his family. It was the day after their daughter had been buried near their home in Brandon. He remembered how it felt to see the whole family so devastated. He couldn’t let that happen here.

  He watched Lizzy walk toward the house, holding Detective Shannon’s hand. He was glad the police had thought to send someone who could relate to a child in an unthreatening manner.

  Lizzy’s little freckled face looked up at him smiling, auburn braids over each shoulder. He pictured Jordan, twenty-five years ago, looking exactly that way. The tension eased from his shoulders. “Why don’t you go upstairs and color a picture for your new friend, while the grown-ups talk for a while,” he suggested.

  “Okay! I’ll make a picture of my room, and I’ll put you in it, too.”

  “Did you find out anything?” Tucker asked, as soon as Lizzy’s bedroom door closed.

  “Mostly what we expected,” Detective Shannon informed him. “His beard and hair are a little longer now. He pretended to work at the carnival. No clue as to his whereabouts, though.

  “The kid was pretty specific. She has a great memory. She even told me what color his shoelaces were. There was only one thing that stood out. He was wearing an old Miami Dolphins baseball cap.”

  “That’s not good,” Tucker replied.

  “Why?” Connor asked. “You can pick up a Dolphins cap in a million places down here.”

  “This one was old and frayed, like the one our missing camper was wearing when he was last seen,” Shannon said. “We’d better put out an APB on the missing truck. I’ve got a bad feeling it’s more than a coincidence Butler’s car was found in that area.”

  Caleb arrived an hour later in a cab to prevent inconveniencing anyone. His head was wrapped in a large bandage. He went straight to his room with Connor close behind. “Help me get this thing off, Con. My head is sweating and it makes the stitches burn like hell. I need a shower.”

  “You’re in a good mood. I don’t suppose they sent you home with any drugs. I’d kind of hate to have to knock you out again.”

  “They didn’t let me sleep at all last night. Then, I had to get through a pile of paperwork to come home. In the meantime, the cops showed up and told me about what happened to Lizzy. The doctor gave me a prescription for Percocet. Those things make me nauseous. I can’t believe I was so stupid last night. She could have been taken right out from under my nose. I’m so sorry, Connor. It was my fault.” Caleb sat on the end of his bed and dropped his face into his hands.

  “It wasn’t your fault, Cal.” Connor put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “You’re going to find this hard to believe, but I was told last night that we aren’t super heroes.”

  “Who says so?” Cal grinned.

  “Jordan.”

  “Then Jordan doesn’t hate my guts?” Caleb groaned.

  “Not yet. She really hasn’t gotten to know you well, though. If you don’t get some sleep, we’re all going to hate you.” Connor turned around to leave.

  “Hey Connor. I just have one question. When Jordan told you that you weren’t a super hero, you weren’t doing anything intimate, were you?”

  “No, but when you hear her screaming, take me Captain Amazing, you should stand as far away from the door as possible. The sonic percussions may hurt your head.” He ducked as a pillow flew over his head.

  Connor was still laughing when he turned to find Jordan standing a few feet away, arms crossed over her chest and toe tapping.

  “It’s time to take out the garbage, Captain Amazing.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  In the wee hours of Saturday morning Connor was snuggled against Jordan’s warm, naked body. It took a few rings for the phone to wake him. “Hello,” he growled sleepily.

  “Boss? It’s Ted. I’m sorry to wake you.”

  “What’s up, man? Is Jenny in labor? Has the baby come? Did you get home in time?” Connor sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

  “No, I’m still at the hotel. The baby isn’t due for six more weeks.”

  “Why haven’t you gone home yet? I thought you were leaving yesterday.”

  “So did I, but John talked me into waiting another day. Last night, at about eight, he had an idea. He took the rental car and said he’d be back in two hours. I’ve been trying his cell phone since eleven. It’s three o’clock now. I’m stranded in this stupid hotel room. I was really hoping you knew where he is.”

  “He didn’t say where he was going?” Connor was more awake now.

  “No, but he was wearing jeans and carrying his handgun. He’s been all wound up since he left your house yesterday.”

  “Pack up and leave a message for him at the front desk. I have to get dressed before I pick you up. We’ll put on a pot of coffee and try to figure this out.”

  Jordan was stirring as he hung up the phone. He heard an urgent tapping on the door. “Connor, open up,” Caleb insisted in a loud whisper.

  Connor was off the bed and to the door in a few long strides.

  Jordan grabbed the sheet higher as Caleb came in wearing only boxer shorts. He didn’t seem fazed at all that Connor stood before him totally naked. He walked right past him to grab Jordan’s robe and tossed it to her. “Get this on and go to Lizzy. Keep her in there. I don’t want either of you to leave her room until we come back to get you.”

  Jordan pulled on the robe. Caleb’s face was tear-stained and he held his hand against the large bandage on the side of his head. Something terrible had happened. Connor pulled on a pair of shorts.

  “What’s going on, Cal?”

  Before Jordan could finish tying the belt on her robe, Caleb grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the bed.

  “Get your hands off of her,” Connor growled.

  “I’m sorry. We have to hurry. He might still be alive.” Caleb ran from the room and down the stairs.

  Connor followed pushing the panic button on the alarm pad as he passed it. The police would be there within minutes. He didn’t bother taking the steps out the back door, but jumped over them. He stopped short seeing Caleb under the oak tree. His arms were wrapped around John’s legs in an attempt to hold him up.

  “Help me get him down!” Caleb cried.

  “Look at his face, Cal. He’s already gone,” Connor moaned as his own eyes filled with tears.

  Ted arrived in a patrol car twenty minutes later. He answered Detective Tucker’s questions and was
finally able to reach Connor and Caleb where they sat at the kitchen table with Jordan. Over a white speaker before them, he heard Lizzy’s soft breathing.

  “You’re sharper than any cop out here,” Connor blurted. “Tell me what you saw out there.”

  “You two don’t need to go running around like Rambo and Rocky. You need to let the cops handle this.”

  “Cut the crap, Ted. What do you see?” Caleb insisted.

  “Okay,” he said with a sigh. “You know when I got here the ground was still wet after a light rain from last night. The police cars were where they are now, no other tire tracks. No one has driven in from the front since yesterday. No one can get in from the back. Therefore, no vehicle was used. The heels of John’s shoes caught a lot of grass. He was dragged. He was unconscious or dead already. He’s too heavy to have been dragged far. While the grass was still wet, there was a path beaten down from that direction.” He pointed toward the northeast corner just yards from the oak tree. “The bushes are broken there. Butler’s not good at covering his tracks. He’s not used to this kind of terrain. If he’s still out there, he can be found. Now, who among these cops do I talk to? I’m playing this one by the book. It’s too important to do otherwise.”

  “Okay, go get Detective Tucker,” Connor told him. “He’s the guy you were just talking to. He seems to be in charge.”

  “You’re really going to turn this all over and sit back?” Caleb asked Connor.

  “We’re lawyers. We’re not trained for this. But, we do know what happens if it’s not handled correctly.” Connors eyes panned the tree line through the window. “Besides that, we know he’s close. He could be watching us now. If we leave Jordan and Lizzy here alone, it would be a perfect opportunity for him to come after them.”

  “How can you be so cool about this? When I got here I thought this guy was just a thug who robbed stores and beat women. He went way past that the day he got out of prison and killed the Pritchett woman.” Anger had replaced the look of grief on Caleb’s face.

  “He was way past that, for me, before he even got out,” Connor whispered.