Heart of Fire

by Carter, Dawn

  “I was thinking,” Danni broke the silence. “My uncle has a little place on the outskirts of town. I think it would be better if we stayed there until this case is solved.”

  “Why would we want to do that?” Annabel cocked her head in confusion.

  “When I was coming back to your room, I rode the elevator up to your floor with our perp. He walked right past your room, but not before looking in.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “I think you might be the next target.”

  “You got to be kidding?” She looked at Danni in disbelief.

  Danni could see the fear in her eyes and there was nothing she could say or do to make it better, one of two things was about to happen, either they would catch the killer or killers or end up dead. “I’ve been thinking about calling a friend of mine Frank Alexander from the FBI to help, I’m starting to think this goes further up the chain of command, and right now, until we know for sure, we can’t trust anyone.” Her voice trailed, she didn’t want to admit she was just as scared and had no idea what they were up against, or who. But, she was determined to get to the bottom of it, and keep her partner safe. “I think I see a family emergency coming up and I still got time to burn from last year that rolled over,” Danni said as matter of factly and laughed.

  The drive took longer than Danni would have liked, but she needed to be sure they were not being followed. When she was sure there was no one around. She pulled into a CVS pharmacy to have Annabel’s prescription filled and pick up a few other things that they would need.

  She started out with a hand held basket and before she knew it there was no room to put anything else and they still needed body wash and shampoo as well as clothes. Annabel joined Danni in the isle with a cart and she dumped the basket in it. They went from isle to isle and gathered socks, t-shirts and any other clothes items they could find. She was pretty sure they had enough to hold them over, but knew if she needed to, she could drive the twenty miles into the town of Pampa which she knew had a Wal-Mart. But for now, they had enough food items to hold them over for a few days.

  Once in the cabin, she set the alarm, but she still did not feel at ease. She sat on the bar stool overlooking the kitchen and pondered an exit strategy if they needed to get out quick. She didn’t know who to trust anymore. She recalled the conversation she had with Lieutenant Hagerty, he seemed more interested in where she was going to be staying than the fact she was taking the time off within such short notice. She lied when she said she was going to go up to Dallas to spend time with a cousin. The conversation felt more like an interrogation, he asked question after question, what part of Dallas and what her cousin’s name was. She was tempted to ask him why he wanted to know, but let it go as casual conversation.

  Annabel walked in the room with a towel wrapped around her head. Danni smiled when she noticed how one blonde curl escaped captivity and cascaded around her neck. She breathed in deep the clean scent as she walked past her, and the aroma reminded her of freshly picked flowers. She watched her as she glided into the den and from her vantage point it was obvious that Annabel was not wearing a bra, as her nipples protruded through the thin material. She could feel the heat rise within her, and had to quickly turn her head when she saw Annabel was looking at her. Pull yourself together Pacelli. She scorned herself under her breath.

  “What?” Annabel giggled knowing her plan to get her attention directed towards her and off of Monica was working.

  “Oh, um...nothing was just thinking about calling Frank down at the FBI office.” The statement allowed her time to recover from the real question at hand.

  “Are you going to call him now?”

  “I already left him a voicemail and he still hasn’t called back. I need to call him on his cell.”

  “Hey, did you call him from your cell earlier,” Annabel gasped as she recalled her last assignment. “They have the capability to track you on your cell now. If they’re on to us they might have tapped your phone.”

  Danni laughed at her acute observation. “I got this.” She let out a hearty laugh. “After I saw him at the hospital, I figured the same thing. So I called from the pay phone outside of the drug store while you were getting your prescription.”

  The conversation halted as she watched Danni walk over to the couch and retrieve her suitcase. She gulped hard when the muscles in her arms flexed as she picked it up. “Wow,” she whispered so Danni could not hear. “Are you going to shower?” the words straggled out.

  “I am, I’ve been sweating, and I stink.” She actually just wanted to say yes and would you like to join me, but instead turned her head away in shame, she hated that her mind was on sex all the time. What is wrong with me? She asked herself walking quickly from the room.

  An hour later Danni sat snuggled in the recliner watching the fire roar in the fireplace, Annabel was already fast asleep on the couch and for a moment all was right in the world. She watched her sleep, it never occurred to her until then, how lonely her life has been. She would wake up each morning, go to the gym, eat, shower and sit in the DEA truck every night. She envied the agent who had families, and look forward to the new pictures they would bring in of the children. Growing up in foster care never gave her a sense of belonging, so she never missed the comfort of having someone love her. But now, things had changed, as she watched her sleep, she vowed no matter how long it took, or how dangerous the situation become, she would protect her with her own life.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “More coffee honey?” the waitress at the greasy spoon asked as she approached Danni and Frank sitting in the booth with their heads together.

  “Yes please,” Frank smiled as he peered up at the woman. “Can we also get more creamers?”

  She filled their cups and quickly returned with their food. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  “We’re good, but thank you,” Danni said wanting to get back to their discussion.

  They discussed every scenario possible and how it could play out. The years as an agent taught Frank to always expect the unexpected and to never trust anyone. He agreed they were going to have to get the Mayor involved. He was going to have to be used as bait to draw out the killer. Frank explained the Detective in the picture could easily explain away his reason for being at the building, and unless he was caught with the knife in his hand, there was no way of proving he killed the woman or was in her apartment.

  Reluctantly Danni gave Frank copies from the murder scene, the detective outside of the apartment building and her only copy of the man who identified himself as IA from the hospital. He assured her he would run both into the facial recognition program and see what he could come up with.

  “Keep this under wraps Danni,” Frank ordered. “Don’t do anything unless you clear it with me first, this should have already been turned over to the Feds since we have a serial killer on the loose.” Frustrated with the lack of cooperation he has gotten from the APD, he sighed.

  “This is my collar Frank, I need this one,” Danni warned.

  “I’ll do the best I can to make sure you get it Pacelli,” he assured her. “Call me if you come up with anything else Danni, and I will call you when I get our answers,” Frank said extending his hand, and his tall muscular frame hovered over her making her feel small and insignificant in his presence.

  “You got it Frank. Thank you so much for meeting me and helping here. I know I am asking a lot to keep this under wraps.” She shook his hand with gratitude and smiled nervously.

  Danni deposited herself in the booth. She ordered a breakfast plate of pancakes, eggs, bacon and hash browns to go. She knew that Annabel would be up pacing and worried by now. She looked down at her phone and already saw three missed calls from her. Hesitantly she dialed the number back.

  “Hey.”

  “I was worried. Where are you?” the frantic tone spat in her ear.

  “Meeting with Cousin Frank and getting breakfast.” She kept her pace steady. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.
” She shut the phone quickly when she heard a crackling sound.

  She looked around and saw a white van. “Shit, shit!” Danni walked casually past the waitress to the back of the restaurant where she had seen a coin operated phone. She hesitated as she looked around, when she saw a radio sitting on the counter she turned it on before she dialed the cabins number. “Get our stuff packed. I will be there in five.” She opened her cell phone to pull up her contacts. Quickly she dialed Frank’s cell number on the pay phone.

  He answered, but Danni spoke before he could say anything else. “Hey cousin, I think the surprise party for your wife is no longer a surprise. She is on to us. I have some errands to do and I will call you later,” she said quickly then placed the phone back on the receiver.

  As soon as she drove off she watched as the white van followed from a distance. She pulled into the gas station. She needed a moment to think, she did not want to lead them back to the cabin. Once the gas was pumped she walked into the building and watched through the corner of her eye as the van parked just down the block. She walked feverishly around the store. When she saw what she was looking for she smiled. Danni retrieved disposable phones from the rack and placed them on the counter.

  “Is that all you need?” When she nodded her head the clerk rang up the gas and the phones. “You want a bag for these?”

  Danni nodded her head again. She was nervous and she was not sure if they had the technology to listen from a distance, so she was not taking any chances. Game on she thought getting back in her car driving down alley ways, country roads and once on the highway, she sped up leaving them in the distance. Once she was sure she lost the van, she took the first exit and parked in an empty lot out of site.

  She sat and read the direction on how to program the phones. It was like reading Greek, but once she got the first one done, the second was easy. First call she made was to Annabel and explained in detail what had just transpired. She advised she would call Frank and get his input on what to do next.

  When she pulled down the county road that led to the cabin, Danni paid close attention to anything that seemed out of place. She drove slowly and watched the deer in the pasture eat. She knew if there was anyone out there they wouldn’t be there. She breathed a sigh of relief and continued her journey to the cabin. She pulled up in the back to ensure if anyone drove down the adjoining stretch of road they would not see her car. She exited quickly and dashed into the back entrance to find Annabel standing in the kitchen with a look of fear on her face.

  She placed a finger over her own mouth and gestured her into the bathroom. She handed her the track phone and advised to only use it and not her regular cell. She was not sure if their phones were both tapped yet, but she was not going to take any chances. Frightened, Annabel wrapped her arms around Danni, she held on tight as she sobbed.

  “I was so scared when I woke up and you were gone.”

  Feeling like a horrible person, she lifted Annabel’s chin and looked in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wake you up.”

  “Don’t ever do that again!” she scolded and pulled her closer to her. She was physically, mentally and emotional frightened. She had lost everyone she loved, and the thought of losing Danni too was unbearable.

  Danni could feel her partner’s heart race. She returned the embrace and held her tight as she cried. “I promise you, we will get these guys and nothing with happen to either of one of us,” she reassured and brushed a soft kiss on her cheek.

  Annabel lifted her head and locked eyes with Danni, this was the first time in years she had felt safe, and in that moment, it gave her a sense of coming home. “Don’t ever leave me,” she said and lifted her lips to Danni’s, but Danni stood paralyzed and trembled in her arms. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Comprehending what she had done, she knew she had crossed the line. She put her head down in shame and tried to pull away, but Danni held on tight as she lifted her chin and return the kiss. It was not as passionate as she would have liked it to be, but it was a start. Feeling like the teenage girl who would watch her from a far, she smiled shyly and buried her head into the crease of her neck.

  Silence engulfed the room as Danni held on tight. She could feel the heat from Annabel’s breath on her neck. Her body ached with desire, but her mind demanded composure. “I think we’re safe here for now, but it won’t take long before they put two and two together and find us here.”

  “If we don’t stay here, where are we going to go?”

  “The FBI has a safe house, Frank said he’ll stock it and call at first light to give us directions, until then we are to stay put.” As much as Danni hated to admit it, she needed the Feds help. “You need to eat. I’m going out back to call Frank.” She tossed the other disposable phone on the table. “Turn off your cell and use this one until all this is over.”

  At that very moment Annabel was not worried about anything other than the feelings she was having for Danni. The kiss still lingered on her lips, and as their bodies connected it felt as if they were the only two left in the world. She had to fight the urge to finally admit to Danni once and for all that not only was she the girl next door, and that she saved her life as a child and her heroic efforts gave her the chance to grow up, join law enforcement, and if she would have her, she would look into those green eyes until the end of time.

  She sat down and played several scenarios in her mind, but the only one that seemed realistic was to just look her in the eyes and tell her the truth. ‘Danni I need to tell you something, remember the girl next door to you that you pulled out of the fire? That was me and as a child I had a crush on you, as a teen I idolized you, and as an adult, I am falling madly in love with you.’ She laughed as she heard herself say it, and shook her head knowing how ridiculous it sounded. She knew exactly what Danni would say, she would say she suffered from the saving angel syndrome. A term cops use when a victim falls for the officer who saves them. Annabel knew that was not the case. It was just before her thirteenth birthday when she realized she had a crush on Danni. She would watch her from her bedroom window as she mowed the lawn. She would purposely ride past her house on her bike at the same time each day just because she knew she would see her leaving to go to work. Now as an adult the same butterflies still churned within her, so no matter how much she would protest, she would reason, as a child she had a crush, but as an adult it was so much more.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The sky turned a dark shade of pink on top of the grey clouds as the sunrise clashed against the night sky. Danni crept down the county road hidden amongst the shadows of the trees. She put to memory the landscape as she drove in earlier that day. Nothing appeared out of place. She looked over the water’s edge to get a visual of the adjoining road. She could see something in the shadows. She crept around the man-made pond to the other side. The closer she got, she could see the same white van that had followed her earlier that day. There was no movement or noise coming from inside. She reached under her jacket and pulled out her firearm. She approached slowly as the smell of tobacco filled the air. She peeked inside the van and she could see from her advantage point that there was no one inside. To the left stood one lone man, she could see it was the man from the hospital surveillance, the same man that introduced himself as I.A. to Annabel. She moved in closer from behind and held her service revolver to his head and then he turned around she could see the surprise look on his face.

  “Put your hands up.” When he obliged, she reached inside his jacket and relieved him of his pistol and slipped it in her pocket. She held the gun firm against him as she patted him down looking for another weapon. Her search was not in vain as she removed another gun from a holster strapped around his ankle. “Alright dirt bag turn around!” she ordered as she closed the handcuffs around his wrists.

  “Let me go you bitch,” he snarled trying to break free of the metal shackles.

  Danni took one step back then lunged forward, her anger harder to retrieve as she clenched her hand an
d punched him several times in the face. Blood droplets splattered on the path. She could smell the metallic stench as it drained from his nose. He growled and then broke into a soft laugh as he glimpsed at her. “I’m not telling you anything.” He felt the blood drain into his throat, causing him to gag and choke

  “So it’s going to be like that.” She laughed as she put the gun to his head. “Have it your way. I guess it will be a good night to die.”

  His eyes widened at the sound of the gun when she cocked it back. “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you, but you have to protect me,” he pleaded. “He’ll kill me.”

  “Who will kill you, who are you working for.” She could feel her anger build, she pushed the gun harder into his temple.

  “Get me somewhere safe and I will tell you everything I know,” he pleaded as she pressed harder into his head.

  She could not control her anger any longer. With a quick thump to his head with the handle of the gun he was knocked unconscious. Danni retrieved the phone from her pocket and dialed Frank’s number. She went into detail about the altercation. He told her to stay put and would be in her location with thirty minutes then disconnected the call. She dragged the man across the ground and pulled him into the van where the keys were still dangling in the ignition. Once her breathing steadied, she drove to the vehicle back to the cabin and parked it behind her truck.

  When Danni walked in the back door, she looked around at the neatly arranged table. Salt, pepper and silverware neatly arranged. She could smell the aroma of the food as it cooked on the stove. Annabel was nowhere in sight. She walked through the cabin and peeked into the open bathroom door. She watched as her partner applied a generous amount of Chap Stick. At that moment, she wanted to pull her close and kiss those full lips again and tell her how much she adored her. She imaged their tongues dancing rhythmically together, their bodies melting into one. Just then she heard someone at the door.