“Sure you can, babe.”
“That was a really great reverse pep rally. Well put.”
She smiled now. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s no point celebrating unless we know that we’re actually right.” She cocked her head to the side. “Want to tell me why you’re sitting there smiling like the cat that swallowed the canary?”
“Well, beautiful, I did swallow the canary so to speak. We just locked in another piece of the puzzle.”
“Want to share or do I have to guess?”
“How’s this to brighten your day? I just got off the phone with the lab. During that call, I was informed that the DNA matches on Maggie Wilson and Connie Hart. Or should I say they share the same genetic alleles of sisters.”
“Yes!” Emma leaned back and smiled. “I think this calls for a celebration.”
“Oh, yeah? What did you have in mind?” He gave her that sinful grin that left nothing to the imagination.
“I was thinking a fresh cup of coffee. I have no idea what sick little fantasies you had going on in your head.” She gave him wink and handed him his caffeine fix.
He just laughed, accepting the mug from her. It was good to see her smile and to be able to sit in her office and laugh with her. “Hey, what do you say I buy lunch this time?”
“They must pay you FBI agents well if you’re willing to buy lunch for those animals out there.” She jerked her thumb towards the deputies and their desks.
“Oh, I’m a valuable asset to the FBI. It’s only the best for their agents.”
Emma just snorted. “I’m in the mood for pizza and believe me, the men in this office will eat mostly anything as long as it has stopped moving. If you cover it in cheese, grease and something that was once alive, even better.”
“You order it, and then and let me know when it gets here.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his wallet and credit card. “I’ll be in the conference room trying to figure out how Billy Barnes knew Bekka Drake.”
“You’re going to charge it to the FBI expense account, aren’t you?” Emma inquired, as she accepted his wallet. It was very husbandly and her heart skipped.
Greyson leaned down to kiss her on the lips. There was this driving need to taste her again. It felt like days since the last time he had her mouth pressed against his. Pulling away, he stared down into her eyes. “Tonight, we’ll celebrate privately.” And then he whispered what was on his agenda for their afterhours.
She gasped at his suggestion and knew her skin must have flushed at least three shades of red. “In your dreams, Mr. FBI Agent. I’m sure that’s illegal in the state of Pennsylvania.”
Her only answer was his laughter as he headed to the conference room.
Emma grinned, thinking about what he said, and she’d show him. Wait until they got home.
Once their late lunch was ordered, and charged to Croft’s credit card, Emma relaxed smugly in her chair. They were slowly closing in on the killer, and soon they’d have him locked up and in jail.
It was only a matter of time.
Staring out her window, Emma could see the pizza being delivered. She needed a break anyway and decided to head out and help carry it in.
“Lila, I’m going to help the delivery guy. Do me a favor and tell Greyson and Curtis to get out here if they want any. Once it hits the bullpen, it’ll be a free-for-all.”
“Sure thing, Sheriff.”
Emma headed to the door. She was forced to weave her way through the deputies that were already starting to circle with the mention of food. Outside in the fall air, she met some young kid trying to load up all of the delivery. “Hi there, Sheriff! How’s it going today?”
“It’s going. Do you need me to help you out?” She glanced at the ten pizza boxes that were sitting on top of the car.
“Thanks. Are you guys are hungry today?”
But Emma didn’t hear a word he said. She was too busy staring over at her vehicle. Tucked under her windshield wiper blade was a piece of flapping paper. Walking over to it, Emma pulled it free. Slowly opening it, a piece of her already knew what it would be. The familiar print stared back at her as her stomach knotted. Emma read the words:
Sheriff,
The game will be over soon. You are a worthy challenger, but do you really think you’ll be victorious? Can you live with the blood on your hands? Or will you run before it’s over, just like before?
The Hunter
Fighting against the sickness, it took everything in her to not pass out. She forced herself to focus on everything around her. Emma’s first priority was to get inside, and then find a way to get to Greyson. He’d help her get steady again.
There was a tap on her arm and she jumped, her hand going to the butt of her gun.
“What? I’m sorry.”
“I asked if you were okay, Sheriff? You don’t look so good all of the sudden.”
“I’m fine. Give me some of those pizzas.” She tried to breathe normal as she walked into the station. She dropped them wordlessly on one of the desks and escaped to her office, willing Croft to her side. She couldn’t muster the control to find him, she only prayed he’d some looking for her.
“What’s wrong with Emma?” asked Briggs, as they watched the sheriff enter her office in a rush.
Greyson’s cop instincts screamed something was off, and his heart was pounding in his chest, knowing the woman he loved needed him. He could feel it all the way to his soul.
Emma!
It didn't take him long to maneuver across the bullpen, avoiding the pizza eating deputies. At her door, he was like a wild animal, scenting his mate. Something was horribly wrong. “Emma are you okay, honey?” he asked, pushing open her door. Unable to see her, he moved around her desk.
His heart stopped in his chest.
Greyson found her sitting on her floor, back against the wall, and her head on her knees. She was shaking and looked terrified.
“Honey!” He dropped to his knees and pulled her into his lap.
Instantly, she curled into his body as he cradled her against him. “Grey,” she whispered, voice trembling and close to tears.
Emma’s skin was clammy and the pulse in her wrist was erratic. She appeared to be in shock. “Honey, what’s wrong? Come on, you can tell me.” He brushed her hair away from her face and stared into her eyes.
When he took her face in his palms and forced her to stare into his eyes, she began to find her way back through the terror and fear. The calm familiarity of the man’s face offered her strength to get through it. “Grey, I got…I went outside…there was a note on my windshield.” She pointed to the desk and the clear evidence bag.
Briggs picked up the note and read it over. He understood what the killer was referencing. Somehow, the maniac had found out about Emma’s past and was using it to taunt her.
Croft held out his hand, waiting to see it. When his eyes tracked the angrily scribbled words, his eyes went dark with rage. “I’ll kill this bastard when I get my hands on him.” Greyson handed him back the paper, his eyes reflecting the telltale signs of a man on the verge of murder.
Emma said nothing as she remained on his lap with her face buried in his throat. The scent of his skin and cologne was helping her calm down.
“Get her some water, Curtis.”
The man nodded, rushing out of the office. Next stop would be the lab to get the note tested. He was sure they wouldn’t find anything. None of the notes held any trace whatsoever.
Greyson kept offering her soothing words as he crooned in her ear, and left light little kisses across her cheeks and lips.
When Briggs came back with water, Reese was following closely behind him. Croft took the offered water bottle from him and helped Emma sip it slowly.
Deputy Reese crouched in front of her and stroked her arm. “Are you okay, Emma?”
Croft leaned in and whispered in her ear, trying to get her to focus on his voice. He wrapped his arms protectively around her body, making sure everyone in th
e room knew he wasn’t going to let her be harmed.
He’d act as her shield.
Reese took the sealed up letter from Briggs and read over it once. Rage washed over him at the implications. “She isn’t staying in that cabin anymore. Emma’s coming to my house where I can watch her and keep her safe.”
Croft stopped stroking Emma’s hair and glared over at Reese. “Over my dead body is she leaving my side. She’s staying with me, and if I have to have Briggs sleep on the couch, then fine, but I’m not handing her off to you. ”
“This isn’t a game, Agent Croft! This is Emma’s life, and this bastard knows about her past. He knows about Philadelphia and if he wants to break her, that’s how to do it.”
“Well then, he’s in for a big surprise. It’s not going to break Emma. It’s only going to make her mad, and that’s going to help her catch him. That’s going to be his biggest mistake. He thinks she’s weak and she isn’t,” he defended his woman.
“Your ego is going to get her killed!” he raged, staring at the man angrily. “I promised her brother I’d watch out for her. Emma is part of my family, and I am going to keep her alive. You won’t stand between that.”
“She isn’t your responsibility anymore, Reese,” answered Greyson. “I’m going to keep her alive or die trying.”
Emma heard his words and it pulled her back from the brink. There was no way in hell she could lose him too. “Stop it both of you! I’m not going to be your rope in this tug-o-war.” She faced her deputy. “I’m not leaving my cabin, Reese.”
“This is dangerous, Emma,” he reminded her.
“Can I have some more water please?” she asked, ignoring his words. She knew exactly what she was up against, but she knew the potential cost too.
“You need to be with family.”
Croft tensed, knowing this moment would make or break them as a couple. She had to choose, and he’d go along with whatever Emma decided.
“Greyson is right, Reese. He hopes this will scare me, and I don’t know how he knows about me and what happened in Philadelphia. It’s not only Gage’s blood on my hands, but the blood of all the murdered women too. I’m going to stop him. He just made a big mistake.”
Reese just shook his head. “I really don’t like this, Emma. It seems to be personal, and I don’t want you to get hurt. You can stay at my place and still get the guy.”
Emma pushed up from Croft’s lap and took a stand. “I love Greyson, and the last place I need to be is away from him. I wish you’d see how much he means to me. I believe he’d die to protect me,” she stared up at him.
“I would, honey.” His heart pounded in his chest. The love of his life chose to walk towards him, not away.
“I’m sorry, Reese, but my mind is made up. I stay at my place, I live my life, and I get this guy. We must be making him nervous for him to start focusing on me.”
“I think she has a point, Deputy,” said Agent Briggs. “This is a tactic to switch up our focus and throw us off. We need to keep at it and continue until it’s finished.”
“I agree,” said Croft.
“If he stays focused on me, we might buy ourselves some time and save a life,” added Emma.
“Emma,” began Reese.
“I’m not abandoning Grey or our cat. This nut job can leave me all the notes he wants. I’m drawing a line because I’m not the same woman who watched her brother die. I’m stronger now, and I’m going to do what Gage told me to do,” she touched Croft’s cheek. “I’m going to fight.”
He grinned and was extremely proud of her. She’d accepted him and his mangy hairball.
“Come on, let’s get some pizza, and get some work done. I refuse to feel like a victim in my town and my own office.” Emma walked out of her office with Briggs following close behind.
Reese turned, glaring at Croft. “You better make sure she stays safe, Agent. She’s had a rough couple of years and deserves to be happy. I hope she’s not making a tactical error.” Reese gave him one more look and left to go join the rest of the deputies.
“I can guarantee it with my life,” Greyson stated, to a completely empty room, and then joined them, all the while in his head, he constructed his plan.
* * *
The Hunter sat staring out the window, dreaming of the terror his letter to the sheriff was now creating.
He knew deep down that she was a worthy adversary and would only make winning the war that much sweeter.
It hadn’t taken much to dig into her past and research the reasons she’d come to Celestia. The FBI had been super helpful on this one. Who knew they’d have access to her personal file and all the information.
Tsk tsk. Carelessness would be all of their downfalls.
Soon, he would move to a new town to finish the ongoing game he was playing. There were so many whores, so little time in life to eradicate the filth, making the world a better place.
It wasn’t just his game now, but hers too.
They’d finish it together.
One way or another, someone was going to pay with their life. But first, there were a few loose ends to tie up before he could leave.
The sooner the better…
* * *
Agents Croft and Briggs sat in the conference room along with Emma, studying data and information. They were attempting to determine how Billy Barnes could be tied to all the victims, especially the ones from Philadelphia. Linking him to Carly Wilson was easy, thanks to the filed harassment complaints. Unfortunately, the links to Bekka Drake were hazy at best. Right now, they were trying desperately to find some connecting thread to make a stronger case when it was finally over.
“There has to be something that pieces them together,” said Briggs, “We just aren’t seeing it.”
“It’s there. We just need to pull it apart more and look closer.” Greyson was tapping his pen, scanning his tablet with all the data scrolling across it.
“How about where they live?” asked Emma.
“We checked already. The apartments were blocks from each other and wouldn’t have shared a store or restaurant unless it was deliberate,” answered Croft.
Emma got up and pulled the Philadelphia map that they had already moved onto the table, so she could analyze it. She could see the apartment squares marked and lines drawn that coincided with both Billy’s and Bekka’s routes to work. Unfortunately, they didn’t meet up or intersect.
Emma stood there a while just staring at the map. “Did Bekka Drake have a car?”
“Yeah, I believe so,” answered Croft, as he pulled up the information on the tablet. “Yes, here it is. She had a Toyota Camry. Why?”
“Did Billy have a car?”
Next, Croft searched for that too. “No, there isn't one listed in the DMV database. Do you see something we didn’t?” He got up from the desk and pushed around to walk over to the map.
“Here’s what’s bugging me, Grey. She lived five blocks from work right? Did she park her car on the street or in a garage?”
“She parked on the street,” answered Briggs, already knowing the answer. They’d gone over all this a million times since being handed the case. “The vehicle was towed to impound after her body was discovered. Why?”
She turned, focusing on Croft as she crossed her arms over her chest. “To you, this isn’t going to make sense, since you live in a suburb and have a driveway, so bear with me.”
“Okay, honey.”
“How about you, Agent? Do you live in the city or outside of it in the burbs, like Grey?”
“I live in the city, but I’m still not getting it.” Briggs answered, leaning forward.
“How far are you from work, Curtis? Do you have a car?” Emma questioned leaning forward bracing her hands on the table.
“I live a few blocks from the office, and no I don’t own a car. I walk to work or I take the bus.”
Croft was watching Emma intently. He was trying to follow her thoughts as she put the puzzle together in front of them.
“Well, I’m willing to bet that Billy had a transit pass. Does he?”
Briggs scrolled through the data on his tablet and searched for the answer to her question. “PENDOT has on their records that he was issued a transit pass two years ago, and it’s on auto renewal.”
“What about Bekka? Did she have one?”
“I don’t think we checked on that. She had a car, why would she need a transit pass?” asked Briggs, looking confused.
“Just check. I have a feeling she might own one.” Emma grinned at Greyson. “I think I know how he met her.”
“How?” asked Croft, fascinated with watching her work through all the details.
Emma pulled the map over towards him, leaning over it and directing his gaze. “This is where my old apartment was,” she said, tapping the map. “Here’s the police station.”
“Ok, I’m with you so far.”
“I had a car in the city too, and I parked it on the street. I only lived ten blocks from the station, but I rarely drove my car to work.”
Briggs looked confused, but Croft had caught the direction she was heading.
“You walked because to move your car and drive ten blocks meant losing your parking spot and having to find another place when you got home.”
“Yep, and in the winter when PENDOT plowed, my car was buried in snow drifts. I either walked in the snow, or...”
“You took the bus.”
“Exactly. When you find a really great parking space in the city, you’re reluctant to give it up just to drive five blocks,” Emma paused. “This circuit belonging to Billy Barnes and Bekka Drake is the same bus route. It runs in a giant square.” Emma traced the route with her finger on the map. “Even living at these two different locations, they would ride the same bus to work, and at some point their paths would cross. I’m betting Bekka had a transit pass for the days she didn’t want to move her car. Almost every person in the city has one.”
Both Emma and Croft waited while Briggs furiously typed information into the computer.
Celestia is Falling (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 1) Page 41