Till Justice Is Served

by Jerrie Alexander

  "It's late." Taking him by the hand, she led him to the door and stepped onto the porch with him.

  God, he wanted to kiss her until she lost her mind. Instead, he leaned down and covered her lips with his, breaking away after a second. "Where's the gun?"

  "On my nightstand."

  "Good. I'll see you in the morning. We'll find a nice peaceful path to run."

  "I know just the place." She lifted onto her toes for another kiss.

  "Lock the door." He didn't dare pull her into his arms. The desire to carry her to her bed was still powering his thoughts. He gently brushed her lips with his, moved back, then waited until the bolt on her door slid home. He got in his car and drove away, acutely aware of her scent on his shirt and her taste on his tongue.

  Between thoughts of Erin, two dead teenagers, Nick, and a drug dealer who needed to meet his maker, there'd be little rest for Rafe tonight.

  At dinner, he'd paid close attention to Beckett's facial expressions. If the detective was aware of the joint undercover operation, he'd shown no signs of it. Maybe narcotics had kept it a secret. Not smart when Beckett was trying to solve two homicides.

  ****

  The binoculars hit the floor at his feet. The sound reverberated off the hardwood floor, amplified by the fact the house was devoid of furniture.

  He tried so hard not to be angry with Erin. Casanova clamped his hands over his ears and pressed. He feared his head would explode when his heartbeat rose to such levels.

  He stormed away from the window, unable to watch any longer. Surely, his eyes had been playing tricks on him. She would never betray him with another. Not after all he'd done for her.

  Erin belonged to him. Why did she flaunt another man under his nose? Was there no end to the hoops she'd force him to jump through? No doubt, the bastard had kissed her against her wishes.

  The sound of a car's engine drew his attention. He returned to his vantage point and watched as her friend got into his car and drove away.

  He paced, running different scenarios though his mind, until he knew what he had to do. She had to be taught a lesson.

  ****

  Erin opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, wondering why she'd woken from such a lovely dream about Rafe and regretting not taking him to bed last night. Now, getting him out of her head was going to be difficult. Admittedly, having him around for a few weeks was going to be nice.

  Who would've guessed his lips were so soft when everything about him was so hard? That monster erection of his had burned through layers of clothing and demanded her attention. She snuggled deeper under her comforter, hoping she could pick up the dream where she'd left off.

  A noise from outside grabbed her attention before she could close her eyes. She'd bought an older home and the porch had a few loose boards. Footsteps made an undeniable creaking sound. Was someone trying to break into her house? She slipped out of bed, grabbed the phone, and quickly dialed 911. In a loud voice, she announced to the operator that an intruder was on her front porch and the gun in her hand was pointed at the door. She ignored instructions to stay on the line, opting to dial 666 instead.

  "You all right?" His voice was thick with sleep.

  "Somebody is on my porch. I heard footsteps."

  "I'm on my way."

  Again, she'd needed him, and without hesitation, he'd reacted as if she were his priority.

  Erin ran to the living room and flipped on the outside lights. She paused in the dark and listened. Had the intruder gone?

  When she heard the sirens, she hurriedly pulled on a pair of sweat pants and shirt. Someone knocked on her front door.

  "Erin," Linc called out. Her next-door neighbor's voice calling her name gave her courage. She hurried to open the door.

  On the porch at his feet was another envelope. "Not again," she said.

  "I didn't touch it." Linc held up his hands. He was barefoot, his hair mussed, and he wore nothing but jogging shorts. Erin thought he looked more like a college running back than a technology geek. Behind him, two police cars rolled to a stop.

  Her knees weakened. Tears brimmed in her eyes. She refused to give in to either. Damn it, she refused to allow the feeling of being powerless and vulnerable to take over.

  ****

  Rafe parked, sprang from his car, and was greeted by two uniformed cops. He handed over his identification, biting back expletives at being kept from Erin. A few seconds passed before they allowed him to enter the house. Erin stood next to Linc while a patrolman spoke with her.

  Rafe's gaze stopped on the manila envelope on the counter. An officer wearing gloves was staring at the hand-printed note.

  YOU TEST MY LOVE.

  The meaning slammed into Rafe. Had someone witnessed their kisses on the porch and lashed out at her?

  "Erin?" he said. Her head turned in his direction, and the fear in her eyes chilled his soul.

  "Thank God." She crossed the room into his arms. Her hands clutched his shirt, and the fear he'd seen shifted to anger. Her body trembled. "I thought someone was breaking in, but apparently, he was just leaving the note."

  "You're okay. That's all that matters," Rafe whispered into her hair.

  Linc joined them. "It's a good thing she didn't try to confront him."

  "He's right," Rafe added, reluctantly releasing her. "This message is different. The first two were accusations. This was a warning. It's also personal. Does it spark any new ideas about who it might be from?"

  "None." Erin shook her head. "But it is different from the others. This one is typed."

  Linc frowned. "The delivery was the same, but I think we're looking at different people."

  "I haven't seen the other notes," a uniformed officer said. "Did you notice anything else different, Ms. Brady?"

  "The envelope is larger." Erin thought a second.

  "Maybe the lab will find DNA. I'll drop the note off, but first I have a few more questions," the officer said.

  "I'm ready." Erin followed the officer to the breakfast bar.

  "Looks like she's in good hands," Linc said. "Let me know if you need me."

  "Thanks for getting over here so fast. I appreciate it," Erin said.

  Rafe wasn't going to get too far away from Erin, but he walked to the yard with Linc.

  "You had me pegged all along," Linc said with a grin.

  "Not completely. Your cover's a good one." Getting the truth out into the open was a good thing. "I promised Erin I'd stick around until things were resolved."

  "Hell, I'm glad. The city's narcotics department's resources are limited because of budget cuts. You ask me, they don't have enough manpower." Linc jerked his head toward the house. "You staying because of Erin?"

  "I guess." The question caught Rafe off guard. "My brother died of an overdose. I'd like to know the stream of drugs here has dried up. At least for a while."

  Linc nodded his understanding but asked nothing more. "What do you make of tonight's message? Saying 'you test my love' is a lot more personal than calling someone a murderer."

  "All roads lead to Erin." Rafe glanced back toward the open front door. She'd moved out of his line of sight. "Hey, if you need some extra help, you can call on my partner. Colton Weir. He's probably bored out of his mind, doing grunt work. Ask for him."

  "I just may do that. Thanks." Linc jogged across to his yard.

  Rafe laughed on his way back to Erin's house. Linc and Colton on the same operation was going to be interesting. A California surfer and a die-hard country boy from south Texas would be interesting.

  Rafe joined Erin. She and the officers were just finishing their Q&A. The corners of Erin's mouth lifted slightly, making Rafe feel as if she drew comfort from his presence. "You're still pale." He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You can't stay here. My place is your best choice."

  "I know. Lotty is doing well, but she's also still doing physical therapy. She needs to concentrate on herself. If I'm there, she'll try to take care of me."

>   She constantly amazed Rafe. "Selfless and smart. You're one hell of a combination."

  "Don't you believe it. It's purely selfish. I'm a counselor and a coach because it makes me feel good. I learn something from those kids every day."

  "Pack a bag. I'll walk the cops out. Make sure you lock up tight. If this gets out, you'll have another yard full of reporters and curiosity seekers."

  "Yes, dear," she said with a tilt of her head.

  "Sorry. You don't need me to tell you that." Rafe was proud of the way she'd taken tonight in stride. She'd slow down soon. The adrenaline pumping through her veins would keep her going just so long.

  After she'd disappeared down the hallway, he walked outside to talk with the CSI in charge, Tyler Hurst. They'd exchanged IDs earlier, but Rafe had stayed out of the way, yielding to the experts.

  "Not much information to go on," Rafe said. "I appreciate anything you can come up with."

  "If there's something to find, we'll find it," Tyler said. He glanced around the yard. "What do you know about the neighbor?"

  "You won't have to worry about him. He's clear." Rafe paused on the porch and watched the orange blaze ascend as the sun broke over the horizon.

  Erin was in her bedroom packing, and Rafe took a couple of steps down the hallway. The fact that it was her bedroom caused him to pause. If he went back there tonight, he'd cross a line that maybe shouldn't be crossed. The desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she begged him to join her on the bed was too strong.

  He'd hurt her once, inadvertently, but the pain had been real. No way did he want to do it again.

  CHAPTER 12

  "Erin?" Rafe's tone had a strange effect on Erin. Like a favorite song she wanted to hear again and again.

  "Coming." She shook off the stupor she'd slipped into. How long had she sat on the side of the bed and stared at the tennis shoes at her feet? All the air seemed to have left her lungs, draining every ounce of energy she had left.

  Dragging her suitcase and carrying her shoes, she hurried down the hall. Rafe took her bag while never taking his eyes off of her. "Let's get you out of here."

  She nodded. Too tired to speak, she opened the door and stepped out into the morning air. The sun washed across her face, and a light breeze warned that summer was right around the corner. "I love this kind of day. Everything is new and fresh, ready to begin anew."

  Rafe's hand slid around her waist. "You're getting maudlin, which tells me it's time you got some sleep."

  "You owe me a run. And I dressed for it." She held her shoes up for his inspection. "See?" She sat on the porch steps and slipped on a pair of socks and the tennis shoes.

  "We'll stop for breakfast and coffee. Then we'll see if you're together enough to run. If you fell and got hurt on my watch, Jeff would have my hide."

  She tied her shoestrings then accepted his hand, allowing him to help her stand. Neither spoke as they got into his car. Rafe backed out of her driveway and headed toward the highway. Erin took one quick glance at her house as they turned the corner. She'd held back her anger since the first police officer walked through her front door.

  "You've been very quiet," Rafe said. "If somebody sent me a threatening note, it would piss me off."

  "You really should stop reading my mind."

  "Afraid I might learn your secrets?"

  "We all have secrets," she snapped, but immediately wished she hadn't.

  "Hey." His large hand covered her knee. "I was joking."

  "Sorry. I'm a little touchy." She forged ahead without waiting for a response. "This last note convinced me. The messages, the drugs, and the murders all tie back to me."

  "You're pretty smart. I'm not sure it registered with the cops today. Beckett gets that somehow it connects to you." He glanced at her. If she'd read him correctly, a hint of pride backlit his dark eyes.

  "This last note was very different. Scared me just a little."

  "A little. Scares me a lot. It was delivered using the same method as the others. Whoever left it knew you'd received the other envelopes."

  "You think tonight's note isn't related to the murders?"

  "We need to look at all the angles. Hell, it could be one of those reporters who staked out your house. We have to figure that out." Rafe took the ramp onto the freeway, took his sunglasses from the console, then slid them on. "Did the cops who interviewed you ask about old boyfriends?"

  "Yes. And I told them the truth."

  "Are you going to tell me about him?"

  "I don't see why not. He taught history at the high school. Our relationship lasted a couple of years. It ended when he moved to Minnesota to take the headmaster's position at a private school. There's been nobody since."

  "He was in love with you." Rafe's words were a statement, not a question.

  "If you mean did he ask me to go with him, yes. I said no, and he understood."

  "Well, somebody thinks he's in love with you now. If I'm right, he saw me kiss you good night, and that set him off."

  "So the first time I kiss a man in a year, somebody cares? Why hasn't this person come forward? Nobody has asked me out in a long time." Erin's brain sorted through any possible suspects.

  "Then you're surrounded by fools."

  Erin blinked as he glanced at her, sending that trademark wink of his.

  "Thank you."

  "Just calling it like I see it."

  "You really think somebody could be jealous?"

  "There are a couple of possibilities. We have a reporter trying to goad you into a story. Or some guy who's trying to prove his love."

  "You think this guy who fancies himself in love with me killed two young women to prove his love? How sick would that be?"

  "Damn sick and damn dangerous."

  She realized Rafe had led her to answer her own questions. She punched him in the arm. "You'd already figured it out. Why didn't you just tell me?"

  "Because I'm not a hundred percent sure, and sometimes talking it out helps." Rafe glanced at her. A sexy smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I was the first guy you'd kissed in how long?"

  She thought about her answer. "Maybe a year."

  "Sweet. Now I feel special."

  "Stop or we won't have room in the car for all three of us."

  "Three?"

  "Yeah. You, me, and your ego."

  He laughed, and she joined him. "You did it again. This time you calmed my nerves. I'll bet you're very good at your job."

  "I try."

  Erin's thoughts went back to the idea of having a stalker, one who thought they had a relationship. "There's a name for this behavior." She dug deep into her memory. "Erotomania." A band tightened around her chest.

  "Yeah." Rafe nodded. "That's the technical name for it. Some celebrities have to deal with people who've really gone off the deep end. You're sure nobody has made a pass—"

  "Nobody."

  "Don't be too quick to answer. Sometimes all it takes is a few kind words to set off this type of personality. A pat on the back, a smile, maybe you thanked him for something. Any or all of those can be seen as a declaration of love."

  "Then the killer could be anyone in town. I try to get along with everybody."

  "This bastard apparently believes you initiated the imagined affair with him. He felt that you disrespected him or your relationship, and he lashed out."

  "Like leaving me a warning not to do it again."

  "Exactly. He's saying you aren't allowed to betray him."

  "I remember reading that egomaniacs don't normally kill."

  "If this is the correct scenario, this bastard in not like most." Rafe drove into the parking lot of Mom's Kitchen, a café known for its home-style breakfasts. He wove through the jumble of cars and eighteen-wheelers and parked. He killed the engine and turned in his seat. "I'll talk to Beckett today. He'll see the report, and I'll wager he agrees with me."

  "After we eat, I'll pass on the run. I should tell Jeff and Lotty what's happened. They
need to hear this from me."

  "You're right. We'll drive over after breakfast. We can exercise later," he said with a wink.

  Erin walked in front of him, feeling his eyes on her and thinking about a different kind of exercise.

  ****

  Rafe hadn't been inside Jeff and Lotty's home in many years. Erin had cautioned against expecting the Lotty of old, but the friendly, warm-hearted woman who opened her arms and ushered guests inside pulled him in for a hug. She moved slower, her steps were cautious and more deliberate. Her smile and the sincerity in her welcome hadn't faded.

  "Shame on you for not coming sooner," Lotty chastised, but with a sparkle in her eyes.

  Rafe chuckled. "No excuses." He kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry."

  "No fun if you're not going to argue." She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and leaned against him as he walked her to an easy chair.

  "You're looking good. I'm guessing this old grouch has been taking good care of you," Rafe said, sitting on the couch close to Lotty.

  "Between Jeff and Erin, I can't move without them hovering." Lotty settled back in her chair. Her gaze shifted between Rafe and Erin. "Whatever it is, best you just spit it out."

  Erin scooted next to Rafe, allowing Jeff to sit next to her. "I'll let Rafe explain."

  Hitting the high spots, Rafe explained the latest note left at Erin's. No one spoke or interrupted. He finished with the news that he would stay until the case was resolved. An uneasy crawl of foreboding nagged at him for making such a promise. What if this dragged on for years?

  "So while you're packing up the house and working on the case, Erin should stay here, so I can protect her," Jeff said.

  "We talked about this." Erin joined the conversation. "The last thing I want you worrying about is my safety. I knew you'd want to stay in the loop on what's happening, which is why we're here."

  "My partner, Colton Weir, may be assigned to the narcotics case. One of us will be around to provide security. Erin will be fine."

  Jeff rose and started pacing. The nerve in his jaw jerked. His agitation was obvious, but he remained silent.

  "Are you staying at Rafe's?" Lotty asked.

  "Yes," Erin said. "Everybody in town knows you and Jeff raised me. If I stayed here and anything newsworthy happened, the media would be crawling all over your place. Rafe's house is farther out and more secluded."