"Okay, your," she made air quotes, "‘friend’ Jake. He’s used to weapons. I’d rather he have it than some amateur."
"Thanks." Violet smiled. "I’ll tell him it is from you."
"So, why all the cops?"
Violet recognized Chris’s need to change the subject. Before she could answer, Chris added, "I wouldn’t think the BPD could afford around-the-clock protection on the off chance the guy came after you." She gasped in realization. "What aren’t you telling me?"
Violet didn’t know how much to reveal. She had a feeling her friend would find out one way or another anyway. "There’s a chance the killer is obsessed with me," she admitted.
Chris lurched back, a hand covering her heart. "No, please tell me that’s not true."
"I wish I could," Violet whispered.
Chris grasped her hands. "Oh honey, you are safe with that big hunk protecting you." Her eyes widened. "So it is a ruse that he’s your boyfriend. That’s why he spent so much time with you…to protect you?"
The bottom fell out of Violet’s stomach. She'd never thought of that. Was that the real reason Jake showered her with attention? To keep her safe and catch a killer. She suddenly felt very tired. Forcing a smile, she said, "Yep, he didn’t want anyone to know the real reason." Including me.
#
Jake had just drifted off when the rumble of a car engine penetrated his subconscious. He jumped out of bed and peered out the window in time to see Chris pull away from the curb. He glanced at Zeus, who stood next to him on his hind legs, his paws braced on the window sill and smiled.
With a spring in his step, he hurried back to bed and arranged himself in a position of casual indifference, one arm draped over his head, the other clutching the clear plastic Coke bottle. Zeus resettled at his feet. He had left the door ajar just enough to see into the hallway. If Violet wanted him ready and willing, well, she was going to have to do a little groveling now, wasn’t she? Immature, sure. He told himself it was because she neglected to correct the Columbo dig. Although now that he reflected on it, being called Columbo wasn’t such a bad thing. Yes, the guy could be a bumbling dolt, but he was sharp as a tack and solved all of his crimes. And though Jake didn’t drive a dilapidated fifty-nine Peugeot convertible or wear a rumpled raincoat, he was known to enjoy an occasional cigar or two. Especially when playing poker with his buddies.
The thud of feet on the stairs hardened his body and he had to adjust the quilt so she wouldn’t see the obvious signs. Keeping the entry in his peripheral vision, he pretended to focus on the game.
#
Violet forced herself to breathe as she mounted the steps, which was hard to do when her heart was breaking. Was Chris correct? Did Jake only feign interest in her because he knew she could be the target? She hadn’t trusted a man in a long time…since her father, but she trusted Jake. She told him things about her, about her past that she hadn’t shared with anyone, not even Grandma June.
How could she have been so stupid?
Gathering her courage, she stepped forward and noticed the partially open bedroom door. She looked around to make sure Zeus hadn’t escaped. As she moved closer, muted blue light filtered into the hall. She glanced inside the room and the sight that greeted her made her lose her breath. Jake reclined against the headboard, his gloriously naked chest glimmering bronze in the flickering glow from the television, Zeus tucked against his feet. He either had no idea she stood staring with her mouth hanging open, or he didn’t care.
Wanting to get the confrontation over with, she pushed the door open without knocking. Zeus hurdled off the bed and showered her with affection. She thought she heard Jake mutter, "Traitor." Why would he be mad at her?
"Jake?"
Without taking his eyes from the tube, he responded, "Hum?"
"What’s wrong with you?"
She watched as he finished off the Coke, loving how his Adam’s apple slowly bobbed as he swallowed. His response was as lazy as his movements. "You didn’t bother to defend me against that Columbo dig."
"I didn’t think it was a dig," she said honestly. "He’s the greatest detective on television. I saw it as a compliment. She didn’t mean anything by it," she promised, setting next to him on the bed. "Besides, she came bearing gifts for you."
Jake’s eyes widened, the anger gone. "A gift for me?"
"She found a brand new pocket knife with the receipt attached and has no use for it. It was paid for in cash." She skipped the part about its unknown origin to save her friend the humiliation. "She wanted me to give it to you."
"That was nice," he grumbled grudgingly.
Zeus jumped up and settled next to Jake, who whispered something to the dog, his expression smug when Zeus rewarded him with a gentle swipe of his tongue. Great, they were ganging up on her.
Jake continued to stare at the TV, completely ignoring her. She sighed. It was more than the Columbo comment that had him out of sorts. Her gaze drifted down his body and she noticed the tent in the quilt. He caught her staring and quickly adjusted the covers. Like that was ever going to happen again.
"I need to ask you something, Jake and I want you to be completely honest with me."
Her tone got his attention. His brows dipped in concern as he placed the empty bottle on the nightstand, muted the television and scooted higher against the headboard, the sheet falling dangerously lower. She forced her gaze to his eyes. "When did you discover the killer targeted me specifically?"
"About five days ago." He'd told her two nights ago, so that wasn’t so bad. They had spent time together before that. Her spirits rose. Maybe she would do something about that tent in the sheet after all.
"But if I were to be completely honest," he said softly, his eyes shifting away. "I knew that night you discovered Rayann’s body. It was too much of a coincidence that she resembled you and the killer used your name in his poems."
Violet shot to her feet, startling Zeus. He leaped to the floor and stared at her expectantly. "So that’s what this was all about?" Her hand shook as she pointed at him. "All those dates, those nights spent talking, they were all lies?"
Jake tossed the covers aside and shot out of bed. "How the hell could you say that?" She backed away from him as he prowled closer. "In case you haven’t noticed," his hand shot out and grabbed hers, plastering it against the front of his boxers. "This has nothing to do with protecting you."
She jerked her hand away. "So you are saying that every time we were together was strictly because you wanted to be with me and not because you felt some obligation to guard me?"
"No, I can’t tell you that," he said honestly.
She spun on her heel and stomped out of the room, Zeus dogging her steps.
"Dammit, would you let me finish." He chased after her and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. "Maybe I thought it would be safer for you if we spent as much time as we could together, but that was because I felt something that first night I met you. I have never, ever gotten involved with a woman who was part of an investigation. Never." His voice was forceful, firm. "I never wanted to, nor have I ever felt this overwhelming need to protect someone. So sure," he flung his arm out carelessly, "Maybe I thought I could keep you safe. That was because I wanted you safe, it meant something to me to keep you that way. Not because you could be in danger, but because of you." He stressed the last word. "It’s you I want to spend time with. It’s you I’m fall—"
Shattering glass, followed by a loud thump cut off the rest of his sentence. A shrill alarm pierced the night. Jake reacted instantly. The next thing she knew, she was tossed into the spare bedroom and flattened between the bed and wall. Jake silenced Zeus with his hand. The dog whimpered and plopped on the floor next to them. Violet didn’t actually see it happen, as her head was currently pinned to the wood floor, but she heard a thud as his body hit the ground. She tried to whisper out of the side of her mouth but was "shushed."
Slowly Jake’s weight eased and she took a deep breath, relieved to
discover no ribs were broken. She twisted her head to see him crouching along the floor. She started to move but he flung his open hand in her direction.
"Stay put," he mouthed. "Zeus, stay," he ordered to the anxious dog in a low, commanding voice. "It sounded like it came from your bedroom. I’m going to check it out."
"Be careful," she whispered as he slipped from sight. She waited what seemed like an eternity before easing into a sitting position and hugging her knees to her chest, Zeus protectively at her side.
Could what he said be true? He spent time with her because he wanted to. Could she trust him? And what had he been about to say when he was interrupted?
#
Jake almost let the "L" word slip. He shouldn’t feel so relieved to be interrupted, but he did. He reacted without hesitation, forcing her to the guest room and covering her with his body. Once he ascertained that the immediate threat was removed, he silenced the alarm and crept to where the sound originated.
A jagged hole marred one large pane in the window on the far wall of the master bedroom. Cold air seeped through and ruffled the curtains. He moved closer to investigate and stubbed his toe on a rock resting on the Oriental rug. Cursing under his breath, he grabbed the walkie-talkie from the nightstand, placed there for just such an emergency. After ordering the cops outside to check the perimeter of the house, he scanned the room and found a pair of tweezers on her dresser. He eased open a drawer and withdrew a white sock. Using the items, he carefully removed the paper wrapped around the stone.
"You can run, bitch, but you can’t hide. ‘To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’"
Jake glanced at the rock and noticed it had been painted red, apparently symbolizing blood. He assumed the "her" in the poem meant Violet. The corner of his mouth arced downward and he continued reading.
"Whatever happens, know that you are responsible for your own destiny. ‘But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.’ Sleep well Violet, for it may be your last night of peaceful slumber, in this world or the next."
"Sonofabitch," he spat. It had been a long time since Catholic school, but he recognized the second quote as one from Exodus. The first he wasn’t familiar with. He grabbed his cell and dialed Turner, relaying the story.
"The stepfather?"
"That would be my guess," Jake concurred. "The warden said he ‘found Jesus’ and regularly quoted from the Bible."
They made plans and Turner ended the call saying, "I’m on my way."
Jake disconnected and grabbed the walkie-talkie, waiting for the officers to check in. He didn’t have to wait long. "The perp approached via the neighbor’s yard, tossed the rock from behind their fence, and left the same way. Two distinct sets of prints in the snow lead in and out of their back gate. No trace of him in the alley and we called in backup to search the area."
"I want a door-to-door, see if anyone saw or heard anything. Car doors slamming, dogs barking, anything."
He replaced the unit in the charger and ran a hand through his hair. He needed to check on Violet but didn’t look forward to telling her about this. She would be terrified. Padding to his bag, he pulled out clean clothes and dressed quickly.
Zeus lifted his head when Jake slid down the wall next to Violet. "From your expression, I know it isn’t good." When he looked away, she urged, "Just tell me. I can handle it."
"Someone threw a rock through your bedroom window. The stone landed just shy of your bed. I’m guessing it bounced off the mattress and hit the floor. A message was attached." He paused, gauging her reaction. He could see fear in her eyes but she fought it, putting up a brave front.
"Officers checked the perimeter and the person escaped." He picked up her hand. "I think it could be your stepfather."
That elicited a reaction. Her spine stiffened.
"Do you feel up to coming with me to read it?"
She simply nodded and he put his arm around her to help her up. "Sorry, buddy, you stay in here," Jake told Zeus as the dog bounded to his feet. "We’ll have a house full of visitors soon." He pulled the door closed to a whining whimper of protest.
After guiding Violet to the bedroom, he used the tweezers to arrange the note on the dresser so she could read. Her eyebrows wrinkled with distress and she shuddered. "It is Willie Jack. In the courtroom he told me he would pay me back. ‘An eye for an eye,’ he said then. One of the decisive factors of his early release was his born-again status. He even became ordained as a minister."
She stepped away, hugging her arms to her chest. "He used all those years in prison planning his revenge on me and now innocent women are dying because of it."
Jake wrapped his arms around her, pulling her snug against his chest. He rested his chin on her head.
"It doesn't make sense. If it's me he wants, why did he kill the others? I was an easy target. He could have had me instead of them."
"Probably his sick way of scaring you. Maybe making you suffer like he did all those years in the pen." Jake clasped her tighter. "I’m not going to let him hurt you, I promise."
"Kincaid?" The shouted question was followed by a door slamming downstairs.
"Upstairs," Jake replied. Heavy pounding on the stairs announced Turner’s arrival before he appeared in the doorway.
"Everything is set. Let’s go."
#
Violet barely noticed the two men making arrangements on her behalf. Strong hands lifted her to her feet and then she felt a solid chest against her cheek. She wrapped her arms around the body, seeking his warmth and strength. A broad hand stroked the length of her hair.
"Violet?" Jake tilted her chin until she met his eyes. "I need you to grab anything you might need for the next few days."
She couldn’t comprehend his intent. "Why?"
"We're moving you to a safe house. Turner and I will be the only ones who know where you are."
"I-I can’t just leave. What about Zeus?"
"He’s coming with you. I’ve thrown a few items into a suitcase. Turner is handling the arrangements."
"A female officer will stay here in your house," Nick said. "We’ll try to match build and hair color. She'll make sure to walk in front of the windows in case someone is watching the house. We’ve even procured a stunt double of Zeus, though this one is a trained police dog."
Violet was impressed, and a little overwhelmed, at the lengths they were taking to protect her. Jake prodded her into action, leaving her no time to feel guilty over the elaborate machinations. She tossed books and her computer into a backpack and grabbed Zeus’s leash and food.
Jake explained that they couldn’t walk out with suitcases in hand in case the house was being watched. They didn’t want to tip the person off. He carried them downstairs and she watched as another officer packed the suitcases into a large box and loaded it onto a dolly. Empty boxes were placed on top as added camouflage and the cop wheeled them out to a waiting car.
"You and I are going to walk outside with Zeus, get into your Jeep and drive to the station. The female officer will dress in your jacket and boots and then she and I will drive back to your house. I’ll leave in my car and come back to whisk you to the safe house." He zipped her jacket all the way up so what she wore beneath the coat wasn’t visible.
She was impressed with the intricate ruse. They retrieved Zeus from the guest room and headed outside. Jake held her hand the entire drive to the station. Once inside, he guided her to a small room that looked to be used for interrogations. Curtains were pulled over what she suspected was a one-way mirror. A cot had been set up and a bowl of water and a smattering of treats waited for Zeus who imbibed greedily. Jake left to fetch a cup of coffee. He returned with a steaming cup, a thick beige parka and a pair of boots. He carefully removed Violet’s jacket and shoes. She tried to help him, she really did, but her energy level hovered some
where around non-existent.
"I’ll be back as soon as I can." He grasped her head between his hands and kissed her, offering comfort and a little bit of possessiveness. He broke away and pulled back to look at her. He ran his thumb across her damp lips, kissed her again and stood to leave. "Try to get some sleep if you can."
She waited for the door to close before she climbed under the cover and settled on her side on the small, metal cot. The sound of Zeus chomping away bounced off the sterile white walls. She closed her eyes and willed her mind to not think about the nightmare that her life had become.
#
Jake walked to an identical room down the hall and handed Violet’s clothing to Maya.
"I still don’t like this," Turner muttered. "Paige Freeman has the right hair color and she is closer to Violet’s height."
"She’s also five months pregnant," Maya pointed out.
Turner waved away her argument. "Maria Sykes then."
"She’s a redhead."
"Haven’t you heard of a wig?"
Maya brushed past him, ignoring his ranting.
When she returned, Jake looked up and did a double take. Her long hair flowed down her back, a contrast from the ponytail she usually wore. From the back, she looked exactly like a taller Violet. She did a little pirouette. "Well?"
The difference was more pronounced from the front, but still a striking resemblance with the violet contacts she wore. "Great," Jake said.
A still-grumbling Turner handed Hunter over to Maya. She zipped Violet’s parka and tugged the collar to cover the lower half of her face. The jacket was too small and the shoes didn’t fit but thankfully she owned an almost identical pair. Keeping her head down, she held on to Jake’s arm. He helped her and Hunter into the Jeep and walked around the hood to get in. Once they arrived at Violet’s house, he escorted her to the door. Keeping up the charade, he leaned in to kiss her goodbye just as his cell buzzed.
#
"He’s mad."
"No shit," Jake muttered, looking at the heinously disfigured corpse of the latest victim. Violent slashes crisscrossed her body. The brand that the killer usually reserved for the lower abdomen was stamped in various places all over. He had slit her neck so deeply, bone was visible. This rape had been an extremely brutal one.
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