by T. R. Ragan
Maggie’s long tail curled around Lizzy’s leg. She leaned over and stroked Maggie’s fur. “What’s wrong, kitty? You don’t like your new Seafood Delight?”
“Meow.”
“Sorry. It’s all we’ve got.” On her way back to the kitchen, Lizzie retied her hair in a rubber band. Although Jared would be arriving soon, and he’d promised to cook, she figured he wouldn’t mind sharing a meal with one more. Until then, hot soup would have to do. “I hope you like chicken noodle soup,” she called out as she reached the kitchen. She gave the soup on the stove a quick stir before making her way to the front room.
The room was empty. “Hayley?”
Hands on hips, Lizzy looked around. The bolts on the door were unlocked. She opened the door and scanned the area. “Hayley?” She was gone. Damn. Lizzy ran to the kitchen, turned off the stove, and grabbed her coat and keys. A minute later, she was driving around the neighborhood looking for Hayley, but the girl had disappeared.
An hour later, Lizzy hovered over the stove, wondering if she should go ahead and eat the soup and call it a night. Hayley hadn’t returned and Jared was a no-show. The antique clock hanging on the wall in the kitchen mocked her. Tick tock. Tick tock. Usually the sound of the pendulum soothed her, but tonight the rhythmic tick-tock taunted her, telling her she was either running out of time or she was just a fool.
Jared was late. It shouldn’t matter. This wasn’t a date. They were getting together to discuss the case. But Lizzy never did like the idea of waiting around for a man—doing so made her feel vulnerable and needy.
She turned off the stove just as the doorbell rang. Lizzy sauntered to the door and peeked through the peephole. Jared stood back, waiting. His thick wavy hair had that sexy windblown look and the stubble on his jaw made him look less like an FBI agent and more like a regular guy. He looked good in fitted jeans and an untucked, baby-blue button-down shirt beneath an open wool peacoat. In one hand he clutched a bag of groceries and in the other he held a bouquet of flowers: daylilies, her favorite.
Butterflies flittered inside her belly. Silly girl. This was merely dinner with an old friend. Who was she kidding? The mascara she’d brushed onto her naked lashes and the flowers in his grasp painted a different picture entirely. She watched him lean close to the peephole.
“Are you going to let me in, Lizzy?”
Inwardly smiling, she unbolted the locks and opened the door. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek before he handed her the flowers. “Sorry I’m late.”
He smelled like soap and sandalwood, better than the daylilies. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and show him how glad she was to see him. Instead, she held the flowers neatly to her chest like armor.
“After I left you this afternoon, I met with Jimmy and the rest of the task force.” He held the groceries mid-air. “And then I went to the store.”
She stood there for a moment, soaking all of him in. She wanted to forget why he was really here and just enjoy the moment.
“You’re not going to let me inside, are you?”
“Oh, sorry.” She opened the door wider and let him through. After locking the bolts, she caught up to him in the kitchen and watched him unload the grocery items from the brown paper bag.
“I hope you like salmon,” he said.
“I love salmon.”
He pulled out a box of pre-sliced mushrooms and two crowns of broccoli. “How about mushrooms and broccoli?”
“I can’t think of too many vegetables I would wrinkle my nose at.”
“Not even peas?”
“I love peas.”
He made a nasty face.
She laughed. It felt good to laugh.
The last thing he pulled from the grocery bag was an apron. He took off his coat, and she hung it in the entry closet. When she returned, he was sliding the apron over his head and tying the straps around his waist.
“Wow, this is serious business,” she said. She maneuvered around the island so she could retrieve a frying pan from a cupboard. “Will this work?”
“Perfect.” He looked around. “I’ll need a cutting board and a knife and then I’ll be set.”
She found what he needed and put the items next to the pan.
He gestured toward the soup on the stove. “It looks like you were about to eat without me.”
“I had an unexpected visitor. Hayley, a girl in my defense class, stopped by. Unfortunately she took off before I could feed her and warm her up.”
“Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t look okay. I drove around looking for her, but she was gone.”
“Do you know where she lives? We could take a drive and check on her.”
Lizzy gave Jared a thoughtful look. He’d always been compassionate and caring. That’s what had attracted her to him all those years ago. “There’s no listed number for the name Hansen. I usually pass out flyers in class and provide a sign-up sheet, but I don’t require anything other than a name.”
He took her hand and led her to the stool on the other side of the kitchen island. “Let’s feed you first. You look like you could use some nourishment...then we can figure out what to do about Hayley.”
“You don’t want me to help cook?”
“I want you to relax.” He kissed the knot on her head.
“Ouch.”
“Sorry.” He went back to his place at the stove and pulled a bottle of Cabernet from his bag. When she pointed to the cupboard where she kept the wine glasses, she noticed a black smudge on her finger. Mascara. “I’ll be right back.” She went to the bathroom, dismayed by what she saw in the mirror. Jared showed up looking like he’d stepped out of the pages of GQ and here she was looking like the lady from the Black Lagoon. She used a wet cloth to clean under her eyes before making her way back to the kitchen. She took the wine he offered and said, “Thanks for telling me I looked like Rocky Raccoon.”
“I thought you looked cute.”
“Cute.” She shook her head. “That’s why I don’t wear makeup. It’s time consuming and it never stays where it’s supposed to.”
“But you took the time to put it on for me. I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be. This isn’t a date.”
His eyes sparkled beneath the fluorescent lights. “I swear I detected lipstick when you first let me in.”
“You don’t miss a thing, do you, Shayne?”
“I already told you...not when it comes to you, Lizzy.” He stepped close enough for her to feel the heat from his body. That old familiar warmth sizzled between them. All these years apart, and yet put the two of them in a room together and it was like they were back in high school. She’d felt the chemistry between them in the car today while they waited for Valerie Hunt to go to lunch. And she felt it now. Hell, she felt the same sizzling heat every time Jared Shayne stood within five feet of her. This wasn’t a good time for them to get involved. They were both overworked and exhausted. They had too much on their minds. But that didn’t stop Jared from leaning toward her. Nor did it stop her from tipping her chin upward until his mouth brushed against hers. His lips felt warm, intoxicating. He tasted like fine wine and all the best life had to offer.
He deepened the kiss.
She pressed her body closer to his.
He took her glass and set it on the counter. The weight of his body caused her to take a couple of steps backwards until she was backed against the refrigerator.
His hand slid upward over her arm and across her shoulder. Shivers followed. He dragged his mouth from her lips to her ear. “I’ve missed you, Lizzy.”
The tingling heat pulsing between her legs told her the feeling was mutual. Her hand slid beneath his apron and over his shirt. The soft cottony fabric beneath her fingertips was a stark contrast to all that hard muscle underneath.
His hands cupped her buttocks and brought her snug against him. A moan of desire slipped through her lips—the sort of noise that led to naked bodies and hot sex, reminding her of th
eir first time...right before darkness swallowed her whole. She pulled away and sucked in some air.
“What is it, Lizzy?”
She peered into his eyes. It would be so easy to get lost in those eyes, in his scent, in his kisses. “Why now?” she asked. “After all this time, why now?”
“Because I’m an idiot.”
She might have smiled at his honesty, but the ringing of the phone gave her a start. She followed Jared to where the black box revealed the incoming number. A cold chill swept over her. She didn’t want to answer the phone, but she didn’t have a choice. Thinking of Sophie, she lifted the receiver to her ear. “Hello.”
“I wish you hadn’t lied to me, Lizzy.” His voice filtered through a synthesizer, robotic and cold. “Now I have to teach you a lesson.”
“Is Sophie Madison with you?” she asked.
“I ask the questions first, Lizzy. If you tell me the truth, I might consider answering your question.”
Jared was pressed close so he could listen in.
“Is your boyfriend there with you, Lizzy?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Laughter resembling a phlegmy cough sounded on the other end. “Let me reword the question for you then. Is the boy you fucked before I found you fourteen years ago in the room with you now?”
She felt Jared stiffen.
“Is that clear enough Lizzy? Have you met the woman he was engaged to? The woman he gave up because of you? Hair of gold and sweet, rosy lips. So beautiful, and yet he left her, Lizzy. And in the end, he’ll leave you again, too. He’s a lot like his whorish mother. Love ‘em and leave ‘em, that’s Jared Shayne’s motto. Shame on him. Now answer me again. Is your lover there with you now?”
Jared’s jaw tensed. She reached for Jared’s hand and squeezed his fingers. She needed to keep Spiderman talking. “Yes,” she said calmly. “He’s here with me. Do you have the girl?”
“Not so fast, Lizzy. That was only one question.”
Breathe, Lizzy, breathe.
“Do you still love me more than your Daddy? I want the truth, nothing but the truth.”
She waited as long as possible, hoping the red light would flash and they would have a connection. “No,” she said. “No, I don’t.”
“Very good, Lizzy. Do you remember what I said I’d do if you ever betrayed me?”
Despite her anger, jolts of revulsion shot through her. “I do.”
“That’s a good girl. Now go ahead and ask me a question, Lizzy.”
“Do you have Sophie Madison with you now?”
“Yes, but not for long. She’s been a very, very bad girl.”
“Tell me where you are. Let her go. Take me instead. I’ll do whatever you—”
Click. The line went dead.
She looked at Jared, but neither of them said a word. They didn’t need to. She hadn’t kept him on the line long enough.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:13 PM
Rain and wind thrashed at the hedges and shrubs in front of the house he was watching. Trees shed limbs and tossed branches and pieces of bark across the street.
The storm was brewing earlier than the weatherman had predicted. He wondered why he bothered watching the news at all since most weathermen never got it right. But who was he kidding? He watched the news to see Nancy Moreno in action. There was something about the anchorwoman that intrigued him...which was exactly why he’d handpicked her to help him.
Moreno was more than flawed; she was damaged goods. For starters, she’d been raped by both her father and her uncle at a young age. Instead of letting it destroy her though, she’d used everything bad that happened to her to become stronger. She put herself through college and came out on top. From what he’d deduced, Nancy liked being on top. She also liked being in control. He wouldn’t mind taking her to bed, but first he’d have to wine and dine her, and he hadn’t decided yet if she was worth the trouble.
Despite her injured soul and broken psyche, Moreno always looked put together, never a hair out of place, not until this morning. Incredibly, he’d been able to do with a couple of phone calls what her father hadn’t been able to do after years of fucking his own daughter. Only he had the power to unravel a cool exterior like Moreno’s.
His fingers smoothed over his goatee. It wasn’t real. In fact, he was eager to get home and pull the hair off of his chin, and the mustache, too. He no longer enjoyed hiding behind phony hair and uncomfortable masks, but neither did he want to sit in a cold dank cell, so he did what he had to.
His gaze remained on the house across the street. Sophie was dead in the trunk. She’d been worthless, like playing with a dead fish.
Nothing was like it used to be.
He glanced at his brand new Perpetual Sea-Dweller. It was time to go. With all the wind and rain, he couldn’t see much. Besides, he needed to get rid of the body. He reached over and snatched his Nikon from the passenger seat, deciding to give it one last shot before he left. Using the telescopic lens, he looked through the viewer until he could see inside Brittany Warner’s bedroom. Her light was still on. Her bedroom light didn’t usually go off until after eleven. A silhouette of a young girl walked by, giving him a rush. Seconds later, she returned. This time, she paused directly in front of the window. That’s a good girl.
Click. Click. Click.
Knowing that Lizzy Gardner’s niece might be watching him made shivers shoot up his spine. Yes. He closed his eyes, savoring the moment. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 2:35 AM
“Stop!”
Jared sat upright. He peered into the dark at unfamiliar shapes and shadows. Had he heard something?
The only sound was the wind pressing against the building. It took him a few seconds to remember that he was sleeping on Lizzy’s couch. After the phone call, Lizzy hadn’t had much of an appetite—for food or sex. He didn’t blame her. After the call, they spent a few hours scouring files and taking notes.
Lizzy didn’t want him to drive home after finishing off a bottle of wine, but neither was she ready to invite him into her bed. He didn’t mind. He just wanted to stay close and watch over her.
“Please don’t!”
That definitely wasn’t the wind. He jumped to his feet, rushed down the hallway, and opened the door to Lizzy’s bedroom. She was having a nightmare. He went to her and smoothed the hair from her face.
“I’ll never leave you,” Lizzy said in her sleep. “I promise. Just leave her alone. I’ll do anything you ask if you’ll just leave her alone.”
The desperation in her voice made his heart ache. “Lizzy, it’s me, Jared. Wake up.”
Lizzy reach for him, dug her fingers into his forearm. “She’s had enough,” she cried. “She doesn’t mean to cry. She doesn’t know any better...please, I’m begging you to stop.”
Jared reached for the lamp and turned on the light. “Lizzy, wake up.”
Her eyes opened and she let out a shuddering breath. “Jared? Thank God it’s you.” Eagerly, frantically, she pulled him closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You came. I knew you would come. I never gave up hope.”
He’d never felt at such a loss. She was still asleep, but at least she knew he was there for her.
“It’s me,” he said as he slid onto the bed next to her. “I’m here.”
She curled up close and rested her head in the crook of his arm. Within minutes her breathing calmed. He didn’t bother shutting off the light. He laid still, his fingers gently sifting through her hair while he stared at the ceiling. She hadn’t wanted him to drive home, but neither had she wanted him to stay the night. He’d known she was hiding something, but he never dreamed she was reliving the terror of her past every time she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Chapter 18
Thursday, February 18, 2010 6:38 AM
Lizzy walked into her office, surprised to see Jessica already hard at work. “You’re here early.”
“I cou
ldn’t sleep,” Jessica said without looking away from her laptop. “I can’t stop thinking about these girls...especially Sophie.”
Lizzy squeezed past Jessica’s chair, took a seat, and turned on her computer. A cup of hot coffee awaited her. “Thanks for the coffee.” She took a sip. “Looks like you’ve been getting a lot of work done.”
Jessica plopped a pile of notes and papers in front of Lizzy. “Want to see what I’ve got so far?”
Lizzy took another sip of coffee and nodded.
“We’ve got four bodies all found near a body of water. Every victim has spider bites, burn marks, and their own distinctive mark left by the killer. For instance, the first victim found was Jordan Marriott—brown eyes, dancer, found floating in a community pool. Her family wouldn’t talk to me, but I was able to locate two of Jordan’s closest friends. They both agreed Jordan was a nice girl, but she had a big mouth.”
Lizzy was about to comment, but Jessica raised a hand to stop her. “You said to find out every detail about these girls so that’s what I did. Maybe if we learn more about them, we’ll learn more about Spiderman, too.”
Impressed, Lizzy waited for Jessica to continue.
“It seems Jordan had a tendency to tell people exactly what she thought of them—no holds barred. Her friends said her bluntness could get out of hand at times. She had been known on occasion to publically humiliate her mom. If you remember, Jordan was the girl found with soap shoved down her esophagus. She was also blinded by acid.
“Next victim was Laney Monroe,” Jessica said without pausing. “The only blue-eyed victim. But guess what? She wore contacts.”
“You’re kidding me?” Lizzy was stunned.