Illusive Flame

by Girard, Dara

  Robert paused then said quietly, “There are times when a man must lie or at least not reveal the truth to save a friend.”

  “A true friend would know that even an honorable man can’t lie about certain things.”

  “Why would that be?”

  “Because an honorable man believes in a higher good. Silence has its place, but it will be your conscience that screams.”

  * * *

  Victoria stood in front of Susannah’s burned house draped in a wool coat and scarf as the wind scattered leaves on the ground.

  “A nice puzzle, isn’t it?” Prescott said.

  A part of her hadn’t expected him to come, but knew arrogance would force him there. She understood his arrogance as much as she despised it. Arrogance provided a nice shield when you lived on the margins of life. Her father hadn’t been an educated man or important, but he had the power to destroy, and that made him feel greater than he was. Prescott was arrogant enough to think he would never get caught. She would use that flaw to her advantage. “Yes, it’s a good puzzle,” she said.

  “The warehouse fire was better.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of the acetone. Those two clowns had no idea how it worked.” He laughed. “They didn’t understand its personality. That guy, Josef, had taken a nice arson-for-hire job that should have been mine. I always thought it would be cool to be an arsonist for hire like your father.” He briefly frowned. “Anyway, Josef beat me to the job, and then when I heard about his insurance fraud scheme, I thought I’d watch and see what happened. Anything could set off acetone fumes. A pilot light coming on in the coffee area or a frayed electrical cord or an electrical switch.” He smiled in memory. “Something came on and the building went up. What a beautiful sight. Poor guy was still inside. Heard he lived, though, but he’s no longer a concern of mine.”

  “What about the old lady?”

  “Probably a hot plate turned into a detonator or a frayed cord. You can make anything look like a malfunction if you’re clever.” His watched beeped. He glanced at it and swore. “I have to go. We’ll talk more later.”

  “Yes.” She turned off the recorder in her pocket, trying not to smile.

  * * *

  An hour later, Victoria stared at Robert stunned. “What do you mean it’s not enough? I got a taped confession.”

  Robert shook his head at the tape recorder lying on his desk. “Prescott didn’t admit to anything. The DA would laugh at a tape like this.”

  “He described how the warehouse fire burned and the old woman...”

  “All speculation.”

  “Speculation? He mentioned acetone and a hot plate. That’s important.”

  “He didn’t say ‘I did it.’ That’s a taped confession.”

  Victoria grabbed the recorder and began to turn. “Okay, then I will—”

  Robert jumped to his feet and seized her arms, forcing her to face him. “No, you’re not going to do anything. Stay away from him. He’s dangerous. He’s not worth the risk.”

  “Foster’s worth the risk.”

  He searched her eyes then shook his head in amazement. He’d seen that expression before. “This isn’t about Foster. This is about you and Prescott.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  He ignored her. “I think a part of you likes meeting with him. A part of you is attracted to what he is. Maybe it’s even more than a part. Perhaps you just want to be with him because you relate to his sense of justice more than you do mine. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman found herself attracted to a dangerous man.” Rosalind loved them, craving the excitement and challenge they promised her. It had only taken several months before she had become bored with her safe, boring husband and found the company of other men. He hadn’t known it then, but he wouldn’t be blind again.

  Victoria had a wild, untamed freedom he could never grasp or tame. He knew she would leave him before he had the chance to let her go. “Just admit it.”

  Her gaze didn’t waver. “I only want to catch him.”

  “At what price?”

  “At any price.”

  He turned and sat on the edge of his desk. “No, that price is too high.”

  She took a few steps towards him then stopped; her voice became a persuasive whisper. “But you haven’t spoken to anyone yet, have you?”

  He paused. “No.” He shook his head at the hope in her eyes. “But I plan to.”

  “You’ll kill him.”

  “He’s strong.”

  She pounded the desk. “And what if he’s not? What happens if you’re wrong? What happens if the system doesn’t work or Foster isn’t strong? What will you do then?”

  “The system can work.”

  “The system is made up of men and men are not fair. They lie.”

  “And you expect me to lie to?”

  She clasped her hands together as though in prayer. “I expect you not to say anything. Please.”

  “I have to.”

  Her hands fell to her sides in defeat. “Fine.”

  He grabbed her arms before she went to the door. He pulled her towards him until their noses nearly touched. “You have to trust me.”

  “I do trust you, but I don’t trust them. I don’t trust the men of your system, the connivers and manipulators and the hunters and the weak-minded. My father was better than them all.”

  Robert rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. His voice was barely a whisper. “Please don’t do this to me. Don’t make me choose.”

  Victoria heard the anguish in his voice; it echoed the pain in her heart. She cupped his face. “You already have.” She took a deep breath feeling as though her insides were crumbling, but she refused to fall apart. “And so have I.” She brushed her lips against his then took a step back.

  Robert didn’t release her. He drew her close and deepened the kiss sending her sensations spinning under the assault of his persuasive mouth and seductive hands. For a moment she surrendered, wanting only to be with him, but she knew she couldn’t. She pushed him away and fought back tears.

  “Victoria, please.” He reached for her again, but she slipped out of his grasp and went to the door.

  “I’m sorry.” She turned the door handle then stopped. She removed her earrings then placed them in his palm. “I want you to have these.”

  He stared down at them confused. “Why?”

  “Because I love you and I want you to remember that.” She swung open the door then raced out the room.

  * * *

  The brilliant red, gold and yellows of the leaves turned a dusty brown as autumn lengthened. Robert sat in his study thinking of Victoria’s last words to him. She’d said she loved him, he didn’t believe her. How could she love a man she didn’t understand? A man she didn’t respect? Since Foster’s indictment no one in the house spoke to him. He hadn’t noticed how his staff had begun to feel like family. No doubt Victoria had told them about his choice and they’d turned against him.

  He didn’t blame them. Foster was one of them. It didn’t matter that he’d gotten Foster a top legal defense team. Spending money was no great risk.

  He sighed when someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”

  Foster walked into the room. “I need to talk to you.”

  Robert studied him; his skin looked pale, his face older. Though he’d prepared himself for this moment it still caused pain. He hadn’t realized how much he’d considered Foster a friend. No, he was much more. He admired him. He’d fought valiantly against his alcoholism and had rebuilt his life. The one thing his father had not been able to do. He was the man he wanted to be and now he would lose him. “I understand if you would like to leave my employ.”

  Foster sat “No. You had to tell them about Tanya. I don’t blame you.”

  “Why not? I blame myself.”

  “I blamed myself for Tanya’s murder, but I couldn’t change anything. I blamed Susannah’s report for tipping off the suspected murderer by sharing in
formation to the public that the police didn’t want anyone to know. Then I saw her at one of my AA meetings and I wanted to save her.”

  “They never found the guy. The DA will use that same defense now stating that her recent reporting about my investigation made you snap.”

  “I did go to see her about her reporting, but I didn’t kill her.”

  “I know.”

  “I used to drink so I wouldn’t have to face life. This case is forcing me to face my past, and I’ve found out that I am strong enough. “That’s because of you.”

  Robert felt his throat tighten. “I will do everything in my power to help you.”

  “You’ve already done enough. I know that you and Victoria are at odds because of me.”

  Robert shook his head. “It’s not you. It’s our belief of what’s right and what’s wrong. We can’t seem to compromise.”

  Foster hesitated. “I don’t want her taking unnecessary risks because of me.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “She told me that she plans to talk to that Prescott character.”

  He felt a chill come over him. “Why?”

  “She wants him to go after her.”

  * * *

  Victoria set down her fork and smiled at Prescott. His wide smile shone white in the dim lights of the restaurant. It wasn’t a fancy place like the ones to which Robert had taken her. Lobster didn’t appear on the menu, and there were no personal waiters or separate wine lists; however, it didn’t need those things. Its calm earthy atmosphere made customers feel at ease.

  She sipped her drink and glanced away from his intense gaze. She was used to it. He was in awe of her and she didn’t wish to discourage it; however, she shouldn’t have accepted his invitation to dinner, but a part of her couldn’t resist the challenge. A part of her that was drawn to his confidence, drawn to the way he treated her as though she were a queen. He rushed to open a door or hold out a chair for her at every opportunity. When he spoke she listened as though he had bewitched her. She felt alive in his company; she felt as though anything were possible. That she could do anything.

  He knew how it felt not to belong...how it felt to live on the fringes of life and battle the shadows. He understood the dark side of her. There was nothing she needed to hide from him, unlike Robert...

  She took another sip of her drink, feeling the cool liquid slide down her throat. She was here for him. She would catch Prescott somehow and make sure that Foster went free. Unfortunately, he had a clever way of speaking without revealing anything she could use. She sent him a sidelong glance, a shiver racing through her, recognizing the dangerous game she was playing. Her firestarter was clever about a lot of things. If she didn’t handle this right she could fall into her own trap.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Robert demanded when Victoria answered her door.

  Victoria ignored how her heart leapt at the sight of him. She folded her arms and blinked bored.

  He took hold of his temper and said in a calm voice. “Foster told me what you’re up to.”

  She shrugged. “So?”

  He clenched his teeth. “This isn’t a game, Victoria. Prescott is a dangerous man. He’s killed two people... you could be next.”

  Her voice remained quiet. “I know.”

  “You can’t do this.”

  “I have to.” She turned away.

  He followed her inside and slammed the door. “Why?”

  She spun around. “Because I prefer to die than watch him kill another innocent person and see it in my mind. I have to stop him. No one stopped my father and look what he did. If no one stops Prescott he will get more dangerous than you’d ever imagine.”

  “I can’t let you do this.”

  “You can’t stop me.”

  “Yes, I can.”

  A malicious little smile touched her lips. “You can try, but you will not stop me.”

  “Don’t underestimate me, Victoria.”

  She raised a mocking brow. “I’m not.”

  He saw the challenge in her eyes and felt the same challenge in his soul. She was almost everything he was not, but he knew he was staring at his equal. He understood her and knew that she understood him He could fight her, he could destroy her, but there would be no victory in such a triumph. He’d prefer spending his energy pursuing another prey; even if that meant losing everything.

  “Okay,” he said in a hoarse voice as though the words were being ripped from his throat.

  She frowned. “What?”

  He sat on the couch and looked up at her, a cold and ominous determination bright in his gaze. “I’ll get him for you. No matter what it takes. I promise you’ll get him.”

  It was his eyes rather than his tone that made her shiver. The predatory nature she’d first sensed when she met him shone clear in his gaze. His words of assurance should have warmed her, but instead left her feeling cold and hollow inside. Yes, he could get Prescott and destroy him, but he could also succumb to the darkness within himself and might never recover. She knew there was a certain threshold from which one could never return. She couldn’t allow him to make that sacrifice. “But you said that with your job--”

  “I’ll resign tomorrow.”

  “No.”

  He stared at her bewildered. “Why not? You wanted me to do it before.”

  “I was wrong. I can’t let you give up what you love or who you are because of me. I love you as you are. I don’t want you to change. I’m not worth it.” She shook her head with bitterness. “If you knew the truth about me...”

  “You say you love me?”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled her down next to him his voice urgent, but gentle. “Then trust me. I know everything I need to know about you and I know what I’m doing.” His voice deepened with conviction. “I will never let anything happen to you.”

  She stepped away from him and wrapped her arms around herself. “Do you know why some people think I’m evil? It’s not because of my visions.”

  “Tell me why then.”

  She swallowed as her stomach twisted in knots. “Because I killed my cousin. I was about seven and we were playing with matches. I loved matches and fires. We would light candles and set leaves and paper on fire even though adults warned us not to. One day when I was supposed to be watching him. I lit a match and it caught the bedclothes on fire. Before I knew it the entire room burst into flames. I got out, he didn’t.”

  His voice softened. “You were a child, Victoria. You shouldn’t have been watching him anyway.”

  “That doesn’t matter. At times I wonder if I wanted him dead. I didn’t like him. He wasn’t kind and I hated his parents, but he hadn’t deserved to die because of me. I’ve always felt I should have died in that fire because I have no reason to be alive. I know that catching Prescott is what I’m meant to do no matter what the cost.”

  “I’ll get him for you.” Robert gently wiped her tears. “Give me time.”

  “It’s too late.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I had dinner with him one night and I made him very angry...”

  * * *

  Victoria knew Robert couldn’t protect her no matter how he tried. She had a destiny he couldn’t control. Victoria lay in the bed staring at the ceiling as Robert slept next to her. He’d done so for the past week because she refused to stay in the main house and he refused to leave her alone here. Prescott would strike anyway...she just had to make sure to sense him before he did.

  She glanced out the window and saw the bold red slashes of a rising sun. Had she stayed up all night? She glanced at the clock. It read 2 A.M. The red slashes morphed into the sight of flames. She sat up in bed and sniffed the air. She didn’t smell smoke. Where was the vision coming from? Had he chosen another house to spite her? A sense of dread nearly made her sick. She leapt out of bed as her thought raced with possibilities. He wouldn’t, but she knew he w
ould.

  She thought about her father who had killed eighty people in one night. Prescott was as dangerous as that.

  He would find the perfect way to hurt her. She couldn’t afford to be too late this time. She looked out the window and saw what she feared. Brilliant red flames devouring the main house.

  She shook Robert awake. “Call the fire department,” she said racing to the door.

  He came instantly awake sensing her panic. “Victoria wait—”

  She didn’t. She ran outside, her thin nightgown a poor shield against the cold air as the frozen grass stung the bottom of her feet. She had to wake them. The alarm would not sound he’d make sure of that. And Benjamin... she couldn’t think of what he may have done to him. She only knew he’d get pleasure out of burning them in their beds as her father had his victims. She could feel his pleasure through her panic.

  * * *

  What a glorious blaze! Prescott watched in the distance proud as flames consumed the Braxton mansion. Vivid orange-red flames shot into the dark night, cackling and clawing, tossing ash and bursts of light into the sky. Victoria do you see what I have done? He wanted to laugh and shout out her name. The sight aroused him and he could feel a hard bulge push against the front of his trousers. A painful, yet sweet ache. This sight was prettier than any woman could be. This blaze would make the ‘Breaking News’ on TV and would be plastered cross the front of every newspaper. He could see it now: Local Arson Investigator’s Home Turned to Ashes. And they would never trace it to him. They would say the cause was a careless accident in the kitchen. Everyone knew that most fires started there.

  His body trembled as the psychic orgasm ascended. Oh yes. God it felt good. For a moment he rested his hand there and moaned. He wanted Victoria to see this. He wanted her to be with him. She would understand. It would be nice to have a woman around for a change. To find a place of release between her thighs after experiencing such a high. Yes, Victoria had made him angry that night at dinner by taunting him. By saying that no one could be as good as her father. Now he had proven her wrong. He’d gotten the better of an arson investigator; her father had never done that. He laughed, satisfied.