The Butterfly Murders

by Jen Talty

  A sharp pain ripped through Shane’s temples. His own heart slowed, then raced wildly out of control. “That’s not going to happen.”

  Tina laughed as she removed her foot from his hands, and bent forward, her face just inches from his. Her gun pointed toward Kara, but he noticed her aim was off just a tad.

  “And,” she whispered, “Kevin is going to be alive when I do it.”

  Kara gave Shane a quick nod, showing both her hands were free.

  “You got that wrong.” He raised his fists with brute force, landing squarely on Tina’s nose as Kara threw herself in Kevin’s direction.

  Bang!

  Vallen flipped back, holding her nose, blood oozing between her fingers.

  He scrambled to get to his feet, looking toward Kevin, praying neither he nor Kara had been shot. Kara had snagged the gun and then slammed Vallen up against the wall, the barrel of the weapon pressed into Tina’s temple. Blood continued to roll down Vallen’s face and neck. Dark circles under her eyes already forming from the broken nose. “This is for hitting me over the head with my weapon.” Kara smacked Vallen with the butt of the gun and she groaned, falling to her knees. “This is for threatening to kill the people I love.” She kicked Vallen in the gut.

  “I think that’s enough,” Shane said while he watched his son cut through Shane’s restraints. As soon as his hands were free, he wrapped his arms around Kevin, holding him tight. “Are you hurt?”

  “No,” Kevin said quietly, his shoulders shaking. His face buried in Shane’s neck. His fingers digging into Shane’s shoulders. “I was so scared.”

  “We all were,” Shane said, squeezing his son, trying desperately to stop the trembling fear that still rippled from Kevin’s body. “You were very brave.”

  “I thought Kara was dead when she got hit over the head,” Kevin said through sobs. “She laid on the floor for a long time, not waking up.”

  “She’s awake now,” Shane said. “I think we’re all going to be okay.”

  The house filled with SWAT as well as Foster and Jones. It was Foster who handcuffed Vallen and escorted her out. Shane sat on the floor, holding his son, hand pressed against his chest, feeling the pounding of his heart.

  “Hey.” Kara sat down next to him. “You’ve got quite a kid. He literally saved us,” she said.

  “How did he do that?”

  “Well, that’s up to him to tell you.”

  Shane looked at his son. “What is she talking about?”

  “Don’t be mad, but I accidentally brought my pocketknife to school again, so I had it with me.”

  “Had he not been able to get me that pocketknife, we’d all be dead,” Kara said.

  “How’d you manage that?” Shane asked as he cupped his son’s face, checking for damage that Tina might have inflicted as he wiped his son’s tears away.

  “I was able to free my hands from the rope.”

  “Using the knife that you’re not supposed to take with you to school?” Shane asked.

  “No.” Kevin shook his head. “I’ve been practicing escape tricks for the school talent show. Gina’s been helping me. I hadn’t been able to do it until today.”

  “Without using the knife? That’s amazing,” Shane said. “How did you get the knife to Kara?”

  “When Nurse Vallen left the room.”

  “I was quite shocked to see him reach into his pocket and hand it to me,” Kara said. “Then it just became a waiting game. Took me nearly twenty minutes to free my hand and I think he did it in five minutes.”

  “A little longer than that,” Kevin said. “I almost didn’t try it because I was afraid she’d hurt Kara more if she found out.”

  “It was a brave move.” Shane kissed the top of his son’s head. “Smart to keep the rope around your wrists like that.”

  “Kara told me to do that.”

  He reached out and traced his finger along Kara’s chin, pulling her toward him. He kissed her temple. “I’m sorry that lunatic hurt you.”

  “It’s not your—”

  He pressed his finger against her lips. “Thank you for taking care of my son.”

  “I think he took care of me.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’ve got a killer headache and that bitch shot me.”

  “What?” Shane lifted her head. “When I hit her?”

  Kara held up her arm.

  Gently, he tugged at her shirt, noting a small amount of blood. The bullet had sliced through the top part of her bicep. It wasn’t a hole, but it wasn’t a graze either. Shane waved the EMTs over, pointing to Kara’s arm. Then he tilted her head from side to side. A lump the size of a golf ball formed just above her right ear, along with a cut that looked as though it was still bleeding. Her black eye grew darker, along with a nasty bruise on her swollen cheek.

  “I’m tired,” she whispered. Leaning against his shoulder. “I don’t feel too well either.”

  “You probably have a concussion,” he said. “We’ll get you to the hospital.”

  “Okay,” she said. “I think I’ll put in for a few days off starting now.”

  “I think I’ll join you.”

  Chapter 26

  SHANE STARED AT HIS TWO fingers taped together with a splint while he sat in the emergency waiting room with his son, who was sound asleep, his head resting on his grandmother’s lap. His niece had been released, but he didn’t want to leave until after Kara had been checked out and released. His parents had also refused to leave. His mother sat next to him, gently stroking Kevin’s hair. His father and Theresa sat across from him. Theresa had her nose in a textbook, while his father read a book on his Kindle.

  “You sure you don’t want one of us to take him home?” His father peered over his electronic device.

  “I promised him he could stay.”

  “I can’t believe that nurse killed all those people,” his mother said in a soft tone.

  Foster entered the waiting room from the main corridor. His usual cool demeanor had disappeared and was replaced with disheveled hair and dark circles around his eyes.

  “Excuse me.” Shane rose and met Foster near the doors. He didn’t want his family to hear this conversation.

  “Any news on Kara?” Foster asked.

  “Half a dozen stitches in her arm, another three in her head. They kicked me out when they took her down for a CT scan. Doctor said he’d come get me when she’s back in the ER. They might admit her for the night. Being thorough and making sure there’s no bleeding in the brain or abnormal swelling. When I left, she was protesting and wanted to go home.”

  “Sounds like her,” Foster said. “I’ve got some information for you about your niece’s accident. The driver of the car that T-Boned her was paid a hefty sum to do so by Vallen.”

  “I suspected she had orchestrated it,” Shane said.

  “You also might like to know there wasn’t another victim. Turns out a donor had their organs harvested last night and Vallen somehow managed to walk off with the thymus.”

  While Shane was glad no one else had died at the hands of that woman, a wave of sadness sent a cold shiver across his neck. Kevin hadn’t asked about her daughter and his heart. His only concern seemed to be Kara, but Shane knew the conversation was coming. He wasn’t sure who would have a harder time: him or his son. “Did you call Cleary? Any of the other victims’ families?”

  “They were all notified before the story broke,” Foster said. “Cleary pleaded his DUI down to a drunk and disorderly. Not sure what will happen to his career, but he’s going to make a public apology.”

  “What about the criminal sexual assault charges against the McCauley boy?”

  “He was given a plea bargain for a misdemeanor, so no felony charges. Cleary said he was going to speak to the judge on behalf of the boy, asking for leniency.”

  “That’s a tough one,” Shane said. “But it sounds like some healing is starting to take place.”

  The doors into the ER buzzed before swinging open. Kara�
��s doctor stepped through. “Agent Martin is back in her room,” he said. “All the scans are normal. No reason to keep her overnight, but she was knocked out. Complications from concussions can present hours, even days later, so I’m sending her home with some strict orders. It will take about an hour to process the paperwork and get you all the information you need regarding her condition.”

  “Can my son and I see her now?” Shane asked.

  “She’s been asking for the both of you,” the doctor said before turning and heading back through the electronic doors.

  “Tell Kara I’ll see her back at the office,” Foster said.

  “You’re going back to D.C. now?”

  Foster nodded. “Our team leader gave her a week’s leave, but not me; I’ve been assigned another case.”

  Shane held out his hand. “It really was a pleasure working with you.”

  “You changed my mind about locals.” He took Shane’s hand and gave a long, firm handshake. “I know she’s in good hands. Make sure you tell her I said goodbye and I’ll call her tomorrow.”

  “Will do.” Shane waited a moment before waking his son. He gently prodded his shoulder.

  “Let him sleep,” his mother protested.

  “I promised him I’d bring him to see Kara as soon as possible.”

  “He’ll understand,” she said.

  “No, he won’t. He’s formed a strong attachment to Kara, and considering what just happened, and relating it to his mother’s death, he needs to see she’s okay, not hear it.” He shook Kevin’s arm again.

  “What?” Kevin sat up and wiped his eyes.

  “Kara’s back in the room and we can go see her.” Shane took his son’s hand. “And they’re letting her come home tonight.” He took small steps as they made their way across the waiting room and through the ER doors. His parents and niece all yelled to give Kara their best and that they would wait. He knew it was futile to tell them otherwise. Just like Kevin needed to see her, his parents needed to be there for him.

  “I read with concussions you have to have brain rest, and we should wake her every so often. You can have bad symptoms even days after.”

  “Where’d you read that?”

  “On the internet on Theresa’s phone. She agrees I’m old enough for a smartphone.”

  “Of course she does.” Shane drew back the curtain, taking a quick peek in before pulling it back all the way. “Up for a couple of visitors?”

  “Oh yeah.” Kara was propped up in the hospital bed, wearing a set of scrubs since her blood-stained clothes were not fit to be worn. White gauze covered much of her bicep and a patch of hair just above her ear had been shaved, showing off a few stitches.

  “How do you feel?” Kevin asked, taking a tentative step toward the bed.

  She held out her hand. “Come sit.”

  “You sure it’s okay?” Kevin said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Kara said. “I know I don’t look that way, but the headache isn’t as bad as what the side of my head looks like.”

  “Well, I read up on concussions and was just telling Dad about them, so we’ll take good care of you.”

  “I know you will.” She smiled.

  Shane sat down in the ugly green chair that was supposed to be a recliner, but was more like a metal bench. His bones ached. He shifted a few times, unable to get comfortable. Kevin had climbed up on the bed, and sat at Kara’s side, holding her hand.

  “I’m sorry I went with her,” Kevin said.

  “Don’t be.” Shane shifted again. “She was someone you knew and trusted. But from now on we’re going to have a safe word. If anyone but me or Kara or someone in our family comes to pick you up, they’ll have to give you our secret safe word before you go with them.”

  “I’m very grateful,” Kara said, “that your mother got you into magic. That’s what saved us. I wish I could have met your mom. I bet she was something special.”

  “She was,” Kevin said softly. “Dad?”

  “What is it?” Shane leaned forward.

  “Do you really think I have Nurse Vallen’s daughter’s heart?”

  “I told you I’d never lie about stuff like this,” Shane said. “It’s possible, but that doesn’t mean she was anything like Nurse Vallen.”

  Kevin nodded. “I thought I would feel different when I had the transplant, but I never did. Even now that we sort of know, I still don’t feel different.”

  “Because you’re not different.” Kara tapped his chest. “You are who you are because you’re part your father, part your mother, and part everyone who loves you.”

  Shane had to turn away and wipe his eyes.

  “But I hear things like, you’ve got to have heart, or you’ve got a kind heart, like it’s the heart that makes you who you are.”

  Shane squeezed his son’s thigh. “Those are expressions and they come from years ago, before man really understood the human body. Our hearts sustain us. We can’t live without one, but it doesn’t make up our conscience.” He tapped his own head. “What’s up here. Our past experiences, our knowledge of right and wrong, that’s who we are.”

  Kevin turned and hugged Kara. By the scrunched look on her face, he’d hit her bullet wound.

  “Give her some room,” Shane said, tugging at his son’s arm. “I think you’re hurting—”

  “Oh, sorry.” Kevin bolted upright. “I’m really glad you’re okay…that your head is okay and I…well…I love you.”

  “I love you right back.”

  Kara held up the empty pitcher. “Will you get me some water?”

  “Sure,” Shane said.

  “I’ll get it.” Kevin grabbed the pitcher. “I saw the ice and water machine on the way in.”

  “Come right back.” Shane leaned back on the hard chair, letting out a long sigh. “You look like shit,” Shane said to Kara after his son had left.

  “You don’t look that hot yourself,” Kara said with a weak smile.

  “I feel worse than you look.”

  “I seriously doubt that. You didn’t get shot or knocked out.”

  “True, but the ache in my heart, knowing you’re returning to D.C. in a week, is worse than any physical pain I can think of.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that.” She patted the side of the bed. “Sit with me.”

  He pressed his hands on the armrests, wincing in pain from his broken finger.

  “Worse than physical pain?” She laughed. “You’re pathetic.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed, leaned over, and gently kissed her check. “I wish I had broken more than her nose for doing that to you.”

  She looped her good arm around his shoulder, sliding her hand up his neck, tugging at his hair. “I love you,” she whispered as she drew him closer, her warm lips against his. Her soft tongue darted into his mouth in a slow, sensual dance that promised him the world.

  He pulled back a little, keeping his lips close to hers. “I love you, too. I want to make this work. I don’t want to lose you again.”

  “I’m not going to let that happen,” she said. “I have a job opportunity and I want to take it, but I need to talk with you before making that decision.”

  “This isn’t helping my discomfort regarding you leaving...” he let the words trail off.

  She let out a small chuckle.

  “I don’t see what’s so funny.”

  “I’m not leaving you. The Agent in Charge in the Rochester office is leaving and I was offered his job.”

  “Excuse me?” He stuck his finger in his ear. He couldn’t have possibly heard her correctly. “You’re moving back to Rochester?”

  “I want to,” she said, cupping his face. “Nothing is more important to me than you and Kevin.”

  “Wow.” It wasn’t often that he was speechless, but he opened his mouth and nothing came out. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Are you sure this is what you want? I can’t ask you to give up something you’ve—”

&nb
sp; “You haven’t asked me. It’s what I want,” she said. “The job offer is a promotion for me. A good one. It starts in two weeks. I wouldn’t have to travel like I do now and…we can be together if that’s what—”

  He didn’t let her finish her statement as his mouth took hers in a lip lock that was messy and wet. There was nothing romantic about the kiss. It was pure passion and power, only he didn’t know where to put his hands so as not to hurt her, so he settled for the pillow next to her head as he pressed his chest against hers. His tongue on a search and rescue mission.

  She broke the kiss way too soon. “So, you’re good with me moving here?”

  “You really have to ask?” He kissed her nose. “I love you. I want to meet you in my dreams every night.”

  The End

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