Bayou Heat

by Georgia Tribell

  “Don’t you feel it?”

  Her voice was so weak that he instinctively held her tighter. “No, I don’t feel anything.” Unless you count this deep uncertainty in how to handle you? “What do you feel? Tell me.”

  “I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “Simple words would be best for me.” He felt her chuckle and somehow that made him feel better.

  “Evil. I feel pure, uncensored hatred. It’s the same feeling I picked up at Indulgence while following Orbit’s trail and last night outside my door.”

  “You’re telling me the killer has been here, in our offices?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Rob held Eris at arm’s length so he could look into her eyes. “This isn’t a game. We don’t have the luxury of tracking down ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’.”

  Fire sparked in her eyes as she stepped out of his hold. “I’m not playing games, but let me see if I can explain this in words you’ll be capable of comprehending.”

  Rob worked at hiding the smile that threatened to spread across his face. He preferred seeing her like this, all angry with her hackles up, rather than scared and timid. Bristles he could deal with, soft and cuddly scared him to death. She stood in one spot and looked at him as if he were a simpleton.

  “It’s like this. See this spot?”

  “Yes.”

  “I feel the evil here.” She took a step to her right. “But not here.” She started walking a small circle around the spot designated as evil. “Or here or here or here.”

  “I get the picture.”

  She stopped her pacing and flashed him a heart-stopping smile. “Good, then you understand how confusing this is.”

  “I haven’t a clue as to why this is confusing.”

  Eris waved her hands in exasperation as the door to the elevator opened. “It doesn’t matter, you think I’m a nutcase anyway.”

  Rob stopped her from walking into the elevator. “What I think about your methods isn’t the issue here, it matters to you and that’s what counts.”

  Eris gave him a look that let him know she wasn’t buying it.

  “Try to help me understand,” he continued. “Sometimes the best thing to do is talk a problem out.”

  “Okay, I need some help. Tammie, can I borrow your scarf?”

  Rob followed Eris across the lobby to Tammie’s desk. Tammie raised one eyebrow but untied the item from around her neck and handed it over.

  “Thank you, now would you please come around the desk and stand in front of me? Rob, blindfold me.”

  “Sure, this sounds like fun,” Tammie said as she moved to stand in front of Eris.

  Rob placed the material across Eris’ eyes, good and snug. He hadn’t a clue as to what she was doing, but she did have a unique way of explaining herself.

  “Tammie, I want you to walk quietly around the lobby while I count to twenty. Try not to make a sound and don’t talk. When I reach twenty, stop and stand quietly.”

  “Okay,” Tammie answered as she turned and started walking while Eris counted.

  Rob watched as Eris stopped counting and started following Tammie’s path. “I’m going to follow Tammie’s aura trail to her. Basically I’m tracing her footprints without the benefit of eyesight.”

  “You don’t need eyesight to do this?” Rob questioned as he watched Eris reach a point where the path crossed itself. It took her a couple of seconds to determine which way to go, but she did continue to follow the original line.

  Okay, maybe there was more to this than he thought.

  “My eyes keep me from running into things or stepping off a curb into traffic, but they aren’t needed to follow an aura trail.”

  Rob continued to watch in amazed silence as Eris followed the hidden trail around the room.

  “Close enough.” Tammie held out a hand to keep Eris from running over her. “That was amazing! You walked where I had gone exactly.”

  “It wasn’t that hard, considering your path was fresh and strong. Time weakens trails and they become diffused, like wispy trails of fog.”

  “Does everyone leave a trail?” Tammie questioned as the two women walked across the room.

  “Yes, everyone.”

  “What about vampires?”

  Rob stifled a groan.

  “Yes, but their signatures are different, as you can imagine, and it takes a special talent to pick up the spirit of the undead.”

  “Really? Could you tell me what it’s like or better yet, hook me up with a vampire chaser?”

  “I—”

  “Enough.” Rob placed a hand behind Eris’ back and started guiding her toward the mystery spot by the elevator. “You can discuss your vampire theories later, Tammie. We have things to do.”

  “I take it you’re a nonbeliever?” Tammie asked.

  “You got that right,” he answered over his shoulder as he crossed the room. Stopping by the elevator, he studied the area in front of them. “Let’s see if I’ve got this now. Each person has an aura and it trails behind us wherever we go.”

  “Yes.”

  “But not here.” He pointed to the vacant space. “Here we have a flash of an evil aura but no trail.”

  “Exactly. It’s as if the person appeared then disappeared in the blink of an eye.”

  “How old is it?”

  “I don’t know. This monster’s aura is strong, extremely strong, so it weakens slower. I’d guess anything from a day to a week.”

  Rob walked over to Tammie’s desk and retrieved a pen. He retuned to the location and started to draw a circle around the area in question.

  “Hey, that’s a permanent marker!” Tammie yelled at him. “LD isn’t going to like you drawing on his new carpet.”

  Rob put the cap back on the pen as he stood. “Remind LD that the carpet is half mine and I drew on my half, then track down Josh and have him call me ASAP.”

  The elevator doors opened and Rob held them while they entered. Eris moved as far from him as she could in the enclosed space. She was the most independent, self-reliant person he knew. Even knowing this didn’t stop him from wanting to pull her into his arms and tell her everything would turn out okay.

  He didn’t though, because his instincts were telling him this case wasn’t going to work out as smoothly and easily as they’d hoped.

  * * * * *

  “Hello?” Eris’ voice was chipper as she answered the phone before flopping down on her couch.

  Rob rubbed his neck as he turned away from the computer and studied her. In the last few hours since supper, the phone rang more often than his did in an entire month. He watched as she added another name to the list beside the phone and held it up to him. Every time the phone rang, he made her do this so he would know who was on the other end of the line.

  “Jason” was printed on the page that was filled with names and doodles. Not recognizing the name, he arched an eyebrow at her.

  She covered the phone and mouthed “friend” before returning to the conversation.

  Turning back to the computer screen, he typed in another search and waited. He’d been at this all evening, only breaking to eat the wonderful meal Eris prepared. During the time she was working on the meal, the smells and noises had been distracting but he’d managed to block them out.

  The woman was a different story.

  No matter how hard he focused, she always intruded on his subconscious. She flitted in and out of his thoughts like a hummingbird at a feeder. One second she was there, the next—gone. It was driving him crazy.

  He reminded himself numerous times they were safe here. After all, their killer wasn’t the type to break down a door and come in with guns blazing. No, this lunatic sought his victims in public areas and then managed to separate the prey from others. Eris was in the most danger when they were in public, where that could easily occur. Logically he knew this, but he seemed to be doing a lot of illogical things since meeting Eris. Like placing his gun beside him on the computer desk. He’
d done this in an attempt to convince his brain to concentrate on the task at hand and not her.

  Boy, that idea failed miserably.

  It bothered him deeply that he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Not once during all his years of doing investigative work had he not been able to dig into his work and forget the world around him. Growing up, homework and studies were a means of escaping his life. During college, sitting in the library, studying, allowed him to forget that he didn’t come from the same background as the other students. His ability to focus so completely on the work at hand and dig out information others couldn’t find had gotten him recognized and promoted quickly while working for the FBI. It was his edge, it was what allowed him to survive and he was afraid he was losing it.

  Never during his ten years with the FBI, nor after starting this venture with LD, had he been so distracted, so unfocused, so damn confused.

  Behind him, Eris laughed and the tendons in Rob’s neck tightened. He reminded himself that this phone call was no different than all the others she’d taken this evening. Many of those calls were from men.

  She giggled and lowered her voice, making it impossible for him to hear the conversation.

  Of course, all the men who’d called earlier were related to the woman in some form or fashion.

  For the next ten minutes, as Eris chatted and laughed with Jason, Rob attempted again to focus on the information in front of him. When she finally ended the call, he blinked and realized he had no idea what he was reading. With a muttered curse, he returned to the beginning of the article and started again.

  The phone rang not two seconds later and he wondered if this was going to keep going on all night.

  He heard her pick up the phone. “Couldn’t go two seconds without talking to me again, Jason?”

  Rob turned his attention back to his work and attempted to ignore the fact Eris was intently listening to whatever Jason was saying.

  “Okay, bye.”

  The tone of Eris’ voice caused him to turn. “Anything wrong?”

  “No,” she said, distractedly. “Nothing is wrong, I’m really tired. I think I’ll turn in for the night. See you in the morning.”

  Seven.

  Rob silently counted the rings and wondered why Eris hadn’t picked up. She normally picked up by the second ring.

  “Eris, answer the phone,” Rob called out as it continued to ring.

  Eight.

  Rob fisted his hands and wished she’d pick up the damn thing. At this rate, he was never going to get any research done.

  Nine.

  He crossed the room and snatched up the phone. “Hello?”

  “Man, my sister must really be getting on your nerves.”

  Rob relaxed at the sound of Zane’s voice. “That’s a huge understatement.”

  “Tell me about it. Listen, I need to speak to her if you don’t mind?”

  “She’s gone to bed and I’m guessing she’s already asleep since she didn’t pick up.”

  “Knowing her, she’s got her nose stuck in one of those Robin T. Popp romance novels she reads and is ignoring the rest of us. Would you check for me? I really need to speak with her.”

  Rob crossed the room with the portable phone. “No problem, but if she bites my head off for this, you owe me.”

  Rob knocked on the door as Zane continued to talk. When there was no answer, he turned the knob and walked in.

  “Hey, Zane, Eris is going to have to call you back later.”

  “Have her call my cell within the hour if she can.”

  “I’ll let her know.” Just as soon as I find her, Rob thought as he disconnected the call.

  Chapter Seven

  The room was small, cluttered and there wasn’t a place for her to hide. Going to the open window, he stuck his head out and looked across an empty balcony. Damn. He was going to have to find her and then he was going to have to kill her.

  He went back to the living room and used the door to the balcony. He walked to the bedroom window and stood there surveying the area. There were only two entrances, the window and the door back to where he’d been. He knew she didn’t go out that way. So how had she gotten away?

  Walking the length of the balcony, he checked the brick wall for possible finger and toe holds. The brick was too old and crumbly for her to have scaled the building to the roof or to the street below.

  Starting by the balcony door, he checked over the edge for a possible route down. He was sure of one thing, she hadn’t flown off. His progress was slow in the dark as he checked the railing from top to bottom every couple of feet to ensure that he didn’t miss anything. It was difficult for him not to rush the search because every cell in his body screamed for him to hurry.

  He looked down and was extremely glad he had taken the time with the search because now he knew how she’d gotten off the balcony. Where the porch and building came together by her window, there was a knotted climbing rope attached to the railing. He’d missed it in the darkness when he first came out onto the balcony and he would have missed it now had he not been running his hands over every inch. He pulled the rope up and coiled it on the balcony into a neat pile, next to a flowerpot that conveniently hid it. Looking up and down the dark, empty street, he wondered where the hell she was.

  Back in the living room, he placed the phone back in its cradle before starting to gather the items he needed. His cell phone went into his pocket as he grabbed his duffle bag and placed it on the couch. Opening the bag, he removed his backup gun. After a quick check, he strapped it on. Then he retrieved his primary weapon from beside the computer and slipped it into his holster. As he did this, he couldn’t help but contemplate how large the French Quarter was and how difficult it was going to be for him to find Eris.

  Finished with the guns, he pulled a long, deadly blade and sheath from the bag and strapped them to the inside of his left ankle as he thought about the crowds that filled the streets at night.

  The last item he retrieved from the bag was his butterfly knife and, as he slipped it into his front pocket, he concluded he was going to have to call LD for help. He started for the door and reached for his cell phone at the same time then made himself stop. It wasn’t in his nature to go off half-cocked or without verifying all the information he could first before going to the next step.

  Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to take the time to survey the room as he’d been trained to do and replay the events of the evening. The only thing out of place was her last phone call from Jason. The call had been extremely one-sided, and when she disconnected, she’d been in a different frame of mind.

  Picking up the phone, he checked to see if it stored incoming numbers. It was a cheap, portable phone that didn’t even have a redial button. On the off chance that he might catch a break, Rob dialed star sixty-nine, hoping the option to call the last incoming number would work. It didn’t.

  Tomorrow he was getting the woman caller ID and making sure those two who were supposed to be watching the place were no longer Titan employees. If Eris could get by them then he figured anyone else could. He’d have to find better replacements.

  He put the phone back on its base and paused. The top sheet of paper on the notepad, the one she’d written names on and doodled around the edges, was gone. He hadn’t tossed the sheet and if memory served him right, Eris’ hands were empty when she went to her room.

  Grabbing the pad, he moved to the desk for better lighting and tried to read what was imprinted on the top sheet. The letters were too light for him to make out. Opening a drawer, he rummaged until he found what he needed.

  He ran the edge of the pencil over the top of the paper, coloring over the imprint of her letters. As the words magically appeared, a combination of fear and jealousy settled in his stomach.

  * * * * *

  Eris glanced around the crowded bar and sighed in relief—she’d made it here in time. Taking a sip of her cola, she tensed as a man slid onto the vacant barstool to her left. Was
this the man who’d called her?

  Was this the person who’d claimed to have information about Orbit’s death?

  The man was tall with a chest of solid muscle and large, work-hardened hands. Hands strong and large enough to kill helpless women.

  This thought reminded Eris she was here alone, without backup. She realized in that instant how much she liked having Rob at her side. His levelheaded approach to situations like this was a reassurance she found comforting.

  Uneasiness filled her as she considered how stupid she was for sneaking out without him. If she had taken a minute to think this through, she would have realized Rob could have come up with a plan, which would have given her some security and backup. She was equally certain his idea of protection would have included her staying at the apartment while he made contact with the caller. There was no way that was happening. Eris turned back to her drink as a woman slipped onto the stool to her right.

  “The place is really hopping tonight,” the woman stated after ordering a drink.

  “Yeah, it’s really packed.” Eris glanced around the room and noted the empty barstool to her left. The man had disappeared, leaving her feeling relieved and on edge at the same time.

  “I really love your hair. It’s such a daring cut. I could never pull that off.”

  Eris sighed and turned her attention to the woman. She never found being rude to strangers easy and it was obvious this woman felt the need to chat. “My hair doesn’t have enough body to wear it as long as yours.”

  The woman twirled a strand of dark auburn hair. “Thanks, but it does get to be a bother at times.”

  Eris took in the woman’s pristine appearance and figured she spent a good deal of time on her looks. “Interesting necklace. Is it quartz?”

  “No, it’s citrine. It clears one’s mental being. Helps a person focus their thoughts.”

  Eris half listened to the woman as she turned her attention back to the room. “I’ve heard that.”

  “You should give it a try sometime. It really helps get those pesky voices out of one’s head.”

  Glancing at her watch, Eris noted how many minutes had ticked by and wondered how long it would be before Rob realized she was gone. Guilt and a twinge of uneasiness settled in her stomach. “I could use a charm like that right now.”