She waited in the shadows as Rob walked around the property twice, looking for some form of security. When he didn’t find any, he walked to the front door and motioned for her to join him. She darted up the front steps and followed him into the small lobby. She was so nervous she felt like she was going to jump out of her skin. This place gave her the creeps and there was no other way to describe it.
“Rob,” she whispered.
He put his fingers to his lips and then turned and headed up the stairs. She caught up with him on the second-floor landing.
“Which one is his?” she asked in a low voice.
“2B, now keep watch while I open the door and let me know if you see anyone.”
“Rob, let’s go. Please.” She watched and listened as he picked the lock within a minute.
The door to Tarrington’s apartment swung open and he stood. “Come on, this won’t take long.”
She stood inside the door and watched as he closed it behind them. Her knees were shaking and she didn’t know if it was from adrenaline due to excitement or from pure fear.
He leaned close and spoke in her ear. “Wait here while I look around.”
She was glad he required nothing of her because she wasn’t sure she could move without falling down. Rob removed his gun and headed off to check out the apartment. After a couple of minutes her nerves began to settle and she started taking in her surroundings. Her eyes had adjusted to the dim light and now she could see the state of the place.
The apartment wasn’t just dirty or cluttered, it was destroyed. It looked as if someone had purposely trashed the place, either trying to find something or in a fit of anger.
Rob came back into the room speaking into his phone. “Eris is here with me, Vicky, and I’m going to put you on speaker. What did you find?”
“I’m going to work my way from present back, so stay with me. Tarrington moved to New Orleans four years ago from Dallas. The best I can find is there was an unsolved murder during one of his trips here for an interview. Then of course the murders that have occurred since he arrived. You know they’ve grown in frequency over the last few months.”
“Okay, what else have you got?”
“I found the same pattern in the Dallas area. The murders started before he moved there from San Diego and stopped once he moved to New Orleans. The same thing also happened in San Diego. The only difference there is, he was in college prior to being hired by the San Diego police force. He attended California State University, Bakersfield, where two college-age girls went missing his junior and senior years. The quick analysis I did shows every time the murders escalated to the point of drawing too much attention, he moved.”
“I’m thinking he’s reached his breaking point, he’s lost control of the madness. It’s now controlling him,” Rob stated.
“I’d agree, from the stats I’ve pulled,” Vicky replied.
“Does he have any siblings?” Eris added to the conversation as she watched Rob.
“Good question and I didn’t check. Hold on a second, let me see. He had a twin sister but she died at the age of twelve.”
Rob smiled at her and asked, “Are there any other siblings?”
“No, they were it.” The click click of keys could be heard.
Eris leaned closer to Rob and spoke. “How’d she die?”
“Drowned in a boating accident. Looks like the two of them were out in a small boat when a storm blew in. The boat capsized. He made it back to shore, she didn’t.”
Rob continued, “Anything else from his childhood, like sealed records you can access?”
“Nothing I can see. Whoa, what’s this? Oh man, you aren’t going to believe what I found.”
“We’re dying here, Vicky, what did you find?” Rob’s voice carried tons of tension.
“His dead sister is renting apartment 2A in the same building.”
Rob turned and ran out the apartment. Eris followed. “I’ll keep watch while you—”
This time he didn’t stop to pick the lock, he simply kicked the door open.
Eris stood behind him looking into a room that should have been featured in one of these perfect home magazines.
“What was that noise?” Vicky’s voice was a bit frantic.
“Me entering 2A,” Rob said.
“Watch your back, Rob, or you’re going to end up in tons of trouble,” Vicky reprimanded.
“I’ll worry about that later. You got anything else for me?”
“Our dead woman also owns a black Jaguar XJ.”
“I’ve gotta go.” Rob disconnected the call. “Can you get a read on this person’s aura.”
“You might have asked before kicking the door open.”
“I’m looking either way, but I would like your input.” He pulled on a pair of gloves as they spoke and then went in and closed the door. Unfortunately, it now made a horrid squeaking sound and sneaking quietly out wasn’t going to be easy.
“I’ll do it, but I don’t like the feel of this place.”
He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist. “I’ll be right here.”
“Okay, but don’t leave.”
“I won’t.”
She opened her senses and was immediately assaulted by an aura so evil, so tarnished, that it started to pull her in like a person sinking in quicksand. She could hear Rob’s voice calling to her and she held onto it like a mental lifeline. Slowly she worked her way out of the muck and back into the light. “Rob!”
“Eris, are you okay?”
She turned to him. “I’m good…”
“Are you sure? The last time this happened you were out of it for twelve hours.” His voice was filled with worry.
She was touched by his concern. “But unlike last time, you were here and I used your voice to guide me out of the darkness.”
He studied her and then gave a slight nod. “Fine, but we aren’t doing this again. My heart can’t stand that many scares.”
Eris smiled. “We’ll see about that.”
Rob frowned. “We’ll discuss this later. I’m guessing by your reaction, this is the right place.”
“Oh yeah, we have it.”
“Good, time for me to do my thing.” He walked away and started turning on lights. “Come on, but don’t touch.”
She followed him through the most perfectly put together house she’d ever been in and it totally freaked her out. The apartment was decorated and organized to the point of obsession. Nothing was out of place and there wasn’t a speck on the stark-white carpet.
She peeked over Rob’s shoulder as he opened drawers and cabinets. Everything in the apartment seemed to have a designated spot. There also wasn’t a single item that showed a real person lived here. No bills, old sales flyers or scraps of paper with scribbled messages. The kitchen was as perfect as the rest of the house, the only thing they found there was an open bottle of white wine and a missing glass from the cabinet.
They continued to the bedroom where there was another white-on-white room. Thick white carpet muffled their steps and floor to ceiling white silk curtains hung against the far wall, the material pooling on the carpet. Again, all was freakishly neat. It was as if the house were staged because there was no way anyone was this neat. The bathroom was in the same immaculate shape except the missing wineglass was on the counter beside the sink. Walking to the closet, she followed him into the large walk-in area.
She looked around in stunned amazement. Jackets, skirts, blouses, dresses, shoes and other accessories lined the walls. There wasn’t a vacant spot anywhere. The far wall contained a built-in cabinet. She watched as he went to a tower of shallow drawers and pulled one open.
He turned to her. “Come take a look.”
Eris walked over and froze as all the earrings shimmered back at her. “And here I thought my collection was big.”
“It is, but not like this.”
She leaned closer for a better look. Each pair was neatly attached to a card with a handwr
itten note. “There are two empty cards. What do they say?”
Rob reached in, picked them up and read the first one. “Kelsey Harrington.”
Eris put a hand to her mouth. “Oh my God, that’s the victim from the other night! What does the other card say?”
Rob turned it over and then looked at her. “Orbit.”
Eris clutched at his shirt as stars floated in front of her eyes. Her breath came in small little gulps and no matter how she tried, she couldn’t get control of herself. He put an arm around her but didn’t say a thing He stood there holding her tight, anchoring her, giving her solid support and comfort.
From the living room came a very light squeak. His body stiffened, and she started to ask what was wrong when he put a hand over her mouth. He shoved aside clothing and pushed her into the hole. Leaning close he handed her the phone. “Stay here and call the police.”
She dialed 9-1-1 and told them all she could. She thought between the eerie silence and the waiting she’d go crazy. Then from the bedroom she heard the sound of fighting and knew she couldn’t wait in the closet like a sitting duck. She put her phone on mute and shoved it in her pants pocket. She needed both hands free and didn’t want the voice of an operator giving away her location. Slowly she opened the door and peered into the bedroom. It was empty. The noise she was hearing was from the living room. There was a loud crash followed by total quiet.
“Eris, I know you’re here. Rob wouldn’t go anywhere without his princess, now would he? He’s out here bleeding to death and you’re hiding. I’m going to find you and make you watch him die before I finally get the pleasure of killing you.”
Her heart raced like a freight train as she reached for her new gun and removed it. If she got the chance, she was going to blow the bitch away, but first she needed to hide.
“Here I come.”
Eris glanced around the stark white room and dashed toward the heavy drapes that covered the windows. The thick carpet beneath her feet silenced her steps and the extra long curtains concealed her completely. She left just enough space so she could watch the door. Her breath caught in her lungs as the woman from the bar entered.
“Where could you be? There aren’t that many places to hide in this tiny place. If I don’t find you soon, I’m going to go finish Rob off if he isn’t already dead.” The woman glanced about the bedroom and then went to the closet.
Eris resisted the urge to run knowing it wouldn’t take long to search the closet. The woman came back into the bedroom and went directly into the bathroom. Eris threw back the curtains and ran to the bathroom door, plastering herself next to the wall. As the woman walked out, Eris pressed her gun to the back of the woman’s head. “And maybe I’ll just blow your fucking head off.”
The woman spun and caught Eris in the jaw with an elbow. The gun flew from her hand as her head snapped back against the wall. She looked up at the woman and the knife she was holding. “You were wearing the citrine necklace. You’ve been using the crystal to change or mask your aura.”
“The light bulb is starting to flicker, isn’t it? My name is Carmen, by the way.”
Fear flicked through her as she realized how close she’d been to the killer and hadn’t even realized it. The woman didn’t intend to let either of them live. Whatever hope she had been carrying vanished when the woman announced her name. “You tried to kill me then.”
“I would have succeeded if you hadn’t pulled off the trapeze act. You have more lives than a cat, but you’ve used up all of them and tonight we’re putting an end to this.”
Eris tried to find a way around Carmen, but failed. She had no idea where Rob was or how he was. “You arranged for the semis to run us off the road.”
The woman smiled. “It takes very little to convince some men to do what you want. I watched as the two of you surfaced and made your way to shore. I couldn’t believe how incredibly lucky you are.”
Eris felt anger replace fear. “Rob almost died in the wreck.”
“I know, and what a shame it would have been, but there are always risks involved and he was deemed expendable. Just as he is tonight.”
The statement made Eris so angry she charged forward. She went for the hand holding the knife but was caught off guard when the woman blocked the move and sent Eris stumbling past her. Eris stopped her forward movement, planting her feet for a roundhouse kick, which she hoped her assailant wouldn’t be expecting. She heard movement behind her and realized Carmen was closing the small distance between them quickly.
Looking over her shoulder, she realized her planned attack wouldn’t work. Turning quickly, she reached for Carmen, hoping to flip her over her back. Carmen saw the move coming and managed to turn enough that Eris grabbed dress with one hand and hair with the other. With all the force she could manage, she turned her back to Carmen, leaned over and pulled.
Eris tried to flip the woman over her shoulder—and would have succeeded if she hadn’t lost her grip on the woman’s hair. Eris looked at her hand and it took a moment for her to realize the hair was still there.
Stunned she looked over her shoulder as an arm went around her neck and a knife was placed to her throat.
“Charlie? Charlie Tarrington?”
“Don’t call me by that name! Charlie isn’t here to help you this time.”
“Then where’s Charlie?” Eris dropped the wig she held as her brain tried to come to terms with Charlie Tarrington and Carmen being the same person.
“He’s gone.”
“Where did he go, Carmen?”
“I’ve sent him to a dark spot where he can’t interfere anymore and save you like he always does. He no longer controls me, I now control him.”
The pressure against her neck increased as the scent of Rob’s cologne drifted to her. She tried to see where he was, but couldn’t move. In the distance she heard sirens and knew they were going to be too late. If she stalled long enough, she might save him. “How’d he save me?”
“I was ready to run you down that night in the alley but he stopped me at the last possible moment. He liked you too much to let me kill you.”
“In other words, he’s stronger than you.”
“Was. Was stronger, but no longer.”
There was a hint of panic in Carmen’s voice and Eris played on it. “Charlie, help me!”
“Don’t talk to him!”
“Charlie, please. I need you,” Eris pleaded.
Carmen’s voice rose. “Shut up, you stupid bitch! There’s nothing he can do for you.”
The arm around Eris tightened and she felt the edge of the knife slice into her skin. Warm blood ran down the side of her throat. “If you were in control, Carmen, I’d already be dead, but you aren’t, are you?”
“Shut the fuck up!” Carmen screamed.
Eris kept talking. “Charlie’s here. I know he is, like the night in the alley. He’s going to save me.”
The body behind her stiffened as if it was having a seizure, and she was sure death was near. Then the arms around her loosened ever-so slightly. “Go!”
Eris moved a few steps away and turned at the sound of Charlie’s voice. “Charlie?”
“I’m sorry, Eris. I never meant for you or Orbit to get hurt! I’ve tried for years to control Carmen, but she’s gotten so strong and I’ve become so tired I can’t do it anymore…”
“There are people who can help you, Charlie, put the knife down.”
“Back away from him, Eris.” Rob’s voice cut through the room like lightning in the night sky.
Eris turned to see Rob standing about five feet away. Blood covered half his face, but he was alive. “Charlie’s not going to hurt me.”
“But I will, bitch!”
Eris turned in time to see Carmen charging her with the knife raised high. She put her arms up to block the attack, but it was too late. She felt the blade slice through the tender skin on the inside of her upper arm as the sound of gunfire penetrated the air. She tried to block her fall with her
left arm but it wouldn’t move. Air escaped her as she hit the floor hard with extra weight across her legs. Before she could figure out what was on her, blinding pain engulfed her senses.
“Eris!” Rob yelled as the two bodies hit the floor. Running across the room, he kicked the knife out of Tarrington’s reach before rolling the body off Eris. The smell hit him before he saw the blood soaking her clothes and the floor beneath her. Fear penetrated his body like nothing he’d ever felt before.
“Eris,” he said again, and this time watched as her eyes opened and she worked to focus on him. “Where are you hurt?”
“Left arm.” Her words were weak.
He moved her arm and watched as blood ran freely from the wound. He’d seen enough injuries to know an artery was cut and time was critical. Looking around, he found a scarf draped over a lampshade. Taking it, he started wrapping her arm. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“Throat, but don’t think it’s bad.”
He could hear the way her words were slurring together. He reached for his phone and remembered he didn’t have it. He looked about the room but didn’t see a house phone and turned his attention back to Eris and the bandage, which was already soaked in blood. Where were the fucking cops? “Talk to me, princess. I need to hear your voice right now.”
“Granddaddy calls me that.”
He tried to smile. “Guess he and I are more alike than I thought.”
“Controlling, both of you.”
“I’m not controlling.”
A slight smile played at her lips. “Yes, but love you anyway.”
Tears burned his eyes and a knot formed in his throat. “I love you too.”
She looked him in the eyes. “Wish we had more time.”
Rob’s heart stopped beating in his chest. “Don’t talk like that. We have years and years ahead of us.”
Her body started to shake. “It’s cold.”
He pulled a blanket from the end of the bed and wondered where the hell the ambulance was. “This will help keep you warm.”
“Rob…”
“Eris, wake up.” Rob’s words filled the house as he felt his world crashing down around him.
Bayou Heat Page 24