“After everything the Cahills put him through, what I’d like to know is why,” she said.
“I’m part of his job.”
“He’s not on the job right now. Supposedly.”
Caitlyn took a small breath. She understood her hostility, she did.
“Well, as long as you plan to interrogate me, maybe you could do it while I take a shower?” She indicated her injured hand. “The truth is, I could really use some female assistance.”
27
“Are you still in touch with your brother?”
Caitlyn heard Megan’s question through the noise of the running water. Her shower completed, she reached for the faucet handle and turned it off, standing briefly in the heavy steam cloud before answering.
“No. At least, not until recently.” She accepted the large towel Megan held out to her through the closed shower curtain. “Reid took me to Springdale Penitentiary to talk to him a few days ago.”
“Why?”
“Because Joshua killed other women, apparently. More than those he went to prison for.” Caitlyn tried not to think of what Joshua had said to her, about her being his muse and the things he’d wanted to do to her. She slid back the shower curtain, the striped towel held in front of her for modesty. “He promised to give up the location of the remains only if I would come see him.”
Shock was evident on Megan’s features. She sat on the edge of the vanity, sipping a beer she’d commandeered from Reid’s refrigerator. “Did he?”
“He gave up one. I’ll have to see him again to get the others.”
“How many others?”
“They’re not sure.”
“I can’t imagine,” Megan admitted.
“You don’t have to,” she replied. “Your brother is a good man.”
Water dripped from her hair, making a soft plunking sound on the molded plastic shower floor. Megan eyed her silently over the top of her beer bottle. Then she stood and placed the bottle next to the sink and helped Caitlyn into Reid’s terry cloth robe. Caitlyn used her good hand to blot her shoulder-length hair with the towel. Even in the steamed mirror, the bruise on her temple was visible.
“How did you get into the sweats earlier?” Megan asked, frowning as she watched Caitlyn’s slow, careful movements that reflected the soreness she felt. “Did Reid—”
She shook her head. “I mostly managed it myself, but it took forever. I appreciate the help.”
“That was really none of my business,” Megan said, sounding embarrassed. She seemed to be loosening up a little. “Reid’s the law enforcement officer in the family, but I’ve been told I’m the real interrogator. He’d strangle me if he knew I’d asked you…”
She stopped speaking, realizing her faux pas. Caitlyn knew what she was thinking—Joshua had strangled his victims.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
“It’s okay. I’m used to it.”
Megan had introduced Caitlyn to her family—albeit coolly—before they had gone into the bathroom together. They’d decided to wait and have dinner at the Mexican restaurant, so Megan’s husband and daughters were now in the living room, watching a sitcom on the flat-screen television. The younger of the girls was talking excitedly about her day at school, her voice carrying through the door panel.
“Maddie and Isabelle are adorable,” Caitlyn said, changing the subject.
“They’re a handful,” Megan conceded. “But totally worth it.”
“I’m sure.”
She watched as Caitlyn ran a brush through her wet hair.
“I know you…helped…in the Capital Killer case. That you turned over evidence to prove your brother’s guilt.” Megan shook her head. “And I also know that I shouldn’t be angry with you about the investigation, but I can’t help it.”
Her gray eyes were so similar to Reid’s and just as direct. “Your father put Reid through hell, you know. He nearly lost his position at the VCU, everything he’s worked for over the past nine years.”
“I know,” Caitlyn said quietly. Pain and regret weighed on her.
“Reid’s been ill.”
“I know that, too.”
“He’s better now, but it doesn’t keep me from being overprotective.” Megan sighed as she tugged pensively at the beer’s label, peeling it from the bottle. “Our mother died of a brain tumor when Reid and I were just kids. It made us pretty close.”
Caitlyn thought of the note she’d found in Reid’s handwriting. Anxiety fluttered inside her, but she didn’t bring it up. She hadn’t known his mother had died from the same illness—something that must have made the diagnosis more terrifying for all of them.
“Sometimes I think the Capital Killer investigation caused the tumor to grow in his head.” Megan shrugged. “Pretty crazy, I know. But he took the investigation so personally. Every victim got to him. I’m worried about it happening again.”
Her eyes seemed to say, and I’m afraid you’re the reason he’s involved this time.
“Reid takes his work seriously. It’s an important job.”
Megan nodded. “He’s good at what he does—he’s great actually, according to his superiors. He has more commendations than any other agent his age. But he doesn’t have what our dad calls ‘cool detachment.’”
And that was exactly what made Reid different, Caitlyn thought. It was what separated him from men like Mitch Tierney, who treated suspects and victims with an almost equal cynicism. But at the same time, she knew it must be hard to see what they saw and not become hardened by it. That tough, protective shell was also a necessity.
“The brain tumor Reid had,” she asked, “was it hereditary?”
“You know how squirrelly doctors can be about things like that.” Megan sat the now-empty bottle on the vanity and wiped her hands on her skirt. “It was the same type. Reid was lucky, though. His was benign and operable. Still, it was a major surgery. The recuperation was pretty bad.”
“He told me how fortunate he was to have you,” Caitlyn said. She thought it was something his sister should know.
Megan bowed her head. “Did you know he had a fiancée?”
The pang Caitlyn felt surprised her. “What happened?”
“They met after the Capital Killer case. They started dating and then moved in together before getting engaged. Andrea broke things off…after they found the tumor. She couldn’t handle the thought of Reid being incapacitated, or even dying, if the surgery failed.”
“How terrible,” Caitlyn murmured. She wondered how someone who claimed to love Reid could have deserted him when he needed her most. The question left her lips before she’d even realized it. “Does he still have feelings for her?”
“I don’t think so. I know they haven’t been in touch.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because Reid’s been through a lot. He doesn’t need to get hurt again.” The two women stared at each other for several meaningful seconds. Then Megan took a step toward the door. “I’m going to go check on the girls. I’ll be back in a minute to help you get dressed.”
She left Caitlyn alone with her thoughts. Her mind traveled to her own fiancé who had broken up with her after Joshua’s arrest. The losses were something she and Reid had in common.
Reid stood beside Mitch in the foyer of the Cahills’ Georgetown mansion, listening as the Bureau’s blood-spatter specialist gave a rundown on the scene. Lucy Kim’s black hair appeared glossy underneath the lights of the crystal chandelier.
“Medium velocity impact spatter indicates blunt force trauma, consistent with the blood pool on the carpet.” Lucy indicated the dark, congealing stain on the Oriental rug, then led them to the curved staircase with its carved mahogany rail. “The bloodstain on the wall is a transfer, most likely made by the victim’s hand.”
Reid studied the gruesome smear on the elegant fleur-de-lis wallpaper. “She was trying to get away.”
“She made it as far as the stairs, which is where it appears the
perpetrator hit her again. Judging by the dryness of the stains, I’d estimate it happened five to six hours ago.” Lucy pushed her stylish, horn-rimmed glasses higher on her nose. “My team will be done soon. Any questions?”
“Yeah,” Mitch said, giving her a wolfish grin. “When are we going out, doll?”
Lucy smiled sweetly. “When hell freezes over, Agent Tierney.”
She walked past him, her designer high heels clicking on the Italian marble flooring. “And by the way, nice cologne.”
Once Lucy was out of earshot, Mitch looked at Reid. “You think my aftershave’s too strong?”
“A little,” he admitted.
“Damn. It’s new.” Mitch sniffed the lapel of his jacket, testing it out for himself. “I had a date. Or at least I did until I got a call from the D.C. police.”
The residence was a hive of activity, with evidence techs scurrying about and policemen blocking the front entrance.
“Who discovered the blood?” Reid asked.
“The real estate agency Bliss Harper works for sent someone over here after she didn’t report back to her office this afternoon. She’d said she was coming by to take photos of the interior for a sales flyer.” Mitch peeled the latex gloves from his hands and tossed them into a brass umbrella stand. “Instead of Ms. Harper, they found this mess. The blood’s presumably hers, since she’s nowhere to be found.”
“Someone went by her home? Checked with her family and friends?”
“No one’s seen her since lunchtime today. And she’s not answering her cell phone. Everyone says it’s out of the ordinary for her.”
Reid stared up at the chandelier. The foyer was brightly lit so Forensics could do its job. Through the window, he noticed a news van had pulled onto the street outside. “Any sign of a weapon?”
“No weapon, no body. Uniforms did a grid search of the premises.” Mitch adjusted his shoulder holster. “She was attacked and, judging by the blood, injured. The unsub probably dragged her into a vehicle out back. The service entrance is secluded. There’s an overgrown hedge back there taller than me.”
“Bludgeoning wasn’t part of Joshua Cahill’s M.O.”
“No. Maybe the copycat is adding a few twists of his own.”
“Or she fought back.” Reid felt tension knot the muscles in his neck. “Things didn’t go according to plan.”
He didn’t look forward to telling Caitlyn about the likely abduction of her friend, or the fact that it had taken place at her family home. But based on the news van’s arrival, the story would be on the ten o’clock news. Hopefully, he’d have a chance to talk to her before she saw it on TV.
“All I know is this—Hunter’s still out there somewhere. And he’s been seen outside the residence before, by Caitlyn Cahill herself,” Mitch pointed out. “Let’s just consider for a second that he came back here, hoping to confront Ms. Cahill again. Instead he ran into Bliss Harper. Another attractive blonde.”
Reid had to admit the scenario made sense. Still, the picture was incomplete. “To our knowledge, Hunter doesn’t own a white van like the one used in the attempted abduction on Caitlyn.”
“Maybe he jacked it. Or bought it hot off the street.”
Reid thought for a moment. “What did the evaluating doctors tell you about Hunter?”
“They never got a chance to complete the full psychological review before he escaped, but he’s clearly disturbed.”
“Enough to be capable of murder?”
“I couldn’t get them to go that far.”
“Any word on protection for Caitlyn yet?”
Mitch shook his head. “Not yet. Where is she, anyway?”
Reid didn’t want Mitch to know she was staying at his apartment. Instead he said, “With Megan and her family.”
It wasn’t a total lie, he rationalized. At the moment, she was with them. Reid only hoped Megan hadn’t taken the opportunity to rake Caitlyn over the coals. She’d been through enough already. “I’ve got to get back. Thanks for the call.”
Mitch walked him to the door. “No problem. I figured you’d want to see this firsthand. Hey, you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Reid lied.
“You’ve got your firearms recertification in the morning, right?”
“At eight o’clock.”
“Good luck.” Mitch jerked his head toward Agent Morehouse, who was talking to one of the uniforms on the other side of the room. He’d been called to the scene from his home, apparently, and was wearing dark warm-ups that made him look like the center on a high school basketball team.
“I’ll be losing an errand boy, but gaining my real partner back,” Mitch said.
Once outside, Reid went down the steps and past the news van, ignoring the reporter who called out to him asking for a comment on whatever was going on inside the house. It wasn’t hard, since his mind was on other things. Things that actually went beyond the current investigation, or even Caitlyn.
The first voice mail message had been left on his cell yesterday. The second one, this morning.
It’s important you contact us, Mr. Novak. We’d like to make an appointment for you with Dr. Isrelsen at your earliest convenience. It’s about the results of your MRI.
Reid had been using the events of the past two days as a distraction. But if the worst were true, it was something he couldn’t run from forever.
28
When Reid returned to his apartment, Caitlyn appeared to have recently showered, her hair still damp and her skin pleasantly flushed. She sat on the couch between Maddie and Isabelle, wearing the simple cotton pajamas she’d purchased earlier that day. At his arrival, Megan stood and announced, “Okay, girls. Uncle Reid’s back. Get your things. Let’s go have dinner.”
“Thanks for staying,” he said to Megan as she began gathering her troops.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Reid nodded, although his eyes fell on Caitlyn, who was helping Isabelle shove her collection of spiral notebooks and stickers into her Hello Kitty backpack. The time with his nieces appeared to have relaxed her some, and he dreaded telling her about the latest turn of events.
“Good to meet you, Caitlyn,” Cooper said as he held his older daughter’s coat out for her to slide her arms into.
“You, too.”
Reid didn’t miss the look that passed between Megan and Caitlyn. It made him think they’d actually talked while he was away instead of staying in their opposite corners like prizefighters waiting for the bell to sound. At least Caitlyn looked none the worse for wear. He owed Megan for not coming down on her too hard.
“Thanks for the help,” Caitlyn said as Megan turned to leave.
His sister nodded. Reid lowered his head to allow her to place a kiss against his cheek. “Take care, big brother.”
He gave her a hug, grateful for her presence in his life. Once the group was gone, Reid refocused his attention on Caitlyn. She’d remained on the couch with her feet tucked underneath her.
“Did you have to leave because of the case?” she asked.
He sighed heavily, removing his leather jacket and laying it on the wing chair Cooper had vacated. “Agent Tierney asked me to come to the scene of an abduction.”
He saw her shoulders tense underneath her pajama top, her green eyes searching his. Reid walked to the couch and sat beside her.
“An abduction? The copycat’s taken someone else?”
“It occurred at your Georgetown residence, Caitlyn.”
It took just seconds for her to realize the victim’s identity. Her lips parted and horror filled her eyes. “Oh, God. Bliss?”
“Ms. Harper told her real estate office she was going by the house to take some photos earlier today. She never reported back in, and she failed to show up for an evening appointment. Her office sent someone to the house looking for her a couple of hours ago.”
“But you said ‘abduction.’” Caitlyn grasped at hope. “That means there’s no body. Isn’t it possible that—”
/> “It’s obvious there was a struggle. There’s…significant blood at the scene.”
Closing her eyes, she shook her head. “No.”
“This isn’t your fault—”
“You don’t understand.” Her voice trembled. “I hired Bliss to sell the house. If I hadn’t contracted her, she wouldn’t have been there. She wouldn’t be…”
She was unable to finish the sentence. Reid gently pulled her into his arms.
“I can’t believe…Bliss,” she murmured brokenly. “We’ve known each other since grade school. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. And now because of me…”
Reid rocked with her. He smelled the scent of his shampoo in her hair. “Don’t blame yourself, Caitlyn. This guy is a sociopath.”
“He knew I was still in the city.” Her words were muffled against his chest. “He was hoping to find me there instead. Don’t tell me you don’t think that.”
He couldn’t disagree. “The D.C. police have an APB out for her. She could still be alive.”
“But for how long?” She looked up at him then, tears glistening in her eyes. “And what’s happening to her right now?”
Reid eased them both back against the sofa cushions. She cried herself out as he held her. After a long while, he finally felt her body relax and her breathing become slower and steadier, indicating she had fallen asleep. But Reid didn’t want to wake her. Instead, he sat silently, watching the television Megan and her family had left on after their departure. He tried to get interested in the detective show storyline, but his mind was scattered in different directions—Bliss Harper and the copycat investigation, his own questionable health. Caitlyn felt small and boneless in his arms, and Reid admitted to himself that having her here was a comfort. In knowing that she was safe for now, at least.
In knowing he wasn’t alone.
Caitlyn awoke with a start in the unfamiliar bedroom. It took several moments to remember where she was, although she didn’t quite recall ever climbing into bed. The last thing she remembered was…
Bliss.
Midnight Fear Page 16