by Dale Mayer
He'd planned on putting in a couple of hours then heading to the hospital to pick up his mom. He opened a file where he typed in his notes from Samantha's call and the colonel incident. He saved the material with a different code. He admitted to a heightened sense of paranoia, but still...
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
8:20 am, June 21st
"Hey Brandt, there's someone here to see you." Adam stood at the open door of his office the next day.
Brandt raised one eyebrow. He wasn't expecting anyone. "Who is it?"
Adam shrugged. "Deputy Brooker for Nikola County."
"What the hell?" Brandt's stomach twisted. He lurched partway out of his chair
Adam grinned. "You don't look so happy."
"Very odd," he murmured to himself. "No, I'm happy," he corrected Adam. "I'd like to talk with the little piss ass."
"Oh, there's nothing little about this guy."
Brandt, in the process of clearing off the top of his desk and locking up sensitive files, scowled. "Big? How big?"
Adam snorted. "This guy makes me look like an infant."
"Scary."
Adam nodded. "If I had to describe him, I'd say he was one hell of an arrogant SOB, far too used to getting his own way."
Shit. So, Sam was probably right about him. Well then, time to go see why he'd come and what he knew about Sam.
"Thanks, Adam. Anyone in the conference room?"
"I don't think so. Is that where you want to talk to him?"
"Yeah. I'm not sure yet, but this guy quite possibly needs to be behind bars himself. Don't want to extend too much courtesy, just in case."
"Sounds good. I'm heading down there now. Why don't I deliver him to conference room one for you?"
"Good. That saves me a trip and gives me a little more distinction. I could use that in this case."
"What kind of trouble is he?" Adam walked out of the office with Brandt.
"I think he's been a lot of trouble for a young girl."
"Then no special treatment for him. We don't need more of his kind."
"According to my information, he's also into corrupting law enforcement and running drugs."
He shared a look with Adam. They both knew other assholes just like this one.
"I need to make a quick call, then I'll be down."
Adam left and Brandt called his mom.
His call went to voicemail. Last night, Maisy had convinced the hospital staff to bring a cot into the colonel's room so she could stay with him. Brandt's protests had been shot down immediately. Chances were she was still there, but he'd feel better if he'd reached her. A second call to the hospital confirmed that his mom had spent the night and that the colonel hadn't woken up. As luck would have it, his mom was at the desk speaking with the nurse too. He spoke with her briefly, confirming that she'd gotten some sleep. She sounded more chipper this morning.
Brandt then headed to the conference room, quickly scratching down a few notes and questions he wanted to ask as he walked. Entering the room, he found a huge man with beefy shoulders – not a beer belly, rather a beer barrel that completely covered the belt holding up his pants. Dressed in uniform, the deputy's beady eyes held a voracious gleam that belied the smile on his face.
"Detective Sutherland?" At Brandt's nod, the older man stepped forward, his hand outstretched. "Thank you for taking the time to see me. I appreciate it."
Brandt shook the man's hand. Then motioned to a seat opposite his. He sat down, sliding his hand along his pants to wipe it clean before opening the conversation. "I'm surprised. Did you just happen to be in this region?"
"Nope. I came specific. This case, Samantha Blair, is way too important to leave to chance."
"Oh, you didn't mention that there was a case when we talked on the phone?"
Deputy Brooker shifted his bulk into the big boardroom chair. "I thought long and hard about it. But decided I needed to come and check this out. I'd just about given up finding her when I got your phone call."
"What do you want with her?"
"She caused me a bunch of trouble a few years ago. I believe she stole something from my family that I would really like returned."
Brandt frowned. Sam hadn't mentioned anything about that. "Stole something? Like what?"
"Files and folders. Our family history. We went to a spell of trouble to collect this material and we'd surely like it back."
The man was full of shit. Still, he was here. Therefore, whatever he wanted was important. Brandt didn't think any of it would be good for Sam.
"What was she like the last time you saw her?"
The beefy man hitched the front of his pants up over the lower portion of his belly. He shifted his weight; the chair creaked in protest. "She was a mouthy know-it-all. Just like she'd been every other time I'd seen her. The things that come out of that girl's mouth were something else. She's surely a liar, she is."
"A liar." Brandt barely restrained the desire to jump across the table and strangle the bloody fool. "A liar but not a fraud?"
"Nope, usually her visions were spot on. But that girl's a social misfit. She's not the same as you and me. She needed a keeper then and I'm sure things haven't changed."
"What is your intention when you meet her?"
"Just talk to her. See if she's had a change of heart in the meantime. Maybe she's ready to give the material back now. Or has she ditched it somewhere along the last few years?"
Brandt took a few notes, more to calm the fury inside than for later information. There was no way this asshole was getting close to Sam
"She had a bad car accident after she was in your neck of the woods. Did you know that?"
"I'd heard. And in truth, I thought maybe she hadn't survived. I'd called the hospital a time or two, but word was she was in bad shape and not expected to live. That's when I put it all away in my head. Until your phone call, then I hopped into my truck and came here."
Shit. Brandt was responsible for this mess. Truck? As in black truck? "Long trip. When did you pull into town?"
"Oh, I arrived a couple of days ago. Didn't want to come knocking right away. Figured you'd be mighty busy."
Brandt sighed, keeping his head down. The asshole was lying through his teeth. So he had been around when Sam called him screaming on her phone about some guy trying to run her off the road. Through the DMV, he could find out what this guy drove – putting him on the highway at the same time as Sam was a different story. How to prove that? "Yes, we're swamped. Portland is a big city and it's not like there's ever a down season."
The deputy laughed. "Crime never takes a holiday."
"Isn't that the truth?"
As much as Brandt would like to cuff this guy with the information he had from Sam, he knew in good conscience that he'd need to hear what Sam had to say about the deputy's truths.
Then he'd have another talk with the deputy...on his terms.
***
10:48 am
It had not been a good day. As a matter of fact, as days went, this one sucked. He'd finally located the right hospital only to find out his drugged victim was still alive and in a coma. What the hell? If she died – great. If she stayed in a coma for the rest of her life – even better. He kind of liked that concept. But if she awoke, that was bad news. It couldn't be allowed to happen. He'd have to think this one over while monitoring the situation.
Then he'd gone on to the care center with his dogs. The dogs had been great, the staff had been great – the people however... What was with those old people? They all had a gambling problem for one thing. And for another, they were a bunch of busybodies. Like that one old geezer. Apparently, he knew something about the ring the media had flashed on the television. Those damn old folks were betting on when he was going to remember just what it was. Who could have predicted such a problem? Well, he'd had no choice, had he? The guy couldn't be allowed to remember anything about him – ever.
That little bit of violence had been just enough to whet his appe
tite, to rouse the beast inside, yet not enough to sate either. It had been too fast, not well planned…and that bothered him a bit. Yet, he'd had few options. Prudence said he should be home and out of sight right now. He'd actually been driving in that direction when he'd seen her.
She was perfect.
He pulled off the road to a small parking lot so he could watch her sashaying down the sidewalk.
The glare shining through the windshield irritated him. It limited his view. Rummaging in the glove box, he finally came up with a scratched pair of sunglasses. Better than nothing. Putting them on, he quickly searched the area in front of the drugstore that she'd walked into a few minutes earlier.
There. She was laughing at something someone had said, her head turned as she walked out the door. She strode with confidence in the sunshine. God, he loved that. Loved to see a woman sure of her sexuality, sure of who she was.
And she was so wrong.
That was the best part. Stripping away their innocence and teaching them about the real monsters of the world.
He leaned forward for a better view. She turned left and moved smoothly down the sidewalk. Look at her walk – liquid honey. He grinned.
Perfect.
He hopped out of the truck and followed behind at a steady pace. When she entered a small clothing boutique, he found a bench on the sidewalk and sat to enjoy the sunshine. He had nothing better to do, except follow her around. She loved her little boutiques and before the month was out, he'd know every one of them.
***
2:20 pm
The afternoon was gorgeous. Sam felt like shit.
Leaning against the front doorframe of her cabin, looking out to the rest of the world, Sam mentally ran through the various options. She still had a couple days before she started working with Stefan. In the meantime, she had some homework to do. If these visions would stop, she might actually have the energy to work on them.
Her phone rang. Butterflies took flight in delight at the number on her phone display. He'd slid into her consciousness like he'd always belonged there. When had he gone from a cop to a friend, and now to mean something so much more? "Hi Brandt. What's up?"
"I need to see you today. There's something I need to go over with you and it's better to do this in person. Are you going to be home this afternoon or evening?"
Sam's stomach dropped. In person would be great, except nothing about this sounded good. Now what? "I'm here all day and night. I'm going to work on Stefan's exercises this afternoon, then head to the lake for a swim." She hesitated for a moment. "What's this about?"
"Deputy Brooker came into the office today. His story is a little different than yours."
She snorted. "What? He's in town?" Sam gripped the cell phone in her hand, her knuckles turning white. "When did he get here and what is he driving? I think I saw that same black truck yesterday."
"What? Why didn't you say something?"
"I didn't know if it was the same vehicle or not. I was still in town, so took off around the corner. I never saw him again."
"He is driving a black Dodge truck, but that doesn't mean it was him. We're running a check on him now. You stay there and just be careful. If anyone shows up, but me, hide unless you know them. I'll get there in a couple of hours – earlier if I can."
She shook her head. Not good enough. Not even close, only what were her options at this point? None. "Then you damn well better show up soon, or I'll be coming in after you."
The phone closed with a snap. Sam let out a shaky breath. Okay. Another problem. She was good at those. She snorted. Like hell. In the past, she'd run. So what did she do now?
Stick around and fight.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
5:45 pm
The late afternoon sun danced on top of the glassy lake. Sam studied the inviting landscape. Yeah. That's exactly what she needed.
"Hello, Soldier." She smiled at the dog lying so peacefully in the sun. Healthier now, his coat was thick and although still grimy, it was no longer covered in blood. Most of it had dried and fallen off. She'd love to get him into the lake, except he still had stitches. The last thing she wanted was to have to manhandle the dog into the truck and back to the vet's office. Soldier accepted her presence as a necessity, but only as long as his independence and freedom never came into question.
Soldier surged to his feet and started growling.
Sam frowned. "Soldier?"
The dog turned to face the wooded area behind the house and growled again.
Sam peered into the trees, but couldn't see what bothered the dog. He growled again at the bushes behind her. The woods appeared calm, and should have been teeming with life. None of it showed.
The energy had a peacefulness to it. Then maybe it was the energy she was projecting. Stefan's exercises had a phenomenal effect. It was what she was imagined meditation could do for a person. A sense of ease, comfort, had slipped under her guard. It's not that she felt she could do anything, because she knew she couldn't, however she did have a better understanding of just what she could do. The exercises were basic. She had to start at the beginning, according to Stefan. Working on seeing energy, understanding the colors around people, animals, even plants. Then to understand what the markings and colors meant.
Sure she was tired, but a good tired. Her energy muscles, something she never knew existed, had been well and truly flexed.
It felt great.
So many things in her life felt great – especially Brandt. She had no idea where the relationship was going, or when. All she could think about was where it would end up – in bed. At least she hoped she was reading the signals right.
Delight wiggled in her belly. She hoped he felt the same way.
With Soldier on guard in the late afternoon sun, Sam headed for a swim. It was the perfect temperature for a cool, relaxing dip. Feeling physically stronger than she had in years, Sam stretched her abilities to the limit, swimming strong for thirty minutes before rolling over onto her back and floating. Calm and filled with peace, she waited for her breathing to return to a calm gentle rhythm. It took longer than she expected.
With a groan, she realized she may have overdone it.
In the aftermath of exertion, her body chilled quickly. Turning over, she fluttered her hands enough to propel herself gently in the right direction.
The silkiness of the water slipped over her skin, making her sensitized skin come alive. The chill quickly morphed into heat as she moved through the water under the setting sun. Now, if only Brandt were here with her. His hands sliding across her skin instead of the gentle waves. She stretched, reveling in the freedom of the night.
"Sam. Goddamn it, what the hell are you doing?" The yell stormed across the water.
What was that? She raised her head.
"Get over here."
Well, that was hard to miss. She rolled over in the water and searched around the house and the dock. Brandt strode toward the water. Even from that distance, she could see his grim face. Her pulse sped up at the sight of him. Even if he was mad at her.
"Sam, you're too far out."
Too far. Sam twisted around her and realized she'd unintentionally floated out even further. Still, she wasn't in trouble. At least, not yet.
Striking out strong, Sam headed in. Her energy petered out before she managed a dozen strokes. She shifted to breaststroke and continued shoreward. When she made it to roughly fifteen feet from the dock, Sam slowed and treaded water.
She watched Brandt's loose-limbed stride carry him to the end of the dock, heard him yell, "God damn it, woman. Get your sorry ass in here."
Tall and lean, he looked incredibly good with a gentle wind ruffling his hair. Moses whined beside him. Now, if only she hadn't spent the last hour imagining him in the water with her.
"Sorry buddy. It's not you I'm mad at – it's her."
Moses sat down.
Sourly, Sam watched their interplay. Moses may not have anything to worry about. Obviously Sam could
n't say the same thing. She felt like hissing. Damn it. She was swimming in the nude.
***
6:55 pm
Brandt couldn't believe it. The last time he'd seen her, she'd been caught in a heavy vision and experiencing huge blood loss. Now she was out there swimming in the middle of the damn lake. She'd have been better off relaxing and regaining her strength. He watched as she struggled the last few yards. She was worn out, but if he jumped in to help her, she'd be royally pissed. Go figure.