by Green, Stacy
“I trust your judgment about anyone’s character, you know that. But I can’t let you fuck up your career over a woman.”
“I’m being careful.”
“You’re going to slip. It’s inevitable.”
“So what am I supposed to do?”
“There’s only one option.” Chris polished off his eggs and started on the bacon.
“I’m not abandoning her.”
“Did I say that?”
“Then what?”
“Snake turned up in the system yet?”
“Nothing,” Nathan said.
“So he’s either dead or in the drains somewhere.”
“What’s your point?”
“For a genius, you’re as dumb as a rock sometimes,” Chris said. “If we can find Snake, we have a shot at the Taker.”
“Ronson’s on it.”
“She going back into the tunnels? Because that’s where he’ll be.”
“Not yet. She wants to canvass the jails and streets.”
Chris raised an eyebrow. Nathan finally realized what he was getting at.
“You want to search the tunnels for Snake.”
“Think of it as a field trip.” Chris grinned. “Even if we don’t find him, we’ll see all sorts of new and exciting things.”
“I’ve seen enough of the tunnels to last a lifetime.”
“Snake’s your best chance. And since the Taker planned to hide Emilie in the tunnels, getting to know them might not be a bad idea.”
A chill settled over Nathan at his friend’s implication. “All right. We’ll go back in.”
* * * *
Leaving her car had been so stupid. Emilie’s late afternoon pity-party yesterday had landed her in a cab that reeked of sun-dried leather and stale vomit. The vehicle’s shocks were non-existent, and her cabbie managed to hit every pothole, sending the tremors straight to her pounding head.
“You want off in front of the bank?”
“In the parking lot, please. I need to check on my car—the white Impala.”
He swung sharply into the lot and bounced hard off a speed bump. “That it?”
“Yeah.” Emilie dug into her wallet.
“Looks like you got a ticket.”
Her hand paused in midair. She had a parking pass. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks.” He looped around the lot and beat a path to the street.
Dread flashed through her as she approached the car. Stuck underneath her driver’s side windshield wiper, a piece of ordinary notebook paper fluttered in the gentle breeze. Her futile hope for a solicitor’s flyer was dashed by the neat handwriting peeking out from the folded paper.
Claire must have come back. What other gems had she left for Emilie?
Emilie snatched the letter and began to read.
Your pain is my pain. To watch your misery and not be able to intervene was torturous. Dearest Miss Emilie, you are a delicate flower that must be lovingly nurtured, tended to each day with kindness and adoration. Your mother never saw your immense worth. But I do, my sweet. Every day. Do not fret. Everything will be as it should very soon.
“Oh, my God.” Emilie leaned against the car ignoring the hot sting of metal that had been cooking in the sun. He’d been right there when she’d argued with Claire. Had the Taker been close enough to touch?
“I’ll never escape him.” The taste of salty tears landed on her upper lip.
This would be the rest of her life until he chose to end it. Emilie was nothing but a pawn in his sick game.
She caught sight of herself in the driver’s window: a pale, thin face with dark circles underneath wide, frightened eyes. Cheeks soaked with tears and lips trembling in defeat.
Why didn’t the Taker just get it over with? He could snatch her now if he wanted to. She was alone in the parking lot. But no, he would rather toy with her, manipulating her until he’d grown bored.
She couldn’t live like this anymore. Nathan was foolish to think there was any chance of catching the Taker, and Emilie was stupid to believe she and Nathan had any real shot at a future. That would be snatched away before they had a chance to begin.
Emilie glared at her reflection. Her face scrunched as a fresh onslaught of tears started. You weak bitch. She smacked her hands against the window. Standing out here crying like a goddamned, simpering damsel in distress. You’re just going to curl up in a ball and let the Taker win, just like you did with Evan. Nothing has changed.
Not this time, little coward. She stepped back and mopped off her face. You’re going to stand up for yourself instead of letting the bad guy walk all over you. You’re not giving up. Not this time.
A loud thump behind Emilie quelled her outburst. Fear gripped her as she realized she wasn’t alone. Then, the anger returned. “Is that you hiding again, you bastard? Don’t you have the balls to talk to me like a normal human being?”
She moved toward the direction of the noise and reached for her cellphone. She scrolled to Agent Ronson’s number.
Another thump, this one louder. Emilie was certain it had come from the other side of the Mazda parked three cars away from her own.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are. Let’s end this today.”
The thumping increased, the frantic sound of something hitting metal. She paused at the Mazda. The noise was definitely coming from the rear driver’s side, near the dumpster.
Emilie took a deep breath and hit send. Then she ran around the side of the car, ready for the fight of her life. “Let’s see what you’ve got face to face, you son-of-a-bitch.”
A gray pigeon squawked and flew away, abandoning the candy bar it had been trying to wedge out of a drain.
She’d been screaming at a bird.
A woman shouted her name. Emilie held the phone up to her ear. “Hello?”
“Emilie. What’s going on? Who are you shouting at?”
“No one.”
A fat cloud eased itself over the sun. A shiver rocketed through Emilie. The Taker was here somewhere, watching. She knew it.
“Do you need me to come get you?” Ronson asked. “Has something happened?”
“The Taker left a note on my car.”
“Where are you?”
“Work.”
“Get inside. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
Emilie hung up and dialed a second number. Consequences be damned, she needed Nathan by her side.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nathan whipped the Camry into an empty spot. Crime scene techs surrounded Emilie’s car dusting for fingerprints. He flashed his badge at an officer and hurried into the bank.
A tall, rail-thin blond woman greeted him. “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Emilie Davis.”
The woman’s expression turned sour. “She’s with the cops.”
“You must be Lisa.”
“Now how did you know that?” She batted her mascara-coated eyelashes.
“That’s my job.” Nathan showed her his badge. “Where’s Emilie?”
“President’s office.” Lisa jerked her thumb over her shoulder.
Emilie sat on a brown leather couch, holding a styrofoam cup. A pudgy man with red cheeks and thinning blonde hair sat next to her. Avery stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed over his chest.
Every head in the room swiveled to the door as Nathan entered.
“Madigan, what the hell?” Avery demanded.
“I asked him to come.” Emilie’s face flushed.
“Really? That’s an interesting development.”
“It’s the least of our concerns,” Ronson said. “Focus on the case, Avery.”
Nathan sat down on Emilie’s other side, forcing himself not to take her into his arms.
“Are you all right?”
“I screamed at a pigeon.”
“What if it had been the Taker?” the pudgy man asked. “Em, you can’t just go off half-cocked. This man is dangerous.”
“I’m aware of
that, Jeremy,” Emilie snapped. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
So this was her boss. He didn’t fit Nathan’s image of a bank president, with his cheap suit and scuffed shoes. Then again, the man had a family. His life probably wasn’t cheap. Worry etched into every wrinkle on Jeremy’s chubby face.
“Of course you weren’t,” Jeremy said. “You just need to be careful. The Taker isn’t going to give up easily.”
“You’re sure it’s from the Taker and not a sick joke?” Nathan asked.
“He referred to me as Miss Emilie. No one else would know that.”
“Unless it was his accomplice doing his dirty work,” Avery said.
“Doubtful,” Ronson said. “That’s too intimate, something he’s only going to share with Emilie. He left the note, but I’m sure we won’t lift any fingerprints.”
“Cameras?” Nathan asked.
“I looked at the videos as soon as Emilie told me what happened,” Jeremy said. “Just before four a.m., a masked figure left the note. Looked like a man, but there’s no way to tell for sure.”
“Our techs will analyze the footage frame by frame,” Ronson said. “But I’m not expecting anything.”
“So what’s your plan?” Nathan’s voice rose. “We’re twiddling our thumbs while he gets closer and closer to her.”
“Maybe you should just shack up at her place,” Avery sneered. “Surely you wouldn’t mind.”
“You’re out of line, Dalton.”
“So are you, Madigan. Fraternizing with someone involved in an open case? Is the action worth the risk to your reputation?”
Nathan jumped to his feet and crossed the room in two strides. “Listen, asshole. Putting me down is one thing, but you’re supposed to be on Emilie’s side. Leave her out of it.”
“You’re not. Looks to me like you’re all up in it, and her.”
Nathan had Avery pinned before anyone could react, slamming him against the drywall hard enough that a plaque clattered to the floor. “I’ve had enough of you, Dalton. Hate me all you want, but it’s your duty to treat this woman with respect. I’m not going to allow you to talk about her like she’s trash.”
“Stop.” She pulled hard on his arm. “Nathan, don’t get in trouble for me, please.”
Nathan released Avery with a jerk. “I’m sorry. This is your workplace. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
“It’s all right. Just sit back down with me.”
Nathan knew Ronson was watching their interchange and no doubt noticed Emilie’s hand lingering on his arm.
“What would Uncle Jimmy say, Madigan?” Avery adjusted his collar. “All these years spent making up for his death just to throw it away on a woman?”
Jimmy’s last moments flashed into Nathan’s mind. The knife still stuck in his chest, blood oozing from Jimmy’s open mouth and turning the rain-soaked streets a garish pink. His uncle’s eyes faded and closed as Nathan begged him to hold on.
“Be a good boy.” Jimmy choked, spitting more blood. “Make me proud.”
But Jimmy was long gone. All Nathan could see was Dalton Avery’s hateful smile. His right fist connected with Avery’s skinny lips. The detective stumbled back before losing his balance and landing on his ass.
“You’ll be suspended for this.” Avery clutched his mouth.
“I need a vacation.”
Nathan had managed to screw up his career and embarrass Emilie at work in the same day. He turned to her. “I’m not sorry this time.”
“I know.”
“Out!” Ronson grabbed him by the elbow. Employees scattered in an effort to pretend they hadn’t been watching. Outside, Ronson unleashed on Nathan.
“Are you stupid?”
“He had it coming.”
“Of course he did. Doesn’t mean you had to stoop to his level. And you will be suspended, you know that, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That goes on your record, Nathan. Your career advancement could be affected, and all over a piss-ant like Avery?”
“It’s not about him.”
“Right. It’s about Emilie Davis.”
“We’re just friends.”
“You both want to be more than that,” Ronson said. “You think I can’t see it?”
“Sia, I swear to God, we’ve done nothing wrong.” Nathan flexed his aching hand.
“But?”
“You’re right. We’ve discussed it and agreed to be friends until the case is closed.”
“That could be a long time.”
“I’m going to catch him.”
“How? You’re not officially on the case, and you’re going to be on a vacation now.”
“Five days at most. That gives me plenty of time to look for Snake.”
“You’re going into the tunnels? Alone?”
“Chris is going with me.”
“That’s not authorized.”
“Off the clock. Just exploring.”
“Nathan, you’re a great cop. You’ve got some of the best instincts I’ve ever seen. But you’re not thinking clearly. You’re doing this to be with Davis.”
“I’m doing this to make her safe,” Nathan said. “You know as well as I do that unless the Taker makes a mistake, Snake is our best chance.”
“I’m not going to talk you out of this, am I?”
“No.”
“Then I’m going with you,” a new voice said.
Rocks settled into Nathan’s stomach. Emilie stood in the doorway, arms folded across her chest and a look of determination on her face.
* * * *
Emilie glared out the window of Jeremy’s office. The jagged edges of her once-smooth nails dug into her bare arms.
“Em, please listen to them,” Jeremy begged. “It’s not safe.”
“Sitting around on my ass isn’t safe. At least I’ll be doing something.”
“What?” Jeremy demanded. “Offering yourself to the Taker?”
“I’d rather do that than wait around for him to make his move.”
“You’re not doing it,” Nathan said. “It’s out of the question.”
Emilie glanced at Avery, waiting for the insult, but none came. He glowered at Nathan and rubbed his jaw.
“You’re not going into the damned tunnels,” Nathan repeated. “I won’t let you take that risk.”
His words meant more than she wanted to admit, but she couldn’t back down. “It’s not your decision, is it?”
“You’re clearly not capable of making this one.”
“And you’ve got no right to make it for me.”
“Madigan, I brought you in here you to talk some sense into her, not piss her off,” Ronson said. “Stop acting like a caveman.”
“I just want her to be safe.”
“I know you do,” Emilie relented. “But I have to do this.”
“Why? What good could possibly come of it?”
“I need to face him. He’s got the upper hand right now because he believes he’s in control of my life.”
“And you think going into the tunnels will prove him wrong?” Nathan said. “All it’s going to prove is you’re reckless.”
“This is my decision. You can’t stop me.”
Ronson turned to Nathan. “She could be an asset. Maybe seeing her in person will get people talking, make them want to help. If she was accompanied—”
“She is standing right here,” Emilie cut in. “I realize you’re just trying to help, but put yourself in my shoes. I’m scared of every shadow. I have no control over my own life. That stops now. Maybe it won’t do the investigation any good, but going into the tunnels will damned sure help me.”
She looked straight into Nathan’s eyes. “I’d rather have firsthand experience if I end up in the shark pit.”
“Sharks can see better in murky waters.” Nathan’s voice softened. “He’ll still have the advantage.”
“At least I won’t be completely blind.”
They stared at each other. Emilie’s righ
t foot jerked forward as her body begged to be close to his. His anguished expression was almost more than she could bear.
“I’ll take you,” Ronson finally agreed. “But there’s one condition.”
“Name it.”
“Nathan and Holt guide us. And it’s extracurricular for them, so I can’t give the order. They’ve got to agree.”
Emilie’s heart sank as she watched Nathan grit his teeth. He wasn’t going to give in. “Please. Do this for me.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“You want some coffee?” Sarah asked. “Juice? Cereal?”
“Not hungry.” Even the safety of the Vance’s large kitchen couldn’t quell the shock of yesterday’s events. Otis prowled around the room, sniffing his new territory and whining about the transfer. “Jeremy take the kids to school?”
“Yep. Just you and me.” Sarah sat down across from Emilie and sipped her coffee. “You okay?”
“How can the Taker be that close and no one see him?”
“He’s mastered the art of blending in with the crowd. Lots of people probably saw him. They just didn’t realize it.”
“I shouldn’t be here. I’m putting all of you in danger.”
“Stop. We’ve got a security system and there’s a cop stationed outside. This is the best place for you. Unlike the damned storm drains. You’re not seriously going in there?”
“I’ve got to, Sarah. Please try to understand.”
“I can’t. But I’m not going to try to talk you out of it. You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that.” Sarah dumped a packet of sugar into her coffee. “I’m just glad Nathan’s going with you.”
Emilie kept silent. Avery’s accusations kept tormenting her. What if she ruined Nathan’s career?
“Don’t run from him,” Sarah said. “He’s good for you.”
“He is. But I’m not good for him.”
“Bullshit. You’re amazing. Nathan’s smart enough to see that.”
“He’s suspended because of me.”
“No, he’s suspended because that prick Detective Avery insulted you, and Nathan stood up to him. Sometimes breaking the rules is worth the reward. Avery had it coming.”
“If I hadn’t—”
“Stop your pity party. You needed him, and you called. Guess what? That’s normal. Pushing people away and pretending you’re happy by yourself isn’t. But after Claire’s visit, I totally understand why you do it.”