Pop had. Callahan switched positions. “Yeah, I know. I’d like to go…”
Her grin returned, brighter than ever. “Good! I’m looking forward to it. I thought I’d stay home and rest so my headache won’t flare up. I’ll have plenty of time to get ready, and when you get home, you can shower and change. We can walk and grab dinner on the way.”
Callahan wanted to tell her no, the timing wasn’t right and to wait until the threat had ended, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to watch her smile vanish again. After all, he reasoned, Snake could strike them anywhere at any time. Just because the old man had a hunch didn’t mean it would come true. For once, he could let down his guard. “Sure, sounds like a plan. I hope you didn’t spend too much.”
“No, I got a good deal, last-minute tickets and all.”
He nodded. “That’s great, baby.”
After they’d eaten their fill of the takeout and put the leftovers into the fridge, Raine asked, “Do you want me to rub your back for a while?”
Callahan sighed with anticipation. “Yeah, I’d like it if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t. Come lie down.” The bed waited, expanded to full size, with the covers turned down, waiting.
Full of good food and fine wine, warm and content, Callahan did as she asked. Raine’s fingers worked something close to magic as she massaged and kneaded his flesh. He meant to make love to her afterward, slow and loose-limbed, but instead he found himself drifting into a delicious drowsiness. Raine talked and he listened, but he caught the sound of her voice more than her words. After what seemed like a long time, she rose, dimmed the lights, and crawled into bed beside him. For a while, her fingers still rubbed his lower back. The last thing he remembered was the sound of sleet slapping against the windows and how comfortable he was. Nothing, he thought, could make him move now—nothing.
Sometime in the still hours of early morning, long before sunrise, Callahan woke from a dream, startled and breathless. He couldn’t remember any details, but it left him with a lingering uneasiness. Something had frightened him, he thought, not the kind of “boogeyman-in-the-dark” a child might fear, but danger.
Callahan lay awake, and he calmed. He listened to Raine’s easy breathing and thought about her, what a blessing she was, how much he loved her. They deserved a night out on the town, he thought with a fierce rush of joy. After all, what could happen in one night?
He woke a few hours later, rested, and the nightmare forgotten. As he dressed for work, Raine watched him. She crawled out of bed and stood nearby, a distraction, but one he enjoyed. Callahan ogled her bare breasts beneath her pajama top and admired her tight ass in the pants. Because of that, he almost forgot to put his shield, the badge he wore around his neck on, but she remembered. “Here, Callahan,” she told him. She slipped it over his head and planted a kiss on his lips. “How’s the back this morning?”
“Good,” he told her. “It’s not hurting at all.”
She straightened his shield and reached around his neck to touch the chain of the St. Michael medal he always wore. “What’re you doin’?” he asked, amused.
“I’m making sure you’re wearing St. Michael,” Raine replied. “What time will you be home? The show’s at eight.”
“I hope around four-thirty,” he told her. “I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
“All right,” she said. “Be careful.”
His lips curved upward into a grin. “I always am, doll.”
“Good. I love you, Callahan.”
“Love you, too. Give me a kiss?”
“Always.”
Raine stretched to meet him as he planted his mouth on hers. Her slender lips yielded to his powerful kiss, and her hunger intensified Callahan’s. He gave her tenderness combined with passion, tried to cherish her, and show how much he cared. It must’ve worked because she locked her hands behind his head and hugged him tight. “Watch yourself, Callahan. I love you, and I’ll see you later.”
The intensity of her words brought back a fleeting memory of waking after a bad dream, but he lacked time to dwell on it. “I love you, too, doll.”
Callahan put on his jacket and walked out, focused on getting through the day ahead so he could enjoy the evening out with Raine. For the first time in a string of days, he wasn’t obsessed about Snake Marsh or anxious about the potential for danger. Instead, he looked forward to the show and time spent with his lady.
Raine was proving to be the best damn thing that had ever come his way.
Chapter Sixteen
Raine had planned to dive back under the covers and go back to sleep, but when she tried, it wasn’t happening. Although she found a comfortable position and it was warm, a vague unease hovered around her consciousness, enough to make her wary of what lay ahead. No matter how hard she tried or how many times she shifted position, sleep eluded her, and after an hour of trying, she opened her eyes and got up for the day.
After a shower and raiding the cupboards for a granola bar to go with the coffee Callahan left in the pot, Raine pondered her wardrobe and what to wear to the theater. Basic black always worked, and she had several pairs of black slacks ranging from casual to dressy. I want to look classy and beautiful, but what top should I wear?
She considered her options and rejected each one. Her black silk blouse had stains, and her favorite black and white patterned sweater might be too hot. After going through her clothes twice, Raine grabbed her purse and headed to the street. One advantage of living in mid-Manhattan, practically in the heart of the garment district, was the sample stores. In her daily travels, she’d seen at least two on the block, and she thought there might be one on one of the building’s lower floors.
Callahan wouldn’t like me doing this, she thought, but her desire to look fashionable overruled anything else. Besides, he would never know. She spent the rest of the morning shopping and returned to the apartment with several purchases. Raine figured she would wear the ruffled black chiffon blouse tonight, but she’d also chosen a deep rose, satin button-down blouse and a Kelly green sweater. She tried on the chiffon with the slacks, then admired her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Perfect.
Her black Nina Forbes peep-toe high heels, each sporting a bow, would look awesome. Raine picked out a pair of long silver dangle earrings and a heavy silver chain with her birthstone. She planned her makeup over a light lunch and texted Callahan, “Can’t wait for 2night, love u.”
Within minutes, he answered, “LuvU2doll.”
About time he joined the Twenty-First Century. Raine smiled. It’d taken a little effort to get Callahan to text. He tended to be old-school on some things, and texting had been one of them. Now she savored the short messages. And she loved Callahan very much. If she could, she would shout it from the rooftop or paint on a wall with other graffiti. Raine wanted to tell everyone.
On impulse, she phoned her sister Annie. Married, with one kid, she should be home.
“Hello?”
“Annie, its Raine.”
Her sister squealed with delight. “Raine! Wow, it’s nice to hear your voice. What’s the occasion? And shouldn’t you be at work?”
“I have the day off,” she said. “So I thought I’d call and catch up. I talk to Mom every weekend but I haven’t talked to you in forever.”
“How’s New York?”
“Great,” Raine said. “I like it.”
“Really?” Annie sounded surprised. “From what Mom said, I thought you hated it.”
“Well, at first it seemed so big, and I was lost,” Raine said. “But I’ve gotten more familiar now, thanks to Callahan.”
“Who’s he?”
“How’d you know it was a guy?”
She never had been able to fool her sisters. “I could tell by your voice. So you’re dating?”
Dating didn’t begin to define what she had with Callahan, but Raine didn’t want to share all her secrets. “Yes, you could say so.”
“So is he a teacher, too?”
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“Not hardly,” Raine said. “He’s a New York City law enforcement officer.”
“You’re dating a cop? That’s fantastic! Are you coming home for Thanksgiving?”
Raine shut her eyes and counted to five. “No, Annie. I’m not. I can’t. I’m planning on a few days at Christmas. How’s Sophie?”
“Don’t ask,” Annie said with a laugh. “She’s great when she’s tearing up the place. Right now, she’s napping or she’d be pulling the phone out of my hands to babble at you.”
“Aw,” Raine said. “I know I’m missing so much. I doubt she’ll remember me.”
“You can get reacquainted over the holidays.”
The sisters talked for another ten minutes, and afterward Raine curled up on one corner of the couch to read. After a short time, she became so sleepy she put down her e-reader and shut her eyes. She napped longer than she intended, and by the time she woke up, it was almost three.
Raine shampooed her hair and gelled it, then hung her head upside down to blow it dry. When she finished, it hung in soft curls so she used a little hair spray to keep it under control. She ruined the first pair of hose by running a toe through the thin nylon, but without any more mishaps, she got dressed, did her makeup, and put on jewelry. Then she spritzed her favorite fragrance in key places. On impulse, she added a silver scarf as an accent and then donned her red coat.
Okay, it’s quarter after four so he should be home soon. He’ll get ready and we’ll go.
Birds, not butterflies, fluttered in her stomach as Raine anticipated their night out. Time slowed down and dragged as she waited. At four-thirty, when Callahan didn’t walk through the door, she figured he would soon. By five o’clock, she paced the floor in her stiletto heels, resisting an urge to twist her hands together into knots.
When her cell phone chimed to indicate a message, Raine almost tripped getting to it. It better be from him. She read the message and snorted.
“Running late, so meet me at McDonald’s on Eighth Avenue, buy you a cheeseburger.”
“What in the hell?” Raine said aloud. They never ate fast food and such a cryptic message wasn’t Callahan’s style. “What can he be thinking?”
She dialed his number, but the call went straight to voice mail. Raine tried two more times without success. Half-angry and more than a little concerned, she texted him back. “Okay, see you there, leaving now, love you.”
Callahan never replied so Raine donned her crimson coat and grabbed her handbag. At the last minute, on a hunch and just in case, she tucked the pistol she’d taken from Pop into her inner coat pocket. She had no idea why.
Fuming, she marched downstairs and stalked down to the corner of Eighth Avenue. Then she headed north toward the theater district. More than a little righteous anger bubbled into her mouth. By the time she reached the four-story McDonald’s not far from the Port Authority bus terminal, her feet hurt and her mood had soured. He better have a good reason for this. It’s supposed to be our special night out, our first time at a theater together.
He wasn’t waiting outside as Raine had expected, so she entered. The small lobby teemed with people. She maneuvered her way into a corner and scanned the crowds, but she didn’t see Callahan anywhere. Just as Raine fished her phone out of her purse to try calling him, a wild-haired man in a long black overcoat tapped her arm. His foul body stench rankled in her nose, and she tried to turn away but he grasped her wrist. “Is your name Raine?” he said. “I got something for you.”
With effort, she jerked her arm free. “I think you’re mistaken,” she snapped. Surrounded by gum-popping teenagers, white-collar workers on their way home, construction guys dropping in for a burger, senior citizens jingling coins in their pocket for coffee, Raine wanted to panic. She hadn’t felt so out of place or alone since the day she met Callahan.
“I don’t think so,” the guy said. He held up something and waved it in her face.
Raine gasped. “Give me that!”
Before he could say anything, she snatched it from his hand and examined it. Her heart galloped like a green broke horse bent on escape. The New York City officer’s shield belonged to Callahan. She recognized the badge number. “Where did you get this?” she said. She had to raise her voice to be heard over the crowd noise. Raine paused, then slid it over her head and tucked it within her blouse.
The stinky man shook his head and moved away. “Wait,” she called. “Come back here!”
Someone else grabbed her other arm and bent close. “He doesn’t know,” another voice said. “But I do.”
Her head spun around. Snake Marsh stood at her elbow, his ponytail greasier than she remembered. His eyes glittered, and when he breathed out, his breath reeked of something harsh and acidic. Snake smelled, too, not as bad as the one who delivered Callahan’s shield, but enough that she held her breath.
“Where’s Callahan?” she asked. Inside, her lungs threatened to stop breathing, and her heart still pounded. Fear clutched her chest tight with sharp claws and threatened to slash through her body.
“I got that fucker cop right where I want him,” Snake said. His voice was a low hiss in her ear. “And if you want to see him alive, then you’d better shut that bitch mouth and walk with me.”
Raine’s body trembled and her legs threatened to give way. She summoned up enough courage to say, “Tell me if he’s all right, or I’ll scream. Someone will help me if I do.”
“Go ahead, you stupid cunt,” Snake said. “I’ll cut you.”
He waved his hand into her view and displayed a sharp knife, small but with the potential to be deadly. A tiny whimper escaped her lips, but she bit down to stop it. Without another word, Snake propelled her toward the door, his hand clamped tighter on her wrist than a snapping turtle. If she resisted, he would probably break it.
Addled with anxiety, worried about Callahan, Raine allowed him to drag her down the street. After a few paces, he pulled her into a doorway and ripped her purse away. “Got any bucks?” he said. She made no answer as he rifled through her billfold, took what bills she had, and tossed her cell phone to the pavement. He stepped on it and she heard the plastic crack. “Now you can’t call anyone, bitch.”
She wanted to ask again about Callahan but held her tongue. Raine flinched when Snake jerked a black stocking hat from one of his pockets and jammed it over her head. He pulled it so low she had trouble seeing, but she didn’t think now was the time to complain. The wool reeked of marijuana smoke and cigarettes and beer. Without anymore commentary, he marched her toward the Forty-Second Street subway station at Eighth Avenue and they descended the stairs.
Raine had trouble navigating the steps when she could barely see. She almost lost her balance, but Snake jerked her upright. Then he linked his arm with hers as if they were a couple and they headed down the southbound side. Once on the platform, Snake pulled her away from the people waiting for a train and into the shadows. Down past where most of the crowd stood, he maneuvered her through a door, then down a narrow area that Raine doubted anyone but a transit employee would use. Once there, he paused long enough to pull the hat over her eyes and led her forward, she thought through a doorway, but she wasn’t sure.
After several turns, all noise diminished. Wherever he took her, it was away from people. Walking blind made her nervous, and she feared he might push her onto the rails where she might hit the third track and be electrocuted. Sometimes he muttered as they walked, but she couldn’t understand most of what he said.
Raine thought they might have doubled back at some point and covered the same space again. Maybe he’s trying to confuse me so I can’t find my way out, and he probably has. Snake halted and removed the hat. Raine inhaled deep breaths and stared.
They stood at the top of a flight of concrete steps, dirty with disuse. “Go on,” he said. Snake shoved her and she fumbled to catch the handrail as they descended onto an abandoned platform. Some of the fluorescent light still worked, enough to illuminate the empty spaces, a
place that hadn’t seen a train in decades by her guess. The mosaic tiles on the wall at the foot of the stairs proclaimed it to be Forty-Second Street, but it wasn’t anywhere she recognized. It must be an abandoned level, Raine thought with rising panic, I’ve read about these stations no longer in use. No one will ever find me here.
On the platform, puddles loomed in places and water dripped from the ceiling in spots. Refuse littered the place along with abandoned power chords, a few tools, and other items left behind. Raine stared into the shadows, eyes straining to search for an escape route, or better still, for Callahan. So far, she saw neither.
Snake shoved her down, and she fell hard against the platform. Her panty hose ripped and she skinned one knee. Although it stung, she did nothing but watch him the way she would a venomous serpent, coiled and ready to strike her. He had scratched himself before, more than once, but now he pushed up his sleeves to claw at his skin with such force, he left marks.
Working with students at-risk had educated Raine in the ways of drug abuse, and she recognized Snake’s need for methamphetamine. He needed a hit and soon. When he slumped down and rooted through his pockets, he provided the advantage she needed. Raine held her breath for a moment and willed her heart to slow down. She took long, slow breaths as she tried to calm down.
She glanced down the platform. In the dim light, six pillars down where the now-empty tunnel loomed, Raine spotted something. She narrowed her gaze and decided it was a man, slumped against the pillar, head bowed onto his chest. Raine’s breath caught and held. It was Callahan.
Think. Don’t do anything stupid. Come up with a plan or I’ll get us both killed.
A grunt from Snake made her look. He’d fumbled out a filthy looking needle and was shaking up some powder with water to pour into it. His hands refused to obey, and he spilled some of it before he managed to get any liquid into the syringe. Then he plunged it into a vein in his arm and moaned. Raine had no idea how fast the drug would hit him or how he might react, but as he rocked back and forth, she reached into her pocket. The pistol remained and she closed her fingers around it. She reached down and removed her shoes, then she stood up. Snake didn’t look up so she took off, running down the platform with as much speed as she could muster.
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