Close Enough to Touch (Rylee Hayes Thriller Book 1)

by Cade Brogan

  “Keeping her safe,” Rich answered, smirking with a shake of his head. “I don’t know, maybe both.”

  “When you take the footprint into consideration, same tread and same size,” Rylee countered, rocking back in her chair, “I’m not worrying nearly enough.”

  “It was at your ex-girlfriend’s, not Kenzie’s,” Rich said. “And you don’t seem to be worried one iota about her.”

  “That’s because she’s with her sister,” Rylee answered. “Nobody’s gonna mess with her under the watchful eye of that battle axe.” She swallowed. “Kenzie, on the other hand, has no one, no one but me to look after her.” Her parents lived a few hours away and saw her next to never; her church was more show, than action; and her kid… Rylee’s throat constricted thinking that a kid shouldn’t have to worry about her mom’s safety like she’d had to worry about hers. She sucked in air. “And that print may have been at Chastity’s,” she added, “but it was put there right after she’d just met Kenzie.”

  “Probably just a coincidence,” Rich responded.

  “Yeah, right,” Rylee said, “I wish.” She shook her head, adding, “Plus, we found the seed.”

  “From a totally different plant,” Rich countered, “a plant that grows in every county in the state.” He knew because she’d read him a paragraph about the snakeroot from her new favorite reference.

  “I know,” Rylee responded, “but it’s poisonous as hell, nevertheless.” She exhaled loudly. “I’m guessing it’ll probably be a match for poison number three.”

  “Don’t say that,” Rich responded, making direct eye contact.

  “Saying it won’t make it happen,” Rylee said, cocking her head. “Just making an educated guess.”

  ***

  Kenzie’s living room was long and narrow with large windows on two walls and a fireplace at the end. Her curtains, rug, and couch were perfectly coordinated for color and style. “Oriental?” Rylee asked, squatting to examine the intricate design of the area rug more closely.

  “It is,” Kenzie answered, her eyes sparkling in her smile. “Hand-knotted, I got it on sale.”

  “I like it,” Rylee said. “Kind of calming. Makes the room seem spacious.”

  “It’s the jewel tone color pallet,” Kenzie responded. “Sapphire and Amethyst, they have that effect on people.” She gave a slight eye roll. “But not Abby,” she added.

  “Hyper?” Rylee asked.

  “And angry,” Kenzie said, “all the time and at virtually everyone.” She took a soft breath, shaking her head. “After five years, I think the counselor gave up on us. She just said she thought Abby would eventually grow out of it, but I don’t see any sign of it yet.” She smiled thinly. “Still hoping though,” she added.

  Rylee’s eyes narrowed, curious for more details. “She probably will,” she said softly. “Some things just take a little time.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Kenzie said, sighing.

  Rylee snapped the band on her watch, checking the time. “Well,” she asked, “you about ready to go?”

  “Yeah,” Kenzie responded, looking off with a nod. “We don’t want to be too late, or we won’t get a table.” She turned, allowing Rylee to assist her in slipping on her lightweight coat.

  “Exactly,” Rylee said, moving her tongue on the inside of her mouth. She put on her cap, tipping it to one side, and then the other.

  Kenzie furrowed her brow. “Are you sure you’re okay about staying here tonight?” she asked, catching her eye. “Because if you’re not…”

  “Yeah, I am, why?” Rylee responded, frowning. She rubbed the back of her neck and then rolled it from side-to-side. No doubt she’d given herself away with telltale signs.

  “Because it seems like you’re not so comfortable,” Kenzie continued, “like maybe you’d rather stay at your place tonight.” She bit her lower lip, twisting a lock of her hair. “Or maybe you’d rather we each go back to our own place.” She swallowed. “It’s okay if you do,” she added. “Really it’s okay, Rye.”

  “No,” Rylee responded, shaking her head firmly, “no, no, definitely not.” She took a breath. “I’m just jumpy about the serial case, that’s all.” She palmed Kenzie’s cheek, smiling thinly. “I will need to swing by my place after dinner though.”

  “That’s fine,” Kenzie responded.

  “Another pretty dress,” Rylee complimented, opening the passenger door for her.

  “Thanks,” Kenzie answered, pleasure dancing in her eyes, “I just got it.” Blue, form fitting, and low-cut, it was Rylee’s favorite color and style.

  Rylee closed the door, easy and quiet.

  ***

  Rylee pulled into the loading zone, leaving her engine running. “Stay put, I’ll be right back,” she said, pressing the button to lock the doors as she got out. It wouldn’t take long to run up, grab a change of clothes, and get her dog. She’d hoped that Kenzie would stay at her place again, but understood why she’d wanted to stay at home. The impersonal nature of the inner city made her uncomfortable. It didn’t really matter because before long the kid would be home and they’d have a whole new problem to figure out. At least it’s not Sunday, she thought as she took the stairs two at a time. If the serial killer stayed true to his, or rather, her pattern, Sunday mornings would continue to pose the greatest risk of all—until the bitch was caught. I’ll catch you, you’ll see, Rylee promised. And when she did, she could stop worrying about Kenzie’s safety, and slow things down. She inserted her key, turned the lock, grabbed her bag, already packed, and clipped a lead on Buckshot. Her neighbor opened his door as she stepped off.

  “Got a minute, Detective?” Mr. Calissi asked.

  “Not right now,” Rylee called back, pausing, “my truck’s running and I’m parked in the loading zone. Tomorrow okay?”

  “Sure,” he said. “Nothing urgent. I just wanted to tell you about something. Just knock, I’ll be home all day.”

  “Good deal,” Rylee said, smiling, and adding, “hello to Mrs. Calissi.”

  “She’ll say hello back to you,” he said, returning the smile.

  ***

  Rylee made her way down to the first floor two steps at a time. Buckshot lobbied for three, but it wasn’t an option. She pushed her seat forward, meeting his eye. “Go on now,” she said, “hop in the back.”

  Kenzie smiled, petting his head the moment it poked through above the center console. “Hey there, fella,” she greeted softly. “You’re gonna stay at my house tonight.” She rubbed his ears, one and then the other. “And I’ve got a great big fenced backyard for you to play in.” She looked to Rylee, smiling, and back to the dog. “And you won’t have to be on a leash or anything,” she went on as if speaking to a child. “And you’ll have so much fun.”

  Buckshot licked Kenzie’s face, his tail wagging his body.

  Kenzie giggled. “Look at him,” she said, “he’s so excited.”

  “He is,” Rylee said, biting her lip as she met her eye. She drove off, sucking in a quiet breath, and swallowing hard.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Night came into its own as Joanna’s pain subsided. She glanced at her bedside clock, nine-thirty-five. You still have time to accomplish something, she told herself. The day doesn’t have to be a total loss. What she needed to do was to adhere to her longstanding routines and make the sacrifices necessary to achieve her goal. She’d allowed the impersonal to become personal—and that was the problem. With supreme effort, she lifted her body to the side of the bed, praying to ignore her overwhelming urge to lay back down—to roll over—to sleep until the morning. She stood, paused for a wave of nausea, and made her way to her closet. She groaned, broken—inside and out—as she zipped her jeans, and buttoned her blouse. She resisted the impulse to drive by Rylee’s, heading directly to the home of her next target. Relax, she told herself, concerned that if she didn’t release the tension in her jaw she’d break a tooth. The sedan was toward the back of the dri
ve, the truck in front so that a passenger could step out onto the sidewalk. Breathe, she told herself, sucking air into the depths of her lungs. Joel 3:10 Let the weak say, I am strong. Something had to give. Something. She tilted her head, considering her best options. With a breath, she decided that it might be best to move up her timeline. The sooner she completed this dispatch, the sooner things would return to normal. She saw no reason she couldn’t complete it on a day other than Sunday—as long as it was done in a planful manner. In fact… She furrowed her brow. Maybe this is God’s way of reminding you of the need for rest on the Sabbath. Maybe that was the problem. Her eyes widened, unfocused. Maybe this was the way He had chosen to tell her. Maybe Friday or Saturday would be a better choice. “Friday,” she murmured with a nod. She cocked her head, listening for God to voice His approval in her mind, sure that it would come. She swiped the screen of her smartphone and touched the webcam icon. The screen remained black for a minute as the device powered up, switching on its tiny light. Technology made hunting so much easier. She could see the dial of Kenzie’s meter as if beside it. It remained still until ten-seventeen. She marked the time in her notebook. Lights were on in several rooms of the house. She watched, trying to determine who was in the shower. At this hour, it was unlikely that Kenzie had put in a load of laundry. She licked her lips, her heart thumping noticeably faster as Rylee stepped onto the porch. And therein lies your problem, Joanna said to herself. She watched Rylee look around as if for something, missing the moment when the shower turned off.

  ***

  Rylee stepped in, turning the deadbolt as the door clicked shut. She looked up as Kenzie came down the stairway—delicate white lace visible underneath her black satin kimono robe; barefoot, coral polish on her toenails; her damp curls, dancing on her shoulders. She moved closer, aware of her heart pumping blood to pulsating parts.

  “You’ve been outside,” Kenzie said.

  “Yeah,” Rylee answered, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “Just getting some air.” There was no reason to tell her that she had the feeling someone was out there; no reason to scare her, not right before bed; no reason at all.

  “I wish there were something I could do to ease your worries,” Kenzie said, her tone softening as she came to her. “I don’t mean this to sound like I’m not taking you seriously,” she added, putting her arms around her neck, “but I really do think everything’s fine.”

  Rylee nodded, feeling equally certain that it wasn’t. “You’re probably right,” she responded, her arms tightening around Kenzie’s middle, holding her close. “You know me,” she added, “always prone to worry about things I can’t control.”

  “I know,” Kenzie murmured, holding her gaze for a long moment. “How about a glass of wine?” she offered.

  “Yeah, sounds good,” Rylee responded, peering out before pulling the shades down. She considered talking with Kenzie about having an alarm system installed, but ruled it out. By the time she worked her way up on someone’s list, the crisis would hopefully be long over. If only she could figure out how the pieces fit into the puzzle.

  “Here ya go,” Kenzie said, joining her.

  “Thanks,” Rylee responded, offering a strained smile.

  “Come here,” Kenzie invited, setting her glass on the coffee table. “Sit right here,” she added, nodding downward, “and I’ll rub your shoulders.” It’s what she used to do every night during finals.

  Rylee settled between her legs, leaning back against the couch. “Mmm, I could get used to this,” she moaned as Kenzie rubbed one, the other, and both. She tipped her head back, caught her eye, and added, “You haven’t lost your touch.”

  “I should hope not,” Kenzie responded, smiling as she moved to rub her neck, and stroke her temples.

  “Oh, yeah,” Rylee moaned, turning her head, her cheek resting on Kenzie’s thigh. She planted one kiss, and then another, turned a little more, and inched her fingers up her gown.

  “Mmm, now you’re talking,” Kenzie responded, nibbling her lower lip, and scooting down.

  “Are you sure about this?” Rylee asked, peering into her eyes. It was too soon, but if Kenzie wanted her to, she’d move forward. It wasn’t like they hadn’t been there before.

  “Are you kidding?” Kenzie responded, her breath quickening. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” She nodded toward Rylee’s glass, saying, “Finish your wine.”

  “In a minute,” Rylee murmured, her fingers continuing their journey upward. “I’m busy right now.”

  “Rye...” Kenzie said, holding her hand to still its motion. “Not here, sweetheart,” she added, locking gazes. “In bed.”

  Rylee emptied her glass in one guzzle and held out her hand. “Come on, baby,” she beckoned softly, “let’s go upstairs.”

  ***

  Breathless, Kenzie lit candles, placing them at various locations around her bedroom, including the nightstand. She slipped a vinyl from its dust cover, sensing that Rylee was watching intently.

  “Real records,” Rylee commented. “How cool is that?”

  “Yeah, real records,” Kenzie responded, smiling. “I like ‘em. Kind of old fashioned and they have better sound than digital recordings.” She placed the record on the platter and flipped a switch to set it in motion.

  “Well, I’ll be darned,” Rylee responded, her eyes sparkling, enchanted by the process.

  Kenzie lifted the arm, gently setting it down on the outermost groove of the vinyl.

  “Well, I’ll be darned,” Rylee said again, “Prince….I haven’t heard any of his music for a long time.”

  “I thought you might like this one,” Kenzie said, shimmering into her arms, and nibbling her earlobe. “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” she added.

  “You do, huh…” Rylee responded softly, kissing her deeply, her tongue frisking playfully in her mouth.

  “Yeah, I do,” Kenzie murmured, biting her lip as arousal rippled warmly through her body. She swayed in Rylee’s arms, tingling in her deepest parts as she lost all sense of time. “Rye…” she moaned.

  “Yeah?” Rylee murmured, pausing mid-suckle to back her toward the bed and lay her down. She kissed her long and hard, her knee planted firmly between her thighs.

  “Mmm,” Kenzie said. “My sweet Rye, it’s been so long.”

  “It has,” Rylee whispered. “Too long.” She caught her breath, her fingers trembling as they inched higher.

  Kenzie moved beneath her, wishing she’d shed more than just her robe. “I missed you,” she said softly, “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too,” Rylee answered, moving to hold her. She kissed her breasts, pushing the fabric aside to suckle before tugging at her gown. “This won’t do,” she grumbled softly, “this won’t do at all.”

  Kenzie sat, removing the garment, and tossing it to the floor.

  “Mmm,” Rylee murmured, “there’s no turning back now.” Her eyes twinkled, adding her t-shirt and shorts to the pile.

  “Who said anything about turning back?” Kenzie responded, lifting an eyebrow.

  “No one,” Rylee whispered, pausing to take in the woman that her college sweetheart had become. “God, you’re beautiful,” she added. “Be still my heart.”

  Kenzie took a breath, moistening her lips. “Make love to me,” she begged softly, “easy and slow like you used to.”

  “That’s the only way I know how,” Rylee responded, lowering onto her. She kissed her lightly at first and then with tongue.

  “Mmmm,” Kenzie moaned, “feels so good to have your weight on top of me.” She raked her fingers through Rylee’s hair when her tongue ventured into her ear and suckled her earlobe. “I need you,” she hissed, “I need you now.”

  “I need you too,” Rylee responded.

  Kenzie whimpered when Rylee thumbed her nipple. When she wrapped her lips around it, sucking gently, and then harder, she moaned. She gasped when she fingered down to spread h
er folds.

  “You’re so wet,” Rylee groaned, licking her lips. “So incredibly wet.” She dipped in, dispersing natural lubricant. “So slick and warm.” She kissed her lips, peering into her eyes. “Mmmm,” she murmured, “makes me hungry.”

  “Rye,” Kenzie panted, arching her back, and thrusting her hips upward. When Rylee’s kisses landed everywhere except her swollen clitoris—her belly—her inner thighs—her toes—she uttered soft moans.

  Rylee moved to kiss her lips before lowering down to take her gently into her mouth. Her technique was as Kenzie remembered—unpredictably mind-blowing. First, she’d lick with the tip of her tongue and then with the full width of the organ. And then…Dear God…she’d suckle, gentle and strong—rhythmic and random—fast and slow.

  “Ohhhh…Ohhhh…Ohhhh,” Kenzie moaned. “Inside me, baby. I need you inside me when I come.”

  Rylee pushed into her, steady, and as deep as she could go.

  “Harder, baby,” Kenzie begged, her breathing becoming choppy like a sea in a storm. “Harder,” she panted, her chin trembling as racking spasms ripped through her abdomen. When her muscles lay quiet, she collapsed exhausted and vulnerable. “I’m sorry,” she choked softly. “I can’t remember the last time I cried during an orgasm.”

  “I think I do,” Rylee said, brushing them away with her thumb and kissing her tenderly. She gathered her into her arms, holding her close. When she planted a tender kiss on her forehead, Kenzie’s whimpers became soft snores.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Unreal, that’s what it was. To hold her like this after so many years; to hold her after she’d almost, but not quite, let her go; to hold her, her skin so soft and warm; to hold her in the afterglow of making love; to hold her, wanting, wanting so desperately to fall asleep in her arms. So long, she thought. It’d been so long since she’d loved this woman, this extraordinary woman. And yet, it was as if they’d never parted. She closed her eyes, basking in the sweet scent of her cologne—orchids, and vanilla. You need to sleep, she told herself. With that, she resumed her study of the spider-web cracks on the ceiling and walls. They were probably nothing to be concerned about, probably just the normal settling of the old house, but she’d crawl under just to be sure they weren’t present because of a structural problem. Maybe on Sunday, she thought. Her stomach hardened. Her chest ached. She sucked in a breath and held it. You need to get some sleep, she ordered. Easy to say, she answered silently, but not so easy to follow through on. She swallowed again, much harder this time. How could she sleep when a serial killer was on the loose? How could she sleep when she had an unshakeable sense of danger? Too close, resonated in the recesses of her mind. How could she when the hair on the back of her neck pricked, warning her that she dare not close her eyes or drop her guard? How could she when there was even the slightest chance that Kenzie had been targeted? More than a slight chance and you know it, she thought. She sucked in a breath, this time releasing it too loudly.