Close Enough to Touch (Rylee Hayes Thriller Book 1)

by Cade Brogan

  “Thanks,” Abby responded, meeting her eye. “I think I got it now.”

  “Good,” Rylee said with a broad smile.

  ***

  “So, you’re back to work on a full schedule now,” Omar said, swigging his beer. “How’s it going?”

  “Good,” Rylee responded, tipping her bottle. “Except that I got weak while I was off.” She shook her head, adding, “I’ve been spending extra time at the gym. I think it’s helping.”

  “You’ll get back to where you were,” Omar promised. As he stepped to the banister, watching her take Buckshot to the yard on his leash, his voice got quieter. “Any new leads on the case?” he asked, meeting her eye as she stepped back up.

  “No, not too many,” Rylee answered. “Just her car. A couple of FBI agents spoke with her mom the other day. She told ‘em she hadn’t seen her for a long time. I guess they don’t get along.” She swallowed, shaking her head. “Rich thinks she drowned in the river, but I don’t think so. They’re dragging the bottom, but I don’t expect they’ll find her.” She swallowed again, harder this time. “She’s out there somewhere, watching, and probably killing someone. I just know it. I can feel it in my bones.”

  “Yeah,” Omar said, “I’m afraid you’re right. Drowning’s just too convenient,” he added. “I think it was part of her plan if she got caught. Can’t think of a better way to throw off the authorities.”

  “Yep, my sentiments exactly,” Rylee responded, taking a long breath, and adding, “well, dinner should be about ready. Probably should head on in.”

  “Yep,” Omar said, moving toward the door. “She makes the best spaghetti, doesn’t she?”

  “She sure does,” Rylee responded, opening it for him. “Almost, but not quite, good enough to die for.”

  ***

  “I love your new haircut,” Gladys chirped to Abby.

  Abby beamed. “Thanks,” she said, her cheeks flushing. “I’d have had it cut shorter, but this is the most I could talk mom into.”

  Kenzie’s eyes twinkled, peeking over to meet Rylee’s. “It looks nice on her,” she admitted. “I’m glad I yielded to the pressure in my household.” As she forked a piece of lettuce, Omar changed the subject.

  “Have you decided what to do about your condo?” he asked, looking to Rylee.

  “No, not yet,” Rylee said. “We still stay there once in a while. Probably won’t after school starts though.” She lifted her eyebrows and a shoulder. “Who knows, we might do some house hunting one of these days. If we find something we all like, I’ll probably sell it.” She took a breath, allowing it to escape slowly. “Just have to see how it all goes.”

  “You don’t have to rush,” Gladys said, peering into her eyes. “I find that I make better decisions when I take time to think about them.”

  “Yep, that’s how we see it too,” Rylee responded, looking across the table to Abby. “Hey, you know what?” she blurted out with her mouth hanging open, “I forgot to give your mom that trinket we brought back for her.” They’d gone shopping for school clothes that morning while Kenzie had gone job hunting. She planned to quit once she found a new one.

  “I’ll get it,” Abby responded, giving Buckshot a bite of garlic bread as she slid back from the table. “I’m done anyway.”

  “Thanks,” Rylee said, winking at her as she passed by. “It’s in my top dresser drawer.”

  “Okay,” Abby called out, barreling up the stairs.

  “You bought me something?” Kenzie asked, tilting her head, and smiling. “How sweet.”

  “Yeah,” Rylee said, “Just a trinket, we’ll see if you like it.”

  “If you two picked it out, I’m sure I’ll like it,” Kenzie said.

  “Here,” Abby blurted out, reappearing on the scene with an offering.

  “Go ahead,” Rylee said, holding her gaze. “You give it to her.”

  Abby walked to the opposite end of the table. “Here,” she said, presenting the package to her mom. It was small, square, and wrapped in shiny blue paper.

  “What’s this?” Kenzie asked, her voice lifting in sync with the corners of her mouth. “What’d you guys get me?” She untied the narrow white ribbon, sliding it off of the box.

  Rylee’s eyes darted to Abby and they smiled to one another.

  Omar nudged Gladys, watching them.

  “Oh my God,” Kenzie blurted out, her eyes bright with a coating of tears. “Is this what I think it is?”

  “Oh my, honey,” Gladys responded, gazing at the new diamond on Kenzie’s finger, “isn’t it beautiful?”

  “If you like it,” Rylee said with a slow wink, “it’s got a couple of friends upstairs.” She moved around, dropping to one knee beside Kenzie, and saying, “Marry me.”

  ***

  “What are you doing in so early?” Rich asked, dropping his sack lunch onto his desk.

  “Couldn’t sleep,” Rylee responded. “Just thinking about the case.”

  “Been doing that a lot lately,” Rich commented, meeting her eye. “You can’t keep going on half enough sleep.”

  “I do okay,” Rylee answered, smiling thinly. “But thanks for keeping an eye on me.”

  “How about counseling?” Rich continued. “I mean more than the couple sessions you did with the department shrink when you came back?” He shrugged his shoulders, adding, “Sometimes it can help.”

  “I know,” Rylee said, but Kenz did a lot of it when she first got divorced. She kind of feels like it’s a waste of money.” She sucked in a breath, releasing it, and moving on. “On a happier note,” she said, meeting his gaze, and smiling, “Kenz agreed to marry me.”

  “Oh my God,” Rich said, coming around to give her a one-armed hug. “Congrats, pal!” He slapped her on the back. “And you didn’t even tell me you were gonna ask her.”

  Rylee chuckled. “That’s because I didn’t know,” she responded. “Abby and I were out shopping for gym shoes. And we walked past that jewelry store on Wabash…” She smiled, wider than before.

  Rich nodded, his eyes sparkling.

  “And they had this gorgeous ring in their window that we both liked,” Rylee continued. “So, we went in.” She bit her lip as her head shook slowly. “And, well, the rest is history…I bought it, it fit, and she’s wearing it now.”

  “Man,” Rich responded, “now that’s what I call impulsive.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” Rylee said, “but it just felt right, you know?”

  “You got a date?” Rich asked.

  “Not yet,” Rylee answered. “We’re gonna talk more tonight.” She met his eye with a thin smile. “She’s still dealing with a lot; you know?”

  “Yeah, I know,” Rich responded, tossing across the yellow bubble envelope that had come in the overnight mail, and adding, “bet this is the tape from the surveillance camera in the building across from yours.”

  “Can’t imagine there’ll be much new on it,” Rylee commented, “but how about we watch it before we head out. She slid a letter opener along the edge, opening it, and popping the DVD into the player in the corner. During the first twenty-three minutes, they ate donuts and watched folks coming home, most likely from work. In the twenty-fourth, heat rushed through Rylee’s body, and she loosened her collar.

  Rich furrowed his brow, looking over. “You alright?” he asked.

  Rylee clenched her jaw, blood pounding against her eardrums. “Look at her,” she said, curling her upper lip, and snarling, “Look at her, just sitting there, licking her lips.”

  “We’ll get her,” Rich said, averting his gaze from the screen as Kenzie pushed delicate straps off of her shoulders. “Turn it off,” he added. “We’ve seen enough. No reason to torture yourself.”

  “Look at her,” Rylee continued, growling, low and primal, “Look at her, touching her throat.” She clenched her jaw. “Sick bitch is getting off on it.” She swallowed hard. “She’s getting off watching Kenzie undress before she breaks
into my building to poison her.” She met his gaze. “She’s out there,” she continued. “She’s alive, and I’m gonna kill her.”

  Not the end, but the beginning…

  Kenzie’s ‘Almost, But Not Quite, Good Enough To Die For’ Spaghetti Sauce

  3 large country style ribs

  1 #2 can of tomato purée

  2 small cans tomato paste

  3 #2 can of diced tomatoes

  1 small can mushrooms

  1 medium chopped onion

  3 tablespoons minced garlic

  1 sprig of fresh basil

  2-3 sprigs of fresh oregano

  A pinch of cinnamon

  Fresh parmesan cheese to taste

  Salt and pepper to taste

  Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil before adding to remaining ingredients. Simmer on low heat until ribs are so tender that they fall apart. Serve on al dente (cooked but still firm) spaghetti. Sprinkle on fresh parmesan cheese to taste. Mangia! (Eat!)

  About the Author

  Cade Brogan is a bestselling author of lesbian fiction. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois. Also, she holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Eastern Illinois University. Her professional background is in mental health and child abuse investigations. She enjoys golf, bridge, and of course, reading and writing lesbian fiction. She resides in central Illinois with her toy poodle and her lovely wife of thirty-one years. Read more at www.kamoll.com and www.cadebrogan.com

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