Pulse Points

by Mary Lynn Baxter

  She continued to keep her gaze off Tanner, though her peripheral vision told her Tanner’s face was growing grimmer by the second.

  “No, Red. I’m doing this of my own free will.”

  “I just wanted to make sure,” he continued. “If not, I’m prepared to bust his chops.”

  “And get hauled to jail,” Lance said drolly, cutting his eyes to Red. “Smart.”

  Kasey held up her hand. “Hey, guys, this isn’t up for discussion. I just wanted to keep you posted on the latest with the investigation.”

  “Do you think it’ll work?” Don asked, his features scrunched in a frown.

  Kasey gnawed at her lower lip. “I have no idea. But I guess we’ll soon find out.”

  “Why now?” Red pressed. “Why didn’t Gallain suggest that right off?”

  “He did,” Kasey admitted reluctantly, “only I wouldn’t do it.”

  “When are you going under?” Lance asked.

  “Maybe tomorrow. That’s up to Gallain.”

  Don got to his feet. “If you’re not one hundred percent sold on the idea, then don’t do it. Ever. Tell Gallain to shove it. From day one, I’ve thought that cop needed an attitude adjustment.”

  Kasey rose with a sigh, then said lightly, “He’s just doing his job which is what I suggest we do.” She nodded in Tanner’s direction, though she still didn’t look at him. “Keep in mind, we’re on a tight leash to get Tanner’s new ads off and running. So get to work.”

  Once the room had emptied with the exception of Tanner, a heavy silence ensued while his eyes locked on her.

  “Why?” he asked, sounding like he needed to clear his throat.

  “Why what?”

  “Why did you agree to do something you don’t want to do?”

  She heaved a sigh. “I just explained that.”

  “You never gave a reason.”

  “I should’ve already done it, then maybe Shirley’s killer would be behind bars.”

  “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

  “No,” she admitted in a small voice.

  “Then stick to your guns and tell him no.”

  “I can’t,” she cried.

  “Look at me, Kasey,” Tanner pleaded, his mouth drawn in a tense line. “I know you’re doing this for me.”

  She picked up on the torment in his voice and it wrenched her heart. “What choice do I have, Tanner? Gallain thinks you—” Her voice broke.

  He finished the sentence. “Killed Shirley. I know.”

  “Enough said,” she murmured.

  “I never laid a hand on Shirley, Kasey. I swear to God, I didn’t.”

  Her eyes shifted off him and her voice wobbled. “Maybe we should talk about this some other time and place?”

  “No.”

  His sudden and curt tone took her aback. She felt her gaze widen on him.

  “Sorry,” he said, his frustration apparent, “I didn’t mean to snap your head off.”

  “Apology accepted.”

  Tanner stared at her another moment before he got up and walked to the window. Kasey couldn’t help it, but she found herself watching how the toned muscles in his shoulders and arms flexed when he raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck.

  She liked looking at him. And for several labored breaths she did just that, thinking she was physically addicted to him. It was all she could do not to get up and wrap her arms around him from behind and try and comfort him. Only she couldn’t do that. Not now, not when so much was at stake.

  “I have to know,” he said, swinging back around, his features rigid. “That you believe me. That you know I could never take a human life.”

  “I believe you,” she said with feeling.

  Suddenly he closed the distance between them, but stopped short of touching her, clenching his hands at his sides. “I’d give anything if you weren’t involved in my nightmare.”

  “What if the hypnosis doesn’t work?” she asked, biting her lower lip. “What if it turns out that I really didn’t see the killer?”

  “Gallain will be back to square one.”

  “He’s not going to be happy.”

  “That’s not your problem.”

  “Do you think he’ll focus the investigation on you?”

  Tanner shrugged. “Probably.”

  “It would be awful if that happened.”

  His eyes turned warm, and he trailed a finger down one cheek. “I don’t want you to worry. It’ll be all right. I’m innocent, and I’ll prove that. Eventually.”

  “But even if you prove you’re innocent but get arrested in the meantime, your political career will be over.”

  “Then it’ll just be over. But at least my life won’t be.”

  But mine just might, she wanted to cry. If she let herself dwell on what she might reveal under hypnosis, she would shatter into a million pieces.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  He caught her gaze and held it. “I love you so much it hurts, Kasey Ellis. It’s all I can do to keep my hands to myself.”

  “And I love you,” she finally admitted.

  “Can I see you tonight?”

  “Tanner—”

  “Please.”

  What could it hurt? She needed him and he needed her. Maybe when all this was over, she could walk away and not look back. But not now. She needed him to hold her, to make love to her, to make her forget the real world for a while.

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  At that moment, the door opened. They both stiffened, then turned around.

  “Hiya, Mom.”

  Don Hornsby paced the threadbare carpet in his sister’s dump. Though he was higher than the wind on a blustery March day, he hadn’t lost complete touch with reality.

  No amount of coke had been able to mellow him out. Rather, he felt dizzy and nauseous. The urge to vomit was gaining momentum by the second.

  How had his luck taken such a nasty turn?

  For once in his life, things had finally gone his way. Then wham, down the crapper. What a pisser. It was all that dick cop’s fault, too. Unfortunately he couldn’t vent his fury and frustration on him. Kasey, however, was another matter.

  He had to keep her out of the hands of that shrink.

  “But how?” he asked out loud, his voice breaking on a croak.

  Time was running out. It had run out, he reminded himself, clenching and unclenching his fists. He had to make a move of some kind before this day ended. He paused, his gaze resting on the bag of powder in the corner of the room. Maybe another snort was what he needed to activate his mind into the proper channel.

  Yet he didn’t move. He couldn’t afford to pass out which was likely to happened if he further indulged. Sweat poured off him. But God, how he wanted to put himself out of his misery.

  But he was too chicken-shit. He’d rather inflict that on Kasey. She shouldn’t have gone along with Gallain. She should’ve told him to suck a rotten egg, but she obviously didn’t have the nerve.

  Which left him no choice but to take matters into his own hands. Thinking of hands made him smile.

  He had a plan. Don grinned. The perfect plan.

  Kasey tiptoed in his room and found Brock sound asleep. She simply smiled as she stared at her son’s body draped across the bed, one arm hanging off the side. He looked so young, so innocent, so precious.

  At times like this, she still couldn’t believe that she’d been given such a gift. But attached to that gift was an awesome responsibility. She must protect that gift at all costs. Her heart wrenched. She couldn’t ever let Brock down. She had to continue to do what was best for him, no matter how it may collide with her wants and needs.

  As for the upcoming hypnosis session, she realized she was making the ultimate sacrifice for the man she loved. And if she were to divulge her secret, then it would be safe with the shrink. That was her stronghold and allowed her to go forward.

  She didn’t want to think about anything unplea
sant this evening. Her mind and heart belonged exclusively to her son. Deciding to leave Brock in that uncomfortable position, Kasey turned off the glaring overhead light and tiptoed back out, though the tiptoeing wasn’t necessary. He could sleep through a tornado or worse. When he was tired, like he was this evening, he was dead to the world.

  He didn’t get those good sleep habits from her. Maybe from his dad… Kasey paused midstride in the hallway, fear knotting her lower stomach. She had to stop thinking of Tanner as his dad. Even though he was gone, Mark would always hold that honor. She couldn’t afford to think otherwise, for her own sanity and peace of mind.

  But when Brock and Tanner were together, she nearly had heart failure. Little things—mannerisms, movements, gestures, even smiles—were so much alike. She would notice those, like she had that afternoon in her office, and fear would paralyze her.

  What if Tanner noticed? What if Tanner saw himself in Brock?

  Those questions had circled her mind like vultures. So far, however, her mind continued to be her own worst enemy. If Tanner had picked up on anything, he hadn’t said a word or acted any differently. If he had, he wouldn’t have kept quiet.

  The thought of that ever happening almost triggered a heart attack. But it wasn’t going to happen, Kasey assured herself. Again, her overactive imagination was her worst enemy. As soon as the election was over, she wouldn’t see Tanner again no matter how much she may love him. It was too risky and the strain was too much. She had to whisk herself and Brock out of harm’s way.

  Meanwhile, she would have to get through this nightmare and continue walking that thin line, even though it was something she abhorred.

  That thought was front and center in her mind when she walked into the kitchen to prepare dinner. She loved cooking for Brock. On the way home from the agency, they had stopped by the grocery as she didn’t keep much in the way of food in the apartment.

  After they had finished eating, she hoped they could spend a quiet evening together, a far cry from what she’d had in mind before Brock’s arrival. Suddenly Kasey felt heat sting her face. If he hadn’t shown up, she and Tanner would have spent the evening and night making love.

  As it was, she wouldn’t see him, although Brock had invited him to dinner.

  “I appreciate the offer,” Tanner said. “But you and your mom need time together.”

  “Aw, she doesn’t care,” Brock countered. “Do you?”

  Before she could answer, Tanner cut in. “I do, though.”

  “But I have to talk to you about the Web site. That’s one reason why I came home. I’ve hit a snag.”

  Tanner had smiled. “We’ll unsnag you tomorrow. Count on it.”

  As if realizing he’d run into a brick wall, Brock didn’t pursue the issue. Shortly thereafter, they had parted company with Tanner.

  Now, Kasey couldn’t wait for Brock to awaken so they could have some quality time together, something that hadn’t happened in a long time. The only important tidbit that had come out of their conversation on the way home was that he and Nancy had broken up.

  “You’re joking?” Kasey had asked while stopped at a long red light.

  “Mom, I wouldn’t kid about that.”

  “What happened, or am I allowed to ask?”

  He gave her a sheepish grin. “Okay, so I acted like a jerk.”

  “I never said that.”

  “Right, you didn’t. But I was a jerk and I know it.”

  She was so proud of him in his budding maturity; she wanted to pull off the road and hug him. “So who did what to whom?”

  His mouth curved down. “I dumped her.”

  “That’s not a very nice way of putting it.”

  “It’s the truth. She kept pushing me to get married and I freaked.”

  “But I thought that’s what you wanted, too.” Kasey kept her tone light and nonjudgmental, but secretly she was overjoyed that her son had come to his senses before it was too late.

  “I did, only not now.”

  “Now?” Kasey was appalled. “She wanted you to marry now?”

  “Yep. Wanted us to elope.”

  “Oh, my God.” Only her firm grip on the wheel kept the car from swerving in the other lane.

  “That’s not exactly what I said,” Brock muttered.

  “Don’t tell me your response. I can figure that out on my own.”

  Brock laughed. “It wasn’t that bad, Mom. I was nice.”

  “I’m sure you were. So are you okay with it?”

  He shrugged, then turned his head toward the window. “I guess. I miss her.”

  “I can’t say that I’m sorry. You know that. Having said that, I don’t want you to be hurt, either.”

  “Aw, I’m all right. I have football and my job with Tanner. But she doesn’t seem to have other interests which makes it harder for her.”

  “I’m sorry,” Kasey said lamely, though she wasn’t. Oh, she was sorry the girl was hurt, but if she had forced Brock into marriage… Kasey shuddered, unable to even let her mind go there.

  After that, they had discussed football and his work for Tanner, the latter having Brock as enthusiastic as his time on the gridiron. And while his association with Tanner kept her anxious, she continued to hold her tongue and bide her time.

  The smell of boiled over rice jolted her back to the moment at hand.

  “Great,” she muttered, reaching for a cloth and moping up the mess. That done, she decided to take a shower before waking Brock. Suddenly she heard the floor creak behind her. She frowned while the hairs stood up on the back of her neck. Before she could turn around strong hands circled her throat and squeezed.

  Oh, God help me, Kasey cried silently, fighting against the blackness that threatened to suck her under.

  Forty

  Don’t give up! Fight!

  Those words screamed inside her head as Kasey struggled mentally to overcome her attacker. Finally her mind and body connected. Using a foot, she beat against his legs at the same time she jabbed his stomach with her elbows.

  “Be still, bitch.”

  One of the elbows apparently hit a vulnerable spot because he relaxed his grip momentarily giving her the chance to let out a bloodcurdling scream.

  “Shut the fuck up!”

  The front doorbell chimed.

  For another second, the attacker’s hands stilled around her throat. Taking advantage of that second lapse, Kasey let out another cry, then began delivering blows to any part of the torso within reach.

  “Kasey!”

  Tanner. Thank God, he had come after all.

  “Mom, what’s going on?” Brock hollered from his room. “Are you okay?”

  Brock! Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Stay away, son! Don’t come in here!

  It was then she heard the loud splintering of wood like someone had either knocked down the front door or crashed through it.

  “You son of a bitch, get your hands off her.”

  Tanner was inside her house. He would help her.

  Still in the clutches of her attacker, Kasey felt herself being dragged backward all the while fighting to hold on to consciousness. But she was fast losing that battle as her knees were buckling and she was breathing in gaspy spurts.

  “Let her go!”

  Suddenly her throat was no longer bound by hands. She bent over like a question mark, then fell to her knees, gasping and coughing. When she could pull enough air through her lungs to regain touch with reality, she looked up. Just in time to see Tanner ram his fist into her attacker’s belly sending him groaning to the floor. After several muffled groans, the man slumped over onto the tile.

  “Mom, Tanner, what the hell?”

  “Brock, call 911,” Tanner demanded, then dropped to his knees beside her. Ashen-faced, he grabbed her and cradled her against his warm body. “My God, Kasey, are you hurt?”

  She clung to him and sobbed.

  “Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you.”

  When her gut-wrenching sobs were finally
under control, Kasey peered up at him and said in a hoarse voice, “He tried to kill me.”

  About that time Brock fell to his knees, panic darkening his eyes. She removed herself from Tanner and hugged her son. “I’m going to be all right.”

  “Who would do this to you, Mom?” His voice shook.

  Tanner got to his feet. “That’s what we’re about to find out.”

  Kasey let Brock help her up, and leaning against him, watched as Tanner leaned over and yanked the stocking off the unconscious man sprawled in the middle of the floor.

  Kasey let out another cry, then covered her mouth with her hands.

  “He works for you, right?”

  “Yes,” she whispered in shock. “That’s Don Hornsby.”

  Forty-One

  “Jeez, no one can accuse you of not leading an exciting life.”

  Kasey cut Ginger a meaningful look. “If you call nearly getting strangled by one of your trusted employees exciting, then you’re right.”

  Ginger had stopped by the agency on her way to work. Kasey had poured them flavored coffee, and they were sitting at the table in the small kitchen.

  “God, I can’t believe that actually happened. But since I’m looking at your bruised neck, it’s obvious it did and that you went through hell.”

  Even now, a week following the incident, Kasey’s nerves remained frayed, though she knew she was no longer in danger. Once Don had been cuffed, hauled to jail and grilled until he admitted he had shot Shirley, the cloud that had been hanging over her lifted.

  Yet much of the fallout remained, especially here in the office. It would be a long time before the agency returned to normal operating procedure. The fact that a bona fide killer had worked in their midst, with no one the wiser, had had a profound and chilling effect.

  “You’re still spooked by Hornsby, aren’t you?”

  “Not Don himself.” Kasey paused and sipped on her coffee. “It just boggles my mind that he had all of us fooled, especially me.”

  “Like they say, you never know what goes on behind closed doors.”