Wanting (PAVAD)

by Calle J. Brookes

  “I know that. You just look so much like her. And like your father.”

  “I do look like my mother did. But not my father. He had black hair.”

  The man smiled a cold shark smile. “No. He has red hair. A few shades lighter than yours. Gerald Sparks wasn’t your father. Bet you didn’t know that you were a little bastard, did you?”

  No. And she didn’t believe this man. Her mother had loved her father, she’d told Carrie so in those exact words, so many times. “What does it matter? My parents are dead. Someone killed them when I was nine.”

  “Sorry. He wasn’t. Why would you want a petty criminal for a father? That’s what he was.” He waved the gun closer to Calista. Carrie’s breath caught. Calista was terrified; Carrie had no difficulty interpreting that emotion on her face.

  Carrie’s phone vibrated, still set to silent, where she’d slipped it into her pocket a few minutes earlier. It stopped after a moment. Paige’s rang almost immediately; Carrie could hear the distinctive ring-tone Paige used for PAVAD calls. Close by. Where was Paige? Had he gotten to her, too? Paige was fast, and well-trained; she wouldn’t have gone down easily. Was she hurt? Dead?

  Carrie knew who the caller was. Sebastian. Had to be. Or Alessandra. They were the only two people who knew she and Paige were down here at the shelter tonight.

  Sebastian.

  He’d come for her. He’d know something was wrong and he’d come for her. With neither her nor Paige answering their phones, he’d suspect something. And he wouldn’t stop until he found them. She’d just have to buy them some time. Somehow.

  Everything she’d ever learned about hostage negotiation at Quantico came rushing back.

  This man would not hurt anyone else.

  Chapter 70

  *****

  Dan sat at his borrowed desk in the bullpen—his office carpet was being replaced—and combed through piles of photographs of women his daughters’ ages. He’d had Carrie copy the photos to disks and he’d printed out each one. They were high school yearbook pictures of girls Kelly and Emma’s ages. It was a long shot, and he knew it; but what other option did he have? He had the three age-progression photos Carrie had also provided, and he was comparing.

  He’d made it through most of the high schools in the state of Missouri, although his gut told him his ex had taken the girls out of the state years ago. Why else had he not been able to find her, with all of the friends he’d had on the state police also looking for them? Still, he’d check every public school yearbook in the United States if that’s what it took to find his girls.

  He wasn’t stopping until he found them, or they buried him. The sound of someone clearing his throat behind him had Dan pausing and turning. Ed. His boss, and probably his closest friend, other than Hellbrook. “Ed.”

  “You find anything?” Ed asked, nodding to the stack of files. Dan knew that Ed had kept the file on his girls as an open kidnapping case, even though it didn’t quite fit the parameters of a PAVAD case. Ed had even spent his own time looking for the girls. Dan would never forget that. He owed Ed, for more things than he could count. Ed had been the one to pull him away from the edge fifteen years ago when the girls had disappeared. They’d met and worked on a few cases together when Dan was with the Missouri State Police. And when he’d been shot and left for dead, Ed had visited him while in the hospital interviewing witnesses for his own cases. And had offered him a recommendation, if he’d ever wanted one.

  Dan hadn’t been able to handle the stares of his colleagues when he’d returned to the MSP and had taken Ed up on the offer. He’d never regretted it.

  “No. Still nothing. But I will find them, Ed. I will.”

  “I know you will. And I’ll help in any way I can.”

  “So what brings you out of the tower and down here to the lowlies?”

  “A bit of unsettling news for the CCU.”

  “I see. What? Can you share?”

  “I can. Between us. Someone has transferred Evan Stephenson to this unit. He’ll start next week on Lorcan’s team.”

  “Evan Stephenson? Any relation to Roger?” The bastard who’d nearly killed Carrie, Jules, and Georgia less than three months ago. Dan suppressed the anger that always filled him when he thought of how his former colleague had targeted the women he cared about. Roger was in a federal prison psychiatric ward, getting the help—and punishment—he deserved.

  “Only son. And favors his father strongly.”

  Dan cursed. “That’s going to be hard for the girls. Especially Carrie. You know she won’t be able to separate the two.”

  “Probably not at first. But Lorcan will keep an eye on both of them. You know he will.”

  Dan nodded. Lorcan and Carrie still rankled, but he was getting used to the idea. Lorcan had surprised him with the intensity of his actions toward Carrie. Dan still didn’t know if that was a good thing or bad.

  In the meantime, Dan would reserve judgment. See for himself if the younger man was serious about Carrie. The girl deserved someone looking out for her, after all.

  Chapter 71

  *****

  Sebastian would swing by the shelter and get his damned woman, then take her back to his apartment. They’d talk about what exactly they both wanted, then he’d show her exactly how vital to his life she was. He’d not leave her not knowing again. Period. He loved the damned woman, and he would not wait a single minute without telling her that again.

  There would be difficulties for them—he was in a position of authority professionally. That was one thing. Another was her obvious need for routine. He’d have to adapt to that. And he knew he could. He loved her enough to do that. Willingly, easily, immediately.

  But first he had to find her, and convince her he wasn’t like the other guys in her past. Guys who deserved to be decked for making her feel the way they had. She wasn’t worth being with long term? How could they tell her that? What in the hell were they thinking?

  Or had they realized that she was just too damned good for them? That was most likely it. Sebastian loved her honesty, loved that she just didn’t get the petty, snarky nuances of people sometimes. Loved that she always saw the good in people first. The way with her, things just were. He always knew where he stood with Carrie.

  He quickened his pace as he neared the lobby. Even though it was close to seven at night, there were still people in the lobby. That was unusual—most times the lobby emptied around five, just like any other office building in the nation, despite being federal.

  A redheaded woman stood talking to Jeff, the security guard. She had another woman and a tall man with her.

  Sebastian’s heart picked up. Carrie. What was she still doing here?

  It wasn’t her.

  Jeff saw him and his face cleared with relief. “Unit Chief Lorcan, sir. I’m glad you’re still here. These people...they are looking for Agent Sparks. I think you may be able to help them.”

  The redheaded woman and her strawberry blonde companion both turned to look at him. Sebastian stopped walking and just stared. And stared some more.

  Now he saw why the normally unruffled security guard seemed so nonplussed.

  “Carrie’s left for the evening, Jeff.” Who would be looking for Carrie this late at night? And what was so important that it couldn’t have waited until morning?

  The women looked enough like Carrie to be her sisters. The one was almost a copy of Carrie right down to the hazel eyes. Her hair, though, wasn’t quite as dark, although it was close.

  He looked at the women, feeling every instinct he possessed stand on end and tell him that trouble was about to happen. “Who are you? And why are you looking for Carrie?”

  The darker haired woman studied him for a moment. “Who are you, and what business is it of yours?”

  “I’m Unit Chief Sebastian Lorcan. Carrie and I...we’re involved. Now, you are?”

  The woman studied him from eyes that were damn near on identical to Carrie’s. It disconcerted him for a momen
t. “I’m Brynna, this is my sister Melody. Carrie’s our half-sister. And we think she’s in trouble.”

  Sebastian wrapped his fingers around her arm, the same way he’d done to Carrie a hundred times in the last week. She was even the same height and build as Carrie. And she tensed, just like Carrie used to. So much like her…“What do you mean?”

  “Our father is here searching for Carrie. He’s been looking for her since she was nine and I was seven. He didn’t even know about her until her mom was murdered,” the strawberry blonde said.

  “Murdered? Carrie just told me her mother was dead!” Someone spoke from behind Sebastian. He turned, found Alessandra and Reynolds staring at the same group he was. Jules Bellows and Edward Dennis were right behind them. Their surprise was clear on their faces.

  “Her mother’s throat was cut. Carrie watched the whole thing from her mother’s closet. The cops found her. My father was called to the scene—he retired from the force last year—and realized that Carrie was his daughter. When he tried to get her, to bring her home where she belonged, Carrie was gone. Someone had been paid to make her disappear. It took him this long to find her.” The one that looked and acted the most like Carrie was the one who spoke.

  Sebastian tried to take it all in quickly. Their story jibed with what Carrie had told him. That much he couldn’t deny. And he couldn’t deny the physical proof in front of him. The one woman, Brynna, even had the same shaped front teeth as Carrie. “And there is danger her to her now because?”

  “Because the cop who made her disappear into the system? He was arrested, charged, and spent seventeen years in prison. And now he’s out and looking for Carrie.” The strawberry blonde was brimming with impatience. “And my father is looking for him.”

  “Why Carrie?” Dan asked. Sebastian understood the hostility in the older man’s tone. “Why now?”

  “Her mother was a junkie and had something he wanted. We think he assumes Carrie has it. Our father is the one who arrested him. They grew up together and were once partners. And Rush has a grudge against my father. See where this is going? He had a double reason for going after Carrie. And my father texted me this morning. He’s seen Rush. Now, can you tell us where our sister is? Because I can damn well guarantee my father and Rush are pretty close. And that won’t be good for any of them.” The strawberry blonde moved with the same sense of contained energy as her sister. It was like a knife right through him. He’d find Carrie; before this Rush guy did. He’d deal with the long-lost family shit later. They would deal with it. Together.

  “This guy has been stalking Carrie? For how long?” Sebastian pulled his phone from his pocket and hit the number to speed dial Carrie again. He waited. No answer. Carrie always answered her phone. She never had it less than a foot away from her at all times. This was the third time she’d ignored his call.

  “He’s been following her for at least three weeks, that we know of. Dad thinks he’s the one who vandalized her apartment,” the strawberry blonde said in a voice so like Carrie’s Sebastian did a double-take.

  He tried Paige’s next. Nothing.

  Something was wrong. He knew it. He tried the shelter’s landline number, something he’d programed into his cell the day Carrie told him of her involvement in the foundation.

  Paige answered on the third ring. After a brief conversation, Sebastian started to disconnect. A loud report had him pausing. Paige cursed. “Paige?”

  “Shots fired, boss. Inside the building. Something’s wrong!” Her voice was tight and hushed.

  “I’m on my way. Sending backup!” Sebastian’s heart froze in his chest at her words. He could hear the sounds of sirens starting. “Paige?”

  “Fire alarms. I gotta go. We have fourteen kids here. Three staff—two are male, one female. All in their thirties. Plus Calista, Carrie, and me. That’s all. No clue on the shooter. Get here fast. I can smell smoke already. And I’ve heard something explode, I think. I’m going upstairs in search of the shooter.”

  “Dammit, Paige, don’t engage. Stand down!” It was too late; she’d already disconnected. She’d answered the phone. Not Carrie. Where in the hell was Carrie? And why wasn’t she answering?

  “Jeff, call the CCU bullpen. Malachi Brockman’s team just arrived in. Get them with Carrie’s sisters. Get them working on the Rush angle. Understand? Dan...Come on, let’s go.”

  “I’m going with you,” the strawberry blonde woman said. The tall man who hadn’t spoken protested.

  “Jerrod, this is my sister. Same as Brynna, Jillian, or Sydney. I’m going. You can go with me or stay here with Brynna.”

  “Neither of you are going.” Sebastian was already moving toward the doors.

  “Try and stop us.” The strawberry blonde woman pulled something out of her pocket as she followed. A badge. “The murder of my sister’s mother is an open case in Texas. I can pursue a witness. Meaning my sister. I brought a warrant with me and it has her name on it. Already talked to the boys over at the MSP post. Professional courtesy. Can we go? Before something happens to my father or my sister? Or someone else?”

  They were wasting too damned much time here. He’d take them with him, then lock them in the car if needed. He could tell Reynolds felt the same way. And Dennis was there. He’d be more than capable of keeping them out of his way. “You stay out of my way. My first priority is protecting Carrie and Paige, got that?”

  “Deal. And mine is getting my dad and my sister home safe. So we can work together, or apart.”

  Chapter 72

  *****

  She dropped her holster, never taking her eyes off the man. Why was he doing this here? Why had he sought her out? “Officer Thompson, you don’t have to do this here. There are children in this building. The youngest is only twelve.”

  “Hmm. Useless. Why else would they be here? That is incidental. Come.”

  “Where? What exactly do you want from me? My mother and father have been dead for seventeen years. I don’t know what you think you will get from me now. I don’t even really remember them.” It was a lie. Carrie had forgotten nothing about her parents. Nothing. She resisted the urge to finger the necklace around her neck. She always did when she thought about her mother.

  “Hmmm. You really believe that?”

  “What else am I supposed to believe?” Where was Paige? She knew her friend would have heard the shots. Would have been on her way up to investigate. “They died. I went into foster care.”

  “In Oklahoma. Yes, I know. It cost me a pretty penny that night to get you taken out of state. Had I known you had it, I wouldn’t have let you leave the state so quickly.”

  “Excuse me? Why did you do that?” Carrie took a step away from him. If she could get him out to the hallway, away from Calista maybe she’d be able to do something to get away from him herself. And get help. Without her weapon, her options inside the room were limited.

  And she couldn’t count on Paige. Not without knowing how long this man had been in the building. Or whether Paige was even alive. Carrie pushed that thought aside. She couldn’t think that way. Not now. “What did you do? The fire, I mean? How did you set it?”

  He acted bored. That’s what his body language told her. Why was he so apathetic to what was happening? She remembered hostage negotiation at Quantico. She had to get through to him somehow, but with him showing no emotion other than boredom and impatience, what was she supposed to do?

  Was she even reading him right? For the first time in a long time she cursed the differences that set her apart from other people. How was she supposed to know how to read this man? “The fire? How did you set it? Is it going to damage the building so badly we can’t use it?”

  “You don’t need to worry about it.” He stepped closer. Carrie tried not to cringe when he wrapped long fingers around her arm. In the same place Sebastian always did. She trembled. This man’s touch turned her stomach.

  He smiled. “You’re frightened. That’s good. That will make you less likely to do
something stupid.”

  “I don’t want to do anything stupid. I doubt anyone does. I have a question; why would an officer with the MSP be after me for something having to do with my parents that died in Texas?”

  “Are you that dense? I don’t remember your mother or father being stupid. I’m not an officer with the MSP, Caroline. Come on. In the hall. We’re going for a drive.”

  “My name isn’t Caroline.” But it did sound familiar. Her mind flashed back to her father, the way he’d dance her around the living room. Calling her his little Caroline. He was the only one who’d ever called her that. Everyone else used Carrie. Carrie was what she’d told the social worker in Oklahoma. Had she forgotten something as vital as her own name? “Is it?”

  The man smiled. “You don’t even remember your name? Poor thing. Your name is Caroline Marie Sparks. It should be Beck, though.”

  “Kevin Beck. He’s the man that showed up at my work looking for me. Who is he?” Stall. Just stall him. The fire alarms would ring into the police and fire stations three blocks away. She’d designed it that way. She just had to buy herself some time. “How do you know him?”

  “Kevin and I are old friends. We were. Until he testified against me. I was in prison for seventeen years because of your biological daddy.” He pulled her into the hall. Carrie bit back a scream.

  Paige lay in the middle of the hallway, gun near her hand. Blood pooled beneath her head. How had he gotten the jump on Paige? Was she even alive? “Oh God, Paige…”

  “Friend of yours. I know. Pity I had to hit her so hard. She was quite a fighter. But I have spent the last seventeen years studying fighting techniques. Quite beautiful in a different way. I would have enjoyed some time with her.”

  “Why are you doing this? I’ve done nothing to you.”

  “Except be alive. You should be dead. Seventeen years ago, I never thought to check the closet. Had I, I wouldn’t have had this much trouble. Now, where is it?”