Anticipation

by Terri Breneman

  The police department was trying to ease the minds of the public, but their efforts were futile. In reality, Boggs knew, there was nothing for them to do until they caught him—or he killed again. She turned off the radio just as she pulled into Toni’s parking lot.

  Toni opened the front door with glass in hand and Boggs stepped inside. She suspected she’d replay the 30 seconds that followed at least a hundred times. She’d arrived expecting to spend maybe an hour with Toni at a costume store. But when that door opened, her heart melted. Before her stood the woman of her dreams. As she crossed the threshold, she felt as though she had walked into a movie. Maybe it was the music and flickering candles. Maybe it was the peaceful and comfortable feeling of Toni’s townhouse. Maybe it was seeing her, barefoot, wearing an untucked old shirt and holding a glass of wine. Boggs felt like she had finally come home after all these years.

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  Anticipation

  By

  Terri Breneman

  Bella Books

  Copyright© 2006 by Terri Breneman

  Bella Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 10543

  Tallahassee, FL 32302

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechani-cal, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper First Edition

  Editor: Christi Cassidy

  Cover designer: Sandy Knowles

  ISBN 1-59493-055-4

  Acknowledgments

  This book was a labor of love and would not have been possible without the love and support of many people. A huge thank you to Christi Cassidy, my editor, who was able to make sense of my ramblings. A special nod to Robin Shultz, R.N., who gave me medical insight. And most of all I would like to thank my partner, Cat, for believing in me and making everything I experience ten times better just because I’m with her.

  About the Author

  Terri Breneman was born and raised in Prairie Village, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology from Pittsburg State University, Kansas.

  While living in Germany she earned a master’s degree in counsel-ing from Boston University. As a psychotherapist specializing in borderline personality disorders, she worked with high-risk ado-lescents, juvenile sex offenders and their victims. She decided to change careers and attended St. Louis University School of Law.

  After graduation she opened her own practice. One year of that was quite enough and she was fortunate to find her current job as a research and writing attorney for the Federal Public Defender’s Office in St. Louis.

  Terri lives with her partner in St. Louis, where they share their home with four cats—Tigger, Dexter, Felix and Sam. The cat featured in Anticipation, Mr. Rupert, was a longtime companion.

  Rupert Eugene died two years ago at the age of 17. He is still loved and missed terribly.

  CHAPTER 1

  Inside the darkened room, a tormented man sat in silence with his eyes tightly closed. His body rocked back and forth at a steady pace, as if it were keeping time with an unheard song. His hands were damp and clammy, and he continually wiped them on his pants. He rocked faster. A bead of sweat formed on his upper lip.

  Although the room was quiet, the sounds inside his head were deafening. The voices were beginning again. They had been silent for almost two weeks, but now they were screaming at him. “You idiot. How could you be so stupid? Don’t you know how to do anything right?”

  The man rocked harder and faster. He had to gain control.

  Some nights it was much harder than others. He took a deep breath and focused on his hands. Slowly the sound of the voices faded and his own voice filled his head. He smiled. He was back in control. This had happened before, of course. A lot. It seemed to be happening a little more often now, and a little more intensely, 1

  but it had always been this way. It was who he was. It made him brilliant. He could now concentrate on the next step of his plan.

  And the next woman destined to die.

  Toni Barston sat at her desk and smiled. This was her third week as a new attorney in the Fairfield Metro Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and she loved every minute of it. It wasn’t the biggest prosecuting office in Missouri, but the metro area population was nearly one million. Her office was small and sparsely furnished and there was scarcely enough room for her desk, an additional chair and old file cabinet. The stack of files on her gray metal desk was in danger of sliding to the floor. Every prosecutor had a heavy load and Toni was no different.

  Toni ignored all other files except the one in front of her, Dexter Crown. This was her first big case and it was a doozy.

  Three prominent women had been brutally murdered in the past six months. Each woman had been a respected professional with powerful connections. The murder scenes were gruesome but hard evidence was virtually nonexistent. The perp had entered each woman’s home with no signs of force. He had apparently exited through the front door of two of his victims but had used a window to leave the last murder. Toni stared at the crime photos.

  Each woman’s throat had been slashed and the bones in her right hand crushed. Panties were stuffed into their mouths. Toni stared at the pictures again. The photos were good. Too good.

  Anne Mulhoney, Toni’s supervisor, had given her this case just one hour ago. Toni tried to tell herself that she’d been picked for this assignment because of her dedication and talent.

  Unfortunately, she knew it was really because it was an open-and-shut case with virtually no chance of a trial. Detective Frank Parker had apprehended the suspect and gotten a videotaped confession. The public defender’s office had already indicted him and he’d probably plead guilty. Still, Toni didn’t want to make any mistakes. She wanted to know this file inside and out.

  2

  Although there was no hard evidence, there was some circum-stantial evidence that was very helpful. Frank had gathered two witness statements saying they saw Dexter Crown near one woman’s home the day of her murder. There was also a note from Frank that psychological records were available.

  Two hours passed before Toni looked up from the file. Frank Parker was standing in front of her desk. As usual he was dressed impeccably in khaki slacks, crisp white shirt and blue blazer.

  Although this was the standard Fairfield detective uniform, Frank looked like he had stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine.

  He was about six feet tall with short cropped dark brown hair. His pale blue eyes were cold but seemed to gleam against his year-round tan. Frank Parker was a legend in his own time and he knew it. He had to be the most arrogant, chauvinistic bastard Toni had ever met, but he was the best detective in Missouri. She respected his record, but he definitely wasn’t her type. Although he never referred to the women in the department as “babe” or “hon” (at least not since his last warning from the chief), Frank Parker had that certain look in his eyes, one of superiority. Toni felt both rage and intimidation every time she saw him.

  “So, Ms. Barston, everything set for the prelim?” It wasn’t actually a question. He just smiled, winked and left her office.

  Toni shook her head and rolled her eyes as she watched him walk away. She did not like him. She glanced back at the file and was again absorbed in her work.

  A little later, distracted by laughter, she looked out her window and saw one of the unit’s investigators, Sam Clark, laughing with a woman. He was a happy-go-lucky sort of guy. He had been one of the first to welcome her to the
department and offer his help. Toni felt very much at ease with him and welcomed his daily smiles and jokes. Sam was one of the few veterans who still had a good outlook on life.

  Toni had never seen the woman who was talking to Sam. She was dressed in gray sweats and a sweatshirt with AIR FORCE

  ACADEMY printed on the front. Toni was instantly intrigued.

  3

  Sam seemed very chummy with her and Toni moved her chair closer to the window to get a better look. She couldn’t hear their conversation, but at this point she didn’t care. For some reason this distraction had her almost mesmerized.

  Outside the Fairfield Law Enforcement Building, Sam Clark was talking to Victoria Boggsworth, affectionately known to all as Boggs. Boggs was a veteran investigator for the prosecuting attorney and had spent seven years in the Air Force as a military intelligence officer. She had the reputation of being tough as nails when it came to work. She had a knack for getting information from people and never giving up on a lead. Boggs was also the star shortstop for the prosecutor’s softball team. At five feet six, her athletic body and green eyes made her stand out in a crowd. Her hair was light brown, short and stylish. At thirty-nine years old she still turned heads.

  “Things just haven’t been the same since you’ve been on vacation, Boggs,” Sam was saying. “I’ve had to buy my own lunch every Monday.”

  “So, what’s been happening on the unit, Sam? Did we finally get that new attorney?”

  “Sure did.” Sam was grinning from ear to ear. He loved to be the first to pass along new department gossip. “Toni Barston.

  That’s Toni with an i, not a y. You should see her. Whew! But seriously, she seems to be a real good kid.” Boggs tried not to sound too eager. “So what’s this new pup like?”

  “Well, she’s inexperienced but seems dedicated and thorough. I think she’ll be damn good once she gets a few trials under her belt.”

  Boggs had hoped for a better physical description and decided she might have to wander in and take a look for herself. It might be a good idea to check her messages and water her plants before she 4

  had to start back to work on Monday. A pleasant thought for a Friday afternoon. Boggs looked toward the Metro Center and smiled. “I’ll catch up with you later, Sam.” Toni had been watching Sam and the woman for several minutes when suddenly she turned, looked directly up at her and smiled. Toni quickly pushed her chair away from the window, knocking over the stack of files in the process. Her cheeks were burning and her heart was racing. A deep gasp escaped. She felt as though she had just got caught peeping into a men’s locker room.

  It took Toni several moments to realize that no one could see her through the window and she began to relax.

  She shook her head and began picking up the scattered papers from the floor. She tried to get her mind back to business. For all she knew, that woman was Sam’s sister. She had to watch herself. If anyone had seen her drooling like that . . .

  “Hey, counselor. It’s Friday, five thirty, time to pack up and head for home.” Sam tromped into her office and plopped down on the only available chair. “I think you’re working too hard.” My God, she thought, how long had she been sitting there staring into space?

  “Oh, um, I’m just waiting for a fax from Johnson County Psychiatric Hospital. The records clerk said she’d have it here by six.” Toni hoped Sam hadn’t noticed her faraway look.

  “Well, counselor, you look like you need a break. Tell you what, your investigator is back from vacation, so I’ll just ask Boggs to drop off the info at your apartment later tonight. You go on home now.”

  Toni thought of a dozen excuses. She didn’t want “old Boggs” to come by her apartment. She knew Boggs only by reputation.

  Anne Mulhoney had said that Boggs was an old hand at investigat-ing and one of the best. After hearing this, Toni pictured Boggs as an old geezer with gray hair and leathery skin. No doubt he also drank whiskey straight and chain-smoked. She chuckled to herself.

  She read too many mystery novels. Anyway, the thought of spend-5

  ing even ten minutes with a hard-nosed investigator didn’t appeal to her. Not tonight. Not any night, in fact. Before Toni could ver-balize her objection, Sam was out the door.

  Toni groaned and began filling her briefcase with the Crown file. She pulled on her jacket and brushed some imaginary lint from her skirt. She made mental notes to pick up Chinese for dinner and drop off her blouses at the dry cleaner. Toni took one last glance at her office and headed to the elevator.

  Boggs had just rounded the corner and was heading toward her own office when she first saw Toni Barston. From Sam’s description, it had to be her, that and the fact she was coming from the attorney’s office area. Toni was walking away from her, toward the elevator. Boggs immediately noticed the legs, and she let her gaze drift upward. Even from this vantage point, she liked what she saw.

  She quickened her step. Although she considered herself a woman of much experience, she wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

  Toni was waiting for the elevator to the parking garage. She quickly looked away when she noticed Boggs walking toward her.

  Boggs saw her blush. Toni turned back toward the elevator and rushed through the doors as soon as they opened. Unfortunately, an incredibly large woman burst from the elevator at the same time. Toni’s feet nearly left the floor with the impact and she was propelled backward. Her briefcase crashed to the floor and as if on cue it popped open and spewed its contents.

  It took everything Boggs had not to laugh. The woman bursting out of the elevator weighed at least 400 pounds. Her brightly colored polyester sponge pantsuit resembled 1970s motel decor. The elevator woman continued on her quest and Boggs was unsure whether she was unusually rude or simply unaware of the crash.

  Toni knelt down and began gathering her papers and assorted items. She looked up when Boggs stopped in front of her.

  “Here, let me help,” Boggs said as she kneeled next to Toni.

  “Did you get the license plate of that woman?” Boggs was begin-6

  ning to chuckle when Toni glanced at her. The chuckle died in her throat. She looked into Toni’s eyes and felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

  They were the most striking eyes she had ever seen. An intense royal blue, they seemed to look right through her. Boggs was taken aback. The woman kneeling in front of her was absolutely stunning. Her light brown wavy hair, brushed back, fell almost to her shoulders. Her cheekbones were high and the features delicate.

  Small gold earrings dangled lightly from her ears. Boggs could only stare. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity before Toni looked back toward the floor. Boggs noticed the flush on her face, then let her gaze trail downward. Under the gray suit jacket and behind the white silk blouse, Toni’s breasts were full and seemed to strain at the lace bra. Toni’s skirt had slid above her knees as she continued to gather her things. Boggs suddenly realized that she was gawking and began mumbling while helping Toni retrieve her items.

  Damn. Boggs was admonishing herself for this temporary loss of control. She could not afford to be blatant in the Metro Building. The last thing she needed in her life was some straight woman accusing her of harassment. But, God, she could get lost in those blue eyes and thick wavy hair. And that perfume.

  “Thank you. I guess I was in too much of a hurry,” Toni said without making eye contact. The elevator doors again opened and she disappeared inside, clutching her briefcase.

  Boggs stood outside the elevator doors with Toni’s yellow highlighter in her hand and a smile on her face. She was amazed that this brief incident had such an effect on her. She rarely lost her composure or her ability to bullshit with people. She tried to shake the feeling and headed toward her office.

  She was sitting in her chair with her feet on the desk, glancing at her messages, when Sam strolled into her office. As usual, he was clutching a Diet Coke and grinning.

  “I’m glad I caught you in time,
Boggs. I volunteered you for something.”

  7

  Boggs didn’t look up. “Forget it, Sam. I am officially off until Monday. Get that rookie Davis to do your dirty work.” Sam chuckled and plopped down in a chair next to her. “Aw, come on. That new attorney was waiting for a fax, but I told her you would drop it by her place tonight. She’s a nice kid. Anyway, no one else is around and I’ve got to head home for dinner. Betty is fixing spaghetti tonight.”

  Boggs glanced up from her pile of pink message slips and smiled at him. Sam dearly loved his wife and her spaghetti.

  Anyway, she wanted to get a closer look at this new attorney and she could spare a few minutes tonight. “Okay. I’ll hang around for a little longer and get the fax. Give me the address.” Sam chugged on his Diet Coke and jotted down Toni’s address.

  “Thanks. I know she wants the fax for the weekend. Mulhoney gave her the Crown case and the preliminary hearing is on Monday. It’s no big deal, but I think the kid is a little nervous. This is her first big case, you know.”

  Boggs took the address, glanced at it and then stuffed it in her sock. Sam looked at her as if she were a bit nuts and she shrugged.

  “No pockets.”

  Sam grinned and got up to leave. “Okay, see you on Monday.

  Don’t forget, the Chiefs are playing the Broncos Sunday and since Denver is going to win, be prepared to buy me lunch.” She and Sam regularly bet on football games in which she usually lost.

  Their standard bet on anything and everything was lunch at some disgusting restaurant. Winner got to pick and invariably Sam found a diner worse than the one before.

  Boggs just shook her head and glanced down at the rest of her messages. Nothing too exciting here. Some woman named Joanie had called on Wednesday but left no message, just her number.

  Hmm. One of the witnesses she had been trying to reach. Ah, here was the one she was looking for. A message from Dave Berry, a friend of hers, about some college kid she was trying to locate. She pegged the kid as a probable witness to a fraternity rape. She’d been trying to locate him for over a month now.