Seeking Evil (Looking Into The Mind Of A Killer Series)

by Mary Eason

  The tiny airport terminal was crowded with people, making it almost impossible to move, much less breathe, as Jessie stepped outside into the gentle afternoon breeze. A group of run-down taxicabs lined up next to the curb, a few feet from the exit doors. Their neglected appearance did little to lift Jessie’s uneasiness as she walked toward one of the drivers.

  The man took her approach as permission to load her luggage into the trunk of the car before opening the passenger door. Once Jessie settled into the back seat and the driver pulled away from the curb, he asked her where she wanted to go, his voice showing little interest.

  “I need to get to Vandeburg tonight. Can you take me there?” she asked, hoping the man understood her urgency. At the mention of Vandeburg, the driver whipped around, his startled eyes regarding Jessie in disbelief. She glanced past the driver at the street as the taxi swerved recklessly into the neighboring lane.

  The man began to speak hurriedly in broken English, waving his hands in distress. “No, miss, I cannot take you to Vandeburg.”

  “I beg your pardon? Why not?” Jessie couldn’t believe she’d heard the man correctly. “If it’s a matter of money, then please, don’t worry. I’m prepared to pay extra for the trouble. I know it’s a long drive, but I have to go there tonight.”

  “No, miss, you do not understand. What you are asking is impossible. I cannot take you there, I will not. It will be turning dark soon. It is too late. No, it is too late to go to Vandeburg tonight. Maybe tomorrow, if you still wish to go, then I will drive you there. But not tonight.” He wagged his head anxiously, the fear in his eyes reflected in every agitated movement of his hands.

  “No, I’m sorry, but that won’t work. You don’t understand, I have to go there tonight. I can’t wait until tomorrow.” Even as Jessie said the words, the man tossed her another frightened look in the rearview mirror. She fought to control her growing frustration with his strange behavior. “Okay, you can’t take me, I get it. Fine, just let me out and I’ll find another driver who can. This can’t wait until tomorrow, I have to go to Vandeburg tonight,” Jessie stressed as she watched the road nervously. The driver’s agitated movements sent the car swerving back and forth across the narrow lanes.

  “Miss, it is you who does not understand. No other driver will take you to Vandeburg, not tonight. It will be impossible for you to get there tonight, I can assure you.”

  “This is crazy! I don’t believe you. Please, just stop the car.”

  The man’s nervous gestures became more and more frightening. He yanked the car back into his lane, barely missing another passing car. Why was this man so afraid? She wasn’t going to be of any help to Lili if she ended up in a wreck or worse, dead. Jessie prayed she wouldn’t live to regret this decision. That one more night wouldn’t be one night too many for Lili’s sake. “Okay, fine, you win. Can you please take me to a hotel, somewhere close by where I can spend the night? I’ll find my own way to Vandeburg in the morning.”

  The man visibly relaxed but said nothing as they made their way along the narrow, broken streets of Bourdaqueste. As Jessie stared out the window, she couldn’t help but wonder what awaited her in Vandeburg.

  The hotel the driver selected was in one of the older sections of the city. It looked as if it might have once been the home to one of the country’s wealthier families, perhaps royalty, maybe even one of Lili’s own ancestors. In its time the hotel would have been spectacular, a reflection of both elegance and grandeur. Jessie could almost imagine it as it had once been, filled with love and laughter. In contrast, tonight the hotel appeared to be almost completely empty.

  She was given a corner room on the second floor, overlooking both the main street and another, smaller side street. She walked across the room, pausing to study the antiques and old portraits hanging on the pale yellow walls. She looked out the window to the empty street below. The room, the street, the whole town was bathed in an unearthly silence. Jessie shivered, hugging herself.

  There was no activity on the streets. No one walked the sidewalks, taking in the beauty of the charming old city, in spite of what had to be an unseasonably warm evening. Jessie’s thoughts strayed to the strange emotions that only grew in strength since arriving at the Hotel Bourdaqueste. What was causing this heightened sense of familiarity? She’d never even seen so much as a picture of this place.

  She pushed those troubling thoughts aside. Until she was certain Lili was safe, maybe it was best to leave things as they were and concentrate on getting to Vandeburg safely.

  She left the room to ask the desk clerk if there was some place in Bourdaqueste where she could rent a car. At the thought of yet another confrontation like the one she’d had earlier with the taxi driver, she’d decided it would be best for her to find her own way to Vandeburg.

  As she descended the spacious spiral staircase of the Hotel Bourdaqueste, the oppressing silence of the night beyond the elegant walls closed in around her, enveloping her in an eerie sense of impending doom.

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  PROLOGUE

  Frantic breathing warred with the staccato beat of her heart, drowning out all other sounds. Two hours had now past since their appointed meet time and he was a vapor. Gone. Disappeared into thin air. Her gut told her something bad was wrong. Time became her worst friend. Every second behind enemy lines was one less chance she’d have at getting out of this thing alive.

  Something alerted her she was no longer alone. A twig snapped. Someone closed in. Instinct told her it wouldn't be him and so she ran. The noise of her panicked heartbeat was deafening against her ear. The feeling of impending danger reverberated all around her and tracked her like a hunted animal.

  Where was he? Fear for him threatened to swallow her up. She couldn’t leave him here. He was one of them. Up ahead, the broken down silhouette of what appeared to be a burnt out building emerged from the oasis of sand. Another victim of the war.

  He’d never once missed a meet. Proof positive something was wrong. She reached the building and crouched behind what was left of a wall while trying the radio for help. There was only static.

  Where are you?

  As her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, her fate became apparent. There was nothing left of the building’s insides. No place to hide where she couldn’t be easily found and the enemy’s footsteps were all around.

  Dear God, not like this. Not without saying goodbye to Davis. There were too many things that she'd intended to say to him. Needed to say…

  She felt it then. The cold steel of an AK 7's barrel shoved hard against the back of her head. She froze.

  “Drop it, Kate. It’s over.”

  Disbelief almost dropped her to her knees. Him. No! It couldn't be. She trusted him. After what felt like eternity, she did as he asked. This was not the enemy she been expecting. This was her brother in arms.

  “You?” she asked still not fully believing. “How could you do this?” Another far more terrifying thought occurred. “Did you?”

  The barrel dug into her scalp. “Shut up.”

  She turned to face her enemy. Her friend. One she loved and trusted. With the end in sight and nothing left to lose, she lunged for him. “How the hell could you betray your country like this? How could you betray us. How the hell could you…” Someone grabbed her from behind in a vise grip around her upper torso and restrained her.

  He actually laughed at her. “Spare me the patriotism. You’re not that naïve. This has nothing to do with us. Or them, and you know it.”

  “What are you talking about? Did you…” She couldn’t bring the words out.

  He laughed again, finding her weakness amusing. “So, the great Kate Willow is human after all. I always wondered. You should have listened to him. None of this would have happened if you’d stayed home where he wanted you. Where you belonged.” The maniacal grin that creased his face threatened to take away the last of her hope.

  She fought her restrainer like a caged animal.
“You won’t get away with it. There are operatives everywhere. They'll be here any moment. You can’t sweep this under the rug like you did the others.”

  His reaction was another laugh. “You really think one little spy is all that important when it comes to these stakes. You overestimate your value, Kate. You always did, though.”

  He stepped forward. Dropped the weapon and brought something else from his jacket. A knife. The glistening steel blade guaranteed the pain would be great.

  “Goodbye, Kate. I wish I could say, I’ll miss you, but the truth is, I never really like you all that much and you’ve outlived your worth.” He motioned to the man holding her. His grip tightened and he grabbed a handful of hair, forcing her neck back. With one fluid movement, the knife sliced across her throat. Instantly, blood rushed from the wound, down the front of her shirt. She tried to speak, to call out for help. The only sound that came forth was the gurgling sound of blood gushing from the wound. She was helpless to do anything more than slump back against the man holding her as her life-giving blood drained from her body at a rapid rate.

  He’d killed her. She could feel life slowly slipping away. She was growing weak. The world around her grew faint. She struggled with her last bit of strength. Not like this. Her capture held her tighter. She couldn’t breathe. Davis. Where was Davis. Dear God. Where was Davis. Her thoughts grew fuzzy except for one. Davis.

  As if on cue, the static on the radio was replaced by the sound of his voice. “Kate? Kate, are you there? Get out of there, it’s a setup. For God’s sake, Kate. Get out of there.”

  Davis. Dear God, she loved him.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Booth.” She was crying. She looked into his eyes and ached to tell him all the things she should have said long ago.

  He looked so sad. She squeezed his hand. She could feel the tears streaming down her face. “I love you. Booth, do you hear me. I love you.”

  His expression didn’t change. Didn't he hear her? His image grew fainter. She blinked, but she could barely see him now.

  “Carrie! She's waking up.”

  Someone, a woman, spoke. Her voice sounded familiar.

  “Don’t go. Booth, please. Stay with me.”

  Not like this. Don't let it end like this.

  "Booth!" she sobbed his name once more. She could no longer see him. Feel him. The desert sand swirled around her, then darkness. She couldn’t feel her. Kate. The light was so bright, as blinding as the noonday sun. She struggled to open her eyes. White light. Voices. Then…nothing.

  When she awoke again the light was gone. She sensed that a lot of time had past. She'd never felt so disoriented. Her thoughts wouldn't come together. Where was she? How long had she been unconscious?

  The room around her was fuzzy. Soon the fuzz turned into blurred images. She blinked and the blur cleared. She was in a hospital room. She glanced around. Several people stood close by. She was alive. She hadn’t died after all. There was such a thing as second chances.

  Dear God…Booth.

  “Where is he? Where’s Booth?”

  “Oh thank goodness. She’s awake. Carrie’s awake.” Someone squeezed her hand. She focused on the woman standing next to her bed. She looked familiar.

  “Carrie, we’ve been so worried. Do you know where you are?”

  Yes, of course she knew. She was in a hospital room. She was alive. But what about Booth? Had he been captured? She tried to remember the details of the man who hurt her. She couldn't make out his face, yet she was certain that she knew him. Just as certain, he was one of their own.

  A slew of IV tubes rendered her right arm immobile. With her left hand, she touched her throat. Impossible. There was no wound. No bandage or blood. How?

  She blinked again and the fogginess in her head cleared. The woman by her side was her sister. Yes, she had an older sister by the name of Emma.

  And her name was? Kate…no, Carrie. Carrie Sierra. The woman, her sister Emma, had called her Carrie. She was Carrie. Why had she thought Kate?

  “Carrie?” Worry infused its way into Emma’s tone. She turned to the man next to her. Her husband. His name was…Andrew? Yes, Andrew.

  “What happened? Where am I?” Carrie forced the words out. Her throat felt as dry and the Afghanistan desert. She tried to fit the pieces together, but it was as mixed up as a puzzle.

  Emma’s brows knitted together in a frown. Carrie wished she could wipe the worry away, but she couldn’t. How could she ease her sister's fears when those same fears filled her with dread? She had no idea what was happening to her.

  “You don’t remember? You collapsed in your apartment two weeks ago. Your heart, it just gave out on you. We rushed you here, to Bethesda Memorial. The good news is that you're going to be okay. You were lucky. There was a heart available and they were able to do the transplant right away. Everything’s going to be fine now.”

  Two Weeks! Impossible. How had she ended up here, in D.C. so quickly? No, she lived here. Of course. Her thoughts scattered like dust in the wind. The memories of the nightmare that took place in the desert slowly disappeared with each waking moment. Had any of it been real or just a dream? No, it was real. He was real. It had to be real.

  “You should try and get some rest now. Doctor Brannon promised to stop by soon. Charlie went home to shower and change but he’ll be back later today.” Emma was talking too much. Something about her nervous prattle seemed familiar. Calming, almost. Emma talked too much when she was nervous. She remembered that. "He's going to be so thrilled to see that you're awake."

  If her sister was this nervous, Carrie could only imagine how grave her situation must have been.

  “Charlie?” The name slipped out in an effort to fill the uneasy silence.

  “Yes, Charlie. Your boyfriend. Your high school sweetheart. Charlie Tanner.” Emma's pitiful attempt at a smile disappeared entirely. She no longer hid her fear. “You do remember Charlie, don’t you, Carrie?”

  High school sweetheart? No. She didn’t have a high school sweetheart. Even back then, she’d been focused on her future.

  “Carrie?” Emma snatched at her husband’s hand. “Go get Dr. Brannon. Something's wrong. Now Andy. Something's terribly wrong.”

  ****

  The churning ball in his gut since that had been there since he returned to D.C. told him the month and a half he'd just spent in hell without sleep, wanting only to find Kate's killer and be done with this cloak and dagger life, was just a jumping off point. Things were about to get far worse.

  The second he walked into the Covert Affairs Division at CIA headquarters in Langley that fear became reality. He could tell by the way his colleagues stopped talking and turned away when he walked by that something had happened.

  He ducked into Assistant Director AJ Bishop’s office unannounced, surprising his longtime friend and colleague. AJ would tell him the truth.

  “Booth? Man, I wasn’t expecting you in until later. We heard your flight arrived late.” AJ got to his feet and came round the desk to embrace him.

  Booth stood stock still, tamping down unfamiliar emotions. The last time he’d seen AJ stood out in his memory. It had been at Kate’s funeral. A devastating day for him. For everyone.

  “I needed to get back into the groove,” Booth offered as way of explanation as he tried to clear away the lump in his throat. "What's going on? The place is like a virtual gossip mill out there.”

  AJ attempted at a laugh came out brittle and nothing like his usual heartfelt humor. “It’s good to have you back, my friend. Sit. Tell me how you are. How’s New Zealand? I haven’t heard from you. I tried to call.”

  AJ stalling? Whatever the news was, it wouldn't be good. “Cut the pleasantries, we’ve known each other too long for that. What’s up? Has something broken on Kate’s case?”

  AJ's heavy sigh spoke volumes. “Have a seat. There’s something you should know.”

  Booth was barely holding it together. Did he have the fortitude to put a face to Kate�
�s killer?

  “Has there been news from Kate’s contact in Afghanistan?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Then what? What is it?”

  AJ didn’t answer right away. After what felt like forever, he shook his head. “God, I don’t know how to tell you this.”

  “Just say it.” His friend’s hesitation only fueled the dread.

  “Okay. As you know, once Kate was pronounced, her body put on life support, and she was flown to Bethesda Memorial to harvest her organs -- at her request. She left a donor card.”

  "I know all that. What's this about?"

  “There was a mix up at the hospital. Instead of Kate’s heart going to a military personal, as is protocol, it was transplanted into a civilian.”

  Try and he might, Booth couldn’t even begin to understand what AJ was trying to tell him. He'd been away for over a month and yet he still couldn't think about her and not get emotional. He didn't want to think about Kate's heart going to anyone else.

  “So? What does it matter who got what?”

  AJ held up a hand. “The woman who has Kate’s heart is, well, she claims to have certain insights.”

  “Insights?" The word tore from somewhere deep inside of him like a growl. "Dammit, AJ…”

  “She claims to have seen Kate’s death. No, that’s not exactly true, she claims to be Kate. She woke up from a two-week coma asking for you, not just you -- Booth. Not James Raines, but Booth.”

  Booth could almost feel the color drain from his face at an alarming rate. He couldn’t seem to gather enough air into his lungs.

  “Are you okay?”

  Somehow, he registered the concern in AJ's tone, on his face, yet he couldn’t speak for the longest time and when he could, it was hard to string together a coherent sentence. “Who is this woman? What do you think she wants?”

  “I don’t know. We’re still investigating her. There’s the possibility she may have come upon this knowledge by accident, or she might be a…”