MasterMind_An Anna Monroe and Never Far crossover

by A. A. Dark

  Braden nodded, moving his focus to Boston as they began questioning each other again. My heart was in my throat as I unlocked my phone and stared down at the text.

  Dr. Patron: I’m sorry I’m late. Something came up. We’ll have to reschedule our date.

  Blinking through the news, unexplained relief set in. I had been so torn. Now that our meeting was off, my way out made itself known. I’d find other ways to investigate him. Davis Knight wasn’t it. He was mine.

  Me: It’s okay, really. This, I paused, glancing back over to the guys, is for the best. Thank you for the offer, though. I’m afraid I’m going to have to pass.

  I shoved my phone in my purse, throwing them a sympathetic smile as I headed back to the living room. Before I could get there, another alert sounded. And another. Three more.

  “Jesus, Anna. Who’s that?”

  “Work. I’m in a group text. I have to go in. They’re probably just going over more details or something. You both brainstorm. Maybe you’ll have something figured out by the time I get back.”

  “How late will that be?”

  Concern registered on Braden’s face as he stepped closer. Guilt appeared, stolen by my killer just as fast.

  “There’s a lot we need to cover. I’ll try to make it as fast as possible.”

  But I wouldn’t. Nothing would stop me from basking in every blissful second of giving Davis the payback he deserved. For months, I had been planning this very moment, and I’d be damned if anything was going to stand in my way.

  “Anna…”

  I paused on my way to my room, glancing back over my shoulder at Boston. A strangled concern engulfed my name, somehow threatening the Annalise within. She grew angry at how clearly he could read my motives. Boston knew something wasn’t right.

  “Maybe Braden and I should drop you off. I can’t shake this…feeling. Maybe the man who has Lucy is still out there. Maybe…” He stood, staring pleadingly to Braden, as if my detective would step in and help in his sudden cause. “This isn’t right,” Boston growled. “I don’t know what it is, dammit. Something is just wrong.”

  A succession of two more dings echoed through the silence, and Boston’s head tilted back as his lids closed.

  “Maybe it would be safer,” Braden said quietly.

  “You’re kidding me. You have the man in custody. He’s behind bars. I’m perfectly safe. Besides, you both look like shit. Sleep. I’ll be home later.”

  I didn’t give either time to respond. Heading in my room, I quickly shut the door behind me. For seconds, I waited just inside for Braden to slip through, but the talking continued, and so did I. Right to the closet where my bag was waiting. Quickly, I changed into a pair of slacks and a high collard blouse. When I put my heels on, my adrenaline increased. Was tonight really the night I’d finally get my revenge? It was no secret Davis ran the path by the river every night. After all, it’s how he became involved with the police during No One’s investigation. Stumbling upon the body was no accident. He knew…and even then, before I was taken, he did nothing to stop the string of brutal murders that rocked our city.

  Swinging the satchel across my chest, I ignored what I knew was inside. Clothes, my special running shoes, those stayed in the trunk. This bag…well, this one held two things very dear to me: a knife engraved with two special words, and a six-by-five-by-four-inch box.

  Talking continued as I opened the barrier and walked back into the living room. Both men glanced over at me, but Braden had been nodding with a serious expression on his face.

  “All set?”

  “All set,” I repeated.

  “You sure you don’t want us to drop you off? I’ll be awake for a while. I can pick you up, or Braden and I can if he’s still up when you’re finished.”

  “I’m fine. You both appear in the middle of some great revelation. Keep going. Maybe you’ll discover something.”

  I headed over, grabbing my purse from the counter. Braden was at my side before I slid it over the satchel and turned around.

  “Be careful. Try to go straight there and back. Until we have hard evidence, we can’t bank on anything.”

  “I’ll be safe.”

  Braden’s lips met mine. The slight brush ended quickly as I stepped back and grabbed my keys. Pain? His features pulled in as I turned and headed for the door. I couldn’t let my feelings for the man I loved interfere with what needed to be done. And they might if I thought too hard over what he’d think of me if he knew what I was about to do. Secrets were only as strong as you were. There was no room for me to second-guess myself. Davis had to die for what he allowed to happen to me—to my son.

  Darkness met me, and a cool chill held heavily in the air, feeding the ice inside my veins. It promised a memorable marriage with murder. Clicking from my heels echoed. Click. Click. My heart beat. Thump. Thump. Time slipped with every fateful step I took closer to car. The sounds were music to ears. Annalise came through, growing inside me as I lowered into my car. When the engine came to life, so did she.

  Fumbling through my purse, I took out the red lipstick, letting the color feed her need even more. The ignition glow sent a blue hue covering the lower part of my jaw. For seconds, I stared at the dim reflection gazing back. Hard brown eyes hid behind narrowed lids—lust-filled lids—and my full lips were more pursed than usual. God, I couldn’t hide from the cravings anymore. I needed to act on them like I needed to breathe. There wasn’t one without the other, and I would be a fool to try to convince myself otherwise.

  Ragged breaths forced their way free while I put the car in reverse and left the driveaway. It wasn’t until I got on the main road and headed to the park that I took out my phone, trying to ground myself. The texts didn’t help. My finger scrolled through as I glanced up at the red light and read the confusing words.

  Dr. Patron: For the best?

  You think you’ll pass?

  Anna, what are you saying?

  One day.

  That’s all I need.

  You won’t regret our date, I promise.

  I just need time.

  Are you ignoring me?

  Anna?

  Please write back.

  You’re upset about something. I can help.

  Tell me what’s wrong?

  You must be busy.

  Write me back when you can.

  A honk had me tossing my phone down. There wasn’t a reason to text back. I didn’t owe an explanation to anyone. Most of all, some doctor I didn’t even know. This was personal. It was my business, not his. Besides, what was he going to do, knowing my secret? Dr. Patron wouldn’t go to the cops. He didn’t even have anything to show them. He was the one who had started writing in code, and luckily, it covered both our asses.

  Turning at the following light, I made it down half a mile before I parked. Downtown was far enough out of the way, I didn’t have to worry. It was rare there were many runners this late. Me and Davis, the exception. None of it mattered now. Davis was a regular. I had been tracking his moves long enough to know. Long enough to see for myself. Even if Dr. Patron or Boston would have never arrived, our night was fated—planned for weeks.

  Beep-Beep.

  Beep-Beep.

  “What the hell?”

  Two more text messages came through before I could so much as reach for my phone. The moment I did, the damn thing started ringing.

  Braden.

  My lips pressed into each other as I glanced past the street lamp into the darkened area of the path.

  “Hello?”

  “Anna, I’m sorry to call. I know you’re working.”

  “It’s fine. I just pulled in. What is it?”

  A pause. “Boston wants to go to Chicago.”

  “Chicago? For what?”

  “It’s where Dr. Patron lives. He has a place there.”

  “That’s quite the drive. He wants to go this late? Couldn’t we check it out tomorrow? I would really like to go too.”

  “Well…I kin
d of want to check it out tonight. Maybe the doctor has more to say.”

  It was my turn to be quiet. I pulled the phone back from my ear and hit the button to bring up the main screen. Two new messages. I clicked them, scanning through.

  Dr. Patron: I saw you read my messages.

  Dr. Patron: Why are you not writing me back?

  “Hello? Hello?”

  “Sorry. They texted me again.”

  “It’s okay. I just wanted you to know we might not be here when you get home. Be careful.”

  I smiled for more reasons than I wanted to think about. It was tempting, but too risky with Braden and Boston possibly returning.

  “I will. You two be careful too.” My mouth opened wider. “Wait. Does Dr. Patron know? He may be asleep.”

  “No. Boston doesn’t want to give him a heads-up.” Braden’s voice lowered. “He won’t say why, but I don’t like any of this. Something is going on between the two of them.”

  “It’s probably nothing. Boston is on edge. To him, everyone is worthy of suspicion. This will give him something to do. Just be safe. You haven’t had much sleep.”

  “You know me. I’m always safe.”

  I laughed. “I guess you are. Bye, Braden.”

  “Goodbye, A rúnsearc.”

  Hanging up, I swallowed through my fluttering heart and popped the trunk. It didn’t take me long retrieve my bag or climb in the back seat. Three more beeps went off before I could slide on my shoes. It had the anger rising as I crawled into the front and snatched my cell. Heat engulfed me. What should have been a silent moment of focus and preparation was turning into a colliding emotional mess. The love in Braden’s voice wouldn’t leave me, and this doctor…it was too much.

  “There,” I said, turning off the ringer.

  But it wasn’t enough. Minutes passed as I stared ahead into the darkness. I checked the time repeatedly from the dash, but concentration wouldn’t come. Vibrations cut through the interior. An array of random buzzing that fed my anger. Dr. Patron was not stopping. It was so out of character for the person I thought I knew.

  Chapter 25

  M

  Why isn’t she writing me back?

  Where I longed to hear pleas from Lucy as some sort of distraction or fuel, all she gave me was silence. Silence to ponder Anna’s withdrawal. Silence to question my own greed for wanting to kill her as my victim, and not Daniel’s. Question after question. For the first time during one of my copycats, I was drowning in them. The doctor was temporarily gone. All that was left was an insecure man I wasn’t familiar with. It was turning me erratic, and I was losing control over everything.

  Me: Anna, I know you like me. We can make this work.

  Give me one more chance.

  At least let me explain in person.

  Nothing.

  “It’s doubt,” I breathed out, letting my hand and the phone lower to my side as I squeezed against it. “That’s what this is. I’m doubting myself. I want something, and for the first time, I’m not sure how to achieve it. That’s not natural for me. I get everything I want. Everything. So how do I get Anna? Where do I begin?”

  The answer was evident. I glanced toward Lucy. She was sitting on the bed, unrestrained and facing forward in a loose cross-legged position. There was an emptiness in her eyes as she stared ahead into nothingness. Disgust drew in my lips. Not a few feet away rested my duffle. Inside was a handheld drill, some scalpels—everything I needed to make my wildest dreams come true. But they were my dreams, not Daniel’s. I needed him to take the fall for her.

  “I’m going to kill you tonight, Lucy. Don’t you want to try to run?”

  A muscle ticked in her cheek, but she remained staring ahead. She was so far gone, even her expression remained stoic. The pleasure in taking her life faded along with my need to goad her. It left me returning to the one person who was fighting me at every turn.

  “Anna.”

  The name pushed from my gut, hissing out of my mouth. Was she out killing right this second…without me? Would I ever hear her tale of how she drew out each ragged breath from Davis Knight? I should be there. It’s what angered me the most. Lucy, who was supposed to be my prize, was nothing but an inconvenience. How had this happened? How had I let Anna take the front seat on my path to get Boston back in my clutches? I knew how. Anna was the better killer with her interesting past and creativity. It was obvious. But to have them both…that was what my brain kept reminding me of. I suddenly needed more than just Boston. I needed Boston and Anna. I could bring him back to Massachusetts, and when he was done with his kill, I could come to Chicago to switch gears. It was perfect. A dream. It was…greed. Greed got you caught. It drove you mad.

  I brought my phone up, trying to focus as I punched in the number to my clients who owned the farmhouse.

  “Doctor,” Bill said smoothly. “How the house treating you?”

  The deep tone matched my mood as I stared at Lucy.

  “It’s great, but it seems I’ve run into a problem. The client I’m here to see, he fucked up. I’m going to need you, Bill. His name is Daniel Stracht. He’s currently being held in Rockford. He was arrested for prowling, but is under suspicion for multiple murders.”

  “I heard about them finding those girls. Did he do it?”

  “Of course he did. Problem is, the moron called me late last night from jail. Me!”

  “He didn’t.”

  “Oh, he did. So, of course, I went in and relayed my suspicion about how I thought it was him. They have nothing, but that’s beside the point. I need you to get him out. I need him dead.”

  “Today must be my lucky day.”

  “It’s about to get luckier,” I said, glancing to Lucy. “If, for some reason, you’re asked anything about me, you’re not a client. We’re old friends from way back. We met at a conference in Chicago. A medical convention. Linda used to be a pediatrician. It’ll make sense.”

  Silence.

  “Dr. Patron…is here something else we should know? We’re here to help.”

  “Actually, yes.” Pride almost wouldn’t allow me to speak. Yet, I wasn’t stupid. I knew I had to cover all my bases. “I have a friend who’s staying with me. One of Daniel’s victims, if you catch my drift.”

  “You sneaky devil. The basement. Do her in the basement. We have everything you could imagine.”

  “I might take you up on that. To get that far, I need Daniel out. The time of her death has to match up.”

  “I got the judge on speed dial. Give me an hour. Let me know if you need anything else.”

  “Will do. Thank you, Bill. Give Linda my love.”

  “That’ll make her happy. You’ve got it.”

  I hung up, sliding the phone into my pocket as I grabbed the cane and headed to the bed. My nearness brought up Lucy’s gaze and some form of dawning seem to flicker. Fingers pushed into the sheet while she scooted against the headboard, staring at my hand. With every breath, her knees drew to her chest in the fetal position.

  “Stand.”

  Whimpering.

  “I’m not going tell you again. Stand.”

  “M-Mast—” Crying cut her off. Shaking rocked her body, and harder she pressed into the headboard. When she didn’t obey, I brought the cane down hard against her thigh. Skin split, exposing red muscle for a good second before blood began to pool and run toward her ass. The sobbing increased as her hands shot up, covering her face. I reared back, swinging upward as I caught the underside of her leg.

  “I said stand!”

  A wail howled through the room the moment she caught her breath. Lucy scrambled, collapsing to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Shakiness had her swaying as she tried to rise.

  “Please. Please. I…Mas-ster. Don’t, p-please. I’m g-good. I’m…standing.”

  “Yes, but not fast enough.” I circled around, striking the side of her stomach with brutal force. Once. Twice. Three times. Lucy’s fingers shoved through her hair as her feet danced and she screamed.
For the first time since I had left the police station, my heart sung a ballot of murderous freedom. Adrenaline skyrocketed, and a laugh left me from the deepest cracks of my soul. Crimson streamed from Lucy’s broken skin. It drove my hand back to hit her again, and again. There was nothing stopping me this time. I could go as far as I wanted, maiming her already battered body. Tonight, she would be no more. Tonight, I’d be free to put all my attention and focus on Boston and Anna.

  “Ahhh! Ah! No! S-Stop!”

  Her voice rose, stuttering and stammering as life somehow edged back into her eyes. Lucy was coming to, breaking free of the numb oblivion she’d been in now for days. Muscles flexed in her entire body as she jerked to the left, then right. Escape. She wanted to. She knew to stand some chance of surviving, she would have to break free of the intense pain I was inflicting.

  “Where you going? Where are you going to go!”

  With my last word, I slashed the cane across her cheek, slicing it open. Lucy stumbled further to the side, holding her face as she crashed to the ground. Wrapping my fingers in her hair, I didn’t give her time to react. I jerked the frail blonde up, only to use the momentum to launch her toward the bed. Glass shattered, and darkness took over as the end table fell over at the collision.

  Silence.

  No more sobs.

  No cries.

  No deep breaths.

  My lids closed as I listened for any sort of movement. The need to rush and finish her wasn’t there. In truth, the pitch black only added to my need of a challenge—of excitement. Was she unconscious? Instinct told me she probably was. After all, the girl hadn’t had anything to eat besides bread. Not to mention the abuse she’d already undergone at my hand.

  “Lucy?”

  I took a step at the grunt that sounded.

  “Are you going to get on the bed like a good little girl, or am I going to have to put you there myself? You know what will happen if I get to you first.”

  Another step.

  Time.

  “I don’t hear you moving. You’re only making this harder on yourself.”

  Another step.

  A light sob.