Branded for Murder (Scott Tucker Series)

by Dick Waters

  “Thank you for sharing that detail…I will keep it to myself. What is the problem?”

  “The final offer is contingent on a face-to-face interview with me and signing some release paperwork for ‘non-compete’ things etc. If we fail to sign you for this position this week, we will need to open this position for national publication. Right now no one is aware of this position outside a limited number of people. If you are interested, you must keep this confidential. In fact if you’re not interested, you cannot tell anyone for at least a month.”

  “Mr. Kelley, do I have any time to think about this? Can I call you back?”

  “Charlotte, no I’m sorry, we have a limited window here. I have made reservations, which I can cancel, but a round-trip ticket is waiting for you at the American Airlines ticket counter. If you do not sign our offer and non-compete documentation by this coming weekend, we will have to post and advertise this position.”

  It looks like she sees the bait, now to land her. “Charlotte, I have seen the evidence of your work. No one else can match your performance or credentials. Of course you can reject our offer, but I must see you in person for the interview. It may involve one other interview while you’re here. One of the noted characteristics about you is your ability to make timely decisions.”

  She’s about to bite. “I didn’t say this, but the position is yours if you want it.”

  “Well, Mr. Kelley thanks for your time. I would like to discuss the position with you. Can you share the details of the trip and how the expenses will be covered?”

  “Great decision, I know this will be a life-altering event for you. The plane ticket is a round-trip ticket which allows you to; return, give a proper notice and pack your things. The reason for the hasty timing is we need to be ready for this summer season. If we didn’t fill the position right away we might have issues meeting that schedule.”

  “I understand,” she replied.

  “Let me continue. All of your expenses will be covered; the hotel, car rental, meals basically a per-diem amount. You will be flying into Boston the day after tomorrow. A private limousine will transport you to Plymouth, New Hampshire, where you will stay at the Sheridan Hotel there. A rental car is reserved in your name. Unfortunately, I will not be staying at the hotel. I will be meeting you at the Knotty Pine Camp in Campton near Waterville Valley, the following morning for the interview and contract signing.”

  “I used to go to that camp and was a camp counselor there. I loved my time there.”

  “We know you were, and that was a critical condition in the selection process. That camp is being sold to our management company, but that is privileged information and you can’t tell anyone about that or this entire process. Your confidentiality is extremely important and critical as we complete our process. As far as your parents are concerned you can tell them about your decision after the interview is conducted. Do you understand?”

  “Will I have time to visit with them before I return to Bermuda?”

  “Yes, that is entirely up to you, for your return timing. The reservation has an open return date.”

  “Mr. Kelley thanks for taking the time to call me. I am looking forward to meeting with you, but its winter up there isn’t it?”

  “Yes it is, but you can dress appropriately for it. I can’t tell you how much I’m personally looking forward to seeing you in person. Do you have any further questions?”

  “No. This is so exciting.”

  “Yes it is. Congratulations! I’ll see you in a few days. Instructions will be left at your hotel regarding the interview times etc. Have a safe trip Charlotte.”

  “Bye.”

  “Good bye.” He hung up the phone, slowly opening the phone booth door. You my dear Charlotte have no idea how excited I am, knowing you are really coming. Well, she bit the hook, now to land her…or is there a more appropriate term for it? Despite the cold outside, he had to find a bench to sit down. He was that excited. Four more days, how am I ever going to pass that time away waiting for your company again?

  Two down—two to go.

  Chapter 63

  Scott dropped her off at her dormitory. It was difficult for them to say goodbye. She was amazed at how much love making they could compress into a single night. She couldn’t be happier that Scott felt driven to pick her up and explain things to her. He loves her, saying nothing would ever come between them. The words seemed a strange choice, but he said them with such emotion, she felt like a maiden being rescued from the dragon.

  Judy came into the room, finding her sitting on the bed. “Hi Lisa, what are you staring at?”

  “It’s a coin Scott gave me along with a little story. I’m going to cherish this coin forever.”

  Judy came over, looking more closely at the coin. “It’s just a penny.”

  “No you’re wrong…it’s so much more than a penny.” She threw it on the floor. “I bet it landed ‘heads up.’”

  Judy bent over and picked it up. “Yes, it landed heads up. How did you know it was going to land heads up?” she asked.

  She smiled at Judy, reaching out to accept the penny back. “Some day, Judy, I will tell you the story, but not tonight.”

  Judy sat on the bed, focusing on her friend. “I have to admit Lisa, whatever happened has certainly brightened you up. I haven’t seen this kind of glow in days, or maybe ever.”

  Lisa smiled, putting the penny on her nightstand. “Things are certainly brighter than they were. Scott met my parents the other day.”

  Judy looked surprised at the comment. “How could I forget? You were stomping around here complaining about that. Whatever changed that situation?”

  “Scott shared some things with me, which I can’t talk about. However my parents were glad to meet him.” She smiled at her friend. “He really is something special…one of a kind I would say. Oh, Scott has someone new he loves.”

  “What are you talking about? You’ve got to be kidding me, and why are you so happy about it?”

  “He loves his landlady Mrs. Abbott. They had an impromptu talk last night and Scott seems to be taking more charge of his life. You know we had words about my parents…but he wouldn’t let that stop him from straightening it out with me. There was a time recently, when he would just wait for me to cool off…now he seems to take more control over the timing of things. I really like it. He tells me what he wants and for some reason I just obey him. He was exceptional in bed and elsewhere last night,” she said, turning red.

  “Care to share?” Judy asked, lying down on Lisa’s bed.

  Laughing a little, she offered, “Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is yes.”

  “Oh so it was that good?”

  “No Judy it was really that great. I almost get an orgasm right now thinking about it. It was almost like he was trying to devour me so we were not two people, but just one. By the time he dropped me off this morning I could almost read his mind. I can close my eyes right now and sense what he’s doing. It’s crazy and I can’t really explain it. I feel if I touch myself, Scott could almost sense it too.”

  As Judy sat upon the bed she commented, “Whatever you’re taking, I wish you’d share it with me.”

  Lisa closed her eyes, reaching for her breasts. “He’s feeling what I’m feeling right now.”

  *.*.*

  I was alone in the office area, unable to get last night out of my head. Last night was the most incredible night of my life. Something happened that I can’t seem to understand. Maybe it was the talk with Gram, but I seem to be more focused on things than ever before. I closed my eyes, having this strange urge to cup my breasts. All I could picture was Lisa doing the same thing. I looked around. Luckily, the only person close by was Colleen and she was occupied at her desk.

  I could see Lisa talking with Judy on her bed. Lisa was cupping her own breasts. There is absolutely no way she is doing that…what is wrong with me? I certainly did enough of that last night, but the image I’m seeing seems so real. I better get a
nother coffee and see if there’s an update on Paddy.

  *.*.*

  She dropped her hands to her knees. “It would be interesting if he had a similar feeling just now. Somehow we are connected. I can’t explain the change. I do hope I never get mad at him again, but I am what I am. Speaking of things, how are you and Neil getting along?”

  “We’re doing fine, but nothing like what you’re going through. Like I said, I want what you’re having. Where did you go when Scott picked you up last night?”

  “He likes to go to the Prudential Center and the Skywalk. Have you and Neil ever gone up there?”

  “No we haven’t, but if it does the magic I see, we’ll have to make a point of it. We’ve had some words ourselves lately. It’s nothing major, just enough to alter the mood if you get my drift.”

  She smiled at Judy’s comment. “So what you’re telling me is you haven’t worked your chocolate magic on him lately?”

  “Maybe I should just take the lead and do something on the spur of the moment like that.” She laughed, covering her mouth.”

  “Judy, where do you go when you go out? I mean more specifically, where do you go when you want to be intimate?”

  “Money is pretty tight. Other than the trip to the Balsams, it’s just his station wagon. It’s not the same as cool sheets and a hot shower.”

  “Maybe I can get Scott to loan you his apartment for a few hours. Do you want me to ask him?”

  “Are you going to tell him why?”

  “Come on Judy he’s a guy and he’s an investigator. Do I need to draw him a picture; he can draw his own conclusions. Do you want me to ask him or not?”

  Judy played with the fringe on Lisa’s bedspread. “Sure, now you’ve got me getting hot and bothered just thinking about it. I would like to be with Neil alone without anyone walking by us. Lisa, thank you for being such a good friend…we can talk about anything. However, I still want some of what you’re taking.”

  She bit her tongue, but had to ask, “Judy, speaking of that, do you get any strange vibes from that guard on duty most of the time?” Judy didn’t answer her, but had a questioning look. “Last night when Scott and I were leaving I had a strange feeling he was watching my every move.”

  “Well Lisa that is his job. He’s a guard after all.”

  “I’m not talking about being protective. I have just the opposite feeling. When I walk past him I feel he has me already undressed…it’s weird but if he said boo, I would jump a mile.”

  “I’ve seen him. He’s not that bad looking for a guy his age. Someone said he looks like the guy the girls have talked about, who lives behind us and sleeps in the nude with his lights on. I guess some of them watch his display for hours.”

  Lisa got off her bed and went to the window. She looked up to see if the light was on in one of the rooms in the building behind them. However, it was morning, and a school day. It was much different when the school was closed for the evening. She wondered why she was so fascinated and disturbed at the same time.

  “So you’ll talk with Scott?” Judy asked.

  She didn’t turn around, continuing to survey the building. “Talk to Scott about what?”

  Chapter 64

  I picked up a coffee and doughnut, heading back to my desk. I was thinking about the strange sensation I had a few minutes before.

  “A penny for your thoughts?” Colleen’s voice broke my trance.

  “I’m sorry Colleen. Good morning.”

  “You look like you need more than coffee this morning.”

  “I guess I’m not fully awake.”

  “Then you must have had a good night last night,” she said, with a wide smile.

  I stopped moving, turning to face her. “I did have an extremely wonderful night.”

  “How’s Lisa?”

  “She’s much better now. Did you know we interviewed her parents when we were in New Hampshire?”

  “I typed the report, but I didn’t know the Andersons were her parents.” She touched the report on her desk. “How did that go?”

  “Funny you should ask. It was bad news to start, but when I went over to see Lisa and explained the scenario it was much better. Have you heard how Paddy is doing?”

  “Mike was in earlier, on his way to see Paddy at the hospital. He called a few minutes ago, telling me Paddy is up and around, chomping at the bit to get out of there. However, Mike said they’re going to keep him several more days for some tests. When I heard the news he was taken to the hospital, I was scared.” She turned away, reaching for her purse.

  “Well, I’m glad he’s doing much better. You have a nice day.” I walked away to let her compose herself.

  “Mike also mentioned he’s coming into the office and wants to talk with you,” she added.

  *.*.*

  I sipped my coffee, thinking about the vacant lot. Was that a sign that Jimmy Ballou didn’t want anyone including his mother to have his address?

  The front door opened, interrupting my thoughts. I heard Mike talking with Colleen.

  He came in smiling. “I don’t think Paddy will be allowed back to work for at least a week. Victor Young, the AG, was visiting with him this morning. I could tell he was relieved Paddy was doing okay. The AG wants me to be responsible for the task force activity until Paddy returns.”

  “Well, that’s good news all around. I need to talk to you about the address we were given. It’s a—“

  “Vacant lot,” Mike interrupted. “We had it checked out as well. You just can’t seem to stay out of things can you?”

  “I checked it out on my way over to Lisa’s last night. The address wasn’t far from her dormitory.”

  “I know that too. We’re trying to track him down right now, but so far we haven’t located any information for any James, Jimmy or Jim Ballou anywhere in the city. We are confident he is using another name. I’m going for some coffee. Why don’t you come into the conference room? I want to talk with you for a few minutes.”

  *.*.*

  I entered the conference room and asked, “Mike, where is everyone?”

  “That’s what I want to talk to you about.” He looked at me over his cup.

  “I don’t think this is going to be good news.”

  Mike didn’t look at me. He took a deep breath. “This is hard for me to explain. I don’t fully understand it myself, but I’ll try to make some sense out of it for you. Since Paddy has had a heart attack, the AG wants me to take the lead until he returns. He has ordered a reduction of resources, releasing the State Police, MDC and Cambridge personnel and asked the FBI to do their own investigation if they care to. The only people we have left will be Paul and I.”

  “Why?”

  “Scott, I’m not sure myself, but what he told me is that we arrested the New England Strangler which was our original charter. The press is making a bigger deal about the new killings, and he feels the continuation of the task force is adding to their fodder. He doesn’t feel the resources we have committed to finding this new killer are warranted.”

  “Where does that leave me?” I asked.

  “Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. He never felt you should have been connected with the task force, but appreciates your contributions. I told him about your latest success with the Andersons and well, he almost tore my head off that you were allowed to do what you did. It worked out, but I could tell he was very upset about that. I shouldn’t have tried to change his mind.”

  “So, I’m done?”

  “Yeah, that’s about it.” He looked at me, adding, “Welcome to the wonderful world of big business, or politics…take your choice.”

  My head was spinning. I was not hearing anything more Mike was saying to me. I nodded my head when it looked like he was looking for some response. I tried to put things in context, I joined the task force to help catch Jackie’s killer and that had been done. Why did I feel like the rug had been pulled out from under me? What is so damned important about this new set of
stranglings?

  “Scott, did you hear what I said?” he asked, waving his hand in front of my face.

  I had a questioning look on my face, so he repeated it.

  “So, Scott, if you can put the material on your desk in order with some notes, you can leave when you’re done.”

  I didn’t reply, but started to get up to go to my desk.

  “Scott, wait. I said that I wanted to talk with you further. Didn’t you hear me?”

  I shook my head, sitting back down taking the opportunity to look around the conference room, then finally back at Mike. I’m not sure how much time he gave me, but my mind wasn’t focusing on him any longer.

  “Scott this does not, and will not have any impact on our new found friendship. I still want to have an occasional beer or two…Maggie wouldn’t know what to do without us. I enjoy your company, but you’ll be headed back to classes soon. This will give you an opportunity to focus on your studies and Lisa as well. Maybe when this assignment is over we can take in a Bruins game.”

  “Thanks Mike.” I took a deep breath, starting to get up.

  “Scott, wait, I’m not done. I can’t find the words to tell you how important you have been to the task force. If Paddy was here he would be able to express things better than I can. Your involvement has made a difference to our investigation. Your efforts allowed us to catch your Cousin Jackie’s killer. You need to be proud of your involvement. Stepping in yesterday with the Andersons, shows how adept you are sizing up a situation. You made a huge difference.”

  I remained sitting at the conference room table. “Thanks again Mike, I do feel like I’ve contributed, following through on my commitment to help find Jackie’s killer.”

  “Let me also tell you that Paddy was informed by the AG this morning about what was going to happen to the resources. His only comment was to tell you how much he appreciated your efforts. He said he was going to write a letter to the Dean about your valued contribution.”