by Debra Webb
“I was sorry to hear you’d been terminated, McBride.” Pierce shifted his interest from Grace to McBride and allowed a lack of it to show. “At one time you were the best.”
McBride laughed softly, the real thing, not one of those fake sounds. “I was sorry to hear you’d turned to teaching. But then, I guess when you can’t cut it in the field, it’s best to do what you can.”
“Gentlemen,” Worth interrupted, “we were going to review what we have on this case. Why don’t you get us started, Agent Grace?”
5:02 P.M.
Vivian was ready to get the hell out of there.
She had never been so furious in her life.
Every particle of self-discipline she possessed had been required to remain seated during the past forty-nine minutes while Worth and Pierce and McBride went back and forth over this case. She had purposely kept her mouth shut after her opening remarks.
Pierce’s visit had nothing to do with this case and she knew it.
He was here about her.
He was worried about her. Worth had told her that much already.
Dammit.
The one real surprise was that McBride and Pierce appeared to know each other. She should have realized that was a possibility since they were both at Quantico at the same time. Pierce wasn’t anything like McBride. He was as tall as McBride but leaner. His hair was black, cut short and neat. His eyes were almost as dark as his hair and were ever watchful. There was no fooling Pierce, he never missed a thing.
McBride abruptly stood. “If we hear anything from Devoted Fan, let me know.”
What the hell had happened while she’d been seething?
Vivian pushed to her feet, scrambling to catch up as McBride walked out. “Was there anything else, sir?” She faced Worth, careful to keep her attention fixed fully on him and off the other man who had suddenly stood.
“Stay a moment, Grace,” Pierce said.
When she glared at him, he was busy sending Worth a not-so-subtle “give us some privacy” look.
“Excuse … me,” Worth stuttered. “I have to check on …”
The way he was mumbling Vivian didn’t catch the last of his excuse as he made his hasty exit and closed the door firmly behind him.
This was beyond ridiculous. She shook her head at the man watching her. “I considered you a friend. I trusted you.” She hadn’t spoken a word to him since the announcement that her assignment had been changed. She had avoided him at all costs, ignored his phone calls and his e-mails.
“Grace.” He reached out, touched her arm. “I know you don’t understand—”
“You’re damned right I don’t,” she snapped. “Let’s leave it at that.” She had wanted that assignment in Baltimore so badly. Her whole reason for joining the Bureau had been to make a difference. An assignment like Baltimore would have given her that opportunity. What the hell was she supposed to do here? Even when a big case came up, Worth didn’t put her on it. He wouldn’t have this time if McBride hadn’t insisted. How could she get the experience she needed for moving to the next level if she wasn’t given the chance?
Pierce drew in a big breath, let it go. “We both know why you decided to make law enforcement your career.”
What of it? Who wouldn’t want to fight the bad guys after going through that kind of thing? She had needed to turn her fear and hatred and bitterness into something constructive.
“In case you haven’t noticed,” she said, her voice harsh and stilted, “I’m doing a good job. I don’t need you looking over my shoulder.” If she hadn’t had that one episode at the academy none of this would be happening! But she had. She’d frozen up, just like she had with McBride at the cemetery, only worse. Her failure in that one training exercise had caused the deaths of two civilians and one agent, hypothetically of course.
She had been so upset, that she had come apart in Pierce’s office and had admitted that she still had problems with what happened when she was seventeen. Big mistake. Hiding that entire history would have been impossible, the background investigation would have exposed it. But she had fooled the psych evaluations, had convinced everyone that she was past the whole Nameless incident.
And then she’d had to go and let her core instructor see her crack.
Now she was paying the price. He had suggested an assignment to a smaller field office until after her probation to ensure less stress. So here she was, back in her hometown trying to prove she could take the pressure.
“Grace, you survived your worst nightmare,” he said, ignoring her assurance that she didn’t need him minding her business. “You killed the man responsible. You were strong and it showed in your ability to survive.”
Here came the but …
“But then you changed your name and ran away, pretended it never happened.”
Fury bolted through her. “Do you really think I wanted to hang around and let the media hound me? To have people looking at me the way you are right now?”
Why couldn’t the past just be over? She didn’t want to look back. She wanted to move forward.
“If that were the only reason,” he said, without the exasperation he surely felt at this point, “we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You’ve been hiding for seven years. You have to face those demons and defeat them the same way you did the real thing. Otherwise you’ll be dealing with them forever.”
“Do we have anything else to talk about, Agent Pierce?” She stood at attention as if she were still one of his students. “If not, I’d like to go home. I’ve had a long day and I had a long night before that.”
For several seconds he looked at her with that concerned, caring face that her father wore at moments like this … that Worth wore whenever he passed her up for a prime case … the same damned one McBride had worn this morning when he had ordered her out of that church.
Damn them all!
“I guess that’s all I have to say.”
Before she could escape, he added, “I’ll be here for a few days. We could have dinner.”
“Sure.” She wrenched open the door and fled to the corridor. She wanted out of here. Away from the weakness Pierce wanted to shove down her throat. She wasn’t weak. She was strong. The past didn’t matter anymore. It was over. Why didn’t he just let it go? How was she supposed to leave it alone if everyone else kept bringing it up?
“Grace.”
Worth was striding toward her.
“Yes, sir?”
“You’re needed in the conference room. McBride is already there. We have a new communication from Devoted Fan.”
Her shoulders slumped with fatigue. Not another one. Hopefully there wouldn’t be another victim already.
She followed her SAC and, as if he’d smelled the trouble, Pierce wasn’t far behind her. Pratt, Davis, and Aldridge were there already, as was McBride. They gathered around the computer screen and read the latest e-mail from the unsub who was now officially a serial offender.
McBride,
You truly are the best. You and your fine partner, Agent Grace, did a spectacular job of solving my puzzling clues. I am astounded at your greatness. As you know by now, Dr. Trenton’s illustrious patient is in recovery and doing well. His survival, as well as the good doctor’s, is solely your doing. I daresay, Trenton will have a new attitude from this day forth, as well he should.
The time has come for me to inform you that, at last, the final challenge is at hand. I do, of course, realize that you have had little rest and I shall save the grand finale for tomorrow.
Rest well, my hero, for there is still one more lesson to be taught—this one is a lesson I am sure you will appreciate as much as I.
Humbled,
Devoted Fan
“McBride, Grace, and Pratt, I want each of you to take a copy of this e-mail home with you and study it while you get some rest. Be back here at four A.M. At that time Davis and Arnold will take a few hours at home. Meanwhile”—he directed his full attention to those two agents—“I wa
nt every number on that list called, every potential suspect visited before four A.M. If folks are asleep, wake ’em up.”
Simultaneous yes-sirs echoed as the two agents moved back to their stations.
“I’ll be here until midnight,” Worth said to everyone gathered. “I sent Talley home for some shut-eye. He’ll be back before I go. If I have anything new, you’ll hear from me.” He started to go but then added, “McBride, Binmingham PD will have a guard at your door for the duration of your stay here … just in case.”
McBride grabbed a copy of the e-mail. “Whatever.”
Vivian picked up her copy and shot McBride a look for the good it would do. What was up with him? Besides the usual. She’d have to ask him about the history between him and Pierce. Then again … if she did, that would open the door for him to question her.
SAC surveyed the room as if he had suddenly remembered something relevant. “I want everyone to stay aware. We don’t know who the next victim will be. It could be anyone, including one of us.”
“Feel free to utilize my expertise,” Pierce offered. He said the words to Worth, but glanced at Vivian. “I’m prepared to jump in with both feet.”
“I’m sure everyone here”—Worth sent a look at Vivian—“is glad to have your experience and expertise available.”
Maybe she hadn’t made herself clear enough.
“Agent Grace,” Worth said as she headed for the door, “Agent Pierce will also be staying at the Tutwiler. Why don’t you let him follow the two of you there?”
She glanced at Pierce. “Of course.”
Vivian didn’t look at either man as she stormed down the stairs. No way was she getting trapped in an elevator with the two of them together. They would probably end up going for each other’s jugulars.
At her Explorer, she hesitated. “Where are you parked?”
Pierce gestured to the black Chrysler 300. Luxury rental, probably flew first class too.
“Just follow me.” She got into her SUV and slammed the door. What kind of car he drove or how he chose to fly shouldn’t make her angrier, but it did. It was the whole arrogance thing. The “I’m older and know it all” thing. She was sick of being pampered … of being coddled.
McBride climbed in. “Why don’t you just shoot him and get it over with?”
“Buckle up,” she snapped. She wasn’t in the mood for any of his arrogance either, no matter how freaking sexy he managed to make it.
She rocketed out of her spot in reverse, jarred to a stop, then jetted toward the gate, squealing tires.
McBride grabbed at the dash as if he feared for his safety.
The gate slid open and she lurched out onto the street. Despite the diminishing press crowd, Birmingham PD remained on duty to keep them at bay, allowing for an unencumbered exit.
She saw neither hide nor witch-black hair of Nadine Goodman. If Vivian never saw her again it would be too soon. As far as she was concerned the woman had stepped way over the line this time.
“He thinks I’m going to appreciate this next challenge.”
Vivian glanced at McBride, thought about his statement. “Are you concerned that the victim may be someone you know?”
“I’d say that’s a safe bet.”
She braked for a light and met that intense blue gaze. “Or maybe someone he knows you would despise?”
“Maybe.”
Quiet crammed into the vehicle and she knew the question was coming.
“So what’s the deal between you and Pierce?”
God, she hated that question. Even Worth had asked it. “He was my mentor at the academy. We were friends. I suppose we still are once you get beyond all his crap about me and my past.”
“He doesn’t act like just a friend, Grace.”
Her teeth clenched to hold back the words that immediately raced to the tip of her tongue.
“I know Pierce,” McBride went on. “He doesn’t look at his students or his friends the way he looks at you.”
“Why did you storm out of Worth’s office?” she tossed back at him. “Looked to me as if you and Pierce have a history of your own.”
“Pierce and I go back a ways,” he confessed. “We weren’t in the same academy class or in the same unit. We just don’t like each other. Had something to do with that whole legend then. There were a lot of Qs who didn’t like me because of that.” McBride turned in his seat so he could study her. “But Pierce likes you.”
She parked beneath the valet canopy in front of the hotel. “I don’t want to hear it, McBride,” she said with all the fury she could infuse into her tone. “You’re not exactly in a position to judge me or anyone else.”
If he hadn’t been looking at her with those eyes … with that tiny, tiny glimmer of pain in his eyes, she might have been able to pretend that she hadn’t hurt his feelings.
All this time he had been making a big deal out of how he didn’t care about anything or anyone. Apparently, his indifference was wearing a little thin … all those other emotions he conscientiously denied were showing through.
Reminded her a little too much of herself.
To put it his way, this whole thing was truly fucked up.
McBride said nothing more, grabbed his bag, the one that contained the clothes and essentials she had bought for him the day after he’d gotten here, and entered the hotel right behind her. The clerk, who knew her on sight now, passed her the key for McBride’s room the moment she approached the counter. Out of a sense of civility she should have disregarded, she waited while Pierce checked in. They parted ways on the fourth floor. Her job was to keep an eye on McBride. Pierce could take care of himself.
On the seventh floor she led the way to McBride’s room … the same one they had checked out of about thirty-six hours prior. Worth’s secretary had called and arranged for the room when McBride’s travel plans changed.
Vivian handed him the key and he opened the door, tossed his bag inside and turned back to her.
“I don’t suppose you’d be interested in keeping me company at the bar.”
In one express trip her gaze took in the man, from those intense blue eyes, past the ludicrously sexy stubble on his jaw, to the missing buttons of his shirt, down those long jean-clad legs and back to his eyes. Right now, the way she was feeling it would be damned easy to say yes … or maybe to push him into the room and have her way with him. Enjoy those great orgasms he seemed to so easily mine from her.
But she wouldn’t. Couldn’t. “No, thanks,” she told him before his eyes could change her mind. “The only thing I have on my mind right now is sleep,” she lied.
She couldn’t possibly stay and risk letting him too close. That one time was all it took to know that this innately sexy man held the power to take anything he pleased from her.
“Use room service,” she advised. “Less visible. Your guard should be here soon.”
She didn’t like the idea of leaving until Birmingham PD was in place, but staying presented those perils she was all too well aware of.
When she turned away, he reached out and took her hand to keep her from going. “You know if you walk out now, Pierce is only going to call you and invite you to dinner.”
His fingers teased her hand as he said this, making her heart flutter foolishly.
“And I’ll tell him the same thing I did you. No.”
He held her gaze, unwilling to let her go. “Good night, Grace.”
The vibration at her waist made her jump. She snatched her hand away from his as if she had been caught playing doctor with the boy next door. Pushing all those crazy notions aside, she squared her shoulders and answered the call. “Grace.”
Worth.
“You want me to what?” She couldn’t have heard right.
He repeated his instructions and she pushed past McBride to get into his room. “Which channel?” She sought and located the remote control for the television and selected WKRT, home of the wicked bitch of the South.
The rest of the wor
ld faded away, leaving her mind focused completely on the woman, Nadine Goodman, on her voice coming from the six o’clock news broadcast. McBride took the remote from her and pumped up the volume.
“Agent Vivian Grace, formerly Vivian Taylor of Bessemer, a community just outside Birmingham proper, was the thirteenth and final victim of the heinous serial rapist-murderer known only as Nameless. Even after seven years, the twisted monster’s real name is not known. He existed under a number of aliases, moved from city to city, raping and murdering at least twelve women in only five years. His victims were gruesomely dismembered More after the commercial break …”
For three seconds, then five, Vivian told herself this had to be a mistake … it couldn’t have happened. She had been so careful. No one was supposed to know …
Now everyone knew.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
9:15 P.M.
Beale Street
Memphis, Tennessee
The alley was dirty and dark. His hunger, a beast roaring to be fed. The homeless shelter on the corner was filled to capacity … there was nowhere left to go for the desperate souls lurking in the night. They would be found here and beneath overpasses in cardboard condos and tents. Anywhere that offered protection from the wind and the rain.
Those who were smart stayed hidden … kept their eyes and ears closed.
He remained in the shadows and watched. Watching had always been his part … but it had been different then … when there had been two. His beloved would bring home the prize and when his pleasure was finished, he was allowed to take what he would. The love had made the watching and waiting complete. Had, as nothing since, fulfilled him.
Being alone was so very painful and he had been alone so, so long. There was no one to love him or protect him.
He watched the two men beating the third, taking shoes, clothes, and the precious wallet that perhaps contained enough money to sustain them for a few days. Their needs were too desperate for anything less than barbaric behavior. The residents in those pretend condos and tattered tents trembled in fear, but not one dared to defend the helpless victim.