Now as I sit in the passenger seat of Detective Patterson’s Crown Victoria, I feel the tightness in my chest as we back out of the driveway. She’s saying something to me, but I can’t hear it. All I can think about is Emily’s voice on the phone, her dropping Noah’s name. I hope he isn’t hurting her.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind that he forced her to make that call.
I’m prepared to kill him if anything happens to her.
I’m ready to go to jail, should it come to that.
Patterson pats my arm. I glance over. She’s about forty five, her short curly hair tucked behind her ears. She puts her sunglasses down over her eyes.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that she just dumped me to save my life, or hers, I don’t know which. I have no doubts that he forced her to do it. She dropped his name at the end on purpose.”
The heater blows in my face on this cold January afternoon. “Would he hurt her?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. He’s clearly mentally ill. He thinks they are in love. It’s possible that he won’t want to. But it’s also possible that he’s sick enough to not realize what he is doing.”
“Do you think she is smart enough to play along? Placate him until she can get a way out?”
I nod. “Without a doubt. She’s smart. Are we headed back to the PD?”
“Yep. I need to get with dispatch and have her entered as a missing person, and check in on that phone information.”
An hour later we walk out of the PD. I flex my fingers in quiet rage. “What luck? The damn phone company is having some massive, computer upgrade today and we can’t get her phone located until at least tomorrow, maybe longer,” I grumble, slamming her car door.
Patterson starts the car. “Let’s keep time moving by doing some good, old-fashioned, police work then. First stop… track down Noah.”
We head to his shop, where they tell us he’s not in today. He keeps his own hours and they never know when he is going to show up.
We go to his house, his housekeeper won’t let us in. Just says he’s out of town on business and she can’t let us in.
I suggest to Patterson that we go and see Caroline, she agrees and turns the car towards Houston.
The ride up in the elevator is silent. My eyes are burning with unshed tears. I don’t want my coworker to see me bawling, even if it is justified. The urge to sink down to my knees and crumple into a shaking heap is almost more than I can swallow.
Patterson pats me on the back, eyeing me sideways. “Don’t be a hero. It’s okay to let it out.”
I shake my head just as the doors open. The familiar office door for Blue Line Enterprises looms. Will Caroline be upfront with me this time? I open the door for Patterson. She greets the receptionist with a smile and a flashed badge. We are asked to sit down and a hushed phone call is made to Caroline’s office.
A moment later we are ushered in, offered coffee. Caroline is on the phone, gestures for us to take a seat.
The nervous receptionist brings our coffees and hurries out of the room.
“Hi, what can I do for you?” Caroline hangs up, avoiding eye contact with me.
“Caroline Davis, You know Emily Bronte, isn’t that correct?” Patterson makes a show of setting a small recorder out on the desk.
“Yes.” A glance at the device, then back up to Patterson. “Is something wrong?”
“She’s missing. Last night Penrose here got called out to a murder and disappeared from her home sometime afterwards.”
Caroline goes pale. She sits back, blinking slowly. “Missing? What? How?”
“That’s what we are working on. Isaiah has told me about everything that’s happened with you and her. Tell me, how are you involved with Noah Burrell?”
“Involved? He’s my boss...” Her voice fades as does the rest of the color on her face.
“Isn’t it true that he paid you to lie to Emily a few weeks ago? Tell me what you know about Noah’s interactions with her.”
She looks over at me. I cross my arms over my chest, watching her in silence. “Uh... I signed an agreement, I’m not supposed to talk about it.”
I lean forward, speaking for the first time since we entered the office in a low tone. “If he hurts her, you will be responsible if you know something. She was your friend. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Don’t you have a heart in there somewhere?”
Tears fill her otherwise dim eyes. “Of course I do. I miss Emily.” Her voice quivers.
“Then why don’t you help us find her? Noah is a dangerous man, Caroline. If you help us, maybe we can protect you.”
Flashes of Julie suddenly enter my mind. She was friends with Noah. She was investigating our relationship. What if he killed her?
I fall back into my chair as the reality of this hits me. Fuck. If he killed her so brutally, what would he do to Emily if he figures out she hates him? I reach for my coffee and my hand is shaking so bad that I can’t pick it up without spilling it. I look over at Patterson, who eyes me curiously.
“Caroline, did you happen to know Noah’s friend, Julie Barton?” I ask. Patterson wrinkles her brow at me in confusion.
“No, I’m sorry I don’t know his friends.”
“Well, she’s a Detective Sergeant in my department. She was found murdered early this morning. She was also investigating some claims that Noah made. I think that’s an awfully big coincidence, don’t you?”
“What? You think he... oh, God. He wouldn’t, would he?”
I shrug, leaning back. “I don’t know, you tell me. You are the one that seems to talk to him. Do you know where he is right now?”
“No, No. He took some time off and left instructions that he shouldn’t be bothered. His partner, Alex is in charge while he’s away.”
I exchange a look with Patterson. “How long is he taking off?”
“I think about a month. He told everyone around here that he’s getting married. Alex told me that he’s had a girlfriend for a while now.”
I crack my knuckles to hide the tremors in my hands. He thinks he’s going to marry Emily. Shit. If marrying him until I can find them is what it takes, then I hope she does it to stay alive. This guy might be a killer. Annulling a marriage is a hell of a lot easier than... the unthinkable.
“You ever met his girlfriend?” Patterson jumps in.
“No, no one has that I know of. Alex teased him about it.”
“Don’t you think that is strange?”
Caroling shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s just private. I thought he just liked to keep his home and work separated.”
“That’s a possibility I suppose. But, from what I’ve seen, most people like to show off their loved ones. Especially if they care enough about them to marry them. Have you had any problems with Noah? Has he threatened you or acted strangely?”
A shadow passes over Caroline’s face. “I don’t think so.”
“Do you have an emergency number for him?”
My heart rate picks up. Please say yes. “No, I don’t I’m just the district manager over Southern Coastal Texas. I report to someone else.”
“Can you give me Alex’s name and phone, where I can go see him?”
Caroline scribbles the information down and hands it to Patterson. “Now Caroline, if you can think of anything that might help us, please call. We have ways of keeping you safe if you are afraid.” Patterson lays her card down on the desk, standing up.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and leave it on the desk before I hand her my card.
Out in the hall way, I suddenly realize that I left my phone behind. A moment later when I walk into Caroline’s office I find her crying.
“What are you doing here?” She bolts up, sniffling.
“I left my phone. Caroline, look,” I walk around and sit on her desk, look down into her eyes. “Whatever you have going on with Noah, I don’t care. I just want Emily back home. I love her. I know that you can help me more than you
are letting on. I can help you get out of whatever deal you think that he has you tied into.”
Fresh tears roll from her overly made up eyes. I can tell she’s afraid to answer me, so I keep talking.
“I know your boyfriend. I know you love him and don’t want him to find anything out. I’ll back you up if he does. Let me know what you want to tell him and I’ll lie for you. I just want her back. I want her safe and with me. Can’t you understand that? What if it was Gary? Being stalked by some crazed woman that might hurt him?”
She nods. “I understand. You really do love her?”
My voice cracks on a lump forming in my throat. “I do. I don’t even know if she realizes how much I love her. Please, Caroline. I need your help.”
A moment passes between us. She wipes her eyes, I choke on tears, struggling to keep them at bay.
“Not too long ago I went to his office and he offered me more money to be available for him when he called me. He wouldn’t let me ask him why.”
Bells go off in my head. “Have you already-”
“No, he hasn’t called me. For that kind of money, I’m sure he will. I want Emily to be okay. I want to give back the money but I’m scared of him.”
I nod. Chewing on my lip for a moment as I think on what she’s told me.
“This is between us. If he calls you, call me day or night. Got it?”
I pass her my number. She takes it. “Okay.”
“Can I trust you to call me?”
“Yes.”
“Whatever he wants, play along. Tell him you will do it, then call me and tell me what’s going on.”
Caroline meets my eyes. “All right. I’m so sorry, Isaiah. I didn’t know this would happen. I just thought it was a good job and it would be easy money for one stupid favor. I never dreamed that anyone might get hurt. Tell Emily that I’m so, so sorry.”
Emily doesn’t want to hear her apology, this much I know. “Help me find her. Then you can tell her.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Noah
Her legs spread over my hips, she lets me slide my hands up her skirt, the bare skin of her thighs burning my hands almost as much as they are burning my erection as it sits between them. My tongue deep in her mouth, her hands on my shoulders. She needed to be free of him to open herself up me.
I knew she loved me, wanted me. I squeeze her ass in both hands. She’s wearing one of the thongs I got her. I got her nothing else, I can’t wait to see her ass in them. The bare skin makes me groan as I slide my palms over it, tucking my fingers into the silky waist band.
I sink my teeth into her lip with a groan. The sharp taste of blood and the cry of pain startles me. She scrambles off my lap.
“You bit me!” she accuses, wiping the blood from her lips.
I try to catch my breath. “I got excited. Are you all right?”
She doesn’t meet my eyes. I get up and get a cloth napkin from the lunch table and touch it to her lip. Still no eye contact. Her lip is already bruising as I touch it with the cloth. The sight of her mouth makes me want it again.
“I like rough sex, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I confess, softly. “I got carried away.”
Her eyes move up for a fleeting moment. I toss the cloth down on the coffee table.
“Rough sex? I don’t enjoy being hurt.”
Her voice is trembling. There is fear in her eyes. Fear. Respect. Fear. Respect. They are the same. I smile and run a hand over her cheek.
“When we are married, I think that you will grow into it. I’ll be gentle with you, angel.”
God I can almost feel it, being deep inside her. Her warmth engulfing me, her breathy moans gasping my name.
She doesn’t answer me. “Angel, do you want to marry me?” I ask quietly.
Soft, respectful brown eyes float up to meet mine. She licks her now puffy lower lip. “Are you asking me?” There are tears in her voice.
I drop to one knee and pull out the Tiffany engagement ring I’ve had for months now. It’s a 2 carat ring with a halo of smaller diamonds around it and down the band.
“Will you marry me? I love you and want everything I have to be yours. I want to shower you with everything you can ever want and love you forever.”
She backs up a step. I reach and slide the ring onto her hand. Tears fill my eyes. I’ve dreamed of this moment. Every day, every night. Making her mine. Her in my bed, as my wife. Our wedding night.
“Isn’t it a bit soon? We just... I don’t even... it’s...” she fumbles. .
She gapes at the ring on her finger. I grab her hips and stare up at her.
“Does that matter? When it’s right, it’s right. We will have all our lives to answer all those questions together.”
My heart slams against my ribs. Is she going to say no? She can’t say no to me.
“Can I have some time to... I just need to get used to all this.”
I stand up with a sigh. “I guess so. Do one thing for me while I wait.”
She stares up at me, waiting.
“Tell me you love me.”
Her eyes drift over to the hunting knife on the table. I reach over and pick it up, walking towards the hallway to put it away. She hesitates for too long, so I turn to face her, gripping the knife that I opened Julie’s throat with in my right hand.
“I’m waiting.”
She blinks at me. “I love you.”
The words calm my soul. I take a deep cleansing breath, as if I can breathe her voice into my lungs like clean ocean air. I shove the knife into my belt and cross the gap between us in two long strides, grabbing her face in my hands and turning it up towards mine. She blinks away tears, her puffy lip trembles.
“Doesn’t it feel better to be honest with yourself? To let it out?” I ask, softly.
“Yes.”
“Good girl. I’m going to make you so happy, my angel. So happy.” I bend and touch my lips to hers. She stiffens at first, then breathes in and accepts my lips.
I knew all I needed to do was remove the obstacles. Now she’s mine.
***
Emily
The knife. All I can think about is that huge, fucking knife hanging on his belt. He has his mouth on mine and I swallow down my nausea as he invades me with his disgusting tongue.
I wonder how fast he is. Can I get my hands on that knife and... can I actually stab someone? I blink back tears. He’s bigger than me. Not as big as Isaiah, but still bigger. He’s a lot older too. He has to sleep eventually, right? Maybe I can get out then.
But the door has an alarm on it. How fast can I run? Is there a car outside? Where are the keys?
He pulls away from me with a sickening smile. “I’m going to put this away. I’ll be right back. I still need to show you around everything I’ve made for you here.”
I nod. I can’t force a smile onto my lips. He doesn’t seem to notice.
After a moment he comes back and takes my hand. I’m glad for this tour, since I have no idea where I am. Maybe he will take me outside too.
He takes me from room to room. It’s not a large place. The living room and dining room just off a big galley style kitchen, open format. It’s a nice size, but not huge. Decorated immaculately, of course. He passes the room I woke up in and shows me a room with a keypad lock on the door. He announces it as his office as he blocks the code from my vision with his body, unlocking the door. The room is dark with a big desk in it. Behind it is a wall lined with books. Probably for decoration. It’s neat. There’s virtually nothing on the desktop. Everything in this house smells like cleaner. As we exit the study, I realize that there are no other rooms and I panic. He grips my hand with a smile.
“Where is your bedroom?” I ask, my voice high.
He frowns at me. “What do you mean? Why would I have my own bedroom? The room you woke up in is our bedroom, not yours. I have clothes in the closet beside yours. We are together, we share. Don’t you want to share?”
My mouth opens and closes l
ike a goldfish. My palms start to sweat. He expects me to sleep with him. In one bed.
I think I’m going to throw up. Holy God.
I scramble, remembering the knife. My mind is blank, numb. He’s insane. Dangerous. Delusional. When he goes to sleep, maybe I can find some meds and drug him or something. There has to be a way to get out of here.
“I just didn’t know. I woke up alone, so-”
Something akin to relief smooths out the wrinkles on his forehead. “You won’t ever wake up alone again, Emily.” He leads me towards the front door. “Let me show you the outside.”
We step out onto a long porch. Turns out, it’s a house. The exterior is covered in what looks like redwood slats and stone. No neighbors. We are surrounded by woods. There is a lake on one side, with a dock and a little boat tied. There is a detached garage, it’s closed so I can’t see the car.
Around back there is a big, covered, redwood deck with a sunken fire pit surrounded by outdoor couches. There is also a steel, outdoor kitchen. It really is beautiful, but I hate it. I hate it with everything that I am, because he’s taken me from Isaiah.
I can’t fight the tears this time. Memories of my love, the smile on his face and the sound of my name on his lips. How he liked to lay between my legs after sex and rest his head on my bare breast and purr in the afterglow. The memory of his birthday, how he told me he loves me.
Tears roll down my face, sobs wrack me as I pull away from Noah and fall to my knees. If I beg, would he let me go?
I fell in love so fast. I’ve never known anything like the feelings that Isaiah stirs up inside me. What if I never see him again? What if he can’t find me? What if he believed me when I broke up with him and didn’t pick up on my hint?
I feel hands on my shoulders and I slap at them. I don’t want Noah to touch me. I don’t want him to ruin my memories of Isaiah by touching me when I’m thinking of him.
Anger boils within me. My mind tells me to keep quiet, he will hit me. If I confess my hate he might even kill me. I have to keep my mouth shut. So I just sob. Nausea lurches me forward and I vomit all over the deck. Up comes the fancy salmon and mushrooms that I forced myself to eat.
Crazy Love Page 17