Inside The Storm (Storm Warning Series Book 7)

by Geri Foster

  Lucas raised a brow. “But not sick enough to do anything about it. You let your brothers go on a twenty-year killing spree and you didn’t lift a finger to stop it. And then, when he needed an accomplice to replace your dead brother, you jumped right in with both feet.”

  “I had to admit, listening to them talk got me excited. Made me wonder what it would be like to kill somebody. When George asked me, I didn’t want to at first. I was afraid of getting caught. But George told me he had been at this for so long he knew all the tricks.”

  David nodded at Floyd’s handcuffed hands. “Yet here you sit. Shackled to a table, and you’re not going anywhere, except back there in that dark cell.”

  Lincoln noticed Floyd grew more nervous as David spoke. “Or we could let the FBI escort you to Dallas. They’ll take good care of you there. Three square meals a day. Windows. Hell, they even give you visiting hours. But there’s only one way you get that. You tell us where your brother is, and you do it now.”

  “I don’t know where George is. He took the car and left two days ago. I ain’t seen him since.”

  “Wasn’t it you who took a shot at Mia this morning?” Lincoln asked.

  Floyd looked confused. “Hell no. I don’t even own a gun. George does, but he doesn’t use it very often.”

  “Why is George trying to kill Mia?”

  Floyd shrugged. “I don’t know. Something went wrong. He always talks about her. When he got out of jail and learned she was an FBI agent, he went into a rage then immediately started killing again.”

  “Where are you and George staying when you’re not in the camper?” David asked as he dug for the truth. “Do you have a room or a house? A place to hole up while things cool down?”

  “Our grandmother’s old house is here. She left it to my mom. We go there sometimes.”

  “Where’s that located?” Lucas asked, his brows lifted. “Is it here in Rainwater?”

  “Yeah. Kinda toward the edge of town. Not many folks come around there. George has a dog he keeps chained up in the front yard and he’s mean as hell. He keeps all the nosy neighbors away.”

  David rose to his feet. “We have to have that location. The address of the house.”

  “I don’t think I should say anything more. I’m just getting George in trouble.”

  Lincoln reached over grabbed him by the collar, and shook Floyd until his eyes rolled back into his head. “You listen to me, you piece of shit.” Lincoln took out his gun and held it to Floyd’s temple. “Tell us where the house is or you’re dead, right now.”

  Floyd frantically looked around the room.

  Lincoln shook him again. “Not one of them will help you. I can blow your damn brains all over this room and no one would blink an eye. You know why? Because your brother is a monster and he has to be brought in. And we plan to do just that.” He dug the barrel in deeper. “I’d love to be the one to blow your brains out. It would make me feel good to see you dead.”

  Floyd shivered like he was in subzero temperatures. “1342 Beachwood.”

  Lincoln shoved him down and looked at Mia. “Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Mia anxiously followed Lincoln, relieved that they had finally gotten the information they needed. Now all they had to do was get George Becker in custody, and maybe things would be normal again.

  “I think you scared the living hell out of him.” She glanced over at Lincoln to find him looking hard and sober. “Hell, you scared me. For a moment, I was afraid you would’ve done it.”

  He turned and gazed at her. “I think I might’ve. When I think of all those young girls, hell yes, I could kill him, and sleep better for doing it.”

  Everyone emerged at the address Floyd had given them. It was a dilapidated place that had been neglected and appeared to be abandoned. The windows were covered, the front yard cluttered with junk, and a mean-looking dog on a chair was enough to keep people out of the front yard. Mia wondered how they could get past him.

  They stood in front of the house. Lucas called out, “You in the house. Are you George Becker?” He glanced at Austin. “If you are, come out with your hands up and nobody gets hurt.”

  The deputy ran up and stood beside Lucas. “There’s no sign of a vehicle anywhere within a three block radius. I don’t think the guy’s here.”

  Austin stepped forward. “I want inside that house. I want to know as much about George Becker as I can, because when I catch him, I don’t want there to be a single thing to surprise me.”

  “To avoid the dog,” Lincoln said, “let’s go in the back door.”

  Guns drawn, they split up and came together at the back door. It had literally been nailed shut. “Not a smart thing to do,” David grumbled. “Griff would have a fit if he saw this. Major fire hazard.”

  “I don’t think they worried about the house catching on fire and needing an exit, nor did they worry about the fire chief. Killing was all they had on their minds,” Austin reminded them.

  The deputies came back with a crowbar and began pulling down the two by fours that had long ago turned brown and weathered from the heat. Once that was completed, they kicked in the door.

  David was the first one in, and he went to the right. Then Lincoln went in to the left. Austin then Lucas shot straight ahead. Mia followed behind Lincoln.

  The place was dark and dreary as a tomb, and Mia was glad she wasn’t alone.

  Within minutes, they all vacated the house, everyone disappointed.

  “He’s not in there,” Lincoln remarked. “But Austin is calling in more forensic techs to go over the house. No doubt there’s enough evidence in there to incriminate George Becker.”

  She looked at him. “Now all we have to do is find him, and we’re no closer to that than we were before.”

  Austin came out. “Okay, let’s get back to the office, gather as much information as you can from Dallas, and then let’s try to figure out where he would go next.”

  Lincoln looked at Austin. “Do you think Floyd would know?”

  “I believe there are things about George Becker that even his brother doesn’t know. Like the reason he shot at Mia. Why would he do that? What’s his game? I just can’t figure that one out.”

  Mia let out a deep sigh. “I wish I could help, I honestly do. But as the years have gone on, that day has become blurry and unclear. There’s so much I’m no longer certain about.”

  “When you went to pick up your sister,” Lincoln said. “Did you notice anything? That camper, a strange man standing around, anything out of the normal that could help us?”

  She shook her head then closed her eyes, trying to remember. “Lincoln, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone over this. How many times I’ve rehashed it in my brain. Also, remember, after my sister was taken, I was questioned by the police for hours. They were desperate back then to find out who was doing all this. I told the police and FBI everything I knew.”

  “Lincoln,” Austin called out. “Go back to the office. I want you to pull up Mia’s statement that she made to the FBI the day her sister was taken. Go over it closely. Our answer may lie there.”

  “But I didn’t see anything. If I had, I would’ve remembered. I sat at the police station feeling absolutely helpless and guilty. I had nothing that would help my sister, and it tore my heart out.”

  “I don’t think it will hurt, Mia.” Austin cleared his throat. “Very often, our subconscious mind is more powerful than we think. You were interviewed immediately after the event took place. You were going to have remembered things then you don’t remember now. My guess is that, over the years, the entire incident has been slightly distorted. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I don’t know.” She looked at Lincoln. “Right now, I’m not sure of anything except I want George Becker behind bars.”

  “We all do,” Lincoln said. “And we’ll get him.”

  Chapter 18

  Lincoln came to the conclusion that if there was anything in Mia’s interrogation, he co
uldn’t see it, and Austin couldn’t either. And neither could Mia. The file read like a young child scared out of her wits. Afraid her sister had been taken and she’d never see her again. Someone who felt totally and completely responsible. Guilt practically dripped off of every word she said.

  As the day drew to a halt, Lincoln went over to her desk. “Why don’t you plan on spending the night at my house tonight? It’s been a rough day and we both could use some rest.”

  She smiled up at him. “As long as you don’t order in pizza or try to serve me frozen lasagna.”

  He put his fist on his sternum and grimaced. “How about we stop at Gert’s Diner on the way home? They make a mean meatloaf.”

  “It sounds good to me. Let’s let Austin know we’re leaving for the day and we’ll see him first thing in the morning.”

  “I’ll do that,” Lincoln said. He looked at his boss’s door that had been closed for the last hour. “I know this case is really getting to him. I think finding the three girls in the camper really dug into his psyche. That told us that George had been out hunting and had yet to find a burial site.”

  Mia shook her head and reached for her purse. “It’s also disgusting. Give me a terrorist to chase any day as opposed to this.”

  Lincoln went to Austin’s office, knocked, and let him know they were leaving. He told him if he learned anything to be sure to call and let them know.

  Lincoln drove to Gert’s Diner. They got out, went inside, and ordered supper. Neither had bothered to eat lunch. He didn’t think anybody had.

  While he ordered meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn, Mia ordered the baked chicken, a plain baked potato, and a side salad. Both thoroughly enjoyed their iced teas, especially when she reminded him it was the first they’d had to drink all day.

  They ate in relative quietness. There was so little left to say, especially about the case. Everyone agreed that catching Floyd had given them the advantage, but George was still out there on the loose, and he was the most dangerous. By the time they left the diner, it was already getting dark as they drove to Lincoln’s house.

  “I should stop by and say hello to Amelia and Leah.”

  “You can if you want to. I’m not that tired.”

  “The problem is David,” Lincoln muttered. “If I go over there, we’ll end up talking about the case. I don’t know about you, Mia, but I’ve heard all I want to hear. It’s just been that kind of day.”

  They drove to Lincoln’s house and he opened the door, flipped on the light, and they both walked into the living room. Mia put her purse and weapon next to Lincoln’s in a drawer that he kept high enough for Leah not to be able to reach.

  “How about a beer?” Lincoln asked.

  “I’m going to get a few things from the car, and then I’ll get the beers while you change.”

  He smiled, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her. “I hope I get more than a beer.”

  She slapped him lightly on the shoulder and grinned. “You might just get lucky.”

  Lincoln went into his bedroom, removed his suit, slipped on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt then slid his feet into a pair of comfortable sneakers. He was really looking forward to that beer.

  He walked out of his bedroom, turned the corner, and headed toward the kitchen. Lifting his gaze, he suddenly came to a complete stop. A man looking just like George Becker on his driver’s license held a gun to Mia’s head. Lincoln thought his heart would leap out of his chest.

  The thought of that man even touching Mia sent anger soaring through him so violently it was all he could do to not charge the man like a raging bull.

  George had his arm around Mia’s neck with the garrote dangling in his hand. He had an evil grin on his still relatively sober face, however, like Bob had explained, the man could pass for a preacher.

  “What do you want?” Lincoln asked, careful to keep his distance. “Why are you here?”

  “I came for her,” George Becker gritted out between clenched teeth. “I’ve waited twenty years. And now she’s finally mine.”

  Lincoln reminded himself to keep a cool head. Mia’s life depended on how he handled the situation. There was no room for error. And he wasn’t about to make a mistake. “Look, I don’t know why you’re obsessed with her. I don’t know why you want her now. We all know your specialty is little girls. Ones who can’t fight back. Ones who are defenseless. Ones who are easy to kill.”

  “If you’re trying to make me feel bad, you failed, Agent Hightower.” Becker sneered. “I been killing little girls for a long time, and if I had a conscience, it died with my first kill. So don’t try to play on my sympathy. It won’t work.”

  Mia clutched the arm of the man holding her hostage. He tightened his grip. “Why do you want me? What did I ever do to you?”

  “It was you I wanted all along.” Becker tightened his grip and Lincoln struggled to stand still. “From that moment I saw you riding your bicycle two years before I took your sister. Every day I searched for you, waiting for the opportunity to take you. I didn’t want to kill you like the others. I loved you.”

  Shock didn’t quite explain how Lincoln felt. The man was not capable of loving anyone, much less a seven or eight-year-old girl. No. He wanted to hold her as a sex slave.

  “George,” Lincoln calmly said. “May I call you George?”

  The man across from him shrugged.

  “Okay, George, if you say you loved her, why the gun at her head? That leads me to believe you want to kill her, because if you didn’t, you’d put that gun down.”

  “I don’t intend to hurt her. This gun just ensures that she will do as I say. She’s coming with me.”

  Lincoln spread his legs. “I can’t let you leave this house with her. She’s not yours, George. She’s mine. She belongs to me. And if you’ve been watching us like I suspect, then you know what I’m saying.”

  “I don’t know anything!” George screamed, his pleasant face red with rage. “It’s not true!”

  Lincoln put his fingers in his back pocket and felt for his phone, pressing three numbers. He stepped closer. “George, you’re not the smooth, clever man you were before. And you know she’s been with me. If she’s been with me, she’s not going to want to be with you. And she’s not what you’re used to. Think about it. We couldn’t get you twenty years ago, but we have now.”

  “I said I didn’t want to kill her, Agent Hightower.” He pointed the gun at him. “But I have no qualms over killing you.”

  Lincoln held up his hands. “Whoa there, buddy.”

  “I’m not your buddy.” George’s face tightened with anger, his hands shook, and Lincoln wondered how much time he had.

  Just as George pointed the gun at Lincoln, Mia reached out, and with the side of her hand, knocked down his arm. A bullet bounced off the kitchen floor. She stomped on his foot and swung wide, hitting the side of his face. Then Lincoln charged forward.

  Lincoln had them on the floor, struggling to keep the gun out of the killer’s hand. George was much stronger than he looked. In a sudden burst of energy, George managed to grab the gun.

  Mia’s voice came from behind. He glanced up and she stood over him with her weapon in both hands, aimed directly at George’s forehead. “Drop the gun,” Mia demanded. “Let go of the weapon now, or I’m going to have the pleasure of killing you.”

  George hung onto the gun and continued to struggle. “You’ll never shoot me. I know where all the bodies are.” He laughed. “You’d be a fool to kill me.”

  A shot rang out and Mia jumped back. George dropped the gun and grabbed his thigh. Lincoln looked up and saw David and Austin standing at his back door. David stepped closer. “There’s a lot of ways to hurt you other than killing you, George. I can make you wish you were dead, but for now, you’re going to do what I say or you’re going to be so full of holes, you’ll bleed like a sprinkler hose.”

  Lincoln stood up, a little dizzy, but Mia was right there to help him. She looked at Austin and Davi
d who were handcuffing George. “How did you know to come? How did you know we were in trouble?” Mia asked.

  David looked at her and grinned. “Somebody dialed 911. And since it came from this address, I contacted Austin because I knew of only one reason that would happen.”

  “I’m so glad you came.” She hugged Lincoln. “I was good with shooting George Becker.” She looked at Austin. “I’d already made up my mind. I didn’t intend to kill him, but I admit to wanting to hurt him. I also wanted him to let Lincoln go. The man has destroyed enough.”

  “I have one question,” Lincoln said, shaking his head. “Was this the guy in the hotel.” He looked at Mia. “You say it was big, gruff and frightening.” He pointed to Becker. “That wasn’t him.”

  “He’s an old prison buddy I hired to scare her,” Becker admitted. “I told him not to kill her.”

  She and Lincoln watched as Austin and David escorted the Wise County Child Killer out the door. His reign of terror was over.

  * * *

  Mia looked at Lincoln. “I’ll gladly take that beer now.”

  He opened the fridge, took out two bottles, and removed the caps. They walked slowly to the couch where she sat on his lap.

  They were both quiet for several minutes before Mia straightened and glanced at Lincoln. “I can’t believe he claims to have loved me. The man’s incapable of such feelings.”

  “I think that was just a fantasy. Had he caught you, no doubt, the first time you gave him any trouble, he would’ve killed you.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” She took a sip of beer then stared at the door. “Isn’t it strange that the murderer is finally caught? Little girls can play outside again. Parents can breathe easily again. I hope the justice system gives him everything he has coming.”

  He pulled her closer and kissed her. “He’s in custody now. Do you think you can start living your own life now without thinking about him?”