by Stacy-Deanne
“Rena,” Dee pleaded as Jonathan got on top of her. “Don’t let him do this. Please.”
Jonathan grunted, tussling with her. “I’m trying to help you.”
“Jonathan, please.” She broke into tears. “Please don’t do this.”
“I want you to be happy and have the life you deserve. You can’t have that life in the outside world with someone like Winston.” His top lip curled. “I understand you like no one ever will. No man can love you or make you happy like I can.”
“I don’t love you!” She kicked his thigh.
“Ah!” He let her go.
“Don’t touch me.” She grabbed items from the end table and threw them at him. “Help!”
“Calm down.” Jonathan grabbed her legs.
“No!”
He got on her, smothering her with his weight.
Dee bellowed, “Rena!”
She left the room, sobbing.
“Rena!” Dee gyrated, doing everything she could to keep him from sticking her. “I’ll never love you!” She spit in his face.
Jonathan turned his head as he yanked up her blouse. “We’ll see about that.”
“No!”
He stuck her.
****
“I think she’s awake.” Jonathan listened at the bedroom door thirty minutes later as Neumann held his breath. “Time to see the magic of Jonathan’s Web in person.” He eased the door open, heart pounding with anticipation.
Dee lay calm on the bed, staring at the abstract painting of a waterfall. She jerked when she saw the two men.
Jonathan braced himself in case she threw something again.
Instead, the biggest smile he’d ever seen spread across her lips.
“Jonathan.” She swung her legs over the bed, giggling. “What’s this silly game you’re playing?” She wiggled her bounded wrist. “Let me out of the cuffs.”
Jonathan glanced at Neumann who raised a sparse, gray eyebrow.
Dee jiggled as if she were a child waiting for a Christmas gift. “What are you up to?” She wagged her finger at him. “You gonna just stand there or give me a kiss?” She pulled him into a tender kiss and stroked his cheek afterwards. “I love you so much.”
His heart fluttered as he caressed her hand. “Neumann.”
“Dear God,” the doctor whispered. “It works.”
“I told you.” Jonathan struggled to keep from jumping up and down. “Jesus.”
Dee blinked her long lashes. “What’s going on?”
“Uh.” Jonathan fidgeted. “You’re right.” He faked a chuckle. “Me and my games. I’ll release you but first I’d like to ask questions.”
“Questions?” She blinked.
He sat beside her rubbing her leg. “Who am I?”
She laughed. “Why are you acting so crazy?” She pinched his chin. “You’re the man I love. Who I’ll always love.”
“Wow,” he whispered. “What about Winston Lewis?”
She relaxed against the headboard. “Winston will always have a place in my heart, but we don’t belong together.”
“You don’t?”
“No.” She grabbed Jonathan’s hand. “I love you and I want to be with only you.”
“Jesus Christ,” Neumann said.
“When did your feelings for Winston change?” Jonathan asked.
“When I first met you. Besides, he loves Lisa and I don’t want to stand in the way of his happiness.”
“But, how do you feel about him?”
She glanced around, shrugging. “He’s just a friend.”
“You’re not in love with him?”
“No, I’m in love with you.” She touched his cheek. “Why you keep asking these questions? Is something wrong?”
“Not at all.” He grinned at Neumann. “So, you want to be here with me? Is that what you’re saying?”
“This is my home and where I belong.” She crawled her fingers through her hair. “I want to be a part of The Circle. I want to live the life destined for me. No other man will ever make me as happy as you will.” She gave him another kiss. “I want you.” She glanced at Neumann and then frowned. “Can we have privacy so we can talk?”
“In a moment.” Jonathan stood, patting her hand. “I need to talk to Neumann about something. I’ll be right back.”
She groaned. “Hurry back. Any time without you is an eternity.”
Jonathan rushed out the room and dropped to his knees in the hall. “Did you fuckin’ see that?”
Neumann peeked at Dee while shutting the door.
“It goddamn works.” Jonathan jumped, pumping his fist. “I told you. It works just like it did in Columbia.”
“My god.” Neumann paced, pulling his bottom lip. “Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve created a masterful emotional-altering drug. There’s been nothing like this, ever.”
Jonathan swayed, beaming. “At first I only planned to keep it to myself but seeing Deidra’s reaction to it...” He touched the door. “This secret’s way too big to keep. Neumann, I’d go down in history for this. I’d be in books and journals all over the world.”
“I saw it.” Neumann gestured to the door. “And, I still can’t believe it.”
“Did you see her face?” Jonathan flattened his palm to his forehead. “She looks so happy and alive. Did you see how she looked at me? In my dreams she never looked at me like that.”
“What now?”
“She becomes a part of us and we all live happily ever after.” Jonathan shook Neumann, cackling. “What else is there?”
“We still don’t know how Jonathan’s Web works full term.”
“It’ll be fine. I can get it to where the effect lasts longer. Right now it peaks at about four hours so we have to keep giving it to her.”
“You’re gonna stick her with a needle every four hours?”
“Jonathan’s Web is odorless and tasteless, remember? I’m going to make sure she gets as much of it as it takes to keep her like this. It’s going in her food, her drinks, anything she consumes.”
“I’m still not sold that this won’t cause problems down the line.”
“This is my call.”
Shauna clacked toward them in white heels. “Why is Rena’s face hanging like someone stole her puppy? What are you up to?”
“Let me show you.” Jonathan grabbed her arm and ushered her inside the room. “Deidra, look who’s here.”
“Mistress.” Dee bowed her head. “I hope you’re having a good night.”
Shauna cut her gaze to Jonathan. “What the hell?”
“Who am I, Deidra?” He bounced on his heels. “Tell her.”
“I’m sure she knows.” Dee winked. “You’re the man of my dreams. The man I want to spend the rest of my life with.” She kept that odd expression. “Now, you going to let me out of these cuffs or not?”
“In a second.” He flew out the room with Shauna. “Well?”
“You gave her Jonathan’s Web.” She gaped, pointing at the door. “You gave her that drug—”
“Shut up.” He slapped his hand over her mouth. “That secret will never reach her ears. Do you understand me? If you say one word you’re out of The Circle.” He took his hand down.
“You’ve turned her into a zombie. Is this what you wanted?”
“I want her, and I’ll do anything to make that happen.”
“How do you know she’s not tricking you?”
“You see that look on her face?” Jonathan asked. “You can’t fake that, Shauna. It’s real.”
She charged Neumann. “Tell him how idiotic and dangerous this is.”
“As if you care about Deidra,” Jonathan said. “She’ll be a part of us and tough if you don’t like that.”
“But, she doesn’t love you.” She shook her head. “I do, Jonathan. Without you having to dope me up.”
“You better be nice to her, Shauna.” He peeked into the room and Dee blew a kiss. “So far everything’s working like it’s supposed to.”
/>
“This is insane.” Shauna waved her arm. “She’s a police officer. People will figure out she’s missing. What about Winston Lewis?”
“Winston who?” He grinned, closing the door. “She doesn’t love him anymore. She had no emotion when I mentioned his name.”
Shauna shook her head as if to dismiss what he said. “People will realize she’s here.”
“Anyone comes here asking questions we’ll just make sure they don’t get the answers.” He walked in a circle around Shauna. “Anyway, she wants to be here now.”
Shauna turned to face him. “Is this really happening?”
“Deidra Quarter is home.” He held out his arms. “I’ve never been happier.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Winston rushed to Connie’s desk the next day. “You still haven’t heard from Dee?”
“Nope.” She opened the oatmeal and raisin muffin she’d gotten from the vending machine. “Maybe she got tied up or had an emergency.”
“She didn’t call me this morning. She always calls me before work.” He sat on the corner of Connie’s desk. “Last night, I thought she was going to come over, but she didn’t. I figured she was tired, so I called and she didn’t answer her phone. I’ve called several times, and it’s going to voice mail.”
Connie got her phone. “Let me try her.” She called Dee and got voice mail. “Voice mail.”
“Something’s not right.” Winston tapped the desk. “Even Captain Salinger has heard nothing. She’d have called him if she wasn’t coming in. I’m going to her place. Want to come with me?”
“I gotta work on the Vickers case. I’m heading to Ursula Vickers’ as soon as I finish eating.”
Winston got off the desk and took out his keys with trembling hands. “I’ll let you know what I find out about Dee.”
She smiled. “I’m sure she’s all right.”
“I hope so.”
****
Stacey and Ursula Vickers stood in Ursula’s living room, kissing as if they tried to rip each other’s mouths off with their teeth.
“My god.” Connie stared at them through Ursula’s front window and dashed to the door. “Mrs. Vickers?” She knocked. “It’s Detective Wilks.”
Connie heard scrambling and talking then Ursula came to the door, the imprint of her nipples poking through her tank top. “Detective Wilks.” She flashed a weary smile. “How are you?”
“You have lipstick on your chin.”
Ursula chuckled, wiping it off. “What can I do for you?”
“Cut the crap, okay?” Connie barged in the door. “You can come out, Stacey.”
He slumped out, wearing more of Ursula’s lipstick than she did.
“So, how long has this been going on?” Connie asked.
“What?” Stacey pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
“Newsflash, Stacey. When you don’t want people to see you making out then don’t stand in front of the window.”
“What we do is our business.” Ursula’s tie-dye jeans highlighted her fabulous figure. “This has nothing to do with Boyce.”
“I’ll make that determination,” Connie said.
“What are you doing here?” Ursula asked. “You cops are so rude. Think you can just drop by anytime you want?”
Stacey rubbed his hair, watching Connie underneath his lashes. “Where’s the other detective?”
Connie ignored him. “Ursula, we need to talk.”
“Let me get out the way.” Stacey moved from behind the women to get to the door. “I got an appointment.”
Connie scoffed. “I bet you didn’t have it a few minutes ago.”
He tilted his head at Ursula. “See you.”
She smirked, twisting her fingertip into her hair.
Stacey left.
“What’s going on?” Connie walked into the living room. “Between you and Stacey?”
“A misunderstanding.” Ursula crossed her skinny arms. “I’ve been a friend to him. He’s had a hard life.”
“You play these little games with men but it won’t work on me because I don’t want to fuck you.”
Ursula tucked in a grin.
“You’ve been sleeping with Stacey?”
“What if I am?” She pranced past Connie with her arms raised. “He’s a grown man, and I can do whatever I want.”
“He’s Boyce’s nephew.”
Ursula grinned, sitting on the couch. “It’s good to keep it in the family.”
“You think is a joke? Isn’t it true Stacey and Boyce didn’t get along? Did you have something to do with that?”
“No.” Ursula crossed her legs. “I don’t see what my personal life has to do with Boyce being missing.”
“Oh my.” Connie laughed, holding her waist. “What about the life insurance policy?”
“What about it?” She shrugged. “I’m his wife. I have every right to take out a policy on him.”
“True but only a few weeks before he disappeared?”
“As if I knew that would happen.”
“Stop fucking with me, lady.”
“Ooh.” Ursula sucked her teeth. “You have fire in you, Detective. It’s kinda sexy. I told Boyce about the policy before I planned to do it.”
“What?”
“I spoke to Boyce about it before I did it and he agreed. He wanted me to take out the policy.”
“That’s not what we heard.”
“From who?” Ursula cackled. “Daryl, perhaps? Whatever she said can’t be trusted because she’s jealous of me.”
“Why?”
“Well, just look at me for one reason. The other reason is that Boyce still loves me and has been begging me not to leave him. Daryl is a pathetic little cling-on that would do anything to get attention from Boyce.” She stood, eyes narrowing. “I did nothing to Boyce.”
“Do you know anything about a job interview Boyce had from out of town?”
“No.” She sashayed toward Connie with sex in her eyes. “Is that all you wanted, Detective?” She stuck out her breasts. “Or can I interest you in something else?”
“Are you coming on to me?”
Ursula touched Connie’s hair. “Am I?”
Connie slapped her hand. “You love playing games, don’t you?”
“Let’s see if we play the same games.”
“We don’t.” Connie snickered. “Nice try but even if I were into girls, you’d be the last on my list.”
“Hm.” Ursula clutched her waist. “Somehow I’m not convinced, and speaking of being into girls, don’t knock it until you try it.”
“I’ll be watching you, Ursula.” Connie pointed at her on the way out the room.
“I’ll be watching you too, Detective.” Ursula touched her breast. “I’m enjoying the view.”
****
Sylvia showed Connie into Grayson’s living room two nights later.
“Connie.” He turned away from his computer and took off his reading glasses. “What are you doing here?”
She smiled at Sylvia who continued on her way. “I have something to tell you about Dee.”
“What is it?” He leapt from his chair. “God, is she okay?”
She glanced at the stuffed bookshelf against the wood-panel walls. “She’s missing.”
A line appeared between his brows.
“She didn’t show up for work two days ago and no one’s seen or heard from her.”
“Oh my god.” He touched his stomach. “What the hell happened?”
“We have no idea.” Connie’s voice strained from worry. “She isn’t answering her calls. Winston checked her place and her car was in the driveway and her purse and keys were there.”
“God.” He slumped in his chair. “She’s gotta be all right.” He moaned, covering his eyes. “How the fuck can she be missing?”
“We’re doing everything we can to find her. Winston is going crazy.”
He lifted his head with despair in his eyes. “She’s been missing for two days a
nd no one told me anything?”
“That’s why I came. I felt you deserved to know.”
“What if she’s hurt or dead—”
“Please.” Connie covered her mouth. “Don’t say that. We have to believe she’s okay.”
“What are you doing about it?” he shouted. “You have to find her. You go to.”
Before realizing it, Connie scooped him into a tight embrace. “It’s okay.”
“She has to be all right.” He held onto her arm. “If anything happened to Dee I—”
“We’re gonna find her.” His hair smelled of mild coconut. “Winston’s doing everything he can and so is Captain Salinger. The whole department is on this.” She stared into his gentle eyes, letting him go. “Dee’s tough, remember? She can come out of anything.”
“Thank you.” He clutched her hand. “For telling me.”
She nodded, fidgeting. “I gotta go.”
“Tell me if you find out anything. Please.”
“I will.” She turned and then stop. “I’m sorry for the grocery store. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea.” He snorted, clearing water from his eyes. “I should’ve chosen my words carefully.”
“For what it’s worth...” She smiled. “I was flattered. It’s been a long time since I got that kind of attention.”
“A beautiful woman like you?” He studied her face. “That’s hard to believe.”
“Men approach just not the right ones.” She smiled. “Maybe one day we can have that fried chicken. As friends.”
His mouth curled into a semi-smile. “I’d like that, Connie.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Okay, let’s see what we got here.” Sergeant Canary of the Broadville Police Department, leaned back in his chair, his potbelly strangled within the light-blue shirt. “You say Jonathan Wild kidnapped your girlfriend?”
“Yes.” Winston leaned forward in the chair. “He tried to drug her before and wouldn’t let her leave.”
Canary nodded while writing the information. “Why’d he do that?”
“You’ve heard of him, right?”
“Yes, his father was a brilliant scientist.”
“Jonathan runs a cult.”
“Well.” He twirled the pen between his stubby fingers. “He says it’s a group.”