by Stacy-Deanne
“I don’t even know for sure you’re a cop.”
“You can check my badge number on the Internet.” Connie recited her badge number and gave the woman the name of the site where she could check. “I’ll wait.”
“Hold on.” The woman returned after a few minutes. “Okay, you’re a cop but that doesn’t mean you don’t need a warrant. We have privacy concerns with this.”
“It would take forever for me to get a warrant. I’m trying to find this person and bring closure to their family. I can’t waste time because Larose might catch on.”
The woman sighed. “My boss will kill me.”
“Just think of it as your one good deed.” Connie smiled. “Please.”
“Okay. I’ll email you the names of everyone he’s spoken to and transcripts of conversations. Give me a few minutes.”
Connie sat back with her feet on her desk. “I got all the time in the world.”
****
“Oh.” Dee rolled left and right in the bed, curled in the fetal position. “Ow.”
“It’s okay, honey.” Jonathan felt her forehead. “What’s hurting?”
“My stomach.” Her intestines felt as though someone were ripping them from her body. “God, Jonathan.” Sweat broke out on her forehead. “It hurts.”
“Tran!”
He ran in. “Neumann’s on his way but he’s tending to Asia in the infirmary. She cut her finger.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” Jonathan leaned over Dee as her body clenched from unrelenting pain. “Deidra?”
Cramps shot through her abdomen.
“What did you eat?”
“I only ate breakfast.” Her dress twisted between her legs as she rolled. “That’s it.”
“Is it food poisoning?” Tran asked.
“We all had the same breakfast.” Jonathan stroked Dee’s thigh but nothing comforted her. “If something was wrong with the food, we’d all be sick.”
Dee squealed, huffing and puffing.
“Maybe she had something different,” Tran said. “Deidra, what did you eat?”
“I had...” She groaned, wincing. “The pancakes and ham.”
“Okay, that’s what we all had.” Jonathan nodded.
“And the garnish.”
Jonathan grimaced. “What garnish?”
“I don’t know.” Dee wheezed. “Ooh, god.”
“Get Emma in here.” Jonathan jumped off the bed. “Get her in here!”
“All right.” Tran ran out as four of the women from The Circle rushed into the room.
“Is she okay?” Rena asked.
“Does she seem okay to you?” Jonathan rubbed his head. “I’m gonna wring Emma’s neck.”
Tran ran in, pulling Emma by the hand.
“What?” She rocked, gasping at Dee. “What happened?”
“What did you give her when you made her breakfast?” Jonathan bent down to Emma. “Tell me.”
“What I gave everyone.”
“What garnish did you use?”
“I didn’t use garnish.”
“She says she had garnish.”
“It looked like parsley or something.” Dee groaned.
Jonathan sat beside Dee, checking her forehead as she fought the pain. “She has a fever. Oh, jeez. Emma, what happened?”
“I don’t know.” She chewed her thumb, shivering. “I gave Mistress Shauna the tray.”
Jonathan rose from the bed, gaping. “Wait, Shauna gave Deidra her food this morning?”
“Yes.” Emma nodded.
“Shauna, get in here!” Jonathan slapped Emma. “How could you be so stupid? Didn’t you realize she was up to something?”
Emma sobbed, rubbing her red cheek. “I—”
“Shauna did this.” Jonathan coddled Dee. “I swear she’ll pay in ways she didn’t think possible.”
Shauna walked in and stopped in place when she looked at Dee.
Jonathan nodded, wiping sweat off Dee’s forehead. “See what you’ve done, Shauna?”
“What are you talking about—?”
“Fix your mouth to lie.” Jonathan pointed at her. “And, I’ll beat the shit out of you.”
More women ran into the room, gasping as Dee writhed in pain.
“What did you do, Shauna?” Jonathan asked. “You got one chance to tell me.”
She looked back and forth at the women who circled her. “I’m not ashamed of what I did. It proves how much The Circle means to me.”
“What did you do?” Jonathan squinted. “Tell me so I can help her!”
“I gave her water hemlock.”
Tran’s eyes popped out their sockets. “What?”
“Yes.” Shauna lowered her head. “I snuck into Jonathan’s lab and got it.”
The women covered their mouths, staring at Shauna.
“Mistress?” Rena whispered. “How could you?”
“Water hemlock?” Jonathan snatched Dee out the bed and carried her to the doorway. “Neumann!”
“I’m here.” Neumann fumbled up the stairs. “I’m sorry—”
“She ate water hemlock.” Jonathan sped past him.
“Dear Lord.” Neumann and the others ran after Jonathan. “How the hell did this happen?”
“We gotta flush out the toxins or she’ll die.” Jonathan pushed the button on the elevator. “Damn you, Shauna.”
“Jonathan.” She sobbed. “Let me explain.”
“You better hope Deidra lives.” He jumped into the elevator with Neumann. “I’ll deal with you later.”
Shauna ran toward the elevator as the doors closed. “Jonathan!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Deidra?” Jonathan carried her into the infirmary. “You’ll be okay, all right?” He lay her on the bed and kissed her forehead.
The women waited at the doorway, gawking.
Jonathan helped Neumann hook Dee up to the IV and monitors.
“Her blood pressure is a little low but in a safe range.” Neumann struggled to get the thermometer in Dee’s mouth as she grumbled and turned.
“Sh, it’s okay,” Jonathan whispered. “You’ll be all right. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Dee focused her tired eyes on him and gave a weak smile.
“Okay, everything’s secure.” Neumann checked the IV. “I’ll give her some charcoal and we’ll go from there. I can’t believe Shauna would do this.”
“I wish I could say the same thing.” Jonathan tightened his lips, breathing through his nostrils. “Damn it. How could I forget to lock the lab?”
Neumann listened to Dee’s heart with his stethoscope. “It’s not your fault.”
“That’s it.” Jonathan marched toward the women who moved from his path. “I can’t risk Shauna doing anything else.”
“Where are you going?” Neumann asked.
“To do what I’ve dedicated my life to, protect The Circle.”
The women followed Jonathan.
****
“Open this door, Shauna.” Jonathan beat on her bedroom door, replicating the sound of thunder. “If I have to open it you’ll be in more trouble than you already are.”
She stumbled out the bed and opened the door, tears blinding her.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Jonathan yanked her by the arms. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry.” She shook away tears. “I didn’t mean it. I only gave her a little—”
“You almost killed her!” Jonathan flung Shauna on the bed, got on top of her and repeatedly slapped her face.
“Stop.” She waved her hands. “Jonathan, please.”
“Get your ass out this bed.” He hurled her to the floor by her leg. “You’re gonna pay for this.”
“No, please.” She got on her knees, holding her hands together. “Don’t put me in the shed. I can’t take it out there, Jonathan. Please.”
“You’re not going in the shed.” He stood back, panting. “You’re gone, Shauna. You’re out of The Ci
rcle.”
Something must’ve been wrong with her hearing. “You didn’t just say...” She sniffled. “What I think you said.”
He spoke slow, “Get your shit and get the fuck out of my house.”
“No!” She grabbed his leg. “Jonathan, please.”
“Get off me.” He remained stiff. “Shauna—”
“No.” She wouldn’t let go of his leg no matter what. “You don’t mean this. I was doing this for you and for us.” She reached for the women who stood there with blank stares. “For The Circle. Dee doesn’t belong here. Can’t you see that? She’s gonna ruin everything you’ve built.”
“This conversation is over.” He kicked at her. “Get out. The decision is final.”
“Jonathan, this is me.” She stood, trying to reach some level of decency in him. “I’ve been here since the beginning. I care about The Circle as much as you do.” She hit her bosom. “Didn’t we all swear to protect it?” She gestured to the women. “Didn’t we?”
Jonathan ran to the doorway. “Tran?”
Tran rushed in. “Yeah?”
“Shauna’s no longer welcomed here.”
Tran looked at her with his mouth open.
“She’s no longer a part of The Circle.”
“You can’t do this.” Shauna lay on the bed, screaming through her irritated throat. “Jonathan, please!”
“She won’t leave,” he told Tran. “I want her out now. She can get her shit later.”
“I’ll get the guards.” Tran left.
“You can’t do this.” Shauna jumped to her feet and grabbed the lamp from the end table. “Don’t come near me, Jonathan.”
“What I can’t fathom is how you’re acting like you’re the victim,” he said. “Do you realize what you’ve done? What if Deidra dies?”
“She’s not dying.” She smacked her damp lips. “I only gave her a little.”
“You need help, Shauna.” He scrunched up his nose. “You poisoned Deidra and you justify it?”
“I swore like all of us to protect our union.” She waved the lamp. “Isn’t that what you wanted? That we’ll do whatever we can to protect our family? Now you throw me out the first time I make a mistake?”
“You poisoned her.” He pointed to the carpet. “How is that protecting our family?”
“She’s not an official part of The Circle.” She twisted her lips. “Dee Quarter will never be a member of The Circle.”
“Well, that isn’t your choice.” Jonathan and the women stood aside while the guards entered and cornered Shauna.
“Shauna,” a guard said. “Please put the lamp down. We don’t want to hurt you.”
She stood on the bed with the lamp. “I’m not going anywhere.”
They looked at Jonathan who nodded back.
A guard grabbed her legs, knocking her on the bed.
“Get off!” She tried to hit the other with the lamp but he snatched it away from her. “Stop!”
The men pulled on her as she held to the bedpost.
“Jonathan, you can’t do this.” She wailed. “I want to protect you.”
“Let go.” The guard tore her hands from the post, tossing her to the floor as she kicked.
“No!” She reached for the women as the guards dragged her. “Jonathan!”
The men hauled her to the elevator and stuffed her into it.
“Let me go.” She stood, clawing as the doors closed and the elevator started. “I’m not leaving.” She huddled in the corner, tears gathering under her nose. “This is my home. What am I supposed to do?”
The elevator stopped and the doors open.
“Come on.” A guard pushed her out the elevator.
“Don’t touch me.” She fought as the men forced her through the hall. “I’m not going.” She planted her feet.
A guard threw her over his shoulder and carried her into the foyer.
“Stop!” She punched his backside. “Let me go!” She swung her legs as they got to the front door. “No!”
Jonathan, Tran and the women approached.
“Jonathan?” Shauna delivered a blood-curdling scream. “You’re gonna let them do this?”
He stood motionless and void of expression.
“I love you. Jonathan.” Shauna held the guard’s waist as he pushed her barefoot onto the gritty stoop. “You can’t. Ladies?”
The women meandered outside, a few sobbing while others gaped.
“Ladies!” Shauna hopped, waving her arms. “You’re supposed to have my back. I’m Mistress here!”
The guard pulled her toward the gate.
“Fuck you.” Shauna spit on the pavement. “Fuck all of you! Fuck you, Jonathan!” She held onto the gate, one foot in and one foot out. “Fuck off,” she told the guards. “This is my home too.”
Jonathan told Tran something and Tran went back into the house.
The guards threw Shauna out the gate and onto the pavement.
“Ladies.” She stood with her dress halfway up but didn’t give a damn. “Listen.” She pointed to them. “If he can do this to me he can do it to you too!”
They looked at each other.
“So much for family, huh, Jonathan?” Shauna spit through the gate, in his direction. “I hope Dee dies. Yeah.” She kicked the gate. “I hope you all die and rot in hell.”
Tran ran back and handed Jonathan a pouch.
Jonathan walked to the gate and tossed the pouch at Shauna’s feet. “Here’s some money.” He headed back inside the house.
“Money?” She held onto the gate. “So, that’s it?”
“Let’s go.” Jonathan ushered the women back inside.
“Karma’s a bitch, Jonathan.” Shauna got the pouch. “You’ll see I was telling the truth about Dee. She’ll ruin you.”
“You need to leave,” the guard said.
“What about my stuff?” She blubbered.
“You can get your stuff,” the other guard said. “But not right now. Go on.”
“Where am I supposed to go?”
They glared at her.
“Jonathan!”
He stopped before entering the front door.
“Did you love me at all?” Shauna screamed. “Do you love any of us?”
“I loved you more than I love myself.” His back remained to her. “Which is the biggest mistake I ever made.”
“Jonathan?”
He kept walking.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Grayson returned to his backyard gazebo with a glass of lemonade for Connie. “Here you go.” He relaxed at the acrylic table across from her. “I’m guessing you got a break in your case?”
“I found an ad for a job posting Larose had on Job Lines.” She slurped the drink and swallowed. “I called the site and got a list of everyone he contacted. I researched the men who answered the ad and then limited it to the three who agreed to meet him. All of them are missing.”
Grayson rested his arm on the back of his chair. “What?”
“I spoke to one’s mother who said her son texted her saying he was working out of town, but she didn’t know where but found his text messages strange. It’s obvious to me he wasn’t the one contacting her. For the next guy, he just disappeared but is a suspect in some burglaries so his girlfriend was afraid to report him missing. She thought he was on the run. Now she realizes something is horribly wrong.”
Grayson stroked the hairs on his chin. “And, the last guy?”
“Sister thought he was just off working and hadn’t stayed in contact but had a funny feeling something was wrong.” Connie rubbed her shoulder. “I think Larose is doing what the killer did in your story. He’s luring men to his farm and killing them.” She stared into his wholesome eyes. “If you hadn’t told me about your book, I might not have figured this out.”
His bottom lip shook. “Are you sure about this?”
“Right now I just have a theory.” She tapped the table. “No evidence or anything. I gotta go back to Edgemere and talk to Lar
ose.”
Grayson drew a deep breath.
“I can’t ask him anything about these men straight out but maybe I can do a little lying and flirting to get answers.” She shrugged. “Like, saying I have a friend who might be interested in a job or whatever.”
“And, if that doesn’t work?”
“I’ll come on to him.” She batted her eyes. “Whatever it takes.”
“If Larose is luring men to kill them he’s fucked up, Connie. You shouldn’t be speaking to him alone.”
“Hello.” She pointed to the gun in her holster. “I’m a cop, remember?”
“It doesn’t mean something can’t go wrong.”
Connie chuckled. “I’m feeling a little offended here.”
“I don’t mean to offend, but I worried about Dee all the time because of her job.” He took her hand. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you and being a cop doesn’t make you invincible.”
“I’ll be fine.” She laid her hand over his. “This is my job and I wanna solve this case more than anything.”
He wiggled his fingers in hers. “If anyone could solve it, it would be you.”
She smiled.
****
An ominous chill flowed through Connie’s bones when she returned to Garfield’s farm and noticed his truck gone.
She stalked toward the porch, the chill becoming unbearable. “Mr. Larose?” She knocked on the door to confirm he wasn’t home.
No one answered.
Connie wiggled the doorknob, and the door opened.
She glanced at the road to make sure no one saw her and then dipped inside. “Okay. Let’s see if I’m on the right track.”
She searched the den and living room and then went upstairs to Garfield’s bedroom, where the tickle in her bones got even worse. Connie checked the drawer and chest but found nothing but clothes. “There’s gotta be something here.” Her gaze landed on the two-door, oak floor cabinet on the other side of Garfield’s bed. She opened it to find a shoebox. “That’s what I’m talking about.” She yanked the lid off the box, blood racing to her head. “Jesus.”
Inside the box lay various driver’s licenses and ID cards from different men in Maryland. There were social security cards, debit cards, credit cards and even jewelry.