Dark Rider

by Iris Johansen

  “I’m glad you’re so sure,” she said sarcastically. “Because I’m not. I don’t like this. What if he didn’t want us to make a connection? What if he peeled her face off to slow us down so that we wouldn’t know he’d moved into the area?”

  “Possible.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “What do you want from me, Christy? It’s not like you to ask for help.”

  “As soon as forensics gets through with her, I want you to take the skull to Eve to find out what that woman looked like. I don’t want to wait until I find out who she is.”

  It was the answer he’d expected. It wasn’t the first time he’d been asked to be a go-between for the department and Eve. She was probably the best forensic sculptor in the world and the captain wasn’t about to ignore a valuable asset. He shook his head. “No way. She’s backlogged and working her ass off right now. I’m not loading anything else on her.”

  “We need to know, Joe.”

  “And I don’t want her wearing herself out.”

  “For God’s sake, do you think I’d ask you to do this if I didn’t think it was urgent? I like Eve. I’ve known her and Jane for almost as long as I’ve known you. I’m scared. It’s necessary, dammit.”

  “Because of some nebulous tip from Scotland Yard? What the hell do they have to do with this?”

  “Two cases in London. One in Liverpool. One in Brighton. They never caught the killer and they believe he moved from the U.K. to the U.S. three years ago.”

  “Then they can wait for an ID or Eve to get out from under.”

  Christy shook her head. “Come back to my car and I’ll pull up Trevor’s e-mail.”

  “It’s not going to change my mind.”

  “It might.” She headed for her car.

  He hesitated and then followed her. She opened her laptop and accessed the e-mail.

  “There it is. Read it and do what you like.” She turned away. “I’ve got work to finish up here.”

  He scanned the letter and report and then flipped to the victim’s page.

  He stiffened with shock. “Holy shit!”

  LAKE COTTAGE

  ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  She couldn’t breathe.

  No!

  She would not die, she thought fiercely. She hadn’t come this far to lie forever in darkness. She was too young. She had too many things to do and see and be.

  Another turn and still no light at the end of the tunnel.

  Maybe there was no end.

  Maybe this was the end.

  It was so hot and there was no air.

  She could feel a scream of panic rising in her throat.

  Don’t give in. Panic was for cowards and she’d never been a coward.

  But dear God, it was hot. She couldn’t bear—

  “Jane.” She was being shaken. “For God’s sake, wake up, baby. It’s only a dream.”

  Not a dream.

  “Dammit, wake up. You’re scaring me.”

  Eve. Mustn’t scare Eve. Maybe it was a dream if she said so. She forced her lids open and looked up into Eve’s worried face.

  The worried frown was replaced by relief. “Whew, that must have been a doozy of a nightmare.” Eve’s hand stroked Jane’s hair back from her face. “Your bedroom door was closed and I still heard you groaning. Okay, now?”

  “Fine.” She moistened her lips. “Sorry I bothered you.” Her heartbeat was steadying and the darkness was gone. Maybe it wouldn’t come back. Even if it did, she had to make sure it didn’t disturb Eve. “Go back to bed.”

  “I wasn’t in bed. I was working.” She turned on the bedside lamp and then grimaced as she looked down at her hands. “And I didn’t wipe the clay from my hands before I came in here. You probably have bits of it in your hair.”

  “That’s okay. I have to wash it in the morning anyway. I want to look good for my driver’s license photo.”

  “That’s tomorrow?”

  She sighed resignedly. “I told you yesterday that I’d need you or Joe to take me.”

  “I forgot.” She smiled. “Maybe I’m in denial. Getting your first driver’s license is sort of a rite of passage. It could be I don’t want you to be that independent.”

  “Yes, you do.” She met her gaze. “Ever since we’ve been together you’ve made sure that I could take care of myself in every way. You’ve done everything from giving me karate lessons to having Sarah train Toby as a guard dog. So don’t tell me that you don’t want me to be independent.

  “Well, not independent enough to walk away from Joe and me.”

  “I’ll never do that.” She sat up in bed and gave her a quick, awkward kiss. Even after all these years, loving gestures were difficult for her. “You’ll have to kick me out. I know when I’ve got it good. So which one of you is going to take me to the driver’s license bureau?”

  “Probably Joe. I have to finish this skull right away.”

  “What’s the urgency?”

  She shrugged. “Search me. Joe brought the skull home from the precinct and asked me to make it top priority. He said it had to do with linking a group of homicides.”

  Jane was silent a moment. “A kid?”

  Eve shook her head. “A woman.” Her eyes narrowed on Jane’s face. “You thought it might be Bonnie?”

  Jane always thought it might be Bonnie, Eve’s daughter, who had been murdered when she was seven and whose body had never been found. The tragedy had been the impetus that had made Eve study to become a forensic sculptor to identify and bring closure to other grieving parents. The search for Bonnie and her passion for her career still dominated her life. She shook her head. “If you suspected it was Bonnie’s skull you were working on, you wouldn’t have even heard my stupid caterwauling.” She held up her hand as Eve opened her lips. “I know. I know. You don’t love me less than you did Bonnie. It’s just different. I’ve known that all along. From the beginning. She was your child and we’re more … friends. And that’s okay with me.” She settled back in bed. “Now, you go back to work and I’ll go back to sleep. Thanks for coming in and waking me. Goodnight, Eve.”

  Eve didn’t answer for a moment. “What was your nightmare about?”

  Heat. Panic. Darkness. A night without air or hope. No, there had been hope …

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  OAKBROOK

  WASHINGTON, D.C.

  “This isn’t the end of it, Brad.” Cameron Devers’s lips tightened with irritation. “I’ve no intention of standing by and watching you waste your potential working with those damn nutcases. You’re one of the most brilliant men I know and I have a job for you here.”

  “Where you can keep an eye on me?” Brad grinned as he leaned lazily back in the chair and stretched his legs out before him. “It wouldn’t do you any good. I’m a lost cause.”

  “Only because you want to be. And it’s not good for you. You’re burning yourself out. Look at you. You’ve lost weight since I saw you last.”

  “A little. I’ve had a rough four months.”

  “Then give it up and come to me.”

  “And do what? If I were anywhere close to you, the media would eventually ferret out our connection. Besides, you can’t trust me. I’d get mad and open my mouth at the wrong time and blow your political career.” His smile faded. “I’ve done a hell of a lot of harm to you in these last years, but I won’t do that.”

  “I’d chance it. I’ve been in the Senate for twelve years and if my reputation can be damaged by just having you around, then maybe it’s time I stepped down.”

  “No!” Brad paused and then tempered his tone. “Look, Cam, don’t be an ass. Everything’s going fine. We don’t need to change anything.” He stood up and glanced around the elegant, book-lined library that breathed wealth
and solidity. “This isn’t my world. You can’t squeeze me into your mold because you want me to share the good life.” He smiled. “Besides, what would Charlotte say?”

  “She’d come around. She just has some weird ideas about you.”

  Brad looked at him inquiringly.

  Cam made a face. “She says you make her uneasy. She thinks you’re … sinister.”

  “She used that word? I didn’t think anyone could make your wife uneasy. Maybe I’m more intimidating than I thought.”

  “She doesn’t understand you. Like I said, she’ll come around.”

  “There’s no reason to force her to make the effort. Things are fine as they are.”

  Cam was silent a moment. “Did it ever occur to you that I’m being selfish? I’ve missed you, Brad.”

  He meant it. Cam was always honest. “Oh, shit. Don’t do this to me.” Brad shook his head. “I’ve missed you too. Maybe we can arrange to get together more often.”

  “That’s not good enough. I’ve been looking at my life since that horror on September eleventh, and when it all comes down to the bottom line, it’s friends and family that count. I won’t let you walk away again.”

  “Cam.” Charlotte Devers was standing in the doorway, sleek and sophisticated in a black gown. “I didn’t want to disturb you, but we’re going to be late for the embassy dinner.” She smiled at Brad. “You and Cam can talk when we get back.”

  He shook his head. “I’m just leaving, anyway.”

  “No, you’re not,” Cameron said firmly. “I’ll only be gone a few hours and I want you here when I get back.”

  “Perhaps tomorrow?” Charlotte suggested. “I’ve had a room prepared for you, Brad.”

  As usual, Charlotte was trying to control the situation with gentle skill, Brad thought. She wanted Cam to leave and she didn’t want him to talk to Brad until she could find a discreet way to ease Brad out on his ass. Well, he couldn’t blame her. She valued Cam’s career more than his brother did and was always on guard to protect it.

  “I’m not going anywhere until you make me a promise.” Cam stared Brad in the eye. “Will you be here?”

  Brad glanced at the faint frown between Charlotte’s eyes and then smiled slyly. “You couldn’t budge me.”

  “Great.” Cam slapped him on the shoulder before turning away. “Come on, Charlotte. Let’s get this thing over with.” He strode out of the library.

  Charlotte hesitated and started to speak.

  “Don’t say it,” Brad murmured. “We’re on the same side.” He added, “If you don’t piss me off.” He followed Cam into the foyer and watched George, the butler, help him into his coat. “Very impressive. I haven’t worn a tux in fifteen years. Does that tell you anything?”

  “It tells me you’re damn lucky.” Cam took Charlotte’s arm and helped her down the front steps toward the waiting limo. “Make yourself at home, but don’t go to bed. You made me a promise.”

  “Does that mean I can’t get drunk on your excellent brandy?”

  “No, I want you stone cold sober.” He smiled at him over his shoulder. “I have an ace in the hole and need to tell you about a job that may intrigue you enough to lure you here. It’s right up your alley.”

  “Weird and sinister?” he asked, straight-faced.

  “I’m going to get my way, Brad.”

  “Now, don’t nag him, Cam,” Charlotte said gently. “Brad knows what he wants to do.”

  “But not what’s best for him.”

  Brad watched them get into the limousine. He’d planned on going back inside, but he couldn’t resist standing here and letting Charlotte see him so at home on her front step. Dressed in tennis shoes, worn jeans, and an old sweatshirt, he couldn’t have been more of a blot on her fine landscape. His enjoyment was totally immature, but he didn’t give a damn. He usually didn’t mind Charlotte’s attempts at manipulating Cam. She was a good wife to him and that was all that was important to Brad. Tonight she was trying to manipulate Brad as well, and that he couldn’t tolerate.

  “Would you like me to serve you coffee in the library, sir?” George asked from behind him.

  “Why not?” He grinned at him over his shoulder. “Since I’ve been forbidden the comfort of—”

  Whoosh.

  “Dear God!” George’s eyes were wide with shock.

  Brad’s head jerked around and followed his gaze to the limo.

  “Christ in heaven!”

  The interior of the limousine was a sheet of fire. He could see Cam and Charlotte writhing like burning scarecrows in the flames.

  “Son of a bitch!”

  He flew down the steps toward the car.

  ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  SIX MONTHS LATER

  Kerry carefully touched the blackened timber lying across the bathroom sink. It was still slightly warm from the fire that had destroyed the restaurant two days ago. That wasn’t unusual. Sometimes, hidden pockets of embers remained burning for days.

  Sam, her Lab, whined and pushed nearer to Kerry. He was easily bored and they’d been here at the burned-out ruins for over an hour.

  “Be quiet.” she reached beneath the timber and dug. “We’ll be out of here soon.”

  There it was! With an effort she pushed the timber aside.

  “Find anything?” Detective Perry asked from behind her. “Bad wiring?”

  “No, gasoline,” Kerry said. “The fire originated here in the bathroom and spread throughout the restaurant.” She nodded at the burned and blackened device she’d found beneath the timber. “And a timing device to set it off.”

  “Dumb.” The police detective shook his head. “I thought Chin Li was brighter than that. If he wanted to collect the insurance, why didn’t he set the fire in the kitchen? He’d have had a better shot at convincing everyone the fire was accidental. You’re sure?”

  “Sam’s sure.” She reached out and touched the dog’s silky black head. “And I usually go along with him. He’s not often wrong.”

  “Yeah, so I’ve heard.” Perry awkwardly patted the dog’s nose. “I don’t understand how these arson dogs do it, but it makes my job a hell of a lot easier. I guess I’ll go talk to Chin Li again. Too bad. He seemed like a nice little guy.”