The Reclusive Widow (The Widow Taker Book 3)

by Kennedy Layne

  “Safeguard Security & Investigations was created to aid law enforcement agencies with investigations and provide special security to those who need it,” Townes said, sipping his steaming coffee as if he was immune to pain. Lily would have loved to take a page out of his book, but she’d wait for her morning beverage to cool down to a reasonable temperature. Her side hurt enough as it was that she didn’t need to add to her discomfort by scalding her mouth. “My team and I are very selective on the cases we take, but I owed Ridge a debt from our time in the service. I’m not sure I’d call it even quite yet, but he’s one of a very few who I feel obligated to come when called.”

  Lily had a feeling that she would be around long enough to hear the story from Ridge. She’d decided last night while having trouble falling asleep that she’d give Agent Malone time to locate The Widow Taker. There was a good chance that the patient at the hospital would wake up and divulge the identity of the man who had tried to kill him. A few days didn’t seem so long when the probability seemed promising that he would bring an end to the terror that had gripped the town.

  As for Ridge, she wouldn’t deny that being in his presence had her less frightened of her own shadow. He was as steady as an oak, and that was more than plain to see.

  “Why would a law enforcement agency need the help of an outside organization like yours?” Lily asked, still contemplating asking the question that she’d posed to Ridge last night. From the way the teacup stilled in his hand, he was well aware of the direction she was steering this conversation. “I understand the security side of things, but not the assistance.”

  Townes quietly set his coffee cup down on the table, almost as if he sensed that her question was a trap. It wasn’t, necessarily. She wasn’t sure what his agency charged, but she still had some savings left over. Depending on the amount of SSI’s services, she might be able to reach some sort of deal with him to secure the files.

  “There are some police departments that just don’t have the manpower or resources to solve certain types of cases, and we’re able to provide them with specific services that are within their budget,” Townes explained carefully as he wrapped his large hand around the coffee cup. There were several burn marks and old scars on his fingers. “It’s rare that we involve ourselves in a federal case, although we have done so from time to time in the past.”

  Lily would have launched right into her request had Ridge’s cell phone not rung, which had him reaching behind him for the device that he’d set on the counter. She closely monitored his expression to see if it was Agent Malone or Agent Roche. Ridge nodded before answering the phone.

  Both she and Townes remained silent, waiting to hear what was being relayed from the other end of the line. The conversation must have consisted of more than an update on the patient they were waiting to interview, and Ridge finally motioned that he would finish up the call in the other room, giving them both the one-minute signal.

  “You won’t always be looking over your shoulder.”

  The observation from Townes held more than a simple statement of fact. He had these unique grey eyes that seemed to peer into one’s soul. He was clearly more of a listener than a talker, reminding her of Ridge. It was as if they were cut from the same cloth.

  “You sound certain,” Lily said before taking a sip of her coffee. The morning beverage had cooled down some, and the first sip of the day was always the best. “Have you handled many cases like this one before?”

  Keeping tabs on how many serial killers there were in the world hadn’t been high on Lily’s list of things to track. The fact that she’d been targeted by one had her believing that maybe she should have been a bit more diligent about her situational awareness. It wasn’t like the local news hadn’t been blaring it from the rafters—keep your doors locked and be aware. She was clearly guilty of being the one who thought she could beat the odds and not be involved.

  “You and my wife have a lot in common.” Townes leaned back in his chair, taking his large mug with him. He was a man who was comfortable in his own skin, and he didn’t seem to care too much about others’ opinions. Lily wished she could say the same, but she wasn’t even close to being on his level of independence. The things that she’d overheard at the hospital still reverberated in her mind. “Many years ago, she was left for dead by a serial killer who had branded her side with the date of her own death. She went into hiding after that, because the son of a bitch never stopped hunting her after his initial failure to see her death through. She was the one who got away, much like your situation. She’s now my wife, surrounded by a team who we see as family, and I haven’t seen her look over her shoulder in quite some time. As a matter of fact, I’ve made it my duty to make sure that there’s a perpetual smile on her face. The experience taught us to appreciate in the moment everything we hold dear, and I can tell you that tomorrow will be better than today for you because of Ridge Killian.”

  Lily weighed his words carefully, realizing that Townes meant a tomorrow that didn’t include her hiding in some stranger’s home.

  A tomorrow that was free of fear.

  The difference in Lily’s situation was that Ridge hadn’t asked to be her protector. Lily had basically been exiled from her previous life, and she had no family to call her own. She wasn’t looking for sympathy or charity. She just wanted back that little slice of peace that she’d carved out for herself. She believed that she deserved at least some after all that she’d been through.

  “Was your wife’s attacker apprehended?” Lily asked, knowing that would be the majority of the reason his wife was no longer looking over her shoulder.

  “He’s no more.”

  Lily let that declaration soak in, somewhat uneasy about how her situation would play out. Would The Widow Taker be put behind bars, would he be killed before such a thing could happen, or would he simply fade into the dark? She honestly didn’t want to wait to find out.

  The rays of sunshine had shifted, and they were now warming the back of her hands. Lily hadn’t realized how cold she’d been until the heat began to soak into her skin.

  “I’ve known Ridge a long time, Lily,” Townes said, feigning that he didn’t notice her enjoyment of something so insignificant. She hadn’t realized that she’d spread her fingers to capture the warmth of the rays until she’d grabbed ahold of her coffee cup once more. “He’s a good man, and he’s someone you can trust with your life.”

  “I stumbled into his yard.” Lily gave a half-smile at the position that she’d put Ridge into the other night. “He shouldn’t have to put his life on the line for a complete stranger. He has no obligation to me.”

  Lily found herself looking over her shoulder, but not for the reason that Townes might think. Ridge still hadn’t returned, and she was beginning to think that something more was happening than just a victim waking up in his hospital bed.

  “Ridge Killian put his life on the line for his country for over twenty years,” Townes pointed out, garnering her attention once more. Unfortunately, the sun was diminishing little by little by the gathering clouds. “You might find that you’re helping him more than he’s helping you. He’s a fighter without a war to fight.”

  Townes drained the rest of his coffee.

  “I really should be heading back outside before that stormfront hits.”

  “Is there a way for you to get ahold of the federal case files regarding The Widow Taker?” Lily held her breath, waiting for Townes’ reaction. “I’d pay you for—”

  “As you might have already guessed, that was the lead agent on the case,” Ridge said as he walked back into the kitchen, preventing Lily from finishing her offer. Townes’ gaze remained steadily on her while Ridge went over his phone conversation. “Paul Harrison is beginning to wake up, and either Dean or Linc should be able to speak with him later today. This might all be over by later this afternoon.”

  Ridge narrowed his gaze upon recognizing the slight tension that had settled over the table. She didn’t under
stand what the big deal was considering that Townes’ agency provided a service that she was willing to pay for, thus conducting what amounted to a simple business transaction.

  “Lily was just asking me to obtain the case files, but I feel obligated to point out that I did some checking around on Agent Malone. He’s good at his job,” Townes stated, still not leaving the table. “There’s a major difference between hiring skilled contractors to aid in an investigation when asked versus a civilian wanting to involve herself in a rather delicate case that is currently on the precipice of being solved. I mean you no disrespect, Lily. I understand more than most what you’ve gone through, but I’d rather not see you put yourself in harm’s way when it’s not warranted nor needed.”

  “And if I asked for the case files anyway?” Lily hadn’t realized how important it was to her to know more of the facts regarding her attacker. An anxiety had been building inside of her that she couldn’t ease. “Could you procure them for me?”

  Townes shared a look of concern with Ridge, but she held her ground. She couldn’t imagine staying a second longer in this town without feeling as if she was taking some sort of positive control back in her life. It was how she’d gotten through last year, and her sitting here doing nothing was like allowing her world to spin out of control at the whims of the prevailing winds.

  “Go ahead and get us the files,” Ridge advised Townes, taking that tone she’d overheard in the hospital when he was once speaking with a nurse. He wasn’t happy that she’d put him in an uncomfortable situation, and she couldn’t blame him. With that said, his acquiescence had that coiled ball inside her chest loosening just a bit. “You can call us even.”

  Townes took time to consider Ridge’s offer. After a few moments of silence that was only filled with the hum of the refrigerator, the man nodded his agreement. Lily released the breath that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and a sense of purpose began to fill a void that she’d just begun to recognize had become a part of her since her attack.

  “Thank you, Townes.”

  Lily had another person to thank, because she wasn’t so sure that Townes would have given into her request if it hadn’t been for Ridge’s support. She would thank him privately, though. They had other things to discuss that weren’t meant for an audience.

  Townes stood before collecting his jacket from the back of the chair. He appeared to want to tack something on to his silent agreement, but he changed his mind. Instead, he silently left the kitchen as if to say the responsibility for the decision lay solely on Ridge’s shoulders.

  Ridge walked to the counter, where he picked up the kettle and poured some hot water into his teacup to warm it up. He then brought it over to the table and set it down beside Townes’ empty coffee mug.

  “I keep saying this over and over, but I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Especially backing me up on the case files,” Lily said, wishing more than anything that those sunrays that were so rare this time of year would come back. “As well as everything else you’ve done for me since this whole thing began.”

  Lily studied Ridge as he sat in a kitchen that he was slowly making his own with each renovation. He was building a life for himself in Winter Heights and strengthening his relationship with his parents. He’d gone above and beyond what any concerned citizen would have done in his situation, and here she was asking for more.

  “You seem to think that this is all your doing, Lily.” Ridge picked up the small piece of paper at the end of the teabag’s string, but his gaze remained steadily on her. “You’re not the one who leaked my name to the media. You’re not the one who has been taking the lives of widows in our town. I’m involved in this as much as you are, and Agent Dean Malone would have put a security detail on my house whether or not you were here or next door. As for the reason I asked Townes to grant you your request, it’s because you would have left otherwise. You would have packed your bags, loaded up your vehicle, and drove as far away without a second glance in your rearview mirror.”

  Lily didn’t like that Ridge could read her so easily.

  “Am I wrong?”

  “Maybe,” Lily replied with a gradual smile. He’d called her out, and he’d been right. Fortunately, the weight that she’d gone to bed with last night and still woken up with this morning wasn’t quite as heavy now. This time, she opted for a simple acknowledgement. “Thank you, Ridge.”

  “You’re welcome, hazelnut.”

  Everything was finally falling into place.

  He’d unearthed exactly what he needed to know in order to finish his task. It hadn’t been easy while covering up the existence of his wound, but the fates had aligned and given him a new purpose. Now the only thing left for him to do was follow through his responsibility to his hometown.

  He would give Lily Hudson peace, making his mother proud from beyond the grave.

  He’d already accepted that he’d have to go back into hiding once he’d fulfilled his obligation, but he reminded himself that it would only be for a short while. Life would move on, and the residents of Winter Heights would no doubt pine away for his gifts to them during his hiatus.

  They need not worry.

  The time would come when he would be able to resurrect his angel wings that were dipped in the blood of the innocent sacrifices laid upon the altar of absolution. It was their gift to him for following through with his promises, for taking the Lord’s wounded souls and ending their suffering in the name of all which was right.

  Only he could set the widows free from their pain.

  Chapter Eleven

  The day had passed by relatively uneventful.

  Townes had finished installing his latest high-tech security system that was able to distinguish between animal and human through analyzing signature body heat, body size, and movement patterns. He’d worked through lunch and had refused Ridge’s offer for a warm dinner, wanting to head back to Florida to be with his wife at their compound. The fact that he’d taken the time to immediately come to Connecticut personally to repay a debt spoke volumes of the man’s character and sense of honor.

  “We’ll have those files within the hour,” Ridge relayed to Lily, who’d been staring at her Scrabble tiles for at least five minutes. She lifted her gaze with sudden interest as he set his phone down on the kitchen table, where they’d been playing the game for the last hour and a half. “You keep thinking about that five-letter word you’re about to string together for triple points. I’m going to go and let the state police detectives know that we’re about to have a visitor.”

  “How did you—” Lily shook her head as he stood up from the table, dismissing her own question. “Never mind. I think I’d rather try my hand at Monopoly. I hereby declare you the winner and all-time Scrabble champion.”

  Ridge laughed as he left the kitchen, grateful that she’d relaxed enough in his company that she was allowing her true colors to shine through. He’d come to find that she was very competitive, hated spicy food, and had a wry sense of humor. They’d both steered clear of talking about the investigation, and it had been nice to at least feign forgetting the reason they were basically prisoners in his cabin.

  He took his winter coat off the hook and shrugged into it before unlocking the front door. The second that he opened it, the heat from the fire that he’d made earlier was practically sucked outside by a vortex of cold winter weather swirling just outside. In its place was a bitter cold wind trying to find a way into the house. He quickly walked outside and secured the door so that Lily didn’t catch a chill. She’d taken a nap earlier, but he could still see the slight blemishes underneath her eyes from the lack of sleep that she’d gotten at the hospital.

  Ridge gingerly made his way down the porch steps to the walkway, which was still mostly clear from his previous tending with a bag of calcium chloride ice melt. They were due for five inches throughout the night, so he’d be right back at it in the morning.

  It was second nature for him to sweep his surroundi
ngs for any indications of enemy countersurveillance. It seemed to him that the state police protective detail was spending the majority of their time inside the heated trailer. Nothing seemed out of place with the exception of a faint rumble from an engine that could be heard from the unmarked state police car that was stationed in the driveway right in front of the trailer and beside Ridge’s car. The vehicle was technically his parents’ second one. He’d ordered a new F-150 Raptor in black from the local dealership, but it had yet to arrive. The higher wheelbase with on-demand four-wheel drive would have certainly come in handy for the winter.

  “Is there a problem, sir?” the state detective asked after he’d rolled down his window in the cruiser.

  Detective Rudolph aimed one of the vents toward himself, seeming a bit perturbed that he’d let most the heat out of his vehicle. Ridge had made it a point to know each of their names when they’d come on duty. Rudolph smoked, and Ridge suspected that was why he’d chosen to sit in his cruiser rather than hole up in the trailer with the other detective. Rudolph no doubt kept the engine running long enough to keep himself from freezing while he satisfied the habit.

  Ridge couldn’t help but wonder if the detective realized that by separating from his colleague, they made themselves more vulnerable to attack from a determined adversary.

  “I wanted to let the two of you know that we’re going to receive company within the hour,” Ridge advised him, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket. His breath was carried away in a white mist. “I don’t have a name, but he or she is just dropping off a package.”

  “I appreciate the advance warning. I’ll let my partner know.” Detective Rudolph held one hand up against the vent that he’d already adjusted as he glanced past Ridge toward the house. The man nodded toward the door Ridge had just exited. “How is Ms. Hudson holding up?”

  The familiarity with which the state police detective asked the question had Ridge believing that the two of them knew one another. Lily hadn’t reacted in any way when Ridge let her know their protective detail’s names, though.