by Cynthia Eden
This…wasn’t an accident then. “Am…bush?”
He nodded grimly. “Looks that way.”
“You…should have…gone after him.” It hurt to talk. Actually, everything hurt. “You should…stopped him before he got…to…other…c-car…”
Linc was still holding her hand. “I wasn’t leaving you. There is nothing that could make me leave you.”
He was staring at her. All intense and hard and with a look in his eyes that she’d never seen before. It was important, and she should say something about it but Blair was pretty sure that she was about to pass out again. “Something…is in my side.”
His eyes widened.
“I’m…bad. I think…I’m bad…” A tear leaked down her cheek. She never cried. Well, okay, she cried plenty. But usually in the privacy of her own home when she was watching holiday movies. Everyone did that, though, didn’t they?
Her thoughts were scattering. She could definitely smell the coppery scent of her own blood, and now she felt the pain growing.
“You’re going to be okay.” His voice seemed to shake.
Linc. He usually had some quick one-liner or a sarcastic remark for her. But not this time.
Maybe it was the pain or maybe she was just confused—super disoriented—yet she could swear that cool-as-you please Linc…
Appeared absolutely terrified.
***
“Blair and Linc are coming this way.” Cole had been talking into his phone, but now he marched out of the kitchen and headed toward her. “I was just talking to Eric. Our techs are working on your friends—”
The fact that the lives of her friends were being investigated made her stomach roll. “My friends aren’t bad people. Latonya is one of the most brilliant doctors I’ve ever met. She’s smart, and she’s strong, and she’d go to the mat for me in an instant. She’s not some crazy killer. She saves lives.”
“I assure you, an investigation like this is standard procedure. In cases like yours, the bad guy often turns out be someone much closer than you’d ever expect.”
She wasn’t going to turn on her friends. “I’m the one who kept secrets. Not them. They were always open books to me. Hell, I spent every Christmas of my med school days with Latonya’s family. She always invited us over to spend the holiday with them.”
“Us?” Cole prompted.
“Marilyn and I would be invited. Marilyn didn’t always go, though, she had family commitments of her own.” But Marilyn hadn’t enjoyed her family. She’d said they were too stuffy. Too cold. She liked being with her friends better because they understood her.
We have to find Marilyn.
“When did you meet Marilyn? Was she in med school, too?”
“No, no, she was studying to be a nurse. Um, we met at the library one day. We were both hauling around anatomy books, and Marilyn came up to me. She was smiling and made some joke about our light reading.” God. I was so serious back then. “Told her it wasn’t light reading. That the books were very heavy, and she laughed and she…sat with me. She stayed with me after that. Pushed me to go out. Tried to make me have more fun.” Tess swallowed. “Marilyn is always good at seeing the fun parts in life.”
Her phone vibrated as a text came through. She didn’t recognize the number—but the text said:
It’s Marilyn. I’m downstairs. I need you.
Her head whipped up. Relief made her feel a little light-headed. “Marilyn is downstairs. She needs—”
He took the phone from her. Stared at the screen. “No.”
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Hadn’t he heard her? “Marilyn needs—”
“You don’t know that this is Marilyn. This could be the bastard after you.”
“Or it could be Marilyn! Look, we have to find out. What if she’s hurt? She said she needs me. I can’t just leave someone who might be hurt down there!” Did he not understand her whole Hippocratic Oath? She had to help people.
And this wasn’t just people. This was one of her best friends. “I’m going down there.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I am. I’ll check the scene. You stay here behind the security system. Blair and Linc will be arriving any minute. I’ll get them to help me canvas the scene downstairs. If your friend is there, I’ll get her.” His lips pressed together. “And if it’s not your friend, I’ll take care of whoever the hell is down there.”
She pushed him toward the door. Someone had to get down there. Fast. “Go!”
***
Cole didn’t like this setup. Not one damn bit. He’d tried to call Blair and Linc on his way downstairs, but they hadn’t answered him. Neither had James.
When he reached the road, he didn’t see anyone. Or at least, no one who seemed suspicious.
There was a lady with a stroller across the street, but she was playing with a baby, not even glancing his way. He kept close to the building. His gaze swept the scene for any vehicles that appeared suspicious. For anyone out of place…
A group of school kids walked in a tight line near the red light. Looked like they were on some kind of tour or field trip.
No sign of Marilyn. No sign of anyone who seemed dangerous. The whole scene felt normal.
He whirled and headed back into the building. But as he did, Cole caught a glimpse of blonde hair as a woman inside rushed toward the elevator.
“Marilyn?” Cole called as he hurried after her. His holster—and gun—were hidden beneath his coat.
The elevator doors started to close. He shoved his hand through them, activating the motion sensor so that the doors would open once more. As they flew back, he could see her figure huddled against the rear wall of the elevator.
Her scrubs were wrinkled and torn in a few spots. Her hair hung over her face. Her chest rose and fell with jerky, frantic movements. Her hands were hidden behind her back.
“Marilyn? What happened?”
Her head tilted back. Her big, blue eyes—wide and desperate—met his. There was an angry, red mark on her face. A hand print?
“Did someone hurt you?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “He did…”
***
The bullet slammed into Devin’s right leg. He screamed and immediately dropped his gun as he fell to the floor. Then the doctor was clutching his bleeding leg, rocking back and forth, and continuing to scream.
I don’t have time for this shit. James crossed the room in an instant and put the gun to Devin’s head. “Stop screaming.”
Devin stopped. But his eyes…when he looked at James, his gaze didn’t seem to focus.
“Shit, man, are you high?”
Devin’s body weaved. “Got to…h-help…Tess…”
“Just how the hell are you going to help Tess?” He jerked his head toward the wall of photos. “You been stalking her? You been after her?” When the hell had those photos been put up? James had been in that building the previous week doing a survey.
Set-up. Feels like—
“Not me…h-help Tess…” Devin’s voice was slurred.
Yeah, the guy was definitely on something. And…
James unclenched his jaw. “What did you take?”
“N-nothing…”
Lie. “What did you want to tell me about that hospital corridor and Tess’s attack?”
For an instant, some of the confusion seemed to clear from Devin’s eyes. “Tess. She was hurt.”
“Yes, she was. Who the hell hurt her? Was it you, did you—”
“Marilyn,” he breathed.
“What about her? Where is—”
“Marilyn…hurt her.”
James’s blood iced.
***
Just as Cole reached out for Marilyn, she lunged forward. Her right hand flew up, and she plunged something into his neck.
It was…
Shit.
A syringe. He threw out his own arm, trying to grab her. But she laughed and danced back. Screw this. He fumbled for the gun in his holster.
Only…
>
His fingers weren’t working quite right.
“Down, down you go,” Marilyn sang out.
He looked back. The elevator doors had closed. It didn’t seem like the elevator was moving, though. Had she stopped the elevator?
Everything started spinning. Black dots filled his vision, and—when the hell had he collapsed on the floor?
She crouched next to him. Patted his cheek. “Why don’t you just enjoy the trip? When you wake up, it will all be over.”
Trip? What trip—
The black dots danced more before his eyes, and a wave of heat enveloped him.
Fuck me.
Chapter Seventeen
A sharp knock pounded at the door. Tess had been pacing near the kitchen, but at the knock, she snapped to attention.
The knock came again.
She crept toward the door. Crept at first, then moved fast. Faster. Her hands slapped against the wood as she leaned forward and put her eye to the peephole.
Marilyn?
“Tess?” Marilyn shouted. She swayed a bit. “Tess, please, let me in. I don’t feel so well…”
Tess fumbled with the locks. She yanked open the door. Distantly, she was aware of a fast, hard beeping.
Christ. The alarm. I should have disengaged it before I opened the—
Marilyn fell into her arms. “Help…me.”
Tess pulled her inside. The stupid alarm kept beeping, but she ignored it for the moment. It could just wait.
But Marilyn winced. Her hand went to her forehead. “What is that? Just…turn it off. Please…turn it off.”
“No, that alarm will bring help.” She could see a red outline on Marilyn’s cheek. Someone had hit her? “You need help. The cops can come and we’ll get an ambulance and—”
“Turn it off!” Marilyn cried. Tears trickled down her cheeks. “It hurts…my head. Please.” She grabbed Tess’s hand. Held tight. “We’ll call an ambulance,” she whispered. “Just…turn off the alarm.”
Jaw locking, Tess slid away from her. She headed for the alarm panel. That morning, Cole had gone over the new alarm system with her. He’d told her all the codes. Told her how the alarm system was even equipped with cameras and how the feeds would go to her phone.
“Please…” Marilyn whispered from behind her.
From…very close behind her.
Marilyn was on her feet. Still swaying but inching closer to Tess.
Tess’s fingers were poised over the keypad. “Where’s Cole?”
“Who?”
“He went downstairs to find you. Did you see him?” She was staring at the alarm.
A whimper came from Marilyn. “N-no. I didn’t. Please…turn it off.”
Tess fisted her fingers. “No.”
“What?” That one word. It didn’t sound so weak. Not so desperate. In fact, it sounded angry.
“I’m not turning off the alarm. I want the cops to come. I want help to come.” She spun to face one of her best friends. “You should have seen Cole. He went downstairs to find you. Where is Cole?”
Marilyn screamed. She lunged at Tess, and Tess realized there was something in Marilyn’s hand. Something she’d yanked out of the pocket of her scrubs. A syringe? Oh, hell, no.
Tess caught Marilyn’s wrist with both of her hands, and she squeezed as hard as she could. “What are you doing?”
Marilyn screamed again. A loud, guttural scream. She kicked at Tess, a sharp jab right to Tess’s knee. Tess felt her knee buckling. Shit. But as she fell, Tess hauled Marilyn down with her. They hit the floor. Rolled. Twisted. The syringe shot across the floor, and Tess fisted her right hand and plowed it into Marilyn’s side.
“Get the syringe!” Marilyn yelled.
Wait…who was she yelling that to?
Tess craned her head to the right. She could see a man’s expensive, leather shoes. He was standing just inside her doorway.
I didn’t lock the door back when Marilyn came inside. She fell into my arms, and I didn’t even shut the door. Oh, God.
Marilyn wasn’t working alone.
Tess’s gaze whipped upward. She frowned at the man. No, that didn’t make sense. How would he be working with Marilyn? Why?
Why is Marilyn doing this?
He didn’t reach for the syringe. Instead, he gave Tess a rueful smile. “Hi, Dr. Barrett.”
She shook her head and scrambled to her feet. Her knee felt weak, but it was holding her, and, blessedly, her alarm was still beeping. Help would come for her. She just had to buy enough time for that help to arrive.
“I’m really sorry to involve you in all this,” he said, voice regretful. “Because you seem like a nice enough person, and you did try to help my brother.”
She was staring at Morgan Waller. He was wearing an expensive suit, his hair was perfectly styled, and his features reflected just the faintest hint of sadness.
“Of course, it would have been better to simply let the addict die,” he continued in his regretful tone. “He was a waste, and I was tired of cleaning up his messes.”
Her breath came faster. “Your brother…he’s dead.”
“Yes. I killed him.”
Oh, God. He—
Marilyn grabbed her. “Gotcha.” She sank the syringe into the side of Tess’s throat. Tess screamed. Her hands flew up and her nails raked down Marilyn’s face.
Marilyn screamed, too.
As Tess felt the drugs sweeping through her body, she thought…Gotcha, too, bitch. I’ve got your DNA under my nails.
Though, that wouldn’t necessarily help with the whole matter of staying alive.
Black spots were dancing before her eyes. Her body felt slack and heavy, and it was her worst nightmare. Her past had come back to torture her.
She was thirteen and in a dark alley. The handsome stranger was grabbing for her—
He had blue eyes.
Bright, blue eyes.
Why hadn’t she remembered that detail before?
The past vanished.
“We have to turn off that fucking alarm!” Marilyn cried out. “It’s driving me crazy. It’s—”
“I’ll take care of it. Give me a second!” Morgan reached out to lock his fingers around Tess’s shoulders.
Tess tried to scream. Only a whimper came from her.
“Sorry I had to involve you,” Morgan told her. His face came in and out of her vision. “But your boyfriend needs to learn that you don’t mess with my world and get to vanish without a trace. He’ll get what’s due to him.”
Wait…this…this was about James?
“Turn off the alarm right now, or I will kill you here.”
He’d dragged her before the alarm panel. He lifted her hand. Held her fingers as she slowly typed in the code. The alarm…stopped.
But an instant later, her phone rang.
“That’s the alarm company.” His breath blew over her ear. “You give them your verbal code and you tell them that you’re okay. If you don’t, I will put a bullet in your heart.”
Marilyn had grabbed Tess’s phone. She shoved it to Tess’s ear.
Tess could barely focus. Maybe they shouldn’t have pumped her full of drugs before getting her to talk.
She felt the gun dig into her.
Tess whispered the code. Said she was okay.
“Good girl,” Morgan praised.
She wasn’t a girl. She was tired of being fucking good.
And why was everything so very dark?
Morgan repositioned her so that he was carrying her in his arms. She lost time for a moment, and when she managed to open her eyes again, they were in the building’s elevator.
Wait…was that…on the floor… “Cole?”
“I gave him more than I gave you. He was in the way.” Marilyn stroked back a lock of Tess’s hair. “I didn’t want this for you. You were supposed to be good. Supposed to be better. I forgave you for what you’d done. I even thought that you’d helped me. But then you went out and fell for that killer. You even told me s
o. I mean, I tried to give you an out this morning. I came by, before things went too far—”
Too far? Was she serious? Everything was too far!
“I was giving you the chance to reject him. You didn’t. You stood in your kitchen and told me you loved him. Him. A killer.”
“I told her all about James,” Morgan added. “She knows exactly what he is. And he’s far too much like her brother.”
“There’s no going back now.” Marilyn’s fingers lingered on Tess’s cheek. “This is all on you. Your choice.”
Tess couldn’t make sense of what they were saying. Her body was numb. Blackness leaked across her vision and—
Ding.
They were moving. Exiting the elevator. A few moments later, she could feel the sun on her face. Feel the breeze blowing against her. She could—
“My girlfriend is ill. We’re taking her to the doctor,” Morgan announced.
Who was he telling that to? Who was—
Tess cracked open one eye. Saw a woman…with a stroller?
“I’m a nurse,” Marilyn supplied quickly. “We’ve got her. Don’t worry.”
“H-help…” Tess whispered.
Marilyn patted her arm. “Don’t you worry, dear. We are going to help you.”
They put her in the back of a car. Drove away.
And she couldn’t speak. Couldn’t fight. Could barely feel at all. No, her body could barely feel. Her heart and soul could feel plenty. Inside, deep inside, she was terrified. Desperate. She was being taken away. They planned to use her against James.
They were going to kill James. Then her.
No. I can’t let it happen. I won’t.
“Aw, she’s crying,” Marilyn said. She wiped away Tess’s tears. “Don’t worry. You’re my friend. I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt.”
***
James raced into Tess’s building. He’d tried calling her—over and over again—but she hadn’t answered. He’d tried to reach Linc and Blair. Nothing. Tried to get Cole.
Cole’s phone just rang and rang.
Where was everyone?
The building was deserted. No real surprise since he knew the tenants on the first floor were on an extended trip to Europe, but…
The silence seemed too oppressive. Too complete.