Before She Dies

by Mary Burton

  “Maybe.”

  “Why?”

  “This killer has a thing for witches. He’s drowned one and likely the second and marked both with tattoos. Both had connections to the carnival and at least one had a fortune-teller thing going on. So yeah, I think Mariah fits the profile.”

  “Honestly, you could be talking about me as well.”

  “I know. Which is why I want you to be very careful.”

  She offered a smile she was not feeling. “I am careful.”

  “We all think we are careful until we’re faced with a nut who is determined to kill and has nothing to lose.”

  She offered him a wan smile. “I’ve been faced with a nut and survived.”

  “You were lucky.”

  “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

  He rose and so did she. However, he moved around the desk and closed the gap between them. “So is the past the reason you wanted to keep things cool between us?”

  Color rose in her face. “It’s not wise to mix business with pleasure.”

  He stood at least six inches taller than her. “I’m not asking you what’s wise or not. I’m asking if your past has built that wall of ice around you.”

  “I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I know. The answer is yes. I saw my mother win and lose more men than I can count, and I witnessed enough girls at the club fall for a guy, reveal all, and then lose all. So, let’s just say I’ve not seen many successful relationships so I keep mine light.”

  “I’ve been thinking about the ground rules you set up.”

  “Nothing has changed.”

  He cupped her chin in his hand. The touch was gentle but possessive. He kissed her softly on the lips. “Time to renegotiate the rules, counselor.”

  For an instant she stood stunned, the soft pressure of his lips lingering on her own. “I don’t renegotiate.”

  “I do.”

  Grady stood in the growing shadows staring at the little curio shop located on Washington Street. Ageless had closed twenty minutes ago, and the entire brick building was dark except for the light in the room facing the side street. Sooner was in that room, moving, carrying, and unpacking boxes.

  Tonight Sooner had told him she was leaving the carnival when it closed next week. He’d thought she was kidding at first and had laughed. She’d gotten pissed and stalked out of his trailer.

  He’d decided to give her time to cool off and realize she had nowhere to go. He was her life.

  Tonight was her scheduled night off and in years past she always spent her night off alone in her trailer reading. When he’d knocked on her door ready to make peace, he’d realized she wasn’t there. He’d scrambled around the fairgrounds looking for her until Obie had told him she’d driven into Old Town. Two years ago, he’d put a tracker on her car, and so he’d activated it. He’d found her easily.

  Now as the evening cold seeped into his bones, he was torn between dragging her home and letting her learn firsthand some of life’s nasty lessons. He’d taken care of everything since she was a baby. She’d wanted for nothing. And now she was leaving him.

  She passed in front of the window again and stared out almost as if she knew he was out there. He sank deeper into the shadows.

  God, but she looked so much like Mariah. It was easy to watch and listen to her and be transported back to the time when Mariah had been alive and so full of life.

  He closed his eyes and tried to imagine Mariah’s laugh and the way her eyes lit up when he gave her a new shiny piece of jewelry. Just having her close had breathed life into him and made him excited about getting up each morning.

  And then just as quickly, she was gone.

  He glanced at his hands, remembering how cold her body had felt the last time he’d touched her. He fisted his fingers. He’d have given his own life in that moment if he could have taken back the events of that day.

  As he’d raised his poor dead Mariah in his arms, he’d held her close to his chest, whispering in her ear that he forgave her and would take care of her. She didn’t need to worry anymore. No one, not even he, could ever hurt her again.

  On that long-ago night, he’d glanced around the isolated stretch of woods and knew he could not leave her out in the woods for the animals to find. So he’d carried her body to the lake and laid her down, knowing she’d soon be found. He’d returned to camp and found Grace banging on his trailer door demanding to see Mariah. Grace was more like her mother than she’d ever dare admit. She had the Sight, though she’d done her best to deny it all her life. He’d organized a search party and soon led the group to Mariah.

  And now as he stared up at Sooner’s window and watched her pass, he had to wonder what she was doing with this new shop of hers? Did she really think she could make a new life?

  A car pulled up in front of the shop and parked. He recognized the BMW and wondered how Charlotte knew about Sooner’s secret place. “Figures you’d be mixed up in this, Grace. You always were the one that stirred up trouble.”

  He watched as Charlotte made a call on her cell phone. Upstairs Sooner answered hers and seconds later was downstairs to greet Charlotte. The two vanished back inside the building.

  Grace had put stupid, terrible thoughts into Mariah’s head back in the day. Education. Independence. Life doesn’t have to be this way. She’d done her best to shit all over the world he had built.

  And now she was trying to do the same thing again.

  He’d brought Sooner back to her for a specific reason that had nothing to do with Grace. If not for Sooner’s arrest and likely incarceration, he doubted they’d ever have stood face to face. But the kid had gotten into trouble and his back was to the wall, so he’d been forced to call Grace. He’d not expected to find her so changed and so well, and her success had stuck in his craw. He’d given in to pride and rubbed salt into her old wounds and he’d taken pleasure in her pain. But once he’d had his fun, he’d expected that to be that. He would keep what was his and she would be left alone.

  But as always, Grace had her own plans. “Well, you ain’t winning this tug of war, bitch.”

  He’d have dealt with her right here and now, but he had a more pressing matter—another person to hunt down.

  The smells of fresh paint mingled with the moo goo gai pan, fried rice, and steamed veggies packed in Charlotte’s takeout bag. The room was now a soft purple. The color had softened the stark white and gave the room a warm and serene feel. “The place looks great.”

  Sooner wore her long hair up, a red sweatshirt now splashed with purple paint, and cutoff jeans. “I’m really loving this place.”

  “Hey, I’m sorry things didn’t end so well for us the last time. I seem to have a talent for irritating you.”

  “You piss me off.”

  Charlotte shrugged. “It’s a talent.”

  Sooner laughed. “I can be pretty irritating as well.”

  Charlotte relaxed, grateful they were back again on peaceful ground. “I can see you’ve worked hard. So what’s next?”

  “I found the coolest bureau at a yard sale. The owner is a sweetie and he’s promised to deliver it to me tomorrow. Also, I bought a mirror from him and a couple of chairs. The space will be sparse at first, but it will fill in with time.”

  The girl’s excitement had stripped away the cool sophisticated air, and she looked just like an eighteen-year-old kid. “You’re making real headway.”

  “I can’t wait until it’s all done.”

  “Don’t suppose you’re hungry?”

  “I’m starving.”

  “Good.”

  Sooner pulled up two folding chairs and placed them by a large box. “It’s not a fancy table, but it will do.”

  “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

  They each took a seat and Charlotte handed out napkins, forks, and a couple of sodas. “So what’s in this box?”

  “Fabrics. A store was just gonna throw them out. I took them, knowing there will be something I can make.”
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  She handed Sooner a bento box. “Dig in.”

  “This is great. You didn’t have to do it. Especially considering I was a bitch to you the last time I saw you.”

  “I was worried about you.” She stabbed a piece of broccoli with her fork. “You tell Grady you were leaving?”

  “Yeah.”

  Charlotte stared at her food. “How did it go?”

  “I don’t think he believed me. He laughed. He said I didn’t have anywhere to go, and I had to stay with him. I told him to piss off and stormed out.”

  “He didn’t follow?”

  “No. He understands it’s final with me.”

  Charlotte shook her head. “Grady doesn’t let go very easily, Sooner. He’s not going to just watch you walk away from his carnival. There is always a price to pay.”

  “You walked away.”

  She set her fork down. “I was more trouble than I was worth.”

  Sooner’s eyes twinkled. “Really.”

  Charlotte smiled. “I can be a bitch, if you haven’t noticed.”

  “No. Really?”

  “Smart-ass.”

  They both laughed and settled into a silence. “Did he get along with Mariah?” She kept her voice low and her gaze down.

  “He liked her because she was beautiful, and she was sweet-tempered and so full of life. She could light up a room. I could be a handful.”

  “Why’d you leave?”

  “It was after Mariah died. I was having a lot of bad dreams and had to leave.” For a long moment neither spoke. “I wanted to take you with me, but Grady said he was going to put you up for adoption. I thought he’d let us both go. I thought, if I let him put you up for adoption, we’d both have a chance at a real life.”

  Sooner stared at a fork full of food. “Grady always said you didn’t want me.”

  Charlotte set her plate aside and laid her hand on Sooner’s. Eighteen years of sadness threatened to overflow. “That’s not true. I always wanted the best for you. He swore you’d have a normal life.” She shook her head. “I should have known he’d have a trick up his sleeve. I should have tracked him down and followed up. But he swore ...”

  Sooner shrugged. “Shit happens.”

  Charlotte kept her hand on Sooner’s arm. “I’d like us to be friends.”

  Sooner’s gaze filled with frustration and sadness. “Why?”

  “We’re family.”

  Tears filled her eyes and several spilled down her cheek. She shook her head and looked as if she wanted to say something, but then rejected it. “Did my mom love me?”

  Tell her. Tell her. “She loved you very much.”

  She swiped away a tear. “I think I’ve hated her all my life.”

  “She never hated you.” For several minutes they sat in silence. “Look, Sooner, I’m not so foolish to think we’re going to come together like the Brady Bunch.”

  “The who?”

  “Never mind. I just want us to be close. No strings. Just friends. Wouldn’t it be nice to know you have someone to call if there is trouble?”

  “Sure. I guess.”

  “I’m here if you need me.” She reached in her coat pocket. “I want to give you some cash. Think of it as a housewarming gift.”

  “Thanks, but no money.”

  She dug deeper in her purse for her wallet. “Why not? You can use it to furnish the place.”

  “No charity. I work for my money. Period.”

  She’d not expected that. “Please take the money.”

  “No.”

  She shoved out a breath, realizing her respect for the girl had risen sharply. “I’m throwing a charitable fund-raiser. It’s kind of a Halloween theme. Actually my partner is doing all the work. Proceeds go to cancer research. It’s this Saturday.”

  “Good.”

  “We could use a card reader. Someone to liven up the party. I mean Angie’s got a band and food and jugglers but no card readers. It’s honest work. And it pays well.”

  She stared at Charlotte for a long moment. “It’s for charity.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sure, I’ll do it. But I’ll donate my services.”

  “I want to pay you.”

  “No. I can give just like everyone else.”

  “I want to pay you.”

  “If it will make you feel better, I’ll bring my shiny new business cards and pass them out. I’ll consider it a marketing event.”

  Charlotte shook her head. “Why won’t you let me help you?”

  “No one helped you.”

  “No. And I took some shortcuts that I regret. It would be nice if you could avoid mistakes like that.”

  “I won’t make those mistakes.”

  Charlotte arched a brow. “Sooner.”

  “You’ll keep me on the right path, I’ve no doubt.”

  She smiled. “I’m going to do my best.”

  The two ate in silence for several minutes before Charlotte said, “I want you to be very careful. There is a nutcase out there killing women.”

  “I read about that woman in the paper.”

  “You’ll be reading about another one in the morning paper. She was killed the same way.”

  “That doesn’t mean I’m in danger.”

  “This guy seems to have a thing for strong women and the carnival.”

  “Grady’s carnival.”

  “I think you could be his perfect victim.”

  He dug the knife blade into the end of the wooden shaft and pushed hard until the wood splintered and slid free. Without much thought he repeated the process over and over until the tip of the wood reached razor sharpness. Setting the knife down, he pressed his thumb to the tip, watching in fascination as his skin tore and bled. Smiling, he laid the stake down next to the seven others he’d fashioned.

  Four were reserved for Sooner and four for Grace.

  Two witches.

  Two deaths.

  Excitement sent his heart gaveling against his ribs. Their deaths would be a great triumph that he would savor for a very long time. Drawing a breath as he stood, he wiped the blood from his thumb with a rag.

  As much as he wanted to stay in this room, sequestered with his thoughts and fantasies, it was time to focus on his life outside. He had another life with people who loved him despite his dedication to justice. Tonight he’d promised his love a real date. It would be time for just the two of them. He would find the right words to say, listen as a lover should, and win back her love.

  Even a warrior needed a life outside of battle.

  He carefully rolled down the sleeves of his shirt, fastened his cuffs, and then tugged them down over his wrists. The cuts in his arms were bandaged but he still had to be careful. It wouldn’t do to start bleeding again.

  As he slid on his jacket, he glanced at the wall where he displayed his photos. They were the faces of evil, the witches he had slain. Maya had brought the number of images to eighteen. Gently he traced the photo image of her terrified face.

  Satisfaction collided with anticipation. By Saturday night, the number of photos on his wall would be twenty.

  Chapter 18

  Thursday, October 28, 11 a. m.

  Rokov had expected a needle in the haystack when he’d started searching for Mariah Wells. Armed with her name, a picture, and the date she died, he didn’t hold out much hope that he’d find anything. He contacted the surrounding jurisdictions, gave them her vital statistics, and asked them to check morgue files. He also called Dr. Henson and asked her to review old autopsy files.

  It was just after eleven when Sinclair appeared in his doorway, file in hand. “I’ve got all the missing persons reports on women who match our second victim.”

  He took the files from her. “Great.”

  “Word is you’re asking about another missing persons case. What gives?”

  “How do you know everything?”

  “It’s a gift. And I’ve also got a file from Fairfax. An officer just dropped it off. It’s the file yo
u requested.”

  “Mariah Wells.”

  “Jane Doe as far as he’s concerned.” She glanced at the folder tab. “Murdered eighteen years ago.”

  Rokov sat back in his chair and dragged his hands over his short hair. He opened the file and examined the autopsy picture. She’d been dead at least a day. Her lips had turned black and her skin a sallow gray. But this was Mariah.

  “Who is she?”

  “She was Charlotte Wells’s sister. Mariah Wells.”

  “Charlotte doesn’t know her sister is dead?”

  “She knows. She believes she drowned in an accident.”

  “That chick did not die accidentally.”

  “You looked at the file already?”

  “Sure. It isn’t often you call in favors. That’s not your style. I had to see what all the fuss was about. I take it she’s related to Sooner Tate? Mother?”

  “Has to be. She gave birth at seventeen and was murdered shortly after.”

  “So Charlotte is the girl’s aunt? Explains why she was with her in court.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So how did you find out about Mariah?”

  “I asked her about working in the carnival. The rumors are true. When I told her about the second murder and that both victims had been to the carnival, she opened up about Mariah. I’m worried that the carnival owner might be involved.”

  “What do we know about Grady?”

  “He wasn’t at the carnival when I went by. No one has seen him today. I was just reading up on the old guy. Seems he has more than his share of trouble with the law.”

  “A carnie butting heads with the law. Shocking.”

  “Most of his crimes happened in his teens and early twenties. Stealing. Assault. Drunk in public. But he seems to have settled down by his late twenties. Or at least he got older and wiser and just managed to stay out of trouble.”

  “How does he know Charlotte?”

  “Her stepfather more or less. I’m not sure if the marriage to Charlotte and Mariah’s mother was legal.”

  “How long has he been running the carnival?”

  “Thirty years.”