Red Red Rose

by Stephanie Hoffman McManus

  “Those aren’t the flowers I ordered,” I told him.

  He looked down at the slip in his hand then back at me. “Says six dozen red roses, and that’s what I’ve got here.”

  “I ordered six dozen pink and white roses, not red,” I explained.

  “Look, if you don’t want the flowers, I can take them back, but I’m just the delivery guy, so if there’s a problem with the order, you’ll have to call the shop. Might be able to get a replacement order over here in the morning.”

  I sighed, I didn’t want the red roses, but I doubted I’d be able to get the pink and white ones this late. “It’s fine, I’ll take these ones.”

  But they better not have charged me more for the red ones. I signed the delivery confirmation and took the flowers into the storage room where they would stay cool overnight. Then I returned to the office to call the flower shop and find out what happened with my order, and see if I could make them think I was upset enough to get a discount.

  After hanging up with Lois at the flower shop, I went to track down Reggie and Mitch and cornered them both. “Did either of you call the shop and change the flower order?” Lois had informed me that they’d received a call last week altering the order from the pink and white flowers to the red ones.

  “No, why?” Reggie answered first, and then Mitch also denied having done it.

  “The lady at the flower shop said someone from here called and changed the order.” She also said they’d sent me a second email invoice when the order was changed. I’d ignored it, thinking it was just a copy, which meant I was out of luck with the discount, and the red roses had cost more. Not much, but enough that I was pissed off at whoever did this.

  “Weird. Could it have been one of the girls?” Reggie asked.

  “No, she said it was a guy.”

  They both insisted they hadn’t done it, but it left me wondering who made the call and why they would have. I hadn’t thought to ask Lois if she was certain the call came from our shop, or if the caller only said he was from Urban Grind. I didn’t even understand why someone would do this, or who would even know about the flower order. Either way, I was not amused if it was somebody’s idea of a prank.

  I was still stewing over the flowers when I got home and found more of them mocking me on my front porch. My first thought was Nathan. That prick had to be behind the flowers at the shop as well. I should have known, but then he didn’t occur to me because he shouldn’t have even known about the flowers I ordered for the shop.

  The flowers and my anger at Nathan were the distraction that kept me from realizing the alarm didn’t beep when I opened the door. I’d already shut and locked it behind me before I realized something wasn’t right. And then I turned and saw Shaw sitting on my couch and the bouquet slipped from my fingers and fell to the floor.

  Twenty-One

  Time seemed to stop for just a moment and I was frozen in place. For the first time in my life I understood the whole deer-caught-in-headlights thing. I’d always wondered, why don’t they just run?

  I should have run, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not until I watched him stand and then it was too late. His movement snapped me out of my daze and I turned, my hand flying to the deadbolt, but I barely slid it back and grabbed the doorknob before his hand reached over me from behind and slammed against the door, stopping me from opening it. I whimpered pathetically and spun around with the hope of running to the back door, but he caged me in and had me pinned against the door before I could take my next terrified breath.

  “Calm down, Nora,” he spoke softly, but his words were anything but soothing.

  “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one trapped in your house with a psychopath,” I spit, and then hoped to catch him off guard by swinging my fist at his face. He was ready for me and caught my wrist. He used it as leverage to spin me around and hold me to him, my back pressed to his front.

  “I’m not going to hurt you.” Warm breath tickled my ear and I couldn’t stop the shudder that ran through me.

  “Right, you just broke into my house so we could play Monopoly and paint each other’s nails.”

  His low laughter rumbled from his chest and vibrated through my body. It was such a shame he was an evil psychopath, otherwise I would find this position quite enjoyable. As it was, I was having a hard time remembering that he was the bad guy.

  “I’ll pass on the painting each other’s nails tonight, but I swear I’m not going to hurt you. I just need to talk to you.”

  “Perfect, then why don’t you let me go, and I can call Detective Parker down here and we can all have a lovely chat over a cup of tea.”

  Another laugh. “You don’t even like tea.”

  I clenched my jaw and spoke through gritted teeth. “Don’t act like you know me.”

  He tightened the arm that was wrapped around me, and slid his other hand up to my throat where he cupped my jaw and forced my head to the side so that I was looking up at him over my shoulder as much as I could. “I do know you Nora, and if you would just open your damn eyes and look at me, you’d see that you know me too.”

  “I am looking at you, and all I see is the creep who took my best friend and all those other girls.” It was hard to speak with his hand still holding my jaw, but he heard me, loud and clear and I watched a mask of frustration slip over his features as his eyes darkened.

  “Dammit, Nora,” he growled. “That’s not what you see. That’s what you think you’re supposed to believe, but look at me and tell me the truth. Do you really believe I could do that?”

  I wouldn’t answer, so once again I found myself being spun around, until my back met the hard door and Shaw loomed over me. This time when he placed his finger against the underside of my chin and lifted, I closed my eyes before he could force my gaze to meet his. I was afraid of what I might see. Strike that, I was terrified that what I might see would confuse me more.

  “Look at me.” It was more a quiet plea than a command, which is why I was unable to resist. There was nothing threatening or menacing in his tone, and despite the way he’d manhandled me, he’d been surprisingly gentle about it. He hadn’t hurt me once, and when I finally allowed myself to look into his eyes, they said he wouldn’t. In fact, they said a lot of things. Who knew pools of chocolate and gold could be so talkative, but with just a look, he was telling me all the things my ears refused to hear.

  I sagged against the door and tipped my head back, letting it smack against the wood. Whatever fight I’d had, left me. I closed my eyes once more and willed them not to start leaking, but it felt like all my little bits were breaking and falling apart as my head and heart battled. Then Shaw’s weight left me and there was nothing pinning me to the door.

  He’d taken a step back, and then I watched him take another. There was nothing stopping me from running out the door but myself.

  “Do you trust me?” I knew if I chose to run, he’d let me go. Don’t ask me how I knew, but I just did. That’s why I didn’t.

  “Yes.” God help me, but it was the truth, and if I was a fool then so be it; this man deserved a damn academy award.

  There was a brief moment when I saw relief wash over his face, but then he hid his emotions behind an unreadable mask and turned to walk into my living room. Once again I was left with the choice of running. I didn’t. I chose him and after a minute of mentally debating my choice, I followed him. He sat on my sofa and didn’t say a word while my eyes took in the clutter spread out on the coffee table before him. I felt his eyes on me, but I couldn’t drag mine from the images I was seeing, and then one in particular caught my gaze. My eyes snapped warily to Shaw’s.

  “Why do you have that picture?” I pointed at the photograph.

  “Like I said, we need to talk.”

  “Then start talking, because I’m about two minutes from making a run for it and calling the cops and having you arrested for breaking into my house. Speaking of, how the hell did you get past my alarm?”

  “Easy. I
’m the one who installed it.”

  “What?”

  “I’m the one who set up your security system, Nora.”

  “But James called a security company.”

  “No, he told you he did, but he called me. He just couldn’t tell you that.”

  “Why?”

  “Come sit down and I’ll explain everything, and if it will make you feel any better, both Parker and Monroe know I’m here.”

  I hesitated a moment before walking over and dropping onto the opposite end of the couch. Once again my eyes scanned over all the photos and documents spread out on the coffee table. My attention shifted to Shaw once he started speaking.

  “Six weeks ago I got a call from an army buddy saying his old sergeant needed some help, the kind that I could offer. His daughter had gone missing and the police weren’t taking the disappearance seriously.”

  “John,” I connected the dots. “But why would he ask for your help?”

  “After I was fully recovered from injuries I sustained on my last op, the one that ended my career as a ranger, I signed on as a security consultant with a private contractor. We handle the shit that the cops can’t or won’t. Or the shit that our clients don’t want to take to the police. It’s all very much off book and requires a certain amount of anonymity. I know Monroe told you there were no records when they looked into me.”

  “I believe ghost was the word he used.”

  He nodded. “That’s exactly what I have to be sometimes. And I was hired by the Raynes to find Emily, or at the very least find out what happened to her.”

  I didn’t say anything for a full minute as I processed what he was telling me. “Is your real name even Spencer?” I don’t know why of all the questions I could and should have asked that was the first one to come out of my mouth.

  “Yes. Spencer Shaw is my real name. I don’t always use my real name, but in this case I had no reason to lie. If anyone wanted to look into me, they wouldn’t find a thing.”

  I couldn’t help the short, derisive laugh that escaped. “Well at least there’s that. Everything else about you was a lie, but hey at least you gave me your real name before you made me fall for you.”

  He blinked and then his hard features softened. “You fell for me?”

  I stood up. “Screw you, Shaw! Of course I did. Because you were perfect. You were sweet and charming, and witty and funny and you read the same books I do, and you kicked my ass at laser tag and paintball and poker and you let me sing in your truck and didn’t even make fun of me for how terrible I am,” I cried out all in one breath. “You carried me to bed and tucked in me in and then kissed me on the forehead.” I was shouting by this point and I threw up my arms. “Forehead kisses! How the hell is a girl not supposed swoon over that? You even made my dad like you and hugged my mom! So you tell me how I could have done anything but fall for you and your stupid act when you showed me exactly what I wanted to see.”

  He closed the distance between us and reached his hands up to take my face between his palms. “I showed you me, Nora. I swear to you, none of it was an act. It was never part of my plan. All I was supposed to do was watch you and the people close to Emily. It was you who made it impossible to stay in the background. You made me want to know you, and then you just made me want you.”

  “Stop.” I shoved his hands away and retreated, turning my back to him. “I can’t do this right now. I don’t know what I’m supposed to believe.”

  “I never wanted to hurt you, Nora, and I wish I had the time to make you see that you aren’t the only one who fell, because I did. I’m still falling fucking hard, but right now this isn’t about us. Right now this is about keeping you safe.”

  I turned. “You think the real killer is coming after me?”

  “I think you’re the one he’s wanted all along.” He reached for the picture on the table, the one that he shouldn’t have had, and handed it to me. I took it and, even though I’d seen her face a million times, I stared at the young girl looking back at me. Her auburn hair was wild like her personality. It looked like it hadn’t been brushed in days, because it hadn’t. A spattering of freckles covered her nose and cheeks. Barely twelve years old and already looking at the world through jaded eyes and a dark scowl.

  “Where did you get this?”

  “From your juvie file.”

  “It was supposed to be sealed.” My eyes flicked to the floor and then the far wall, anywhere but at him while shame flooded my cheeks.

  “It was, but I’m good with a computer, so I unsealed it.”

  “Why?” I let myself look at him.

  “I think we should sit back down.”

  I didn’t protest and we both walked back over to the couch. He drew in a deep breath before letting it out and beginning. “For a month now I’ve been chasing non-existent leads. Trying to turn up skeletons that aren’t there and find connections between Emily and the other victims. For the most part, I haven’t found a damn thing, but it’s because I was looking in the wrong closet, Nora. All along I thought it was about Emily. It wasn’t until this afternoon when I dug this up that I realized everyone has been looking in the wrong place.”

  “What do you mean? Why would you look into me? Why do you think I have anything to do with this? Because I used to have red hair? No one even knows that besides my parents. I started dying it black when I was thirteen. Not even Emily has ever asked what my natural hair color is. I don’t keep pictures from back then and she knows I don’t like to talk about my past. Emily went through a red hair phase in college. It’s more likely that whoever it is, knew her then.”

  “I already considered that, but it’s not just the hair, Nora. It’s everything. When I was dragged in for questioning, I started putting the pieces together.”

  “Why were you dragged in if you’ve been investigating the case? You guys are on the same team.”

  “But I couldn’t tell them that.”

  “Why not? It would have cleared your name much sooner.”

  “I couldn’t tell anyone, until I was sure of who could be trusted.”

  “You couldn’t trust me?” There was no masking the hurt in my voice.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. In the beginning I wasn’t sure of your part in any of this, but it became obvious almost right away that you weren’t in on whatever had happened to Emily. John had insisted as much, but I still had to make sure for myself, and then I couldn’t have you giving away what I was really up to. To anyone.”

  “So instead you used me as part of your cover?”

  “I never used you. Like I said, you weren’t part of the plan. Everything that happened with us was real.”

  “So you want me to believe that getting close to me wasn’t how you planned to catch this guy?”

  “I could have just as easily stayed in the shadows and gotten the information I needed that way. I just couldn’t. You were hurting so much those first few days I watched you. I could see that soul deep sadness on your face, but I could also see you had so much strength. I wanted to get to know you, not for the case. I’m sorry I had to keep my job a secret, but there were just too many people close to you. Like Officer Dipshit who’s obsessed with Emily and couldn’t see that she was kicking him to the curb, and that wannabe cop that works for you who seems a little unstable and has been turned down by every department he’s applied at.

  “I think unstable might be a little harsh, and just because he can’t make it as a cop, doesn’t make him a criminal. Honestly, my guess is his testing probably isn’t up to par and that’s the problem.”

  “Maybe. I’m going to see if I can find out why he’s been turned down. Then there’s the weird, computer genius who spends every day in your shop, the over-protective meathead, and your douchebag ex.”

  “You seriously think one of them is the guy? There’s no way. I know those guys!”

  “That’s just it, do you really? Because whoever is doing this is fixated on you, which means he’s probably tr
ied to insert himself into your life and gain your trust in some way. Even if it was through Emily.”

  “Then who do you think it is? Ben? Mitch?” I had a hard time buying either of them.

  “I’m not sure. It could be any one of them, or someone else, but now that I know you’re at the center of it, it should be easier to figure out.”

  “Ben was here this morning. To warn me you were released. Why would he do that if they know the truth now?”

  “Only the FBI, the chief and Parker know. I wouldn’t have even told them, except that when I realized you were in danger, I couldn’t wait for them to clear me on their own. It would have taken them too long. I gave them proof that I was nowhere near Washington until after Emily disappeared and I had them talk to her father. He confirmed that he’d hired me. After that I shared some of my theories about Ben and a few of the others and Monroe and Parker are looking into them.”

  “What is it that makes you so sure this is about me and not Emily? Monroe seemed pretty convinced the killer was only fixating on me because I was close to Emily and he wanted to be closer to her.”

  “Monroe showed me the pictures of Dana Winters, dressed in your clothes and jacket.”

  “But the jacket wasn’t mine, and if he came in here snooping through our laundry he could have easily mistaken the things in the hamper for Emily’s. She was probably even wearing some of those things the night she was taken. We shared just about everything.”

  “That was the theory Monroe gave as well, but I wasn’t so sure. After digging around your past, I am now. This is about you, not Emily. I don’t know why he took her, by my guess is she got in his way. She was standing between him and you.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “Have you seen any of the crime scene photos?”

  I shook my head.

  “It wasn’t released to the press, but the bodies were washed and then covered with rose petals after he placed them.”

  My gaze drifted to the roses on the floor in the entry way and then back to Shaw. “You think the roses . . .” My words hung in the air as I considered the possibility. It was definitely too much of a coincidence, but leaving roses on my porch still didn’t convince me that all of this was about me.