Blood of Innocence

by Tami Dane

  “Oh.”

  “I’m guessing whoever killed Madeline Klinger thinks they’ve copied our unsub’s MO. Fischer’s done a good job of keeping certain key pieces of evidence out of the press, though. So he didn’t realize there should be no blood.”

  “This is awful.”

  JT motioned toward the bathroom. “He dumped the blood in the toilet after draining it.”

  “Please tell me she wasn’t pregnant.”

  JT didn’t respond.

  “Bastard. Are you thinking it’s the husband?”

  “Everything points to him.”

  Angry and irritated, I swept my gaze over the horrific scene. “What’s he still doing here?”

  “He’ll be taken in for questioning soon. We don’t want him to know what we suspect. We want him to think we’re pegging this on the ‘Baltimore Vampire.’”

  “‘Baltimore Vampire’?” I echoed.

  “Yeah, that’s what the press has dubbed her. Oh, and they’ve also decided she is a he.”

  “That’s interesting.”

  “At any rate, this is clearly not a case for us. So we’ll be stepping aside on this one.”

  “Just for kicks ...” I motioned to the window. “Should I check it?”

  JT shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

  I checked the screen. Intact. “Okay. I’m ready.”

  We thanked Klinger on our way out, and passed two uniforms as they were heading in to escort him down to the precinct for a friendly chat.

  With what that guy did to his wife, and the innocent unborn child she was carrying, I hoped the guy got what he deserved. And then some.

  “Bastard,” I muttered as JT walked me to the car. “What do you think it was? Money?”

  JT stopped on the opposite side of the car, looking at me over the roof. “That would be my first guess. He has no priors. Lost his job recently. And the house was in foreclosure.”

  “So he decided his wife and child didn’t deserve to live?” I slid into the seat, cranked the engine, and powered down the window.

  JT shook his head as he ducked down to look in at me. Bent at the waist, he leaned his arms against the door. “Part of our job is to think like a killer, to anticipate their next move. But that doesn’t mean we really understand their motivations.”

  “I don’t think I want to try.”

  “I hear you.”

  My phone rang. I glanced at the display. Dad. I checked the clock on my dashboard. It was eleven twenty-eight. I lifted an index finger, letting JT know I was going to take the call, and answered.

  “I need you to come with us. I’m not sure I can do this alone,” he said in greeting.

  This was a man who protected a queen. This was a man who commanded an army.

  “I need to talk to you anyway, Dad. Your appointment’s at twelve, right? You didn’t change it.”

  “I didn’t change it.”

  “Hang on, Dad.” To JT, I said, “Where are you going now?”

  “Back to the office for a while.”

  “I’m going to meet up with my dad, talk to him about the case.”

  “Good. Call me when you’re done.”

  “Will do.” After giving JT a farewell wave, I tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder and pulled away from the curb. “There’s no chance I’ll make it before twelve.”

  “Please. I need you here.”

  “It’s physically impossible. I’m at a crime scene. It’ll take at least a half hour to get—”

  “I’ll do anything.”

  “You’ll tell your queen you can’t travel for the rest of Mom’s pregnancy?”

  Silence.

  “You said you needed to talk to me about something,” he then said, trying to force me into backing down.

  “I can’t do that over the phone. Time’s ticking,” I told him, sensing I had him.

  “Fine,” he snapped.

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  And I was. It just wasn’t at twelve on the dot. But I hadn’t promised I’d make it on time. That’s not to say I took my sweet time getting there. I broke a few laws, rolled through a few stop signs, and stretched the speed limits a bit when I could.

  My father looked relieved when I eventually found him and my mother sitting on a bench outside of Allegra Love’s mysterious black psychic reading room. “She’s still in there with the last couple. I don’t think things are going so well,” he whispered. “I hear someone crying.”

  “You’ll be fine,” I said, sitting on the other side of Mom. “How are you feeling?” I asked her.

  “Starving. Do you have anything in your purse to eat?” She eyed my handbag and licked her lips.

  “No. I might have some gum.”

  “That’ll work, I guess.”

  I pulled out the pack and started to take a stick out for her, but she snatched the whole thing and stuffed it in her mouth, foil wrappers and all.

  Dad sighed.

  I stared. “It generally tastes better without the wrappers.”

  She gulped. Smiled. “Delicious. Do you have more?”

  I looked at Dad.

  He shrugged. “She ate two Whoppers, a large fry, and an ice-cream sundae on the way here. That was twenty minutes ago.”

  “I can’t help it if I get hungry,” Mom said, sounding wounded. “It’s the baby. She’s doing it to me. I eat and a little while later, I’m starving again.”

  “I’m sorry, dear.” My father patted her knee. “We’re not trying to make you feel bad.”

  Mom smoothed her skirt over her thighs. “If you tell me I look fat, I’ll cry.”

  The door swung open and a woman with bloodshot eyes, and a bad case of running mascara, emerged; a man was cradling her elbow. Her gaze was locked on the floor as she sniffled and snorted past us and out the main exit.

  What the hell was that all about?

  Allegra Love came out, gave my mother and father an assessing look, then asked, “Are you ready?”

  I thought about telling my folks to forget the whole thing. But before I could get a word out, my mother shot to her feet.

  “You bet,” Mom said.

  My father followed.

  I stood, thinking I’d go in with them, but Allegra Love blocked the door with her ample body.

  “No one but the couple is permitted in the room during the reading. It throws off my reception.”

  What a freaking quack.

  “Reception of what?” I asked.

  “Energy. Everyone casts off waves of energy at different frequencies. I sense those frequencies and determine whether the couple’s energy waves are harmonious or discordant.”

  “I won’t say a word.”

  She flinched as if I’d poked her or something. Shifting back, away from me, she said, “That won’t make a difference. I’m sorry. You’ll have to wait outside.” She stepped into the room and slammed the door in my face.

  Rudeness is so unnecessary.

  Mumbling a few expletives under my breath, I pressed an ear to the door. I could hear voices but couldn’t make out any words. They were too muffled.

  I returned to my seat.

  What seemed like six hours later, my phone rang. Thankful for a distraction from the monotony, I answered.

  “Hey.”

  JT, the caller, said, “Hey back. Where are you?”

  “At the house of some crackpot psychic minister. She’s doing a ‘reading’ of my parents to see if their energies are harmonious.”

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “I’m stuck here for at least a little while longer. I’d leave, but if this thing goes bad, my father’s going to need my help.”

  “Where’s the house?”

  I gave him the address, and he said he’d be there in ten minutes and hung up.

  After what felt like an hour, he was being escorted back to where I was waiting.

  “Are they still in there?” JT indicated the closed door with a tip of his head.

 
“Yes. They’ve been shut up in that room for quite a while. Not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad one.”

  “Hopefully, they’ll stay in there a little longer. I need to talk to you.”

  “What’s so important? Is it the case?”

  He shifted in his seat, turning so his body was angled toward mine. “No, it’s personal.”

  “Okay.”

  JT fumbled with his laptop case. “You see, I’ve been wanting to tell you something—”

  The door swung open and my mother, looking very cheery, came prancing out of the room. “Our energies are perfectly matched,” she told me. “Of course, I never had any doubts.”

  My father, walking behind her, gave me a thank-God-it’s-over look.

  Mom swung around to address Allegra Love. “Then we’ll see you in three weeks.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.” Reverend Love slid a glance our way before smiling at Mom. “Good-bye.”

  Mom threw her a wave and half-danced/half-walked down the hall toward the exit.

  Dad gave me another look. “Are you coming back to the house for lunch?” he asked. “You said you wanted to talk to me about your case.”

  “I had Sergio make your favorite too,” Mom yelled.

  I glanced at JT. “I guess I’d better, then.”

  JT didn’t appear too happy about my response. “I really need to talk to you, Sloan.”

  “He can come too!” Mom shouted.

  “I’d hate to make you drive all the way over to my folks’ house when you have so much work to do.”

  Of course, he’d driven over here to tell me something. That meant he’d already gone out of his way. And he hadn’t had a chance yet to tell me whatever it was that he’d come to say.

  “How about we talk here? That way, you can get back to Quantico sooner?” I suggested to JT.

  To Dad, I said, “I’ll be over in a few minutes.”

  “All right. See you later.” Dad left.

  Allegra Love cleared her throat. She moved closer, extending her arms in front of her, fingers spread, hands held palm out toward us. She closed her eyes and smiled.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s ... remarkable.”

  With absolutely no warning, she grabbed my arm and practically broke into a sprint, dragging me back toward her psychic reading room.

  “I must get a clean reading.”

  At the door, she motioned to a very confused-looking JT. “Young man, please follow me.”

  He hesitated for a moment before following us into the room.

  Allegra Love sat. I started toward the door. “If you leave, I’ll have no choice but to call your parents and cancel.”

  Sneaky, manipulative woman!

  “This had better be quick.” I glared at her and plunked into the closest chair. JT sat in the chair next to me.

  She lifted her hands again, holding them upright, palms facing us. She closed her eyes. “Oh, yes. My goddess, yes.”

  JT and I exchanged bewildered glances.

  “Your energies are so harmonious. They produce the most amazing effect. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I feel almost”—she swayed—“intoxicated.”

  “‘Intoxicated’?” I mouthed to JT.

  JT grinned and shrugged.

  “That’s all fine and good, but we need to get going,” I said to the intoxicated minister.

  Love’s eyes snapped open. “You two are lovers.”

  “No, we aren’t,” I stated matter-of-factly.

  Reverend Love’s gaze shifted to JT.

  He shrugged. “We’re coworkers. It’s against bureau policy.”

  Love shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. There’s no way anyone could ignore such a strong natural force. Your energies are like two magnets, drawn toward each other. Like the pull of the Earth on the Moon. Nobody, not even your boss, will be able to stop it.”

  I’d heard enough. More than enough. Had JT paid ... ?

  I snapped a glare to JT. “Did you by any chance pay this woman to say these things to me?”

  “I’ve never spoken to this woman before in my life. I swear.”

  I checked his face for any sign of deception. Seeing none, I checked Allegra Love’s face next.

  She shook her head. “I’ve never spoken to your friend. I don’t even know his name. I’m telling you the truth. You two aren’t merely compatible. You are soul mates. Your energies resonate on a level I’ve never seen before. It’s beautiful.”

  Not completely convinced of anything, especially our magically resonating souls, I beat a retreat, with JT at my heels. I got as far as the door before remembering I had promised to let JT get off his chest whatever he’d come to tell me.

  I rested against my car’s passenger-side door. “Okay, you drove a long way to talk to me. Why? What’s so important you couldn’t wait to tell me later?”

  “It’s not that it’s so important, but that it’s personal, and I know you’d like to keep our personal lives out of work.”

  “Fair enough.” I motioned with my head that he should proceed.

  “I can’t keep this from you anymore. It’s about Hough.”

  “Yeah?”

  “She’s pregnant. And I’m the child’s biological father.”

  It took a few seconds for his words to sink in. When they did, something inside of me coiled into an excruciating knot. My lungs deflated. Thankfully, I had the car to support me. If it hadn’t been there, I would have probably been lying on the ground.

  “She’s ... pregnant. And you’re the father,” I mumbled.

  “I am.”

  “Then it’s true. You’re sleeping with her. You said it wasn’t what I thought.”

  “We had sex once. Only one time.”

  “Sure. Only once.” I jerked open the door and tossed my purse on the seat before rounding the front end of the car.

  JT stopped me just before I reached the driver’s-side door. He yanked on my arm. “Sloan, let me explain.”

  “Explain? JT, I’ve known where babies come from since I was three. What’s to explain? Sperm meets egg. They fuse. Twenty-three chromosomes become forty-six—”

  “There’s a whole helluva lot more to it than that.”

  “Oh, I’m sure there is!” Ready to kick JT in the noodle, thereby assuring his gametes would never again meet an ovum, I gritted my teeth. “You’d better let me go right now, or your baby-making days will be over.”

  He let go. Smart man.

  I jerked open my car door and plopped into the seat. The second I had the door closed, JT was at the window, knocking. Ignoring him, I started the car, shifted into reverse, and pulled out of the parking spot.

  As I drove away, tears of fury and hurt blurred my vision. I just kept blinking and driving until I couldn’t see a damn thing. Then I pulled over and let it all out. I cried until my head felt like it might split in two and my tear ducts had dried up. Then I let my head fall forward. My forehead rested against the steering wheel.

  A knock on my window made me jump.

  I looked. “Are you kidding me?”

  “Sloan, are you okay?” JT mouthed.

  “I’m fine. Go away,” I mouthed back.

  He didn’t go away.

  I rolled down the window. “JT, I don’t know what you expect me to say.”

  “I don’t expect you to say anything. I just want you to listen.”

  “But I don’t want to hear any more.”

  “I kind of got that when you just about ran me over.”

  “I didn’t get even remotely close to running you over. Believe me, if I had wanted to, I could’ve run you over.”

  “The truth is, Hough—Brittany—asked me to be a donor.”

  “Yeah? So what’s wrong with doing it the old-fashioned way? Shooting it into a bottle and then letting the doctor put it in there with a meat-baster thingy?”

  He gave me a really? look. “Doing it the natural way was less complicated. And less expensive. I didn’t
want to make her pay a doctor to do what I can do for free.”

  What a freaking pathetic excuse. “Oh, and I’m sure you enjoyed every minute of it.”

  JT shoved his fingers through his hair, pulling it out of the low ponytail he’d slicked it into. I tried not to notice how incredibly hot he looked with his hair loose. That was the last thing I needed to be noticing.

  “I really didn’t enjoy it. It was ... awkward. But I’m beginning to see you aren’t going to believe that.”

  “If you managed to finish the job, which you clearly did, then you couldn’t have found it too terribly ‘awkward, ’ could you?” I waved him away. “Not that it matters, anyway. Not that any of this matters. After all, we’re coworkers. We aren’t lovers. We’ll never be lovers. And I don’t give a damn about harmonious energies or soul mates. That’s all a bunch of bullshit.” When JT didn’t say anything else, I asked, “So, are you done explaining?”

  “I guess so.” He stepped back from the car.

  I roared away, leaving him eating my dust.

  If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.

  —Frank A. Clark

  16

  I was not in the mood to deal with my parents, but I knew I needed to get over there. Hoping Mom might be preoccupied with a movie or something, I roared over to their place, parked the car, and dragged myself inside.

  Sergio met me at the door with a sparkly-toothed grin. I grunted a greeting at him and shuffled past him.

  “Your parents are out on the patio,” he informed me.

  “Thanks.” I headed out to join them.

  When I got outside, my father was staring at the huge outdoor television, while my mother was floating around in the pool.

  “Sloan, why don’t you come for a swim before you eat,” Mom said, waving me toward the water.

  “No thanks. I can’t stay long. I’m on my lunch break. I need to get back to work.”

  She pouted, then went back to fluttering around. I took a seat by my father.

  Sergio came out, bearing a plate and a glass of something. “Your lunch.”

  Salad.

  Water.

  I grimaced. “I thought Mom said she’d had him make my favorite.”

  My dad shrugged. “Lately she says a lot of things. Most of them make no sense whatsoever.”