“You see, Jodi was stuck in this little bitty town for three months for the summer where she didn’t know a single soul. Daniel and I were out to change that when I went over to where she was sitting in a booth by herself and struck up a conversation with her. But as soon as she got a load of Daniel, it seems Jodi only had eyes for him. From the first time they set eyes on each other, it was the two of them as a couple. I never stood a chance.”
“So let’s have it.”
“Years later, when we all ended up living here in Seattle, when the two of them came to me for help, it was as a last resort.”
“Help? You mean to give them a baby? That’s what you’re building up to, isn’t it? Why would you agree to that, Travis? Because you had a thing for my mother?”
“There’s no need for that tone, Skye Melody Cree. For your information, at first, I told them both no, a resounding hell no. In fact it turned into many times. A couple of years went by. Daniel and Jodi kept pressuring me, reassuring me they were both fine with it. They were persistent, Skye.”
The reality of what he’d confessed was still sinking in when Skye put the accusation on the table. “You didn’t go to a clinic.” It wasn’t a question.
When Travis turned away, refused to even look at her, Skye had her answer. She grabbed his arm to get his attention. “At least face me, Travis. Or what am I supposed to call you now, daddy? I don’t think so. For starters, how about I try coward?”
At the insult, Skye noted a tick in his facial muscle. But she didn’t care. “I want to hear you say it, all of it. The words, Travis, say the words. Now!”
“I am your father! Is that what you want me to say? Daniel Cree couldn’t have children so I did what he couldn’t. Is that clear enough for you?” Travis shouted in a clipped angry tone.
Skye sucked in a breath. “Crystal. I don’t know which is more deplorable. The fact that you slept with my mother under the guise of getting her knocked up so you could fulfill some teen crush you had on her. Or the fact that you stood by and did nothing while I went to live with those despicable people in Yakima. All you had to do was tell the court the truth. The truth, Travis. Was that too much to ask back then when I was thirteen years old? But you did nothing. I spent five years in hell with Ginny and Bob all the while I could’ve been right here in Seattle living life as your daughter. What a spineless, gutless thing to do!” With that, Skye stormed to the elevator. When it opened, she stepped inside and was gone.
Travis dropped down into the nearest chair with his head in his hands, defeated.
When Josh started to speak, Travis held up his hand to stop him. “Is this what you wanted?”
“No. But I knew she’d be angry. She’s messed up right now, Travis. She’s been having a difficult time since the transformation, since Kiya’s spirit has weakened. Give her some time.”
“Time? I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me.”
Josh said nothing else. There were no words of reassurance that came to mind. Because he wasn’t exactly sure she would forgive or trust anyone—ever again.
The aftershocks from Travis’s disclosure made for an interesting four days.
The repercussions were neither pretty nor dull.
Skye’s temper in the form of rockets-in-the-air fireworks went off regularly and with precision. The Fourth of July seemed tame compared to Skye Melody Cree in rage-mode. Since Travis had unburdened his secret, her dark side had bubbled to the surface where it had remained unleashed.
She didn’t walk anywhere. She clomped. Her voice seemed to take on a high-pitched squeal if Josh even hinted bringing up the name, Travis Nakota.
But on the fifth day, Josh had had enough. “How much longer do you intend to make Travis suffer?”
“This is none of your business, Josh. Stay out of it.”
“To hell it isn’t. I’m the one who encouraged him to level with you, got angry at him because of it. Had I known you were going to act like such a thirteen-year-old drama queen—”
Skye whirled to face Josh. “How dare you say that to me! He stayed mum on the sidelines and watched during the most heartbreaking time of my life. For God’s sakes, I lost my parents. Or rather the man who I thought all this time was my father. But what does Travis do back then? The son of a bitch stands beside me at the double funeral and never once claimed me as his daughter. He stood by while the court sent me to Siberia a.k.a. Yakima. He let me go live with those religious fanatics all the while he knew the truth. At the time, all the man had to do was step forward and come clean to the judge, say something like, ‘This happens to be my only child, my only daughter. Don’t believe me? I can prove it through a DNA test. She should be allowed to come live with me.’ Does he do that? Hell no! Not Travis Nakota. He keeps his mouth shut while I spend five fucking years having to bow and scrape to Ginny and Bob, listen to them tell me what a horrific person I was for letting Whitfield rape me.”
Horrified Josh let that sink in before he said, “I know you’re angry, Skye. Okay, you’re livid. You have a right to that. But he’s your father and there isn’t anything you can do about it.”
“Angry doesn’t cover what I am, Josh. Not by a longshot. For five years, I felt like I was going nuts, crazy. Don’t you understand? At some point, I started believing Ginny and Bob.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” He took her chin, lifted it up so he could stare into her eyes. “You’re right, Travis should’ve stepped up. But he’s your father, your blood.”
“Which means squat to him. If it meant anything at all, he would’ve said something when it counted. And I might point out that just because a man can be a sperm donor in the sack to a woman desperate to have a child does not make him father material. I will now and forever think of Daniel Cree as my father, not some churlish horse breeder who waited a quarter of a century to come clean.”
“But we could use Travis’s insight right now into how to get your ability to come back,” Josh pointed out.
“Screw my ability. I don’t want Travis Nakota’s help with anything. I’ll work this out myself just like I have everything else in my life. Kiya and I will connect again. I feel it down to my bones. You’ll see. Everything will be just fine without Travis Nakota.”
And that had pretty much ended any further discussion.
That’s why two days later, Josh wasn’t the least bit surprised when Travis called him wanting to talk.
These days inside Ander All Games, security had to be a top priority. A company didn’t create the latest in video games without making sure the competition couldn’t get wind of the next product update. Visitors to the building and the company that occupied the top floor had to get clearance before boarding the elevator.
When the guest showed up to see the president of the company, the guard on duty notified Josh by way of phone call to his secretary, Kendra Dunning. Kendra, in turn let Josh know the visitor was imminent.
So Josh waited in the doorway of his corner office and watched as Travis Nakota got off the elevator. Josh had to give it to Travis. The man was prompt. Travis had said ten o’clock and it was now nine-fifty-nine. But as Travis got closer, Josh noted the crow’s feet around the eyes he’d missed on the man’s face just a week earlier. “Travis, are you okay?” Josh asked the minute the two shook hands.
“Not really,” Travis replied as he settled into a chair across from Josh’s desk and got comfortable. “How’s it going with you?”
“You have one stubborn and very pissed off daughter. She’s been slamming doors and stomping around for a week now.”
“She won’t return my calls, hasn’t been to the gym either. I even tried emailing her. Do you think she’ll ever forgive me?”
“Give her time. That’s my best advice. Let her cool down. She will, I think, it’ll just take…I don’t know how long it’ll take. I’ve never seen her so angry before. But I need to ask you something, for my own edification. I’d like to know why you didn’t step forward after her parents died. Why did you allow
her to go live with people you knew were not quite all there? Even you admit that Jodi had told you on any number of occasions what they were like.”
Travis blew out a heavy breath. “Did you ever make a promise to someone you loved?”
“Of course, I was married for two years. Look, I’m sorry, Travis. But that won’t cut it with me. At the time Skye got shipped off, Jodi and Daniel were dead, buried and in the ground. Your daughter, however, didn’t have to endure five years in Yakima, ostracized at a time when she would’ve greatly benefited from having her real father around to guide her through it all.”
“Oh God,” Travis said as he scrubbed both hands over his face. “She’ll never get past this.”
“Never is a long time.”
“How long then?”
Josh smiled. “Travis, you’re the one who told me there’s no playbook here, no rules to check or look up. For something like this, I don’t know. There are other things going on with her though. That night we never got to the reason we asked you to dinner.”
“I wondered about that. Like what?”
Josh went into a detailed account of how Skye had lost her connection with Kiya and the fact it wasn’t sitting well with her.
“Ah, I was afraid this would happen. When Kiya the wolf made the leap, she knew the risks, knew what was at stake. Kiya’s joining to you is detaching from Skye.”
“What do we do about it?”
Travis shook his head. “Honestly, I’m not sure there’s anything we can do. But without Kiya she’s vulnerable on her nightly rounds.”
“Since last week, she hasn’t been going out alone for that reason. I’ve gone with her.”
“How do you do that and get up the next day, come here alert enough to work?”
“I won’t lie, it isn’t easy. But since she got into some trouble with a gang, I’m not letting her deal with the street alone anymore. Besides, now that I think back to that night, it was Kiya that alerted me something was wrong. I thought it came from Skye. Turns out, the bat signal came from the wolf.”
“Interesting. Kiya’s getting stronger in you while diminishing in Skye. I’ll do some research. See if I can come up with something to bring Kiya back to Skye. There has to be a solution, we just have to look for it. In the meantime, the elders of the tribal council wanted her to know they are inducting her into our Warrior Society. I planned on telling her the night she got so upset. The ceremony is the first week of October.”
“An all-male tribal council is letting a woman into their midst.”
“It’s about time, don’t you think?”
“I do, but then I’m not Nez Perce. What exactly does this entail? There has to be a lot of history at stake here.”
“Very much so. The Warrior Society started out as dissenters, those who did not want their leaders making peace with the white man. They were considerable in number back then who never wanted to give up the land that belonged to their forefathers. So they left their homes to strike out on their own to try to find allies and rally them to their cause. There was a battle near Snake Creek.” Travis shook his head. “They went down to defeat that day. Eventually the elders chose to sing about their exploits. However, the U.S. government had another name for it entirely. Anyway, in the end, the warriors lost their ancestral home and were shipped off to the Midwest. As the years progressed though, like any people, we still celebrate our soldiers. Skye is one of those who brings honor to us as a tribe. In October, they’ll commemorate her successes. She’ll have to make a speech.”
“She won’t like that,” Josh pointed out. “In fact, knowing Skye, she’ll do everything to back out of going, especially if it means she’ll get attention.”
Travis smiled. “I know that. But this is where you’ll have to use your considerable powers of persuasion. It’s a great honor and she should not turn it down or think of some reason not to show up. The Warrior Society is looking to the future. They must. Times have changed. This is the twenty-first century. Skye has done some amazing things here in Seattle. It’s time the council recognized that.”
“No one deserves it more.” Then Josh realized what he wasn’t saying. “You did this. You got the council to let her in?”
“She’s made headlines lately. At the time, every member of the society sung her praises. I simply took advantage of the timing and reminded them that she’s contributed more in a positive way than anyone has in a long time. To be recognized by your own is a great honor. Don’t let her say no.”
Josh laughed. “How exactly am I supposed to get her there short of kidnapping and delivering her against her will?” Josh wanted to know. “I’m open to suggestions.”
“You’ll think of something. Besides, you don’t have to worry about me showing up and spoiling it for her. I won’t. I’ve already bowed out of the ceremony.”
“You shouldn’t do that, Travis. You deserve to be there to see it happen.”
“I’d love nothing better than to see her accept her rightful place on the council, but she’s made it clear she doesn’t want anything to do with me. I won’t go against her wishes.”
“A lot could change in two weeks,” Josh said wanting to offer some kind of assurance. But when he glanced down at the time on his watch, it occurred to him there was another more immediate issue. “You might want to consider heading out. Skye’s due here in about twenty minutes. We’re meeting here to brainstorm on how to catch this sick bastard who’s been terrorizing women.”
“I don’t like Drummond dragging her into this.”
“I’m with you there. But someone has to catch this guy. It might as well be your daughter.”
“My daughter. I like the sound of saying that out loud. But look where that got me. And why does it have to be Skye who catches this asshole.” He rubbed at his temple as if his head were pounding. “I don’t believe this is really happening. It’s difficult to believe she’s this angry with me. I mean, I know she has a right to be. But still she should know how much...that girl means everything to me.”
“I know she does. I saw that from the first time you and I met. But right now, if Skye catches sight of you, believe me, you’ll know this is real, in a big way.”
“She does have a temper, doesn’t she?” Travis pointed out, grinning.
“Oh. Yeah. And then some.”
Chapter Nine
Personal problems aside, Josh and Skye were committed to catching a coldblooded killer. Their guy had been idle for eight days. Eight days in which the FBI profiler referred to it as his probable “cooling off” period. Skye had another name for it. More than likely the man had gotten called out of town for some reason, or had, God forbid, moved on elsewhere.
Even without the strong influence of Kiya, Skye still relied on her instincts. She’d been doing that for more years than she could count. Because of that one fact, she didn’t think the guy had left Seattle for good. Which meant he had some type of activity that took him out of town. Like that of a long haul truck driver maybe.
But it didn’t take long for Skye to nix that idea. Not this guy, Skye determined. He hit too frequently between his victims for a long-haul trucker to have time to make his trip cross-country and back again. For that reason, she moved on to other options. Did he travel for business? Did he have some type of interest that took him on the road?
As she walked past Kendra’s desk to get to Josh’s office, she realized the guy could be right here in the building and they’d never even know it. He could be anybody.
But then, Josh’s office door flew open and Todd Graham came out playing with a handheld game console. Skye grinned at his boyish enthusiasm.
“Whatcha got there, Todd? You get a new toy for Christmas?” Skye teased.
“As a matter of fact, it feels like Christmas morning before Labor Day. Look at this game we’ve scheduled for next spring.” Like the proud designer he was, Todd went through all the bells and whistles for Skye’s benefit.
“Nice graphics. When do I get
to play?”
“You stop by my office after your visit with the big guy here and I’ll see to it you get a beta copy. How does that sound?”
Before she could answer, Josh appeared in the doorway. “Don’t distract my partner, Skye. He’s a sucker for a beautiful face.”
“Flattery will get you a kiss,” Skye said as she leaned in, brushed her lips lightly to Josh’s. “I’m here for the strategy session—and nothing more. I brought some files we should go through. I just left Harry and the FBI team. They’re concerned that our guy’s moved on.”
“Left Seattle? He hasn’t,” Josh assured her, as he closed his office door. “I’ve spent some time surfing the Internet though. We have the general public here buying guns at an alarming rate. We have women signing up for self-defense classes in record numbers. There’s panic setting in. And that’s just the first couple of days after the headlines hit the papers all over the state. Then there’s the buzz that’s gone viral about what he’s doing to his victims. They read that stuff and it sends women into frenzy.”
“You can’t blame them, Josh. Every female within a hundred miles of where we’re standing is scared to go to sleep. They read what he did to these women, either real or imagined, and they go to bed with the lights on and a gun under their pillow.”
“I’m not saying different. They should be cautious, take all the safeguards available to them. Because they’ll more than likely need everything they can get to gain some peace of mind until he’s caught. Because this guy won’t stop until he’s off the streets.”
“How can you be so sure these are his only kills? I still say he was in Portland five years ago before here.” She picked up a file, took out a photograph, and slapped it on the table. “Bianca Valencia, single, lived alone in a townhouse, no roommates. She was found with her throat slit by a next door neighbor who hadn’t seen her for three days. Notes say Bianca was vivacious, a frequent visitor to the gym in her neighborhood.” Skye dug out another file, another picture. “This one is Lisa Towson. Strangled, but had knife wounds through both breasts. If you look up the addresses of these two women, the murders are four streets apart, same neighborhood with identical floor plans. Lisa liked to workout. See a pattern here?”
Skye Cree 02: The Bones Will Tell Page 9
