Flawless Dreams

by Hadena James

  He’d been psychologically torturing her for three days at this point. Longer if he counted breaking Hunter out of prison. What a bore that had been. Not only had he easily taken control of the transport using one of his brother’s old ID badges, but Hunter was tedious. The man had talked nonstop about how amazing it was that Gabriel had a twin and how amazing it was that Raphael was part of the organization. Raphael had no idea what the man had been going on and on about, but he let him ramble and think whatever he wanted until his opportunity arose.

  The case in Kansas City had kept him from needing to go to California to get Gabriel’s attention. At least, at that moment, it had prolonged the trip. He’d taken Hunter to the parking lot in handcuffs. It was stupid to put a diagnosed psychopath in zip cuffs. He’d uncuffed him and thrown him a small dagger. Hunter had thought he was supposed to go kill Aislinn Cain. However, after spending time with the man, Raphael was pretty sure Hunter wouldn’t have been able to sneak up on a deaf, blind person. The look on his face though when Raphael had pulled out the sword had been priceless. The understanding and realization of Raphael’s intentions had made Hunter drop the dagger.

  Somehow, the man had remained completely silent as Raphael had spilled his blood across the parking lot. Raphael admired that. It was unusual to find someone who didn’t try to fight their fate.

  The plane landed and Raphael grabbed his single carry-on bag. His plans had been changed ever so slightly because Aislinn Cain had once again gotten her ass kicked. Her hospital stay was a hassle for Raphael. However, it did give him time to go seek revenge where he had wanted to get it for years.

  It was warm in San Diego, even for March in Southern California. He rented a car using his brother’s driver’s license. One of the many items Raphael had pilfered from him during his last visit nearly two years earlier. Raphael had been surprised to learn that Missouri license didn’t expire for seven years. It was a real stroke of luck for him. His shiny new US Marshals credentials were also good for five years. He could flash those around and few people took notice that the height was wrong by more than a foot and three inches.

  Using an app on his phone that turned text to talk, he rented a car and explained that he was suffering from a condition that affected his vocal cords from his last case. He wanted to make sure that people remembered Gabriel was here. It was all part of the master plan that Raphael had been setting up for years.

  He rented a convertible and drove along the coast for a while. He enjoyed the sun and smell of the ocean. It wasn’t something he experienced very often in the interior of Canada. Not that he’d trade his little slice of peace and quiet for the noisy beaches and salty air. He just appreciated the change every so often.

  The little cottage had blue clapboard siding, terracotta roof tiles, and a rose bush set in a rock garden by the front door. It also had access to a beach and a surf board was leaning against the siding, it’s tail against the wooden walkway that circled around to the back and the beach. It was a cute little house. Perfect for just one person, but would fit two in a pinch as long as it wasn’t for more than a few days.

  Raphael envisioned Caleb in a wetsuit, coming back up the beach. A barbecue grill would be going and the smell of midwestern burgers would fill the air. The US Marshal would have a smile on his face. He’d lost a lot in the last decade or so, but he was still close with his dad. Raphael imagined the devastation he was about to cause would leave scars deeper than any stab wound or gun shot. It might be the push that sent Caleb over the edge; sucking him into the darkness permanently where only rage and sorrow could be felt. Knowing that he was responsible for this would be so much worse for Caleb than for most because Caleb was a psychopath that enjoyed feeling.

  Nathan Green opened the door almost before Raphael stopped knocking. The man had aged since Raphael last saw him. His hair had turned grey. His skin had a few liver spots as well as a tan. He kept his physique in good condition though, probably through surfing. The last time they had seen each other, Gabriel had been graduating from Quantico. Raphael had gone because his grandmother had wanted him to go. Nathan Green was there because Nathan had worked as the liaison between the RMCP and American law enforcement when Gabriel and his friend went missing. Nathan looked surprised but happy to see Raphael. He had treated Raphael pretty good during the investigation into Gabriel’s disappearance.

  Not that treating Raphael well made much difference to Raphael. Nathan’s focus had been on finding the man responsible for abducting Gabriel and killing William. As a result, he had spent most of his time with Gabriel. It was just further proof that even if someone liked Raphael, Gabriel came first. The younger twin always came first, always. Even to strangers like Nathan Green he was more important than his older twin, Raphael. Raphael resented Nathan for that almost as much as he resented Gabriel for it.

  “Come on in,” Nathan moved out of the doorway. “Do you want a beer or anything?” He was watching Raphael, remembering that Raphael couldn’t speak, waiting for an answer. Raphael pulled out a bottle of whiskey from his bag as a reply. Nathan grinned a little wider. “I’ll get glasses and ice. What’s the occasion?”

  Raphael dug his dry erase board out of his backpack along with a marker and wrote NOTHING, CAME TO SEE GABE. MISSED HIM. THOUGHT I’D SEE YOU WHILE IN CALIFORNIA. Nathan swapped the glasses for the board and read what Raphael had written while Raphael poured them both a glass of whiskey.

  “Yeah, they left yesterday,” Nathan shook his head and handed the board back to Raphael, taking the offered glass. He sat down in a small recliner across from him. “It’s been quite a few years now. I was thinking about you recently. Gabriel had stopped by to see me the first day they were here and then Caleb called just a few days ago, wanting to me to convince Gabriel to let me turn over his case files to the SCTU. Caleb thinks they might have a lead now, after all these years. Anyway, with the two things happening so close together, I couldn’t help but think about you. I was going to contact you later this spring, see if you wanted to meet up. You must have read my mind.” Nathan gave a hearty laugh that didn’t sound like it had aged at all. He had always been easy with a smile and a laugh. Raphael remembered that.

  “You got big plans while you are here?” Nathan asked as he sipped his whiskey.

  NOT REALLY Raphael wrote on his board. SEE MY BROTHER. MAYBE MY OTHER SIBLINGS. NO ONE CAME UP LAST YEAR.

  “Oh, that’s a shame,” Nathan tutted. “If I had known that, I would have come up last year. Caleb visits as often as he can, but with his job, it’s hard for him to get away and his sister is living on a base in Germany right now while her husband is deployed. I didn’t see her but once last year. I could have come up, done some fishing, we could have caught up, I make a mean lasagna still.” Nathan got a faraway look for a moment. “This year we should do it. I’ll come spend some time with you, have you help me learn to fish a little better, and you can come down here for a while, I’ll teach you to surf.”

  SOUNDS GOOD Raphael responded. MAYBE I’LL COME BACK AFTER VISITING MY SIBLINGS.

  “I’d like that a lot, kiddo.” Nathan stood up. “You want something to eat? I don’t keep much for just me, but the woman who lives a few doors down makes some mean Mexican food that she is always bringing over to me.”

  Raphael stood up, walked over to where Nathan was rummaging in the fridge and stood next to him. He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around Nathan as if he were hugging him from behind. Nathan’s feet came off the floor and he began to kick at the air as Raphael lifted him higher. It wasn’t hard, Raphael was over seven feet tall and Nathan wasn’t quite six feet tall. Raphael squeezed hard, slowly forcing the air out of Nathan’s lungs. After a few minutes, he felt Nathan go slack. He wasn’t dead, not yet. He was just unconscious from the lack of blood flow and oxygen. Nathan fell into a heap at Raphael’s feet. Raphael grabbed one of the larger kitchen knives and buried it to the hilt in Nathan’s diaphragm. The older man’s eyes never opened. The lids barely f
luttered as the blood began to well up under his lungs, suffocating him.

  When it was done, Raphael took the knife out. Blood welled up in the depression and Raphael dipped his fingers into it. On the wall, he began to write.

  Twenty-Five

  “No, you do not understand, I am leaving, regardless of what you or anyone else in this hospital thinks. Do you understand?” I asked the doctor who was currently lecturing me on the dangers of leaving early. I hooked a thumb at Xavier. “Look, I even travel with my own doctor.”

  “Don’t look at me, I told her it was a bad idea,” Xavier shrugged. “However, she is formidable on a good day and today is not a good day.”

  “I’ve been in here five days. The antibiotics are working. He can give me some more, hell he can do them using the PICC line that you guys were so nice to put in after you blew all my veins.” I had unhooked myself from the machines almost half an hour ago. I was now dressing despite having two doctors, three nurses, Xavier, and a security guard in my room. There was little room for modesty in my world. One of the nurses gasped as I took off my shirt and began putting a bra on. I was betting she wasn’t among those giving me the dreaded sponge baths that were completely pointless.

  “Ms. Cain,” my doctor started again.

  “Save it,” I held up a hand. “Just bring me the damn form, I have to get to California.” I paused. “I am pretty sure that is a song.”

  “It’s Go to California, but yes,” Xavier cocked his head to the side. “We can handle this.”

  “I know, it is not about handling it.” I answered. “Are you really going to make me say it?”

  “No, it would have more impact on the plane with everyone listening.”

  “Thanks,” I told him. Less than an hour earlier, Nathan Green’s body had been found in his house. It had been mutilated and a manifesto of sorts had been written on the walls. I was going because Malachi might need help with Caleb Green. It was never easy to lose a loved one. Let alone be orphaned. Caleb’s mother had been murdered about five years earlier in a mugging. Now his father. Even if Malachi didn’t need help, Caleb might.

  There was also the fact that if I found the asshole who had done it, I was going to torture him until he begged me to kill him. Nathan Green was a retired US Marshal. He had known my father. He had known my brother. Even though we had only met once, he had been a good man and one of us. He didn’t even need to be Caleb’s father for me to think that. The fact that Caleb had turned out to also be a good man as well as a psychopath, did nothing but up the impressiveness of Nathan Green. He deserved to die of old age, not a nut job with a knife. Someone needed to pay for this.

  A nurse brought in the form. I scribbled my name, grabbed my boots, and beat Xavier out the door. I heard him mumble something about this being a lengthy stay for me and that they should applaud themselves for keeping me as long as they did. I ignored this as I began to run down the hallway. The plane was going to leave in less than an hour and I still had to get to it.

  “I’m on my way,” I said into my phone when Malachi answered his. I hung up before he could say anything. My phone immediately started to ring again, Gabriel’s number flashing on the caller ID. I ignored it by tossing it on the ground and “accidentally” stepping on it. The phone stopped ringing.

  As I exited the hospital, I saw Gabriel leaning against an SUV. He shook his phone at me. I shrugged.

  “We all knew you were coming, you didn’t have to freak everyone out.” Gabriel said as I got close. “And learn to answer your phone.”

  “I dropped it and it broke.” I shrugged at him.

  “She stomped on it.” Xavier exited the hospital nearly out of breath. “How do you keep that up?”

  “Keep what up?” I asked.

  “You were nearly dead just five days ago, now you’re back to outrunning me.” Xavier handed me the phone I had broken.

  “Have you seen me naked?” I asked him.

  “We’ve all seen you naked,” Gabriel reminded me.

  “That’s the answer,” I shrugged at both of them. “I would not be able to move at all if I did not do a lot of yoga.”

  “Is yoga really that intense?” Gabriel asked.

  “It is when I do it,” I got into the front seat of the SUV. “Stretching is all well and good and keeps me mobile, but I have to do some cardio in the process or it’s just looser muscles. My heart and lungs need help dealing with this crap.”

  “After we solve Nathan Green’s murder, we all start doing extreme yoga with Ace a couple of times a week,” Xavier said as he shut the backdoor.

  The plane ride was subdued. The entire SCTU was onboard, making it a little cramped and Lucas and Malachi were like having an extra two people each. However, no one said a word about the close quarters. We had no information other than Nathan Green had been found murdered, it was exceptionally bloody and weird, and they were holding the scene for us. Gabriel had made a call in the SUV on the way to the airport to get Nathan’s body removed from the scene. I agreed with the decision, there was no reason for Caleb to look at that. It was bad enough that he would have to see his father’s blood all over the place.

  The they holding the scene was the FBI. They had been called by the locals because he was a retired US Marshal and I guess San Diego didn’t have a US Marshals office. No one had been willing to give details of it over the phone.

  Malachi would only stare at Caleb. Caleb only stared at the floor. I motioned to Fiona and Rachael. They were supposed to be supportive, sympathetic types and they were women. That should count for something. Maybe they could help. Fiona shook her head at me, just one nod. Rachael didn’t even respond. I wanted to sneer at them, but couldn’t manage the effort.

  I searched every memory I had of my father and Isabella’s murders. I wanted to be sympathetic. I wanted Caleb to know that I was able to feel his pain. My memory could produce the feelings, but I couldn’t apply them to how Caleb felt. He had to feel the same, of that I was sure, but how to relay that information to him was beyond me. I wasn’t even sure I completely understood how I felt then or now. The best I could figure was that he didn’t need my rage. I had a lot of it, enough for several people. Rage was something Caleb could produce on his own. Feeding him mine would just make him volatile. I wondered if that qualified as being sympathetic. That was a question for Nyleena and I couldn’t exactly ask her about it, so I kept my mouth shut and continued to stare at the other ladies on the plane, which made me a sexist jerk, but I was okay with that. Xavier probably couldn’t do sympathy much better than me, but Gabriel, Dominic, Vlad, and Lucas were all capable. Even Malachi could pull it out if he really wanted to, so there was no reason for me to expect Fiona and Rachael to do it. But I did.

  Which made me wonder if the quiet was a form of sympathy. No one was talking. No one was making jokes. No one was consoling anyone. We were all quietly having our own thoughts about the situation and allowing Caleb to have his own thoughts about it. Maybe that was true sympathy, being able to keep quiet when it could so easily be a situation with lots of talking. That was another question for Nyleena. Or my mother.

  There were a lot of questions waiting for both of them, but my mother was creating quite the tab of them. She would know Nathan Green. She might know why someone did this to him. She might know why someone did this to Caleb. When I had some quiet time, away from everyone, she was getting a call. I didn’t care if she was hiding out in Australia, we needed answers and she would probably have them. Apex could get a hold of her, even when I couldn’t. One more giant question mark in my life that my mother had the answer to. If someone killed my mother, things would end badly, for all of us. That woman had secrets and I had a feeling we needed those secrets, perhaps now was a great time to point it out to her. Maybe keeping her tongue wasn’t helping us out anymore.

  “You are grinding your teeth,” Malachi whispered to me. I frowned at him and bit my lip. Family could do that to me. Just like that, I got the full picture of wha
t dealing with a sociopath was like. Caleb’s father had just been murdered and I was grinding my teeth because I was unhappy with my mother’s silence. I lived in a world that revolved around me. That was why I could not understand empathy or sympathy. Everything was about me and that made me a terrible person and friend.

  Twenty-Six

  Gabriel and I were very careful to enter the crime scene first. Gabriel wanted to be able to prepare Caleb for what he was about to see. I took one look and realized there was no way to prepare the man. He was going to lose it and if Gabriel and I survived, it would be a miracle. Without thinking, I pulled out my Taser.

  In large letters, composed of dried blood that I could only guess belonged to Nathan Green was written:

  Poor Caleb turned to the wrong man for help. This wouldn’t’ve happened if Gabriel hadn’t let it and his stupid bitch, Aislinn hadn’t interfered. Want revenge? Kill them.

  Needless to say, I was pretty sure who was responsible. The fact that he was seemingly a demon and could disappear at will wasn’t going to go over very well. Then I remembered I hadn’t talked to Alex. I put it on my to-do list in case I survived.

  “Holy shit,” Gabriel whispered.

  “That might be the largest understatement ever,” I looked at Gabriel. “Do we let him in to see this?”

  “Do you think you can stop him?” Gabriel asked.

  “I think if I Taser him before he gets in here I can.” I told him. “I will go talk to them.”

  “I’ll go out the backdoor,” Gabriel nodded. It wasn’t a bad plan. I wasn’t sure how much Malachi could contain Caleb and if he directed all that rage towards me, I wasn’t sure I would be able to help much either. I considered just following Gabriel out the back, but took a deep breath and headed out the front.

  “Is it bad?” Caleb asked me.

  “Well,” I took a step forward. “We have a lead on who did it. I want you to know that neither myself or Gabriel will stop until we catch him. If I have to torture Gabriel to get him to remember, I will.”