The Steve Williams Series Boxed Set

by J. E. Taylor

  “Sometime after ten. They’re staying at the Ritz.”

  “Mrs. Ryan let you take her son?” She slid into the passenger seat with a raised eyebrow.

  “Yes, she did. Jenny’s with him and I told her to take him to the parks today.” He glanced in her direction and slammed the car in gear. True to his word, he walked onto the crime scene ten minutes later, glad he hadn’t had breakfast.

  This time, the killer took artistic license with the kid. It wasn’t just a dumping ground for the body; he positioned it in pieces to read FBI punctuated by a hand with the middle finger sticking up.

  Steve met his boss’s stare, containing the fury rippling over his skin by clenching both his jaw and fists. Beyond where Cleary stood he caught a sight that caused him to physically step back. The boy’s head sat on the ledge of a water fountain thirty feet away, the eyelids somehow tacked open showing bloody dark eye sockets where his eyes had once been. Steve pointed and Cleary nodded.

  “Do we know how…” he trailed off looking at the carnage. Of course they didn’t know how André died, not yet, but the brutality and message was obvious.

  Cleary shook his head. Some of the officers had stepped away to empty their coffee and donuts away from the crime scene and Steve had to turn to get his stomach under wraps.

  Sarah stopped on the stairs, unable to take another step. She surveyed the carnage. She met Steve’s gaze and that’s all it took, she spun, vomiting over the side of the railing into a small garden.

  Steve glanced away, taking in the beautiful ornate fountain before he closed his eyes, concentrating on anything except the thoughts and feelings of those surrounding him. The sheer power raging through his veins reached the boiling point, burning his insides, leaving smoldering fury that got away from Steve. Steam hissed and his eyes snapped open, his head turning toward the sound. The liquid in the fountain boiled rolling and violent, sending steam into the air like thick plumes of smoke.

  Steve’s jaw went slack. The sight of boiling water reigned in the fury.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered and traded a glance with Sarah, her eyes wide as she wiped her mouth with a Kleenex, her gaze shifting between Steve and the steaming fountain. He let out a slight laugh, glad he hadn’t flattened a building or blown someone up. The yelp of an officer investigating, made its way to them. He obviously decided to check the water by sticking his fingers in because he came running toward the crime scene clasping his reddened hand.

  Steve glanced toward the fountain. “Cool,” his voice a hissing whisper unheard over the rolling water. He closed his eyes and thought of ice. When he opened his eyes, the steam had subsided. Within the time it took to blink, the world spun under Steve’s feet and he took a shaky step backwards.

  Sarah’s hand on his arms righted the world and he glanced at her.

  “You look like shit,” she said, her eyes grazing his face, searching, worried because his face was devoid of color, almost like the sheen of the corpse’s skin in front of them.

  “Why, thank you,” he said, finding the humor in the situation and getting his bearings back. He glanced at Cleary and edged around the body, walking toward the severed head alone. As he stood before André’s eyeless skull, he sighed. “Sorry I wasn’t able to save you.” The smell of vomit and blood drifted from the open mouth of the child and Steve turned away.

  This meant the bastard was on the hunt again. “Shit!” The swear came out louder than he anticipated and Cleary turned. Steve left the crime scene and found a bench, taking a seat and studying his hands.

  Cleary took a seat next to him a few minutes later.

  “Was our presence announced to the public?” Steve asked, still staring at his hands and the cracks in the sidewalk beyond.

  “No.”

  The media was all over this case but they hadn’t been privy to the inclusion of the FBI’s behavior analysis unit yet. Steve turned his head. “It’s a fucking cop.”

  Cleary leaned back on the bench contemplating. “Where were you last night?”

  “I flew back home to get something.”

  Cleary’s eyes narrowed. “What did you get?”

  “Bait,” Steve said quietly. That has to stay between me and you. His eyes met Cleary’s.

  “What kind of bait?” Cleary shifted in his seat.

  “The kind this bastard grabs.”

  Cleary’s head tilted and then his eyes slowly widened. He jumped to his feet pointing at Steve. “No, no way in hell I’m setting up a child for this!” He waved toward the remains of André.

  Steve pursed his lips, glancing at the carnage and back to Cleary. “He’s special, in the same ways I am.”

  Cleary shook his head. “I don’t care if the kid is superman. I’m not going to put a child in harm’s way. Find another avenue.” He took a step away. “And if you...”

  Steve put his hand up and looked at his boss. “I know, if I step over the line on this one, I’ll lose my badge.”

  Cleary nodded.

  Steve sighed and watched Cleary storm away. He turned away from the scene, somewhat relieved at the direct order. He glanced at the park in front of him and took a deep breath. What he had done was impulsive and he knew it, but no harm no foul. He walked back to the crime scene, studying it as the coroner’s office removed the body parts.

  Chapter 27

  Jennifer sat at the table with their breakfast spread out in front of her and CJ flipping through the channels on the television. He settled on “Tom and Jerry” and put the remote down, turning toward the stack of pancakes in front of him without looking away from the show.

  “So, Steve tells me I need to walk through your lesson plans with you,” she said, trying to drum up conversation and alleviate her discomfort.

  CJ glanced in her direction and shrugged. “I guess.”

  “Did you bring your books?”

  “No.”

  Jennifer sighed and decided to approach CJ from a different point of view. “I met your dad.”

  That got his attention and the television muted with a tilt of his head. He turned toward her. “I know.”

  “I’m not talking about at the warehouse. I saw him at the cove near our cabin the other day.”

  CJ’s eyes turned a shade darker, just like Chris’s had when he was angry. “So?”

  “So, he misses you.”

  CJ’s jaw tensed and he looked away. “How come everyone can see him but me?”

  Understanding dawned on her and she reached across the table and took his hand. “Steve brought you there the day of your father’s funeral. Didn’t you see him then?”

  “Yes, I saw him when I was with Steve. But I can’t see him the way Tommy can or hear him the way Steve can and he’s my father.”

  His eyes misted with unshed tears and she squeezed his hand. “You can come to the cove and see him any time you want to,” she said.

  “Really?” He pulled his hand away and wiped his face.

  “Yes, really, now let’s…” Her phone rang before she could finish her sentence and she glanced at the unfamiliar number before flipping the phone open.

  “Mrs. Williams?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is Quint McCormick. I’m with the Concord District Attorney’s office.”

  Jennifer pushed the chair back and excused herself from the table, crossing to her bedroom. “What can I do for you, Mr. McCormick?” She could hear his train of thought and took a seat on the edge of the bed, not trusting her legs to hold her.

  “We would like to sit down with you and go over your statement.”

  “My statement?”

  “Yes. Your statement regarding what happened at your house with Kyle Winslow as well as what you witnessed at the warehouse.”

  “I, um, I’m not in New Hampshire right now.”

  “We would like to get your statement in order before we go in front of the grand jury next week. Can I set something up for Thursday?”

  “No offense, but I’m in Atlanta, G
eorgia, and I’m not sure how long we’re going to be here.”

  The click of computer keys filled the line. “I can have the Atlanta county clerk take your statement on Thursday if that will work for you.”

  Jennifer looked toward the living area of the suite and CJ turned his gaze from the television in response. “I guess that would work.” She didn’t think the case would be wrapped up in a couple of days’ time, but she’d have to figure out what to do with CJ while she was being interviewed. Being in the room with her wasn’t an option, not with the questions swarming in the mind of the District Attorney.

  “I will be on the phone and I’ll have a court stenographer taking notes. You will be required to show a form of identity and sign the affidavit once we are through.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Williams.”

  Jennifer folded the phone and stared out the window. Her heart raced in her chest like Thumper’s foot gone wild and her mouth lost all saliva. The thought of reliving Kyle’s attack yet again crippled her and her lungs seized in a panic induced asthma attack. The more she tried to draw a breath in, the harder it became, and the phone slipped from her hand.

  * * * *

  CJ dropped his fork and bolted into the bedroom. Jennifer’s panicked thoughts drowned the wheeze coming from her mouth. “What do I do?”

  Can’t breathe. Steam. I need steam. Help me to the bathroom and turn the shower on as hot as it can go.

  He reacted, slinging his arm around her waist and helping her into the bathroom. She slid down the wall onto the floor, still wheezing, her face taking on a bluish tint from lack of oxygen and he flipped the shower on, feeling the first tendrils of panic himself.

  CJ closed his eyes and sent out the S.O.S.

  Chapter 28

  Steve swerved, the volume of CJ’s voice in his head almost blinding and he pulled to the curb, throwing the car in park. “I’ll be right back,” he said, ignoring Sarah’s gape. “Just hang tight for a few minutes.”

  He closed his eyes, focused on CJ and felt the pull. When he opened his eyes, he stood outside the bathroom, the shower on full blast and the door cracked. Under the noise of the water, he heard the telltale wheeze. “Shit.”

  He pushed through the door to find Jennifer struggling to draw a breath and CJ holding her hands, his face just as panicked as hers. He knelt next to Jennifer and turned her face toward him and their eyes locked. “Breathe,” he said in that soft commanding tone he used before, but this time, it was more than just a calming tool. This time it had the will behind it, forcing her airway to unlock with the command.

  She gasped, air flowing in a great rush. After a few breaths, her cheeks flushed with renewed oxygen.

  “What happened?” he asked when her breathing calmed to normal.

  “The Concord D.A. called. I have to give a statement day after tomorrow down here at the county clerk’s office.”

  He wiped the hair out of her eyes and rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand. “I’ll be there with you if you need me.”

  Jennifer nodded and the tears came, saturating her cheeks and he pulled her to his chest before meeting CJ’s gaze.

  “Thanks for calling me,” Steve said.

  “I didn’t know what else to do,” CJ said.

  “You did good,” Steve said and released Jennifer from his grasp. “I have to go before Sarah freaks out.”

  Jennifer wiped her face and stared at him. “You’re not really here?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “No, I pulled my car over when CJ called. Last thing I said to Sarah was hang tight, I’ll be right back.”

  Jennifer broke out in a grin. “And you’re just sitting in the car like a breathing corpse?”

  “I guess.”

  A moment later, a low chuckle escaped from CJ, and Steve glanced in his direction, expecting to see his father instead of just a nine-year-old boy. “Oh, she’s definitely freaking out,” he said.

  With a laugh of his own, he closed his eyes and the transition took over, pulling him through the wormhole back to his car. The burning sting of a slap prickled his right cheek and his head rocked to the side. “What the hell?” he snapped and his vision cleared enough to see Sarah’s wide brown eyes in the passenger seat.

  “Don’t ever do that to me again!” Sarah said and punched his arm.

  “I told you I’d be right back.” Steve rubbed his cheek and glared at her.

  “You went catatonic. You’re lucky I didn’t drag your ass out of the car and start CPR on the side of the road.”

  Steve choked the laughter down and put the car back in gear. “I’m fine.”

  “What was it? Some kind of seizure?”

  “No. It’s called astral projection. CJ called.” He tapped his temple. “I told him to call if he ever needed help.”

  Sarah stared at him. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Steve pulled into the police station and sighed, shutting the car off before he answered her. “It’s another one of those gifts I inherited from Chris Ryan. I can project myself to another place. In this case, to the hotel where CJ and Jennifer are staying.”

  “You can what?”

  “I can be in two places at once,” he said, breaking it down to the simplest form.

  Sarah opened her mouth to speak and nothing came out. Just a silent exhale and her expression as well as the thoughts in her head leaned toward a padded room for him.

  “I’m not crazy, Sarah. Go inside and find a room where you are alone and can see me in the car in the parking lot. Call me and I’ll prove it to you.”

  Sarah laughed and raised her eyebrows, looking at the police station and back to him. “You’re serious.”

  “Yes, go.” He shooed her out of the car and watched her climb the steps into the station. She disappeared and a few minutes went by. He flipped open the phone when it rang and glanced at the second floor window. “You’re alone?”

  “Yes.”

  He closed his eyes and felt the transition. “So now do you believe me?”

  Sarah spun around and stared at him, her eyes wide, and her knuckles white as she clutched her cell phone. She glanced out the window at the car where he sat in suspended animation and back to his form in the room with her. “Holy shit.”

  Steve laughed and stepped toward her and she reached out, placing her palm on his chest. “Yes, I’m solid.” He took a quick look at the car and then back at her. “I better get my ass back before Cleary gets to my car.” The transition took hold and he opened his eyes to the inside of the car just as knuckles wrapped on the window. He folded the phone and stepped out of the car, trading a glance with Sarah before turning to Cleary.

  “I think we should alert the public before our UNSUB snatches another child.”

  Steve stopped and stared at the station. “If we do that, we’ll never know if it’s someone with inside knowledge.” He swung his gaze toward Cleary. “We’ll lose our edge.”

  “If we don’t, we may lose another child.”

  Steve didn’t want that either and he nodded. “This is going to make it impossible for the Atlanta police to do their job.”

  “Not necessarily.”

  Steve laughed at Cleary. “You think just because we give specifics that it won’t impact the public? That’s naïve. Every cop is going to be the suspect in their minds.”

  Cleary sent a glare in Steve’s direction. “I’ve been doing this job for years. Watch and learn.”

  Steve leaned on the front of his car and watched Cleary approach the ranks of the press. His performance in front of the media was impressive. Calm, succinct and earnest, giving just enough detail to diffuse mass hysteria and still keep parents vigilant.

  Chapter 29

  Watching this arrogant bastard detail my strategy for the local press irks me. He has no clue how valuable my research is or how essential it is to my continued survival.

  With this media blitz, I can no longer troll busy public areas. I can no l
onger wear the uniform or drape Alex with the training insignias. I can no longer instill trust in unsuspecting parents.

  Now I have to change tactics.

  Blood boiled, burning my veins with rage.

  I swear; he will pay for this intrusion—this betrayal of scientific study. Both he and my brother, standing smugly by and letting this injustice unfold.

  They will pay with the blood of those they care about.

  Oh, yes, they will pay.

  Chapter 30

  The ringing pulled her out of the dream and she reached for the cell phone, gazing in the direction of the coffee table where CJ sat with his computer open and his pencil poised over his notebook.

  He returned her stare for a moment and then went back to work.

  Jennifer flipped open the phone without looking at the number. “Hello,” she said, her voice hoarse with sleep.

  “Hello?” The soft female voice on the other end replied.

  Jennifer sat and cleared her throat. “Mrs. Ryan?”

  “Yes. Jennifer?”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry if I sound a little out of it. I guess I dozed off while CJ was doing his homework.”

  “Where are you two staying?”

  “The Ritz Carlton. Why?”

  “I’m in town.”

  Jennifer rubbed her eyes. “Huh?”

  “Tommy and I flew down this morning.”

  CJ stopped writing and looked up. “My mom is here?”

  Jennifer nodded and focused back on the phone call and not the imploring eyes of the child sitting with her. “We’re staying in one of the penthouse suites. Room 1302.”

  Jessica relayed the hotel name to the cab driver. “I’ll be there in a little while.”

  “Ok. We’ll be here.” Jennifer closed the phone and sent a smile in CJ’s direction. “Your mom will be here in a little bit.”

  CJ didn’t smile. He looked out the window biting on his lower lip. “Tommy’s with her?”

  She nodded and her smile faded at the worry lines appearing on CJ’s face. “What’s up?”