Riker

by Mandy Bee

  The look of pure hatred flashes across the officer’s face. You can tell he wants to say something, but he holds back. The jerk made sure to shoulder push Riker on the way out. I tighten my hold on him just to make sure he doesn’t go chasing after him.

  “Thank you.” Sighing, I pull back from Riker, so I can look up at him. “He was annoying the hell out of me. Demon wanted to stay with me, but the jackass wouldn’t let him.”

  “Erick said that he’s been a problem since he transferred here. But don’t worry about him Darcy. We have more important things to deal with.” Greg says then jerks his head towards the door, motioning Riker and me to follow him.

  “What did you find out?” Riker asks him when once we’re outside in the hallway. “Who did Demon see?”

  “It wasn’t who Demon saw it was what he saw. The reason he got Darcy back inside and set off the alarms was because he saw a man holding a gun, not just any gun either, a Glock 19, a very powerful hand gun. Instead of waiting to see who this guy was he rushed Darcy back inside. Demon didn’t get a good look at his face, but he is certain that it wasn’t Bradley.”

  “A gun?” I whisper in shock. Riker pulls me closer and leans down, kissing the tops of my head before nodding at Greg to go on.

  “Bradley was the one who called Sam pretending to be the brother of Mr. Jinks. We have the phone records to prove the call was made from the café just down the street, their security cameras show Bradley using the phone at the same time the call was made. But here’s the real shocker. You’ve never gonna believe whose name is on the paperwork for the construction company. James Nork.”

  I feel Riker’s whole-body tense. James? As in one of Riker’s best friend James? Oh, this is bad.

  “Please tell me he isn’t involved.” Riker says in a harsh icy voice.

  “Wish I could little brother.” Greg lays a hand on Riker’s shoulder. “I had Jacob go talk to him this morning. He tried to play dumb at first but once Jacob showed him the copies of the contract we had gotten from the construction company he caved. He swears he thought he was just buying an apartment. It wasn’t until after the papers were signed that he found out what was really going on. Apparently, Bradley had posed as Kale Jinks when James had signed the papers. This was before everything happened at Darcy’s office. When James saw Bradley’s picture in the newspaper he freaked out. He called the number he had for Kale Jinks but it was already disconnected. He wanted to go to the police, but he got his own note not an hour later. One with a picture of James’s wife and two sons in it. All three had red X’s over their faces. He knew what it meant so he kept his mouth shut. He also knew if he stopped the construction on the apartment it could look bad.”

  “I’m going to kill him.” Riker roars. “He could have come to me! He knew how I felt about Darcy. Hell, I had just told all of them just two days before I finally went to see her. He knew, and he didn’t do anything!”

  I try my best to hold on to Riker but he shrugs me off. I watch as he starts pacing the hallway, only stopping when we hear Demon calling for Greg. We all rush back into my apartment and freeze when we see what’s on the TV.

  “Two bodies have been found out behind the train station. No names have been released yet, but police did say that a note was found laying between the bodies. One is to wonder could this be the work of Bradley Smith? The man who was charged with the murder of eight women, the rape and torture of fourteen women, and the assault of one woman who was the only one able to get away from him. Smith had jumped bail just days after being released. He hadn’t surfaced again until last week when his victims started receiving notes with a phone number on it. The police are actively looking for Smith but currently have no leads. If you see Bradley Smith you are urged to call 911. He is claimed to be armed and dangerous.”

  An older photo of Bradley come up on the screen and I wince just looking at him. He was smiling and waving to the camera. You can see a bar behind him so I’m guessing this was taken at the old lobster shack we both worked at.

  Riker moves in front of me, blocking my view of the TV.

  “I won’t let him hurt you again. I promise you, he’ll never lay a finger on you.” He swears to me and I believe him.

  Greg agrees to stay with Demon and get things finished up here at my place while Riker gets me out of here.

  Chapter Ten

  My office. My happy place.

  Riker wanted to take me to his place after we left my apartment. We fought for all over two minutes. When he tried to ‘put his foot down’ about where I needed to be to be safe I did want he usually does when he tries to get me to stopping fighting him. I kissed him.

  We had been sitting at a red light, so I just leaned over and kissed him. I know I shocked him because I shocked the hell out of myself, but it worked. Without me having to ask him again, he did a U turn and brought me to my office.

  However, just like at my apartment. It didn’t really feel the same as it used too. The girls were thrilled to see me but also worried about if it was safe for me to be there. Riker assured them that it was ok and said it would be best to just ask like everything was normal.

  We had been there an hour before I realized Morgan wasn’t there. When I asked Missy about him she said that he had called in sick the last two days. I shrugged it off, people get sick, but Riker actually called to see if he was really sick. I thought this was a little over the top. Riker didn’t see it that way. I retreated to my desk, leaving Riker standing by the door.

  The girls had done another clean up day while I was gone. They also added two new storage cabinets that I loved. They were over six-foot-tall, double door, white metal storage cabinets. Just one could hold what three of our other cabinets held. I was gonna enjoy filling these beauties up with new supplies.

  “Darcy, do you have a minute?” Heather asks as she walks into the back office. I had been back here for a little over two hours now. Morgan had done a good job learning the books, the website, and the pay roll. So, I didn’t have much paperwork to do but I did have a massive inventory list that I was trying to deal with.

  “Sure,” I answer her as I push my laptop away from me. “I need to give my eyes a quick break anyways. What’s up?”

  “We know that with everything that is going on you probably didn’t have time to look at the applications for the part time workers.” She points to the stack of folders on my desk. “Well, my cousins Porsha and Giniva have just moved back in with their mom and was asking if you were hiring. I told them I would talk to you, but I didn’t make them any promises.”

  Porsha and Giniva, also known as Gigi, had been starting college the same year Kristy, Heather and I had been graduating. Missy and Tonya had graduated a year a head of us. Both Porsha and Gigi had helped us out from time to time our first few months in business but when we moved from the dorm room to this office I didn’t keep them on as staff.

  It had nothing to do with their abilities to make the jewelry. It was mostly about my ability to pay them. Which at the time I was more focused on doing enough business to pay Heather, Tonya, Kristy, and Missy. None of the girls knew that for the first four months after we moved into the office I didn’t take a paycheck. I hadn’t moved out of my parent’s house yet, so I didn’t have rent and bills to pay like the other girls. Once I saw the company was doing good I started paying myself. But I never wanted the others to worry so I didn’t tell them.

  “They’ll need to come fill out an application, be interviewed, and maybe we can set up a test bracelet for each of them to make. The others have to agree to this too, but I don’t see a problem with hiring them.” Hiring Porsha and Gigi would mean no more crazy interviews. That alone gets them my vote.

  “Thanks Darcy!” Heather squeals, rushing behind my desk to hug me.

  The others come running into the office when they heard Heather’s squeal of happiness. Riker was with them but once he saw that everything was ok he left us alone. I explained what was going on and all of them was totally
on board at hiring Porsha and Gigi. I still wanted them to be interviewed and tested, mainly so it didn’t look like we just gave them the jobs because they were Heather’s cousins.

  I kicked the girls out of the back office, so I could finish the inventory order. It took another hour, but I finally got our order in. Standing up I stretch my arms over my head and lean back to try and pop my back. Hearing the pop, pop, pop of my spine I sigh at how good it feels.

  Walking into the main office I smile when I see everyone working at their desks. Only Riker looks up when I walk over to my own desk. I wink at him before sitting down and pulling out my small tool kit. I let my mind wonder as I play around with a bracelet design.

  I’ve been fighting my feelings for Riker since that night at Cali’s. There is no doubt in my mind that he cares about me but hasn’t this all happened a little to fast? What if how he is feeling has more to do with him wanting to protect me from Bradley? What happens when Bradley is no longer a treat to me? Will Riker still feel protective or will he see that what he was feeling wasn’t really what he thought it was?

  I’ve never really had a relationship. I wasn’t a prude or anything, I had been a few guys, but they were just one night stands that I always ended up regretting. To tell the truth I’ve only been on three dates. Two blind dates that my friends had set up for me in college and one with a guy from my English Lit class. They were all nice guys, but I didn’t feel anything for them. My sister said it was because I read too many romance books and I had unrealistic expectations. Could this be true? Sure, it could be, but I’ve always believed that two people needed sparks, needed chemistry, to be able to even causally date.

  After what Bradley did to me I stopped even looking at guys. A few asked me out while I was still in college, but I was quick to turn them down. I had no interest in men anymore. I still wouldn’t if it hadn’t been for Riker.

  The intercom buzzing brings me out of my thoughts. I turn around to see Riker letting Greg in. I drop the pair of pliers I was using and quickly walk over to them.

  “What’s going? Any new news?” I ask as soon as I reach them.

  “The police would like to speak with you. I’ve been asked to bring you down to the station as soon as possible. Usually they’d send one of their officers to get you, but Erick called me and asked me to be the one to bring you in.” Greg exchanges a look with Riker, one that I can only guess holds many meanings.

  “What do they want? Please tell me they aren’t going to be asking the same stupid questions I’ve already answered.” I’d had enough of that crap from Officer Smith back at my apartment. I didn’t need that crap happening again.

  “No, they just need to talk to you.” Greg tells me, but I can see something is off with him. He’s tense, his voice is hard, and he keeps looking around like he is waiting for someone to jump out at us.

  “You’re lying.” I snap at him. “I’m not going anywhere with you unless you tell me the truth right now.” I cross my arms over my chest and wait for him to answer me. I know both these guys care about me and only want to keep me safe but I can’t, and won’t, let them keep me in the dark anymore.

  “Darcy, please don’t…” Riker starts but I throw my hand up to stop him from going on.

  “No Riker, I’m not going to deal with people lying to me, keeping things from me, or trying to deal with this for me. This is my life. All this shit going on, is about Bradley and me, no one else. I will not put up with being kept out of the loop. So, he either tells me why the police want to see me, because I can tell he already knows, or I’m going to go back to work.”

  Riker cups the back of my neck and draws me closer to him, he rest his forehead on mine. “Woman, I don’t want to fight with you on this. Can you please just trust me?” His soft words calm my anger but at the same time I can’t bend on being lied too. However, I can be nicer about it and maybe lose the attitude.

  “I know you only want to protect me, and I do trust you. But Riker, keeping me in the dark doesn’t make me feel safe. It only scares me even more.” I lean into him, wrapping me arms around his waist. “I’m not trying to be a bitch about this but I need to know what’s going on. Please, just stop keeping me in the dark. Knowing is better than not knowing. When I don’t know, than I’m more likely to freak out over anything and everything. But if I know, than I know what to watch out for, and when to call for help.”

  “I’m sorry baby, I really was only trying to protect you. We’ll talk more about this later but you’re right, Greg does know what’s going on and he does need to tell you.” With one last kiss on my forehead Riker releases me and I turn to face Greg.

  Greg sighs in frustration. I feel someone walk up behind me, I turn to see it’s not just someone it’s everyone. Tonya, Missy, Heather and Kristy are all standing behind me, all with their arms crossed. Riker and Greg don’t stand a chance against five very stubborn women.

  Greg finally gives in, but I was not prepared for what he was about to tell me.

  “Bradley left a video messages at the police station. They want you to watch the one left for you and see if it will help you remember something, anything, from the time frame that Bradley held you captive.”

  “What?”

  “How did they not arrest him if he walked into the police station?”

  “Why do they want to do that to her?”

  The girls start hitting Greg with question after question. I find it almost funny to watch him squirm. He doesn’t say anything at first, instead he looks over at Riker, begging his little brother for help with a pleading look. After a couple minutes I take pity on him.

  “Ok, enough!” I raise my voice so that I can be heard over the girls. The questions stop but the tension in the room has doubled. “Explain to me how he just left video messages at the station and they didn’t arrest him?”

  Greg looks over at Riker again, but I step in between them. Both men are taller than me, but I cup both of Greg’s cheeks in my hands and bring his face down until our eyes are locked on each other.

  “Stop looking at your brother and answer my question.” I order him.

  Greg’s lip twitches, I swear he’s trying not to smile. “You’re a bossy little thing, aren’t you?” He tries to tease me. My answer is a hard glare that doesn’t stop until he finally answers my question. “We don’t know how he was able to walk in a leave the message. We honestly don’t know if it was him who left it. Erick tried to look at the security footage but three minutes of it had been blacked out.”

  Blacked out? Just like what happened when Bradley was here at the office. Letting go of Greg’s face I turn to walk away but a strong arm pulls me up against a hard, warm chest.

  “You don’t have to watch it if you don’t want too.” Riker whispers in my ear. His warm breath on my neck sends a chill through my whole body. “It’s not your job to help the police catch this monster.”

  Leaning back into his embrace I let his scent, warmth, and strength surround me. He’s right, it’s not my job to help the police but if I can help then I should.

  “Will you go with me?” I ask Riker.

  “Like you could have stopped me from going.” He chuckles than leans down and softly kisses my lips.

  Chapter Eleven

  Captain Erick Marshall was waiting for us when we walked into the police station. It took almost twenty minutes to talk my sister out of calling my mom and having her meet us here. Mom was by my side through everything the first time. She held my hand and even put a few officers in their place when they made me cry. But if the video is as bad as I think it is then I don’t want her seeing it. She saw enough last time. If I can spare her from reliving that nightmare then I will.

  Plus, it’s not like I’m alone, Greg and Riker are with me. Doing this alone was never an option, I’m not that strong. I need someone to hold my hand, to let me cry, and to fight for me when I can’t. And right now, I’m trusting Riker to be that person.

  “Miss. West, thank you for comin
g.” Erick greets me. “Follow me please.” He starts walking toward the elevators. “I know this will be hard on you. The other women had a hard time watching their videos. We are just hoping one of you can remember something that will help us nail this SOB once we find him.”

  The elevator doors open. There in the elevator is Amy, one of Bradley’s other survivors. We had met several times after Bradley was arrested but had lost contact when Bradley jumped bail.

  “Darcy!” Amy gasps then runs over to hug me. “Oh my God, he is worse then we ever thought.” She starts crying and I can’t help but hug her tighter.

  “I haven’t seen my video yet. I just got here.” I tell her once she’s calmed down.

  “He’s a sick, sick man.” She sighs. “I have to go find my brother. That jerk,” She points at Erick. “Had him removed from the building.”

  “He shattered one of the windows in my office. I didn’t have a choice but to remove him.” Erick defends himself.

  Amy rolls her eyes at him before turning back to me. “I hope you have someone with you who can keep their temper.” She gives me one last hug before going to look for her brother.

  “Really Erick?” I hear Greg mutter as we get on the elevator.

  “I know he was just reacting to what was on the video, but had I not have had him removed he would have ended up hurting himself or others the way kept going off. The window was the last thing he broke. My office looks like a crime scene. He even broke the pencil holder my niece made me for Christmas. Anything he could get his hands on he tried to break.”

  I can hear the sympathy in Erick’s voice. But if the Amy’s video upset her brother that badly, how will Riker react to mine? I’m sure Amy’s brother went through this with her last time, so he must have already known most of what happened to her. Riker only knows what I told him, which was everything I knew, but I don’t remember everything.