She stopped talking when the elevator doors opened.
“Address?” Tom asked.
They stepped in and both reached for the “P” button. Their hands brushed. Neither of them pulled away immediately. Anna was the first to move her hand. She felt awkward, emotions warred. She wanted to be repulsed by his touch, but deep down, she found it strangely exhilarating.
“You were saying about the address?” Tom asked, pulling her from her ruminations.
“It turns out Brian Pearlman has a summer house.”
“And where would this summer house be?”
“It is a quaint little home out on Keystone Lake.”
“We're going to the lake?”
“I think it would worth checking out.”
“Are you going to bring your bathing suit?”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Tom—”
“Are you a one-piece kind of girl or do you sport the thong?” Tom gave her a wink.
“Ah, the word of a gentleman.”
“Hey, I didn’t break my word. I didn't mean for that to be ridicule in any way shape or form. I honestly want to know. So which is it?”
“Well, you can just keep wondering,” she replied before entering the parking garage.
“Oh, did I strike a chord?”
“That’s enough, Tom.” She turned on him and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Get in the car before I change my mind. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
“What, oh what will we have to talk about to pass the time.”
She grunted her disgust before slamming her door.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nina’s face materialized out of the darkness. Kyle tried to speak to her, but his mouth refused to move.
It was only her magnificent face that floated on the air before him. Her face, her eyes, those lips borne by a creature that had a grip on his heart like no other before her, the site soothed him like nothing else could.
God, how I love those lips.
Her eyes closed and her face began to move away, slipping deeper into the void that surrounded him.
Where are you going?
He wanted to shout the question to her, but his lips still wouldn’t cooperate.
He could feel her touch his chest, but he couldn’t see her. Am I blind? Her caress was anxious, pushing and pulling at his skin. Why is she tickling me? Her caress moved to the light touch of her fingertips and floated along the length of his torso.
Talk to me! I know you’re there. I can feel you. Why don’t you just say something? Tell me what’s going on.
His mind wandered, near delirium. His prayers were partially answered; he could hear her voice. It sounded like a whisper on the wind, but he was sure it was hers. Her song was unmistakable. This is no time to serenade me. I hate that Hindi shit anyway. For the love of God, just— just— help me.
Soon, the touch of her fingers left him. Another sensation replaced it, something foreign, something distant. His chest began to tingle. It grew into pinpricks, not a horrible pain, but noticeable, like the feeling he got when his arm went to sleep. Then his skin started to burn. He wanted to scream out as flames engulfed his body. It had to be flames, what else could burn like that. Yet he couldn’t smell any seared flesh. He couldn’t smell anything. He was trapped in his mind, with only his pain to keep him company.
I am in hell. Nina was wrong; there is a God and I have seriously pissed him off.
He wanted run. He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He wanted to live. He could feel his mind breaking away, the pain was too much. He felt the heave build in his gut. His stomach turned and he could feel something rising. Am I really going to throw up? Am I still on my back? His fear of drowning competed with his fear of burning to death. Either way, he was sure the pain would soon end. He could feel it in his throat, it was to his lips and then… it was gone. The pain was gone.
Is it over? Am I dead now? What’s next? What happens now? His thoughts swam.
The darkness began to move and swirl, to fade. I’m free. His eyes struggled to focus. What he saw didn’t make sense. He saw himself. Am I still dreaming? Nina was tracing symbols on his body in blood, his blood. He looked into his own eyes and wanted to scream, but he had no mouth, no voice, nothing to carry his thoughts to the room below.
The symbols on his body began to glow. The flesh boiled beneath the ancient markings. Nina shielded her eyes when bright beams of energy shot forth from them, flooding the room.
Where is that light coming from? This can’t be real. He could see Nina kneeling beside the table with her head lowered.
Nina suddenly looked up, smiling at the ceiling, smiling at him. Can she see me?
“Be patient, lover. It’s almost over,” she assured him.
What’s almost over? What are you doing to me?
A troubled look flashed across her face.
Can you hear me? Why are you frowning? Is something wrong?
“I know you are afraid, lover, but you have nothing to worry about. Everything is going to be fine.”
He could barely make out the outline of his body. The light had encompassed it. Nina scrambled back away from the table on her hands and feet, like a reversed crab. Kyle even had to turn away from its brilliance. Suddenly, the light vanished, leaving utter darkness in its wake. Yet, it really wasn't total darkness, it was just less light.
His sight adjusted to its new environment. The room was as it always was, subtle lights and pretty carpet. His gaze found its way back to the face on the table, his face, his eyes. They stared up at the ceiling, locked open, staring back as he stared at himself. The mouth opened slightly and Kyle felt a tug. The tug turned into a pull, he dropped quickly towards his own waiting mouth.
I’m falling.
He began to panic, but before it could grip him fully, the darkness returned.
“Open your eyes, lover. It’s over,” Nina whispered in his ear.
“Ouch,” Kyle cried out as he tried to sit up.
“Easy, lover. Don’t try to move. Just lay there for a while. You will still need to rest.”
“How? What?” He struggled to find the right words.
“I helped your body do what you mind wanted it to do.”
“What was that?”
“Heal itself.”
“Could you see me when…?” His voice trailed off as his eyes moved to the spot on the ceiling he was sure he occupied just moments before.
“Was that your first experience like that?” She eyed him quizzically.
“Yes.” He wanted to nod, but he was afraid it would hurt too much.
“What did you think?”
He gave her lopsided grin. “Now I know how the dust bunny feels when it sees the Hoover coming.”
“Typical, Kyle.” She frowned.
“What’s wrong? Was it something I said?”
“You have your first out of body experience and when I ask you about it, all you can do is make jokes.”
“Ah, you know I love you, baby.”
“Yes, I know you do.” She sighed and rose to her feet, turning to leave. “Now, get some sleep. You will be back to full strength before you know it.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tom looked out the passenger window, watching the trees go by. One of the reasons he loved living in Tulsa was the fact that a twenty-minute ride could take you from concrete and traffic to rolling hills and trees that had been there longer than Oklahoma had been a state.
Anna made it a point to turn up the radio as they pulled out of the garage. It was clear she wasn’t interested in idle chitchat. I didn’t really want to talk to her anyway.
The ride was relaxing, almost too relaxing. He let his head rest against the seat as he waited for his first glimpse of the lake. His mind drifted to thoughts of exploring those woods when he was a boy. He grew up not twenty miles from Lake Keystone. It was there that he first realized he wanted to be a cop.
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The car suddenly veered off the road. What the hell? Anna slammed on the brakes, nearly throwing him to the dash.
He wondered why she was smiling. “What are you doing?”
“Tom, I think that if we are going to work together, there are few things I need to get off my chest.”
Oh God, here we go again. Aloud he said, “Like what?”
“For starters, this jacket has got to go,” she said as she unbuckled her seat belt.
“I beg your pardon?” Tom watched in astonishment as she wiggled out of her jacket.
“Look, I have to be honest with you; the reason I have been so mean to you is because I actually find you quite attractive.”
“You find me attractive? But I thought—”
“Shh.” She placed a finger on his lips. “There’s a time for words and a time for action. Right now, I could use a little action.”
She unbuttoned her shirt and let it hang open. She took his hand and placed it on her breast, closing her eyes as his fingers made contact.
She arched into his touch. “Do you like the way that feels?”
“Oh, yeah,” he whispered, pulling the front of her bra down to expose her nipples. They stood erect, a testament to her interest in his caress.
He fondled her, afraid to take so much as a second to wonder at her change of heart. She hiked up her skirt until he could see the red silk of her panties.
Ah, her body is everything I imagined and more.
She grabbed him by the hair on the back of his neck and pulled him over the armrest, kissing him eagerly. Her tongue felt warm in his mouth, searching deeper with every stroke.
He let his hand travel down to her thigh, expecting her to begin the protests at any second. She didn’t. His breath nearly caught in his throat as her hand started to move south. His body was trembling by the time she reached for his belt. The sudden chill where once it was warm soon followed the sound of his zipper sliding open. He was exposed, pulled free of his trousers.
Her fingers gripped him lightly, a direct contrast to the ferocity of her kiss. The tender touch worked its magic; he stiffened under the caress.
She pulled her face away from his, her smile communicating her intentions. She leaned towards him, pushing him back farther against the seat. Her head passed his face, down his chest, over his stomach, slowly. He could see her mouth open as it neared its destination. His muscles tightened in anticipation of the moist heat that was about to surround his shaft.
“Tom.” He heard her voice, but it sounded as if it were coming from outside of the car.
How can she say anything with her mouth where it is?
“God damn it, Tom. Wake up! We’re here.”
Tom sat up in his seat with a start. Oh, hell.
She frowned at him. “You might want to wipe the drool off your chin.”
He quickly brushed off his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket, shooting awkward glances at her as he did so.
“Why are you smiling at me like that?”
He tried in vain to remove his smile. “Nothing.”
“I didn’t ask you what your life was worth, I asked you what you’re smiling at.”
Ah, now that’s the Anna I’ve come to know and love.
“Tom, you’re starting to make me a little uncomfortable. You had better wipe that smile off your face or I am going to do it for you.”
“Easy, girl. Can’t a guy just be happy to wake up and see you beside him?”
“No, not you. And quit calling me girl. I am a woman and you would do well to give me the respect I deserve.”
Tom’s smile faded away. “Respect has to be earned not given.”
“Then we both need to work on earning it. Because, by what I have seen so far, you don’t even respect yourself.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“How many officers do you know who would fall asleep on the way to a location that could very well be where The Puppeteer is hiding out?”
“Look, I—” He stopped short. There was really nothing he could say to excuse such behavior.
Tom shook his head and turned away from her. He glanced out the window and took in his surroundings. They were sitting on a narrow road. Man, there are a lot of places for a killer to hide out here. He couldn’t see more than a few feet in either direction, the woods were so densely populated, the trees so thick along both sides of the road, hardly any sunlight was able to creep through their cover.
He put his game face on before turning towards her again. “How much further is this house?”
“Not far, maybe a half a mile or so. I didn’t want to get too much closer for fear he might be out in his yard or something.”
“Good thinking.”
“Come on, let’s go,” she urged and stepped out of the car.
Tom nodded as he emerged from the passenger seat. He pulled his 9mm out of its holster and checked the clip, flicking the safety off for good measure.
“Nice piece,” he commented as Anna checked her .38 snub.
“Thanks.” She spun the chamber before slapping it back in place with a flick of her wrist.
“Hey, where are you going?” she asked in alarm when Tom stepped off the road and into the woods.
“The trees will provide us with a lot more cover than the road.”
“Call me silly, but won’t he be able to hear us if we go traipsing through the woods?”
“Not if we’re careful,” he replied, not understanding why she was so hesitant. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid.”
“It’s not that. I just don’t think it’s very wise to go in that way.”
“Oh my God, you are afraid. The big bad Anna Perez is scared shitless to go into the woods.”
“I am not.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Oh, just shut up already.” She waved him off with her free hand. “Let’s do this if we’re gonna do it.”
She didn’t give him an opportunity to answer as she stormed by him and pushed her way into the trees and brush.
“I stand corrected,” Tom quipped, falling in behind her.
The snapping of branches beneath their feet was the only sound he could hear. The silence unnerved Tom to no end. There was a complete absence of noise among the trees, no crickets, no birds, nothing but the rustle of people winding their way through the woods. That is the sound of one hand clapping, Tom thought, causing him to laugh aloud.
“What’s so funny?” Anna demanded, pushing a branch out of the way, as she squeezed between two trees.
His smile vanished in an instant. “It’s just the lack of noise out here getting to me.”
“It is awfully quiet out here.”
“What do you make of it?”
“It is the sound of impending destiny.”
Tom stopped to stare over at his partner. “What are you smoking?”
“They are holding their breath, waiting.” She turned towards him. “They know why we’re here and they know that he is waiting for us at the end of this little trek.”
“You are so full of shit, it isn’t even funny.”
“Today is the day The Puppeteer gets apprehended. It is his destiny and it is our destiny to bring him down.”
“Wow.” Tom stared at her in mock admiration.
“What?” Anna pursed her brows, as if not liking the look on his face.
“I had no idea.” He paused as he wiped his hand over his mouth to conceal his smile. “That I needed to bring my hip-waders with me.”
“You’re an asshole,” she spat, turning on her heel.
“Yeah, but you gotta admit, that was some pretty deep shit you were spreading around.”
She shot him the bird without turning around as she stomped deeper into woods. Tom followed behind with a new spring in his step; he was practically giddy with the knowledge he could push his new partner’s buttons so easily. He scanned ahead for signs of the house. The branches entwined tightly, making it impossible t
o see more than a few feet ahead of them.
Just when Tom was beginning to wonder if they were going the wrong way, he spotted a flash of light that broke through the shroud of leaves. It was a reflection, sunlight bouncing off a window.
As they edged closer to the house, the trees started to thin out. Tom could see a clearing less than ten feet in front of them. Kneeling together behind a tree, they both surveyed the area for signs of movement.
Once he was sure no one was in the yard, Tom let his gaze shift to take in the house. From their vantage point, they could see two sides, one with a door and the other with a row of windows. They were still crouching as they slipped from beneath the trees. They scurried across the lawn, praying no one would spot them.
When they reached the house, they froze with their backs against the wall, listening for any movement from inside.
Tom slipped a mirror out of his breast pocket and angled it towards the window, moving it slightly as he took in the entire room.
“All clear,” he whispered pulling the mirror away.
“Let’s check out the other side.” Anna nodded her head towards the edge of the house as she spoke.
“But there is a door right here,” he countered, pointing with his pistol at the steps beside them.
“Yes, but we haven’t seen the other door yet.” She moved away from him before he had a chance to argue.
“Shit,” he muttered as he followed her. She won’t be happy until she gets us both killed.
“I suppose that would be his summer car to go along with his summer house?” Anna motioned to the black car sitting in the driveway.
“Nice ride,” he said, stepping close enough to put his hand on the hood. “It’s still warm. Someone has used it recently.”
He looked up to find her waving at him frantically. She had her back against the wall near the front steps. It took Tom only a split-second to see the door was ajar.
“Looks like probable cause to me.” He moved in closer to inspect the jamb.
“Scuff marks?” she whispered, kneeling beside him. “Why would he break into his own house?”
“Maybe in his haste to leave the other house, he forgot his keys.” Tom shrugged, fingering the abrasions.
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