After he took care of the last one, he should have gotten into his truck and driven home, except an urgent need to be close to her overwhelmed him and he succumbed to that need. For just a little while he would lie still and savor the night. Here he was as close to her as possible, under the circumstances: his precious angel. She was the special one and so much better than any of the others. In fact there was no comparison. She was all that was good and bright and clean. The others weren’t. Letting go of her was impossible, and far too much to ask of him. She’d left a giant hole in his heart that another could never fill.
As he lay there, the air grew colder and moisture seeped into his clothes where they met the ground. Still he didn’t move. The sensation of cool fabric against his warm skin was a little like the touch of her fingers against his flesh. He liked it. If he could stay here all night, he would.
As he closed his eyes his thoughts wandered back to the first time he saw her. There she was in her utility truck, driving by and pretending she didn’t notice him. He knew a wink and a nod when he saw it, and so he followed her to the substation. Even back then it all felt so right.
When she got out of that truck she impressed him even more. In blue jeans, a button-up shirt, and work boots, she was hot at a level that sent his blood boiling. He didn’t care what anybody said; a beautiful woman dressed in masculine clothing out-sexed one in an evening gown any day of the week.
She was into him, and he’d picked up on that the second she said hello. Her smile was for him alone, and he knew right then and there they were meant to be together forever. It was their shared destiny.
Now he sighed as he watched stars dot the black sky above him. Ever so slowly they shifted across the horizon like a beautiful light show put on just for him and his precious one. Despite the itch that made him want to go out and drive the streets until he found another woman, being here with her calmed him. For the time being, just spending time with her helped ease the disquiet in his soul. She gave him strength with her presence, even if it was only spiritual. It was enough because they would always have each other. Nothing and no one could ever come between them again.
Off in the distance the lights of a vehicle cut through the dark night, a signal his time with her was coming to an end. Even in the face of his compelling need to be with her he didn’t care to take the chance someone would spot either him or his vehicle. Not that anyone would have a clue what drew him to this place. Still, it always paid to err on the side of caution.
He pushed up and got to his feet. His shirt was soaked and it stuck to his back, and his slacks were just as wet and sticky. It didn’t matter. In fact, it was a little like he was taking a bit of her along with him, and he found a great deal of comfort in that.
In the shadow of the large weeping willow, he watched the white sedan pass by and continue down the lonely country road. The driver probably didn’t even notice his black truck parked under cover of a stand of trees. Just like his father, he was drawn to dark-colored vehicles. Not only did they blend into the shadows, but in his experience, people paid little attention to them. Made it handy if he was spotted somewhere out of place. When the taillights of the passing car disappeared, he stepped away from the willow and walked to the truck.
As he pulled away, he put one arm on the open window and began to hum.
*
Lightning cut across the sky seconds before the thunder crashed and roared. The Watcher stood at the ocean’s edge and stared up at the riotous sky. Dread pooled in his heart. Evil was growing stronger and he felt powerless to help.
She was so far away, and though he could sense the impending danger, he could do little to guide her. As a fallen one, his powers were limited and his feet grounded to this place. The price for his transgressions was high indeed. If he could go back in time and undo the sin that held him captive, he would do so without a second thought.
Except he finally understood there was a second thought. How he longed to return to the time before his fall so his place in heaven could be saved, and yet he realized his place was here. She needed him, and in all his time on this planet, he had never felt needed like this. He had never experienced the desire to give of himself so freely, for his focus had always been on his own path home. At this moment it no longer mattered whether redemption would be granted. Only she mattered, and he wanted to be at her side to give her all the strength and power he could. Frustration at not being able to do so made him want to scream. He did not, for it would do him no good. No one would hear. No one would care.
Slowly he began to walk along the edge of the ocean, the wind whipping his long hair and sending salty spray across his face. His skin, already cool, turned icy. Ignoring physical discomfort he walked, his eyes focused beyond the place where his feet touched. He reached into the realm beyond the physical, searching for who or what caused such disturbance. The sight failed him, and what threatened her from across the mountains refused to reveal itself. If only he was not tethered to this place. If only he could be at her side. If. If. If. How he hated that word.
Above him the sky continued to rage, and the thread of evil was black and grim through the roiling clouds. The Watcher put his hands together and closed his eyes as tears trailed down his cheeks. “I ask you, dear Father, for this only: keep her strong and keep her safe.”
*
Thea couldn’t sleep, and she wasn’t the only one. She found Lorna sitting out on the deck in the dark. Though the sky was sprinkled with thousands of bright stars, the moon was a mere sliver, making the night cool and black. A couple yards over a dog barked, and as it did, a cat ran nimbly across her yard, scaling her fence in a single leap.
“Hey,” she said as she lit the candle on the deck table and took the other lounger.
Lorna gave her a small smile. “Hey.”
“Can’t sleep?”
“Nope. You either?”
Thea blew out a long breath. She was beginning to wonder if she was ever going to be able to sleep again. “I haven’t slept much since this all started. What’s your excuse?”
Lorna rubbed her temples with her fingers. “I’m worried about Alida and the fact that I don’t seem to be helping much. I’m letting you both down.”
It bothered her Lorna would even think that. “No, Lorna, you’re not. You came when I called, and I didn’t have to try very hard to convince you.”
“You guys have been my friends for too many years. You’d do the same for me.”
She was right on that score. If Lorna was in trouble, Thea would drop everything to help her. They could go for years and not see or talk to each other. Then, five minutes together and all those years just melted away. That’s what real friends did for each other.
“Yes,” she said softly. “I’d come in a heartbeat.”
Lorna nodded and stared out into the darkness, her arms now crossed over her chest. “So you understand why I feel so useless.”
Thea swung her legs over the lounger and leaned close to Lorna so she could take her hands. “You have no idea how much help you are. Your being here has been my sanity. Without you I think I’d have lost it.” She wasn’t exaggerating. It was all she could do to keep it together. Panic was growing by the day, and without Lorna here to ground her, she was certain she would have cracked.
Lorna squeezed her hands. “Well, that cute deputy would probably be more than happy to help keep you sane.”
Thea let go of Lorna’s hands and leaned back in her lounger. The idea of a beautiful woman riding in to save the day was a great fantasy, and she so wished this was a fantasy instead of the horrible reality it was. “She’s just doing her job.”
“Of course she is.” Lorna drew out each word.
It was a good ploy to try to take her mind off the tragedy for a few minutes, but it was misplaced. “Seriously, Lorna. There’s nothing between me and the deputy.”
“Maybe not right now, and that’s to be expected given what’s going on, but I’m telling you, Thea, there cou
ld be. She likes you.”
Beyond the mere fact this wasn’t the time or the place to get involved with anyone, she didn’t want to get ahead of herself and didn’t want to set herself up for heartache. Then again… “You think?”
“Oh yeah, I think.”
Backpedaling because she didn’t want to go there, not just yet, she deflected. “What really brought you out here tonight? I know you’re frustrated by Alida’s case, but that’s not all of it.”
“Nothing worth worrying about.”
Apparently Lorna was forgetting how long they’d known each other. “Liar. Come on. You know you can trust me.”
For what seemed like at least five minutes, silence hung between them. Thea thought that, despite their long-time friendship, she might have pushed Lorna a little too far. Then Lorna broke the silence.
“I’m worried I’m going to end up with another broken heart,” she said bluntly, her words flat.
Underneath the toneless words Thea could feel the depth of emotion Lorna didn’t want to expose. Despite the recent years of rare contact, she still knew her friend. They grew up together, learned about like, love, and betrayal together. Those were things one didn’t forget. She could tell how deep fear ran in her friend’s heart. “Okay, I don’t know your Renee, but she’s no Anna. That much I do know.”
Lorna leaned forward and put her head in her hands. Her voice was full of the emotion she’d tried to suppress just moments before. “She’s going to leave me, I just feel it. I live out there in the boonies and she’s from the city. What could possibly keep her out there so far from the life she built in Seattle?”
Despite Lorna’s obvious despair, Thea smiled. “Oh, my dear friend, that’s an easy one: you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Katie thought she was bound to be the first one in, but boy was she way off. Vince was already there, bent over his computer typing away, and Chad was coming down the hallway with a mug of coffee in his hand.
“Did I miss a meeting notice?” she asked as she dropped her bag into the bottom drawer of her desk. “I don’t see you two here this bright and early very often.” She was an early riser and typically at her desk well before any of the others. Chad tended to be a little early, but Vince usually walked in right on time. Early wasn’t his style, although to give him credit, he was the first guy to offer to stay late.
“What are you trying to say, Carlisle? That we’re slugs?”
“Your words, not mine, Chad.”
He laughed and put his mug down on his desk. “Damn straight.”
“You two are less than funny, and I think being here this time of morning is criminal,” Vince added without looking up from his computer screen. “If this report wasn’t due on the chief’s desk by eight, I sure as shit wouldn’t be here at the crack of dawn. This is messed up.”
Now that was the Vince she knew and loved. All smiles and cockiness when things were going his way. Grumpy and whiny when they weren’t. He was so thoroughly predictable. Best to leave him to his report in silence. She turned to Chad. “What’s your story? You have a report due to the chief too?”
He shrugged and dropped into his desk chair. “Couldn’t sleep and, since I snagged that murder out in the Valley yesterday, figured I might as well get in and work it.”
Vince leaned back in his chair and looked over at Chad. “Why couldn’t you sleep, Chadster? Your latest little gal pal keeping you up at night?”
The look Chad gave him could have curdled milk. “Fuck you, Vince.”
Katie narrowed her eyes and shook her head. It was like working with children or, more likely, adolescent boys. “Really, guys. Don’t care, don’t want to hear about it.”
Vince rolled his eyes. “We better be careful, Chadster, or Katie will run to Daddy and tell on us. Inappropriate workplace conversation.”
Definitely adolescent boys. “As Chad said, fuck you, Vince.”
His laughter filled the room. “Oh my, the lady does have balls.”
Chad smiled. “You better not mess with her then. She can probably kick your ass.” He looked over at Katie and winked. “Ignore him. You know what they say about guys like him…big mouth, little dick.”
“Honest to God, you two are something else.” She turned away and hit the power button on her computer to boot it up. Maybe if she ignored them they’d go away. A girl could dream.
“You know what else they say?” Vince said as he turned his attention back to his computer screen. “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your coworkers. Sucks to be you.”
She corrected him. “You can’t pick your family.”
“Family, coworkers, it’s all pretty much the same.”
“Only in my nightmares,” she said.
Quiet finally took over and Katie clicked on Internet Explorer to start her search. With some time to really work through Kyle’s ideas she was bound to come up with something of interest. Yesterday while she was in court, he’d emailed her some additional thoughts, and she intended to use her resources to see what she might come across. She would start with searches in nearby counties to see if any cases that resembled Alida’s disappearance popped up. Anything could help, even something little.
Thankfully the guys continued their own work and left her in peace. The room was pretty quiet except for the click of the computer keyboards. This was why she liked this time of day so much. It was peaceful and productive. She became quickly caught up in the information beginning to reveal itself.
Kyle wasn’t too far off the mark. Less than an hour later she discovered the cases of three missing women in two nearby counties. Sonofabitch. How did she miss this before? It wasn’t like law enforcement was isolated around here. Somehow, somebody should have connected the dots. By the looks of her research, obviously no one had picked up on it.
For a long time she stared at her screen while she tapped a pen on the top of her desk. After she thought it through she created a map and, taking the locations of each disappearance, marked it with a small red x. It made for a very interesting pattern. If this was, in fact, the work of one person, they went out of their way to grab victims from places where it would be hard to connect them. Very sneaky. Very effective.
She pushed back in her chair and put both hands on top of her head. This information created a completely different spin on things. She needed to adjust to this new paradigm quickly.
*
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he whipped his head around to study the people passing him by, searching for the face that studied him back and listened in to his thoughts. It wasn’t like him to react to others. Cool, collected, and unflappable, that was his style. So why all of a sudden did he have a really bad feeling that someone knew of his project? That wouldn’t do. Few would understand the importance of his work.
With his left hand, he pulled sunglasses out of his pocket and slipped them on. Much better. He slowly moved his head to search faces again, confident the mirrored lenses of his glasses concealed his line of sight. Faces went past him: men, women, and children. Who or what was giving him the heebie-jeebies?
Nothing stood out. No one appeared focused on him beyond the normal glance of a passerby. It was just a regular day in the city. Cars were driving past in both directions on Broadway, always at exactly the correct speed limit, at least until well past the Public Safety Building, aka the Spokane Police Department. People were coming and going from both the PSB and the courthouse, but no one caught his attention as being unusual. He continued down the steps and to the sidewalk, moving his gaze the whole time.
Still nothing jumped out at him, at first, anyway, and then he noticed two women making their way inside. He was certain one was the twin sister of the missing woman, Alida Canwell. They looked amazingly alike and yet there was a distinct difference between the two sisters. Though he couldn’t articulate exactly what it was, he felt it in his heart. Instinct guided him to conclude this one wasn’t special.
His gaze
moved from the sister to the other one. Now she was interesting. There was something unusual about her, perhaps something dangerous. She was the kind he would keep his eye on.
Instead of heading straight to his car, he casually moved to one of the trees that dotted the landscaping outside the front of the building. He leaned a shoulder against it and watched the women walk to the doors. Was she going upstairs? Was she here for something with the sister? Too many questions about them, and as much as he wanted and needed to know, there was no way to answer a single one without raising other unwanted questions. That wouldn’t be wise.
This unease made him jumpy, and he didn’t like that either. Not knowing everything happening around him made him uncomfortable. Knowledge gave him power, and right now some of it was slipping away. Not good. But what could he do? The answer didn’t please him. The word nothing wasn’t in his arsenal.
He blamed the sister. Damn her anyway. Why couldn’t she just let it go? He hated families that had a crusader. It made his job more difficult and the steps more delicate. Not that it stopped him from his important work. Nothing was impossible, even with opposition. It just created a little more work for him.
Once the women were out of sight, he pushed away from the tree and walked to the crosswalk on Broadway. The crossing sign was flashing Wait, and he did. It occurred to him as he waited that the knot in his stomach was no longer there. He glanced over his shoulder to the glass doors the two women had walked through minutes before.
The light changed and the crossing sign flashed Walk. He sauntered across the street with six other people who’d waited with him, noting that none of them gave him a second glance. He was just a regular guy heading to his car. Appearances were deceiving, especially when it came to his. He counted on it.
Twisted Whispers Page 11
