Ian folded his hands and rested them on the folder. “But Holly’s mother survived.”
She drew in a deep breath as she remembered yesterday’s conversation with Detroit Detective Nick Merretti and Holly’s mother, Vivian Saunders. “Yes. After Owen and I attended the funeral for Bill Baker, the murdered security guard, we flew to Marietta, Ohio and met with Holly’s mother, Vivian.” Her throat tightened. “Holly had bludgeoned and stabbed Vivian the night she’d killed Arthur Saunders, and assumed she’d killed her mom. Vivian spent six months in a coma and is now a quadriplegic. If it wasn’t for her…I don’t think.” She paused to gain control of her emotions. If it wasn’t for Vivian, Holly would have killed Owen and Josh, and would likely be running free right now. “I don’t think we would have found Josh in time,” she finished.
“How is it that Holly was able to not only get into the university under a false name, but work for a county sheriff?” Ian asked.
Jake had beaten himself up over being duped by Holly, but he hadn’t been at fault. “The sheriff, Jake Tyler, ran a background check on her and also fingerprinted her before hiring her on as a part-time receptionist. Because Holly had never been fingerprinted, there wasn’t a match. As for the name she was using…Michigan State Police are looking into it. They…we suspect Holly might have taken simple identity theft to murder. They’re currently searching for the real Melissa Channing.”
Ian looked to Owen. “Anything else?”
“No, sir.”
“Please give Rachel and me a moment.”
Owen’s eyes were unreadable as he stood, then left the room. After the door clicked shut, Ian rose from his chair. “Do you have anything else to add?” he asked and sat down next to her.
She suspected Ian wanted to discuss the email Owen had sent him regarding her emotional incapability to work a murder investigation. But rather than open herself up to that line of questioning, she played dumb. “No. That about covers it.”
He smiled and turned the chair to face her. “I’ll never forget the day you hacked into my system.” His smile grew. “I was both furious and curious. And when I met you…” He shook his head. “Remember what you were wearing when I came to your apartment?”
Her cheeks heated. “Yeah, my pink polka dot pajamas. Can you believe I still have them?”
“I obviously don’t pay you enough if you can’t afford to buy new pajamas.”
She half-laughed. “You’re more than generous. They just happen to be my favorites.”
“Well, when you opened the door, wearing those pajamas, you shocked me. And that’s not easy to do. I don’t know who I was expecting to meet on the other side of the door, but it wasn’t a pint-sized, fiery redhead with a cocky attitude.”
She straightened. “I know people shorter than me.”
“They’re called toddlers,” he said with a chuckle, then sobered. “Rachel, I know you. I know you’ve wanted to work in the field for the past couple of years. I gave you that chance because you were going to go with or without the backing of CORE.”
“I know about the email Owen sent you,” she blurted, wanting to bring this discussion to a close. “And I’m okay with it. I’m okay with not working field assignments.”
Ian’s brows rose. “After two years of nagging me, you’re going to give up after one investigation?”
“I’m obviously not qualified. You know it. Owen knows it.” She swallowed. “I know it.”
“Because you showed emotion? Because you grieved for a victim?” He cocked his head and studied her. “I’d have been more worried if you didn’t show any emotion.” He stood and moved toward the window, then stared at the Chicago skyline. “And how are you handling killing the woman?”
“Fine.”
With a half-smile, he turned slightly. “You shoved a pencil hard enough into her ear that it penetrated her brain. You’re fine with that?”
Her stomach churned. “No. I would have rather she’d been arrested and sent to prison. But what’s done is done.”
“Yes. What’s done is done,” he echoed. “As you know, if any one of our agents kills in the line of duty, they’re required to see a counselor. That goes for you, too.”
Little did Ian know she’d already made the appointment. She needed to cope with killing another person before it drove her insane with guilt. “Of course.”
“Once the counselor gives the okay, I’ll assign you another case. At the start, I’ll expect you to work with one of the other agents. Not Owen, though. I don’t care if you two are together, but I can’t have your personal relationship affecting your judgment in the field.”
Her cheeks grew warm again. How Ian knew about her and Owen she couldn’t be sure. At this point, it didn’t matter. Ian was giving her what she’d thought she wanted. A chance to be away from the desk and out in the field. “You don’t have to worry about me and Owen,” she said.
He faced her. “I’m sorry. I thought you two—”
“We are…were…we need to sort some things out.” She rubbed her temple. “Ian, I don’t want to work in the field,” she admitted. And as the words hung in the air an enormous weight lifted from her shoulders. “While I was in Bola, I missed my evidence and evaluation room. I missed that side of investigating process.” She stood. “I don’t want to carry a gun. Right now, I’m not even carrying a pencil. I don’t want to see a dead body up close and personal, and I certainly don’t want to be put in a situation where it’s my life or someone else’s. Thank you for the opportunity, but if it’s okay with you, I’d like to stick with my current position.”
“That’s your decision?”
Damn straight it’s my decision. “Yes.”
“Thank God,” he said and relaxed his posture. “It’s been hell not having you here. Honestly, I knew you did a lot, I just wasn’t aware how much.” He smiled. “Expect a pay raise.”
Her heart rate jumped. “Thank you. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go see what needs to be cleaned up around here.”
“Go home and rest. It can wait until tomorrow.”
She thanked him again, and headed for the door.
“Rachel,” he called as she turned the doorknob. “You did good.”
Keeping her back to him, she smiled, then left the office. Owen grabbed her arm and steered her down the hall. When they reached the evidence and evaluation room, she tried to shake free. “What are you doing?”
He crowded her and pulled her close. “What happened with Ian?”
“Nothing.”
“You were in there long enough, so I know it’s not nothing.”
“Okay, so it wasn’t nothing. He offered me a position as a field agent, but I turned him down.”
Concern clouded his eyes as he moved closer. His familiar scent tickled her senses and made her want to lean into him. But they had yet to discuss their relationship, and she still needed to figure out if they could even have a relationship.
“Are you sure that’s what you want to do? I don’t want that email I sent to Ian weighing in on your decision.” He touched her chin. “I don’t want what I wrote or how I treated you to be the reason, either.”
She gripped a fistful of his shirt. “You have nothing to do with my decision. It’s on me and it’s what I want.” She tightened her hold. “I’ve spent my whole life looking for adventure. I’ve envied you and the other guys who work here. You’ve all been to so many places, seen so many things. And all I do is sit in front of a computer.” Loosening her grip, she smiled. “But you know what? I love what I do. It took this case to make me realize that there’s nothing wrong with sitting in front of computer, that what I do is a huge asset to CORE. I’m not saying I wouldn’t want a little adventure in my life, just not the kind that involves…murder.”
His face relaxed. “So you’re not quitting?”
She shook her head. “I told you before, I’m not quitting my job. I love my evidence and evaluation room too much to leave.”
He cupped her
cheeks, then swept the pad of his thumb along one of her fading bruises. “You know what I love?”
Her heart rate kicked up a dozen notches. “Bigfoot festivals?” she whispered. She loved him so much she didn’t want to raise her hopes, only to have them plummet if he said something else.
“Not quite.” His eyes sparkled as he grinned. “I love you, Rachel. And if you’ll let me, I want to love you for the rest of my life.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I love you, too.” She gave him a long, lingering kiss. When she pulled back, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You do know I’m a total pain in the ass, right?”
“I happen to like your ass.” He reached down and squeezed her rear. “So, by forewarning me that you’re a total pain…is that your way of saying yes?”
She frowned. “I don’t remember you asking me anything.”
“Then I guess I wasn’t clear.” He took her hands in his. “I want to spend my life with you. Make a bunch of babies, get a couple of dogs, a house…Rachel, I love you. Will you marry me?”
She hugged him hard and quick. “Yes,” she said, blinking back the tears. “Only…you want to make a bunch of babies. How much is a bunch?”
He pulled her closer. “Four, maybe five.”
“Four or five?” She was in love with a mad man. “I love you, but you’re crazy.”
He kissed her forehead. “You said you wanted some adventure.”
“I did, didn’t I? And the only one I’d love to share those adventures with is you.” She took his hand. “Let’s get out of here. I haven’t seen you naked in days and all this adventure talk is making me feel…adventurous.”
“I know how to solve that.” He looked around the evidence and evaluation room. “Do you know how many times I’ve fantasized about bending you over one of these tables and—”
“Stop.” She grinned. “Don’t tell me. Show me when we get back to my place.”
He took her hand and kissed it. As they walked out of CORE she knew in her heart, life would never be boring. Not with Owen in it.
Epilogue
Six months later…
Ian Scott took a seat in the last pew at the back of the quaint church. As the pianist played a beautiful melody, the wedding guests whispered amongst themselves, while the groom stood at the alter rocking on his heels. Owen Malcolm, normally cool and collected, looked as if he’d recently eaten bad Chinese food. His face was a shade too pale, and Ian hoped to God the man didn’t lose his lunch while he exchanged vows with Rachel.
The doors behind him opened. His agents, Dante Russo and Lloyd Nelson entered. They both nodded to him as they took a seat in the pew in front of his. Moments later, Lloyd’s partner, and his daughter Celeste’s younger brother, Will, entered. The popular artist shook Ian’s hand before sitting next to Lloyd.
Ian leaned forward. “Where are your sisters?” he asked Will.
“I just saw Celeste and John pull into the parking lot. Hudson and Eden are with them.”
Ian checked his watch. The four of them had better hurry. The wedding would begin in the next five minutes. When he leaned back into the pew, he looked across the aisle and caught Joy Baker staring at him. He’d met Joy and her husband, Walter, last night at the rehearsal dinner. He wanted to dislike the brash and crass woman, but couldn’t. She’d become a surrogate mother to both Rachel and her brother, Sean. And Walter had become the father figure Rachel had never had. They were a bit strange and eccentric, but good, solid people.
The door opened again. Expecting Celeste and the others, Ian turned. Jake Tyler, the Dixon County Sheriff who had brought CORE into the Wexman Hell Week case, entered and immediately took a seat next to Joy and Walter. Ian might have met Jake for the first time last night, but at this point, he knew the sheriff well. After the way Jake had handled the Hell Week case, and the glowing report Rachel had written about him, Ian decided it might be in his best interest to poke around Jake’s background. He was always on the look out for unique individuals, with military and/or law enforcement experience, to come work for him at CORE. Ian had discovered some interesting and intriguing information about Jake, and knew in his gut the man would make an excellent investigator. Unfortunately Jake had to serve another year as sheriff, and based on what he’d learned about Jake, the man was too loyal to quit his post. With more cases than his current CORE agents could handle, he might have to make it so Jake had no choice but to resign and come work for CORE.
He glanced around the small church. One of these days, God was going to strike him down for his actions. He supposed while he was in the church he should offer up a prayer or two rather than consider how he planned to manipulate another man’s life.
“Hi, Dad,” Celeste whispered and touched his shoulder.
He let Jake go for the moment, stood and gave his daughter a hug. “Cutting it a little close, don’t you think?”
“That’s my fault,” Eden said quietly, and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I was up late.”
Hudson came up from behind and shook his hand. “Instead of morning sickness, Eden has three in the morning sickness. Hopefully it’ll pass soon.” He took his wife’s hand, then kissed her knuckles. “She needs her rest before the baby is born so she can handle all those late night feedings.”
“We need our rest,” she corrected Hudson.
“But I don’t have the right equipment.”
Celeste gave her brother-in-law a nudge with her elbow. “I predict plenty of late night feedings and diaper changes in your future. Now, scoot in and leave room for John. I want to sit next to my dad.”
Hudson shook his head. “Was that a psychic prediction?”
Celeste smiled. “Nope. I just happen to know my sister very well.”
Eden grinned at Celeste, then greeted her brother, Lloyd and Dante before taking a seat next to Hudson. Eden looked great, Ian thought as he made room for Celeste. According to Celeste, thanks to therapy for her eating disorder, Eden had put on fifteen pounds before she’d become pregnant. Being with Hudson, and taking her time writing her true crime novel rather than climbing Network’s corporate ladder, had softened her. She’d become more family oriented, more approachable. More likeable.
“John dropped us off and is trying to find a parking spot,” Celeste said.
“He better hurry.”
“He’ll make it.” She smiled. “So, three weddings in six months. You could start advertising that CORE is turning into a successful dating service.”
He looked to the church ceiling. “God, help me. Next I’ll have to provide child care.”
“That’s a brilliant idea. I know we’ll be needing it in about…oh, seven and a half months.”
He gripped her hand. “Are you and John…am I going to be…?”
She grinned. “Yes, Grandpa.”
His heart swelled. He was going to be a grandfather. A year ago, he could only fantasize about meeting his daughter, and now she was a huge part of his life. She’d married one of his best agents, had a successful bakery just down the street from CORE, and now she was giving him a grandchild. Life couldn’t be any better.
“Any room for me?” John Kain asked.
He wanted to thank John for bringing Celeste to Chicago, for marrying his daughter and creating a child. With his throat tight from too many unfamiliar emotions, he stood and gave the man a firm handshake, instead.
John took a seat next to Celeste. “You told him?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I think he’s speechless.”
Ian cleared his throat. “I’m not speechless, I’m considering how all these babies are going to affect business.” He glanced across the aisle to where Jake Tyler sat with Joy. “I might have to definitely bring in some new recruits.” He looked back to John. “Congratulations, by the way.”
John grinned, then held his wife’s hand. Seconds later, the music changed.
Celeste bumped him with her shoulder. “Time to stand.”
Ian stood and turned t
oward the door. When Rachel appeared, with her brother on her arm, he sucked in a breath. She was absolutely beautiful. Her green eyes were bright, her pretty smile, huge. Ian quickly glanced toward the altar, and grinned. Owen looked the happiest he’d ever seen him. Hell, he was happy.
For Rachel and Owen, for Celeste and John, and for Eden and Hudson. All three of them had found something good in a world filled with so much bad.
At that moment, he took advantage of his location and sent a prayer of thanks.
For second chances, for his future grandchild, and for…CORE.
The End
Other Titles Available by Kristine Mason
Look for Ultimate Kill Book One of the Ultimate CORE Trilogy Spring 2014
Shadow of Danger
Book One of the CORE “Shadow” Trilogy
Four women have been found dead in the outskirts of a small Wisconsin town. The only witness, clairvoyant Celeste Risinski, observes these brutal murders through violent nightmares and hellish visions. The local sheriff, who believes in Celeste’s abilities and wants to rid their peaceful community of a killer, enlists the help of an old friend, Ian Scott, owner of a private criminal investigation agency, CORE. Because of Ian’s dark history with Celeste’s family, a history she knows nothing about, he sends his top criminalist, former FBI agent John Kain to investigate.
John doesn’t believe in Celeste’s mystic hocus-pocus, or in her visions of the murders. But just when he’s certain they’ve solved the crimes, with the use of science and evidence, more dead bodies are discovered. Could this somehow be the work of the same killer or were they dealing with a copycat? To catch a vicious murderer, the skeptical criminalist reluctantly turns to the sensual psychic for help. Yet with each step closer to finding the killer, John finds himself one step closer to losing his heart.
Shadow of Perception
Book Two of the CORE “Shadow” Trilogy
Shadow of Vengeance Page 42
