Debra Webb - Depraved (Faces of Evil Book 10)

by Unknown

  With the handkerchief pressed to her nose, Jess walked closer to the body lying in the middle of the kitchen on the classic black and white checked linoleum floor. Edna’s head had been bashed. Considering the advanced state of decomposition, Jess could only assume that she’d been murdered the same day she’d made the call to her friend. Chances were she’d been forced to make the call and then bludgeoned to death.

  “If Bruhn’s keycard and ID are here, we haven’t found them,” Harper said, confirming Jess’s conclusions as to why the lady was dead.

  “At least now we know how Spears managed to smuggle Nina out of the clinic.” Jess walked to the back door and opened it to let some air in.

  “Looks nothing like North’s MO,” Lori noted. “Her mouth isn’t sutured and there aren’t any visible signs of strangulation.” She shrugged. “Unlike the Dority murder, he had all the time in the world to follow his usual pattern.”

  “Nothing like Spears’s work either,” Jess noted. “Since North didn’t send a selfie with this victim to his sister, I’m betting this isn’t his kill.”

  “So we have at least one more active follower out there,” Hayes suggested.

  “Looks that way, Lieutenant,” Jess agreed. “For that matter, North may have had assistance with all the bodies we’ve been finding the past few days.”

  She surveyed the kitchen. Nothing looked disturbed. It was the same throughout the small home. Everything appeared to be in perfect order, except for the lady of the house. “Let’s have one last walk through to see if there’s a message from Spears we missed somewhere.”

  That was the thing about Nina’s disappearance. Why hadn’t Spears sent Jess a message or made a move? What was he waiting for? Nina had been missing for six days. Spears obviously had a plan that involved her.

  Maybe Nina was his escape plan.

  If that was the case, then she was still alive.

  The only question was for how long.

  5:50 p.m.

  On the way home Jess reminded herself that on some level she had known all along that Nina was with Spears, and still she wished the news had been different. There was no consolation in discovering that her deduction had been correct. In fact, it made her sick to her stomach to think of how Nina might be suffering with no understanding of what was happening to her.

  “Chet mentioned that Mr. Burnett’s going home tomorrow,” Lori said.

  Jess pushed aside the troubling thoughts and managed a weary smile. “He is. He’s recovered amazingly well.”

  “And Chad is doing great,” Lori went on, sounding almost too chipper. “He’ll be back to work before we know it. Any word yet on how soon Chief Burnett will be reinstated?”

  “Chad is recovering very nicely.” Jess was so pleased about his progress. “I’m not sure a date has been set for Dan’s reinstatement. There’s still the Allen case to deal with, you know.”

  “You think Spears or one of his followers killed Captain Allen?”

  “I don’t know. I’m leaning more toward Lopez.” Leonardo Lopez, one of the most powerful drug lords on the west coast and whose children had wreaked havoc in Birmingham, had sent word to Jess that her trouble in the BPD had been taken care of. “Spears loves watching me squirm. Why help me out by getting rid of Allen?”

  “Good point,” Lori noted.

  The silence that lingered for the next several miles had Jess wishing Lori would just say whatever was on her mind. She had a feeling all the questions were about avoiding a discussion of the proposition to bait Spears. Lori hadn’t said a word on the subject since they left the house on Argyle Drive this time yesterday. Maybe she had decided Jess’s plan for trapping Spears was not such a smart move. Maybe Spears wasn’t the only one whose desperation was showing.

  Jess had to admit the idea was pretty reckless.

  As Lori turned onto Conroy Road, she finally spoke again. “In case you haven’t noticed, Clint seems to be trying a little harder to get along the last couple of days.”

  Jess had noticed. “I’m glad to hear it.” After all the friction between Hayes and the rest of the team she was beginning to think bringing him on board had been a mistake. With any luck he’d learned his lesson.

  Right then and there Jess decided she had made a mistake putting the burden on Lori that her bait-and-trap plan involved. It wasn’t fair to their friendship or to their working relationship. Jess wouldn’t bring it up again. She would find another way.

  Whatever else was wrong in the world, relief washed over Jess as they pulled into the driveway at her place and Dan’s rented BMW was already there. Every minute they were apart she worried that Spears would make good on his threats about Dan. Her BPD surveillance detail parked behind the BMW.

  Jess reached for the door handle. “Goodnight, Lori, I’ll—”

  “I thought about what you said,” Lori offered before Jess could finish.

  “And?” A mixture of hope and dread welled inside Jess.

  “You’re right. If we don’t do something soon, Spears may disappear. We can’t let that happen.”

  “You’re sure about this?” Jess needed her to be sure. She was asking a hell of a lot.

  Lori nodded. “We’ll figure out a plan tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow.” Jess got out of the car without saying more. Her pulse was racing, but they both needed to think about the next step before taking it.

  “Night,” Lori called after her.

  Jess waved and headed for the stairs at the far end of the garage that led up to her apartment. She slowed. Odd that the garage’s overhead door was open. Her landlord never left it open unless he was working on a project.

  “Jess!”

  Startled, her hand instinctively dove into her bag. George Louis emerged from the shadows of the garage, careful to stay near the wide-open doorway. Bear squirmed in his arms. Jess relaxed a little even if her heart was still thumping. “Is everything all right, George?” She rubbed the puppy’s back. “What’s Bear doing out here with you?”

  George looked toward her apartment before meeting her gaze. “I’m not sure.” He backed deeper into the garage and motioned for Jess to join him. The puppy struggled to break free of his hold.

  Her instincts going on alert, she kept her hand in her bag, her fingers wrapped around the butt of her Glock as she stepped into the garage. “Is something wrong?”

  “When he—Dan—came home,” George whispered, “he sent the officer who’d followed him away.”

  An uneasy feeling curled in Jess’s belly. “That was fifteen, twenty minutes ago?” Dan had called her when he arrived home. He had known she was right behind him. Usually his detail was dismissed once they were both home, though it wasn’t unusual for Dan to dismiss his a little early.

  George nodded. “Yes, about fifteen minutes ago.”

  Working hard not to show her impatience, she prompted, “Did you see or hear something that concerned you after the BPD cruiser left?”

  He nodded again. “A woman came.”

  Tension fired through Jess. “How did she get here?” There was no extra car in the drive or on the street.

  George shrugged. “She walked, I guess.”

  Jess withdrew her Glock. George’s eyes rounded. “Describe this woman to me.”

  “Well, I don’t know…”

  Worry gnawing at her, Jess rummaged for her cell phone next. “What was she wearing? What color was her hair? Was she tall or short?” Dammit! Icy fingers of fear tightened around her throat. Why couldn’t she find her damned phone? There. She grabbed it and fixed her attention back on her landlord.

  George blinked a couple of times and appeared to gather his thoughts. Jess wanted to shake the information out of him.

  “She was taller than you. Brown hair. Thin. She wore a yellow dress or gown, she looked disheveled.” He rubbed his free hand over his face and adjusted his glasses. Bear tried to wiggle loose. “And she wasn’t wearing any shoes.”

  Oh hell. Jess hit Lori’s number.
“Okay, George, I need you to take the puppy in your house and stay there until I tell you it’s safe to come out again.”

  “But… but…”

  “Go, George.” Lori’s voice echoed from the cell. “Lori, I need backup. Now. And an ambulance. I believe Nina Baron is in my apartment.” Jess ended the call. George still stood there, staring at her. “George, please, go inside.”

  She started out of the garage.

  “Oh my,” George groaned, causing Jess to turn back. “She… she was carrying something. It might have been a gun.”

  Jess glared at him. “What?”

  “I… I didn’t put it together until you…” He gestured to the weapon Jess held.

  “Go inside,” she ordered.

  Jess left her bag on the ground and moved around the corner of the garage. She flattened against the building, put her finger against her lips, and then motioned to the two officers in the cruiser to join her.

  When the officers had hustled over to her, she didn’t waste any time. “There may be an armed female inside with Chief Burnett.” Both officers visibly tensed. “I can’t confirm, but I believe it may be Nina Baron. I’ve called for backup. Officer Wade, I want you to stay here and wait for their arrival.” Wade nodded and took a position at the corner of the garage.

  Jess turned to the other young man who reminded her of Cook. God, had she ever been that young? “Officer Brashier, you come with me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  When they reached the stairs, Jess whispered, “I’m going first. There’s a motion sensor six steps up. It’s impossible to bypass it so we need to cross it at the same time so whoever is in there thinks it’s just me. Stay behind me and stay down,” Jess ordered.

  The young man shook his head. “No way, ma’am. I go first.”

  Jess appreciated his chivalry, but there was no time. “If Nina Baron is inside, she’s a paranoid schizophrenic who’s been off her medications and she may be armed. We have to approach with extreme caution. Since she and I have met, she needs to see my face, not yours. Under no circumstances are you to do anything to harm her, do you understand me?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jess shook her head. “Wait. This won’t work. There’s a monitor, Brashier, if she sees you, I can’t predict what she’ll do.”

  “No problem. You go up the stairs. Take your time. I’ll go up the back of the stairs.”

  Jess frowned, and then she realized what he meant. He would climb up the support structure that held up the stairs. Why the hell didn’t she think of that?

  “Just don’t break your neck,” she warned, “I’ve spent too much time in hospitals lately.”

  He nodded and hurried to get into position.

  Jess took a breath and walked to the stairs as she always did. She sent Lori a text and then entered her number once more. Jess put the phone on speaker so Lori could hear and tucked it into her bra. She hated skirts and jackets without pockets. Why in the world she ever bought this one she would never know.

  She took her time climbing the steps. Her mind conjured up all sorts of horrific images of what she might find inside. Forcing them away, she focused on how she might approach Nina. Would Nina recognize her from the Labor Day barbecue at her parents’ home?

  As Jess reached the landing, Officer Brashier came up and over the banister just behind the glider George had given her. Brashier flattened against the wall next to the hinge side of the door. Jess reached for the knob, but the cocky young cop was too quick, he threw himself in front of her and had the door open in a heartbeat.

  As her eyes took in the scene beyond the cop’s shoulder, Jess’s breath left her in a rush. Dan was on his knees, his head down. Nina stood over him, the barrel of the weapon in her hand mere inches from his head.

  “Drop the weapon,” Officer Brashier ordered. His weapon leveled on Nina.

  “Don’t shoot,” Dan shouted, his voice hollow with something like defeat. “Whatever you do,” he pleaded, “don’t shoot her. Go back outside. Please, Jess, both of you, go back outside.”

  “Stand down, Brashier,” Jess ordered, her heart threatening to burst from her chest. When this was over, she was going to remind him how the chain of command worked. “Wait outside.”

  He looked at her, his eyes as wide as George’s had been. Just her luck to get a rookie who wanted to be a hero and who was also scared to death. He lowered his weapon, his hands shaking.

  “Outside,” she snapped.

  Jess turned her attention to the woman who hadn’t spoken. Nina hadn’t moved. She stood statue still, staring down at Dan or at the weapon she held clasped in both hands.

  With a steadying breath, Jess dared to move a step in their direction. “Nina, do you remember me?”

  “No!” Nina shouted without looking at Jess. “Leave us alone!”

  “It’s okay, Nina,” Jess assured her. “I’ll stay right here.”

  “Dan?” Nina uttered an anguished sound. “I have to… do this. I have to…”

  “You don’t have to, Nina,” Dan said gently, keeping his head down. “Whatever is wrong, we can fix it.”

  Nina glanced at Jess. “Who are you? No one else can be here!”

  “I’m Jess, Nina. Remember, I saw you at your family’s barbecue a few weeks ago. You looked so pretty.”

  “Make him leave. Make him leave now!” Nina glanced toward the cop standing on the landing behind Jess.

  “Whatever you want, Nina.” Jess kept her attention steady on the other woman and her grasp tight on her weapon, but she didn’t take aim. The last thing she wanted was to make her feel threatened. “Officer Brashier, I’d like you to leave now. Close the door behind you, please.”

  “Chief Harris, I—”

  “Do it!”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Brashier took his time, but he did as Jess ordered.

  “Is that better, Nina?”

  She looked at Jess then. “Are you Jess?”

  Jess smiled, her lips trembling in spite of her best efforts. “That’s right. It’s nice to see you again.”

  Nina blinked, clearly disoriented. She turned her attention back to Dan. “Shut up! I don’t want to hear them anymore.”

  “Jess,” Dan pleaded, casting her a look that begged for her to understand, “go, please. Nina and I will work this out.”

  “Can’t do that,” Jess said softly. She wished her palms would stop sweating.

  Nina shook her head. “Why are you doing this, Dan? Why do you want to hurt my family?”

  “I would never hurt your family, Nina. Please put the gun down. You know me. I would never hurt you or your family.”

  It took all the strength Jess could rally to ignore Dan and to stay focused on Nina.

  “I have to do this,” Nina cried. “I have to.” She shook her head again as if to clear it. “He said to wait for Jess. Are you Jess?” She glanced at Jess. Her arms trembled a little from holding the weapon so tight.

  Fear pumped a little faster inside Jess. “Yes, I’m Jess. Dan is your friend, Nina. You don’t want to hurt him.”

  “No! He left me when I needed him most. I have to do this and Jess has to watch. That’s what I have to do. Yes.” She nodded as if agreeing with a voice only she could hear. “Dan will hurt my family.” Her whole body trembled this time. “Yes, I have to stop him.”

  “Nina,” Dan said gently as he dared to turn his face up to hers, “please listen to me. I would never hurt you or your family. The man who told you this is a liar. Look at me, Nina. Please, just look at me. You know me.”

  “Keep your head down!” Nina’s whole body seemed to shake now. “I can’t look at you!”

  Jess’s stomach clenched as she considered her limited options. There was no stopping this tragedy from playing out. One by one she shut down her emotions and narrowed her senses to the moment—to Nina.

  “He said Dan would hurt my family.” Nina tilted her head as if listening. “Yes. I understand. Yes. He said I have to do it. I have
to wait for Jess. Jess has to see.” She glanced at Jess. “Are you Jess?”

  Dan reached for Nina.

  Jess flinched.

  “Don’t touch me!” Nina shoved the gun in his face and waved it awkwardly. “Don’t touch me!” She shook her head. “I can’t! I can’t!” She went completely still, her finger curling on the trigger. “Please stop. I don’t want to…no…please…”

  “Nina.” Jess stepped forward, drawing her attention.

  “Don’t come any closer!” She tilted her head again. “Yes. Yes. I know what to do.”

  “Nina,” Jess repeated, louder this time. “I can get Sylvia on the phone right now and prove to you that your family is safe.”

  Nina’s lips trembled. “Where’s Dan?” Her face twisted with pain. “He said Dan would’ve come back to me if not for you. Now he’s going to hurt my family.”

  “He’s using you to hurt Dan, Nina. Please put the gun down.”

  Nina froze. “Dan?”

  “I’m here, Nina.” Dan lifted his face to hers once more. “Please put the gun down.”

  “I can’t. I can’t do it. I can’t.” Nina abruptly shifted her weapon toward Jess and backed away from Dan. “This is your fault.”

  Jess was aware of Dan’s voice as he pleaded for Nina to look at him. This was his fault, he urged. Don’t hurt Jess. Tightening her grip on her Glock, Jess took aim. “Put your weapon down, Nina,” she heard herself say in a voice so detached she hardly recognized it as her own.

  Nina steadied her aim and in that instant Jess understood how this was supposed to go down.

  Dan hurled his body at Nina.

  Jess dove for the floor as the distinct click, click, click echoed in the room.

  The door burst open and her team rushed in.

  “You okay, Chief?” Lori demanded as she reached for Jess.

  Her head was spinning, but otherwise Jess felt reasonably sure she was fine. “I think so.” Lori helped her to her feet. She would be sore in the morning from taking that dive.

  Across the room, Dan held Nina in his arms as she sobbed. “It’s over now. Everything will be okay,” he promised. He made soft soothing noises to comfort her, but his eyes and the worry there was on Jess. She tried to reassure him with a smile but her lips did little more than tremble.