At the sink, he ate the cereal dry and went through the plan in his head, once more. While he munched, his stomach settled and the righteousness of his actions soothed him again. God had led him to her. She would come to him. He would succeed in his mission because He willed it so.
A car slowed in the street outside and he froze in the middle of chewing, his ears strained to pinpoint where it went. The motor hummed past and he swallowed the lump of food that had congealed in his throat. Discarding the rest of the cereal in the bin, he bit into the apple instead. The sweet burst of juice freshened his mouth and coated his tongue. He closed his eyes to enjoy the sensation more fully. Idly, he wondered if Constable Appleton’s blood would taste as sweet to his taste buds as the fruit bearing her name did. He couldn’t wait to find out.
****
“Here it is,” Nate pointed right in front of her nose. “Christ—it’s practically across the road. We probably drove right past him.”
Kelly turned into the entrance and parked at the side of the building away from the pumps. Grabbing her digital camera from the glove compartment, she straightened up and swung out of the car. Nate followed her into the store area, the buzzing of the door alarm announcing their arrival. The pimple-faced kid behind the counter looked up at their approach. His pleasant smile lost its luster as his eyes shifted to Nate at her side. The color left his face, leaving the freckles that matched his hair to stand out in sharp relief.
“Stop frowning,” she hissed unobtrusively at Nate, her elbow digging into his side. He grunted but obligingly rearranged his face into a less off-putting expression. It did little to reassure the young man behind the counter.
“Hi,” she glanced down at his nametag and smiled widely, “Chris. I’m Constable Kelly Appleton and this is my partner Constable Nathaniel O’Leary. We talked on the phone.”
The boy warily took his eyes off Nate to glance at the identification she held out. Relief flooded his face, and the color returned as he looked it over. He accepted their handshakes, pumping them with fervor. “For a moment there, I thought you were coming to rob the place. I expected you to be in uniform and turn up in a squad car.”
Kelly smiled her understanding. “Sorry to frighten you, we’ve just clocked out.”
Chris’ gaze swung back to her at her comment and he drew himself up to his full height. Even then, he was still a couple of inches shorter than she was. “Oh, no. I wasn’t frightened. I can handle myself. Been doing martial arts training for a couple of years now.” He puffed out his chest at his last words.
“Good to hear,” she responded in a deliberately cool tone. He’d talk their ear off if they let him. “I’m afraid we’re a little short on time. If you could take us through to view the tape now, it would be most appreciated.”
“Uh, sure.” Deflated, he led them through a doorway behind the counter and ushered them into the first room. The walls were lined with shelves of folders, all neatly labeled and dated. Underneath sat a desk littered with paperwork. The whole place smelled of dust and engine grease. It looked as if someone had attempted to make some sense of the haphazard mess at some point judging by the glimpse of a nest of trays under one messy pile, then given up in despair. It amazed her that anyone could run a successful business like that.
Chris picked up a cassette from on top of the pile, turned on a monitor with an inbuilt VCR cavity and pushed it inside. Images of customers at the counter appeared—the picture slightly grainy. Kelly bit back a groan at the sight of the equipment. It was so old. She realized good quality surveillance gear came at a price, but when that price could be your livelihood, wasn’t it worth it? She shook her head at Nate who rolled his eyes with identical frustration.
“It’s just a bit further on,” the kid mentioned, oblivious to their misgivings and crouched down to fast forward. “Ah, here we are. I’ve taken it right from when he enters the store.”
Kelly leaned forward and squinted at the screen, vaguely aware of Nate mirroring her moves. The woman from the beach stood at the forefront of the picture, only the top of her little boy’s head visible. Kelly’s stomach clenched as she witnessed the woman’s last couple of hours on earth. Tears sprang to her eyes but she blinked them rapidly away. They wouldn’t do anyone any good. Instead, she focused on a man, dressed casually in beach shorts and tee shirt, who lined up behind the mother and child, his gaze fixed on them just as Chris had described.
As they turned to leave, the man made a comment, causing the woman to bestow him with a wide smile before she transferred that smile to her son, ruffling his hair. Kelly shuddered at the expression on the man’s face. It wasn’t that it was threatening or scary, rather, it was benign. To Kelly, that was by far scarier than one filled with hatred and evil. At least then, she would know what she was facing. There was no telling what was really going on under that mask. His victims hadn’t stood a chance. The man stepped closer to the counter and lifted his chin to greet Chris.
“Freeze it there,” Nate commanded and reached for the camera hanging loosely from her fingers. She’d forgotten it was there. After taking a couple of pictures, he nodded and Chris resumed play.
The man reached for his purchases and said something, a serene smile on his face. Kelly’s chills intensified. No doubt in her mind, they were dealing with a religious fanatic. She’d read up on enough past cases during her months of basic training. From all accounts, they could be extremely volatile. They believed wholeheartedly the power of God came through them and they had right on their side. Having the evidence of one such man before her made everything frighteningly real. No longer was he the boogey-man. Nausea burned in her throat and she swallowed it down, resolutely keeping her gaze fixed on the screen, her features devoid of emotion. If Nate had an inkling of just how frightened she was, she knew he’d jeopardize his career and bring others in.
“He doesn’t look like a kiddy-fiddler does he? He looks so ordinary.” Chris commented.
Kelly’s brow shot up and she glanced at the kid, glad for the momentary distraction. “There is no particular look which suddenly pronounces you to be one thing or another,” she answered dryly. “If that were so, our job would be much easier.”
Nate continued to stare at the screen then suddenly tapped it. “Go back a few frames. I think we get a glimpse of his car.”
Kelly whipped back around, excitement mounting. Chris reached over and did as he was asked.
“Watch carefully,” Nate murmured in her ear, his attention riveted to the screen. “First, it’s the woman’s car, then his.”
Kelly tracked a vehicle as it glided out of the forecourt. A distinctly family orientated car came first, its large back window boasting a baby-on-board sticker. Following closely behind cruised an unremarkable tan Toyota sedan.
“Can anyone make out the number plate?” Both men shook their heads at her question. “What about when the car first comes into the court? Rewind to that spot please.”
While they waited, Kelly laid her hand over Nate’s clenched fist. “We’re close Nate. Now we have a face and the make of his vehicle, it won’t be long before we have his name.”
He met her gaze, and turned his hand over until it clasped hers. “I just wish to God we’d got to him earlier.”
“I know.” She squeezed his fingers. “But it’s better late than never.”
They turned back to find Chris’ widened eyes on their joined hands. “Hey—I know why you look familiar now! You guys were on that show, Cops last night weren’t you?” Undeterred by Nate’s black scowl, Chris clapped him heartily on his wounded shoulder, not noticing his wince or hiss of pain. “Shit man! You’re lucky to be alive aren’t you? You looked dead for all money. And you,” his gaze slid to Kelly. “You were awesome! You’ve already got a fan-page on Facebook. Hot cop chick. You should check it out. Could I get a photo with the two of you and one with just Hot Chick? The guys will die when they hear I met you.”
Kelly felt the vibration of Nate’s growl before it e
rupted. She squeezed his hand to forestall him and glared at Chris for all she was worth. “How about you concentrate on the task at hand? We’re in the middle of an investigation here.”
The boy’s grin slid from his face and twin flags of color appeared high on his cheeks. “Sure, sorry. Later maybe,” he mumbled in a subdued voice. Pressing play, he slunk back and mercifully, kept his mouth shut.
The woman’s vehicle could be seen clearly on the forecourt, filling up. As she and her son entered the store to pay, the suspect’s car rolled to a stop and he got out.
Nate rewound and replayed the scene. “It’s no use,” he grumbled. “There’s no angle where we’re able to read the plate. Either it’s out of focus, or it’s too far away. Digital surveillance would have given us a clearer shot. We’ll just have to go by the description of the car. At least we’ve got a good picture of his face.” He straightened from his crouch and rolled his shoulders as if trying to work the kinks out. “I’ll send a copy of the photo to Kevin at the labs and ask him nicely if he could put it through the face recognition program. He owes me a favor or two. If the guy has a record, we’ll soon have his name.”
Noting the gray pall to his skin and his stiff movements, Kelly realized he’d pushed himself too far. Damned stubborn man. Still trying to prove he was superman. He needed to get home to rest. Kelly turned towards Chris who hovered in the doorway. “If you see this man again, whatever the time of day or night, I want you to call me immediately.” She pressed her business card into his hand. “Here is my number. This guy is dangerous and is not to be trifled with, got it?”
The kid nodded—his eyes wide. Satisfied the message had gotten through, she thanked him and walked towards the car. She heard Nate follow, but also the question Chris fired after him.
“Hey, mate—are you two together?”
“No. We’re work partners—that’s all.” His voice sounded cold and distant.
“Huh. If I had a chick like that say she loved me in front of the world, I’d be a happy man. Mind if I ask her out then?”
Kelly pushed the glass doors open and marched out to the car not wanting to hear his answer. She blinked furiously to keep the tears at bay. She’d known it might be like this and she’d promised herself not to get too hopeful after the amazing lovemaking they’d shared. He was a man after all and she had thrown herself at him. What man in his right mind turned down uncomplicated sex?
God, her heart hurt. She put a hand to her chest and massaged the spot, but the pain was buried deep. Seating herself in the driver’s seat, she spotted Nate coming towards her and quickly slid on a pair of sunglasses.
“All right?” he asked.
“Fine,” she answered in a clipped voice and put the car into gear. She looked over her shoulder to check the traffic and pulled out, avoiding the intent look he gave her.
“I’ve asked the kid to hold onto the tape and keep it safe. Said I’d have a warrant tomorrow to seize it for evidence.”
She swung her head around. “I thought we agreed to do this on the quiet. Just us—to keep you out of trouble.”
“We were,” he agreed. “Then it started getting too dangerous. You were targeted. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
The fleeting relief at the thought of more manpower to help them with this nightmare was quickly overcome with concern for Nate. “But how do we explain how we narrowed it down without letting on how much we know?”
“Easy. We tell a little of the truth.” At her raised brow, he explained. “We just happened to be at the beach and saw the woman and her boy. Got a shock when we saw her photograph as the next victim and started doing a little investigating of our own. They know I’m a sucker for punishment and wouldn’t be surprised to hear I’ve been getting itchy feet.”
Kelly nodded slowly and thought it through. She couldn’t see anything to trip them up. “That sounds plausible. Reece at the station already thinks that’s the case. I got to admit, it will be a relief to have more men on the ground looking for this guy.”
Nate’s hand covered hers on the gearstick. “I promised I won’t let anything happen to you, Kelly and I meant it. Yeah, it will be good to have them, but I’m going to be sticking to your side like glue.”
She slipped her hand out from under his and returned it to the steering wheel with a strained smile. It felt too good, too easy to lean on him. If she let herself, when it came time to say goodbye, she would be destroyed. She’d lived her life relying on no one but herself for so long, the thought of having someone protecting her back was alien. The thought of having Nate at her side warmed her blood, even though she knew exactly how dangerous it would ultimately be to her peace of mind to rely on him being there.
The trip to the station was completed in near silence, each wrapped up in their own thoughts. She pulled into an available space, cut the engine and took a deep cleansing breath. “We ready?” She smiled, the expression stretching like drying plastic on her face. And it felt just as fake.
“Ready,” he affirmed, his voice calm. “Relax,” he smiled and stroked her cheek. She fought the urge to grab his hand and keep it there. “It will all go well and we’ll have that bastard behind bars before you know it.”
As she unbuckled her belt, her arm brushed over the unfamiliar bulk of the gun at her side. God, she’d almost forgotten about it. How would she have explained to the boss why she was armed? “We’d better lock these in the glove compartment while we’re inside,” she suggested to Nate. He already had his unbuckled, a hand reaching for hers—as always, one step ahead.
She slapped her weapon into his hand, pushed out of the car and waited for him to follow suit. They entered the building together. Shouts and wolf whistles came like a wave, thick and fast when Nate pushed open the office door. Colleagues leapt up and clapped him on the back, congratulations and jubilation making her grin. This level of comradeship was exclusive to people in service for their country and never failed to awe her. They were a family. You were never truly alone and for the first time, she felt the stress she’d carried since Nate’s shooting fall from her shoulders.
“How’s the patient been?” an officer asked as she stood back and watched the melee surrounding Nate. Kelly rolled her eyes and got a laugh in response.
“Do you really have to ask? He’s been like a caged lion the last couple of days. It’s so good to be here.” She didn’t realize Sergeant Blackwood was behind her until he spoke, his deep bass voice cutting through the conversation in the room like a jackhammer through concrete.
“Why are you here?”
Silence descended and all eyes turned to them.
She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and turned to face him. “We’ve got a solid lead on the copycat and need a warrant to secure a video tape which shows his face.”
The Sergeant stared down at her, his immense bulk intimidating to those who didn’t know it was mainly for show. “How good is the evidence? Enough for a conviction?”
Kelly inclined her head. “Combined with the service station attendant’s statement, it’s certainly a step in the right direction, sir.”
“You two are meant to be off duty. What are you doing investigating in your spare time?” he barked, a frown heavy on his brows. “I want O’Leary back fully fit as soon as possible which means resting him. He’s one of our best. Look at him. He looks close to collapse.”
Kelly’s cheeks heated at his rebuke and her tone sharpened. “I understand that, sir. We were at the beach resting. Once we got home, I received an update on the case with a photo of the latest victim. Nate—O’Leary and I recognized her instantly as one of the citizens on the beach. Her death was recorded as not long after we’d seen her there,” she explained concisely. “From there, we phoned all available businesses hoping to find footage of the area and struck it lucky with one in particular.”
“Why didn’t you call us then?”
Kelly hesitated and found Nate’s eyes on hers. His subtle nod of approval
gave her confidence to carry on. “It felt personal.” Her voice came out softer than she’d intended, and she cleared her throat. “Only hours before, she’d been a vibrant mother playing in the sand with her little boy. She deserved someone who’d seen her before she was nothing more than another dead body, someone who would try to find her killer and bring him to justice.”
Blackwood nodded and the audible sound of sighs reverberated around the office as people released their pent-up breath. He motioned for Nate to join them. “All right guys show me what you’ve got—and then you,” he jabbed a thick finger at Nate’s chest as he joined them. “You will be going home to rest. That’s an order.”
Chapter Eleven
The man paced the small lounge, frustration growing with every passing minute.
“Where is she?”
With the working day over, people had returned home in a steady stream. As the sun set behind the neighboring low-level buildings, the streetlights winked on. Curtains closed as residents shut the world out, wrapping themselves in the comfort of their box-shaped cocoons for the night.
Out of sight from prying eyes, he’d watched the activity with mindless fascination. He couldn’t understand the need to immerse oneself in career and family. The endless rushing about to meet schedules. The stress and noise of a busy household was maddening. He shuddered. It was nothing short of chaos, and his idea of hell.
When the shadows stole the last bit of light from the room, he blinked and peered out into the darkened street. Empty. He gritted his teeth. She wasn’t coming home.
With nerves strung as tight as the shoelace he’d placed around the last whore’s neck, he fell to his knees and prayed.
“God. What do I do now? Show me.”
Beyond the Shadows Page 16
