Invitation to Die

by Jaden Skye

  Tracy walked slowly toward her door. Was the person inside, waiting for her? Has Wess arrived and gotten in? Would he be happy to see her? Was he furious?

  Tracy pushed the door open gingerly, went in, and froze. The room had been ransacked. Blankets and pillows were strewn around. The drawers of her bureau were open with bras, panties, and shirts hanging out. The closet doors were wide open wide and two of her favorite dresses were on the floor. How long ago did this happen?

  Tracy gasped and immediately called Hunter on their emergency line.

  “Hunter,” she cried out.

  “What’s wrong?” He picked up right away, startled.

  “My room has been ransacked. Someone broke in.” Tracy had trouble catching her breath. “When I got here the door was open, and my things were thrown around.”

  Hunter’s voice became clipped. “Get out of your room. Get downstairs to the lobby immediately. I’ll have security up in a couple of seconds. Don’t touch anything. There could be an explosive planted somewhere.”

  Tracy looked around. “There’s no explosive, it’s safe in here now.” she felt it. It was over. Whoever had broken in had spent their rage.

  “You don’t know that for sure. Go downstairs,” Hunter commanded. “I’ll be right over with Clay. Wait in the lobby.”

  Tracy couldn’t bring herself to move, stood rooted to the spot. Who did this? Her presence on the case had been made very public. Was the killer watching her every move? Was he letting her know she was next on his list?

  In a few seconds the door pushed further open and hotel security stormed in. “Are you okay?” Two of them rushed over to Tracy.

  Tracy suddenly let herself feel the terror that had initially raced through her. “I’m fine,” she managed to say.

  “Why are you still here?” one security guard asked. “We heard you’d be down in the lobby.”

  The third guard, a large, muscular guy came over and put his arms around Tracy to steady her. “She’s had a shock,” he said to the others, “it can be hard to move then.”

  He was right, thought Tracy. She felt shaken to the core.

  “You’re gonna be just fine,” the security guard continued. “Forensics are on the way over. This could be the best thing that happened for your case. This place has got to be a treasure trove of evidence.”

  “True,” said Tracy slowly, as Hunter and Clay both charged in.

  “My God, Tracy.” Clay rushed over and grabbed her hands. “Thank God you’re okay. You could have just missed the guy by a few seconds. For all we know, you could have been next.”

  Tracy looked away, not wanting to get caught up in an undertow of fear.

  “I’m arranging for you to stay somewhere else now,” Hunter broke in. “Your new lodgings will be secret and secured.”

  “It’s not necessary,” Tracy said slowly.

  “Not necessary?” Hunter looked amazed. “Are you crazy?”

  “Just the opposite.” Tracy was feeling better now, getting back her stride. She pointed to the security guard who’d helped her. “As this wonderful officer suggested, the break-in could be the best thing that’s happened to us. Not only will we get evidence, but we should only be so lucky as to have the guy come back for a second try. Let him come. We’ll be ready for him.”

  “Trap the bastard.” The security guard grinned.

  August walked into the room then, along with forensics. “What happened here? When did it happen?” He looked unnerved.

  “Tracy’s fine,” Hunter said immediately.

  “Good.” August threw Tracy a quick, distressed glance before scanning the rest of the room.

  “We’ve made Tracy too public, we’ve attracted this,” Clay interrupted.

  “Move her out of here, immediately,” said August.

  “We are, to a secret, safe location,” said Hunter.

  “I’d rather stay right here,” Tracy insisted.

  “You’d rather lie in wait for the killer?” August’s eyes opened wide.

  “There’s no way I’m going to let whoever did this get the upper hand. Running away’s not an option.”

  “It’s not running away, it’s using common sense.” Hunter was adamant. “You’re not becoming a decoy, Tracy. I’m not allowing it.”

  August paused a moment, struck by the idea. “It’s not a bad idea to use a decoy.” He stepped closer as the team from forensics began taking photographs, brushing the walls, collecting assorted objects and placing them in a plastic bag. “In fact, I think this is a great opportunity. We can give Tracy all the protection she needs and at the same time announce on the news that someone ransacked her room, but she’s staying in it anyway.”

  “The killer’s not stupid.” Clay shook his head adamantly.. “He’ll know we’re luring him in.”

  “Can’t hurt to try,” August insisted. “He wants us to find him anyway, doesn’t he? He’s drawing closer, taunting us more!”

  “It’s also possible that someone else did this,” Hunter commented as he started to pace around the room, throwing Tracy a backhanded glance. “This break-in could have absolutely nothing to do with the killer. Is there someone in your life who’s upset with you, Tracy? Someone who could do something crazy like this?”

  “Absolutely not.” Tracy caught Hunter’s eye and realized he was thinking about Wess. “That’s ridiculous,” she insisted.

  “Are you in a personal fight with someone?” Hunter wouldn’t let go. “Is there a problem in a relationship?”

  “There’s no one I know who would stoop to something like this,” Tracy answered firmly. Then she threw Hunter a tough glance, telling him to back off.

  Clay looked at both of them, confused. “Who are you thinking of, Hunter?” he asked.

  “I know what Hunter is thinking,” said Tracy formally, “but there’s no basis for it, none at all.”

  Just then someone from forensics approached, holding something up. “What’s this? Belong to you, Tracy?” he asked.

  All eyes turned to look at the pink pearl bracelet the officer held in his hand.

  “It’s not mine,” Tracy said as she went over to look at it. “I’ve never seen it before.”

  “Don’t touch it,” warned the officer. “Could a woman have come in here and dropped this?”

  Clay came over and looked. “Isn’t that one of the bracelets that was stolen from Candace’s shop?”

  “Looks like it.” Hunter looked at it as well. “In fact, a few cartons of these bracelets were taken.”

  Everyone turned and stared at the simple, gentle bracelet dangling from the officer’s hand.

  “Make sure you get any fingerprints or DNA on it,” Hunter ordered.

  “Whoever stole those bracelets was here,” August murmured.

  “Not necessarily,” said Clay. “Whoever was here could have received one of these bracelets from someone. The thief could be passing them around.”

  “I think someone definitely planted the bracelet in Tracy’s room,” August disagreed. “The question is why?”

  “The killer is close by, he knows what we’re doing,” Hunter answered swiftly.

  “He’s trying to implicate Tracy,” Clay joined in. “This is a definite message. The killer is getting desperate to be found.”

  August had enough at this point. “Listen, we have a ready-made setup here. We have to use Tracy as a decoy to draw the killer closer. We can even offer a big financial reward.”

  “Invite him to kidnap Tracy and offer a ransom?” Clay seemed horrified.

  “The killer’s not after money.” Tracy was sure of it.

  “You don’t know that.” August spun around, throwing her a nasty glare.

  “Yes, I do,” said Tracy. “There are simpler ways to get money. And these pearl bracelets, how much are they worth? Not much in money, but psychologically, the value to the killer is great. Listen, we’re not up against our usual sadist or psychopath. It’s way more complex than that. This guy has aspects to hi
s psyche we know nothing of.” Tracy was determined to unravel it though, as soon as she could.

  “Let’s all step outside for a while and let the officers do their work.” Hunter stepped in. “I’ll drive Tracy to the place she’s staying at.”

  “I’m staying right here.” Tracy looked in Hunter’s eyes squarely. She liked August’s idea of being a decoy. “Get me protection all around and I’ll be okay.”

  “I’ll stay in the adjoining room tonight,” Clay offered, “and we can have cops keep watch in rooms close by.”

  Hunter looked at Tracy sadly. “I don’t like the idea,” he objected.

  “It makes sense,” August insisted.

  “It doesn’t make sense.” Hunter was adamant. “The guy will know Tracy’s covered. “He’ll know everyone’s around waiting for him.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t think that far ahead,” August broke in. “If we got a spree killer and he needs another hit, he feels invincible, like no one can touch him. He’ll even enjoy it that cops are close by. It’ll add to the excitement.”

  “I don’t want Tracy staying here.” Hunter was immovable.

  “But I’m staying here anyway,” Tracy repeated, determined not to leave the place tonight. “August is right. We have an opportunity.”

  “We can put someone else in the room. The killer won’t know it’s not you,” Hunter insisted.

  “I want to be here, though,” Tracy repeated. “I want to catch him myself if he comes.”

  “Why?” Hunter spun away from Tracy. “Is there something you’re trying to prove. Or are you in love with danger and dangerous people?”

  Tracy felt hurt. “I’m staying because it’s what I signed up for,” she answered. “I’m doing my job, and I’m doing it thoroughly. I don’t back away.”

  “It’s okay,” Clay interrupted. “I’ll stay here in the adjoining room, two steps away from Tracy all night long.”

  “Have it your way then.” Irritated, Hunter tossed both of them an odd look before he turned and left the room.

  Chapter 29

  Before long the news blared out over the airways. Clay sat close by Tracy in her room as they watched it on TV.

  “Possible break in the serial killer case,” the reporter announced. “The hotel room of Tracy Wrenn, top profiler brought in to help the FBI, was ransacked tonight. Is the killer coming closer? Does he have an accomplice? Tracy Wrenn will not be frightened off, though. She refuses to leave her room.”

  Tracy and Clay looked at each other strangely, before he flipped off the TV.

  “We’re setting the bait, all right,” Clay said slowly, “but I don’t think the killer will take it. He’s too smart for that.”

  “Depends on his state of mind.” Tracy flashed a daring smile.

  “Doubt it,” Clay repeated, “and besides, we still don’t have any links between the pearl bracelets and the other two women who were killed.”

  “We don’t have any links yet at all,” Tracy reminded him.

  “Exactly what I was thinking,” Clay remarked. “This all could just be a wild card, someone completely uninvolved with the case, trying to create a distraction. That’s the danger when it’s too public and everyone’s involved.

  Tracy nodded. There were all kinds of psychos out there. She looked over at Clay. Tracy liked Clay, it was nice being with him. She was truly glad he was here, but also concerned about his not being home with his family at this hour.

  “How’s your wife dealing with your being gone all night long?” Tracy asked, feeling a bit guilty.

  Clay laughed lightly. “Well, Barbara’s never seen you, so she has no idea I’m holed up for the night with such a gorgeous woman.”

  “No, I mean it, in all seriousness.” Tracy tossed his comment aside.

  Clay got up from his chair and stretched. “Barbara’s okay with it, I’ve had to pull all-nighters before. From the way things are these days she’s probably even relieved to get rid of me for a while. I can be quite boring, she tells me.”

  “Boring?” Tracy was surprised. She’d thought Clay was happily married. “Really?”

  “Yeah, haven’t you noticed? I’m not the most exciting guy,” Clay said.

  “Boring’s the last word I would use.” Tracy was disturbed by the direction the conversation had taken. “In fact, I find you soothing to be with.”

  Clay laughed. “Well, soothing’s better than boring,” he admitted.

  “Are you guys in trouble?” Tracy wondered if she should be asking this, but Clay had opened the topic up.

  “Not in trouble,” said Clay, “just the doldrums. Barbara’s actually been talking about our picking up stakes and moving to California. She wants to start things fresh.”

  “That’s huge.” Tracy was startled. “What about your job?”

  “I’d transfer there,” said Clay, looking down a moment.

  “You don’t want to, though, do you?” Tracy felt upset for him.

  “I don’t think moving somewhere else changes anything in the long run,” he replied. “At first there’d be the excitement of a new environment and then we’d be stuck with ourselves again.”

  That was true and Tracy knew it. Her phone rang then and her heart leapt. This had to be Wess, she was sure of it. She needed to know what had happened with him. “I’ve got to answer this,” she said to Clay.

  “Of course, please do,” he replied.

  Tracy picked up eagerly. “Hi,” she said, suddenly missing Wess and wishing he were here.

  “You’re okay?” Wess’s voice sounded slurred, as if he’d been drinking.

  “I am okay,” Tracy answered. “What happened with you? You left a message saying you were coming today. I was expecting you.”

  “Sorry about that.” Wess sounded odd now. “I got sidetracked. My mistake.”

  “Are you drunk, Wess?” Tracy had to ask.

  “No, I’m not, I’m just tired. I went for a few drinks with some friends who came to town.”

  “Really, who?” asked Tracy, feeling uneasy.

  “You remember Jill, don’t you?” asked Wess.

  Tracy scanned her memory. She didn’t remember. “No, who is she?”

  “We grew up together,” said Wess slowly. “She’s been following the case. She wants to support me. I took her for dinner and a couple of drinks.”

  “You left a message that you were coming here,” said Tracy, confused.

  “I was, I’m sorry. She suddenly appeared.” Wess sounded sad.

  “Why didn’t you call and say you weren’t coming?” Tracy felt upset.

  “I kept planning to, and I didn’t until now.” Wess’s voice started slurring again.

  What’s going on, Wess? Tracy wanted to ask him, but decided to wait until he was sober again.

  “When are you coming home, Tracy?” he asked again.

  “When the case is over,” she replied quietly.

  “And what if it’s never over, if he’s never found?” Wess sounded belligerent now. “Do I count at all? Do I fit into your picture?”

  “I beg your pardon?” Tracy was offended.

  “Are you wondering whether a life with me can live up to what you’ve got going on?” Wess’s message was clear.

  Tracy felt sick. He was obviously threatened by the life she was leading. “Just say what’s on your mind directly,” she said.

  “I’ll tell you later,” Wess retreated. “I want to talk to you about it in person.”

  “You can’t leave me with a cloud like this hanging over me,” Tracy snapped.

  “It’s not a cloud, it’s how I feel,” Wess mumbled. “And I can’t do this over the phone.”

  “Do what?” Tracy’s heart started beating faster.

  “Get into this discussion.” Tracy felt him backing away.

  “That’s all you have to say?” asked Tracy. “Do you miss me, Wess? Do you?”

  “We’ll talk about it later.” Wess’s voice got softer. “Of course I miss you. I care for you
but this is all I can do for now.”

  Tracy felt both furious and saddened as they hung up. She’d expected far better from him. This wasn’t the Wess she knew. Had this other woman stepped in while she was gone and turned his head around?

  “Who was that?” asked Clay, moving closer to her.

  “My fiancé-to-be,” said Tracy.

  “Yeah, Hunter told me about him.” Clay looked concerned.

  Tracy wasn’t thrilled that they had talked about her. “What did Hunter say?” she asked.

  “He said he thought you deserved better,” Clay spoke softly. “Hunter doesn’t think Wess is good for you.”

  Tracy was struck with a moment of sadness. “That was nice of Hunter,” she remarked. “Of course he’s never met Wess, doesn’t know the first thing about him.”

  “He’s met you though,” Clay insisted, “he knows you. He likes you, too, Tracy. Hunter respects you.”

  Tracy felt her stomach clench. She respected Hunter too. His opinion was important to her.

  “Hunter’s a fantastic guy,” Clay continued. “I’ve known him for a long time. Look, this is an occupational hazard. Relationships become rough for lots of people in our line of work. Hunter went through it, too. He also deserved a lot better than what he had.”

  “We don’t always get what we deserve, though, do we?” Tracy flipped her hair off her face.

  “Actually, I believe we do,” Clay said slowly. “Depends how willing we are to reach for what’s best. Most people just stay in familiar patterns their whole life long.”

  “Hunter said he was through with relationships now,” Tracy challenged Clay.

  Clay smiled wanly. “Guys say all kinds of things when they’ve been hurt. He told me that, too. I told him one day someone really special would come along and turn his life upside down.” Clay’s eyes smiled at Tracy. “You couldn’t do better than with a guy like Hunter.”

  Tracy flinched. That was kind, it was sweet, but she was about to be engaged to Wess. “Hunter and I have a purely friendly business relationship,” Tracy replied.

  “I know, I know.” Clay started to the door then. “Listen, I’m exhausted and you must be too. Is it okay if I go to the adjoining room now? If anything happens, if there’s one thing out of order, you’ve got that button there. Ring it and I’ll be here in two seconds flat.”