by Ciana Stone
“No answer, Doctor?” Slater asked.
“I-I…” Ian couldn’t come up with a convincing lie fast enough. “I always tape my sessions. I thought…I thought there would be no harm and then later…later I thought—”
“You thought you’d use it as leverage,” Slater finished the sentence for Ian.
“No!” Ian protested, but when Slater looked at the man standing behind Ian’s chair and the man took a step closer, Ian changed his answer. “All right, yes. I…you have to understand. I was—I am afraid. I’m not accustomed to…well, to the type of things people like you do. I was only trying to protect myself.”
Slater chuckled in a cold way and tossed the DVD to one of his men. “Let the good doctor see this.”
The man put the disc into the player and started it. A garbled exclamation burst from Ian’s mouth when he saw the image on the television screen.
“I imagine your wife would be very interested in this, don’t you, Doctor?” Slater asked.
Ian couldn’t look. His face was red with humiliation. If his wife ever found out the type of sexual entertainment the women on the disc provided for him, she would leave him and take every dime he had. Not only would he be left penniless, his reputation would be ruined.
“Are all you shrinks such perverts?” Slater asked.
“Please,” Ian pleaded. “I beg you. I’ll do anything you ask, but please destroy that.”
“I think we’ve seen enough,” Slater directed. The television was turned off. “You stayed at Chase’s after he left,” Slater said to Ian. “What did you talk to her about? Did she say anything that would indicate where she was going?”
“No. Konnor had only been gone a few minutes when the phone rang. She answered and spoke briefly with someone. When she hung up she said she had to leave, an appointment she couldn’t miss. We left at the same time and she said she would see me later for the session.”
“Did she say what kind of appointment? Was it with a man or woman?”
“No, she only said an appointment.”
“And you can’t think of anything else?”
“No.”
“All right, Doctor.” Slater motioned to one of his men and the man stepped into the reception area with Slater. When they returned, Slater carried a length of nylon cord in his hand.
Ian bolted to his feet, intending to run. But the man behind his chair pulled a gun and stepped in front of Ian. Ian’s legs locked in place and he couldn’t move.
“It’s a sad thing,” Slater said as he handed the rope to the man beside him. “A man who has it all—a lovely home, loving wife, social standing, successful career. Who would think that beneath the façade hides a sick, twisted man? Really, such a shame. But it happens. After years of trying to live a lie, one day you just snap. Like that.” He snapped his fingers.
“No!” Ian couldn’t believe this was real. This could not be happening to him. “Please, I’ll do anything you say. I’ll never breathe a word of this to anyone. I swear. Please, please don’t.”
“Sorry, doc, but you’re what we call a loose end. And I’m the kind of guy who always ties up all the loose ends. Get on with it, boys. And make sure everything is as it should be for the police. We don’t want any questions raised about the good doctor’s tragic suicide.”
“No!” Ian screamed. “Please!”
Slater turned on his heel and left the room. For the first time in his life, Ian knew what it meant to be a spineless coward, because he could not even find the courage to fight as the man looped the noose around his neck.
Auston Woods Apartment Homes, Charlotte
Ryan had just taken off his jacket and holster when the doorbell rang. He opened the door to find Konnor Chase. “What can I do for you, Konnor?”
“Have you seen or heard from Senna?”
The question surprised Ryan. “I was under the impression that she was spending most of her time with you.”
“I don’t have time to get into that with you right now,” Konnor said. “Just answer the question.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Okay, sorry to bother you.”
“Hey, hold up!” Ryan stepped outside as Konnor walked away.
Konnor stopped and turned around.
“Why do you ask?” Ryan wanted to know.
“She disappeared yesterday afternoon.”
“What do you mean disappeared?”
“I mean vanished.”
Visions of Harlan Pierce-Warner’s body made Ryan shudder. A background check had revealed that not only had Pierce-Warner been a close friend to Senna’s parents, he was close with Senna as well.
“Did you notify the police?”
“No.”
“For god sake’s man! With all that’s been going on don’t you think—”
“No, I don’t,” Konnor interrupted, taking a step closer to Ryan. “And I’d suggest that if you value her safety, you won’t shoot your mouth off about this to anyone.”
Ryan stared at Konnor in disbelief. “Just what’s going on?”
“You tell me, detective,” Konnor replied. “People are being murdered all around her and the only thing the police have to say about it is that maybe she should be considered a suspect. Did it ever occur to any of you that maybe she’s just another victim? One who’s being terrorized by some lunatic with an agenda that no one understands?”
“The thought crossed my mind.”
Konnor made no comment and after a moment Ryan voiced the question he had wanted to ask. “Can you tell me one thing?”
“What’s that?”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you go after her?”
“I didn’t.”
“That’s not the way I see it. It looked to me like you took the first chance you got and went after her full steam ahead with no regard to who you were stepping on or hurting.”
“I’m not going there,” Konnor said. “You screwed up and lost her. I was in the right place at the right time. End of story. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have something to do.”
“What?”
“Find her.”
“And just how are you planning on doing that?”
“Let me worry about that.”
Ryan studied him for a moment. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
“You find that hard to believe.”
“Honestly, yes,” Ryan responded. “I don’t see you as the type who believes in love.
Konnor made a noise in his throat. “I didn’t think I was either,” he said as he turned away.
Ryan watched him leave then went back inside his apartment to make a call. “Justin?… Hi, it’s Ryan. Have you or Kendal heard from Senna lately?… Yeah, I know she was pretty upset by all that at the party. Listen, I’ve got to run, but if you hear from her will you ask her to give me a call?… Yeah, you have a good one. Talk to you later.”
Ryan leaned back against the bar and thought about it. If she had left town, there had to be a record of it somewhere. He would start by checking the airlines. Pushing himself up, he grabbed his jacket. Suddenly he was determined to find her before Konnor Chase did.
Chapter Eleven
Kitaro threw the priceless vase across the room. It smashed against a marble pedestal, toppling a porcelain statue and destroying both pieces.
“Imbeciles!” he hissed and looked around for something else to demolish. “I am surrounded by incompetents!”
“I fail to see what you’re so worked up about,” the woman reclining on the couch said. “Pierce-Warner no longer poses a threat.”
With a snarl, Kitaro turned on her. “And since he was terminated before we could find out why he contacted her, he can no longer provide us with answers, can he?”
“Would you calm down?” she chastised. “If our opponent had her, we would know it.”
“Would we?” he demanded, pacing the room like a caged animal.
“You know we would. He w
ould already have been gloating over his victory. Besides, do you think either of us would still be breathing if he had succeeded?”
He stopped abruptly. She was right. “If he does not have her then who does?”
The woman shrugged. “Perhaps no one. Consider for a moment. Three people she knew and cared for have been murdered in a week’s time, and strangers are appearing out of the woodwork, asking bizarre questions about a past she can’t remember. Add to that the fact that she was beaten and nearly raped, and discovered that her boyfriend is cheating on her and her best friend is telling tales behind her back. Then throw in a handsome stud who awakens her sexual appetites but will tell her nothing about himself, only to find out that he’s not at all what he seems—and what do you have? I’ll tell you, my darling. You have one very confused woman who just possibly decided to get away from everything to have space to think.”
“How melodramatic,” he commented acidly.
“But possible.”
He considered it for a moment and shook his head. “No, she would not leave. She has too much of her father in her. And you forget all the time we spent together, she and I. I know her better than she knows herself. She would not run. Despite her fear and confusion she would stand and face it.”
“My, we do have a high opinion of the little princess, don’t we?” she asked sarcastically. “Is there something you’ve neglected to tell me, darling?”
“Such as?”
“Such as perhaps you were more smitten with the child than you admit. As you said, you did spend a great deal of time with her and we both know the…unorthodox methods you employ to achieve results. Is it possible that she whetted your appetite, lover?”
Kitaro’s eyes didn’t reveal his feelings. Never, as long as he drew a breath, would he let her know she had hit a nerve. He would never admit to anyone how often he had replayed their time together in his mind, savoring it like a fine rare wine. Despite the fact that he had failed to retrieve the information from her, he would continue to treasure the time they had together, for it was he who had indoctrinated her into the sensuous arts. Just as he had made sure that no other man would enjoy the uninhibited abandon he had shared with her.
“You are a fool, woman. She is less than nothing to me.”
“For your sake, I hope so.”
“Is that a threat?”
“A promise, darling,” she said as she rose and pushed the straps of her dress down her shoulders. It slithered down her body, revealing her nudity. “What’s mine is mine. I don’t share.”
Kitaro couldn’t help but admire the way she reveled in her own beauty, the pride she took in her own body. He also couldn’t help but laugh at how vain and arrogant she was in thinking she owned him. That would be her downfall, as it had been the downfall of others before her. But for now he would allow the masquerade to continue. For the time being, it suited his purposes. When the day came that it didn’t, she would vanish.
She crooked her finger and beckoned to him, but he shook his head and took a seat across the room. “Entertain me,” he ordered.
She smiled seductively and began caressing herself, swaying like a willow. Her hands moved to her pendulous breasts, lifting the weight of them and squeezing them together then pinching her nipples. Her hands moved down her body and he followed their path with his eyes and she smiled and turned around, spreading her legs.
Kitaro’s eyes took on a feral gleam as she bent and put both hands through the vee of her legs, parting the wet folds of her sex. Little did she know that he had ceased to see her at all, but was lost in a memory of a time long ago, and a young, dark-haired beauty who was not nearly so compliant.
Auston Woods Apartment Homes, Charlotte
Paige was sitting in her car in front of his apartment when Ryan pulled up. At first he didn’t notice. He rubbed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest. If Senna had left the city, she sure wasn’t listed on any airline or railway passenger list, and no one at the bus station remembered seeing a woman who matched her description. She had to have taken her car. He had requested access to her credit and debit card records to see if she had made any charges or withdrawals, but so far he hadn’t been granted permission.
The sound of a car door shutting made him look up. Paige walked over to his window and leaned down to look in at him. “Hey.”
Ryan opened the door and she stepped back as he got out. “Where’ve you been?” she asked. “I’ve been trying to reach you for the last hour.”
“My cell battery died. Guess I forgot to charge it. Why were you trying to reach me?”
“Dr. Ho Hum’s car was found a couple of hours ago.”
“Where?”
“Southpark Mall, in the covered parking area. Apparently it was there when the mall closed last night, but security thought the owner would come back for it. This morning it was there in the same place. When it hadn’t moved by closing time, mall security ran a license check and a flag came up on the computer.”
Ryan gave her a look of disbelief. “A flag?” he asked as he headed for his apartment.
“Okay,” she said sheepishly. “Let’s just say that I’ve been keeping an eye out for anything that has to do with Dr. Dreary and I asked a couple of people to keep me posted if her name came up.”
Ryan opened the door and turned on the lights. He wasn’t sure about telling Paige that he knew Senna was missing. But he was glad to know about the car. Now he knew that whatever had happened, she had not simply jumped into her car and taken off. That, however, raised another question. If she hadn’t run then where was she?
A chill ran down his back as an image of Pierce-Warner’s body came to mind. He had been trying not to let the possibility that she was dead enter his mind. It appeared he had reached the point that he had to consider it.
“So what do you think?” he asked Paige as he took a couple of beers from the refrigerator and opened them.
“I think she’s skipped.” She accepted the beer he offered. “Thanks.”
“Why?” Ryan took a swallow from his bottle.
“Well, duh-huh! Think about it. Three people have been murdered and she’s the only common thread. If she has any brains she’s bound to realize that attention will be on her sooner or later. There’s just too much pointing her way.”
“In other words, you think she had something to do with the murders and is on the run because she’s scared she’s close to getting caught.”
“Essentially, yes.”
Ryan took his beer into the den and sat down on the couch. Paige followed. She took off her jacket and tossed it across the back of the couch, then flopped down beside Ryan. “What?” she asked. “No argument? No jumping to her defense?”
Ryan was considering things. First, there was the information the technician, Ron, had given him. He had read through the information several times and was starting to think there was a connection. Senna’s father had been considered a foremost authority on the ancient civilizations of Sumer and Babylon, and the notes were definitely some type of cuneiform used during that time period. How that connected Senna, he was unsure, but his gut told him it did.
Secondly, he knew that if he tried to defend Senna it would only make Paige mad and at the moment he could use her help. Among other things, she was like a bloodhound when it came to tracking people down, and he was starting to get a little desperate to find Senna.
“Maybe we should put a bulletin out on her,” he suggested in what he hoped was a depressed and resigned tone.
Apparently, it sounded that way to Paige. “Are you serious?” she asked. “You’re finally willing to admit that everything’s pointing right at her?”
“I don’t see that I have a choice.”
Paige watched him for a moment then put her beer down on the coffee table and reached over to put her hand on his thigh. “Ryan, I know this is rough on you, and I really wish it didn’t have to be this way. She treated you shitty, and even though it hurt you, you’re r
eally better off without her. She doesn’t deserve a man like you and you deserve a hell of a lot better than her.”
Ryan knew from her tone of voice where the conversation was leading. Just as he knew that if he had any sense he would put an end to it before it went any further. The problem was, he was feeling pretty low, he had been hurt by Senna’s involvement with Konnor, and her rejection of him. It was almost like an instant replay of his wife Connie and her affair. And Paige was an open invitation, a very attractive one at that.
He downed his beer and turned to her. “I really don’t want to talk about this.”
“I know, but I think we have to,” she argued. “Ryan, you can’t let this woman jerk you around and—”
“Paige, I don’t want to talk.” He took her hand as he interrupted.
“Then what do you want?” she asked in a husky tone.
Ryan knew it was a mistake, but at the moment it didn’t matter. He pulled Paige to him. She moaned as their lips met, and pressed him back against the cushions. Letting her hunger infect him, he pushed everything else aside. There was plenty of time to feel guilty later.
Paige broke the kiss and climbed off the couch. “Take your clothes off,” she said in a husky voice. “I have to get something from the car and I want you naked when I get back.”
Ryan was certain he was a fool for it, but the minute she turned to leave he stood and peeled off his clothes, leaving them lying where they fell in the floor.
Paige returned to find him sitting on the couch, his legs stretched out and parted slightly, stroking himself.
“That’s my boy,” she grinned and dropped a small case on the coffee table.
Ryan grinned as Paige stripped off her clothes. As he had imagined, she looked good naked. The fact that she was completely void of body hair gave him a special thrill.
She smiled and climbed on his lap for a blood pressure-raising kiss. He captured a breast in each hand and ended the kiss to suck one hard nipple, grazing it with his teeth and laving it before resuming his suckle. Paige leaned her head back, arching her breasts forward.
