by Angela Kay
“I certainly will, Chief,” Aidan promised.
“And I’ll see if I can’t dig up anything on my end. After all, The Carnations Killer did strike my city.”
“Anything you come across will be a major help, Chief,” Aidan told him.
After they ended the call, Aidan looked at Shaun and told him what was said.
“Why didn’t The Carnations Killer use the same means of death on Keisha and Jamal as he did the others?” Shaun asked out loud.
“Well, they weren’t his types of victims, so they didn’t matter to him. Otherwise, I think he’d probably do to Keisha the same thing he did to the others.” Aidan paused. “The Carnations Killer has a particular type when it comes to killing. He prefers blondes and whites. Keisha Moffett was neither, and Jamal Foster wasn’t either—not to mention he was a male. They were only collateral damage.”
Shaun considered what Aidan said and seemed satisfied with the deduction. He looked around the small office and said, “We’re about done here. Unless Jordan worked from somewhere else, I’d say he’s clean.”
Aidan nodded. “That doesn’t really surprise me.”
“You didn’t think he did it?” Shaun picked up a photo of Jordan and his uncle. They stood with fishing poles in front of a large pond, with a house in the background, beaming for the camera. From what Aidan could see, Jordan looked to be fifteen in the photo. His face showed signs of a happy teenager. Aidan couldn't help but wonder what happened over the years to make him the arrogant man he became.
“You don’t either,” Aidan pointed out.
Shaun shook his head. “What do you want to do about him?”
“Well, he’s the only piece of the puzzle we have,” Aidan muttered, looking out the window. “Just because we didn’t find anything here, doesn’t mean he’s not the offender. Despite what you and I feel.”
“So, you want to keep him detained?”
“At least over the weekend. It’ll give us time to talk with Agent Byers.” Aidan knew he was the agent in charge of The Carnations Killer investigation in Michigan. He was now retired to Canada but had agreed through email to talk to them over the phone the next day at noon, their time. “It’ll give me some sense of satisfaction that he’s behind bars for a few days.”
Shaun laughed at the prospect.
“He’ll be out by Monday,” Aidan added.
“Why don’t we call it a night?” Shaun suggested. “I think we deserve it. Wanna have dinner and a few beers with me?”
“Sure,” Aidan told him. “Let me give Cheyenne a call and let her know.”
They decided on Mellow Mushroom, a restaurant Aidan knew Laura loved, but he and Cheyenne had never been.
Walking in, it was noisy with chatter and Aidan had to strain to hear the soft-spoken hostess ask how many in their party.
Shaun told her two and requested the patio.
Cheyenne and Aidan enjoyed dining outside at restaurants during the summer, so he was glad when Shaun said he also preferred it.
There was only one other customer who sat outside, a woman munching on a Greek salad while reading a book. They chose a table away from her since she was smoking, and Aidan hated being around smoke.
“So how long have you been with Cheyenne?” Shaun broke into his thoughts as they scanned the menu.
“About five years,” Aidan replied.
“Really?”
Aidan looked up at the sound of his surprised tone to see him raise an eyebrow.
“Five years and you haven’t asked the woman to marry you.” He shook his head as if he were ashamed.
Aidan snickered. “I have a ring for her.”
“Yeah? So, what’s keeping you?”
Aidan shrugged. “Work. And my younger sister recently got married, so it was best not to ask her then. I suppose the timing hasn’t been right.”
Aidan settled on a Jerk Chicken Hoagie without mushrooms as the waitress approached. They ordered two beers and their food. The waitress took the menus and left them to their conversation.
“I’m surprised she’s still with you,” Shaun said, leaning back. He crossed his legs and rested his right arm on the back of the chair. “A woman being with someone for five years with no promises? And you live with her, right?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you afraid of? I know you love her. You have that twinkle in your eye.”
“I don’t know,” Aidan admitted. “I guess a part of me is waiting for her to walk out on me. She wants me to take a teaching job I was offered in Quantico. It’s safer with better hours. Right now, I’m usually on call. She doesn't like that.”
“Ah,” Shaun said. “You don’t want to go to Virginia?”
“Not really. A field agent is who I am.”
The drinks came, and Aidan took a sip from his lager.
“What about you? Do you have someone?”
“I’ve dated a few times over the years. But for the most part, I remain single. The women I meet seem to be afraid of me.”
“Maybe it’s not you they’re afraid of,” Aidan pointed out. “When Cheyenne and I first met, she didn’t want anything to do with me. She knew I was FBI. She thought about how dangerous it was and didn’t want to spend her life worrying.”
“How did you convince her?”
Aidan lifted the corner of his mouth in a lopsided smile. “By dating her sister.”
“Really?” Shaun laughed. “That’s classic.”
Aidan took another sip of his beer. “It didn’t last long, Laura and me. She’s always been the flighty type. Plus, I had a major crush on Cheyenne and she knew it. Laura told me I was destined to be a part of her family. So, she convinced Cheyenne to go on one date. That was all it took.”
“Some guys have it.” Shaun raised his glass to Aidan.
“Just the luck of the Irish, I guess.”
Shaun chuckled. “Why don't you send some of that Irish luck my way?”
Their banter subsided as the food came, and then the conversation shifted to favorite movies, things they liked to do on days off and the places they’d traveled.
It was nine o’clock when they decided to finally pay for the meal and go their separate ways.
Aidan told Shaun he would see him the next day when they received the call from the retired agent. Because he knew Aidan had promised Cheyenne he’d take at least one day off, Shaun offered to speak with agent himself, but Aidan declined the offer.
Shaun agreed and told him he’d meet him at Laura’s house in the afternoon.
18
AIDAN woke EARLY Sunday to the rain pattering against the roof. Every so often, the sound of thunder would rumble, and the sky would flash with lightning. He remained under the covers, his arm draped across Cheyenne’s body. Her calm breathing made him not want to get out of bed, so he continued to lay there.
Listening to the rain.
Feeling her breath rise and fall in slow, steady motions.
Although Aidan was planning to take most of the day off, he couldn’t help but think about the case. He had promised himself he would give Cheyenne and Laura his undivided attention, but his mind never ceased to drift to the search for the offender.
They already found so many things in such a small amount of time, it almost appeared planned.
Jordan Blake happened to be at the Maya Gibson scene, although there were other reporters there as well.
He’d been in Michigan, where The Carnations Killer murdered three women five years ago, along with Keisha Moffett and Jamal Foster. Evidence still didn’t point to their murders being connected with The Carnations Killer, but it seemed too coincidental.
Jordan also knew The Carnations Killer had killed Maya, and the text that hinted the fact mysteriously disappeared without so much of a trace.
And he’d also lied about knowing Maya Gibson.
Aidan rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling. He couldn’t help but wonder if The Carnations Killer was playing games with Jordan’s lif
e. If he was, then he was doing an excellent job. Although they didn’t find evidence in his personal belongings that may implicate him, it didn’t mean they couldn’t find some way to charge him.
We’ve prosecuted people on less, Aidan thought grimly.
He hoped Agent Byers, the former agent in charge five years ago, would shed some light on the matter. Maybe there was information he’d failed to put in the report. Maybe there was a reason he was dead set on believing Jamal had killed Keisha and took off.
“Hmm.”
Aidan turned his head to see Cheyenne turn slowly toward him. She kept her eyes closed, but smiled and muttered “good morning.”
He caressed her face with his finger.
“Morning.”
“You’re off today.” It wasn’t posed as a question.
“I am,” Aidan told her. “Sort of. I have a call coming in later this afternoon. An agent that was in charge of an investigation a few years ago.”
She groaned and sighed. “Aidan, you promised you wouldn’t be working today.”
He rolled over so he could put his arm across her chest and propped up with his other arm to gaze at her. “I know I did, but this is something I need to do. It’s the only time he’s able to talk to us. I promise after the call, I'm all yours.”
“Guess I’ll just have to take what I can get.”
Aidan leaned in to kiss her.
She parted her lips, welcoming his advances. He felt her hands run through his hair, and Aidan delved deeper in the moment, thankful he had even a minute’s worth of thinking of someone other than the offender.
Aidan lifted her nightgown over her head, tossing it to the floor while trailing kisses along her neck. He slowly worked his way south.
“Mmm. You know what I want you to do for me?” she whispered as he tracked his kisses across to her stomach.
“Tell me.” His voice grew huskier as he tasted her.
“Make me breakfast.”
Aidan stopped what he was doing to look at her.
She smiled at him, her eyes twinkling.
He pretended to scowl. “You’re a tease.”
“Maybe, but I realized you haven’t given me breakfast in bed in years.”
“Well, guess I’d better change that,” he replied. He kissed her again, then rolled out of the bed. Grabbing his robe from the bathroom, he slipped his arms through the sleeves and stepped out of the bedroom, tying the strings around his body.
Aidan went into the kitchen, humming to himself as he gathered the bacon and eggs from the fridge. He set them on the counter and grabbed a large pan hanging over the island.
He slapped butter in the pan and waited for it to heat when he heard a knock coming from the front of the house.
At least he thought he did.
The knock was faint, and he couldn’t tell if it came from the thunder, or the door. He paused, holding an egg above the edge of the frying pan and listened.
He set the egg on the spoon rest and made his way through the rooms to peer out the front window. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but he opened the door. No one was around.
He was about to deem it as his imagination when he saw the note on the ground.
Aidan stooped to retrieve it, his heart skipping a few beats as he inspected the paper.
It was addressed to him, and it looked like it was in the same handwriting as the note left on the body of Maya Gibson.
Still hunched on the ground, Aidan scanned the neighborhood, trying to notice if anything appeared out of the ordinary.
No one was around.
With his heart hammering in his ears, he unfolded the note and read what it said.
19
AIDAN read THE note. His throat had dried, and he tried to swallow to no avail. He looked around again, then read the note again.
FBI Special Agent Aidan O'Reilly—
How are things faring in your investigation? Have you been able to put the pieces together yet? I know you’re good at your job, Agent O’Reilly. But know I am much better at mine. Stay tuned, old friend. I’ve got wonderful surprises for you. I can hardly wait. I’ll keep in touch. Until then, happy investigating.
Your friend,
The Carnations Killer
When his legs were sturdy enough to hold his weight, he rose and went back inside. Aidan pushed the door shut with his foot and returned to the kitchen, where his phone was on the counter.
He tapped the code to unlock the screen and found Shaun’s number.
Aidan glanced at the microwave to see that it was almost eight o’clock. He had told him the day before that every morning he tried to run five miles. Aidan wondered whether he would be taking today off from his routine.
Shaun answered on the second ring.
“Yup.”
Aidan could tell Shaun was running at a fast pace, but he didn’t seem as though he was running out of breath as he would be in his place.
“The Carnations Killer left me a note,” Aidan told him. “A few minutes ago.”
“He what?” It sounded as if Shaun had stopped abruptly. A sucking sound, and then: “What does it say?”
Aidan paraphrased the note as he continued to make breakfast.
“Man,” was all Shaun said after he finished. “He knows where you are?”
“It would seem.” Aidan grabbed two plates from the cabinet and slipped two pieces of bread into the toaster. When the breads were ready, the bacon and eggs were cooked, Aidan divided the breakfast onto the plates and retrieved the silverware. He left enough in the pan for when Laura woke.
“Can you have two men stationed outside the house?” Aidan asked. He kept his voice low during the conversation so it wouldn’t carry upstairs. “I don’t want to say anything to Cheyenne or her sister. I don’t want them to worry. But I also want to be sure Cheyenne’s safe. Laura will be out of town tomorrow. She’ll be safe.”
“I’m on it,” Shaun replied.
“Thanks.” Aidan gathered the breakfast on a tray, poured coffee into two cups and with the phone placed between his ear and shoulder, he walked up the steps. “Are you still coming over later?”
“Yeah. I’ll be there a few minutes before four. I’ve got to run a few errands first.”
“All right. See you then.”
He entered the bedroom, balancing the tray in one hand. He set the phone on the dresser.
“Thought you decided to eat without me,” Cheyenne said. She sat upright, her back against the headboard. She’d covered her body with the sheets and turned the channel to The Golden Girls.
“I thought about it,” Aidan replied, forcing a smile. “Then decided you should eat too.”
His mind still reeled over the idea that the serial offender knew where Laura's house was. It didn't appear Cheyenne noticed a change in him, and Aidan hoped it stayed that way. The last thing he needed was for her to worry more than she already did.
“I’m glad,” Cheyenne said, accepting the coffee. She set it on her bedside table. “Because I’m starved.”
Aidan bit into his toast.
They fell into silence as she watched the show, and he continued to contemplate the letter.
“So, I know you don’t like to talk about it, but how’s the investigation going?”
Putting a forkful of egg into his mouth, he let his shoulders rise and fall.
“Do you have any leads?”
Aidan regarded her. He could see the concern in her blue eyes, and he hated it. He wanted nothing more than for her to feel safe. In this world, she deserved at least that. Especially when she put up with him working in a dangerous job. Aidan found himself wondering if he should take the teaching job in Quantico after all. Train other men and women how to be good agents. He would be able to protect her better.
“We’re doing everything we can.”
“I know you are,” she whispered. “I’m just—”
She looked back at the television screen. The Golden Girls sat around the kitchen t
able eating cheesecake. It was apparent one of the girls was having an issue that needed to be sorted.
“Talk to me,” Aidan said.
“I’m worried about you,” she replied after a pause. “I mean, I hear about how certain cases can ruin agent’s lives. They get depressed, they become obsessed. They even shut the ones they love out.”
“That won’t happen to me,” he promised.
“How can you be sure? Aidan, you’ve been after this guy for ten years.” She put her empty plate on the tray and twisted in the bed to face him. Her eyes began to tear. “Every time he kills someone else, somewhere else, you try not to let it bother you. But it does. I know it does. And I understand it does. And you try to hide it. But you don’t hide it very well. For the last five years, you’ve woken up late at night, or you toss and turn so that you don’t get a good night’s rest. I know you’re thinking of him. Of who he might be. You haven’t caught him yet, and it’s eating you up inside.”
Aidan put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
“I don’t wake up at night dreaming of him,” he replied. “I wake up because of your loud snoring.”
He offered her a smile, but she shook his hand away. Cheyenne climbed out of the bed, pulled on her nightgown and grabbed the dishes.
“This isn’t a joke, Aidan,” she snapped. “I’m being serious.”
“I know you are.”
“Then why won’t you just let us have a serious conversation about it, and not make jokes?”
She turned and headed out the room, leaving him frowning after her.
20
After church, THEY hung around to speak to a few of the attendees. Laura, who had always been fascinated about Aidan working in the FBI, wanted to show him off. He had lost count of how many times he was asked whether or not they'd come close to catching The Carnations Killer.
It had been apparent very quickly the serial offender’s presence in their city had caused fear, especially since the news had told the world it seemed The Carnations Killer stepped away from his MO to murder Keisha Moffett and Jamal Foster. It seemed to Aidan that the way the world worked these days, any little thing could raise panic.
