Her dad continued to pet Mr. Rupert. “Brave as any guard dog, eh, boy?” he said. He scratched behind his ear for a few more minutes. “I think I’ll take a look at that window, okay?” he said as he gently moved Mr. Rupert from his lap.
“Don’t worry about it, Dad,” she said. “I’m sure maintenance will take care of it for me.”
“I’ve got my tools in the car, honey,” he said. “Once I get the measurements and the glass, it’ll only take me a few minutes.” He grinned and went upstairs.
Her mom emerged from the kitchen with a glass of iced tea.
“Did the doctor give you a prescription for the pain, sweetie?” It wasn’t until that moment that Toni realized how bad her head and arms hurt. “Yeah,” she answered. “But I didn’t have a chance to fill it yet.”
“I’ll get it for you,” her dad said as he came down the stairs. “I need to get the glass. Do I have time before lunch?” He looked at Toni’s mom, who nodded, and he was out the door.
After they had finished lunch and the pain medicine had kicked in, Toni dozed on the couch with Mr. Rupert. It was late afternoon when she was awakened by the sound of the phone and the smell of cookies baking. She answered the phone on the fourth ring. It was Boggs.
“Did I wake you up?” she asked.
Toni was yawning. “No,” she said. “I think the sound of the phone woke me up.”
Boggs laughed. “Funny. I’ve slept most of the afternoon, too.
How are you doing?”
“I can’t believe how sore and tired I am,” Toni said. “My folks are still here and Mom is baking cookies. Dad fixed my window.”
“I won’t keep you, then,” Boggs said. “But I just talked to a friend of mine from Channel Seven. She said they’re doing a story 240
on you and Anne on the five o’clock news. Just thought I’d give you a heads-up.”
Toni glanced at her watch. It was almost five now. “Thanks, Boggs. And hey, do you know who cleaned up in here? When I got home everything was done.”
“That was Patty and Frank. Can you believe it?”
“Jeez. It looks great. I need to thank them.” She paused for a moment. “I’ll talk to you when my folks leave, okay?”
“Perfect,” Boggs said. “Try to get as much rest as you can, okay?”
After disconnecting, Toni switched on the TV. Her parents joined her on the couch with cookies and coffee. “The story is going to be on the news,” she explained.
The story began with a statement from Captain Billings. The next clip was from a reporter describing both Anne’s attack and the one at Toni’s apartment, all in graphic detail. A photo of Paul was being shown in the top right corner of the screen. The story ended with the reporter standing outside the hospital where she gave an update on everyone’s injuries. Toni’s graduation photo, captioned
“Assistant Prosecuting Attorney,” flashed on the screen when the reporter gave the update. Toni turned off the television after the story ended.
“Did you all see that?” asked Toni. “They put my title under my name. And they spelled my name right.”
Toni’s mother was nearly in shock and looking pale.
“What’s wrong?” Toni asked, perplexed. She thought they’d be happy.
“I think you left out a few details,” suggested her dad. “Like the fact that one of your bodyguards was killed, another almost killed and the other seriously wounded . . . and it happened in this room!”
“Oh,” Toni said softly. “I didn’t want you to worry. And a couple people cleaned everything up while I was in the hospital last night.”
“You had to spend the night in the hospital?” her mom asked in disbelief. “And you didn’t call us?”
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“Well,” Toni explained sheepishly, “it was pretty late. I didn’t want to wake you.”
Both her parents were shaking their heads. Obviously they had raised a very independent child. They insisted that Toni should move back with them for at least a couple weeks, but she refused.
They reached a compromise of spending the night with her and then letting her fend for herself. Toni’s mom fixed dinner while she and her dad played cribbage. The phone rang every few minutes and Toni finally turned off the ringer and the volume on the answering machine. Most of the calls were either from the media, gun fanatics, religious nuts or “friends” wanting to get the real scoop. By the end of the evening she was exhausted. She convinced her parents to sleep upstairs and she and Mr. Rupert curled up on the couch together. As much as she hated to admit it, she was glad her parents were there.
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CHAPTER 25
The next couple of days were uneventful but busy for Toni. She returned some of the phone calls and retold the story at least a dozen times. Vicky had been discharged and was staying at her mother’s house. Toni talked to her several times and visited once.
Boggs’s sister had come into town and although Toni went over there once, she wasn’t able to spend any time alone with her. She spent two afternoons at her parents’ house helping with the Christmas baking, but mostly she slept. She hadn’t realized how exhausted she had become, both physically and emotionally.
This afternoon was the memorial for Judge Haley. Vicky was determined to go, so Boggs offered to pick her up so she could ride with them. Later that evening the plan was to go out to dinner with Boggs, Vicky and Patty. Toni was looking forward to that, but more importantly she was looking forward to the time after dinner when she and Boggs would have some time alone.
When they arrived at the funeral home there were at least one 243
hundred cars already there. Boggs pulled up to the door to let Vicky out. Vicky was wearing her dress blues as was Captain Billings, who was standing outside. He saw them and he recruited a young officer to park the car for Boggs. Even though she had shed her crutches the day before, it was still difficult for her to walk long distances. She was dressed in a black pantsuit and wore low heels. Toni had on a dark gray suit with a skirt that fell just at her knees. Luckily Toni found them seats in the back, and she spotted Patty sitting on an aisle amid the sea of blue uniforms in the front.
Toni nodded at her and smiled.
The service was fairly short, but several people took the podium to share their favorite stories of Judge Haley. There wasn’t a dry eye in the entire room when the last speaker stepped down.
Slowly the room began to empty. As Toni, Boggs and Vicky made their way to the front door they were pulled aside by Captain Billings. He took the car keys from Boggs and sent the officer to get her car.
“We found out a little more,” he told them. “We still have a lot to figure out, but here’s what we know now.” He told them that the name “Dexie” was mentioned several times in Paul’s writings. Dexter Crown was his half-brother and it looked like he had killed him shortly after he was released from jail. The captain wasn’t sure, but it appeared Paul buried him near someone’s cabin at the lake.
Captain Billings had also talked to one of Crown’s doctors.
Apparently Crown talked about Paul all the time. He idolized him.
He talked about taking the blame for some of the things Paul had done when they were kids, but he was proud of it. These things weren’t just breaking windows or spilling something on the floor.
These were major things like torturing the neighbor’s cats and making threatening calls to female teachers. The doctor had said that Crown would have done anything that Paul asked him to do.
“We’re still not sure what type of medication Paul was taking,” Captain Billings continued. “Whatever it was, he stopped about ten months ago. That’s all I know.”
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Toni was grateful for the information. At least things made more sense to her now.
The officer pulled up in Boggs’s car and the women got in.
Boggs dropped Vicky off first.
“We’ll see you at Aunt Hattie’s at about seven,” Toni said as Vicky slowly climbed out
of the car. “Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“I’ll just catch a quick nap and I’ll be fine,” she said. “I’m ready to go out and have some fun. Maybe we’ll hit the clubs and dance all night.”
Toni was still chuckling when Boggs dropped her off at her apartment. “You’ll pick me up at six thirty, right?” she asked.
“Yep,” Boggs said. “A couple hours off this leg and I should be as good as new.”
Once inside her apartment Toni decided that she too could use a quick nap. She still had three hours and that would give her plenty of time to get ready. She set her alarm and stretched out on her bed with Mr. Rupert.
The alarm went off at five thirty. Her showers still took longer than normal because of her arm and her head. She’d yet to wash her hair, which made her crazy, but the stitches would come out on Monday. She stood in the shower and let the warm spray of water engulf her entire body. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander. As was happening more frequently, the image of the dream she had weeks ago came to her mind.
This was the kind of dream she wanted to relive over and over.
She was standing in some room and the lights were low. Boggs would step a little closer and Toni would nervously take a step back. In the dream it seemed to go on forever, until finally Toni could back up no farther. There was a wall. Boggs came closer.
Toni could feel herself breathing heavier. In the dream it had ended there, but Toni had fantasized about various endings for weeks. This time was no different. When she opened her eyes she found she was again breathing heavy. How long had she been in 245
the shower? She felt that the water had definitely gotten cooler.
Worried that she might now be running late, she hurried to finish.
She was still feeling the effects of her shower experience when she picked out her outfit for the night. She knew exactly what she wanted to wear—a long-sleeved, white cotton shirt that buttoned down the front, jeans and her boots. This was the same outfit she was wearing in the dream. She finished it off with gold hoop earrings and a delicate gold bracelet. A touch of perfume and she was ready. She went downstairs and considered pouring herself a glass of wine but decided against it. Instead, she got her dad’s letter jacket from the closet, located her wallet and keys and sat on the couch to wait. The doorbell rang at exactly six thirty.
Toni leaped from the couch and peered through the peephole.
She opened the door and let Boggs in. Mr. Rupert was perched on the end of the couch. This was the first time Boggs had seen him.
He’d been inside the carrier when they returned from the vet and she’d only seen his face.
“Nice hairdo,” Boggs said.
Toni stared at her. There was something familiar about her outfit, but Toni was sure she had never seen Boggs in it before. She was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans, a pale yellow oxford shirt and a thick ivory cardigan sweater. It took her a minute before she remembered that was the outfit that Boggs wore in her dream. Her heart was pounding and she was having a difficult time concentrat-ing. She realized that Boggs was saying something.
“I’m sorry,” she said, stammering a bit. “What did you just say?”
“I asked Mr. Rupert if he had a hot date tonight,” Boggs repeated.
Toni was able to pull herself together. “Oh, no,” she said. “He’s staying home and watching America’s Most Wanted. He’s taking crime fighting very seriously now. Ready to go?”
“Sure,” Boggs said.
Toni went in the kitchen and turned on the light above the stove. She hated coming home to a dark house. Then she picked 246
up her jacket and flipped off the light in the dining room. The only light left on was the one in the kitchen and it gave a warm glow to the room. Toni froze. This was just like her dream. She looked at Boggs, who just smiled. She was standing only a few feet away.
Holy shit. Boggs took a step toward her and Toni took a step back.
Oh, my God. Boggs moved still closer, smiling. Toni backed up again. She was nervous. Boggs took off her sweater and put it on the couch. Another step. This time Toni was stopped by the wall.
Oh, jeez. She swallowed hard. Her gaze moved down Boggs’s body, stopping at the holster fastened to the waist of her jeans. Toni felt her knees get a little weak. The woman of her dreams, literally, was standing before her.
Boggs followed Toni’s gaze, reached down and pulled the holster and gun from her waist. Without breaking eye contact she put the holster on the back of the couch. Then she took another step toward her. Toni looked at her and unconsciously her tongue slowly moistened her lips before smiling.
She couldn’t move. Even if there hadn’t been a wall behind her, she couldn’t move. Boggs was now only two feet away from her.
Toni heard a slight moan coming from somewhere. It took her a second to realize it came from her. The tension was almost intol-erable. She could feel her chest rise and fall from her own breathing. She could smell Boggs’s perfume. Toni stood there against the wall, her hands by her side. She was trembling with anticipation.
Boggs reached down for Toni’s hand. Their fingers met. That was the first contact. Toni could feel the electricity pulsing through her body. Boggs was only inches from her face. She took Toni’s hands and pressed them against the wall. Then she slowly moved them upward. Toni was breathing hard now, and her heart was beating so loud she was sure Boggs could hear.
Boggs continued to slowly pull Toni’s arms up the wall. They were just above her head when she stopped. Their fingers were interlocked as Boggs gently pressed Toni against the wall with her body. Toni heard herself moan again, only this time louder. She felt the heat from Boggs’s body envelop her.
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Boggs’s face was a fraction of an inch away. Toni’s mouth opened slightly in anticipation, but Boggs’s lips brushed against her cheek and lightly kissed her ear. The feel of her breath on her ear was maddening. Toni felt her knees go weak. Another kiss on the ear. A little more pressure against her body. Toni thought she might lose it right there. Her body was aching for more. She was at the very edge. Then she felt the tip of Boggs’s tongue on her ear and her grip tightened on Toni’s hands. One more kiss on the ear.
Toni could barely stand. She pushed back against Boggs’s body, then relaxed. Again. A rhythm developed. Boggs slowly moved her head toward Toni’s mouth, kissing her cheek gently. Her body movements didn’t change. Neither did Toni’s. They were slow and deliberate.
Boggs’s lips reached the corner of Toni’s mouth and she lightly kissed her. Toni wanted more. Much more. She pulled away from Boggs’s grip and put her hands on both sides of Boggs’s face. She looked into Boggs’s eyes for just a moment before pulling her close again. The kiss began tenderly, but soon Toni’s hunger overpow-ered her and the kisses became deep and passionate.
They kissed again and again, still standing with Toni’s back against the wall. Toni’s hands were behind Boggs’s head, pulling her close. Boggs caressed Toni’s hair and cheek. Their bodies continued to move in rhythm.
Minutes passed. Toni was lost in the feel of Boggs yet she could barely stand. Just then Boggs pulled away. Toni looked into her eyes and smiled. Boggs let her fingers linger on Toni’s cheek, then went to the opening of her blouse. Lightly she touched bare skin, then followed the line of the soft white fabric until she encountered lace. Boggs unbuttoned one, then two buttons. Toni felt her trace the outline of her bra with the tip of her finger and she moaned. One more kiss and then Toni grasped Boggs’s hand and pulled it away. She looked at Boggs and smiled again.
“I’m feeling a little faint,” she said as stepped away from the wall. Boggs frowned slightly. Was she worried that she may have gone too far? Toni wondered. Boggs started to speak but Toni 248
shook her head and held out her hand. She led Boggs up the stairs to her bedroom.
She left Boggs at the doorway and crossed the darkened room.
She lit a candle and placed it on the headboard.
She pulled off her boots, then motioned for Boggs to join her. As Boggs got closer, Toni reached to pull her close. After one long kiss, Toni pulled away again. She smiled and then slowly began to unbutton the remaining buttons on her blouse. Boggs watched as she slipped off her blouse and let it fall to the floor. Toni reached for Boggs’s shirt, but Boggs was already ahead of her. She was kicking off her shoes and fumbling with her boot-cut jeans. Toni followed suit.
Toni saw the bandage on her leg. “Are you sure you’re up for this,” she asked.
Boggs grinned and put her arms around Toni. She answered by slipping her fingers underneath Toni’s lace bra and caressing the bare skin of her breast. Toni’s knees wobbled again, but this time she let herself fall back on the bed, pulling Boggs on top of her.
She unfastened Boggs’s bra and moments later their bare skin touched. The feeling and excitement was escalating as Toni’s hands and mouth searched every part of Boggs’s body. Toni was teetering on the very edge of ecstasy when . . . the phone rang.
And rang and rang. It was hard to ignore completely. The answering machine came on, then the beep.
“Hello? Hello?” Vicky yelled. “I know you’re there. Does this mean you’re not coming to Aunt Hattie’s?” Vicky was laughing.
The phone disconnected.
Toni pulled away slightly from Boggs. “I guess we missed dinner.”
“I guess so,” she said.
Toni laughed before she pulled Boggs close again. “Now, where were we?”
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