by Paris Morgan
“It all made a lot more sense when she explained it, but I started helping her get to appointments and other things so she could function longer. I don’t feel that I helped as much as I could have, but we were able to get to know each other better. Instead of being jealous that she got Luke, I was truly happy for her. I got to know her, and we became friends.” Karen wiped at her eyes. “She went from being my rival to someone I wanted to help, and then I had to find justice for her when she was taken too soon.”
“You did find her killer, right?”
“Yes. It took longer than I wanted because it’s hard to get evidence in a case like that. Who knows, she might be looking down on us, thankful that I saved a few lives? I certainly hope so.”
“No more guilt?”
“Nope. Once I found the killer, I felt a peace about it. I backed away for a while and let them grieve. One day, Luke showed up on my doorstep and asked me out. Turns out she has a pretty good reach beyond the grave because she appeared to him and told him he was a fool to lose a second chance on love now that she was gone.”
Karen twisted in her seat, excited again. “It’s been over a year since I put the killer away, and if he asks me to marry him, I’m so going to say yes this time. I had no idea that life could be so short, and I don’t want to waste any more time without him in my life.”
“You deserve to be happy. I’m glad that it’s Luke. He and those Greenley boys were always easy on the eyes, but a second chance isn’t something to throw away.” I let out a sigh. “It doesn’t help me out, though.”
“Because you don’t know much about him?”
“Well that, but also, like, how do I know it’s not just the chemistry pushing us together? Maybe we’d be horrible for each other and hate everything the other one does for the rest of our lives. I’m not sure it’s worth throwing all of my chips in on this.”
“You may not have the history that Luke and I had to get things going, but consider this: he’s also in the same profession as you. While that will make things a little more dangerous, it will also solve the problems that you had with the last boyfriend.”
I leaned back into the massaging chair and considered the pros and cons.
“It might help with the miscommunication problems, and he’d understand the reasons I’d have to go. But then he’d also have to leave spur of the moment. We might have the same kind of job, but we don’t work for the same office. Can you have a relationship with someone if you only see them for two days a month?”
“That’s a legitimate question. Love, or feelings, can come in many different ways. Sometimes it’s new and exciting, the can’t-be-without-them kind, or it might just sneak up on you after being their friend for a long time and suddenly, you can’t-imagine-the-world-without-them-in-it kind.”
“I’d say it’s both. One minute, I can’t wait to be near him, and then the next, I realize I’ve done without him for years so I’ll be okay. I never wanted to be that girl who had to have a guy around to make me complete.” I covered my face and groaned. “I’m so confused.”
“Yep, you’ve got it bad. It’ll sort itself out, though. He’ll either be around and you’ll be thankful, or you’ll get sick of him when the newness wears off and wonder how on earth you could have ever liked him.” Karen gave me a knowing look. “I predict that you’ll survive.”
“That’s kind of what I’m afraid of. What will survival look like once he’s got me in his clutches?”
“You do realize he’s not the bad guy you’ve been chasing, right?”
“Yeah, I know. He was the bad guy for almost a year, though.” I laughed defensively.
“That just means you were trying not to notice the attraction between you from the beginning.”
“I hope that’s all it is.” My phone buzzed and I gave it a quick glance. “That’s him wanting to know what I’m doing today.”
“Well, tell him you’re out with your sister, but you need to go on a date tonight.”
“I can’t force him to take me on a date,” I protested.
“You’re not. You’re taking him on one. It is the 21st century, you know. Women can do the inviting if they want to.” An eyebrow rose as if to challenge me.
Ignoring her, I quickly typed in a text and turned my phone over so I couldn’t see his reply.
“Done. Now, we’re not going to worry about him again until I have to go meet him.”
“Good job,” she praised me, condescension in her tone.
She might as well have patted me on the head and told me to sit. Older sisters always knew best, but I gave her my go-to response and rolled my eyes.
Dinner was going to be very interesting, and there was no way to know how things might turn out.
------
I thought that when I’d pushed the button and sent the text inviting Noah to dinner, the hard part was over. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
What did you wear to a date when you’d already slept with the guy? Sexy meant you were expecting more time in the bedroom when you were done eating, and that was the exact opposite of what I was planning.
Blue jeans and a T-shirt seemed too casual, but there was this little red dress that could just work. It was a simple dress that could be dressed up, but wouldn’t scream “we’re going to do it after dinner.”
I was more nervous about this first date than any of my previous ones, or in all the months of chasing serial killers.
With one last look in the mirror to make sure my make-up and hair still looked good, I punched in the code for the security system. If I didn’t leave now, I was going to be late.
Completely invested in making it on time, I failed to notice the car parked down the street that pulled out only moments behind me.
------
Noah was sitting at the bar. Seeing as he hadn’t gotten his drink order delivered yet, I found I wasn’t terribly late.
“Hi.” His gaze swept over me from top to bottom before returning to my face. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say as he held out his arm.
The waitress took us to one of the tables toward the back and I headed for the seat with the view of the entire room. Although, as nervous as I was, I probably wouldn’t have noticed anything unless someone was waving a gun around the room.
After we’d ordered the special and stared at each other for a few moments, Noah finally asked, “How was your morning?”
“It was nice to visit with my sister. I thought I would be sleeping the day away, but I was awake by ten this morning.” I adjusted the silverware, needing to do something with my hands. “What did you do today?”
“I had to go into the office and look through more of the files they’d recovered from Kevin’s work that links the Urban Energy Corporation to some of their dirty work.”
“Oh, I’m sorry you had to work. My sister just reminded me that Christmas is only a few days from now, and I’ve done no shopping whatsoever. With everything that’s been going on, I’m really not in the mood for it, to be honest.”
Noah reached across the table, capturing one of my hands in his. “My family is one of those that enjoy the day off by ignoring each other. We have enough staff that my mom doesn’t have to do any of the cooking, and we still get to eat a nice meal.” He shrugged like it wasn’t that big of a deal.
“Wow! I can’t even imagine celebrating the holidays like that. I know there are some people who aren’t religious or don’t like to make a fuss, but for us, it’s all about our family. When Karen and I started working on two different police forces, we worked it out so we could be off on the same night. Even if it wasn’t until a few days after or a little beforehand, we always make it home for an evening with family. Sure, the gifts are nice, but it’s about being with our family and spending time with them. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas until we’ve been home and soaked up the holiday cheer.”
The waitress arrived with our order, and
I finally stopped gushing about my family.
“Nothing like chasing a serial killer to make you forget what day of the week it is. Maybe if my family was different, I might want to celebrate the holidays. I don’t even think my parents would notice if I wasn’t at the table on Christmas Day.” He smiled sadly. “I’ve always been focused on school, and then work. These past few years as I was working my way up in the company, I had a few kind souls invite me to their family dinners.”
“So what was it like growing up like that?” The words flew out of my mouth before I realized what I’d said. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.”
He waved away my concern. “It’s okay. I’m still trying to figure out how I grew up like that. Evidently, my mother doesn’t see that having a half-brother and a biological dad who are killers is a problem.”
This time, it was me offering him a comforting hand.
“I always thought we were normal. I mean, slightly rich, but it wasn’t something we paid attention to. There weren’t any poor kids, and it wasn’t until I went to college that I found out how lucky I really was. Money has little meaning to our family. We have it, and just take it for granted. My mother was nice to us, but it was the nanny who really raised us. I would guess that’s why we’re missing the sense of family because we never really were one. I was just getting to know the team when I went undercover, and doing that doesn’t allow for meaningful connections.”
“You sound sad about that.” I couldn’t understand not having a family that cared about you. I knew I could always go home if I needed to, and my parents would be there to welcome me.
“Sad? Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never known anything else until this connection with you. It’s so different, and almost like a living thing. I can’t say exactly, but it’s like…”
“Coming home?” I finished for him. “It’s overwhelming. Like I know everything I need to know about you, and yet you’re a complete stranger at the same time.”
He laughed. “That’s why we’re here for dinner, isn’t it? To get to know each other better, right?”
“That was the goal, but now I just want to hold you and make it all better.” I ached for him.
“See, that’s part of the problem. I had no idea what I was missing until you came along, and I felt all this joy, love, and happiness. Something I thought I understood, but this was completely different. I can certainly understand if you want to take things a little slower. Just promise me that you’ll give this a chance. I don’t want to become like my dad or brother.”
“I promise.” I leaned across the table and placed a kiss on his cheek, just as my phone rang.
Sitting back down, I pulled it out of my purse. “It’s Ryan. I have to take this.” I pushed the button and held the phone up to my ear. “Ryan?” I couldn’t hear him. “Speak up.”
“Shea and Hope have been kidnapped. He has them,” he rasped into the phone.
“We’ll be right there.” I waved to the waitress and started pulling out my wallet as I hung up.
“What happened?” Noah followed my cue and started for his wallet, beating me to it. “Here. Keep the change.”
When I gave him a look, he grabbed my hand. “Don’t argue. Cash was faster. You can pay next time, if you’re okay with there being a next time?”
I didn’t answer until we were in my car, backing out of the parking space. “Yes, there will be a next time. Right now, we need to get to Ryan’s, or rather the place where he and Shea have been staying.”
“I got distracted. What happened?” he questioned.
“The Zodiac Master has taken Shea and baby Hope.”
Chapter 2
Ryan
When I’d gotten home from chasing the Sagittarius killer all over the South, it had seemed a little unusual for no one to greet me, but it was the middle of the night and I was exhausted.
A note was propped up on the counter.
Shea and the baby fell asleep over at my place. I didn’t want you to worry when you got inside. Come over when you’ve gotten some rest.
I couldn’t wait to see Shea and the baby, but at the moment, I was so exhausted that sleep felt like the best option.
It was surprising to me how easily we’d slipped into the idea of this place being home. Our house had a cleaning lady who was making sure it wasn’t completely covered in dust, but the idea of going back wasn’t nearly as appealing anymore. I liked the feeling of community that was available for Shea and Hope while I was gone. Flora was just a short walk away, and there were others who had children for Hope to play with.
Maybe we’d get some sort of break and I’d be able to spend some time with Hope and Shea.
Ignoring the relief at knowing I wouldn’t be awakened by the baby for at least a few hours, I fell into the bed and sleep took me over.
------
Something was bothering me and I couldn’t put a finger on it. Even in my dreams, I couldn’t get away from the evil chasing me. A baby was crying, and I needed to get her bottle. When I looked at the baby, it wasn’t Hope, but a baby that morphed into a horrid mask.
Jerking awake, I felt the bed, knowing even as I did that it was empty. It was cold, meaning Shea hadn’t joined me at all last night. The sun was shining, but it couldn’t be that late because Hope tended to wake up several times a night, making it necessary for her to take a nap mid-morning.
The clock on the nightstand read 4:30 a.m.
No, that couldn’t be right…could it?
I hopped out of bed, still wearing my undershirt as I headed to the kitchen. It had the still, quiet feeling, as if no one had been around for a while.
Where was my family?
I went back to the bedroom and picked up my phone, expecting to see a few missed calls, but there weren’t any. Not really liking the uncomfortable feeling left over from my dream, I slid on some clothes and shoes before heading over to Flora’s house.
One of the Demeter family met me at the door of her house.
“Hello, Ryan. Flora’s still not awake,” she informed me.
“What do you mean still not awake? What happened to her? Where are Shea and Hope?”
“Nobody told you?” She put a hand to her mouth. “T–They’re gone.”
“Excuse me, but gone where?” I asked, hoping the feeling in the pit of my stomach was wrong. Maybe I was becoming a little bit psychic.
“Two days ago. We found Flora out on the gravel driveway unconscious. The baby’s seat and diaper bag were gone, so we thought Shea had gone somewhere. No one has heard from her, but we haven’t had time to worry about that because Flora needed us.”
“Did you try her phone?” I asked as I pulled mine out and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail as most phones do when they’re off or out of power.
“We’ve had a hard time not losing Flora, and we thought she might’ve just gone to the store. Only the baby’s things and her purse were missing. She didn’t take any clothes or anything, so we weren’t worried.” Her hands shook as she motioned for me to follow her back to the bedroom.
Flora was lying on the bed with several of her extended family standing around her, their eyes closed. A candle was burning, and occasionally there would be a murmur from one of those in the circle.
“Why isn’t she responding?”
The woman shook her head and backed out of the room, closing the door behind her.
“Something happened that overpowered her brain and psyche. She may recover, but that won’t begin until the instrument that took her energy can give it back.”
“Have you called Adam to find out if he can reach her mentally?” I reached for my phone again.
“Why would we call him? This is Romani business. He and his kind have nothing to do with it,” she huffed with indignation.
“He’s dating Flora, and he was able to help her last time something like this occurred. He’s going to want to know.” I didn’t ask for permission as I dialed Adam’s number.
/> “Adam, you need to get here. Flora’s gone into another coma. Shea and Hope are gone, and I’ve got to figure out where they are. No one seems to know where they went. I’m worried that whatever or whoever did this to Flora, might have done something to Shea and Hope as well.”
“Don’t panic, we’ll figure this out. I’m headed in that direction anyway because Flora wasn’t answering her phone or responding through our connection. I’m just pulling in.”
I hung up and drew in a deep breath. I’d been holding onto things by a thread, but if he’d taken my family, there was nothing that could stop me from finding him.
-----
Adam raced up, spewing gravel all over the driveway in his rush to get there. I went out to meet him.
“Hey, they think this is Romani business and didn’t want you to be involved, but I thought you needed to know what was happening.” I stood on the front porch and blocked the doorway.
“They can’t stop me from going in,” Adam declared, shoving me aside.
“Adam.” I grabbed his arm, slowing him down. “I agree, but you need to be nice. They’ve done a lot for us, and we don’t want to disrespect them for their generosity.”
“You’re right.” He leaned against the wall and took a few deep, calming breaths. “I was letting my emotions blind me. Wait, you said Shea and Hope were missing?” He ran a weary hand over his face.
“Yes. No one has seen them for several days. I was so busy the last few days with the case, I didn’t stop to think that I hadn’t heard from Shea. She knows how it gets when we’re trying to find a killer, but I should have noticed.” I wanted to kick myself. “I came home and took the note that was left on the counter and assumed it was from Flora. I can’t believe I went to sleep while he was out there doing who knows what to my family.”
Now it was Adam’s turn to try to comfort me. “You couldn’t have known it wasn’t from Flora. Call Leslie, and after I see exactly what Flora’s condition is, we’ll get started on looking for her.”
He opened the door gently this time and walked in to deal with Flora’s family.
