Fifth Regret (Heaven Sent Book 5)

by Mary Abshire

  She pulled into one of the empty spots and then killed her engine. Keys and phone in hand, she left the Jeep. As she walked away, she pressed the button on her keychain since she’d left her bag inside. The soft chirp confirmed she’d activated the alarm.

  She strode straight to Andrew’s vehicle. Bits of red glass lay on the ground near the trunk. Emily had recalled seeing the car yesterday and the lights had been fine. It seemed obvious someone had broken the light on the store lot.

  She checked the doors and found them locked. Leaning closer to the tinted windows, she peered inside. Nothing. There weren’t any bags to indicate he’d shopped. She moved to the front and put her hand on the hood. It felt warm, but the sun could’ve heated the metal.

  With a heavy sigh, she stood near the car. Had Andrew made it outside? His last message had indicated he’d been in the line to leave. Whatever happened occurred either in the store or outside it.

  Phone in her grasp, she proceeded toward the entrance. She tapped her finger over the screen to get to her photos. The iPhone didn’t have many, but she had taken a few shots of Andrew in California. The last one she’d snapped had been in San Diego before Annie’s concert. Keeping it on the screen, she strode into Walmart.

  An older woman wearing a blue vest stood near the doors. She wore glasses and had a small hump in her back. Smiling at Emily, she said, “Welcome to Walmart.”

  Emily held her phone up to the woman. “Did you see this man come in here this morning?”

  The woman glanced at the phone for two seconds and then shook her head. “Honey, I just got here ten minutes ago. I haven’t seen too many people go by.”

  Emily lowered her arm as she scanned the area. Three lanes were open along with the self-serve machines. An African American woman with long braids tied behind her head ambled in the area where people could scan their goods. Emily headed toward her.

  “Excuse me,” Emily said, catching the lady’s attention. She held her phone up. “Have you seen this man in here in the last few hours?”

  The woman looked at the screen. “No, but I’ve only been here for maybe fifteen minutes.”

  Frustrated, Emily dropped her arm and looked around. Searching the store seemed pointless since he’d said he’d been in line to leave.

  “Have you checked with the customer service desk?” the woman asked. “They’ve been here most of the morning.”

  “Thank you,” Emily said before she walked away.

  She passed the three lanes with cashiers. They were busy scanning goods for customers. Emily considered asking each one if they’d seen Andrew, but she didn’t want to interfere with their jobs. To be fair to the customers, she’d have to wait in each line and they all had people waiting. She’d check with the cashiers if the workers at the service desk hadn’t seen him.

  Two women wearing blue vests stood behind a long counter, sorting through merchandise. One had copper hair with tattoos on her neck and arms. The other had blondish-brown locks pinned above her head. They were chatting about something and one of them laughed. They shifted their attention as Emily walked up to the desk.

  “Can you take a look at this picture and tell me if you’ve seen this man in the last few hours? He currently has a beard and one of his eyes might have been a little swollen. He came here this morning to buy a few things,” Emily said, showing the photo of Andrew to them.

  Each woman peered close at the screen.

  “I don’t remember seeing him,” said the woman with sandy-brown hair.

  “I haven’t seen him either,” the woman with dyed coppery locks said. “Are you sure he was here?”

  “He sent me a message he was checking out. That was over an hour ago. I found his car on the lot with a busted taillight. It wasn’t like that when he left this morning.”

  “That doesn’t sound good,” said the woman with her hair pinned up.

  “Carol was the only cashier here for the early morning shift. She left twenty minutes ago,” the woman with tattoos said.

  Defeat weighed as much as a rhino on her heart. She glanced up and spotted a partial black globe in the ceiling. “Do you have security cameras?”

  They looked at each other.

  The gal with the dyed locks leaned closer to Emily. “They don’t work. They’re just for show to scare people. The cops know we have our own security.”

  Emily’s face warmed as she stared at the woman. She fought the urge to shout curse words. Men and women often stole from Walmart stores on a daily basis. Plenty of reports were on the Internet. What idiot thought cameras shouldn’t be used to help catch thieves? She wanted to knock sense into the person who’d made that stupid decision not to use the cameras.

  She breathed through her nose, trying to remain calm. The ladies couldn’t be blamed for poor management. She focused on her issue at hand. The only cashier who had been working during the time Andrew had been in the store had since left. Emily had no way of reaching her. And if Andrew had run into trouble with Deon, then the cop would’ve known about the cameras not working. Deon could’ve busted his light and arrested Andrew.

  “Thank you for your help,” Emily said as she backed away.

  “Good luck,” the woman with copper hair said.

  Emily strode back the way she’d come. Anxiety fueled her steps. She knew he’d been at the store and in line. What happened to him after he’d paid remained a mystery. She planned to solve it and her first step involved calling the local police station.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Andrew sat alone in the small gray room with his hands on the table. Cuffs around his wrists prevented him from moving his arms much. The chair on the opposite side of him was empty. He kept waiting for one of the roaches in the corner to crawl toward the seat, but none had ventured close enough yet. A strong foul body odor smell lingered in the room. The horrendous scent disrupted his stomach and made him nauseous. He’d been waiting for over fifteen minutes, at least he guessed as long, and kept wondering when someone would come to check on him.

  The windowless room reminded him of the second demon he’d destroyed. Emily had been in jail. Andrew had visited her in a similar interrogation cell with the demon, her lawyer. Before they’d arrived, Andrew had bought coffee for him. While Emily had distracted the demon, Andrew had slipped poison into his drink. Killing the man seemed so simple compared to the demon he had to deal with now. Andrew didn’t have the poison with him and even if he did, he doubted he could get away with the same tactical move. Emily had been right about the cop being smart.

  He lowered his head and shook it. Destroying Deon was going to be a huge challenge, especially if Andrew remained incarcerated. Andrew had no weapons. Even if he had one and managed to kill the cop, he would be identified as a killer and would have to spend the rest of his days on Earth in prison. He couldn’t leave Emily out there alone. And if Andrew managed to get out of jail, he couldn’t follow Deon anymore. The demon had seen his face and his car. If Andrew stalked him again, Deon would suspect Andrew was plotting something against him and would take precautions to ensure his safety. On a positive note, it might stop Deon from murdering any more women.

  Andrew leaned back in his chair and put his hands in his lap. Thoughts of Emily continued to surface. He believed she would be worried about him and her concern would grow as time passed. She was smart, though. He figured she’d drive around to look for his car. She might even question people in Walmart. If they showed her the security footage, she’d know what the demon had done. She could get an attorney and use the recording to get him out of jail. Of course it would take a lot of time to accomplish such tasks. For another matter, the management at the store might not let her view the footage. If they did, she’d have to search for the right hour. Then she’d have to look for a lawyer. Everything could take at least a whole day, probably more, and during that time he’d have to sit in a jail cell.

  Fear continued to dwell within Andrew. In Emily’s weakened condition she couldn’t do muc
h. She couldn’t fight well either. If the cop found out about her, he would harm her. Andrew had no doubt about it. And Andrew couldn’t do anything to protect her while he remained in prison. Somehow, he needed to get out of the hell whole before the demon discovered her.

  The door opened and Andrew stiffened. Deon walked in, carrying a manila file folder and phone. He shut the door before he came to sit across from Andrew. The cold, cruel eyes he’d seen before stared at him again.

  “I thought I’d give you another chance to talk,” Deon said.

  “I have nothing to say except I want a lawyer.”

  Deon set the cell aside and then opened the file. “Spencer Reynolds, this is your file.” Two pieces of paper were inside the folder. “You’ve never been arrested before. You have a birthdate and address. Your license is from Chicago, but you don’t have a driving record. I thought that was strange. You don’t have any auto insurance information either. That’s another charge I’ll be adding to the list. From what I’m seeing…” He put his palm in the middle of the file. “You exist in a database, but there’s nothing about you. There’s no history. It’s almost as if someone created you in the system so you would have an ID.”

  Troy had come up with the name and credentials for Andrew. The license and passport had looked real. They’d allowed him to travel to Mexico and back with no trouble. But looking at the documents and searching a database about him were two different things. He’d never had a reason to believe anyone would do the latter.

  “I’m a very private person,” Andrew said.

  “Is that so? If I called the IRS to obtain your prior years’ tax information, what would I find?”

  “Not sure, but my lawyer would be interested to know you’re checking out my personal information when you and I both know I’ve done nothing illegal.”

  He scoffed. “What happened to your eye?”

  “I got in a disagreement at a bar.”

  “What about your arm?”

  “The guy who hit me broke a bottle and raked it on my forearm. It’s not a pretty sight, but you’re welcome to look.” Andrew offered him a peak, banking Deon wouldn’t.

  “Why didn’t you press charges?”

  Andrew shrugged. “Who cares about a bar fight when the police should be focusing on catching a serial killer?”

  The demon stared at him. If his eyes were laser beams, they would be drilling holes into Andrew.

  “I pulled the plates on the car. It’s registered to someone else,” Deon said, changing the subject.

  “That’s correct. Matt gave me his car to use. That’s why it’s not reported stolen. But don’t take my word for it. You probably have his information, so give him a call.”

  The demon lowered his gaze and closed the folder. He pushed it aside and then lifted the cell. It looked like Andrew’s. “I’ve been monitoring your phone. Who is Carrie?”

  His heart jumped. Although he had a password on the phone, one only Emily knew, Andrew had no way of knowing if the demon had managed break the code. Refusing to answer the question, he pressed his lips together.

  Deon set the device on the table. “She’s sent several messages asking where you were.”

  “I’m sure she is concerned. She’s probably looking for me.”

  “Is that right?”

  Andrew moved closer to the table. “She’s going to find me. When she does, I’m going to get a lawyer and sue you. The security footage at Walmart should be enough for any judge.”

  Deon chuckled. His laughter grew as he leaned back. He crossed his bulky arms. “Those cameras don’t record anything. They use them to intimidate people. So you can get a lawyer, but there’s no security footage or witnesses. You don’t have any evidence to support your accusation. Me? I have my badge. I think the judge will see things my way.”

  Andrew clenched his fists under the table. “You don’t scare me.”

  Deon tilted his head. “This Carrie … you said she’s probably looking for you. Let’s say she comes looking for you here. When that happens, I have ways to get women to talk.”

  Heat rushed to Andrew’s face. He wanted to strangle the man right then and there. “If you touch her…” Andrew swallowed what he wanted to say. He doubted there was anything in the room recording them, but he didn’t want to take any chances. He needed to stay calm so he could get out.

  “What?” Deon asked.

  Andrew looked away from him. He’d rather gaze at the roaches than the demon.

  “Why were you following me?” Deon asked. “I know you were following me just as you know I busted your taillight.”

  The confession brought Andrew’s attention back to the demon. He doubted the room had been wired to record since Deon admitted to breaking the light on Andrew’s car.

  “If I tell you, you’re still going to keep me locked up,” Andrew said. “So why should I bother?”

  “You never know, I might decide you’re not worth my time and drop all the charges.”

  Andrew doubted he’d do such a thing, but at this point he had nothing to lose. “I’m a reporter from Chicago. I’m investigating dirty cops in the state. I did some research and noticed you had several complaints against you here and in Baton Rouge.”

  “They were dismissed.”

  “Not all of them. I also spoke to a couple of women who said you had threatened them so you could have sex with them.”

  The demon’s expression hardened. “Who? Give me names.”

  “Why? So you can threaten them again? Hurt them? I don’t think so.”

  He smacked his hand on the phone before he lifted it. “You better fucking give me names or I’m going to do things to Carrie that will make wish you’d never fucked with me.”

  Panic cut through Andrew while his heart raced. He hadn’t intended to infuriate the demon. “Hurt her, and you will beg for death.”

  He threw the phone at Andrew’s head. Andrew jerked to the side, missing it. The cell hit the wall hard, breaking the device into pieces. They fell on the floor and scattered, but the main piece landed near his side. Andrew rose as fast as Deon. Andrew stomped on the cell and it split into more pieces. A second later, Deon shoved Andrew to the wall. He thrust his arm against Andrew’s neck, cutting off his air supply.

  “Boy, you know nothing about me. You’re fucking with the wrong man. I will lock your ass up for life. And when this Carrie shows up, I’m going to spend a lot of time getting to know her before I chop her into pieces.” Deon removed his arm and then stepped back.

  Andrew coughed as he labored to fill his lungs. Sweat had formed above his brow and on his body. He was so hot and not only from the heat. He was burning up with rage. He wanted tear Deon’s heart from his chest and squeeze it. He loathed Deon so much he wanted to see the man suffer a horrible death.

  Deon stood a few feet away. Grinning, he stretched his arms out. “Want to take a shot at me? Come on, I dare you.”

  Andrew struggled to keep calm while his breathing started to return to normal. His fists shook. White knuckles revealed how hard he’d been balling his hands.

  “Take a shot. You know you want to,” Deon said.

  Andrew’s heart thudded fiercely. He longed to kill the man and destroy the demon. But this wasn’t the right time. And hitting the man would only prove Andrew had assaulted a cop. Andrew refused to give the demon what he wanted.

  “What’s the matter? Afraid to hit a police officer?” Deon taunted with a crooked grin.

  “I’m not an idiot.”

  “It’s just me and you. There are no cameras. Nothing. Take a shot.”

  “No.”

  Deon lowered his arms and took a step closer to Andrew. “I’m looking forward to meeting this Carrie. I wonder what she would be willing to do to get you out of jail.”

  The fury within Andrew began anew. “Touch her, and you will suffer.”

  “From who?” He snickered. “You’ll still be in jail when I’m having my way with her.”

  Although
Andrew knew he couldn’t break the cuffs, he tugged on them. They cut into his wrists. The pain helped distract him from the wrath boiling within him. “I look forward to sending you to hell.”

  “Is that it? Is that all you have for me?” Deon moved even closer.

  Andrew focused on the pain pinching his skin and crushing his bone. He would not give in to the temptation to inflict pain. “I will see you die before my eyes and I will send you to hell, demon.”

  Deon backed away. “I look forward to meeting Carrie.” He grabbed the file on the table. “Enjoy your jail cell.” He yanked the door open before he left the room.

  Andrew sank into his chair. The built-up anger slowly lessened, but his body shook. He wouldn’t find peace until the man was dead and he destroyed the demon.

  He scrubbed a shaky arm over his forehead, clearing the moisture as best he could. His heart continued to race as his concern for Emily remained strong. She would call around, looking for him. Eventually she’d show up at the station. In a public setting, she would be safe. She was smart and knew better than to confront Deon alone, especially after what she’d been through with the last demon. And she’d pledged not to do anything without him. But Andrew still feared for her safety. The demon might try to intimidate her like he had with Andrew to get him to talk. If he guessed right, she would do anything to free Andrew just as he would do anything for her. And that scared the hell out of him. The demon could persuade her to do anything while Andrew was incarcerated.

  Andrew’s hands continued to shake. He needed to get out of jail soon. He had money to post bond or get an attorney if he had to. One way or another, he had to get free before the demon tricked Emily into doing something that could lead to her death.