For a long time they lay together, each of them recovering. After a while he got rid of the condom, pulled the afghan from the sofa over them, checked his weapon and left it in on the coffee table beside them, and closed his eyes.
He could feel her smile against his chest. “By the way,” she said. “When are you planning to give me back my gun?”
When Alex awoke it was dark and she was alone. How Zach had managed to get up without waking her she didn’t know, but she didn’t have far to look for him. He was in the kitchen at the stove. She could see steam rising from a pot or two and wondered what he was cooking.
She lifted herself on one elbow to watch him. He’d put his jeans back on but he was shirtless. For a moment she got caught up in watching the interplay of his muscles as he worked.
“Hungry?” he asked.
Either the man had the hearing of a bat or he was attuned to her in some way that she wasn’t to him. “Very. What time is it?”
“Almost ten.”
Alex rubbed her eyes, then shifted onto her back. She really must have been out of it to have slept so long. She stretched, feeling, for the moment, contented. Even though little was right with her world, she was here with Zach. They’d just cleared the proverbial air between them. She didn’t know what the future held, but hopefully all the demons from the past were finally behind them or at least out in the open where they could be dealt with.
But for now their lives were on hold. Once Williams was captured they could figure out what came next. For the present, she’d try to relax and enjoy the time she had with the man she loved.
They ate dinner on the sofa, her tucked into one corner with the afghan still draped around her, him at the other. Alex sampled a bit of the grilled chicken, savoring its flavorfulness. “When did you learn how to cook?”
“One of the side benefits of living on your own. Either learn how to make something decent to eat or starve.” He winked at her. “You spoiled me for the eating-out-every-night routine. I’m a home-cooked-meal sort of guy.”
She poked him with her foot. “While you’re being so industrious, why don’t you see if you can get a fire started?” She pointed her foot in the direction of the stone fireplace set in the wall perpendicular to them.
“I’m a city boy. I don’t know nothin’ ’bout startin’ no fires.”
“If I’m not mistaken, those are Starter logs next to the fireplace. All you have to do is pull off the plastic thingie, put them in the fireplace, and set a match to them.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He got up, followed her instructions to the point of lighting the match. He found a box of long-handled ones on the mantelpiece, and in a few seconds the log started to burn.
He came back to the sofa, but rather than picking up his plate, he took her foot into his lap. “Better?”
She didn’t know if he referred to the warmth of the fire spreading through the room or the gentle massage he was giving her foot, but her answer was the same, a purr of approval.
He laughed, a sound, she realized, she hadn’t heard from him in a long, long time, at least not one unqualified by anything. She knew their talk before had been freeing for her. Had it been the same for him?
With mock indignation, she said, “Are you laughing at me?”
“No, baby, never. Not me.” His hands moved upward to squeeze her calf in a way that made pleasure shiver through her. “I just enjoy making you happy.” He took her other foot into his lap and rubbed the ball of her foot.
She didn’t doubt his words, but she also knew he was probably trying to distract her as well. If Williams performed according to expectation, he should make some kind of move against her tonight. Since they’d been honest with each other about everything else, she saw no need to dissemble now. “You think Williams will strike tonight, don’t you?”
His hand stilled. “You know I do. I’m hoping anyway. Then all this mess will be over.”
What a succinct way to put it, but he was right. If they caught Williams tonight her life, the life of everyone involved could go back to normal. Everyone except Roberta.
She hadn’t realized she’d looked away from him until he tilted her chin up.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?”
She shook her head. She didn’t really want to go into it. If he was willing to distract her, she was willing to let him. “I was thinking it would be nicer closer to the fire.”
The look of skepticism he sent her way told her he didn’t believe her. That was all right, since he seemed willing to indulge her anyway. He stood, took the plate from her lap, and set it on the table. He scooped her up from the sofa, spinning her around in a way that made her shriek and cling to him. His mouth found hers and when his tongue plunged into her mouth she sucked on it, making him groan into her mouth.
He set her down beside the fire, unwrapped the blanket from around her, and lay down beside her. “Come here, baby,” he whispered, pulling her on top him. His hands roved over her back and lower to grasp her buttocks in his palms. “Is this what you wanted?”
She tugged on one of the belt loops of his jeans. “Minus the pants, yes.”
He rolled her onto her back and stood. She lay back watching him as he stripped out of the rest of his clothes, her eyes wandering down his body over a broad chest, a flat belly to his erection, full and heavy. She brought her knees up, squeezing them together, and shut her eyes, anticipating him joining her. She wanted him inside her, no fuss, no muss, no foreplay, just that ultimate connection.
And then he was beside her, pushing her legs wider to stroke the damp sensitive core between her thighs. His mouth claimed hers for one wild, brief kiss before he pulled away. “Look at me, baby,” he said.
She did as he asked as best she could. Her eyes didn’t want to open, much less focus. Already she was close to the edge and she wanted him inside her when she toppled. “Please,” she whispered.
She bit her lip as he covered her and thrust into her. Her back arched and her legs wrapped around his waist, drawing him deeper.
He buried his face beside her throat, trailing moist kisses across her skin. He withdrew from her and thrust into her with the same exquisite slowness. Again and again, making her ache, making her writhe beneath him, seeking satisfaction.
He lifted his head and stroked the hair from her face. “Easy, baby. We’ll get there.”
She didn’t doubt that, but she didn’t know how much of this sweet torture she could stand. She was there on the brink, waiting, ready. All she needed was the slightest push from him. He gave it to her, thrusting deep and hard, and she lost it. She cried out his name and her fingertips dug into the flesh of his back. Her body trembled with the strength of her climax.
Still he was inside her, thrusting deeply until his own orgasm overtook him. He shuddered against her as he lowered himself onto his side pulling her flush with him. Leaning up on one elbow, he stroked her hair over her shoulder. “See, I told you we’d get there.”
His breathing sounded as ragged as hers felt. She looked up at him, finding the smile she loved so much. She hit him on the shoulder. “Egotist.”
He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing each of her fingers before he placed her hand on his chest. “Not at all. But I wouldn’t be satisfied until I pleased you first.”
She shut her tired eyes and smiled. “And here I’d thought considerate lovers had gone the way of the dodo bird.”
“Not all of them.” He stroked his hand over her breast, her waist, her hip, and back again. “Can I ask you something?”
She opened her eyes and scanned his face. That question sounded far too somber to suit her, and the unreadable expression on his face didn’t help. “What is it?”
He lifted one shoulder. “This is in no way a complaint, but aside from the very first time, you’ve always been very free with sharing your body with me. After finding out what Sammy did to you, it surprises me.”
She hadn’t thought of that
before, but it made sense. Most girls, after an experience like hers, went one of two routes, either shutting down sexually or becoming promiscuous. In her own way, she’d gone both: shutting down until that night with Zach and going wild afterward. Neither one had been satisfying.
“Believe it or not, that was the one thing my former husband was good for. He helped me see that I could either let the past control me or I could take control myself. It helped, too, that underneath his button-down suits Devon was a little bit of a freak himself, not the judgmental prude one would expect. That’s why I could never completely condemn him. He’d helped me get back something invaluable in myself. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
She leaned over and pressed a single soft kiss against his chest. She didn’t want to talk about Devon anymore or about anything. She wanted to enjoy being in this man’s arms and nothing else. She smiled as his arms closed more tightly around her, giving her her wish.
He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Remind me to send the guy a thank-you note in the morning.”
The next time Zach woke, it was to the sound of a trilling noise he couldn’t place. He had his gun in his hand in a second. He scanned the room and found nothing out of place. The noise trilled again. This time it penetrated that the sound came from a cell phone. Since he didn’t have that ring tone, it must be Alex’s, but the ringing stopped before he could get up to answer it.
He’d left his own phone in his pants pocket. He retrieved it now to check the time: a little after four in the morning. He had no messages from Smitty or anyone else, which probably meant the stakeout at his house was a bust. Damn. Had the police presence around his house scared Williams off or had he not planned to act at all? Either way, the question now was, what did he plan to do next? Zach hadn’t a clue.
Alex’s phone went off again. Whoever it was understood the word persistent. He knew Alex had given her cell number to many of her patients in case they needed to speak to her. On top of that she’d forwarded her private office line and home number to the phone as well. Anybody could be calling, and at this hour they probably considered getting in touch with her to be urgent.
Zach turned back to Alex and kissed her shoulder. “Sweetheart, your phone is ringing.”
She opened her eyes and looked at him as if he were a Martian. “What?”
“Your phone is ringing. I thought it might be one of your patients.”
The ringing stopped before she had the wherewithal to get up and answer it. But when she located it in her purse she opened the phone to look at the readout. “That’s my next door neighbor’s number. She’s the only one I told I would be away for a couple of days.”
He watched Alex as she pressed the button to call back and placed the phone next to her ear. She had her back to him, so he couldn’t see her face as she spoke. “Gladys, what’s wrong?” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t pick up when you called.”
Alex was silent for a long moment. Then she said, “Oh my God, Gladys. Are you all right?”
Another silence, during which Zach grew more alarmed. He’d wait until Alex finished her conversation to ask what was going on, but he wished she’d hurry up and get off the damn phone.
“Thank you for calling me. I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Alex disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto the sofa. She turned to face him, a stunned expression on her face.
“Baby, what is it?”
“I have to go back. At this moment my house is burning to the ground.”
Twenty-seven
Zach drove back to the Bronx with a feeling of unease tightening his belly. Why would Alex’s house catch on fire with no one inside? And four in the morning besides? This had to be Williams’s work. He must have seen through the ruse at Zach’s house and looked for a way to draw Alex out in the open. He’d applaud the guy’s ingenuity if Alex hadn’t been dead set on going back. He couldn’t blame her. Everything she owned was in that house.
They’d go back, but he’d already called the captain to let him know what happened. He’d also called his brother Adam to let him know to expect them some time that day. They’d need somewhere to rest a few hours before heading back. In the meantime, he didn’t intend to let Alex out of his grasp, much less his sight.
The ruins of her house were still smoldering when they pulled up in front. He didn’t need a fireman to tell him that everything was gone, nor that the fire had been deliberate. The air was heavy with the acrid smell of burned gasoline. He stopped the car as close to the house as he could, considering that there were still two fire trucks and a host of police vehicles, some marked, some not, in front of the house.
Alex got out of the car and so did he, quickly rounding the hood to stand beside her. She just shook her head. “I’d thought Gladys was exaggerating about the whole house burning down.”
A middle-aged woman ran up to them. She had on a striped housecoat and a white scarf tied over the rollers in her hair. She threw herself into Alex’s arms. “Look at your poor house. Everything’s gone. I’m so sorry.”
Alex patted Gladys’s back. “There wasn’t anything you could have done and you called me as soon as you could. I appreciate that.”
Gladys took a step back. “I don’t see how you can be so calm.”
Zach wondered the same thing. This was a different kind of calm from her usual demeanor. This seemed, in an odd way, peaceful. He didn’t know whether to be worried or not.
“I’m saving my breakdown until later,” she told Gladys, “when I’m sure of how much damage has been done.”
As they’d spoken both the captain and Smitty had made their way toward them. Craig extended his hand toward Zach in greeting. “Welcome back to the fray.”
Zach shook his captain’s hand. He didn’t see any point in arguing the fact that he didn’t plan to stay. Once he and Alex were ready, he planned to take Alex back to the Island. If Craig didn’t agree with that Zach had plenty of vacation days stored up that he wouldn’t mind using.
Craig turned to Alex and her neighbor. To Gladys, he said, “Would you excuse us?”
Gladys looked flustered but said a hasty good-bye to Alex before trotting off to her house.
To Alex, he said, “I’m sorry you had to come back to this, Dr. Waters. Please be assured we’re doing everything possible to apprehend the person involved.”
Craig hadn’t said Williams’s name, but they all knew who he meant. Smitty grabbed Zach’s elbow and nodded toward the other side of the car. Zach followed him, keeping his eyes on Alex.
“Relax, man,” Smitty said. “This place is swarming with cops. No one’s going to get to her.”
Zach let out a pent-up breath. Maybe he did need to chill out a little, but he found that a little impossible to do at the moment. Someone had just burned down Alex’s house, ostensibly to get her back to the Bronx. He wouldn’t relax until they were somewhere safe.
But, he assumed, Smitty had something for him that he needed to hear. What’s going on?”
“You know this was Williams, right?”
Zach nodded.
“Well, ever since we got into his place we’ve been checking him out. Seems he used to travel a lot painting those pictures of his. The guy kept meticulous records of where he’d been and when. A couple of those places have unresolved rape/murders for times he was there. We’re looking into him for those as well.”
“Damn.” He glanced at Alex. She didn’t need to know this, not now. “Anything else?”
“Not unless you count we don’t know where he is as news. But it’s definitely him. We already lifted a print off one of the gas cans.”
So either he was either getting sloppy or he wanted them to know it was him. Somehow Zach thought it was the latter.
“There is one bright note,” Smitty continued. “That girl came out of her coma.”
“How is she?”
“All right, mostly. She doesn’t remember what happened. The doctors think they can patch her up okay.”
Since that was the best news he’d heard in a long time, he was glad Smitty passed it on. He chucked Smitty on the arm. “Thanks. I’m going to take Alex out of here.”
“Sounds like a good idea. Keep me posted as to what you’re up to.”
“Will do.”
Smitty walked to where Alex stood, said something to her he didn’t catch, then walked away corralling the captain with him.
After they’d gone Alex turned to him. “What now?”
“We’ll head to my brother’s house, get something to eat, a couple of hours’ rest, and get out of here. If there’s anyone you need to call about the house we can do that before we go.”
She nodded and got into the car. He did the same, sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the ignition. He had to back out of the street, so he couldn’t watch her, but when he turned at the corner he cast a look at her. She wore the same benign expression. “Not to sound repetitive, but how can you be so calm about this?”
She let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t feel calm exactly. But in a way, our friendly neighborhood psycho did me a favor. I’d been living in that house, tormenting myself with the past, for six years. I knew I should sell it or at least get out of it, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Now it’s all gone, the good and the bad. If there’s anything salvageable, I don’t want it. I like the idea of having a fresh start.”
She turned to him and smiled. A fresh start. Is that what they were having, too? Or could have once Williams was apprehended? That idea appealed to him, too.
Alex knew she liked Barbara Stone from the first moment she met her. She was the sort of warm yet stern mother Alex had enjoyed for the first thirteen years of her life. Alex had often wondered how her mother had ended up with a hard case like Sammy but had never gotten around to asking her. In a way, their relationship mirrored that of Barbara and Adam, except, though Adam might be a pain in the butt, he was no Sammy.
Body of Lies Page 28
