“We don’t know.” Zeke rubbed his jaw as a heavy breath fell out. “Rina said they were walking to grab a coffee when she was hit on the head. When she came to, Dee was nowhere in sight. Her purse was lying on the ground.”
“He took her.”
Sauer slowly looked at Newman, wanting him to take those words back. How could he? They were the truth. The killer had her.
“She knew better than to—”
“Come on, Sauer, we’re talking about Dee here. If she wanted to leave for a coffee, nothing was going to stop her.” Zeke tossed his head toward Rina. “I know this is hard, but try to be quieter. Rina is not taking it well. Ben wants her to go to the hospital and she’s refusing right now. She was damn near hysterical when we got here. She blames herself. She thinks she should’ve talked Dee out of leaving.”
Jaw clenched, he hissed, “She should’ve.”
He was out of line and knew it. Zeke knew he knew it and didn’t respond.
“It has to be Vince.” Newman looked at him, his hand still on his shoulder. That simple gesture helped him to stay standing because all he wanted to do was drop to the ground in agony.
“Who’s that?” Zeke asked.
“Our victim’s brother. According to her boyfriend, she was blackmailing her brother, but doesn’t know the reason.” Sauer started to rub a hand over his head. “How does he know Dee?”
“Didn’t he have an alibi?” Zeke asked, his eyes portraying his mind was twirling all the information.
“He did. But I don’t trust the wife. She knew about the blackmail, but denied knowing about it. We asked if he had a tattoo and an injury to the leg and I saw the panic in her eyes at the question. But she refused to answer. She would give him an alibi, no doubt about it.” Newman let go of his shoulder and crossed his arms. “Maybe they did have a Super Bowl party. Doesn’t mean he didn’t slip out for an hour or so to go kill his sister.”
He turned around, heading for Newman’s car. Yanking the door open, he stared at Newman. “Are you coming?”
Newman sprinted to the car, a puzzled look on his face. “Where are we going?”
“Back to talk to his wife. She has to know where he is.”
They hustled into the car and left in a hurry. He felt bad for Rina. Truly, he did. But his concern for Dee overrode all those other emotions. She had to be okay. If he lost her, he’d—
Thinking like that had to be stopped immediately.
They had to be right. Because if they weren’t, Dee was in so much trouble. If they were wrong, he had no idea where to start looking for her.
Maybe Newman could read his thoughts. Maybe it was written all over his face. Maybe it was pouring out in waves as he sat with his fists clenched, his face hard as granite, his eyes focused ahead.
“She’ll fight, Sauer. She’ll be fine. If anyone can survive this, it’s Dee.”
As much as he wanted to hold to that knowledge, knowing it was partly true, he couldn’t. What people didn’t understand, didn’t realize, was Dee was just like everyone else. She wasn’t superhuman. She wasn’t invisible. She was tough. Strong. Full of spirit. But that didn’t make her immune to pain and suffering. To the hands of a killer.
He could hurt her.
Hell, he could’ve already killed her.
♡
A blinding ache throbbed in the back of her head. She reached to rub the spot, just to have her arms jerk in place.
Panic welled inside. Her hands were tied, outstretched above her head. A quick tug of her legs made her realize her feet were tied as well.
Eyes still closed, afraid to see her surroundings, she let her ears do the looking for her.
Silence. Not a peep surrounded her. Not even a sound in the distance. Like cars, or people. Just silence.
What did that mean? Where was she?
Idiot! Just open your eyes and look.
She couldn’t. The thought terrified her. Not much scared her. She didn’t allow herself to become scared. It was a useless emotion. It didn’t solve anything.
That’s right. Being scared didn’t solve anything. She needed to get out of this predicament. Clenching her eyes shut wouldn’t help her find a way out.
A slow, difficult breath eased out as she popped her eyes open. A wooden ceiling hung above her. The frame looked old and worn, almost rotted. Would it fall on her? Break open suddenly and pin her to death to the bed? The soft contours of the mattress filtered into her addled mind, most of it, anyway. She could feel one large lump near her right shoulder.
Turning her head to the left, she saw a dresser, nothing atop it. Ignoring the pounding in her head, she lifted her body up as much as she could. The room was tiny. In the corner near the door, which she assumed was locked even if she managed to get free, sat a wooden chair. It looked stable enough to sit on, but old, like the ceiling.
Goosebumps covered her skin. The fright wanted to sweep back in and claim her, suck her into a reality that would paint a prettier picture than what she faced.
The cold moved over her body, her naked body, except for her panties and bra that still, thankfully, covered her.
Shivering from the temperature, slowly getting more and more aware of her situation, she wished for a blanket. She needed something to cover herself with. Not just for propriety. The room was freezing. She didn’t think the heat was on.
Where was she? Who did this?
That last question really made her wrack her brain as she lay her head back down. She didn’t have enough time to process who hit her before she was out cold.
Bolting upright again, she moaned in pain from the sudden movement.
Rina.
Dropping back down, she tried her hardest to keep the tears at bay.
Was Rina okay?
This was her fault. She should’ve listened when Rina suggested they stay in the office for coffee. Now look what happened. Rina could be dead for all she knew.
“Please…let her be okay.” A tear slid down. “I don’t care what happens to me, but please let Rina be okay.”
“I didn’t hit her that hard. I’m sure she’s fine.” A deadly laugh. “Not like you.”
That voice. She recognized it. It was him. The man who attacked her twice. Of course it was him. Who else would kidnap her? Why didn’t she hear the door open?
A grimy hand gripped her foot sliding up her ankle to her thigh, stopping just short of the area that should only be touched by Sauer.
Please, Sauer, find me.
As much as she wanted to know who this man was, she couldn’t look his way. The fear clawed down her throat, stopping a scream from escaping.
His hand brushed over her mound, up her belly and circled her breast, back and forth between her cleavage. Her eyes glazed over as the fear threatened to consume her.
No! She needed to fight back.
Moving her gaze until it landed on his face, she couldn’t hold back the gasp. “I know you.” But from where?
Hatred and fury blazed in the black depths of his eyes. His hand cupped a breast and squeezed painfully.
Her lips clamped closed, refusing to scream and give him the satisfaction.
“You’re about to know me really well.”
Oh, God, no. She couldn’t let him do that. Couldn’t let him violate her in such a way. Pulling on the ropes wrapped tightly around her hands and ankles, she fought against the restraints as hard as she could.
A chilling laughter coated the room.
“Yes, please. Fight back.” He brushed a strand of hair away from the edge of her mouth. “It’ll just make it more fun. It’s always fun when they fight back.”
They? Of course they. He already killed a woman. Sauer, being Sauer, didn’t go into details of how she died. Or that she was raped. Obviously she had been. She also hadn’t been his first either. They. She wouldn’t give him the pleasure of her fear. Because it swarmed every inch of her body, in and out of her veins, threatening to paralyze her. But she wouldn’t let it take control. She
had to be strong and tough. Like she always was.
His head lowered, his lips a breath away as he whispered, “You brought this on yourself. I’m sorry.”
A deep retching pain pierced her arm as a knife sliced straight through.
♡
A pounding, so loud, so deep, echoed around him. His heart almost synced in perfect rhythm to each bang to the door. Unprofessional? Perhaps. Did he care? Not in the least. Dee’s life hung in the balance. They had to be right about this.
The door swung open. His hand fell to his side in a tight fist.
“This is harassment.” Mrs. Colton started to slam the door.
Sauer’s hand whipped up so fast to halt the movement it wasn’t hard to miss the way she flinched back.
Interesting.
“Where is your husband?”
She let go of the door, considering he wasn’t going to allow it to close. “At work.”
“Quit jerking us around. He’s not there. He kidnapped someone.” Sauer watched as the color drained from her face. “He killed his sister. He has a tattoo, doesn’t he? He has a recent injury to his leg, doesn’t he? Start talking!”
Of course, that was all conjecture. They had no actual proof, but by her reaction, the tiny trembles in her hands as she clutched them to her chest, the pasty white tone covering her skin, her wide round eyes in surprise, he was right. Not the kind of surprise he expected. More so, the how-did-you-figure-it-out surprise.
“My husband is a good—”
“A good man, huh? So good he beats you.”
She jerked back, almost as if Sauer slapped her.
“If you don’t help us, we’ll have no choice but to arrest you for obstruction,” Newman said quietly next to him. “We don’t wish to do that especially because you’re a victim yourself. Isn’t it time he stops hurting you?”
A shaky breath escaped. “He doesn’t…” She turned her head, trying to control her breathing. Most likely trying to keep the tears at bay. Sauer didn’t want to feel sorry for her, or sympathize. He did, anyway. Newman was right. She was also a victim. Her husband had years of controlling her, making sure she stayed in line and did nothing to ruin the status quo.
“Where would he go? Somewhere with privacy?” Sauer asked softly. The gesture was a hard one for him, when all he wanted to do was scream and demand she tell him.
With an aching slowness, she looked at him. “I honestly don’t know. We have a cabin up north, about three hours away.” She blanched. “His father passed away two years ago and left him some property not too far away. It’s an old house, in ruins. It needs a ton of work done, yet anytime I mention it, he…he doesn’t like to talk about it.”
“We’ll need both addresses,” Sauer said as he nodded at Newman, who already had his notepad at the ready.
She rattled off both, then said softly, “He’s cheating on me. With his secretary, with the neighbor down the way, with, basically, any woman he wants. I have no clue why his sister would blackmail him. But, that’s a good starting place. He wouldn’t want anyone to know he doesn’t have a sterling reputation.”
The pain finally poured from her eyes. Not stoic indifference. Not haughtiness. Just plain sad pain. She was giving up the fight. How long had she been fighting? Sauer imagined for a very long time.
“He’ll never hurt you again.”
A quick nod. “That’s what you think. He hurts me every time I close my eyes. He has a tattoo on his right forearm and on his left bicep.” Her breath hitched. “He’s been limping lately, but I don’t know why.” The door closed gently.
Sauer didn’t have time to make her feel better, but when this was all over, he’d make sure she got the help she needed. Lots of counseling.
They dashed for the car. Newman peeled out of the driveway heading for the location not far from Rockville. Sauer made a call to the department up north, asking for assistance, for someone to check out the property and have someone sit there in case he showed up. If he did take Dee there, he wouldn’t arrive for another two hours, at least.
The throbbing beat of his heart still hadn’t subsided. It never would until Dee was safe in his arms. He finally had their perp, and it didn’t matter. Because he had Dee.
The entire drive was silent. There wasn’t much to say, and Sauer was grateful Newman didn’t try to give him false platitudes. He didn’t want any of that. The only thing he wanted was Dee. In his arms. Safe. That’s all he wanted.
It’s as if time stilled. His heart hammering in one beat, then stopping, dead silence, in the next.
“He’s here.”
A twitch of his head indicated he heard Newman, then nothing. He needed his focus. They slipped out of the car, leaving the doors open a crack to avoid any unnecessary noise. Crouching low, they darted along the tree line passing Vince’s car that told them he was here. What it didn’t tell them was Dee’s fate.
She had to be alive.
Twenty feet from the house, that looked ready to fall to pieces, a loud scream perforated the air.
He didn’t think, didn’t stop to question procedure. He bolted up the stairs and busted through the front door.
Chapter 18
A crazy laugh split the air. She couldn’t help it. Just as she couldn’t help but scream when he stabbed her in the arm above the other wound that bled steadily. Earlier, he had pierced her skin with ease, twisting the knife like the bastard he was, then left. Walked out of the room with evil in his eyes.
She had stared at the ceiling the entire time he was gone, trying to control her breathing from the pain and the panic threatening to paralyze her. It took every ounce of strength she had to keep her demeanor calm and cool.
It royally pissed him off.
Which made her happy as could be.
“Do it again, asshole. I like the pain.”
His eyes raged. His lips thinned with fury.
Maybe it was dumb and stupid of her to make him even madder, but she couldn’t help it. Call her crazy. Oh, wait, people already did. She laughed, enjoying the way his nostrils flared. He looked like a bull ready to plow down a cowboy.
This asshole seriously underestimated her if he thought she’d fall prey to his madness. If anything, the more he hurt her, the more the crazy came out. She couldn’t stop laughing.
Whack!
Her cheek stung from the slap.
“Quit laughing.” His eyes blazed as black as death, his words resonating within her.
She finally remembered. She knew him. None of it made sense.
“Why are you doing this? You’re as sick as your father.”
The laughter finally appeared in his eyes. “Ah, so you remember. It’s about damn time.” His hand grazed down her chest. “I remember the exact moment when I recognized you at the mall. So beautiful. Just like when you were a teenager.” He slapped her again. “And you passed by me without acknowledging me. Nobody ignores me like that. Let’s have some real fun.”
The blade swung above his head. Preparing for the pain was difficult. She knew she wouldn’t be able to hold in her scream, even as she wanted to with a passion. Every time she screamed, he reveled in it.
The door slammed against the wall.
“Police. Drop it or I will shoot.”
She laughed. More so in happy delight that Sauer found her, not to aggravate him. Of course, she should’ve known it would piss him off. Holding it in was impossible. Hearing Sauer’s voice sent her into a tailspin of peace, thankfulness, and laughter. So much laughter, because, not once did she doubt Sauer. She knew he’d find her. How? She had no clue. But she had clung to that hope, something she never did for any man. Sauer was just different. She believed in him as he believed in her.
Vince’s hand stood poised in the air, rigid, the intent clear in his eyes. He wanted to impale her over and over. She saw it in his eyes. So black. So cold. So filled with death.
Her mother had an affair with his father when she was fifteen or sixteen. She couldn’t recall the ex
act age since her mother dated way too many men. The affair ended when Vince found out and attacked her mother, as if it were her fault. Her mother, being the type of woman she was, refused to call the police. “He didn’t mean it. He was just upset.” So dumb. Of course, it didn’t surprise her. Vince’s father had also hit her mother a few times. Like father, like son.
Fifteen years later, here Vince wanted to terrorize her, kill her. And why? Because he saw her in the mall and she didn’t say anything to him. She didn’t even know what he was talking about. She couldn’t recall seeing him anywhere. But she could see his face clear as day as the man who attacked her in her home.
“I said drop it. I won’t say it again.”
Dee focused on Sauer’s voice. Although he spoke calmly, she heard the rage behind each word.
A flash of silver sparkled in her eyes as the knife came down. A loud shot echoed, ringing in her ears. A slash of pain cut across her stomach. No scream fell from her lips. This time, hot tears left.
“Shit, Dee.” Rough, jerky movements touched her wrist as Sauer tried to untie her. “Shit, baby, are you okay?” He groaned. “Dumb question. Ignore me. You’re not okay. You’re bleeding…badly.”
Pain stretched up and down her arm as he helped lower it to her side. Then, he reached across the bed, getting the other hand. He worked fast and efficiently. Gentle tugging at her feet had her looking down to see Newman quietly working. He offered a small smile, yet said nothing.
What could he say? Sauer was occupying the space with his trembling, mumbling words. He was speaking, but it didn’t make much sense. His typical way of stringing words together. She loved it when he did that.
Yeah, she loved it. Loved him.
“I’m…kill him…damn! He’s already dead. Kill him again…that bastard…”
Every time she moved her arm, it stung, throbbing everywhere. But, while she loved his mumbling, she didn’t enjoy hearing the agony in his voice. She touched his cheek, stalling any more words. He bent his head, resting it against her forehead.
“Dee…”
“I’m okay.”
“Baby, you’re bleeding.” He jerked upright. “Shit, you’re bleeding.” He tugged off his coat, throwing it to the ground. Then ripped off his suit jacket, wrapping it around her arm as gently as possible. “He sliced your stomach, but it’s not bleeding as badly as your arm. The bed is…”
One Taste of Crazy (A One Taste Novel Book 3) Page 19
