Deadly Deception

by Kris Norris

  “It might not be anything but…”

  “But what?”

  “You remember Daniel, right?”

  Her lips quirked slightly. “Tall, sexy homicide detective you’ve secretly been dating for three months? Yeah, he comes to mind.”

  “Shit. How the hell do you know about that?”

  “I’m paid to be observant. What’s up with Daniel?”

  “He’s got the damn police scanner going and there’s been a number of reports about a suspicious van over on the south side. A couple of units have gone by, but the calls keep coming in even after nothing weird was found, so Dan called dispatch. They’re all from the same caller. It’s a pay phone, but dispatch has a location.”

  “Do I want to know where this person is calling from?”

  “It’s coming from Plymouth Street, Mal…you know, where…”

  Mallory felt the blood drain from her face as she glanced up at the guys. Sawyer furrowed his brow while Cole stopped in mid-bite, staring at her as if she’d seen a ghost.

  She nodded even though she knew Fisher couldn’t see her. “Shit.”

  “I thought you might see it that way. Again, it could be nothing but—”

  “But it’s one hell of a coincidence.” She released a rough breath. “Thanks. We owe you guys. And hey, do you think Daniel could do us a favour and let the precinct know we’re checking it out, just in case some rookie gets anxious? I don’t need another trip to the emergency room.”

  “Will do and Mallory…be careful.”

  She hung up, a tight feeling closing around her throat. She hadn’t been back to that alley since…

  “Mallory? You okay?”

  Sawyer’s voice broke through her haze and she glanced up to see him standing in front of her. Cole was already grabbing his jacket off his chair as he shoved the remains of his dinner aside.

  She swung her gaze back at Sawyer, praying she didn’t look as scared as she felt. “Fisher said there’s a bunch of calls coming in from the same pay phone about a suspicious van, even though patrols have been by. They’re coming from Plymouth Street…”

  Sawyer’s mouth pulled into a tight line as he glanced at Cole over his shoulder. “Could be our guy getting far too cocky. Davies used to call in all of his killings.” He turned back to her. “Why don’t you let Cole and I check it out? We’ll call you if we find anything.”

  He took two steps before she caught up to him, grabbing his arm as she yanked him back around. “You don’t seriously believe I’m going to fall for that, do you?” She waved off his reply. “I’m a big girl, Sawyer. And I’m not about to let some psychotic jackass scare me off by picking a location I’m intimately familiar with. So if going there bothers you, stay put. Otherwise, let’s go.”

  She heard Sawyer curse as she pushed by him, her heart thundering in her chest. Seemed his early prediction was coming true—she could run all she wanted, but they were far from done.

  Chapter Six

  Rain splattered against the windshield as they pulled over, stopping just shy of the alley. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating random patches of pavement as Mallory stared at the darkened entrance. Disjointed memories tickled the edge of her consciousness—Sawyer’s voice yelling at her, the wail of sirens in the distance, the flicker of lights overhead—nothing concrete but more than enough to persuade her not to dig any deeper.

  Sawyer shoved the Jeep into first gear and yanked on the emergency brake, glancing at her before turning to face Cole in the backseat. “If I swing this thing any closer, it could tip someone off, if there’s anyone actually in the alleyway. I thought it’d be better to check it out on foot.”

  Cole unholstered his Glock, checking the chamber. “Sounds like a plan.” He glanced at her. “Don’t suppose you’d agree to stay here and call for backup if we need it?”

  She didn’t dignify his question with a reply. Instead, she rolled her eyes and opened the door, stepping onto the sidewalk. Multiple groans sounded behind her, but she ignored them. As much as she didn’t relish the thought of revisiting this place, she wasn’t about to shy away because of some bad memories.

  Icy drops cooled her face as she stalked to the corner of the alley, waiting for Sawyer and Cole to move in behind her. Thunder clapped overhead as a blaze of light flashed across the sky, casting long shadows down the dark corridor. A cat whined in the distance, followed by a hushed scraping sound that nearly got lost in the patter of rain.

  Mallory held up her fist as the men neared, cocking her head to get a better bead on the noise. She nodded at them, holding her gun beside her face as she counted to three. As she hit the number, she slipped out, clearing the space with her weapon as the men darted to the other side, angling behind a collection of soggy boxes. A dull thud echoed down the lane, prickling goose bumps along her skin. There was something distinctly eerie about the sound, as if she’d heard it before.

  Sawyer motioned ahead and she moved, staying in step with them as they made their way down the alley, keeping to the dark recesses lining the walls on either side. Shadows rippled across the pavement, the lightning making it hard to determine what was solid and what was merely a ghosted reflection from the storm. Metal pieces of fencing and trash flickered with each sporadic flash, giving the alley a disco-tech feel. A muffled grunt stopped them as they neared a junction.

  Cole fell in behind her, grabbing her arm as she went to peek around the corner. “I’ll go first.”

  Mallory glared at him, pulling her arm free. “I thought Sawyer was already playing the part of the overprotective Neanderthal, or are you his new sidekick?”

  “Bite me, sweetheart. Now back off, or I might choose now to ask you exactly where it is Sawyer’s sleeping.”

  “I’ll bite you later. And you already know where he’s sleeping. We’ll go on three again.”

  Cole scowled but counted, jumping out with her when he reached three. The alley looked deserted, with nothing more than a couple of dumpsters and some discarded garbage lining the sides. Mallory eased forward, drawn to a dark blur near the end of the lane. Something about it seemed out of place. She kept watching, slowly making her way forward, when a flash of silver gleamed in the darkness.

  Mallory dove forward, yelling out a warning as the report of a gun shattered the night. She rolled to her side, firing off three rounds as Cole dashed in beside her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her behind one of the dumpsters. Two more bullets ricocheted off the metal, filling the alley with a resounding twang.

  Cole ducked out, firing a shot towards the end of the road, before slipping back in. “Did you get a look at the guy?”

  Mallory shook her head, glancing over at Sawyer. He’d taken cover behind the discarded hood of a car, and she wondered how long he could stay safe there. She nodded towards them, but he shook his head, wincing when another shot hit the pavement not far from his shoulder.

  “Damn it, what the hell is Sawyer doing? And no, I didn’t get a look at the guy. Shit, Cole, it’s black as ass down here.”

  “Your ass or mine? Because I’m pretty damn certain your ass is pearly white.”

  Mallory could only sigh. The man was impossible. She looked over at Sawyer, reading his intentions by the way he tensed his body. She waved at him to stop, but he shook his head, pointing at the end of the alley.

  “Goddamn. Sawyer is going to pull a fucking John Wayne.” She turned to Cole. “Be ready to cover me.”

  “Cover you? Are you crazy? We have no idea what we’re up against.”

  “Tell that to Sawyer.”

  Cole huffed, glancing at the other man. “I take back anything I ever said. You two are a perfect match. You both should be committed.” He pressed closer to her back. “I’ve got you. Just stick to the shadows and stay close to Sawyer.”

  Mallory nodded, edging to the lip of the dumpster just as Sawyer rolled out, firing his weapon as he jumped up and rushed the alley. She followed suit, laying down cover fire as she ran along the wall, sticking
to the deep patches of shadows lined along the edges. Two shots sounded from the far end, then nothing.

  Sawyer reached the spot several steps ahead of her, dropping to his knees beside a dark lump. She raced towards them, the body of the girl blurring into view as she got close. Sawyer had one hand on the girl’s neck, and the other pressed against her ribcage. Mallory didn’t need to look at the wound to know what the bastard had done.

  Conflicting emotions warred inside her, and she continued past them, running into the adjoining lane. She slowed just enough to catch a glimpse of the perp flickering in and out of sight halfway down the next alley. He turned just as a flash of light blazed overhead, casting half his face into an almost hallowed glow.

  Davies.

  Her heart told her she’d only imagined it, but her mind was already three steps ahead. She yelled back to Sawyer and Cole, ignoring their harsh shouts as she took off, sprinting after the creep as he neared another laneway.

  A new deluge of rain poured from the sky, obscuring her vision as she followed the road, lungs burning, legs working to keep up the pace. She focused on her stride, making each footfall count as she closed the distance, nothing but catching his ass intruding on her thoughts. She watched as he took a sharp bend, darting down a small path between two buildings off to her left. She hit the opening at a full speed, nearly brushing her shoulder on the brick wall. The distance narrowed to a hundred yards, and she kept running, never taking her eyes off him. She knew he was more than close enough to get a shot off, but between the rain and the shifting shadows, she’d be lucky just to clip him.

  The man glanced back at her, taking another hard left. She cursed under her breath and slowed enough to make the turn, taking three steps down the wider street before something hit her hard from the right. Mallory’s breath caught as her body twisted sideways, bouncing her off a wall and across the pavement. The force of the blow knocked her gun out of her hand, and she heard the barrel skid along the asphalt, the sound fading into a rumble of thunder. She rolled to a stop, pain pulsing through every inch of her body. Footsteps padded in front of her and she had just enough time to raise her head before a fist pummelled her jaw, knocking her back on her ass.

  The impact sparked her reflexes, shaking off some of the shock. She shifted her weight, focusing on the man advancing towards her, recovering just enough to grab his foot as he kicked at her ribcage. His voice echoed through the air as she used his momentum to shove his foot skyward, tossing him onto his back. She took the momentary lapse to push to her feet, wincing at the pain radiating from her face. Blood dripped down her chin, but she didn’t stop to wipe it away, as three more men emerged from the shadows, hoods shielding their faces, their hands covered in fingerless gloves.

  She scanned the alley, but Davies was gone. Anger flared through the pain as she faced off against the punks standing in front of her. “For the love of God—I’m a federal agent and you jackasses are impeding an arrest. Get the hell out of my way before I take you all in for assaulting an officer.”

  The man closest laughed, spreading his arms wide as he looked around the small area. “I don’t see nobody here but us, bitch. And you ain’t looking so good.”

  He shuffled closer as the other two men helped the creep she’d tossed to the ground gain his feet.

  The man smiled at her, his teeth flashing white in the afterglow of the lightning. “Now how about you play nice, and maybe we won’t kill you.” He licked his lips. “But we will make you scream.”

  Mallory held up one hand, shaking her index finger at him. “Last chance, asshole. Get out of my way before you all get hurt.”

  He laughed again and the men moved as one. She stood her ground, stopping the first guy with two jabs and a hard kick to the groin. He fell to the pavement and cupped his crotch as two of the other men grabbed her arms. She twisted and dropped, breaking their hold as she lashed out one leg, sweeping one of the men’s legs. He hit the ground hard. Another pair of hands grabbed her jacket and lifted her up, smashing her against the wall. Black dots flickered across her vision as her breath wheezed out in a harsh rasp. She growled and slammed her fists down on his elbows, head-butting him as he dropped his arms, releasing her. She shifted forward just enough to turn and finish him with a roundhouse kick to the head.

  More hands pushed her back as a voice shouted in the background, words lost to the beating sound of the rain. She hit the wall again, pain sparking through her shoulder. She blinked back the droplets, then a deafening bang bounced off the walls. The man in front of her pulled away slightly, twisting to look behind him. The other two men stopped, turning towards the rear of the alleyway.

  Sawyer stood at the head of the street, gun pointed at them, hair slicked back from the rain. “I said, FBI. Step away from my partner.”

  The man closest to Mallory glanced at her, drawing a knife from his pocket before lunging towards her. She countered his attack, dodging to the side when another shot echoed down the alley. The guy jerked forward then dropped into a crumpled heap on the ground.

  Sawyer took a step closer. “What part of FBI don’t you gentlemen understand? And the next bastard to touch the lady gets a bullet in his dick. Now get the hell down on the ground before I decide to shoot you anyway.”

  Mallory stumbled backwards, bracing her weight on the wall as Sawyer growled out more orders, snapping cuffs on the men still moving. She searched the area again, but knew Davies was long gone. She muttered a hushed curse, knowing there was nothing left to chase but her pride. A beam of light broke the darkness as her Jeep rumbled to a halt at the adjoining road and Cole jumped out, gun drawn, face twisted into a scowl. He looked from her to Sawyer and back again, shaking his head as he knelt beside the guy on the ground, checking his pulse.

  He pulled out his cell, calling for paramedics as he met her gaze. The look on his face made her turn away. She closed her eyes, wishing she was anywhere but there, when a hand curled around her arm. She opened her eyes to Sawyer’s deadly expression. He didn’t say a word, just handed over her weapon before turning around and heading to the mouth of the alley as sirens called in the distance. She let her head fall back against the building, feeling every bruise and cut. Davies’ face wavered in the darkness, mocking her. He’d won again. Only this time, she had a bad feeling he’d beaten more than just a brush with death.

  * * * *

  Mallory sat at the bar, a pack of ice in her left hand, a shot of whisky in her right. She’d already had four rounds, and had no intentions of stopping until she’d drained the rest of the bottle. The stool beside her scraped back, and she shifted her gaze just enough to see Cole slide in next to her, a bottle of beer fisted in one hand. She cursed. She’d already made it clear to both men she wasn’t in the mood for company, though they’d ignored her for the most part and had accompanied her to the bar just the same. But that didn’t mean she had to like it.

  He took a long pull, staring at the label for what felt like forever before finally acknowledging her. “How’s your jaw?”

  She stared at her own glass, trying to ignore the way her face pulsed to the beat of her heart. That first punch had split her lower lip and bruised her cheek, turning her skin a deep shade of purple. It’d started to swell before the paramedics had left the scene and not even an hour’s worth of icing it had been enough to lessen the pain.

  She shrugged, finishing the rest of her shot. “Fine.”

  Cole scoffed, banging his beer down on the table. “Fuck, Mallory! Pulling off a dumbass move is one thing. Brushing off the fact you damn near got your ass kicked, let alone raped, is another.”

  Mallory glared at him, not willing to back down. “I didn’t get my ass kicked, Cole. I was chasing down a suspect when that bastard popped out of nowhere and caught me by surprise. The creep landed a lucky punch, nothing more. And in case you didn’t notice, I sent all four of those thugs to the hospital, so don’t even start with me.”

  “Oh, that’s right. I forgot. You went all Jack
ie Chan on them, so that makes it okay.”

  Anger burned through the hurt and she turned, groaning when a sharp pain stabbed through her jaw. “There’s another body lying in the morgue bearing all the markings of John Davies.” She waved at her face. “So this is getting off easy.” She raised the ice pack to her cheek, staring back at her empty drink. “If you only sat down to lecture me, you can find somewhere else to sit. As I already told you, I’m not really in the mood.”

  Cole cursed beside her, shuffling around as if he couldn’t sit still. When she chanced a look his way, he handed her a new pack of ice, taking the old from her and giving it to the bartender. His lips had tensed into a fine line across his face as the muscle in his jaw jumped.

  “You are one stubborn SOB, you know that?” He sighed and eased back onto the stool. “So…you sure you saw what you said you saw?”

  She snorted, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I was even there at this point. But yeah, it sure as hell looked like Davies. What I saw of him. God knows how that’s even possible, but…”

  She didn’t finish, knowing Cole would draw the same conclusions she had. Either Davies was part of some elaborate, cover-up scheme, or she’d simply seen a ghost.

  Or she’d finally lost her mind, which she suspected was Cole’s first choice.

  She placed the ice against her face, enjoying the numbing coldness. She didn’t really care if it was Davies or his ghost, or her mind playing tricks on her, all she wanted was for the pounding in her head to stop. And for that, she needed another shot.

  She held up her glass, ignoring the heavy sigh Cole gave her.

  “I think you’ve had enough, Mal.”

  “It still hurts.”

  He laid his hand across her arm, cupping, not clenching. “The whisky won’t fix that. You should go home. Get some sleep. In fact, take a day off tomorrow.”