Profile of Terror: Book Two of Profile Series

by Alexa Grace

  "I was with Kaitlyn."

  "The victim's sister?"

  "Yes, I caught her at a bar doing some amateur investigative work. She'd had one drink too many, and I brought her back here. We talked until around two this morning, and then I drove her home."

  Brody seemed satisfied with his answer. "I'm sorry, Gabe."

  "Which part are you sorry about? The mini-inquisition or the fact Abby is dead?"

  "I had to ask about your alibi, and of course I'm sorry Abby is dead."

  "Then reinstate me." The determination in his bottomless brown eyes was unmistakable.

  "You haven't been officially cleared yet," Brody pointed out.

  "But I will be."

  <><><>

  Carly heard the familiar hum of Brody's SUV as he parked outside the house. She'd tried for hours to concentrate on the work she should be doing in her office, but had not been too successful. Listening to his footfalls on the stairs, she swiveled her chair away from her computer and toward the door.

  Brody appeared in the doorway, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt sleeves, and shot a fierce look in her direction.

  "You didn't trust me to tell my own brother about Abby? What the hell, Carly? Do you think my abilities to be a good brother are that bad?"

  "Oh, Brody, I'm so sorry. I promised Gabe I'd call when there was an identification of the body."

  "But you didn't trust me to make that call?" He leaned on the door frame, as if he had all the time in the world to hear her response.

  "Sometimes you're too hard on Gabe. You act like nothing he does meets your approval."

  "You obviously have problems with the way I treat Gabe, yet you haven't said a word. What's that all about?"

  "I don't know."

  "Bull. It's trust, Carly. You still don't completely trust me."

  She folded her arms across her chest. "That's not it."

  "Yes, it is. You can trust me, Carly. I would never hurt you like your ex. I know he's part of this. That you'd compare me to him pisses me off. Don't you know that every time I think about what he did to you, I want to rip Sam Isley's head off?"

  "Brody, put yourself in my place. I thought I loved him and that we'd someday get married. Finding him on his office desk having sex with an agent I was training is a visual I have a hard time getting rid of."

  "I understand, baby. But cheating on you is something I'd never do. I'm in this for the long haul. I want to marry you, Carly." She got to her feet and moved to the doorway, where he pulled her close. Fingers entwined in her soft hair, his other hand caressed the line of her back, down to the first hint of her round behind. Pressed against his rock-hard body, Carly felt every nerve come to life as he nibbled on her ear and planted light kisses down her neck.

  "Brody, I'm crazy about you. I'm just not ready to get married. You promised you'd be patient."

  "It's hard to be patient when I know how right we are for each other. I want to make it official. I want to celebrate with our friends and family. I want babies someday, and I see how you interact with your brother's kids, Shawn and Mylee. I know you want kids, too. So what's the hold up?

  Moving back to her desk, Carly sat down and said, "Your parents didn't divorce, Brody. You have no idea what it's like for kids. You don't know what Blake and I went through. I can't do that to a child we might have. I just can't."

  "You wouldn't have to, because we're not getting divorced."

  "You can't predict that."

  "And you can't predict that we will."

  "Please, Brody, give me a little more time."

  Carly rose from her chair and walked slowly toward him until they were inches apart, her eyes never leaving his. Brody remained motionless as she began unbuttoning his shirt. In a low, sexy voice, she said, "Do you remember what you promised we'd do to break in my new desk?

  Nodding, he replied, "Okay, now you've found a soft spot."

  "What's that?" Carly asked seductively.

  Brody backed her toward her desk, and then with one swipe swept away the papers on it. Once she was perched on the desk, he parted her legs and pulled her toward him until she was aligned with the impressive, hard ridge beneath his zipper.

  "Make-up sex."

  <><><>

  It was entirely too early in the morning for Gabe to be knocking on Kaitlyn's door. He'd had a sleepless night, grew tired of tossing and turning, and finally rolled out of bed, making his way to the kitchen. After scrambling some eggs and making coffee, he watched the morning news. The media already had the Abby Reece murder story, and it was only a matter of time before Kaitlyn saw the story. Gabe showered, dressed, and raced out to his car, violating speed limits until he got to her house. He'd gotten Cameron to agree that he could tell Kaitlyn, but now that the moment was close at hand, and he was standing on her porch, dread washed over him.

  Wearing only a pink satin nightshirt, Kaitlyn met him at the door, gave him a once over, and said, "You have bad news about Abby, don't you?"

  "She's gone, Kaitlyn."

  Her blue eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean? She's gone because she ran away, or she's gone forever because she's dead?"

  "I'm sorry, but she's dead," Gabe said softly. "Her body was found yesterday."

  The breath whooshed out of her as if she'd been sucker-punched. Her sister was dead, and she'd never get the chance to tell her she was sorry. The time would never come for Kaitlyn to make amends, or to tell her sister that she loved her.

  She flew into Gabe's arms, making him stumble back a couple of steps before he regained his balance. He backed her inside and closed the door behind them. Gabe held her close as the hard, wrenching sobs she couldn't hold back filled the room. She clung to him, inhaling his woodsy, very male scent, while soaking the shoulder of his shirt with her tears.

  Gabe picked her up, taking her to an easy chair in her living room, where he cradled her in his arms, kissing the salty tears from her cheek. Kaitlyn felt the pain in her chest ease as she soaked up the warmth of his body, the gentleness of his kisses, and the strength of his arms that held her. It was as if the world melted away, and she wished she could stay like this forever. Her hand on his powerful chest, she could feel his heart beat through her fingers. Impulsively, she hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him. A hot blush crept over her body as she tightened her grip on him and deepened the kiss.

  More than anything, Kaitlyn needed someone to hold her, kiss away her sorrow, and make her forget for a while. She needed Gabe. She needed and wanted the man who haunted her dreams, the man who aroused her like no other man ever had.

  A low moan slipped past her lips, a husky helpless sound of want.

  "I want you, Gabe," she whispered.

  "Honey, I'm not sure this is the time —" He didn't want to cross any lines she'd later regret.

  "Yes, it's the right time," she interrupted, placing two fingers on his lips. "Make love to me. Please, Gabe. I need you."

  Suddenly she was up in the air as he swept her, weightless, into his arms. In her bedroom, she pulled at his shirt until he lifted it over his head and tossed it on the floor.

  Kaitlyn tugged her nightshirt over her head, and then wrapped her arms around his waist to press against him, feeling the heat of his hard abs against her breasts, hearing the hammering of his heart. Every hormone in her body sizzled. She fumbled with the metal button of his jeans, until he gently pushed her hand away. Pulling his wallet from his pocket, he placed it on her bed stand. Jeans and boxers fell to his ankles with a whoosh. God, he was sexy, from his broad shoulders, down to his muscled legs, and everything in between.

  Tenderly, he eased her down onto the bed, stretched out alongside her, and kissed her as if he'd been waiting for a long, long time to do just that. Her senses reeled, and she wished the kiss would never end.

  Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes. "I want something more from you, Kaitlyn. If you want a quickie or a one-time thing, I'm not the right guy."

&nb
sp; "I want more, too," she whispered.

  His lips recaptured hers, more demanding this time. His tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, sending delicious shivers of desire racing through her. Kissing the sensitive spot behind her ear, he then trailed kisses down her neck, and in the hollow of her throat. God, she wanted him. He tasted and felt better than she'd imagined. Like a thousand times better.

  Burying his face in her breasts, he drew one nipple at a time into his mouth, with tantalizing possessiveness. Her body throbbed in areas she'd never known a body could throb, while her nerves danced as he leaned toward her. In one fluid motion, he covered her body with his own, bracing his weight on his arms. Feeling his erection pressing between her legs, she rocked beneath him, slowly and erotically. Absorbing the heat of him, she wanted all he could give. She wanted him deep inside her, and now, before she burst into flames.

  "Now, Gabe, please," she moaned impatiently, as her body arched, her thighs opening almost of their own volition.

  Leaning on one arm, he retrieved a foil packet from his wallet, opened it with his teeth, and quickly covered himself. Kaitlyn arched her hips again as he drove inside her, making her gasp at the force of it. He was thick, hard as steel, and she relished every inch. Thrill after erotic thrill shot through her as he possessed her body, until she was hurtled beyond the point of return.

  She clung to him desperately as he thrust in and out, rocking her hips, until the hot tide of passion raged through them both. She whispered his name again and again, quivering inside, unable to wait another second as each thrust brought them closer and closer to the fiery flames that engulfed them, leaving them shattered with his last, powerful thrust.

  Rolling over, he took her with him, holding her close against him. Settling her head on his shoulder, she listened to the steady beat of his heart and each breath he took. Before long, sleep overcame her and she contentedly closed her eyes.

  <><><>

  Carly watched as Brody ate his breakfast. She'd put off telling him as long as she could. It was now or never.

  "Brody, I'm going to interview Jim Ryder next week."

  Choking on his coffee, he knocked over his mug, the hot liquid spilling on the table before him.

  "Carly, would you please repeat that? Because I thought I heard you say you were going to interview Jim Ryder," asked Brody incredulously, his voice low and angry. "That couldn't have been what you said."

  Handing him a dish towel, Carly said firmly, "You heard correctly. I'm seeing him next week."

  Dabbing the spilled coffee with the towel, he asked, "Why on earth would you want to visit that sadistic son of a bitch?"

  Carly retrieved the coffee pot and refilled his mug. "I received a call from Dr. Richard Anderson this week."

  "Who's he?"

  "Dr. Anderson is a renowned BAU profiler and researcher. I completed many of his courses while with the FBI," Carly explained. "He said the agents assigned to get information from Ryder about additional victims and dump sites were getting nowhere. Ryder won't talk to them."

  "Why you? Why can't the famous profiler and researcher interview Ryder himself?"

  "He thinks Ryder may be more apt to talk to me." Carly focused on her plate, toying with her food, moving it back and forth, but not eating it.

  "There's something else. What aren't you telling me?" Brody asked, leaning across the table.

  "Ryder asked for me. He'll talk if I am the one who interviews him."

  "As the guy who loves you and doesn't know what he'd do without you in his life, I can't tell you how much I oppose this idea," Brody began. "You were at the trial and heard his rants. Sweet Jesus, Carly, the man shot you. Ryder hates you because he blames you for his getting caught."

  <><><>

  Gabe pulled the sheet over Kaitlyn's body to ward off the morning chill. He loved how her body felt pressed against him, her arm across his waist, and one long leg thrown across his thighs. Reveling in the feel of her, he listened to her quiet breathing, knowing she'd fallen asleep. He'd never felt so content, so connected. It scared him to put his heart out there, but he decided she was worth the risk. There was no escaping the fact he was falling hard for Kaitlyn Reece.

  Kissing her on the top of her head, he managed to slip out from underneath her without waking her. Finding his boxers on the floor, he slipped them on and went to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

  Before long, Kaitlyn appeared in the kitchen, wearing a silky robe. Gabe pulled her into his arms, kissing her hair and neck. "Next time, we go slowly. I want to explore every delicious inch of you."

  Her arms wrapped her arms around his waist. "Looking forward to it."

  "Would you like me to make you breakfast? I checked your fridge and you have eggs, bread, and maple syrup. Would you like some French toast?"

  "Did you hear my stomach growling? I'm famished, but I need to know more about what happened to my sister."

  Gabe nodded and opened the refrigerator door to pull out eggs, milk, and bread, along with the maple syrup.

  Finding her remote, Kaitlyn flicked on the small flat screen television anchored on her kitchen wall, and the morning news appeared. A local news anchor stood in an alley next to what looked like a local bar. "This is the site where the body of Purdue University co-ed Abby Reece was found yesterday—"

  Gabe grabbed the remote from her hand, quickly turning off the TV and the newscast.

  "Oh, God, no," Kaitlyn moaned, her voice trembling, tears flooding down her face. "Her body was found in an alley? How did Abby die? Tell me everything. I mean it. Don't leave anything out."

  Leading her to the living room, Gabe sat on the couch and pulled her down next to him. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."

  "How did she die?"

  "Abby was murdered." It pained him to see the misery etched in her face.

  "Who would want to kill my sister? I mean, she had her faults. But no one deserves to be killed and dumped in an alley like garbage. Who found her body?"

  Gabe paused for just a moment, and then said, "I did, Kaitlyn. I found her body."

  "You found her body yesterday and didn't tell me?" A mixture of anger and fear filled her blue eyes.

  Gabe reached for her hand, but she pulled it away. "I couldn't tell you until she was officially identified by our coroner. I wasn't absolutely sure it was Abby. I didn't want you to suffer needless pain if the body wasn't hers."

  "How did you happen to find her?"

  "I got an email from her killers."

  "What the hell is going on?" Kaitlyn jumped to her feet, and began rattling off questions. "Did you say 'killers,' as in more than one? How do you know more than one person killed Abby? Why would they send you an email about killing my sister? How did they know that you even knew her?"

  "Starting with your first question, I know more than one person killed her because they signed the email as "Gamers," plural, indicating there is more than one of them. We think there are two of them, and they're playing a sick game with law enforcement."

  "Why would they send you an email about killing my sister? How did they know that you even knew her?"

  "I think they were stalking Abby. Maybe they saw me with her at some point," Gabe began. "The email was more about their contempt for my brother and his detectives, than it was about Abby."

  "Why does that not make me feel better? All I know is that the bastards killed my sister and I'll never get the chance to tell her I love her." A single tear slid down her cheek.

  Gabe pulled her into his arms, holding her close and stroking her hair. "I'm so sorry this happened, Kaitlyn."

  Kaitlyn pushed him away. "Oh my God. My mom! My mom can't hear this on TV. I have to go to her house. She needs me."

  "My brother, Cameron, is the detective assigned to the case. He should have told your mom about Abby's death by now."

  "I don't want her alone at a time like this. We'll have to plan a funeral." Kaitlyn led Gabe to the door, and then added in a low voice, "This c
onversation isn't over."

  Gabe's cell vibrated and he pulled it from his pocket to read a text from Cameron. "I have to get dressed for an interview. I need to leave for the sheriff's office. I'll call you later."

  "Interview?" Kaitlyn asked, as she followed him back to the bedroom and watched him get dressed.

  "An Indiana State Police Detective is going to interview me about Abby's murder." As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could yank them right back. If Kaitlyn wasn't suspicious of him before, she would be now.

  "Why does a detective want to talk to you about it?"

  Gabe paused for a second, and then said, "I'm on a list of suspects."