I have always been amazed at the mail she receives in the hospital. What in the world would make a man fall for a black widow? Agent Turner looks at me strangely as I laugh at my own joke.
Chapter Fifty Eight
Windy
“You’re such a liar, Melissa, I can tell you like him.”
She sets her coffee down on the table and eyes me. “Okay, I do. Harley is a cool guy and he’s damn sure a good-looking one.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“You know as well as I do, Windy, that man is a player, and I’m not fucking him just so he can toss me to the side when he gets bored.”
“He isn’t that bad, Melissa. Thorn thinks he just hasn’t met the right woman yet.”
“Well, he’s going to have his work cut out for him convincing me.”
I laugh when my friend makes a dramatic up-and-down gesture with her hands as she makes her next statement. “He’s going to have to work for all this.”
“See, that right there. Oh, yeah, I can tell he’s going to end up falling for you.”
She looks at me like she’s confused. “You know,” I say, “The whole hard-to-get thing is going to reel him in. Harley isn’t a guy who is used to hearing no. You, young lady, are just the challenge he needs.”
“I’m glad I have your approval, but I’m serious.”
“So am I--” I start to say when my phone rings. One look at the Caller ID and I know all hell is about to break loose. Dr. Fairchild’s on the warpath. “Hi, Dad.”
“Windy, what the hell is going on over there?!” my dad practically yells into the phone. “How much crazy do you need in your life? Now you have a serial killer in the mix? I’m putting a stop to this; Thorn will have something to say about this…”
“Dad, please, just stop. Everything’s under control,” I say, rolling my eyes as I cross my fingers behind my back like a child. “And Thorn is on top of things. He has the whole Undercover Elite crew stalking me, thanks to you, and he’s working with the FBI to catch Georgia.”
“You’re on a first name basis with this whack-job? Jesus, Windy, what’s next? Having a serial killer over for dinner?!”
Note to self: Get Thorn to include Mom and Dad’s house on the team’s surveillance protocol.
Dad’s just getting started, apparently, so I let him talk. “And your mother won’t leave her room. She and Cuddles are holed up in there together and I think that cat’s getting pretty fed up with the situation, too.” Cuddles is an elderly girl now, and I had to leave her behind at Mom and Dad’s because I didn’t think she’d tolerate a change of scenery at her age. I miss her, but it looks like it was the right decision after all. Dad is still on a roll, but his voice is calmer now. “Your mother’s hysterical, Windy; she’s convinced herself that you’re going to be ax-murdered in your sleep. For God’s sake, just come home.”
Melissa gets up when the doorbell rings, and Wonder looks up toward the front door and barks once, growling low. That’s weird; I’ve never heard her growl before. I scratch her behind the ears as she lies next to my chair in the kitchen. She did great in her first K9 class and I already love her so much. Even though she’s still small enough to pick up and cuddle, Thorn insisted on putting her in school.
“Dad, Thorn has my back. That’s why you hired him, right? I really couldn’t be in a safer place as long as he’s around.”
“Well,” he says, sounding somewhat calmer, “I’m pleased to hear you’re not fighting having him around.”
Oh, we’re fighting, alright. But the making up is kinda awesome.
“No, Dad, Thorn and I are getting along fine. And I promise we’ll stay in touch to let you know how all this turns out.”
“Well, tell Thorn to call me. I feel the need to set him straight on a few things.”
“Um, I’m not sure anyone can set Thorn straight, Dad. But you’re welcome to try.”
As I wait for Melissa to return, I contemplate my parents’ concerns and whether Melissa and Harley will end up together. It’s a case of ‘only time will tell’ on both counts. As much as I tease my friend about Harley, no one knows better than I do that she isn’t one to be pressured into decisions about any area of her life, much less her love life.
“Looks like your man sent you a bigger collar for that dog of yours,” she leans down petting Wonder and sets the box on the table.
“Hmm, she doesn’t need it, maybe it’s something else.” I use a steak knife to cut through the brown mailing tape. The stench hits me before I register the dead rat the bottom of the small box, and the note on top of his outstretched body.
You fucking cunt! I saw him look at you! You tell that boss of yours that he damn sure better secure me a spot in that nut ward he works in, or you’re dead, bitch!
“Well, it appears she saw our press conference.”
“You better take this seriously. And call Thorn, like, now.”
“I am, but I don’t care how crazy she is, I’m not running scared.”
I know Dr. Brinkley well enough to know he deliberately misled her to piss her off. I just don’t see him surrendering control of her that easily by letting her serve time in prison. I just hope he’s smart enough to know he put himself in danger, too, and not at the hands of that crazy woman—but at the hands of my over the top, Alpha boyfriend.
Windy
I don’t waste any time getting ready and making my way into work…with a dead rat in a box. I don’t care how crazy this bitch is; I’m pissed. I monitor my rearview mirror making certain no one is following me. Though this is the first time in my life I’ve ever worried about being stalked, I’ve become more familiar with the practice since meeting psycho bitch. I don’t know how this woman manages to pull off the things she does. It’s like she’s a ghost -- a ghost with incredibly foolish minions who do her bidding.
I take a moment to sit in the parking lot and calm myself; I’m going to need to have my wits about me for what I’m getting ready to do. I open my purse and make sure my 22 is there—if this bitch is coming after me, I’m not going down without a fight. When I was hired, I was determined to be a professional—now I’m a fighter; a goddamn survivor. Georgia made a mistake sending me that rat; I don’t like bullies. Maybe it’s time someone stood up to this woman.
I grab the small box and make my way in the front door, barely taking time to speak to Karen, who’s seated at the nurse’s station doing her usual job of handling three things at a time.
I make my way into the office and shut the door. I stride over to my boss’ desk where he’s taking a phone call. I toss the box on the desk in front of him. Seeing the humor on his face only fuels the anger coursing through my body.
His eyes narrow on me and he says abruptly, “I’ve got to go; I’ll get back with you later.”
I give him no time to say anything before I open the box and start in on him. “I don’t know what kind of sick connection you and this crazy bitch have, but you fucked up when you put me in the middle of it. I don’t need this job and you’ve pushed me to the point that I could care less about this job; Thorn’s already assured me I have a bright future ahead of me with Undercover Elite.”
The look of humor on his face is absolutely infuriating.
“Miss Fairchild…” he says patiently, as if he’s talking to a child.
“Don’t ‘Miss Fairchild’ me. You’re putting people’s lives in danger by pissing her off. You never should have told the press she needed to be in prison.”
He picks up the note, taking his time to read it even though it’s only a few sentences long.
“What do you suggest I do?”
I lean over the desk and look him dead in the eye. “I don’t care what you do. I have a concealed weapon in my purse, and if that bitch backs me into a corner, I’m going to shoot her right between the eyes. I feel like shooting both of you, but for now she’ll do.”
I turn and make my way out the door but not before I look over my shoulder and say one more
thing, “Oh, you can keep the rat. Maybe you two can bar-b-que it for dinner.”
The only thing I hear as I make my way down the hall is his laughter ringing out.
Thorn
“Damn it!” My fist crashes down on the table and Melissa jumps. I apologize but I’m fed the fuck up and am ready to rain hellfire down on somebody to get this case closed.
“Where did she go? She isn’t answering her goddamn phone.”
“As pissed off as she was, I’m assuming she went to confront the doc.”
“I’m right here.” I hear Windy’s voice behind me as she walks into the room and slams her purse down on the table. She turns to me looking more fired up than I’ve ever seen her look before. And she’s directing the look at me like she’s spoiling for a fight. I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to see anyone. I don’t know what she was expecting from me, but I rush over grabbing her by the shoulders, studying every inch of her, making sure she’s in one piece. “Let me tell you how this is gonna go, woman of mine. You’re getting fucked up packages left at the door? With dead animals? And you’re disappearing, not letting anyone know where you are? No more, baby. You’re not going back to work until this bitch is behind bars.” My arms wrap around her holding onto her so tightly that she speaks barely above a whisper.
“I can’t breathe, Thorn.”
“Neither could I,” I say before I cradle her face in my hands and kiss her for about a million years. “Not until you walked in that door just now. You can ask Melissa.”
Windy glances at her friend, who backs me up and then some as she deadpans, “Yep. There was no breathing. There was cussing, but no breathing.”
I roll my eyes but am too relieved to set her straight. “I’m sorry, baby. You’ve got to listen to me; I don’t want you around him. He’s enabling a crazed psycho to pile up the bodies. Now he’s pulled you into the middle of it. After what he pulled at the press conference, I’m done. I’m not kidding, Windy, the guy is as sick as she is, just in a different way.”
Harley strolls into the room, making a beeline for Melissa. “Hey,” he says to her in the softest voice I’ve ever heard him use. Well, well. Melissa seems to like his attention, too. For two people not saying a word, there’s a lot of communicating going on. I hate to break up their moment, but I’ve got to put some things in motion and, with his tech savvy, he’s the best man for the job.
“Hey, Harley, I’ve got a job for you – I want a tracker on Windy’s cell and I want her laptop and home computer cleaned. Let me know if you find anything of interest.”
“You got it,” he says, locking eyes with me but asking no questions. We stopped questioning requests from a brother years ago. My boys have my back, and I have theirs.
“Thanks, man,” I say as I take Windy’s hand and start to lead her from the room. I need to make my position on a few things clear in private. My phone ringing pulls me from the moment.
Agent Turner’s voice comes over the line, “You need to get down here to the river.”
“What’s going on?”
“We’ve got the body of the guard who helped her break out and you’re not going to believe where it washed up.”
“Where?”
“The gang’s warehouse. The son of a bitch washed up right by the fucking barge.”
“She knew that gangbanger confronted Windy in the elevator…” It’s more of a statement than a question. “Hell, the guard was probably the one that told her. Okay, we’re on our way.” I grab Windy, pulling her behind me and out the door without an explanation.
She turns around long enough to say two things: “Harley, you stay here with Melissa. And don’t let my dog out of your sight.”
Chapter Fifty Nine
Windy
“Slow down, Thorn, the guy is already dead. It’ll give us time to discuss why you think Georgia killed that kid who was in on that car theft ring case.”
“Well, it’s either her or the gang.”
“I say it’s 50/50 she killed that kid. And even if she didn’t… she left that guard to send a message to the gang.”
“Look,” Thorn says curtly, “I don’t know what the hell is going on between the doctor and this crazy bitch, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re fucking; nothing at this point would shock me. I don’t believe in coincidences, Windy, and this guy washing ashore in damn near the exact spot that kid was found is proof she at least has inside information. Think about it, baby: the only people who knew about that kid’s body being found there are the federal agents, the doc, and us.”
“I think she did it. She didn’t like that gangbanger putting the doctor in danger.”
“Putting him in danger? You were the one who was accosted in an elevator; you were the one in danger. Doc Brinkley was the one who rescued you – looks like I wasn’t the only one who got worked up over Brinkley’s heroism. Bet that really pissed Georgia off. Maybe she’s sending you a message with this one. Whatever…at this point I don’t trust anyone but you. This is one twisted bitch we’re dealing with.”
I roll my eyes as I speak more to myself than Thorn, “You have no idea.” Once again we pull up to the mayhem of agents, cops, the ME and crime tape. Agent Turner waves us over.
“Well, it looks like our girl has struck again.” He directs his attention toward me, “I’m not sure you’re going to want to see this, it’s pretty bad.”
“I’ll be fine,” I answer with much more confidence than I’m feeling at the moment.
“Suit yourself. One of the cops has already lost his lunch over it.”
Officer Centerfold approaches Thorn and places her hand on his arm to get his attention. “Thorn, Agent Turner’s right; it’s nothing a civilian should see alone.”
“I’m not a civilian and you should give some serious thought to moving your hand,” I say, which earns me a small smile from Thorn before he shrugs her off with an offhand, “No worries, Officer. We’ve got this.”
Thorn and I follow behind Agent Turner as I mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to see. I’ll likely see these people again during my career, so I don’t want to embarrass myself by losing my composure or anything else. The officer he spoke of is over to the side near some bushes, his hands are on his knees like he’s attempting to recover from throwing up but is considering doing it again. Poor guy.
The crime scene is every bit as horrific as we had been told, and I appreciate Thorn’s quiet support as the agent walks us through the evidence that has been collected. I also appreciate Thorn keeping a discreet distance, making a point of sending a clear signal to onlookers that I have a right to be there. I love him for that – and about a million other things.
The body shows all the signs of her MO. The corpse is so white that it’s taken on a blue hue and time in the water has bloated the corpse until he looks fifty pounds heavier than the last time I saw him alive. But there’s no doubt it’s the guard from the hospital. The man’s skin is laid open and shows beneath the shredded clothes he’s wearing and I resist the gag reflex I feel at seeing the body up this close. I push the acid back down forcing myself to take in what’s going on around me.
Though he’s wearing clothing, the cuts can be seen through it and the telltale femoral artery cut is evident by the slicing on the inner thigh of his pants. His clothes still bear the washed out traces of blood stains and do nothing to hide her vicious savaging of his body. Killers will often dump bodies in water to distort evidence, and that has certainly happened here. But I doubt that’s why she placed this body here; Georgia is making a point. She quit caring a long time ago about her identity being associated with the killings—now she revels in the public knowing she’s responsible. I’d go so far as to say she’d be offended if someone else took credit for one of her killings.
I swallow back the bile in my throat and try to sound professional; I won’t let that bitch take that from me. “She did exactly what she said she’d do. She used him until he had served his purpose – making spec
ial deliveries for her and God knows what else -- and then killed him before he could turn on her.” I shake my head in disbelief that this guy, who had to pass rigorous testing to be hired as a security guard in the first place, was naïve enough to believe he’d be the one she’d let live. What a fool.
Chapter Sixty
Thorn
I pull her body in close to mine, our limbs a tangle and my hands smoothing her hair in an effort to comfort her. A majority of the day had been spent at the crime scene and, I’ve gotta say, she handled it like a goddamn pro.
“You did good, girl. That wasn’t easy for anybody down there. If it’s any consolation, it will get easier.” I raise my body up on one elbow so I can look down on her as I speak. “Windy, you don’t have to do this. I have complete confidence in your strength and your professionalism, but, baby…I also know you have a big heart.” I sigh heavily as I search for words that will convey my worry without insulting her, “I love your big heart; I don’t want anything to happen to it. This kind of thing, what you saw today, would be a lot for anyone, but for someone coming from your sheltered life, it may be too much.”
She cuts her eyes at me and I hope I haven’t crossed some unspoken line. And as she starts to speak, I know I have.
“I want to do this. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do, you know that! If you want to look out for me, that’s fine, Thorn, I even welcome it -- but I’ll never allow any man to put me in a bubble again. Not even you.” She folds her arms across her chest and looks up at me, all flustered and fuming.
Fuck but she’s hot when she’s on her soapbox. Down, boy; I’m trying to have a serious conversation here and I’m pretty sure my cock ain’t invited...
“Calm down, I’m not your daddy. I am, however, your man and, whether you like it or not, I’m going to protect you. If this is what you want to do with your life, I have no qualms. I want you to want to work cases, remember, I want you working with me. I know what that entails, and I still want it. But dealing with the kind of things you’ve been dealing with lately affects a person over time. I just don’t want it to affect you. I like you the way you are,” I whisper, running a hand down her flat stomach, “all soft and --”
Undercover Elite (Undercover Elite Book 2) Page 19
