Linked

by Barbara Huffert

  “It’s obvious that you’re a survivor, Tori, but even survivors need someone to lean on occasionally. I’m pretty certain that you prefer to be self-reliant and that’s great if it works for you. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you have to do this on your own. When it gets to be too much and it will at some point, speak with someone who understands. Guy wasn’t just talking when he offered his assistance. I’m available too though not in the same capacity as he is. Now that you’ve met Ned, you can talk to him if you need someone who’s not as close as Guy. If you’d rather be anonymous, I can recommend several good people with the Bureau. I’m probably overdoing it but it’s too important not to.”

  Todd took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “Now that I’ve made you uncomfortable, I’m going to make it up to you by taking over lunch. Come sit down and tell me where everything is. We’ll let Guy go take a look at everything with Ned since I made him stay out of there all morning.”

  * * * * *

  There was an unspoken agreement during lunch to keep the conversation light for Tori’s sake. The men refused to let her lift a finger. While they ate, all three entertained her with stories of occasions at Todd and Terese’s house. Since Ned had been to several, he had plenty to add.

  Their ploy to distract Tori was a success until Ned began to clear the table. His ready smile was replaced with a frown and he lost all track of the conversation. When he stood, staring blankly out of the window, dishes still in hand, Todd tilted his head in Ned’s direction and covered Tori’s hand.

  “Sorry, kids, but I’m afraid playtime is over. Ned’s got that look about him that generally means his mind has latched on to something and won’t let go until he asks about whatever it is.” Guy captured Tori’s other hand and nodded. “Ned. Yo, Ned. Put down the dishes before you drop them and spit it out.”

  Ned blinked several times to focus. “Oh.” He leaned against the sink. “No. It can wait. It’s nothing really.”

  “Ned,” Tori sounded calm but both agents noticed the death grip she had on Guy’s hand. “You’ve had a question all morning. What is it?”

  When Todd gestured to indicate he should ask, Ned became eager. “Okay, here’s the thing. I don’t get the tree. All the rest follow the same basic pattern from start to finish. Your dreams coincide until their plan is executed and then the series ends. The tree just doesn’t fit. From what you wrote that particular dream pops up at random and stays the same without progressing. Other than the fact that it looks like it belongs in the opening scene of a super-freaky thriller, what does it have to do with anything?” Ned retrieved the drawings from the dining room and spread them on the table. “Why is this all you ever see? Where are the men? What is the point of approaching the tree when you never find anything once you reach it?”

  For the longest moment, they all sat contemplating the images in front of them. Each showed a huge tree in the middle of nowhere. The branches were twisted and interlocked, as if it was ancient and had withstood the ravages of the seasons for many, many years. It was bare as was the ground surrounding it, giving the impression that the whole area was dead. The bark was dark, almost like it was wet but the ground was dry. In the dream, Tori always saw the tree from a distance. She could hear the sounds of labored breathing and footsteps as she went toward the tree. Nothing else ever moved. There was no wind swaying the branches and no birds startled into flight by her presence. There were no small creatures rustling in the field. The closer she got to the tree, the harder her heart pounded. She wanted to turn around and run away without looking back but was unable. Her feet kept trudging on, taking her to something that remained a mystery.

  Todd frowned at the questions Ned raised. “Maybe there isn’t a point. Maybe the scene is just something you saw once that your mind held on to. Ned’s right. It is eerie. Maybe it keeps popping up simply because its evil image fits.”

  Tori shook her head without seeming to realize it but didn’t comment.

  “Tori?” Guy broke into her thoughts.

  “No.”

  “No, what?”

  “It’s not random. There’s someone there. It’s just,” she hesitated, unsure if she should share her opinion.

  “It’s all right, Tori,” Todd lowered his tone. “You can speak freely with us. Ned and I are here to help resolve this but we need any information you can give us. If you have a theory about this, please tell us. Even if you think it’s highly unlikely and farfetched, you never know. Something you say may be the clue that makes all the other pieces fall into place.”

  She saw that Ned’s expression echoed Todd’s words and turned her attention to Guy. She could read the unspoken encouragement in his eyes along with the concern and caring that she had come to expect in the short time he’d been around.

  “It’s different from the rest,” Tori began tentatively. “But there is someone buried there. I know it.”

  “So why do you think this one is different?” Todd asked.

  “Because, well, because it wasn’t planned. I think they had an opportunity that was too tempting to resist. Instead of carefully choosing their victim and planning out a specific scenario, they just killed somebody. They buried him under the tree and the body hasn’t been found yet. I think when it is the dream will change and I’ll see more. I also think whoever they killed was someone who nobody missed. You know, someone like me when I got on that bus without any real idea of where I was going.”

  “Tori,” Guy gasped.

  “Come on, Guy. You know I’m right. I didn’t talk to anyone on the bus so no one questioned when I didn’t get back on after one of the stops. There wasn’t anyone waiting for a call to say I got here. No one even knew I got on a bus. I don’t know why but I think the person under the tree was more like me and not a typical homeless person. Somehow they knew he was alone and killed him just because they could get away with it.”

  There was an extended lull as they all considered Tori’s thoughts. Eventually, Todd said, “You may very well be right.”

  “Too bad we’ll probably never know,” Ned added. “Even when we catch these guys it’s not likely that they’ll tell us anything.”

  “Next time they say they can feel me with them I’ll ask,” Tori declared. “Hey, you never know. If they can tell that I’m watching, maybe they’ll be able to hear me now too.”

  “I know you want to help but I don’t recommend that you attempt to communicate with them. If they find a way into your mind, they will know you’re working with us to try to catch them. They’re already too dangerous, carefully planning things and carrying them out to impress you. If they discover you betrayed them, it could trigger a reaction that might be even worse,” Todd explained truthfully although he knew it would scare her.

  “Oh no.” Tori’s lips quivered. “What if they find out anyway? I mean…”

  “Don’t do this to yourself,” Todd commanded. “I don’t want you to do anything differently from what you have. I know it’s eating at you, knowing they’re real but don’t dwell on it any more than you did before. Don’t second-guess them or you, even if that means you have to babble nonstop about what’s happening on your favorite show, every memory you have from your childhood, the plot of every book you ever read and your opinion of each of them until you exhaust yourself and pass out. You have to keep talking to keep your mind off what we’re doing here even if Guy conks out first and you stay awake for three days straight. We’ll take turns sitting with you if we need to, Tori. Seriously, we’ll do whatever it takes to keep your mind occupied.” Todd gave Guy a look that told him not to say whatever it was that he was about to.

  “Oh, okay. Thanks,” Tori mumbled. The thought that they’d all disrupt their lives for her was too much at the moment. “Should we do some more?”

  Ned answered slowly, as if he expected one of the others to object. “If you’re up for it. Or we could call it a day and pick it up in the morning.”

  “I’d rather keep going and get this ov
er with. I don’t want to spread this out or I’ll have too much time to think about each of them. Maybe, if we do another bunch, they’ll all blend together and I won’t remember them individually.”

  “You’re the boss.” Ned collected the images of the tree. “Just give me a few minutes to get set up again and we’ll get to it.”

  Todd followed Ned with a hasty excuse. Once in the dining room, both men kept their backs turned toward the kitchen. Without speaking, Guy gestured for Tori to move into the living room.

  “Don’t overdo it, tiger,” he urged as he cupped her cheek. “I get why you want to get this over with but don’t burn yourself out. You’re already not getting enough sleep.”

  “I’m fine. Really. I know you don’t think so but I’m sleeping more now than I usually do when I’m having nightmares. If you didn’t talk to me after I wake up, I’d be up the rest of the night.”

  “Okay, if you say so.”

  “I do. Now stop worrying so much and let me get in there before Ned starts getting ideas about why Todd keeps leaving us alone.”

  “Ned already figured it out, Tori. You were holding my hand like you needed me. I’m sure he noticed. But I’m equally sure he won’t mention it. Todd knew my involvement was more than professional when I first called him. He must trust Ned or he wouldn’t have brought him here.”

  “But—”

  “Shush. You may have doubts but I don’t. Under any other circumstances I’d never even consider hiding my interest in you. You bring out a possessive streak I didn’t know I had and, as an Alpha male, I have a very strong need to stake my claim around other men. But as a sensible, civilized male, I do know there’s a time and place for everything.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I have no idea.” Guy shrugged. “Guess I got a little sidetracked.”

  “Yeah, maybe just a little.”

  “All right, I got a lot sidetracked. Ignore me.” Guy pulled her into his arms. “Maybe I’m the one who was holding on like I needed to. Maybe I should say thank you for not yanking your hand away.”

  “No. I was holding on too.” She sighed against his chest. “I’d better get started.”

  “Yes.” He released her after kissing her forehead. “You’re a very brave woman, Tori Banks.”

  “Hardly, but thanks for saying it.” She forced a smile and left him standing there.

  Chapter Nine

  “Did you hear that?” Russ asked gleefully. “That’ll be perfect. We’ll have plenty of time to play before we have to move on. Couldn’t have arranged it better myself.”

  “Guess it won’t make no difference what that teacher says about Kimmie. Won’t her momma be in for a surprise when she comes for her? Man, thinking about this makes me so fucking hard. I could jerk off right here.”

  “Not now, Stan. We’re too close to our angel to mess around like that. Pay attention. We’ll just stop by Wednesday in time for some lunch. Act all friendly like so he lets us in. We’ll tell him the car broke down and we were ready to give up on finding someone at home. I’ll even pretend to make a call and say how we have to wait a couple of hours, that they’re already out on another pick-up or something. We’ll get the girl talking about school and what she likes to do. Maybe you could say how you were on the baseball team in high school to get her started.”

  “I can say I was batting champ two years in a row.”

  “No. I don’t want to overplay it. Since it’s supposed to be pretty warm, we’ll try to let her ask to play first. Let’s wait until we’re started and you can ask the old man where the john is. Make sure you ask him to show you so he doesn’t think you want to be inside alone. Once you’re away from the door so she won’t hear you, you can go ahead and do him.”

  “How, Russ? How do you want me to do it?”

  “However you want as long as it’s quiet and clean. You don’t want to come back out with his guts splattered all over you. No, you come back out with those stupid cats. We’ll wait for her to pick one up before we stick a rag in her mouth and tie her to the porch. Then you and I will have some batting practice of our own. We’ll show her how it’s done.”

  “We gonna use the rats for balls like you said? ‘Bout all they’s good for anyways.”

  “You got it. We’ll play around a little, have some fun with the fur balls and then we’ll get her in place and use her head. We can prop her up with that boot scraper he has next to the door.”

  “I can’t wait. I wish we could do it now.”

  “I know, Stan. Me too. But we have to wait two more days so we have time to enjoy it. I don’t want to rush because I know Miss Vicky will be watching. We have to make it good so she’s happy when we go to her.”

  “When’s that? My nuts are gonna pop if I gotta hold off much longer.”

  “Relax. Soon as we’re done here we’ll go to her. Don’t worry. She’ll be so glad to see us that she’ll take care of us right off. Then we’ll take care of her. Oh yeah, we’ll take real good care of her. We’ll take turns licking her sweet angel pussy and working her pretty titties. We’ll get her screaming and begging for more. She’ll be creaming all over our faces but we’ll make her wait for what she really wants. By the time we slip her on our dicks she’ll already know that fucking us is better than going to heaven.”

  “I wanna be the one to fuck her up the ass. Can I, Russ? I know you wanna kiss her so you can stuff her cunt the same time as you’re swallowing her face. You said she’ll want to fuck us both together so that means I get to do her ass. We can play with her titties together. She’ll like that, won’t she, Russ?”

  “You know it. We’ll do her real slow, so she gets a good feel for us rubbing inside her. She’ll be begging for more before we’re even done. Now let’s go. We gotta shut up about this before you start pulling on your dick. You gotta save it for our angel, Stan. You don’t want to run out too fast and disappoint her.”

  * * * * *

  Tori fought her way out of the bed before she was awake enough to stop screaming. With the same motion, she flung herself at Guy who was leaning against the windowsill as he had been every night after the first.

  “No, no, no,” she chanted. “Oh God, no.”

  “It’s okay now, Tori,” Guy stated softly as he tried to comfort her.

  “No,” she cried again. “Oh God, oh God, no.”

  “You’re safe. I’m the only one here. It’s okay.”

  “No,” she wailed. “Guy.” Tori rubbed her hands over his chest as she looked up at him with terror-filled eyes.

  “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I won’t leave you alone. It’s okay now.”

  “Guy.” She wrapped her arms around his hips and pressed herself against him. “Please,” Tori pleaded as she licked his chest. It wasn’t enough so she lifted her head and tried to reach his mouth for a kiss. Even though he was leaning and she stood on her toes, she couldn’t quite get to him so she put an arm around his neck to pull him closer. Just as she made contact, he raised his head.

  “Wait, Tori.”

  “No.” She tugged again. “Please, Guy. I need you.”

  Guy momentarily gave in and returned her kiss. When she moaned and started moving her body against his, he broke it. “What are you doing?”

  “I was kissing you, damn it. I still would be if you’d shut up.”

  “I know that, Tori. What I don’t know is why. We’re not doing this, remember?”

  “We’re not doing anything. This isn’t about us. It’s about me. Now shut up and get back here.”

  “Wait.” Guy caught her roaming hands. “What the hell do you mean, we’re not doing anything and this isn’t about us?”

  “I told you. It’s about me.” She rubbed her hip against his groin. “I need this. You’re getting hard, I can feel it. Let me go.” Tori struggled enough to free one of her hands and instantly covered his growing erection. “See?”

  “Stop that.” Guy held her away from him. “What’s
gotten into you?”

  “Nothing yet but your cock will soon if you quit pushing me away.”

  “Damn it, Tori why are you doing this?”

  “I already told you,” she growled in frustration. “I need this. Me. I need to feel a big hard cock pounding into me over and over again until I can’t think of anything else. You’re here and you have one. You said you’d help me however you could. This is how you can. Please. I need you to fuck me. Hard. All night and then some.”

  “I can’t, Tori. Not like this. We can’t start out like this.”

  “Damn you, why won’t you listen to me? This doesn’t have anything to do with us. We aren’t starting anything. I need mind-blowing sex and you promised to help me.” She yanked her arms free and turned away. “Just forget it.” She started digging through her dresser drawer.

  “Wait.” Guy stared as she pulled out some lacy panties. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Getting dressed.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m going out. I need a man and you aren’t interested so I’m going to find one who is. Besides, you’re probably as diseased anyway.”

  “What the fuck? For your information, I’ve never had sex without a condom in my life. And I’m tested regularly just to make sure I haven’t been exposed to anything through my job. Maybe I’m the one who should be worried about you.”

  “No need, Detective. I’ve always been safe and tested too on top of having an implant for extra birth control protection. Not that it’s any of your concern. Now get out of my way. I’m going, Guy. You turned me down so get over it already.”

  “Tori.” He spun her to face him and pinned her against the dresser. “If you think I’m going to sit here while you go out prowling then you’ve lost your mind.”