Linked

by Barbara Huffert

  “And the picture of that girl that kid had,” Stan suggested.

  “What kid?” Tori asked.

  “The one we planted under the tree. You know, Russ. Tell her.”

  “Yes, Russ,” Tori fought to keep her voice even. “I’d like to hear all about that one.”

  “Sure.” Russ seemed to relax. “We were real lucky that time. We just stopped for something to eat at one of those truck stops right on the highway and heard him going on with his friends about how he was out of there for good. He said his leaving would teach his girl a lesson for cheating on him like she did. He thought she’d be real sorry once she figured out that she was really on her own and would hate herself for treating him so bad. His plan was to hop a ride with any trucker who would give him one and figure out where to go once he got there. Stan followed a big, burly guy into the john and fed him a line about how his kid brother was being stupid and running away from some no-good tramp who’d been messing with him. He talked the guy into picking him up and taking him a ways down the highway and then acting like he expected the kid to put out as payment for the ride. When the kid refused, the trucker would pretend to be pissed enough to force him but then change his mind and toss the kid out instead,” Russ paused to chuckle.

  “We were driving an old fogy-mobile then. A real safe-looking family car. We finished eating to give them a head start and then took off after them. Since we were just passing through I didn’t hurry because it didn’t really matter much if someone else stopped for the kid before we got there. Nobody did and we had him tucked in the back seat feeling safe and sound in no time. I was driving and Stan got him to spill his guts. We kept him talking all the way around Wichita before he pulled out the picture he’d been waving in the diner. By the time we were back in the middle of nowhere Stan had him convinced he’d be much better off if he buried his past and made a clean break before he tried to start fresh. I saw the perfect spot and worked back to it from the next exit. Remember how the little punk agreed that it was perfect to dig a tiny grave under that big, old dead tree, Stan? He even said he wished she were there with us so he could bury her too. That’s when Stan and I pulled out our guns and told him to start digging.”

  “You made him dig his own grave?” Tori shuddered.

  “Hell yeah,” Stan giggled. “You shoulda seen him! Crying and begging like he meant something to us. Russ was so cool, the way he asked who was gonna give a shit when he was dead since he’d already told us he wasn’t ever going to see anyone he used to know again. Jerk-off got right in the hole when Russ told him it was deep enough. Just stood there and watched us shoot him. Probably pissed himself too.”

  “So you killed him and you buried him instead of the girl’s picture.”

  “Nah, we stuck her back in his pack and put that in the hole too,” Russ stated. “Figured they deserved each other.”

  He finally realized how long they’d been talking. “Hey, what’s taking her so long in there?”

  Tori stood as he did. “She hasn’t been feeling well all day.”

  “Doesn’t take that long,” Russ growled. “We can’t sit here jawing all night. Got to get a move on.”

  “Maybe you should just leave.”

  “What? You saying you don’t want us to give her to you?”

  “Yes. I don’t understand just why you think I’d want something like that in the first place. Or why I would want any sort of souvenir from the poor people you killed.”

  “Whata ya mean by that?” Stan’s gaze shifted between Tori and Russ.

  “It means that I have no idea who you think I am or why you think I’d want any of the things you’ve suggested.” Tori took a step back.

  Russ’ eerie laughter filled the uncomfortable silence. “She didn’t mean that, Stan. She’s just putting us on so we don’t forget who we’re talking to.”

  Tori saw that Stan believed Russ’ words. “Is that so? Perhaps you should tell me who exactly you think I am, so there are no misunderstandings.” She gave them what she hoped looked like an encouraging smile.

  “See, Stan?” His chest puffed, matching the pride in his tone. “Miss Vicky, you are our angel. The woman we have always worshipped even before we made ourselves worthy of being with you.”

  “Worthy how?”

  “More teasing,” Russ assured Stan. “By performing acts that we knew would please you. By being careful and making sure we had good plans and then sticking to them. By not making any mistakes along the way so nothing would interfere with our coming to love you in person.”

  “We kept our pricks pure, just like you wanted,” Stan added proudly.

  “Pure for me?” Tori backed away more. “What kind of sick psychopaths are you? Saying you killed people to make yourselves worthy of me and expecting me to let you touch me? Whatever you’re on must be damn good to make you believe all that because there is no way in hell even one bit of this is real.”

  “Miss Vicky,” Russ sounded agitated.

  “See that’s another thing. I’ve never been called Vicky in my life and certainly don’t intend to start now. As for being some sort of angel, well, you obviously have me mistaken for someone else.” She shivered. “God, you’re both just so revolting.” Tori backed closer to the steps as she spoke.

  “No.” Russ’ face twisted with rage as her words sank in. “Stop it now. Stop acting like that.” Stan whimpered. “She don’t mean it, Stan. Come on out here, angel, and tell old Russ you was just pulling his leg some more. Come on now, Miss Vicky. Your joke is scaring Stan into thinking you really don’t want us.”

  “Hate to break it to you but this isn’t a joke.” Tori backed herself into the corner at the foot of the stairs as she’d been instructed to do if possible. “I don’t know either of you and I never saw you before in my life until you broke in here and announced you were going to skin that sweet child alive for me in some super-sick attempt to make me have sex with you.” She was almost hysterical. “You admitted you’re both murderers and it sounded like you stalked your victims first and planned out exactly how you would kill them. You said you’re here for me. Well, let me tell you, the only thing you’re getting from me is a one-way trip to jail because I’m going to make sure you’re arrested and locked up for good.”

  Russ’ expression turned manic as he lunged for Tori. His charge was deflected when the door flew open to reveal three armed FBI agents with their guns drawn and pointed steadily at him and Stan. Russ swerved mid-stride and raced to the bathroom door. He yanked it open, expecting to find a child to hide behind. Instead, he came face-to-face with the barrel of Lita’s gun. She repeated Ned’s order to drop to the floor. Refusing to give up as Stan had, Russ pulled his knife from his waistband under the back of his coat. His arm was thrusting toward Lita who had no way of seeing what he held. Fortunately, Ned did. He fired, stopping Russ before the knife connected. The noise of the gunshot cut off all the chaotic shouts that filled the room just seconds before.

  “No,” Stan screamed, pushing to his feet and violently twisting to free himself. “Russ, no!” Two agents caught him instantly. He continued to struggle as his eyes located Tori. “Why’d you do this to us? We loved you. We was gonna treat you right and you let them shoot him.”

  Tori was sobbing as she stared at the hatred on his face. She didn’t realize Guy was in the room until his arms closed around her.

  Stan gasped. “You ain’t no angel. You ain’t nothing but a whore, just like all them others.” He spat in her direction. “You think they got me but you just wait. I’m gonna get you. I’m gonna get away and then I’m gonna find you and then I’m gonna fuck you like the tramp you are. I’m gonna fuck you for Russ too. And when I’m done I’m gonna shoot you in the back, just like they did to Russ so you know how it feels.”

  “Shut up,” an agent snapped, finally managing to drag him through the door. “Time for me to talk and you to listen.” He proceeded to read Stan his rights as he arrested him.

  “Is he rea
lly dead?” Tori asked, refusing to let Guy prevent her from watching as two paramedics attended Russ.

  “No,” Lita supplied the answer. “Thanks to Ned’s superior ability to remember the rules against killing a suspect if at all avoidable.”

  Tori dragged her eyes from the scene to look at Lita. “You wouldn’t have killed him either.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence but I’m not so sure about that,” Lita admitted honestly. “I was in the van listening. I heard how you made Sarah think this was all make-believe. I’ve seen a lot of things over the years but very few people have impressed me as much as you have.”

  “Lita.” Tori squirmed with embarrassment.

  “I’m serious, Tori,” Lita insisted, deliberately standing so she was blocking most of Tori’s view. Her eyes flashed quickly toward Guy who acknowledged he knew she was intentionally distracting Tori. “None of us had any suggestions on how to get Sarah out of the room. You did that all on your own, in a way that made perfect sense to her, at a time when I know you were sick with fear and more than ready to run. Once they showed up and were in, Ned sent me into the party to bring Guy and Todd outside. Since I wasn’t expected, Todd knew something was going down and played along with my line of needing the two of them to help me with my car. After Sarah was in the bathroom, Todd tapped on the window and motioned for her to stay quiet. He and Guy lifted her out so I could take her place.”

  “Yeah, I wondered how you got in there,” Tori commented.

  “I heard every word they said and I must repeat how impressed I am with you. Guy, I’m sure you’ll listen to the tape but the bottom line here is that Tori’s calm head and leading questions guaranteed us a conviction.” She held up a hand to stop Tori from saying anything. “Don’t start with the whole you were just doing what you had to routine because we all know that you went way beyond that.”

  “You sure did.” Ned joined them. “Those overpriced actors that flock to your parents’ shop have nothing on you, Tori. I know you don’t want to hear it but that’s God’s honest truth and we all know it. Now why don’t you pry your way out of his clutches,” he winked at Guy, “and come sit down so we can get the tape off you. Guy, Todd’s waiting for you in the kitchen.” He waited for Guy to release Tori. “Go on up and tell him Tori will be there in a minute, okay?”

  Guy understood that Ned wanted a moment to speak privately with Tori and forced himself to give it to him but not before he tipped her chin for a light kiss. “It’s over now, tiger. You did it and I love you so much.” After another kiss he started up the stairs and let Ned lead Tori across the room.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The instant Guy entered the kitchen, Terese began her attack.

  “I can’t believe you,” she snarled, poking his chest. “How could you do this? You bring that woman here, knowing full well what was going to happen and then lie to me so I agree to let you use my daughter. You send my baby off with that…that,” she shuddered, “horror as bait for a pair of killers! You let her take your own niece downstairs to wait for them to break in and try to kill her! You’ve done some things in the past, Guy, but I always managed to put them behind us even when I didn’t agree with you. But not this time! This time, you’ve gone too far. Sarah could have been killed, thanks to you and that woman. But that’s it. I’m done,” she screamed.

  “Terese,” Todd attempted to interrupt for the third time.

  “You get away from me too.” She shook Todd’s hand from her arm. “You may not have known about it from the beginning and you may have gotten Sarah out of there but you didn’t do a damn thing about the rest of it and you better believe I won’t forget that any time soon.” She switched back to Guy. “I want you out of here. And make sure you take her with you. As of now, I no longer have a brother. Do you hear me—”

  “Damn it, Terese.” Todd spun her so violently she stopped screeching. “That’s enough! Just shut up and listen already,” he yelled, clamping his hands around her upper arms.

  “Get your hands off me,” she ordered.

  “Shut. Up,” Todd ordered. “Shut up now because you have no idea what you’re talking about.” Todd’s chest heaved as a tear slid down his cheek. “You have it backward. Tori being here is the only reason Sarah is still alive. Do you understand, Terese? If she hadn’t been, our little girl, our precious baby would be dead. She’d be lying down there in a puddle of her own blood and we’d be up here at our party, laughing and talking without even knowing she was gone.”

  Todd was sobbing and couldn’t continue. Instead, he urged Terese closer and held on as if he were afraid to let go. Terese realized that what he told her was true and held him just as desperately. Tears streamed down her face as they did Todd’s. Blindly, she extended her hand to Guy. When he took it, she pulled him into their embrace, apologizing without words.

  * * * * *

  “I think I need some air first,” Tori retreated down the steps. “I’m just going to step outside for a minute, Ned.”

  “Sure thing.” Ned smiled at Tori as he glanced her way before resuming his conversation.

  Outside, Tori wrapped her arms around her sides and fought down her tears. She had to get away from there before she made things even worse. Guy’s sister was right. It was her fault that they had come here. Sarah could have been killed because of her. She had to get away before Guy found her. If he caught up with her now, he’d have to chose between his family and her and there was no way she’d let that happen. Okay, so there was a very slim chance that he’d send her away but it was far more likely that he’d turn his back on his family because he still believed that nonsense about the two of them belonging together. Once he realized it was just a passing thing and nothing more, he’d hate her if she let him walk away from his family.

  Tori was about to call a cab when she noticed the local officer who had spoken down to her earlier in the church parking lot. He seemed unsure of what he should be doing so she decided to take a chance.

  “Hi.” Tori smiled slightly when she stood in front of the man. “I’m so glad I found you.”

  “Going to rub it in, eh? Go ahead. I deserve it, the way I barked at you earlier,” he sounded resigned.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Tori’s face fell. “I didn’t even think of that or I wouldn’t have said I’d find you myself.”

  “Huh? You’re not here to gloat?” Tori shook her head. “Guess I can’t win tonight,” he condemned himself. “What is it then?”

  “No, I’m sorry that I’ve made you uncomfortable. I really do understand why you were so skeptical. I would have been too.”

  “Uh, thanks,” he seemed confused. “That’s nice of you.”

  “Let’s forget it, okay? No harm done so there’s no need to worry about it anymore. What I really wanted was to ask for your help. Todd, um, Agent Evans, is finished with me for the night. I’m so exhausted that I’m afraid I’m going to fall flat on my face any minute now. I’m sure Detective Breauchard would take me home if I asked him to but these people are his family. I asked Agent Evans if one of his agents could drive me but they’re all still tied up so I was wondering if it would be terribly inconvenient for you to take me. If it is, I can call a cab but the driver might ask questions and I’m so tired I might say the wrong thing.”

  “Hey, no problem.” He relaxed. “Hop in and you’ll be home before you know it. Glad to help.”

  After telling the officer where she lived, Tori rested her head against the window with her eyes closed. She really was exhausted and didn’t feel capable of even the politest of conversations. She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew he was patting her arm and telling her she was home.

  “Thanks,” Tori hesitated. “Are you going back there?” He nodded. “Could you let either Agent Evans or Detective Breauchard know you got me here safely? Not that they think you wouldn’t,” she rushed on, “but we’ve spent pretty much time together lately and they’ve gotten a little overprotective. Maybe I’m
wrong but I don’t think that’s something they can just switch off even though it’s over now.”

  He agreed. “One of the side effects of the job. I’ll make sure to tell them. I’ll wait until you’re inside.”

  * * * * *

  “Where the hell is she?” Guy swore in frustration.

  “Damn, Guy I’m sorry,” Ned apologized yet another time. “I should have gone with her.”

  Guy ran his hand over his face. “No. I’m acting like an ass. She told you she needed some air which was perfectly understandable at the time. It’s not up to you to baby-sit her.”

  “Yeah, I know but if I had we’d know where she was,” Ned cursed himself.

  “At ease, men.” Todd appeared beside them. “Tori’s home. Apparently she maneuvered one of the locals into thinking he’d be doing me a favor by driving her home.”

  “What the fuck!” Guy was relieved and furious at the same time.

  “Not a clue,” Todd answered his unasked question. “Call me tomorrow.”

  Guy found Tori’s note on the table near the door where he’d developed the habit of leaving his keys. Since Tori had only left on one small lamp, he walked into the kitchen and flipped on the overhead light so he could see.

  Guy,

  I know you were worried and I’m sorry. I was so tired I didn’t stop to think before I came home. I should have told you that I was leaving instead of making you crazy, wondering where I was. I guess they weren’t exaggerating when they told me how I’d feel like when the adrenaline rush wore off. Since you’re already mad I’m going to be selfish and ask you not to wake me tonight. I promise not to interrupt your lecture in the morning since I deserve it.

  With tentative thanks for your indulgence—Please!!!

  Goodnight,

  Tori

  Guy reread her note and scowled. She was right. He had every intention of giving her a lecture on common sense and why it had him out of his mind when he couldn’t find her. But he also knew how hard it could hit once the rush faded. With a sigh, Guy switched off the light and made his way upstairs.