Saving Thea

by Melissa Schroeder

  “You always did know how to make an entrance, Dunc,” LouEllen Sawyer said from the doorway, a smile curving her lips. The fifty-something doctor had been their coroner since before Duncan had taken the job of sheriff. She was blunt, but good at her job.

  “Lou, hate to bring you out on a Saturday night.”

  The doctor shrugged. “Not like I have much to do when I’m on call. Nothing turns off a date more than leaving him to visit the dead.”

  Duncan followed her into the room. “Well?”

  “Murder.” She stripped off her latex gloves. “No gun powder on his hands. Gun was left but it’s lying on the floor. So, I have a feeling it was left here for a reason.”

  “What reason would that be?”

  “How the hell should I know? You’re the policeman.” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “The caliber was a .44, silencer on it, of course.”

  His cell phone went off again.

  “Perry.”

  “Hey, Rusty here.”

  “Reckless, whaddya find?”

  “Young woman, black hair, green eyes. Halfway between the hall where the dance had been held and the inn.”

  His bones chilled.

  “How was she killed?” But he already knew the answer.

  “Shot to the head, probably a .44. How’s the suicide?”

  “No suicide. Murder, possibly a .44. I think our two investigations just became one.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Duncan took a swallow of old coffee and grimaced. Bitter and stale. He didn’t have a choice. He needed something to keep him going tonight.

  As he paced the small area behind his desk, he tried to find the one thing that was missing. Something, somewhere had to link the death of Jason Warren, the murdered women and Thea’s stalker. He had no proof, but he knew they were connected. It was that one tiny bit of information, something he’d stored in his brain that would break the case. He settled his hands on his hips and leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

  “Does that work?” Rusty asked.

  Duncan opened his eyes. His friend looked just as haggard, even more so since he still wore his tux. His hair was a mess and the circles under his eyes told Duncan he was suffering as much as Duncan was himself.

  “There’s something. I don’t know what it is, but this all ties together.”

  Rusty nodded and sauntered to the chair situated in front of Duncan’s desk. He collapsed into it, his expression mirroring Duncan’s.

  “Yeah, I agree. Other than these women look like your girlfriend, there isn’t anything else to go on.”

  “Agreed. Girlfriend?”

  Rusty raised one eyebrow. “What would you call her?”

  He didn’t dignify the question with an answer. Girlfriend seemed too insignificant a word for Thea and what she meant to him. There was a tiny part of his brain that knew the answer but he pushed aside those thoughts. He had to deal with the here and now. He had to find the killer. Then he would figure out what came next for the two of them.

  “You gonna call Thea? She’ll need to identify the body.”

  “Yeah.” He rubbed his hand over his face. His stomach muscles bunched and tightened. “I’ve been avoiding it.”

  Rusty nodded and Duncan knew what he thought. He thought Duncan was trying to spare Thea pain. But deep down, in places he didn’t want to think about, he knew the real reason. He feared her reaction.

  She’d been up front and honest about her marriage and how it fell apart and truthfully, he didn’t think there were any residual feelings left for the idiot. But everything changed with her ex’s death. When people died, one forgot all the bad stuff they did and just remembered the good.

  Duncan decided he needed to get it over with and grabbed the phone and dialed her number. She answered on the first ring.

  “Duncan.” Worry threaded her voice.

  “Hey, honey. It was Jason. They’re going to send his body to Ft. Worth for an autopsy. But I need you to identify him.”

  She didn’t respond for a several seconds, and he wished he could see her face. She was so expressive, he’d know right away what she was thinking.

  “Okay. What do you need me to do?” Her voice was thinner.

  “I need for Chase to bring you into town and I’ll take you to the county clinic. They’re keeping him on…they’re keeping him there until they can transport him.”

  “I can drive myself.”

  “No. Chase will drive. That way we won’t have two cars and you’ll be safe.”

  “Duncan, you could get stuck there for hours.”

  “Just do it, Thea. Do it for me.”

  There was a pause again and then she said, “Okay.”

  After hanging up, he sat in his chair and looked at Rusty. He’d propped his feet on Duncan’s desk, slouched down in the chair, and was snoring.

  His nerves were as jittery as a windmill during a blue norther. He knew it had very little to do with the case and everything to do with Thea. He needed to separate these feelings from work. Otherwise, he just might lose the one good thing in his life.

  As Chase drove them through Crocker, Thea bit her thumbnail with a vengeance. It had taken her years to overcome the bad habit. Now, she just didn’t care. All she cared about was getting to Duncan.

  Tonight’s earlier events hit home as soon as Duncan walked out the door. This sicko was targeting people around Thea and Duncan would be number one on his list. She didn’t know what she would do if something happened to him. And she felt guilty.

  Her ex-husband, a man she’d married and shared a life with for ten years, was dead. Killed because of his association with her. Relief warmed her while her stomach coiled with guilt. Relief that it had been Jason who’d been killed and not Duncan and guilt because she knew she should feel something for Jason but didn’t.

  Chase interrupted her thoughts. “Thea. You really need to stop worrying. Duncan’s a big boy and everything will turn out all right.”

  “I’ll just feel better when this is all over.”

  He never took his eyes off the road. “Yes. Mom wants some grandkids and since Duncan is the older of the two of us, I think you two should do something about it.”

  “Chase Perry, Duncan and I are not getting married.”

  “If you say so.”

  He pulled into the parking lot of the Crocker Police Department. She saw Duncan’s truck and a few other vehicles she assumed belonged to other detectives.

  She was out of the car before Chase could set it in park. The front door opened and Duncan stood in the doorway as she hurried up the steps. She threw herself into his arms. His arms wrapped around her, his warmth surrounded her.

  She squeezed him tight, glad she was finally there, and he was all right. His tangy cologne still clung to him and she breathed in the scent, allowing it to calm her.

  “Hello to you, too.” There was a trace of amusement in his voice but there was an underlying strain in it as well.

  “I was just so worried.”

  He pulled back from the embrace, a small smile tilted his lips. But there was something else, something vague and wary about him tonight. She didn’t know if it had to do with the case or with their relationship.

  “If you two lovebirds are through?” Chase asked.

  Duncan pulled Thea to his side and slid his arm around her waist. Now that she was there, he wasn’t letting go until he had to. The twenty-minute wait had seemed like a lifetime.

  “Go away.”

  “That’s the thanks I get,” Chase said, mock condemnation in his voice. “Well, I guess I better get home. I need all the beauty sleep I can get.”

  He walked to his car.

  “Chase, thanks,” Duncan said. Without turning around, Chase nodded. He got in his car and was on his way.

  “You want something to drink?” he asked.

  “No, I’d rather get this over with if it’s all the same to you.”

  He guided her through the station house a
nd to his office. Rusty was still snoring. One rather loud snuff filled the silence and Thea smiled. It wasn’t much but Duncan felt better seeing her reaction. She was so damned resilient, so strong.

  “Let me get a few things in order and we’ll head over with another officer.”

  “Why do we need another officer?”

  He stopped in his task and looked up. “We’re personally involved. It would just be better if we had someone else there to witness.”

  “Boss,” Richard said. “Just got a call both you and Reckless might be interested in. Found another woman, off of Richter road.”

  Rusty stirred immediately making Duncan wonder if he’d been mistaken about him sleeping.

  “Who called it in?”

  “Anonymous,” Richard said.

  “I guess we better get going,” Rusty said. He stood and stretched his hands to the ceiling. “I’m really getting sick of receiving these calls.”

  Dread slunk down Duncan’s spine as a chill rushed through his veins. There was no explanation, no reason for the reaction. Yes, there was another dead woman but that wasn’t it. And even though he didn’t completely trust Richard, Duncan knew Thea would be safe at the office. Various officers from the Crocker and county police departments were milling around.

  Maybe he just didn’t feel right leaving her. He studied her for a second. Her face was still pale making the circles bruising the tender skin beneath her eyes stand out even more. But she seemed to be holding up. She gave him a sad smile.

  “I’m gonna—”

  “I know. You have to go. I’ll be safe here.”

  “It could be a while.”

  She smiled. “I can wait.”

  The click of the door sounded behind him letting him know Rusty had given him the privacy he needed.

  He pulled her against him, her body soft and willing. She trembled. It was not from a chill but from the connection they had. Physical, spiritual, whatever he called it, there was something so deep, it was ingrained into their souls.

  With the duty ahead of him already on his mind, he bent his head and brushed his lips against hers. He wanted to give her a simple kiss, but she wouldn’t let him. She stood on her tiptoes, slid her arms around his neck and deepened it. Her tongue tickled his lips. Surprised he opened his mouth and she stole inside. Everything that had happened in the last few hours fled his mind at that moment.

  She tasted so sweet, so spicy, so incredible hot.

  His hands stole down to her bottom as he lifted her against his arousal. Her breasts flattened against his chest. Her nipples stabbed his chest through the layers of clothing. Everything that was horrible melted away with her against him. It was as if nothing existed outside of her embrace, as if he had come home. He was seriously thinking about locking the door to his office and trying out the desk when someone knocked on the door.

  “Good Lord, Perry! Can’t you wait until after we find the dead girl?”

  Rusty’s voice was like cold water. Both of them pulled back from the kiss. His jeans were stretched tight over his obvious erection and he reached down to adjust himself. Thea’s face resembled a fire engine.

  He chuckled. “Well, they’ll be talking about this for weeks.”

  She cleared her throat and her face turned a brighter shade of red.

  “Don’t let it bother you, Thea.”

  “Maybe you’re accustomed to it but, well, I’m not.” She wouldn’t look him in the eye and it bothered him.

  He grabbed her shoulders as she tried to turn away from him. Gently, he tilted her chin up with his knuckle.

  “I’m not accustomed to it, Thea.” Her green eyes sparked with disbelief. “I’m not saying I’m a saint. But I’ve never lost my head like that. I have a ton of things to do, and all I can think about is getting into your pants. That is not normal for me.”

  There was still a sliver of suspicion in her eyes but she nodded. He gave her a quick kiss.

  “If you get bored or too tired, call Chase and he’ll pick you up. Otherwise, you need to sit tight in my office. No one else takes you home. Well, Jed, but no one else. Okay?”

  “Be careful.”

  Many women had said it, and with the exception of his mama, he realized Thea was probably the only one who’d really meant it.

  “I will.”

  He grabbed his coat and headed out the door. As he settled in his truck he couldn’t block the feeling that something wasn’t right.

  She was back to chewing her thumbnails. Thea mentally forced herself to place her hands on Duncan’s desk.

  No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop worrying about him. He knew his job, she was sure of that, but her father hadn’t been a dumb man.

  To take her mind off the situation, she studied Duncan’s office. Not much to it. A picture of his mom which looked to be recent given the gray now in Selma Perry’s hair. Other than that, not much on his desk.

  She stood and walked around the small office. The paint on the walls was a dull off-white, and chipped. Various documents hung on the walls, including his Bachelor’s from Texas Tech. Criminal Justice.

  It shouldn’t surprise her but it did a little. Duncan knew his job, she was sure of that. But she’d never known he was interested in law enforcement. She didn’t know if she wanted to be married to another cop.

  Whoa! Hold the wagon. She wasn’t getting married again, and Duncan was definitely not inclined. But before she could stop them, images of a life with Duncan flashed through her mind. Refurbishing her house, going to football games, having his children.

  She shivered. It was all Chase’s fault. He’d put those goofy ideas in her mind but she knew it wouldn’t happen. Duncan would never settle down and she didn’t know if she could trust any man again.

  Before she could rectify her thoughts, the door opened behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and found Richard the dickhead. A sinister grin darkened his features as he shut the door behind him.

  “Poor little Thea. I guess you’re in need of some comforting.”

  A chill settled in her stomach, curdling the coffee she’d had. Knowing he would get off on her fear, she didn’t break eye contact.

  “Now, Dick, I have no idea why you would think I’d need a lazy slob like you. Go away before I call one of the other detectives in.”

  He advanced and for a second, she froze. He was bigger, meaner. She could smell his body odor mixed with his usual cheap cologne. She swallowed and then tried breathing through her mouth. The urge to back away almost overpowered her, but she fought it. He would pounce as soon as she showed just how scared she was.

  He stopped within inches of her. Lust darkened his beady little eyes. He reached out and she flinched. His smiled deepened.

  “Go ahead and call them. They’re not gonna hear you. They’re all out on the front steps having a smoke.”

  He settled his finger on the hollow of her neck and her stomach threatened to rebel. She took a step back and he crowded her against the wall. Terror inched down her spine like a spider.

  He grabbed the front of her shirt and yanked it. One of the buttons popped off. She knew she should scream. She should knee him in the groin. But she couldn’t. Fear held her immobile.

  He reached to pull her shirt again. The door banged open and Duncan’s Uncle Chris stepped into the room. Richard dropped his hold of her shirt and turned around.

  “Thea? Are you alright?”

  She scooted around Richard before he could object.

  “Yes. I was just waiting for Duncan. I need to talk to Duncan.” The tremor in her voice sounded hysterical even to her own ears. But she knew no one would believe her but Duncan.

  “He just called me a while ago. Seems they’ll be out there for an hour or two and he asked if I could take you back to the house.”

  “Oh. Why didn’t he call me?”

  “I don’t know. I just know he couldn’t get a hold of Chase and he didn’t want you sitting here all night.”

  Du
ncan had said no one but…

  She glanced back at Richard, his eyes narrowed as he studied Chris.

  “Okay. Let me grab my coat.”

  She put on her coat. As they headed out to his car, Chris put his arm over her shoulders and squeezed. Surprised, she glanced up. A small smile curved his lips. All the terror of the evening dissolved. She couldn’t wait to get home.

  Duncan turned down the old farm road. They inched along but found nothing. Irritation crept along his nerves. It was their third time down this road and they’d found nothing.

  “Maybe it was a prank,” Rusty offered.

  “Maybe. I just hope it wasn’t called in just to throw us off.”

  “Well, the joke’s on him with Thea at the station house.”

  Duncan nodded but the uneasy feeling he had earlier had grown. He knew there was something wrong, something very wrong.

  “Maybe you should call in and get directions again.”

  “No. We’ve been up and down this road and there’s nothing. It was a prank or…no, I know it wasn’t a prank. It was a decoy call.”

  He dialed the number to the office. Richard answered.

  “Richard, let me talk to Thea.”

  “She’s not here, Dunc.”

  “Where the hell is she?”

  Richard hesitated for a second and Duncan’s anxiety heightened.

  “Your Uncle Chris stopped by and said you told him to pick her up. They left twenty minutes ago.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The warmth in Chris’ car surrounded Thea, calming her nerves and relaxing her muscles. From her fights with Duncan, to the mess at the dance and now her dead ex, she’d had a rough day. She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. Lord, she was tired.

  “Long day?” Chris asked.

  Thea opened her eyes. A slight smile tipped his lips, and even in the dim light from the control panel of the car, she could see the handsome face so much like Duncan’s.

  “Yeah. Just a little too much excitement for my tastes.”