The Heart of a Killer

by Jaci Burton

  She didn't think he was really asking any of them to answer that question.

  "Son of a bitch. You were all kids then. And what Maclin did to you that night. Goddamn, Anna. I'm sorry about that. It's no wonder you decided to become a cop. And a damn good one."

  "Thank you, sir."

  He shot her a glare. "Don't thank me yet. I have to figure out what I'm going to do about this. About all of you."

  "There's still a killer out there," Dante said.

  "Don't remind me. My department's stretched thin as it is. And the fact the three of you were involved in solving a cold case is--shit, this is fucked up."

  That was an understatement. "The guys saved my life that night, Captain. And everyone around me is dying because of it. Please let us figure out why and put a stop to it before everyone else around me dies."

  He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it, continuing to pace and rub his head. "Give me a goddamn minute to think, Pallino."

  She did, though it was difficult not to throw herself on his mercy and plead her case--all their cases. He had to see reason.

  "You were all juveniles then, and Anna was a victim of a violent crime. And what was done to you, Anna, by Maclin--whose killer has now been found--I don't think a prosecutor is going to want to mess with any of you. Robinson will be prosecuted for murder, he'll probably pull a plea deal and we'll be able to get out of this messy business with our skins intact."

  "And the other murders?"

  He gave her a straight look. "You can't investigate your father's murder, Anna."

  "I can, though," Dante said.

  Pohanski shrugged. "I have no jurisdiction over you, Dante. But you have to work within our guidelines. And if you happen to bring Anna or Roman along to assist in an unofficial capacity, that's up to you."

  "But you'd better have another detective sign off on everything, and dot every i and cross every goddamn t so our asses are covered."

  After Pohanski left them, Anna breathed a sigh of relief and the three of them regrouped to figure out the next steps. Sam was still a suspect in the other murders, but Anna didn't see it.

  "He was focused on all of us, but afraid, mostly," she argued.

  "He doesn't have alibis," Roman argued. "We can't clear him. He stays a suspect."

  "Roman's right," Dante said. "You're letting your personal feelings get in the way."

  She lifted her chin. "I don't have personal feelings. If he's guilty, he goes down. But other than him being a little dark and twisty, we don't have anything on him. He just has no alibis for the nights of the murders. And when he found out he was a suspect, he bolted and hid, which meant the night I was attacked he was hiding in his own house."

  "So he claims," Dante said.

  "The bad thing is we don't have him for anything, so he walks unless we can come up with some solid evidence," Roman said with a grimace.

  Anna dragged her fingers through her hair. "Then we'll have to keep at him until we break him, or find the real killer."

  "We'll take turns," Roman said. "He'll get so tired of talking he'll eventually give up."

  Anna nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

  "You look irritated," Dante said.

  Anna slid on the sofa next to him. They'd worked well into the night and had finally gone home to take a break. They'd just finished a late dinner of takeout tacos. "I have no killer locked up, that's why I'm irritated."

  They'd gotten nothing from Maclin. They'd leaned on him for hours. Besides that night in the alley twelve years ago, he claimed to have nothing to do with the current murders. And his attorney was locking him up tight.

  "But at least you have Tony Maclin's killer."

  "One down."

  "There's still Crey Robinson to think about as a suspect in the other murders."

  She leaned her head back and stared up at the ceiling. "I'm still considering it. Hard to prove."

  "Not really. We investigate his money, look at cash withdrawals and when he made them, then track his movements, see if he met with any shady characters at the hospital, since that's where residents spend almost all their time anyway. Hospitals are notorious for gossip. The staff see everything that goes on."

  She turned her head to face him. "You'd make a good cop. How do you do that?"

  He laughed. "I don't just walk into an assignment without running background on the target. I need to know everything about a situation. I pay attention to the small details. Keeps me alive that way."

  "Your life is dangerous."

  "It can be. So can yours."

  "Not like yours, I imagine." She swept her hand across his jaw. "Do you have to go back to it?"

  The look he gave her was so intense it made her breath catch.

  "Are you asking me not to?"

  She paused, not sure how to answer him. She'd never ask anyone to give up the job they loved. She wouldn't ask it of Dante, not even if she wanted to keep him safe. If he loved what he did, just like she loved her job, she'd never ask him to walk away from it.

  But the doorbell rang, followed by several fast knocks, and she couldn't answer his question.

  "It's, like, two in the morning," she said.

  Dante sprang off the sofa and peered through the peephole. "It's Roman."

  He opened the door and Roman rushed in. He was drenched in sweat.

  "What's wrong?" Anna rushed to him.

  "Gabe took a shot at me."

  Anna's eyes widened. "What? Are you hurt?" She didn't see any blood, but she ran her hands over him anyway.

  He shook her off. "I'm fine. Pissed off, mainly because my goddamn brother tried to kill me and I don't know why."

  "What the hell happened?" Dante asked as Anna led them into the living room to sit.

  "I was on my way home from the station, about two blocks from home. Suddenly the right-rear window on my car explodes. I knew right away it was a bullet, because another shot was fired into the car. So of course I'm shocked as hell and I duck down to avoid being shot at again and trying to get my bearings at the same time so I can get a six on the shooter.

  "I swerved, pulled the car over to the side of the road and grabbed my gun. When I popped up to return fire, that's when I saw his bike speed away."

  "Are you sure it was Gabe?" Dante asked.

  Roman gave them a look. "I know his bike. I know Gabe. It was him."

  Anna shook her head, unable to believe Gabe would do that. "Why would he shoot at you?"

  "I don't know."

  "Did you call it in?" Anna asked.

  "No. I wanted to come here first, talk to the two of you. I don't know what to do, you know? It's Gabe."

  Dante dialed Gabe's number and put the phone to his ear. "It goes to voice mail right away."

  "This doesn't make any sense," Anna said. "Gabe would have no reason to shoot at you."

  "That's what I thought, too. It doesn't make sense."

  "What if it was a hit?" Anna asked.

  Dante frowned. "On Roman? Why?"

  She tilted her head. "Did you forget who Gabe works for?"

  "No. I just don't think Gabe would do that. And why would he hit Roman? Is there something going on with his job that affects the local P.D.?"

  Roman shook his head. "Nothing I know about."

  Anna laid her chin in her hands. "You're right. There's nothing going on with Bertucci and the cops. And he'd never try to hurt one of you guys."

  "Well, I hate to remind you," Roman said, "but he tried to tonight."

  "Shit." Dante kicked the back of the chair. This didn't make sense. Why would Gabe take a hit out on Roman? Did Bertucci order it because of Robinson? And if so, why wouldn't Gabe give Anna or him a heads-up? It wasn't like him to blindly follow an order like that. He seemed loyal to his job and to Bertucci, but he wouldn't take down one of his own brothers.

  Unless...

  No. The possibility wasn't even fathomable.

  "What are you thinking?" Anna asked him.

  "I'm thinki
ng I need to go find Gabe and have a talk with him."

  She stood. "I'll go with you."

  "No. You need to stay here. With Roman. We don't know where Gabe is or why he shot at Roman. For all we know he's out there somewhere looking to finish the job, or hunting the rest of us."

  Anna frowned, then recognition dawned in her eyes. "You don't think...no, Dante. Not Gabe."

  "I don't know what to think right now, and I won't know until I find him. Roman, you stay here with Anna. Make sure nobody gets in here but me."

  Roman nodded. "You got it."

  Anna went with Dante to the door. "You go out there alone, you're a target."

  "He won't hurt me."

  She let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I'm sure Roman thought that, too."

  "He won't hurt me," he said again. "I'll find him and figure out what's going on."

  She laid her palms on his chest. "If it's Gabe, if he's... Then he's not thinking clearly. You don't know what he'll do."

  "Then I'll take care of it."

  "Just like that?"

  The look he gave her was lethal. "This is what I do, Anna."

  "I don't want him dead."

  "He won't be unless it's necessary."

  He knew from the look she gave him that she didn't like the situation. "I need to go with you."

  "No. Someone's already made an attempt to kill you and Roman. I won't risk bringing both of you along. Enough of us have died already. This is what I'm good at. Let me do it. And if he comes here, then the two of you can handle him and call for backup. Either way we finish this tonight."

  She hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded. "All right."

  Dante loaded up ammo and an extra gun. Anna wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. He kissed her, pouring everything he had into that kiss. "I love you," he said, and her eyes widened. "I should have said it sooner, and now isn't the right goddamn time, but you never know and it needed to be said."

  She swept her hand across his jaw and he memorized the feel of her touch. "I love you, too. And it won't be the last time you hear me say it."

  He waited a heartbeat, memorizing her face, the way her eyes seemed to light up whenever she looked at him.

  "Stay put. Lock the door." He kissed her again and slid out the door, listening for the lock, then got in his car and headed out, checking around the house before he left.

  Everything was secure. Nothing looked out of place, so he slid into his car.

  He tried Gabe's cell again, got nothing, figured he'd go to the condo first. If Gabe was really the killer, he wouldn't be there. He'd be hiding out, stalking them now that he'd missed his target.

  When he pulled into the condo complex, Gabe's bike was parked out front.

  Pretty ballsy considering Roman could have called in units to track him down. Another thing that made no sense. He pulled his gun out and knocked on the door. No answer. He rang the bell and knocked louder, several times.

  Finally, a light came on and the door flew open. Gabe looked rumpled, as if he'd been asleep.

  "What the fuck are you doing here so late?" he asked, then his eyes widened. "Did something happen?"

  Dante pushed him inside and closed the door, then pointed the gun at him.

  "Jesus Christ, Dante. What are you doing?"

  "You took a shot at Roman tonight. I want to know why."

  "A shot at...what? What the hell are you talking about? Someone shot at Roman?"

  "On his way home. You shot at him twice, then took off."

  Gabe held his hands up, still looking half-asleep. "I have no fucking idea what you're talking about."

  "Where's your phone?"

  Gabe blinked. "What?"

  "Your phone. I tried to call you, but it went to voice mail."

  "I know. Someone stole my goddamn phone when I was at the bar earlier tonight. Went to the bathroom to take a leak, when I came out it was gone."

  "How long have you been home?"

  "I don't know. What time is it?"

  "Two-thirty or so."

  "I got home around midnight. Bar was dead tonight."

  "Get your pants on and come outside with me."

  "What? Why?"

  "Just do as I say." He held the gun up for emphasis.

  "Yeah, gimme a minute."

  Dante followed Gabe into the bedroom, where he slipped on a pair of jeans. Barefoot, he led Dante outside to his bike. Dante laid his hand on the motor of Gabe's Harley. It was cold.

  Shit.

  "Let's go back inside."

  Dante closed the door again. Gabe turned to him.

  "Want to tell me what the hell you're talking about? Someone took a shot at Roman?"

  "Roman said you ambushed him a couple blocks from his house and took two shots at him while he was in his car."

  "When?"

  "Less than an hour ago."

  Gabe crossed his arms. "Roman is full of shit. Why would I do that?"

  "Contract hit?"

  Gabe snorted. "Yeah, right. Bertucci has better things to do than kill cops. You think he wants that kind of attention? And Roman isn't even working us. He's not on mob stuff."

  Dante dragged a hand through his hair, feeling as if he'd just been set up.

  "Roman tell you all this?"

  Dante shoved his gun in his holster. "Yeah. He showed up at Anna's tonight and told us you ambushed him."

  "Where is he now?"

  "With Anna at her place. I told him to watch over her."

  Gabe frowned, then his shoulders dropped. "Fox got himself right into the henhouse."

  Dante frowned. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

  "Oh, come on, Dante. Are you blind? He's in love with her. He's been in love with her for years."

  "He is not. He has a girlfriend. Tess somebody."

  Gabe slid him a disbelieving look. "You ever meet Tess? You ever see her around anywhere?"

  "No. But--"

  "But nothing. I've been back for two damn years and I've never met the woman. I don't think she even exists."

  "Anna knows her."

  "When was the last time Anna saw them together? He might have been out with this Tess a few times, but not for a long time. She's a front, somebody he made up or went out with just to appease Anna because he doesn't want her to know he's sniffing around her like a lovesick puppy."

  "Son of a bitch. I didn't know."

  "He didn't want you to know."

  Dante still didn't want to believe it. Not Roman. He'd always thought Roman the most innocent out of all the brothers. The straightest one, the one least likely to do anything bad. Maybe that had been his biggest mistake.

  He grabbed his phone, punched Anna's number. It went right to voice mail.

  "She's not answering. She'd answer. She'd want to know what was happening."

  "Was Roman with you and Anna at any of the times the murders were committed?" Gabe asked.

  "No, but neither were you."

  "True enough. But I didn't bust in on you and Anna tonight accusing Roman of taking a shot at me in order to get you out of the house."

  "Fuck. And I fell for it."

  Gabe grabbed the rest of his clothes and his gun. "Look, I don't know what kind of game Roman is playing, but we need to get to Anna."

  "In a hurry."

  They dashed out the door and into Dante's car.

  "You don't have one of those siren-and-light thingies?"

  "No."

  "Should have taken Anna's car."

  "No shit."

  "Just speed, then. You know how to do that."

  Dante hoped he could drive fast enough to get there, because Roman had wanted him out of the house and away from Anna for a reason. He just hoped it wasn't too late.

  Anna paced back and forth, watching the phone on the table next to Roman and waiting for that call from Dante. She'd already made both of them coffee, but that had only made her more jittery.

  Roman sat on the sofa watching her.

  "You're m
aking me dizzy," he said. "Come sit down."

  She looked down at him and smiled. "Sorry. I'm nervous. And worried." She slid onto the sofa next to him.

  He patted her hand. "Quit worrying. Dante's capable and you know he'll call as soon as he knows something."

  "You're right."

  "In the meantime, we should check to be sure everything's secure around here."

  "I'm certain it's all shut tight. But I should take Rusty out, then lock up."

  Roman stood. "Okay. I'll do a window-and-door check in all the rooms while you run him outside."

  "Thanks." Gun in hand, she let Rusty out and stood guard over him. Once he finished his business, she brought the dog in and closed and locked the door, then came back to the sofa, laying her gun on the table next to her.

  "Everything secure?" she asked Roman.

  "Yup," he said, getting up from the sofa. "I'm going to get a soda. You want one?"

  "Sure. The coffee didn't help anyway. Any call from Dante yet?"

  "No, not yet."

  She picked up her phone to check it, then frowned. "Hey, it's turned off. What the--"

  Something sharp poked into her arm and she tried to jerk away, but hands held her down. She tried to jump off the sofa, but he held her firmly down as she kicked and flailed against his grip, propelling herself forward even as the drug started to take effect. She rolled onto the floor, him on top of her.

  Rusty was barking. She heard the dog barking. She saw a blur of activity, then a whimper. Then silence.

  Through her hazy, drug-addled vision, she saw Roman rolling her over, smoothing her hair away from her face.

  Her entire body felt like a giant weight had been piled on top of it. She couldn't move, couldn't speak as her vision became warped. Roman's face looked like some kind of monster swimming in front of her.

  She fought to stay awake, to move her limbs, her fingers, anything. But it was no use.

  She couldn't even think straight anymore.

  Why was she panicked? She couldn't remember. She was so tired. All she wanted to do was sleep.

  She blacked out.

  Twenty-Three

  Dante had pushed the accelerator to one-twenty, and it still felt as if he wasn't going fast enough. When he screeched to a halt in front of the house, he already knew it was too late.

  "Front door's ajar," Gabe said as they threw the car doors open and ran inside, guns drawn.

  "Anna!" Dante yelled for her as he pushed the front door open, but he knew with a sinking depth in the pit of his stomach that Roman had taken her.

  He heard Rusty barking and ran to the bedroom, opened the door. The dog bounded out, barking, searching the house for Anna, just the way they were.