Nameless (Sinister Secrets Book 1)

by Candle Sutton

  The plastic cup shook in her hand and Dak gently took it from her and returned it to the bedside tray.

  Dak expelled a long breath. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

  What was the last thing she remembered?

  Memories drifted back. “Nobles. Working undercover. I–I caught a bus?”

  Things started to jumble. She thought she remembered walking in the rain. Something about a guy playing a guitar?

  “You were drugged. We’re pretty sure it was the unsub.” Dak’s soft words contained a concern that brought tears to her eyes. “Do you remember anything about that?”

  “No. I… I remember the rain.” Her stomach lurched and she clawed for the kidney shaped basin beside her bed. With nothing in her stomach, it was mostly dry-heaving, although the little bit of water she’d sipped came back up.

  Dak waited silently while her stomach settled.

  She set the basin on her lap and looked at him, but her eyes refused to bring him into focus. “What did he give me?”

  “It’s a new drug on the streets, Kexatreme, a combination of Rohypnol and Ketamine. When injected it works in seconds.”

  She’d been roofied? Her chest tightened and her breathing restricted. All the cases on which she’d worked or consulted, not to mention the countless assault victims, flooded through her mind. Her breath solidified in her chest.

  “Hey, hey.” Dak leaned in until she fixed her eyes on his. “You’re okay. You managed to create enough noise that a chef at a restaurant heard you. He chased the unsub away.”

  “He… got away?”

  “Yeah.” Dak straightened, running his fingers through his hair and making it look even more wild. “But you’re okay. That’s what matters.”

  “I’ve never heard of that drug.” It was a diversion, she knew it, but her mind needed something to focus on other than being the victim.

  Mixing two drugs like Rohypnol and Ketamine was a dangerous move. Potentially fatal. It was no wonder that the last victim died, especially with the alcohol in her system…

  Why could she remember all that and not last night?

  “I guess the ER docs have seen it a number of times over the past two months. Including five deaths. It knocks victims out in seconds, leaves them unconscious for hours, and wipes out short term memory.”

  The kaleidoscope of colors whirled faster, making her stomach surge again. She closed her eyes against the rainbow sea. “You forgot to mention the hallucinations.”

  “Yeah. That too.”

  Her stomach settled a little as she kept her eyes closed. “Keep talking. I’m listening, but I can’t stand having my eyes open right now.”

  “Let me call the doc.”

  “No. I want to hear more before they come in and mess with me.” She opened her eyes and immediately regretted it. “It’s easier not seeing right now.”

  Dak hesitated, then let his hand fall away from the call button. “Okay. But I really think you oughta let the doc take a look.”

  “Soon. Please. Tell me about last night.” She let her eyes slide closed as he talked about the text she’d sent him.

  Yeah. She remembered that.

  Then he talked about the altercation in the alley.

  It was like listening to a story. She had no memory of it happening, certainly not happening to her.

  A chef had saved her. He’d seen the unsub, although not enough to give them many details. There’d be a sketch.

  Maybe the sketch would jog her memory.

  Surely she’d seen something. She wouldn’t have let that guy attack her without getting a look at his face!

  “You stayed here all night?” She wished she could watch his face and process what she knew she’d see there, but she couldn’t stand the thought of opening her eyes again.

  “I didn’t know that he wouldn’t try again.” Dak sounded slightly apologetic. “The docs wouldn’t put you in ICU where access would be more controlled and I couldn’t get a security detail set up on such short notice.”

  Warmth spread inside her. He was a good guy, sitting up all night at his agent’s bedside. “Thank you.”

  She could sense his discomfort.

  He scuffed his shoe across the tile. “It was the right thing to do.”

  “I still appreciate it. It couldn’t have been fun in that hard chair.”

  “It’s not quite as bad as it looks.”

  She sincerely doubted that, but she let it go. Silence descended for several heartbeats.

  “I’m going to call the doc now.”

  She gave a single nod. Maybe they could give her something that would clear her head.

  Several minutes passed before she heard rubber soled shoes squeak into the room. She forced her eyes open as a young nurse in printed scrubs crossed and took up position beside her bed.

  “Welcome back.” The nurse’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “How are you feeling?”

  The nurse’s pointed look at the basin still sitting in Keyvn’s lap discouraged any false bravado.

  “Awful.” It felt good to admit it. “My head hurts, I can’t see straight, and that stupid beeping is about to drive me crazy.”

  “Well, I can take care of that one.” The nurse adjusted something on the machine and the beeping stopped.

  Finally. One down, still more to go.

  “Let me get the on-call doctor to check you out. Maybe we can do something about that headache.”

  No mention of the vision issues.

  Most likely, that wouldn’t resolve until the drugs worked their way out of her body. She hoped that wouldn’t take too long.

  A white coat filled her vision and a tall, rail-thin doctor with a shaved head towered over her. “You’re a lucky young lady. No signs of assault or trauma. You should feel like your old self in a few days.”

  A few days? She’d really hoped to hear a few hours. “I don’t remember anything.”

  “That’s not uncommon with this drug. Your attacker knew enough to give you a safe dose. We’ve seen quite a few overdose cases with this drug. Some of the victims recovered, but some…” The doctor added a vial of liquid to her IV line. “This should help take the edge off for a while.”

  Now they knew the unsub was versed enough on the drug to calculate how much to inject. Spoke to his preparation and intelligence, if nothing else.

  Better yet, they now knew his drug of choice. “I take it this drug is easy to get on the streets?”

  “It’s gaining traction. Unfortunately. I’m sure most dealers wouldn’t have trouble getting their hands on some.”

  At least they knew their unsub had to have a drug dealer somewhere.

  Although trying to find that guy would be next to impossible. Unless they could isolate the drugs in her system and trace it back to the source.

  Unlikely.

  “When am I getting released?” Not that she felt like moving, but being at home sounded better than being here. More secure, too.

  “Probably not until tomorrow.” The doctor’s smile contained warmth and sympathy. “We’ve seen some dangerous interactions with this drug, so we like to keep people for at least twenty-four hours to ensure no life-threatening side effects. The drug will take several days to work completely from your system, but if it’s going to restrict your airway or impact the heart’s rhythm, it will likely do so within the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”

  A whole day? All she wanted was to go home.

  To her dirty, dusty, project-riddled home.

  Maybe staying here wasn’t as awful as it seemed. At least she wouldn’t have to try to prepare meals.

  Ugh. Not that she could even imagine eating right now.

  The doctor sent Dak out of the room so he could perform an exam.

  The medicine was helping. The pounding in her head had lessened and the blurred vision cleared slightly.

  Dak came back into the room after the doctor left.

  Dark rings hung beneath his eyes
. He tried to smother a yawn and failed.

  “Why don’t you head on home?” Kevyn forced a smile she didn’t feel. “Get some rest?”

  Dak hesitated. “We don’t know that the unsub won’t return.”

  “We don’t know that he will.” Part of her really wished Dak would stay, but that wasn’t fair to him. Especially on a Sunday, when he should be resting and getting ready for the upcoming week. “He hasn’t gotten this far by making careless mistakes. I don’t think he’ll come after me again.”

  Dak weighed the words for a few seconds before nodding. “Okay. I’ll head home and clean up. There’s enough traffic here during the day that he shouldn’t try anything.”

  Honestly, the unsub probably wouldn’t try anything tonight either. If he was as smart as she thought he was, he’d already written her off.

  Which meant he was likely out there now, stalking his next victim.

  Fourteen

  It was like heaven.

  Ebony smiled as she put a slice of bread on top of the last of the sandwiches.

  Jax had been so attentive all day. It made her feel special in a way she’d never felt before.

  Putting the condiments back in the fridge, she paused to touch her flat stomach. The idea of a life growing in there was weird, but kinda cool.

  She’d suspected she was pregnant for well over a week and had been looking for the right time to tell Jax. Last night hadn’t seemed right, but she hadn’t been able to hold it in any longer.

  Now, she was glad she’d told him.

  She hoped she was right, that there was a life in there.

  Surely she was right.

  She hated to think how disappointed Jax would be if she was wrong.

  She took the tray of sandwiches to the dining room, where Jax was settling everyone in for lunch, and deposited a sandwich on everyone’s plate before taking her own seat.

  Oliver picked up his sandwich and took a huge bite, his eyes never leaving his plate.

  Wendy caught her eye and offered a half-smile.

  Stringy hair hung in Ava’s face as the little girl picked at her bread.

  Hmmm. Didn’t appear that Ava was taking care of herself. Had she bathed since they’d brought her here?

  In fact, she was still wearing the same clothes as when Jax had brought her home! Over a full week in the same outfit? Gross!

  She knew Jax had given the girl some other clothes, so why wasn’t she wearing them?

  Maybe she needed someone to mother her. She was pretty young, after all.

  Ebony took a bite. She’d see to it that Ava took a bath today.

  No one made small talk as they ate in silence.

  “Maybe we could play a game later.” Her voice sounded loud in the quiet space. “That would be fun, wouldn’t it?”

  Jax nodded. “Yes. We’ll play a game. Like families do.”

  Wendy swallowed hard, her smile frozen in place.

  “Oh yeah. ‘Cause we’re all one big happy family.” Oliver slammed the remainder of his sandwich down on the plate, which rattled on the table.

  Ebony flicked her gaze to Jax, whose eyes had narrowed and features had hardened.

  Oh no. She never should have brought it up.

  “You got a problem?” Jax’s tone was even. Too even.

  He was about to explode.

  Oliver didn’t seem to notice. “Yeah, there’s a problem, bro. It’s you. This whole place. We ain’t family. Never will be.”

  Ebony sucked in a breath.

  What was Oliver doing? Trying to get Jax riled up?

  Whether that was his goal or not, the blood flooding Jax’s face said it had worked.

  “You listen to me, you ungrateful little loser.” Jax’s voice seethed with barely controlled anger. “We are your family. You went from being all alone to having sisters and a brother. You could try being thankful. I saved you from your pathetic lonely life!”

  Oliver tried to stand up, but the restraints holding him to the chair prevented him from getting far. “Thankful! I’m chained up like some kind of criminal!”

  Jax jumped to his feet. “Your choice! You could be like Ebony. Free to enjoy this place. But freedom is earned.”

  Oliver’s smoldering eyes locked on her. “Oh! So if I become your little–”

  “Enough!” Jax’s voice reverberated off the walls. He stalked around the table, fists clenched.

  This wasn’t going to be pretty.

  She wanted to turn away, but couldn’t.

  Jax slammed his fist into Oliver’s face, then hauled him up by the scruff of his shirt. Blood dripped from Oliver’s nose, trickling down his chin and onto Jax’s hand. Jax didn’t seem to notice.

  “Don’t you ever say anything about Ebony. Ever.”

  Dropping him, Jax unlocked his restraints and dragged him from the room.

  Ebony’s gaze fell to a drop of blood that had landed on Oliver’s plate.

  No one had ever stood up for her before. It felt good.

  Ava’s whimper drew Ebony’s gaze. Large, sad eyes met hers. “I want my dad.”

  Ebony couldn’t stop her gaze from flicking to the doorway. No Jax. Phew.

  She focused on Ava. “You need to forget about him. We are your family now.”

  “Please Ebony.” Wendy’s whisper came from across the table. “You know this is wrong. You have the power to help her. Help us.”

  “Why? Why would I want to do anything that would hurt Jax?”

  “He’s going to kill all of us.” Urgency lined Wendy’s words. “You know he will. As soon as we do something he doesn’t like. He might be killing Oliver right now.”

  No. Jax didn’t need to kill Oliver. Oliver was going to come around. Any day now.

  Maybe. But what if he didn’t?

  What if Jax did decide to kill Oliver? Or Wendy? Or even Ava?

  Was she okay with that?

  Footsteps in the hallway kept her from thinking on the matter too deeply. Jax reappeared in the doorway. Blood no longer marred his hands and his face was calm.

  She loved him so much.

  While she hoped no one else would have to die, Jax would do what he thought was best. And she would support him. No matter what.

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Music blared from inside the apartment, mingling with the kids playing somewhere down the hall and the baby wailing next door. Dak double checked the apartment number before knocking on the door.

  Like they’d even hear him over all that noise.

  No response.

  He tried again.

  Seconds passed. Still nothing.

  Looked like he’d need to wait for a break in the music.

  After what felt like an hour, the song faded. He pounded on the door again, barely making it before a new song started.

  The music abruptly cut off and footsteps crossed toward him.

  The door swung open to reveal a kid in skinny jeans and a t-shirt emblazoned with a rock band’s logo. His longish hair hung into a face which assessed Dak quickly. “Look, dude. Quiet hours don’t start for a while so I got every right to play my tunes.”

  Clearly the kid had been read the riot act before.

  Dak flicked open his badge. “Not why I’m here. Dakarai Lakes, FBI. I’m looking for Daniel Garcia and Max Milligan.”

  Even though he recognized the kid as Daniel Garcia based upon a driver’s license photo, he wanted to give the kid a chance to introduce himself.

  Garcia’s eyes widened. “Whoa. I’m uh, I’m Danny. Max is in here. But we didn’t do nothin’ illegal.”

  “Actually, I think you may have witnessed something that could help with a case I’m working. Okay if I come in?”

  Garcia moved back, allowing Dak to step inside.

  Cardboard pizza boxes sat on the counter and a small pile of dishes listed haphazardly in the sink. A video game, some kind of fighter game from the looks of it, was paused on a massive flat-screen TV.

  Another guy, this one with shaggy dark
blonde hair, lounged in a beanbag chair and watched them approach. Max Milligan.

  Garcia cleared a plate and used napkin from the sofa and gestured for Dak to sit. “Mi casa es su casa, g-man.”

  Turning to Milligan, he whispered in a voice loud enough for Dak to hear, “He’s a Fed.”

  Oh yeah. These two were slick.

  He showed his badge to Milligan. “Dakarai Lakes, FBI. If it’s okay, I’m going to record our conversation so I can remember it later.”

  Pulling a recorder from his pocket, he set it on the ring-stained coffee table between them. “I wanted to ask you two about your time at McCauley’s Tavern Tuesday night.”

  The two stared at him with round eyes.

  “A woman was abducted and killed and I think you might have spoken with the killer.” He pulled a picture of Paula Lennox out and slid it across the table.

  Garcia picked it up. “Yeah. I remember her. She was pretty wasted.”

  “Did you see her after she left? Maybe out in the parking lot?”

  Milligan shook his head, but Garcia lightly backhanded his arm. “No, wait. Hold up. Remember the dude helpin’ his girl?”

  Milligan’s eyes brightened. “Oh yeah. Yeah, I think that was her.”

  Garcia nodded. “I know it was. I remembered ‘cause she had killer legs.”

  “Surveillance video shows you talked to him. Can you tell me about that?”

  Garcia responded first. “Guy almost mowed us down. He was in a hurry to get outta there. Guess that shoulda raised red flags or somethin’ but it was late and his story made sense.”

  At least something did, because these guys weren’t telling him much of anything. “Let’s start at the beginning. You leave the bar, run into this guy…”

  “He was holding the chick up. She was wasted.”

  Yeah, he’d already caught that part of the story.

  Garcia scratched his head. “I asked if he needed help and he said she couldn’t hold her booze and he was takin’ her home. Said their apartment was up the block. We’d seen the girl partyin’ hard inside, so it made sense. We went on our way.”

  “Can you describe this man?” Please God. They needed a solid lead.

  Milligan rubbed the back of his neck. “It was dark and I’d had a good time, so yeah. Wasn’t really lookin’ too close.”