Desired in Darkness

by Heather Sunseri

  Director Waller rubbed his hand back and forth across his chin, letting the request hang in the air between the two men for several moments. “Fine. I don’t like getting her involved, but I agree. She knows more than any of us.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

  “One more thing,” Director Waller said. “Before you rejoin the party, call and get an analyst working on who hacked into my email to give you orders to lay off this case.”

  “I’ll get right on it.”

  “Where’s your partner, by the way?”

  “Salazar’s on vacation with his family. Caribbean. Due back today.”

  “I want to see you both Monday morning, along with Miles Holbrook. You can bring in Brooke afterwards.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Director Waller looked at his watch. “Well, it looks like Hendricks has been held up, and I’ve got a party to host. So if you’ll excuse me…”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The director turned and walked back toward the house to rejoin the party, leaving his agent standing right where I wanted him.

  Donaldson immediately made a phone call like a dutiful servant following the director’s commands. He barked some orders, apologized for being harsh—wuss—then hung up, giving me the perfect opportunity to move in.

  I slipped out from behind the tractor. “Hello, Agent Donaldson.”

  Donaldson started to reach for his service weapon, but when he saw he was staring into the barrel of a Glock 17, cocked and ready, he held his hands out to his sides. “What do you want?”

  “First, nice and easy, pick up your gun by the grip, with your index finger and thumb only, lower it to the ground, and slide it over to me. One wrong move, and I’ll put a round between your eyes.”

  Agent Donaldson was no idiot. He did exactly as I ordered, placing his gun on the ground and sliding it toward me with his foot.

  “Now your secondary weapon.”

  The agent paused several seconds before kneeling and grabbing the gun from his ankle holster. He slid that one over to me, too. I placed both guns in my waistband.

  “Now walk,” I said.

  At least he had the decency to appear scared. “Walk where?”

  “Toward the tractor.”

  He took several steps.

  “Keep going. Enter the stall.” I flipped a switch, lighting the stall. It was littered with old straw in the corners and appeared not to have been used for a long time. If this had once been a horse barn, it was now strictly for holding equipment and supplies.

  Donaldson walked into the stall, then turned to me. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

  “What way is that?”

  “You don’t have to kill me. I’m ready to hand over this case to someone else, someone who will have to start from scratch. I won’t share any evidence I have on you. I have a child on the way. I won’t do anything to jeopardize my unborn child or my wife. I’ll walk away. Come on, Harrison. I know we can work something out.”

  “The way you and Teddy worked something out?”

  Donaldson cocked his head. “Wha—”

  “Shut up!” I yelled, gripping the gun tighter. “Why haven’t you told Brooke what you know about the night Teddy was killed?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  But the knowing look I was hoping for crept onto Donaldson’s face. That look would be the last expression Brooke saw before Mike dropped. And with that look, she would know that what I planned to tell her was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

  Chapter 13

  Brooke

  Declan and I stood in my father’s study, looking for any sign of Romeo’s presence. “There’s nothing. I don’t see anything.”

  “What are you two doing in here?” Mom asked from the doorway. “We have a house full of guests out there.”

  I glanced at Declan. “I know. I’m sorry, Mom.” I didn’t want her to know that I suspected my stalker was somewhere on her property before I knew for certain there was reason for concern. “Declan and I were having an argument, and I didn’t want your guests to witness it.”

  “Oh.” She straightened. “Well, is everything okay?”

  Declan grabbed my hand. “Yes, ma’am. Just a minor disagreement about wedding dates.”

  She pounced on that. “And? What did you decide?”

  I squeezed Declan’s hand. Hard. Of all the arguments he could have chosen. “We decided to table the discussion until we got home.” I smiled sweetly.

  “Well,” Mom said, “I thought we had settled on June.”

  No, she had settled on June. She hadn’t asked Declan or me if that date was okay. “It’s definitely on the table,” I said. “But let’s discuss it later. For now, we have guests.” I gestured for Mom to lead the way, then gave Declan a look of relief.

  When we were back in the foyer at the entrance to the living room, Mom excused herself to go check on the caterers, and I spotted someone I’d been looking for ever since this party started.

  “Granddad!”

  “There’s my favorite granddaughter.”

  I walked into his arms. “Where have you been?”

  “I couldn’t figure out what shoes to wear with this monkey suit.”

  I looked down at his Italian leather black dress shoes, then smiled up at him. “Where’s Grandma?”

  “I’m right here.” Grandma walked over and gave me a tight squeeze, then stepped back. “My, my, my. I think you’ve gotten prettier since I last saw you, if that is even possible.”

  “You must be the man who has stolen my grandbaby’s heart,” Granddad said to Declan, who was standing behind me.

  I snuggled into him, latching on to his arm. “He is.”

  Granddad and Grandma traded handshakes with Declan, and almost immediately, Granddad began talking horses and offering to “buy” Declan a drink.

  “I would love that, Mr. Fairfax.”

  Granddad put an arm around Declan and ushered him toward the living room where the party was in full swing, leaving Grandma and me to watch them go.

  “Well, that wasn’t very gentlemanly, was it?” Grandma said. “But it gives me the chance to ask you: how’s your mother doing? Is she suffocating you?”

  “No.” I waved a hand and smiled. “I’m handling it.”

  The front door opened, and some late-arriving guests entered. Just before the door closed, I thought I heard what sounded like two distant gunshots outside. But apparently no one else heard them, based on the lack of reactions, and then the front door closed, and the sound of the band, laughter, and people talking took over again. Had I imagined it?

  “How about you and I find your mother and make sure she’s not working her staff too hard?” Grandma said. “We don’t want them quitting before the party is over.”

  I laughed. “That’s a good idea. You go ahead. I’ll be right behind you. I just need a moment to powder my nose.”

  “Okay, honey.” Grandma gave my hand a quick squeeze, then went in search of Mom.

  I spotted Declan huddled in the corner with Granddad and Dad. Declan’s eyes met mine, and he lifted his chin in my direction, silently asking me to come save him. I lifted a finger, letting him know I would only be a moment.

  I was almost positive I’d heard gunshots—a handgun, if I had to guess. And if I was right about Romeo being on the property…

  I went to the front door and was about to go outside to investigate when Bartholomew stopped me. “I beg your pardon, Miss Fairfax, but you cannot go out like that. It’s freezing.”

  “Oh, thank you, you’re right.” I knew Mom kept several coats and jackets in the front hall closet. I grabbed a long camel-colored cashmere coat and slipped it on before stepping onto the grand front porch.

  It was much quieter out here. There were no other guests, just a few valet drivers standing at the bottom of the steps, shuffling from foot to foot, trying to stay warm.

  “Excuse me,” I said. “Did
any of you hear what sounded like gunshots a few moments ago?”

  A young boy with bleached white hair laughed as if I were crazy. “No, ma’am. That was just a car backfiring.”

  “What car?” I glanced up the long drive that would take guests back to the road. I saw distant taillights from a car nearing that road.

  Another of the valets spoke up. He was taller than his friends and rather good-looking. He wore winter gloves and a heavy University of Virginia fleece jacket. “The sound came from the barn over there.” He pointed to the barn that was once used as an emergency foaling shed, but now housed Dad’s mower and farm equipment. “But a vehicle peeled away from the barn right after the sounds, so we just thought it was backfiring.”

  “You have a flashlight?”

  “Ma’am?”

  “A flashlight!” I demanded. “Or a phone.”

  The valet pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight app for me.

  “Thank you.” I took the phone from him and began the walk toward the barn. Call it intuition, or call it a hunch, but I knew something was wrong.

  I stopped in my tracks. I was being reckless. If I had indeed heard a gunshot from that barn, then it was beyond foolish for me to go in there alone and unarmed to investigate. I decided to call Dad.

  He answered on the second ring. “Director Waller.”

  “Dad,” I said.

  “Brooke? Whose phone are you calling from?”

  “Where did you speak to Mike?”

  “What?”

  “Agent Donaldson. Where did you speak with him? I heard a gunshot, and he didn’t return to the party.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Your valets heard what might have been a gunshot coming from your equipment barn. And I think Romeo is here somewhere.”

  “Stop where you are,” he said, suddenly understanding what I was saying. “Do not go near that barn. I’m on my way.”

  My hand shook as the phone went silent. Less than fifteen seconds later, Dad came flying down the porch steps. Two agents with weapons drawn were with him, and Declan was right behind them.

  Dad and the agents passed me.

  “What are you doing out here?” Declan asked. “What’s going on?”

  Unable to control my instincts, I jogged after Dad and the agents. Declan went with me.

  As I entered the barn, Dad and the two men stood at the entrance to the stall where I remembered a broodmare foaling as a young girl. Dad was yelling expletives and ordering his men to call the other agents and get them out here.

  I walked forward until I saw what they were seeing.

  A hand flew to my mouth as I saw Mike lying in a pool of blood. His eyes were wide and glassy. I spun around and buried my face into Declan’s chest.

  “Get her out of here,” Dad yelled.

  Declan put an arm around me and ushered me out of the barn.

  “Wait.” I stopped just outside the doorway and turned back to my father. “Marie is here.”

  Dad ran a hand through his hair. “Yes. And we have a house full of people. And a dead agent.” He looked at one of the men with him. “Hendricks, call the sheriff’s office. I’m going to need to tell Marie before my entire property is turned into a crime scene. Wait… Where were you earlier?”

  “Sir? I’ve been inside at the service entry all night.”

  “I received a message to meet you out here.”

  “Not from me, sir.”

  “Dad…” I said. “Hendricks didn’t send that message.”

  He looked at me, and we both knew.

  Woodford Clay Harrison had just killed Mike Donaldson.

  Chapter 14

  Brooke

  Mom and Dad stood at the front door, saying goodbye to their guests. Many of them hugged my mom sweetly and wished her well. But by the looks on their faces and the cupped hands over their mouths, this would be the event on everyone’s lips for years to come.

  “This was Romeo. I know it was,” I said under my breath to Ty and Declan.

  Neither of them disagreed.

  Aidan and Marti approached us. Marti wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I can’t believe someone killed Agent Donaldson.”

  I hugged her back. “Thank you. I know.”

  Aidan spoke to Declan. “We’re going to head out—unless you need anything from us.”

  Declan gripped his hand. “No, we’re fine. You guys staying close?”

  Marti smiled sweetly. “Yeah. We found a quaint bed and breakfast up the road a bit. We can come back in the morning if you need us.”

  “No,” I said. “You guys enjoy the rest of your weekend. And be careful out on the roads. They could be slick.”

  “I’ll see you Tuesday?” Marti said.

  “That’s the plan.” Declan and I would travel back to Kentucky on Monday, after the stupid all-day photo shoot Mom had scheduled for me on Sunday.

  Marti gave me one last hug, then she and Aidan headed for the door, where FBI were waiting to check their IDs on the way out.

  “What do you need from me?” Ty asked.

  “I suppose nothing for tonight. ERT is here. The investigators will have to do their thing. But you and I both know that this was Romeo. Just like the shooting in Georgetown was Romeo. So if you don’t mind, be available tomorrow? You and I might need to hunt down some of my old classmates. I’ll call you, though. Not sure how to proceed, or if I’ll even be allowed near the case.”

  Declan gave me a stern look of disapproval. He didn’t want me to get involved in this murder investigation, but surely he understood that I was already knee-deep. He had to know this. Mike’s death was a message for me. It was Romeo’s next move in this never-ending chess match. And a bold move at that.

  “I’ll be available,” Ty said. “James and I will check into a hotel out this way instead of going back to the city.”

  “Thank you.” I hugged both him and James, and they, too, left.

  When Declan and I were alone, he lifted his fingers to push a loose lock of hair back behind my ear. “You seem sure that this was Romeo.”

  “Aren’t you?” I said.

  He tilted his head from side to side. “It could have been him. But we don’t have the facts yet. You should let the investigators do their jobs.”

  “Let the investigators do their jobs, huh?” I nodded, swallowing hard. “You’re scared I’m going to get involved.”

  “Isn’t that what you’re thinking? You’re thinking that if this was Romeo, that you were the target.”

  “How can I not think that?” My voice cracked. I’d been fighting back emotion while saying goodbye to guests. It was all just too overwhelming.

  “Brooke, Harrison is a sick and twisted individual. You and I both know he’s responsible for several murders. Possibly more.” He led me over to a pair of chairs beside the fireplace. We sat, and Declan took my hands in his. “This man has followed you for God knows how long, and he’s taken a personal interest in everything about your life. I hired Dimitri, the best intelligence guy I know, to hunt him down, and Harrison has given him the slip time and time again.”

  Declan looked down at our intertwined hands. When he lifted his head again, his eyes were shadowed by furrowed brows. “Harrison scares me, Brooke. He scares Dimitri, too, and not much scares Dimitri. His crimes have escalated. I’m afraid if you get sucked into this investigation and get closer to catching the son of a bitch, he’ll…”

  Declan bowed his head again, unable to finish the sentence.

  I cupped his cheek with my hand, making him look at me. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

  He leaned into my palm.

  Mom, Dad, and my grandparents entered the room. I stood but didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure what to say at this point. Declan stood behind me.

  “I had a couple of agents take Marie home,” Dad said.

  “How was she?” I asked.

  “Hysterical. Her parents are going to meet her at her
house, as will her doctor. They want to make sure she doesn’t go into premature labor.”

  “Understandable.”

  “Bless that poor child’s heart,” Grandma said. “There are so many sick bastards in the world.”

  I widened my eyes. Grandma didn’t often speak harshly, but when she did…

  “Brooke,” Mom said, “why don’t you and Declan go to bed? There’s nothing you can do tonight.”

  “Are you sure? I can help clean up.”

  “No, the caterers are about done putting away the food. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”

  “Your mom’s right,” Dad said. “We’ve already got more investigators and detectives out there than we really need. Hopefully the evidence will be clearer when the sun is up tomorrow.” Though Dad’s voice was filled with authority, he looked exhausted, and the pain of losing an agent was etched in the creases of his forehead.

  “Okay.” I gave Grandma and Granddad hugs. “You two be careful going home. Let Dad send an agent with you to check things out at your house.”

  “You be sure to come see your grandma and me before you head back to Kentucky, you hear?” Granddad said.

  “Of course.”

  With my hand in Declan’s, I led him upstairs. But instead of sending Declan to the guest room, I pulled him in the direction of my own room—the room where I’d spent my childhood.

  We shut the door behind us, and Declan wasted no time pushing me gently against the door there in the darkness. He locked my hands in a hold above my head with one hand and kissed me. Pressing his body against me, he let his lips linger on mine as he ran his other hand along the side of my body, stirring feelings that he probably shouldn’t stir under the circumstances.

  But then again, the night called for some sort of release of tension. A man had been murdered, and the police and FBI were no closer to having Romeo in their custody than they were before the murder.

  Declan drew his head back, but kept a hold on my hands. I could barely make out the whites of his eyes. “I’m going to promise you one thing right now,” he said. “I will never let Romeo get close enough to hurt you.”