by Dan Padavona
She struggled over to Gardy and supported his head in her lap.
“He’s dead, Gardy. Everything will be all right. You can open your eyes now.”
Gardy remained unresponsive as Bell brushed the hair from his eyes and felt his neck for a pulse.
“He needs help, Wolf. Can you drive?”
When she turned her head, Wolf had disappeared. Her eyes swept across the road and stopped on Christina’s killer. Someone had slit his throat and slid a black sack over his head.
Wolf’s stolen SUV butted up against the killer’s van, the front ends mangled. All around her, night closed in on the lonely roadway. Crickets sang to the stars, and somewhere a cicada buzzed.
“Wolf?”
But he was gone. She wondered if she’d ever see him again.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Bell clutched her aching head and peeked between the Venetian blinds into the interrogation room.
Throwing their weight around, the Fair Haven Beach police had seized control of the Grant Schlosser case. They wouldn’t have control for long. The FBI would rip the case away once they determined Schlosser’s violent crimes crossed state lines. And when they discovered he’d murdered Congresswoman San Giovanni, the feds would nab Schlosser and never let go.
Behind the glass, Chief Sahd and Officer Vargus interviewed Schlosser. Bell smirked at the good cop, bad cop routine when Sahd slammed his fists down on the desk and knocked over a chair. Bell knew the sniper saw her through the glass. He wouldn’t look her in the eye.
She checked her texts and found nothing new. Gardy had been at the hospital for three hours. The prognosis—four busted ribs, a concussion, and a sprained neck. He was lucky to be alive. They all were.
Another hour passed. Sometimes Sahd questioned Schlosser, other times Vargus drew the short straw. Together, they filled multiple pages of notebook paper with Schlosser’s statements. Bell knew the sniper would tell the truth. Wolf was still out there, and he’d find Schlosser if the shooter didn’t confess.
A pall hung over the office. Detective Larrabee weighed on the officers’ minds, but each cop tilted his cap when he met Bell’s eyes. Executing a cop killer won their respect.
The atmosphere grew darker inside the interrogation room. Sahd and Vargus met eyes and glanced back at Bell. After a moment, Sahd strode into the operations area and snatched Bell by the elbow, ushering her into his office. He locked the door. The silence rang in Bell’s ears.
“You realize who Schlosser just implicated,” Sahd said, standing behind his desk and leaning forward on his arms.
“I do.”
“Jesus H…Senator Ewing and the Deputy Director of CIRG. The assassination of a U.S. congresswoman? How did this war converge on my village?”
Vargus, the first police officer to arrive at the coast road, had identified the serial killer. Greg Maxey, a traveling salesman working out of California. The first unlucky CSI tech to pry open a barrel lost her dinner on the blacktop. Their work had just begun. They’d spend a long time identifying the bodies and matching them to missing person cold cases.
“Do yourself a favor, Chief. Put Schlosser in holding and hand the case over to the feds. You know they’ll take charge when they arrive.”
Sahd scratched his forehead.
“I don’t need this shit.”
While two officers led Schlosser to the cells at the back of the office, Bell rubbed her eyes and wondered if Gardy was awake. Yet she couldn’t stop thinking about Wolf. Though she couldn’t justify Wolf stalking and murdering serial killers, she felt empathy. Ewing and Weber took everything from him. His wife, his freedom, his sanity. And now his last remaining family member. Had Bell been in the same position, she might have sought a similar vengeance on serial killers.
Bell collected her bag, expecting a wrap-up meeting with Sahd before she left for the hospital. The doors flew open. Bell’s mouth went dry as Deputy Director Weber and Agent Flanagan strutted into the office.
“I want this woman arrested,” Weber said, pointing at Bell.
The police officer Weber charged with arresting Bell was a thin, short man with a handlebar mustache. He glanced uncertainly at Sahd, who’d wandered out of his office to see what the commotion was.
“Did you hear me? Arrest this woman.”
“On what grounds?” Sahd asked, moving to block Weber.
“Conspiring with a known fugitive and serial killer.”
Sahd removed the cuffs from his hip as Weber grinned. The smile disappeared when Vargus grabbed Weber’s arms and Sahd slapped the cuffs on the deputy director.
“Are you insane?”
“Don Weber, you’re under arrest for conspiracy to murder a United States congresswoman,” Vargus said. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…”
Weber yanked at the cuffs as Vargus read his Miranda rights. As Flanagan edged away, Bell rounded the desk and ensured Weber’s little helper didn’t run.
“Chief Sahd,” Bell said, rounding on Weber. “I’d like two minutes with the deputy director.”
Sahd chewed on the idea before he agreed.
The chief led Weber into the interrogation room. Bell ensured no one looked in on them.
“You’re in over your head,” Weber said, leering at Bell. “These charges won’t stick.”
“Sit down,” Bell said, pushing on Weber’s shoulder.
The Deputy Director of CIRG stared darts into Bell as she drew up a chair and faced him.
“We uncovered BAU documents from 2013. They list Renee Wolf’s nightly routine, cross-referenced with Logan Wolf’s work schedule. This evidence is in the hands of an attorney firm which specializes in law enforcement corruption. When I’m done here, I’ll make sure Congresswoman San Giovanni’s task force members have their own copies. Should anything happen to Gardy or me, the firm will release the information to the US Attorney, the FBI, and the national media.”
Weber raised his chin in defiance, but he swallowed when they locked eyes.
“You were always a disgrace to the BAU, Agent Bell.”
“Unfortunately, you won’t be in a position to accept my letter of resignation. Say hello to Senator Ewing for Lana when you get to prison.”
The first glint of sunshine warmed the eastern sky when Bell arrived at the hospital.
His ribs bandaged, Gardy slept fitfully on the hospital bed. Bell pulled a chair beside the bed and watched him. The senior agent wore a boyish expression as his eyes swiveled beneath closed lids. Dreaming of a better time and place.
Two orderlies chuckled in the hallway. Bell closed the door and settled into the chair. Checking her phone, she noticed a message from Harold from an hour ago. He wanted to know how Gardy was doing. Bell exhaled. Harold was safe. She returned a quick text and urged Harold to get out of Virginia for a few weeks. Take that vacation he’d put off all year.
Bell didn’t realize she’d fallen asleep until the nurse brushed against her while checking on Gardy. As Bell straightened Gardy’s blanket, her partner assessed her through thin slits for eyes.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, knowing it was a meaningless question. She could imagine the amount of pain he experienced.
“Doctor says the ribs will heal on their own, but it will take months before I’m myself. How about you?”
Bell shrugged. Her body ached as though she’d crashed a car and flipped into a ditch.
“I’ll recover, but the rental company will be pissed.”
Gardy gave his Muttley the cartoon dog snicker and clutched his ribs.
When they were alone again, Bell filled Gardy in on the night’s proceedings. The Fair Haven Beach police arrested Weber and turned him over to the FBI. The rumor of Senator Ewing’s impending arrest had leaked to the press.
“What about Wolf?” Gardy groaned.
“He’s gone. For good this time, I think.”
“Don’t count on it.”
“The
crazy part is the momentum is on his side. The police cleared his name regarding Christina’s death, and it’s inevitable the FBI will do the same with his wife’s murder. In the eyes of the law, he’ll be an innocent man.”
Gardy looked toward the window. The deep blue sky spoke of optimism and new beginnings.
“Sure, if you don’t count the serial killers Wolf murdered.”
Bell leaned closer and threw a glance over her shoulder. The door stood closed.
“There’s a serious issue with those murders.”
“Educate me.”
“Wolf never left DNA. The FBI has surveillance footage of Wolf in the area for two murders, but they can’t convict him on a couple random sightings. And his modus operandi?” Bell raised an eyebrow. “Turns out a certain serial killer used the same method to kill Wolf’s wife and sister.”
“And now that serial killer is dead, and the FBI thinks he’s responsible for Wolf’s murders. Very convenient for your friend.”
Bell looked down. Her hands rested on the bed a few inches from his. A silence borne of lost opportunities and regrets passed between them. Sitting this close, Bell couldn’t deny her feelings for Gardy. She wished once, just once, he’d shown the same interest in her. In recent months Gardy seemed on the verge of bonding with Bell. Gardy never followed through, and that told Bell he’d never take the next step.
“You’re leaving the FBI,” he said, dropping his eyes.
It wasn’t a question. Bell had reached the end of the road, and Gardy read the lack of direction and purpose in her eyes. She was lost.
“Yes.”
He bit his lip and picked at an invisible piece of lint on the blanket. After a moment, he nodded.
“So this is the end. For us, I mean.”
A tear tracked down her face. She’d entered the FBI to avenge her childhood best friend, a girl who died young after a serial killer stole her from the world. When the killer resurfaced, Bell ensured he’d never hurt anyone again. Through her brief career with the BAU, she always believed better days awaited her.
With Weber in jail and Ewing’s arrest imminent, Bell accepted better days would never arrive while she worked for the FBI.
But she couldn’t abandon Gardy now. He looked broken inside and out.
“You aren’t getting rid of me that easily. I’ll have plenty of free time. Who better to check on you while you rehabilitate your injuries?”
“No, you should go on with your life, Bell. Don’t wait around for me. I’ll only slow you down.”
She stared down at her hands, wishing he’d asked her to stay. For him, she would have. Then she set her hands against the bed and stood.
“If you’re certain.”
“I’m certain I want you to be happy.”
She turned and opened the door. Once she stepped outside of this room, there would be no turning back. They’d see each other at the criminal proceedings and the case debriefing, but the gap between them would be too large to bridge.
When she looked over her shoulder, Gardy’s chin dropped to his chest.
“What if happiness means having you in my life?” Gardy asked.
Bell smiled. Maybe she’d stick around a little longer.
***
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Author’s Acknowledgment
The Scarlett Bell series would not be possible without the encouragement, support, and efforts from my patrons.
Tim Feely
Lisa Forlow
Steve Gracin
Michelle Kennedy
Dawn Spengler
I value each one of you more than I can express. Thank you for believing in me.
The world of entertainment has changed. While I enjoy movies, I watch Netflix series and comparable programming more frequently. Movies are too short to match the story and character arcs of a well-written series, and that’s why I favor a long series of novellas over a few novels.
I prefer a long series which I can lose myself in, but broken up into smaller, manageable episodes that don’t take up my entire evening.
In short, I’m writing the types of stories I enjoy and composing them into forms I find preferable.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the Scarlett Bell series as much as I love writing it.
How many episodes can you expect? Provided the series is well-received by readers, I don’t foresee a definite end and would prefer to expand on the characters and plot lines for the foreseeable future. I still have plenty of devious ideas for upcoming stories.
Stay tuned!
Copyright Information
Published by Dan Padavona
Visit our website at www.danpadavona.com
Copyright © 2019 by Dan Padavona
Artwork copyright © 2019 by Dan Padavona
Cover Design by eBookLaunch
All Rights Reserved
Although some of the locations in this book are actual places, the characters and setting are wholly of the author's imagination. Any resemblance between the people in this book and people in the real world is purely coincidental and unintended.
About the Author
Dan Padavona is the author of the The Scarlett Bell thriller series, Severity, The Dark Vanishings series, Camp Slasher, Quilt, Crawlspace, The Face of Midnight, Storberry, Shadow Witch, and the horror anthology, The Island. He lives in upstate New York with his beautiful wife, Terri, and their children, Joe, and Julia. Dan is a meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service. Besides writing, he enjoys visiting amusement parks, beach vacations, Renaissance fairs, gardening, playing with the family dogs, and eating ice cream.
Visit Dan at: www.danpadavona.com
