Malice

by Anne Patrick

  "You're welcome," Jo said. Taking the girl's hand, she added, "I know you don't feel like it now, but you're going to need to talk about what happened to you."

  "I know," she said softly. Then meeting Jo's gaze, her smile faded. "The things he did to me I will never be able to forget, but knowing I was fortunate enough to survive, I'm determined not to let it ruin my life. I figure I owe at least that to those who didn't."

  "You're going to be just fine," Jo said before releasing her hand. She barely made it to the door before the young woman called out to her.

  "Hey, Jo, you're going to make a wonderful mother."

  Jo turned and smiled before leaving the room.

  Isaac and Agent Ryan were in the waiting room when she returned. "How's she doing?" the young profiler asked.

  "She's going to be okay." Jo turned to the girl's mother. "You have a very brave daughter, Mrs. Dewitt."

  "An attribute I'm afraid she's going to need for a long time to come."

  "With a lot of love and support, she'll be fine."

  "I hope you're right." She stepped forward and gave Jo a hug. "I can't thank you enough for all you've done."

  Jo smiled. It felt good to finally have a happy ending. "I'll get back in touch with her in a few days. In the meantime, a local deputy will be taking her statement."

  "Okay, I'll tell her. Thanks again."

  "You're welcome."

  *****

  "We got a positive ID on Briggs from one of the truck drivers," Agent Ryan began to fill Jo in the moment they got into their car. "He'd pulled into the truck stop to fill up and get something to eat. He'd visited with the victim while he gassed up, and later spotted her with Briggs coming around the side of the building. He said they appeared to know one another. It wasn't until the deputy came in asking questions about the abandoned cruiser that he got suspicious."

  "Briggs watched her talking to him. Then after waiting for her to come out of the bathroom, he showed her his old badge, told her he'd been following the truck driver because he suspected him of transporting drugs, and wanted to know what they'd spoken about. After walking her to the car he pulled the gun on her."

  "Is that your version or hers?" Agent Ryan asked.

  "Both." She turned to Isaac. "We're they able to get anything useful from the car?" she asked.

  "I had it towed back to Louke. They're still working on it."

  Glancing at her watch, she saw it was almost three in the afternoon. Austin would still be at work. She took out her cellphone and dialed the number for the sheriff's office again, hoping the third time would be the charm. "Slim, it's me again. Is he back yet?"

  "Sorry, Jo, I gave him your message, though."

  Slim was Austin's right hand man and a dear friend to both of them, but she suspected he had been lying on the first two occasions as well as now. Not wanting to put him on the spot, she accepted his words and decided to leave it at that. "Thanks, Slim," she said and hung up. She'd lived with her husband long enough to know his temper tantrums were as bad as hers.

  "He still pouting?" Isaac asked.

  She met his amused expression. "I have a feeling I'm going to pay dearly for this." Jo leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes, hoping to get another nap in before they got back to Louke.

  "Are you feeling okay?" Isaac asked just as she'd shut her eyes.

  "Yeah, I'm just tired," she replied, not even bothering to open her eyes. "Lugging around an extra twenty-five or thirty pounds, you wear out faster."

  "When are you supposed to go back to the doctor?" he asked.

  "Next week," she answered somewhat apprehensively. It was an appointment she didn't look forward to, fearing Dr. Reinhart would insist she take her maternity leave.

  "What day?"

  "Wednesday or Thursday, I'm not sure which."

  "Don't you think you ought to be finding out?"

  Giving up on the nap, she sat up and turned to him. "What are you, my father now?" He raised an eyebrow at her and she quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. I've got it written down back at the motel. I just haven't looked."

  "How many more weeks are you going to be able to work?" Agent Ryan started in on her now.

  "Three, maybe." In case her doctor thought otherwise, Jo decided to test the young woman to see if she was prepared to take her place. "You've tracked Briggs since DC, what are your thoughts on him?"

  "I think you're right about him seeking revenge, but I think it goes beyond his sisters."

  "How so?"

  "I'm not sure yet, but if you noticed in the videos, he didn't seem as nervous as you'd expect of someone fairly new to robbery, which tells me he's confident and completely focused in his mission. The fact he managed to get away with his crimes in Maine no doubt was a major boost to his otherwise low self-image, and the reason he has decided to make contact with you tells me he sees you as a worthy adversary. Someone he can go one on one with."

  Jo grinned as she turned to Isaac. "She's a keeper."

  "What made you choose the Behavioral Analysis Unit?" Isaac inquired.

  "Actually, it was Agent McDaniels who first got me interested in profiling."

  "Oh yeah?" Jo spoke as she turned in the seat again.

  "I'd been in the field a couple of years when I watched you at a news conference in Maine. I'd taken psychology in college and had done a lot of reading on serial killers. I thought being a profiler might be something I could be good at. I never realized it'd be this tough though. I thought I'd be able to keep my self-detached, but you can't, can you?"

  "Sometimes it's very hard to," Isaac spoke before Jo had a chance to.

  "They become a part of you whether you want them to or not," Jo added.

  "So I've noticed."

  "Just keep reminding yourself it's only a job and you're only human."

  Jo gave a dry laugh at Isaac's advice. "And it helps to have someone to talk to."

  "You worked in a medical examiner's office almost as long as you have for the FBI, what made you switch careers?"

  Jo exchanged a smile with Isaac before answering the young agent's question. "I was convinced my time and talents would be better utilized with the bureau."

  "He was right. Thanks to agents like you and him, Psychological Profiling is taken more seriously than it was ten or twenty years ago."

  "There are still plenty out there like Chief Benzali who refuse to acknowledge its attributes in helping to apprehend and convict guys like Briggs."

  "True."

  "Regardless of how you feel about the chief, I need you to be on your best behavior at the funeral," Isaac said, glancing toward Jo.

  "You have my word," she promised, all the while doubting she could control her tongue when it came to that man.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  Jo was glad the family had chosen graveside services, and she was genuinely moved when most of the town had gathered along Main Street for the procession. With several of the neighboring towns' law enforcement showing up for the service, there was a larger crowd than she had anticipated and she was forced to stand along with a large majority of the crowd near the back.

  Through the years, she'd attended more funerals than she cared to remember of fallen comrades killed in the line of duty, each a sober reminder of her own mortality, and added guilt for not being able to attend her own father's funeral. Yet another hero brought down in the prime of life, his demise coming in the form of a massive heart attack while serving as sheriff back in her own hometown. Though Harland Briggs was in no way responsible for her father's death, Jo blamed him for robbing her of the honor of paying her final respects. It was the very day of his funeral that life as she had known it came to a shattering end, catapulting her into a darkness like none she'd ever known. A darkness she prayed she'd never know again.

  "How are you holding up?" Isaac asked, standing beside her.

  "I'm okay."

  "You want me to get you a chair."

  "No, I'm fine."

  She s
canned the huge crowd of mourners. Most were fellow law enforcement. Amongst them was also a large following of friends huddled around the family in support. Chief Benzali had his arm draped across the shoulder of his wife while he held the hand of a young woman whom Jo assumed was a daughter. He looked as shattered today as he had at the crime scene, appearing as if he'd had no more than a few hours of sleep in the last few days, which was about as much as she had managed.

  In the last two days, she'd spoken to Austin only once, and that had amounted to about five minutes of mostly silence. Although hurt by his behavior, she really couldn't blame him. Hopefully with some time off she could mend things with him.

  Jo jerked involuntarily as the honor guards fired their rifles, and she had to turn away when Mrs. Benzali was presented with the flag from her son's coffin to the sound of "Taps" being played.

  As the crowd began to disperse, she and Isaac followed the rest of the taskforce back toward their cars. "Agent Washington," a voice called out.

  They turned in unison to see Chief Benzali approaching. Isaac offered him his hand. "It was a nice service, Chief."

  "Yes it was. Thanks for coming. Have you heard anything more?"

  "No, I'm afraid not. We've put out a BOLO on the Monte Carlo, and all the local news stations are running a new composite of him along with a description of the car and its tag number during their newscasts. Hopefully someone will spot it."

  Chief Benzali nodded, and then slowly turned to Jo, his eyes leveling on her. "If what you say is true, that you know Briggs better than anyone, this is on you for letting him get away the first time."

  Jo stared after the grieving man as he walked away.

  "Don't let him get to you, Jo. He's hurting. It's not your fault that Briggs got away. You did your job in Maine. You gave an accurate profile. It isn't your fault they dismissed it."

  "I know that, Isaac, but that doesn't help to still the voices crying out for justice." When he gave no reply, she continued. "I thought I might go and see Debra Dewitt, see if she remembers anything else that could be useful to us."

  "She'll be here when you get back. I'll set up an interview with her."

  "I'd rather…"

  "This isn't a request, Jo. It's an order. I don't want to see your face again until Monday morning."

  Knowing it'd do little good to argue, she nodded in agreement. "Will you call me if there's a break in the case?"

  "Farrell, drive her to the airport and make sure she gets on that plane."

  "Will you please call me, Isaac?"

  "Get out of here, Jo. I'm not telling you again."

  *****

  Slim was behind the counter when Jo entered the sheriff's office. A dear friend to both her and Austin, he had played a key role in getting them together ten months ago. "Don't even think about lying to me, old man. I saw his Cherokee parked out back, so I know he's here," she said as she approached the counter.

  He picked up the phone, glancing at her at the same time. "Can I at least warn him you're here?"

  "Not unless you want your hand broken."

  He gave a sheepish grin before placing the phone back in its cradle. A seasoned deputy, having worked for her father as well, and two years short of retirement, he wasn't stupid. "Be nice, Jo. He's had a rough couple of days."

  "Yeah, well, mine haven't exactly been a picnic," she snapped before continuing down the hall.

  Austin briefly glanced up as she entered the office, and then lowered his gaze back to the papers in his hand. "I must have missed the breaking news. When did you catch him?"

  "We haven't"

  "Then why are you here?"

  Jo hesitated. It wasn't the welcome she had hoped to hear. She didn't blame him for still being upset, but there was no need to be so cruel. "I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I wanted to be here for Bailey's prom."

  "I'm sure she'll appreciate the gesture. I didn't think they could do without you though."

  Ignoring his sarcasm, she took a seat across from his desk. "What are you working on?"

  "My speech for the council meeting next Monday."

  "Have they agreed to put it on November's ballot?"

  "Depends on how well they like my speech."

  "Can I hear it?"

  "It's not finished."

  "Well, can I hear what you have so far?"

  "Why are you here, Jo?"

  "Because you won't talk to me on the phone."

  "I just talked to you yesterday."

  "You know what I mean." Then with a frustrated sigh, she stood and walked around the desk. Leaning against it for support, she glanced down at him and waited until he met her gaze. "Three years ago, Harland Briggs played a large part in sending me to what I can only describe as the closest place to hell as I ever want to be. But that was a walk in the park compared to what I've gone through these past few days. He almost cost me my sanity. I'm not about to let him ruin my marriage."

  He put down the papers, his glare softening. "How did you expect me to react, Jo? I'm your husband. We're supposed to be able to talk to one another."

  "I know, and you're right, but--"

  "Sorry to interrupt, but we just got a report of a rollover out on Burlington Road," Slim announced, sticking his head in the door. "Don't know how many injuries, an ambulance has been dispatched."

  Jo watched as Austin stood, glancing at her at the same time. "I've got to take this, Jo. We're shorthanded and all my other deputies are out on calls." He brushed a kiss past her lips and was out the door before she even had a chance to react.

  *****

  A familiar Jewel song blared from the stereo as Jo entered the front door. The aroma of brownies bringing a smile to her lips, she set her suitcase near the stairs and continued through the house to the kitchen to find Bailey seated at the table, engrossed in an open textbook. "Can you hear that all right?"

  The teenager jumped. "Jeez, Jo, don't scare me like that."

  "Sorry. What's for dinner?"

  "Meatloaf, and brownies for dessert. What are you doing home? Did you already get the guy?"

  "No. I needed a break, so I took the rest of the week off."

  "Aren't you feeling well?"

  Surprised by the alarm in Bailey's voice, Jo tossed her a smile. "I'm feeling okay." She pulled out the chair next to Bailey and sat down. "So how are you doing? Are you all ready for the prom?"

  Shoving back in her chair, Bailey shook her head. "I can't find a prom dress, at least not one I like. Grandma has taken me to a few places, but…"

  "Say no more. As soon as you get out of school tomorrow, we're going to the mall," Jo promised, knowing her mother's style in clothing was ancient.

  Bailey tossed her a wary smile. "You're kidding, but Dad said I could only spend a hundred bucks."

  "I'll advance you some money toward your allowance if I have to; we've got to find you a dress. The prom is this weekend."

  "Sweet. Thanks, Jo."

  "You're welcome. Now, why don't you go on up to your room to finish your homework while I set the table." Bailey quickly gathered her books and started from the room. "And could you please turn down the stereo."

  Pausing in the doorway, the teenager turned back to her. "I know you didn't come home just because of my prom, but I'm glad you'll be here. Dad's pretty freaked out over it."

  Jo nodded, keeping to herself the fact the prom wasn't the only thing he was upset about.

  *****

  "Bailey tells me you two are going shopping tomorrow when she gets out of school," Austin commented later that evening as he helped her with the dishes.

  At least they were talking. It was a huge improvement over the icy reception she received upon her arrival. "We're going to find a prom dress."

  "She's been looking for weeks. Hasn't she found one yet?"

  "We're talking prom here, Austin. No ordinary dress is going to do."

  "That might be kind of hard to accomplish with only a hundred dollars."

  "
Which is why I told her we'd give her an advance on her allowance," she announced, avoiding his look of obvious disapproval.

  "You sure that's such a good idea?"

  "A hundred bucks barely buys a decent pair of jeans and a blouse now days."

  "That isn't what I meant. I know what you're doing, Jo, and I think she's taking advantage of it."

  It took her a few seconds to catch his drift. "You think I'm trying to buy my way back into her good graces."

  "Aren't you?"

  Hurt that he thought she would stoop to such levels, she turned and leveled her glare steady on him. "I don't know about you, but I was paying pretty close attention when we spoke our vows, especially to the part about, for better or worse. I took those words to mean that we were to stand by one another in both good and bad times, and to forgive one another when we screw up, but I guess that's just my interpretation." She then spun around and left the room, almost running into Bailey as she approached the kitchen. "Sorry," she said, as she brushed on past her en route to the stairs, wishing she'd stayed in Minnesota.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  "How are we doing, Jo?" Dr. Reinhart asked as she entered the examining room.

  "I don't know, you tell me."

  The doctor glanced at her briefly before pulling back the sheet to expose Jo's belly. "You seem tense. Everything okay?"

  "It's just been a rough couple of weeks."

  "Personal or professional?"

  "Both, actually. I'm just ready for this to be over with."

  "Scoot down for me," the doctor instructed as she took Jo's ankles and placed them in the stirrups. "A few more weeks and it'll all be over with and you'll have a beautiful baby."

  The nurse came in and the doctor began her examination as Jo closed her eyes and let her thoughts drift back over the events of the previous day. She had hoped her surprise arrival would be a sign of good faith to Austin, and though he had tried to mend the rift between them last night, his remark about trying to buy Bailey's love had stung her deeply. So deeply, she had avoided him the rest of the night by adding the finishing touches to the nursery. As if sensing she was upset, Bailey had checked in on her every half hour or so, asking her if she needed a hand moving something, or if she could bring her something to drink. She hadn't seen Austin again until he stuck his head in around midnight informing her he was going to bed. She'd waited another hour before joining him and by then he was asleep.