Chapter Fifteen

Friday, January 18, midnight

Kendall couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. It had stalked her since she’d left the party at the Women’s Center earlier this afternoon. Maybe talking to Jacob had spurred her fears. Detailing The Dream out loud made it all the more real and underscored the fact that she knew nothing about her past before the age of three. Maybe something terrible had happened to her.

She thought about the search forms she’d filled out for Carnie. She’d sent them by courier to the social worker and had called Carnie. The social worker hadn’t made any promises.

The reality was she might not ever know the truth about her past.

Kendall slowed the car as she approached her garage. She’d enjoyed sparring with Jacob today. He had a way of churning up her insides, pissing her off, and making her feel alive all at once.

And then he’d leaned toward her and wanted to kiss her.

And Lord, but she’d wanted to kiss him. She didn’t care someone might see them. She’d not felt such desire in so long she’d nearly forgotten what it felt like. Jacob Warwick would no doubt make her body sing in bed.

But at the last second she’d backed away. It was what she did. When people got too close she backed away. Nicole had been right when she’d said Kendall always expected people to quit on her.

And still she couldn’t resist wondering what it would be like with Jacob.

She parked the car, got out, and headed across the frozen backyard to her back door. She tried her key in the lock but the door didn’t budge. It took her a second to realize that Nicole had locked the dead bolt. She slid her key into the second lock and pushed the door open. She double locked the door behind her.

Within twenty minutes, she was climbing out of the shower. Her face was freshly washed. She dried the water droplets from her skin and slid into the nightgown she kept on a hook mounted on the bathroom door.

Once in the bedroom, she slid under the covers. The sheets were cold and she burrowed deep, trying to get warm. After several minutes the heat of her body warmed the bed and she relaxed. Soon after, she was asleep.

Kendall stood in the shower savoring the water as it beaded on her skin. She dunked her head under the spray, savoring the warmth. She heard the door to her shower open and close. She smiled, knowing it was him.

Strong hands encircled her narrow waist and pulled her back against a muscled chest. A jolt of desire shot through her body as those hands moved up to her breasts and cupped them.

‘What took you so long?’ Her voice sounded throaty.

He kissed her ear, nibbling the lobe with his teeth. ‘Good question.’

Brushing the hair off her face, she turned and looked up into Jacob’s gray eyes, now dark with desire. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. His erection pressed against her belly and she anticipated his lovemaking.

He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He pressed her back against the shower wall. Desire throbbed inside her as the water washed over them.

Kendall didn’t question if this was smart or not. There was only need and want.

She wanted him inside her more than she could say. She waited for him. But he made no move to enter her. The warm water stopped. Suddenly she was cold.

She opened her eyes. Jacob was gone. And she was no longer in the shower.

Kendall was in a dark closet. She reached for the door handle and discovered it was locked. Desperation grew. She knew she needed to get out.

The air grew thick and hot. The walls seemed to close in around her. In the distance, the cries of a baby mingled with a woman’s screams.

‘Stop! For the love of God, don’t!’ Fear etched the unknown woman’s frantic voice.

Desperate, Kendall started to rattle the door handle. ‘Let me out! Please let me out!’

The infant’s cries grew louder and this time when Kendall glanced down she saw the child at her feet. It kicked and squirmed its tiny hands as it wailed. The baby, like her, sensed the evil around them.

The woman screamed louder. And then there was silence.

Kendall’s heart thrummed in her chest. Instinct told her to be quiet. She gathered up the infant and held it close to her chest as she pressed her back against the wall.

Seconds passed and the silence stretched. The baby wailed.

Footsteps sounded on a hardwood floor. Slow and deliberate, they moved toward the closet.

‘Kendall.’ The voice was eerily calm. ‘Come out, come out wherever you are,’ it sang.

The lock on the door clicked open. And the doorknob started to turn.

Kendall woke with a start. She sat up in bed. Her body was drenched in sweat. Her hand shook as she threaded it through her thick hair.

She moistened dry lips. ‘Enough.’

She snatched up her phone and dialed information. What was the name of that doctor Jacob had suggested? Two first names. Erica. Erica Christopher. She gave the name to the automated operator, waited for the number, and scribbled it down on scratch paper. She dialed the number and waited for an answering machine. ‘Dr Christopher, I need to make an appointment with you.’ She detailed her information and ended the call.

She climbed back under the covers and lay back down against the pillows. But she didn’t fall asleep for fear the dream would return.

It was nearly one A.M. Jacob was alone in the police headquarters conference room. He’d returned to the office to read through the e-mails Kendall had received. But at this late hour his eyes itched and he’d been forced to take a break.

Now, he sat on the table, his arms folded over his chest as he stared at the dry-erase board in front of him. Mounted on the left were pictures of Jackie White – both alive and dead. On the right were similar pictures of Vicky Draper. He had also tacked up a picture of Kendall.

He’d sent Zack home an hour ago and should have gone home himself then. But he couldn’t let the case go. So far all the leads hadn’t produced anything.

The door to the conference room opened. He craned his neck toward the door.

Tess Kier poked her head in. ‘I heard you were still here.’

He nodded. No secrets here.

She moved into the conference room, letting the door close behind her. She had long legs, and large breasts for a woman with such an athletic build. Dark hair framed her oval face and she had bright eyes that were so much like her brother’s. ‘Zack still here?’

‘I sent him home an hour ago. He should be home with his wife.’

Tess nodded. ‘I’m glad. She was exhausted after today’s opening.’

‘She’s doing all right?’ He didn’t begrudge the time Zack’s wife needed. If he were honest, he was a touch jealous. He talked a mean game about not needing family, but there were more and more moments when he was sorry he had no one.

‘She’s sick to her stomach every morning. But otherwise she’s doing well.’

‘Good.’

She moved beside him and sat on the table. She stared at the board in front of them. Her shoulder brushed his. ‘Any leads on the case?’

‘Not one. Not one.’ He swallowed an expletive. ‘The killer doesn’t want to be found.’

Her brow knitted as she stared at the photos. ‘What’s Kendall’s picture doing up there?’

‘I don’t know. Just a hunch.’

‘Theories?’

‘Lots. We first thought the case was domestic. Then when the second victim was found and we discovered her record, we thought it was all drug related. But both wore those damn charms.’

‘Ruth and Judith. C.C. thinks it’s a religious thing.’

‘The killer sees something in them that we don’t.’

She narrowed her gaze. ‘They do look alike. In fact, they look like Kendall.’

He didn’t like hearing his worst fear spoken out loud. ‘I know.’

‘She got any obsessed fans?’

He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘She’s got a strong following, but there’s no sign of any nuts stalking her. The station saves all her fan e-mails and copied the backlog to me. New ones are being forwarded here. I’ve been going through them. Lots of folks admire her. A few didn’t like some of the stories she did, but none have made any threats.’

‘Any repeaters? Fans who e-mailed or wrote her excessively?’

He gripped the table, his frustration palpable. ‘Three. We’re backtracking their e-mails and we plan to visit them if we can find them.’ His gaze bore into the eyes of the first victim. ‘Who the hell would do something like this?’

Tess laid her hand over his tense fingers. ‘Jacob, you need to take a break, if only for a few hours. You’re not going to figure out anything if you don’t get some sleep.’

‘I can’t sleep.’

Her lips curled into a seductive smile. ‘Maybe we could find something more interesting to do.’

His gaze dropped to her long, warm fingers draped over his hand. Her thumb drew small circles on his wrist. He thought about Kendall and realized he wished it were her touching him now.

‘We could go back to my place,’ Tess said.

For a moment the words hung in the air. ‘I’m not sure what to say about that.’

‘How about yes?’

His ego liked the attention. ‘Sleeping with you could lead to a lot of complications.’

She shrugged. ‘I’m a big girl. My brother stopped worrying about whom I dated a long time ago.’

‘Don’t count on it.’

She rose and moved in front of him. She laid her hands on his shoulders. Her thigh rubbed his. He felt the first stirring of desire. Still, he held himself at bay.

Tess Kier was a warm, seductive woman. And he sensed making love to her would be pleasurable. Without warning, Kendall’s face flashed in his mind. His erection pulsed hard. It frustrated him that the woman had invaded his thoughts. He didn’t owe her anything. Hell, she’d rejected him.

Jacob needed to prove that Kendall didn’t hold anything over him, so he grabbed Tess by the wrist. He pulled her between his legs and his hands settled on her narrow hips.

Smiling, she dipped her head, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him hard on the lips. Her sweet taste intrigued him. Her firm breasts pressed against his chest. She smelled of clean soap and a hint of roses clung to her hair.

The scent wasn’t right. It wasn’t Kendall’s.

He thrust his tongue into her mouth and savored the feel of the soft contours. A soft moan rumbled in her chest. She matched him thrust for thrust.

Jacob had tried to kiss Kendall, but she’d pulled away from him. He was a fool to think he and Kendall had any kind of chance. She moved in different circles, different worlds.

Annoyed with his thoughts, he broke the kiss. For a long moment, he stared into Tess’s eyes, wishing they were Kendall’s eyes. ‘Thanks, but no.’

His abruptness cooled the desire in her eyes. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s not you. Just bad timing.’

‘You kissed me like you wanted me.’

His gaze wavered.

And in that instant she seemed to read him. ‘It’s not me that you want.’

Jacob didn’t speak.

Tess released a weary smile.

‘I’m sorry.’

She shook her head. ‘Don’t be. Believe it or not, I do understand.’

His male ego absorbed the punch. She had another man on her mind. ‘Who is he?’

Unsteady laughter rumbled inside her. ‘I’ll tell if you tell.’

Jacob shook his head. ‘Point taken.’

She moved away. ‘Better get back to work.’

‘Yeah.’ He shoved his hand through his hair, relieved she wasn’t angry. ‘Thanks.’

Shaking her head, she reached for the door. ‘Any time.’

Jacob moved back to the pile of e-mails. A few minutes passed before he could really concentrate again. When his mind and libido calmed, the words came into focus. He’d read six more e-mails when he lifted his gaze to her picture on the dry-erase board. Smiling eyes stared back at him.

The woman had gotten under his skin. ‘Damn it.’

It was late Friday night when Allen returned to Rachel’s apartment building. He parked, got out, and stood in the shadows and stared up at her window. Light peeked through the edges of the curtain that covered the window. She was home, as he expected. Now all he had to do was wait until someone opened the locked apartment building door and he could slip inside.

If he took her now, they’d have the weekend together.

He had to wait another twenty minutes before a car pulled up in front of the building. He watched as a man and woman got out. They walked hand in hand up to the front door. Allen followed. The man pressed a four-digit code into the keypad. 1-9-7-1. The door buzzed open and the couple vanished into the building.

She is yours for the taking.

Ducking his head, he moved to the door and punched in the code. The door buzzed open. He went inside.

Smiling, he bypassed the elevator and took the stairs to the third floor. The long, carpeted hallway was quiet, and all six apartment doors were closed.

Quickly, he moved down the hallway until he reached 3-A. He knocked gently on the door.

Footsteps sounded inside the apartment. His heart raced. Rachel was within inches of him. Soon she would be his. He shoved his hands into his pockets so she wouldn’t see his erection.

The door snapped open.

She stood before him and for a moment he was awestruck. Blond hair framed a pale oval face and accentuated blue eyes. She was an anomaly in his Family. A blonde with blue eyes among brunettes. But she was Family. She was his.

Rachel seemed surprised to see him. But, like Jackie, she was ever polite, wanting to please. She managed a smile. ‘Can I help you?’

His throat felt dry. Silly, but he was tongue-tied or nervous. ‘Yes, you can.’

‘What do you need?’

He stared at her unable to tear his gaze away. Why was he sexually attracted to her and not the others? Why was his control slipping? It didn’t make sense.

Her smile faltered. And he knew his hesitation and lingering stare set off alarm bells in her. She started to close the door. ‘You must have the wrong person.’

Allen knew if he didn’t act now the element of surprise would be lost. He shoved his foot in the doorjamb. The next seconds unfolded quickly. His reflexes were quicker than those of most skilled hunters. In one fluid move, he shoved open the door, barged into the apartment, and slammed the door behind him. Before she could scream he cupped his hand over her mouth and shoved her against a wall. Her head popped back and her skull hit the wall hard. The impact left her dazed, stunned, and pliable.

He pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and shoved it into her mouth. He dragged her across the room to a couch. She started to struggle. He slapped her hard across the face and used his full weight to press her body into the cushions.

‘Don’t say a word, Rachel. Not one word.’

The menace in his words further ignited the fear in her pale eyes. Tears welled inside.

He pulled a needle from his pocket and shoved it into her arm. She flinched and whimpered. Power surged in his body and desire lighted up every nerve ending. With her under him, her heart beating hard and fast against him, the world felt right. She couldn’t join the Family until Sunday.

They had forty-eight hours.

But there was plenty they could do together.

Plenty indeed.