Dead Ringer (23 page)

Markham
handed the license to the cop who approached him.

The
officer, a short man with powerful arms and a full mustache, shone his light on
the identification. "What were you doing outside this late, sir?"

"I
was taking out the trash. You can check the bin, if you like. It's full of
moving boxes."

The
second officer was slim with drawn features. He moved to Markham's bin and
peered inside. "It's full of boxes."

Markham
looked smug.

The
first officer glanced at Kendall. "It's a Virginia license and it does list his
address as the property behind you. Let me just run a quick check."

Kendall
shoved out a breath. Damn. She'd overreacted.

Markham
lowered his hands but kept his body relaxed and nonthreatening. He looked at
Kendall as if to say, "I told you so."

She
lifted her chin, refusing to admit she was wrong until the officer returned.

The
officer came back and handed Markham his license. "You check out. No warrants
or alerts."

Markham
tucked the license into his wallet and shoved it in his back pocket.

"Sorry
to trouble you," the officer said.

Markham
smiled. "No sweat. You're just doing your job."

The
officer looked at Kendall. "Would you like us to escort you inside?"

"No,
I've got it from here. Thanks."

The
duo nodded, got in their car, and backed out of the alley.

Kendall
glanced at Markham but didn't apologize. She had every right to look out for
her own safety. "Welcome to the neighborhood."

He
tossed her a half smile that looked almost boyish. "Is this how you greet all
your neighbors?"

She
shook her head.
"Just the tall, scary ones who surprise me in
the alley in the middle of the night."

Markham
didn't look offended. "So what are you doing out here?"

The
question surprised her. "I just got home from work."

He
lifted a brow. "Which is?"

Her
ego bristled. She was accustomed to being recognized. "I'm Kendall Shaw, the
Channel Ten News anchor. I report the news at six and eleven o'clock during the
week."

"Sorry."
But he didn't sound sorry at all. "I don't watch television."

"Who
doesn't watch television?"

"People who read."

"Some
of us manage to do both."

"Right."

The
adrenaline had eased from her body and she'd become aware again of the cold and
the late hour. "Well, you should check out Channel Ten sometime. We're the best
in the city."

"I've
no doubt."

She
picked up her recycling bin. "So are you from Richmond?"

He
inched closer but still remained at arms' distance. "No. I'm from out West."

"Where?
I've traveled out there quite a bit."

He
shrugged. "You name it and I've lived there. But Denver was my home
originally."

"And
what brought you East?"

"Work."

Asking
nosey questions was in her DNA. "What do you do?"

"Insurance."

That
was a letdown. She figured him for something more adventurous. "Ah."

He
grinned, clearly reading the tone in her voice.
"Not as
exciting as reporting the news."

She
was being rude. "I'm sure it has its moments."

"It
can."

"I
would think you'd have more of a nine-to-five schedule."

"Oh,
I do. I just don't need much sleep and I'm a night owl."

A
silence settled between them. She needed sleep more than she needed to stand
here and chat with a stranger. "It's late and I've had a long day. You have a
very good evening, Mr. Markham."

"I'll
do that, Ms. Shaw." He held her gaze just long enough to make her feel the
tiniest bit uncomfortable before he smiled. "Sleep tight, Kendall Shaw."

She
called herself Amanda now. But Allen knew her true name.
Her
real identity.
To him she was
Rachel.
And she would soon be a
part of his Family.

He
stared up at her apartment window. Her lithe form passed in front of the window
shade. He could make out her trim waist and full breasts as she paced back and
forth. She appeared to be on the phone. His groin tightened with desire. He
wanted to touch her.

His
thoughts were sinful.
Evil.
And yet he couldn't banish
them.
Didn't want to banish them.
With Ruth he'd kept
his desires at bay and Judith had been so full of fight there'd been no room
for lust. But Rachel was different. Sweet, soft Rachel pranced in front of him
like a wanton goddess. He knew it would be nearly impossible to restrain his sexual
desire.

Normally,
he didn't like the cold. It reminded him of the days he was on the run and
hiding. There'd not always been money for food or heat. But tonight he welcomed
the cold and prayed it would cool his sinful thoughts. He unzipped his jacket until
a fierce shiver passed through him.

And
still the temptation to take her boiled his blood. Slowly, Allen started to
pace up and down the sidewalk. Thoughts swirled in his head. It wasn't Sunday
yet. It wasn't time to welcome Rachel into the family. But waiting four more
days felt like forever.

He
reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cigarette. With a trembling hand,
he raised it to his lips, lit it, and took a drag. Inhaling, he savored the
burn of tobacco in his lungs. He held the smoke a moment,
then
exhaled slowly.

"Patience
is mine," he muttered.

Friday, January 18, 11:00
A.M.

Kendall's
cameraman, Mike, turned on the light above his camera and gave her the nod to
start speaking.

She
flashed her trademark grin. "This is Kendall Shaw reporting from the Central
Virginia Women's Center, a new vocational facility to assist women rebuilding
their lives after enduring domestic abuse. The center is the brainchild of
Lindsay O'Neil Kier, a noted advocate for women."

Public
appearances were part of a news anchor's job. Kendall didn't like it but
accepted it. However, this event was a project near and dear to her heart.

Mike
panned the camera past Kendall to the facility. The building had originally
been a tobacco warehouse when built over 150 years ago. It had also served as a
food storage facility. The structure had been abandoned for several years until
Lindsay and her board chairman, Dana Miller, had convinced the city to donate
the facility to them. The two women had marshaled an army of volunteers and
within six months had converted the space into meeting rooms and classrooms.

Once
inside the building, Kendall casually walked toward Lindsay, who smiled
radiantly into the camera. Lindsay was a tall, slim woman who wore her blond
hair loose around her shoulders.
Beside her stood Dana.
Sleek and sophisticated, Dana wore heavy makeup and her black hair smoothed
into a tight ponytail.

"Ms.
O'Neil and Ms. Miller, congratulations on your grand opening," Kendall said.
"This must be an exciting day for you."

Lindsay
nodded. "Thanks, Kendall. We're very excited about this new place."

Dana
grinned. Not to be outshined, she added, "Lindsay has done a phenomenal job
pulling this all together. She is a marvel."

Kendall
noted the very slight tension in Lindsay's gaze. The women's advocate
understood politics and was willing to go along for her facility. "I couldn't
have done it without Dana. She rallied the city and business leaders and made
this grand opening happen."

The
large front room was filled with local dignitaries who had been invited to the
opening. Colorful balloons decorated every corner, a large table laden with
food dominated the center of the room, and against an exposed brick wall stood
a bar stocked with sodas and non-alcoholic drinks.

Kendall
asked Lindsay about the facility and listened as she gave a recap. Dana added
her two cents. They'd rehearsed what Lindsay and Dana were going to say moments
ago and the interview went precisely as planned. Kendall signed off and Mike
cut off the camera.

"
Thanks,
Mike. Why don't you get something to eat," Kendall
said.

Lindsay
nodded. "We've got enough food to feed an army."

"Thanks,"
he said. He patted his tummy. "I never say no to food."

Dana
smoothed her hand along the line of her hair. "Thanks, Kendall. I think that
went great."

Kendall
clicked off her microphone. Her smile was quick and easy but she didn't like
Dana. She would not have personally covered this event if she didn't admire
Lindsay so much.
"Wonderful job, Dana."

Dana
spotted someone across the room and smiled. "I see Adam Alderson. Would you two
excuse me?" Without waiting for an answer, she moved into the crowd.

Kendall's
smile turned genuine. "You've got yourself a winner here, Lindsay."

Lindsay
grinned and stared around the room proudly. "I think I do."

Kendall
dropped her voice a fraction. "So how did you snag Dana Miller? I thought she
was done with you after last summer." Dana had been the board chair of
Lindsay's domestic abuse center. When the Guardian killings had been linked to
Lindsay, Dana had fired Lindsay and completely distanced herself from her.

"Off the record?"

"Of
course," she said honestly.

"She
came to me. She wanted to fund a project like this one. I said no at first.
Zack was the one who talked me into it. You don't always have to like the
people you do business with. And this center is going to help a lot of people."
Lindsay smiled and waved to someone. "So how are you doing?"

"Never better."
That wasn't true. Sleep was becoming a distant
memory, and the lingering questions about her adoption and her birth mother
chewed at her almost constantly now. There'd been no more answers since she'd
spoken to Jenny a couple of days ago. But the old woman had promised to search
her attic and see if there was anything that might help.

A
camera lens flashed and Kendall looked up. Nicole was snapping pictures.
Lindsay frowned as she watched her very pregnant friend move across the room.
"I wish she'd put her feet up and rest."

Kendall
shook her head. "I have visions of delivering that baby in the back of a taxi
as we race to the hospital. But she shows no sign of slowing down."

"Has
she made a decision about the adoption?"

"No."
Kendall sighed. "I hear her rattling around the house a lot at night. She's
narrowed it down to a couple of families but can't choose."

Lindsay
stared at Kendall with a critical eye. "I know what's keeping Nicole awake.
What's keeping you up?"

"I
sleep like the dead."

"I
can see the dark circles under your makeup."

Kendall
resisted the urge to check her makeup in the compact in her purse. "Don't worry
about me. I've never been better."

A
rush of movement by the main entrance caught Kendall's eye. Ever curious, she
turned to see Lindsay's husband, Zack, appear and seconds behind him Jacob
Warwick.

Lindsay's
face softened when she saw her husband and a blush warmed her cheeks. Her face
reflected her deep love for the man.

Kendall
felt something quite different when her gaze settled on Jacob. Sharp sexual desire
shot through her. Her heart beat faster.

Lindsay's
gaze shifted back to Kendall and then followed her distracted friend's line of
vision to Jacob. She grinned.
"Down, girl."

David
Ayden didn't like functions like this, even if the cause was the Women's
Center. He understood their place in the world of politics but in his mind they
were a waste of time. He had two unsolved murders and yet he and two of his
best detectives were making small talk. All the leads on the two women had
dried up. They'd learned a great deal and yet nothing that linked the women or
could lead them to a killer.

Ayden
downed the last of his seltzer and lime and set it down on the bar. He checked
his watch. He'd been there twenty minutes. Another ten and he could excuse
himself, knowing he had covered his political bases.

These
were the times he missed his wife the most. Julie had loved people and she'd
loved to talk. She'd never met a stranger. She'd have been in her element in an
event like this. A pang of loneliness had his temper rising.

"You
look like you just swallowed glass." The familiar feminine voice had him
turning and, despite his foul mood, smiling.

"Nicole
Piper," he said.

She
was wearing a loose peasant top that hugged her round belly and covered the top
of faded jeans. Her dark hair curled into soft waves and framed her delicately
round face. She wore only a hint of makeup, but it was enough to accentuate her
eyes and her full lips. Damn, but he was glad to see her.

"Detective Ayden."

The
title reminded him that he was at least a decade older than she was. "David."

Color
rose in her cheeks. "David. So are you here to celebrate the big opening?"

He
was glad now that he'd come. "It's a big day for Zack and Lindsay. I wouldn't
have made the time for anyone else."

Her
gaze softened as if she understood. "This place is all she's talked about for
weeks."

"Zack
has done his share of talking about it as well." David wanted to say something
clever to her--something to make her laugh. "Take any good pictures?" He groaned
inwardly at the lame question.

Nicole
glanced down at her camera. "I did take a great one of Zack and Lindsay." She
switched the display to
VIEW
and flipped through several pictures before she found the one she
liked. She leaned toward him and turned the screen so he could see it. This
close he could smell her perfume.
Soft.
Delicate.
And yet she was one of the strongest people he
knew.

He
gave himself a mental shake and stared at the picture. Immediately, he was
impressed. It was a great shot. Not your typical grinning faces. Instead,
Lindsay was smiling at someone off camera and Zack was staring at her as if she
meant the world to him. In one shot, Nicole had captured the essence of their
relationship.

"You're
a very talented photographer."

Color
rose in her cheeks. "Thanks."

Since
Julie's death he'd not given much thought to finding someone else. Friends had
arranged a few blind dates, but no one had sparked his interest like Nicole.
She was an artist.
Ten or twelve years his junior.
And very pregnant.
She'd have been the last person he or
anyone else would have chosen for himself. And yet it was all he could do not
to grin like a fool. His son Caleb had been right. He liked her.

Before
he could come up with something else to say, Dana came up to them. He resented
the intrusion and then felt foolish. Nicole wasn't his.

Dana
shook his hand. Her grip was firm. Despite her smile, her gaze was cold and
accessing. "Sergeant Ayden. Enjoying the party?"

He
raised his glass to his lips and then remembered the glass was empty. "It's
great."

"I'm
glad you're having a good time." Dana turned her attention to Nicole.

He
sensed a shift in Dana's energy. Accessing turned to something akin to hunger.
Hadn't Nicole said the woman gave her the creeps?

"Nicole,
you look wonderful," Dana said.

Nicole
smiled, but he saw the tension behind her eyes. "Thank you."

David
shifted his stance so that he was a fraction closer to Nicole. "You should be
very proud of yourself, Ms. Miller. This is a great project."

Dana
beamed. "I'm very proud of it."

Small
talk was bullshit as far as he was concerned. But somewhere deep in his memory
he heard Julie say,
Play nice
. Someone across the room called Dana's
name. She nodded, squeezed Nicole's hand, and then said her good-byes.

Nicole's
stance relaxed when she left.

"What's
going on?" David said. No sense mincing words. Tension radiated between the two
women.

Nicole
looked up at him. He expected her to deny any trouble. Instead, she was silent
for a moment. "She hasn't really
done
anything that should worry me."

"But..."

She
dropped her voice a notch and leaned into him like Julie used to when they were
at parties. "It's just that it's something about the way she looks at me.
The way she always mentions the baby."

His
gaze flickered to her stomach. "You
are
very pregnant."

Her
hands
trembled
a little as she fiddled with a button
on her camera. "Yeah, but it just feels like more than that."

He
didn't like seeing the worry in her eyes. "She made any threats?"

"None."
She smiled almost apologetically. "I think the
hormones are just making me
a little nuts
."

David
smiled but his concern didn't ease. The brain had a way of processing threats
on an unconscious level. People called it intuition or a sixth sense.

Someone
like Dana wouldn't make a threat outright. But that didn't mean she wasn't
planning something.

He
dug his card and a pen from his breast pocket. He scrawled his cell number on
the card. "This is my private number. I want you to call me if you even get a
whiff of trouble from her."

She
accepted the card. "I didn't mean for you to take up my cause. I can handle
Dana."

"Why
go it alone if you don't have to? Everyone can use a wingman from time to
time."

She
seemed relieved as she flicked the edge of his card with her fingertip.
"Thanks."

Lindsay
came over to them and wrapped her arm around Nicole. "David, can I steal Nicole
from you for a minute? I need a couple of shots taken."

David
didn't want to see Nicole go. For the first time since he'd arrived he was
actually enjoying himself. "Sure."

Nicole
smiled up at him. "Thanks. I enjoyed seeing you again."

"Me too."

He
watched her walk away. The weight of the baby made her lumber only slightly.
She moved with a grace and confidence he found very appealing. Life had thrown
her a ton of crap but she was rising above it.