Killer Love (16 page)

“Oh my God.” Feeble old Sal a criminal? Was everything she’d known about Bryce a lie?

“Sal had some interesting things to say about you. He thought you were pretty...uhm...skilled. Pretty street savvy.”

“Good Lord, the only time I was ever around him was in the nursing home. Half the time he didn’t even know my name.” Then it hit her and she breathed a sigh of relief. “He called me Tracy. He apparently confused me with Bryce’s first wife. You remember...the dead one with a criminal record?” she finished sarcastically.

“Maybe.” He nodded slowly, as if considering the remote chance that she
wasn’t
a dangerous criminal.

Deciding to let him mull over the possibility of her innocence, she changed the subject. “What about Bryce’s parents? Did he lie about them too?”

“Bryce’s parents died in a suspicious fire when he was fourteen, although he told his first wife it was a murder/suicide. Neighbors that were interviewed claimed Bryce had changed after his younger brother died.”

“Younger brother?”

Luke nodded. “The boy was in a wheelchair and apparently, their mother wasn’t very sympathetic. Treated the kid like shit. After he died, Bryce became violent, prone to rages.”

An unwelcome sliver of sympathy for Bryce wormed its way into Jade’s heart. “You think Bryce killed his parents?”

“It appears that way but he was never arrested for it. He disappeared shortly after. Seems he hooked up with Sal at a very young age.”

“So what now? What do you want from me?”

Luke expelled a breath and shook his head. “I’m not sure. Just grasping at straws.”

“I have no idea where Bryce is and I knew nothing about his past. I’m afraid you’ve come all this way for nothing.”

“You never know what might turn up.” He leaned forward and drained his cup. “I saw a few motels in town this morning. Any particular one you’d recommend?”

“Motel? You’re staying?”

“Does that make you nervous?”

“As a matter of fact, it does. For one, you think I was somehow involved with that bastard and the horrible things he did. For another, I’m going to have a hell of a time explaining why an FBI agent is here in town.”

“We’ll tell them I’m an old friend...an old boyfriend. How’s that?”

For the first time in several moments, she smiled. “Since the story I’ve given everyone is that my ex-boyfriend is an abusive asshole, Agent Butler, I guess it will be just perfect.”

****

Luke followed Jade down Main Street, staying several car lengths behind her red Grand Prix. He’d been following her since they left the range that morning, but so far, she’d done nothing that warranted suspicion.

He drove past a grocery store with a fruit and vegetable stand out front, past a barber shop with an old-fashioned red and white pole outside, and incongruously, a Starbuck’s coffee shop sat next to it, mixing modern with the old. Across the street sat the small police station, one patrol car parked outside. Jesus. This sleepy little town was ill-prepared for the likes of DiMarco. It would be like a mouse facing off with a lion

When Jade’s car slowed and turned, he increased his speed; afraid he’d lose her on a side street. Drawing closer, he saw her pull into the parking lot of a gym.

He cruised by at a crawl and watched as she walked to the entrance. A muscled up Schwarzenegger clone arrived at the same time and held the door open for her, earning a smile and a nod of thanks. Luke wondered if she would have given the guy that smile if she’d seen the way he checked out her ass. Not that Luke blamed him. She had a damned fine ass. The rest of her wasn’t too bad either.

When he’d first met her, she’d been soft and curvy. The curves were still there, but she was more toned now. He wasn’t surprised to discover she’d been working out; her body was tighter, more defined.

She’d changed in other ways, too. The way she’d met his gaze, tilted her chin and challenged him at the coffee shop showed a strength and confidence that hadn’t been there before. She also seemed tougher, harder. Or maybe she’d always been that way. Maybe the meek damsel thing had all been an act.

Luke made a u-turn and parked in a strip mall directly across the street from the gym. The place was jammed with shoppers. Cars shifted in and out of the lot. He could hang out here without drawing a lot of attention.

He tuned the radio to classic rock, cracked the window to let in the cool air, and slouched down in his seat to wait. For a moment, he questioned his sanity. What was he doing here, really? Did he expect Jade to hook up with DiMarco right under his nose? Did he think he’d apprehend them both with one swoop and go home happy?

Not necessarily, but there was a chance. Even if she was innocent, he needed to keep an eye on her. It was possible DiMarco might find her. After all, Luke had.

He had called in more than a few favors to locate Jade and he was risking a lot by being here. The lady could cause him some serious trouble. One phone call and his ass was in a heap of hot water.
What the hell.
The payoff would be worth it if he got his hands on DiMarco.

It still infuriated him that the bastard had called. Luke had tried to trace the number with no luck. What was DiMarco’s game? Had he simply called to taunt him? Rub it in his face that he’d murdered Tracy and Luke hadn’t caught him?

You’re home free now you sonofabitch, enjoy it while you can.

As it did each time he had too much time to think, his mind went to Delia. He should have been there for her. She’d needed him and he’d let her down. He blinked hard and wiped the corners of his eyes.

Stop thinking about it. Concentrate on one woman at a time.

Jade chose that moment to emerge from the gym.

Sweat had darkened the hair around her face and plastered the green tank top to her damp skin. She paused for a moment, lifting her face to the sun. Her breasts pushed outward as she took a deep breath. For a moment, he lost his.

His groin heated and tightened. He shifted in his seat. It had been too damned long since he’d had a woman. No way he should be this turned on by a sweaty chick in workout clothes. She finally ended the little exhibition and got into her car. Good...easier on the libido that way.

He followed her home and, idling a short distance away, watched her park the Grand Prix, retrieve her gym bag from inside and climb a flight of stairs. She let herself into the corner apartment and he parked where he could keep an eye her window.

He settled back in his seat and yawned. He’d been at it for how many hours? Driving straight through from St. Louis, stopping long enough for bathroom breaks and to grab a quick bite. Over nine hundred miles. All he’d eaten in the past few days was fast food gobbled on the run.

Now he was hungry. And damned tired. Ready to find one of those motels and grab some shuteye. Maybe he’d wait until her light went off, then he’d know she was in for the night.

She was probably up there undressing for bed right now. How would it be to slide between the sheets with her? Of course, even as tired as he was, sleep would have to wait. If he were in bed with Jade, there were things he’d rather do than sleep.

This shit had to stop. He was fantasizing about a witness and possible suspect. Of all the women in the world he shouldn’t get involved with, Jade was at the top of the list. Maybe just under Lorena Bobbitt.

He laid his head back on the headrest. Damn, he was tired.

The sudden chirp of his cell phone made him jump. Shit...he must have dozed off.

He flipped the phone open and Wayne’s voice came over the line. “How’s the vacation going?” His partner didn’t sound like he really believed Luke was taking a vacation.

“Great. How’s the investigation going?”

“Not worth a shit. Did a check on the guy in the Mazda. Came back with a list of priors but nothing big. Checked out his cell phone, bunch of one nine hundred numbers. Other calls are being traced now, but so far, nothing to link him to DiMarco. How’s
your
investigation going?”

Luke hadn’t lied to Wayne once in the almost thirty years they’d known each other. He wasn’t going to start now. “So far, nothing.”

“Have you talked to her yet?”

“Yeah.”

“Find out anything?”

He rubbed his eyes and looked up at her window. The light was still on. “Just that she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me.”

“I’m not surprised. You’d better watch your ass.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“You always think you know what you’re doing.” There was a pause. “You need to realize something, buddy. She’s not Delia...and she’s not Angel.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Wayne was the only person in the world who could get by with a sucker punch like that. One of the few that even knew what had happened to Angel. Luke tried not to think about the little sister he’d let die. Tried not to second-guess the decision he’d made. Obviously, it had been the wrong one. Something large and painful settled in his chest.

“You’re only human, man. It’s not up to you to save the world,” Wayne said quietly.

Luke cleared his throat but couldn’t get rid of the lump blocking his windpipe. “Well, so far I’m not exactly batting a thousand.”

“What happened to them wasn’t your fault.”

“I’ve tried to tell myself the same thing. I didn’t believe me either.”

“Cut the martyr crap. You’re using your guilt over Delia and Angel as a crutch. An excuse to break all the rules and charge off like some kind of knight in shining armor.”

Luke sat up straight, wide-awake now. The cheeseburger he’d eaten earlier churned in his gut. His grip on the cell phone tightened.

“Fuck you, man. I’m here because I’m
suspicious
of her, not because I think she’s in trouble. Where’d you get your degree in psycho babble anyway?”

“I’m your friend, you know that. But I’m also an agent. You could fuck this thing up in a big way.”

“I’m not going to fuck it up,” Luke said, but he wasn’t sure he was right.

There was silence, then Wayne said, “I loved her too, you know.”

Luke wasn’t sure if he was talking about Delia or Angel but it didn’t matter. Wayne had loved them both. But he’d loved Angel in a different way than he’d loved Delia. In a different way than Luke had loved either woman. Remembering that caused him to ease off his anger. “I know you did.”

“I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Yeah, you and me both. Listen, I gotta go.”

They hung up and Luke stared out the windshield, watching Jade’s window and thinking. About Delia, about Angel, about Wayne. And about Jade. Was she really guilty or was he trying to convince himself she was so he’d have an excuse to stay away from her? Hell, like he needed another one.

When her light went off, he started the car. Time to find a hotel, hopefully get a few hours sleep.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d be in town. He’d hang around until he got a break in the case.

Or, until he was satisfied that he wasn’t going to.

Chapter Ten

Jade fought off the blankets and flipped on her side. She shut her eyes...opened them. It was no use. She couldn’t sleep. Again.

She peered through the shadows into the dark corners. Nothing there. The dim glow of the night-light mocked her. Almost thirty years old and afraid of the boogeyman.
Damn you, Mother.

No, she couldn’t keep blaming her mother. She was an adult now. Time to take control of the blame. Take control of the fear. She damned sure couldn’t blame her mother for the insomnia. That hadn’t started until this thing with Bryce.

She could count on one hand the number of times she’d slept a full night in the past six weeks. It wasn’t only the fear. It wasn’t only the fact that the monster of her nightmares finally had a face. Her mind just refused to shut down these days. Refused to let her rest.

She climbed out of bed and went into the kitchen for a Frappuchino, turning on all the lights as she went. She couldn’t sleep anyway. Might as well OD on caffeine, sugar and calories.

The most difficult thing about these sleepless nights was the loneliness. The desire to call Melanie was so strong she almost couldn’t resist. But she had to. She’d taken a big chance by talking to her friend the first time. Continuing to contact her could be a death sentence. For both of them.

Besides, it was time she stopped relying on Mel every time she was afraid. She would have to learn to face her fears on her own. Because, like it or not, she was now on her own.

Face her fears.

Was that what she needed to do? Confront the very thing that terrified her the most? Martial arts training and knowing how to use a gun were fine. But as long as she lived in fear, she would never truly be free.

She should confront her fear of the dark. Find a way to conquer it once and for all. She thought about what Ashley had told her. About how her father had died in an abandoned mine. Well, you couldn’t get much darker than that. Or much scarier. She shuddered. Was it really wise to venture into one of those mines? Shouldn’t she start out with something small, say, a nice deep pothole, and work her way up to the mine?

Unable to get the tragedy of Ashley’s father’s death out of her mind, she’d researched local mines on the computer. In the past fifty years, there had been seventeen deaths and twenty-one injuries in Colorado. The numbers were not that staggering. But good God, the terror those people must have suffered before they died.

She chugged the sickeningly sweet coffee drink, wishing it were something stronger. That’s another thing she could thank her mother for. Because she’d been a drunk, Jade had sworn off alcohol, had never touched a drop. At times like these, she wished she drank.

She walked to the window and pulled back the curtain. Frost coated the glass and icy air seeped in from the edges. The sunshine earlier today had been a facade. Winter was here. Cold, dark winter. She let the curtain fall back into place.

Suddenly, the apartment was too small, the walls too close. She needed some air. She pulled a jacket on over her flannel pajamas and went out onto the balcony.

Leaning over the railing, she looked up at the sky. The stars seemed so near she could almost touch them. It was as if God had taken a handful of glittering diamonds and flung them onto black velvet.