Killer Love (63 page)

Sam sank onto one of the wrought iron benches and sat in the near dark, amidst the trickling fountains, traces of passion still lingering, feeling bereft and inexplicably, very, very sad.

****

The party ruined, and knowing the chief wouldn’t notice her absence, Sam headed home. At least she’d made an appearance.

She stuck the key in the lock but froze when she realized that the door was already unlocked. She knew, knew without a doubt, she’d locked her door. She was a cop living in a big city. She
always
locked her door.

Heart hammering in her chest, she tried to work out how to proceed. She didn’t have her weapon. It wouldn’t fit in her evening bag and she figured she wouldn’t need it at the chief’s party. She had her cell phone, but she’d feel like an idiot if she called Frank, or 911, and no one was in her apartment.

She kept a gun in the drawer of the table next to the front door. If someone was in her apartment, she could most likely get to it before they got to her.

Taking a deep breath, she twisted the knob and cautiously pushed the door open.

Her television was on, as was her kitchen light. Moving quickly, she stepped inside and yanked the drawer open, retrieving the gun and whirling just as a man came out of the kitchen.

He stared at her in surprise, then a big grin split his face. An intruder, but not a stranger. She’d rather it had been a robber than the man standing in her apartment.

“Hey, hey, baby, no need for firearms.”

Yes, there was an
immense
need for firearms. She hesitated, put the .38 back in the drawer and slammed it shut, then turned to face her ex-husband.

Chapter Eleven

“What in the hell are you doing here and how did you get into my apartment?”

“I came because I wanted to see you. I was able to get in because I still have a key. You didn’t change the locks. Must mean you
wanted
me to get in.”

“You’re out of your fucking mind, Shane. Get the hell out, now.”

“Come on, don’t be that way.” His eyes swept over her body. “You look gorgeous, by the way. Hot date? If so, I guess it didn’t go so well. You came home alone.”

His words stung more than she’d have thought. Yes, she’d come home alone. Because she’d screwed up with Dex. Which was good, she told herself firmly. Things were best left on a professional level. And the asshole standing in front of her most definitely confirmed that she didn’t need a man in her life.

She studied him, noting the difference three years had made. He looked a little older, but was still attractive in a Satan’s minion sort of way. His hair was longer, the dark showing a few strands of gray. She was surprised that, with the size of his ego, he wasn’t coloring it. Probably wouldn’t be long before he did. His hazel eyes were the same, although there were more lines around them now.

“Tell me what you want and leave,” Sam demanded. “Did you run out of my money? I’m surprised it took you this long.”

“It was
our
money,” he corrected, and she let it pass, not reminding him that
she
was the one who’d earned it all. “But, I was wrong to take it all. I should have left you your half.” He smiled as if he’d just bestowed a great favor on her. She glared at him but didn’t speak. “Anyway, I came back because I wanted to see you.”

“Well, now you’ve seen me and I’m just as boring as I always was. So get the hell out of my apartment.”

He sighed and moved further into the living room. Plopping down on the couch, he said, “I don’t have anywhere to go. Tanya kicked me out. I’m between jobs and I thought I could count on you. I mean, we go back a ways and I know you won’t turn me out.” He looked up and gave her that charming smile that once made her melt. Now, it only annoyed her.

“You have a lot of nerve,” Sam said through clenched teeth, pacing in agitation. “I haven’t heard from you since you walked out on me and you think you can come back because you’re destitute? I don’t give a damn about you, your breakup, or your sad state of finances. I want you out, now.”

He stood, surprising her with the hint of tears in his eyes. “I know I did you wrong and I don’t blame you for hating me,” he said quietly, making his way to the door. “I’ll leave you alone.”

Sam didn’t hate him. She felt nothing for him. How had she ever been stupid enough to feel anything for this shallow, self-centered man? She’d been comparing Dex to him from day one, but Dex was nothing like him.

Shane would never have been worried that she might be harmed by a killer on a case she was working, as long as her paychecks kept coming in. Shane would never have been concerned about her being injured in a car accident. And he would never, ever have put his own sexual needs aside because he thought she didn’t care about him enough. He would have taken what he wanted, gotten his satisfaction, and not given a damn if she ‘felt’ anything for him.

She let out a long sigh and shook her head. “Wait.”

Shane stopped at the door and turned around, his eyes alight with hope. “Yeah?”

“I’ll give you some money to help you get back on your feet, but you have to promise you won’t ever bother me again. Not ever. Do you understand?”

His face fell. “You don’t even want to try again? We once had something really special.”

“Sex is not ‘special,’ Shane. Love is. And we never had that. Do you want the money or not?”

He nodded vigorously. “Sure, yeah. I really appreciate it.”

She went to her desk and took out her checkbook, writing him a check for five-hundred dollars. She didn’t owe it to him. He’d damn sure taken enough from her already. But she wanted to be rid of him and if nothing else, she was grateful to him for making her see that she hadn’t lost anything when she’d lost him. For making her see that not everyone was as they appeared. Dex was a good man. And she’d blown it.

She ripped out the check and handed it to him. He looked at the amount and she saw him wage an inner battle.

Surely, he wasn’t going to demand more? If he did, she’d take the check back and show him the business end of her .38. She could only be pushed so far.

Maybe he saw something in her eyes when he raised his head, because he nodded and opened the door.

“I mean it, Shane,” she said, allowing a note of menace to enter her voice. “I better not see you around here again. You got it?”

He nodded. “Sure, yeah. And thanks, Sam. I was a fucking idiot to let you go.”

“Yes, you were,” she said, closing the door firmly behind him.

Chapter Twelve

Sam was at her desk Monday morning, poring over the case notes, when Krista Turpin called.

“I’m not sure if it’s any help, but I thought you should know. I found out there was a note.”

“Any idea what it said?” Sam asked.

“No, but Keith’s sister told me he’d for sure left a note and that Todd still has it.”

Todd had claimed there was no note. And he actually had it in his possession?

“Thanks,” Sam said hastily, ending the call. She grabbed her keys and headed out the door to find Mr. Brahern.

Brahern wasn’t in, but his friendly, pregnant receptionist told Sam she could wait in his office. Sam paced the small room, glancing out through the glass walls for Brahern’s arrival.

As she waited, she studied his office, searching for anything that might raise a red flag. Nothing visible, but it wouldn’t hurt to do a little in-depth exploration. Might as well make use of whatever time she had.

She went around to his side of the desk. His computer showed a screensaver from the television show ‘House.’ A nudge of the mouse and the screensaver disappeared. Sam opened his documents file, not sure what she expected to find. As she searched, she kept looking out the glass, making sure no one noticed what she was doing. They all seemed busy with their own tasks and as far as she could tell, weren’t paying attention to her.

Each document she came across appeared to be work related—insurance forms, claims, letters to customers.

Frustrated and most likely running out of time, she gave up and started for the opposite side of the desk. As she did, her gaze fell on something sticking out from underneath the large desk calendar. It was just the corner of a paper, but it caught her attention because it was blue and older looking than the other paperwork. Sam pinched the edge and pulled it out. Written on blue legal pad paper was the suicide note.

To my family,

I’m so sorry, but I can’t do this anymore. I’ve felt like a failure all my life and after the whole world saw what that bitch did to me, everyone will know that is exactly what I am. A failure.

When she called me a whiny little mama’s boy, I could once again hear Dad’s voice, screaming in his drunken rage, “Whiny little mama’s boy!” Then the snap of the leather as he cut me with the belt. I can actually feel the pain of his huge fists slamming into my face.

Todd, I know he treated you the same, but you were always the strong one. I’m sorry most of all to you, because you are the only person in this world who truly loves me, truly understands me. I didn’t realize, not until she reminded me, that all I will ever be is a failure, a whiny little mama’s boy.

That phrase won’t leave me. It pounds into my brain day and night. But I know how to make it go away.

Please forgive me,

Your brother, Keith

The paper was stained with dark reddish brown spots. Blood. Sam’s fingers shook as she realized what she held in her hands. Motive.

“I was afraid it would come to this.”

Sam drew in a sharp breath and looked up. Todd Brahern stood in the doorway. In spite of the heat, like Sam, he wore a jacket. She could see a cylindrical object outlined in the pocket. A gun.

“Hello.” Sam smiled, trying to slip the note back where she found it. “I hope you don’t mind. Your receptionist said I could wait in your office.” But why would she be behind his desk? She didn’t have an answer for that one.

He shook his head. “No need to pretend. I know you saw it. I know you’ve figured it out. Of course, after Krista’s death, I might have been caught, anyway.”

Sam’s heart pounded loudly and quickly in her chest. “You killed Krista?” Sam had just spoken to her, so it would have had to be recently. Was that where he’d been?

“Not yet. She was next.
Will
be next, after I figure out what to do with you. It’s already set into motion. I just hadn’t counted on this little complication.” His lower lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears. The pocket holding the gun began to shake. His voice was high and quivery as he said, “But a cop. Shit, shit, shit. Did
not
plan on killing a cop.”

Sam’s insides squeezed. She would rather face a cold, calculating killer than an excitable, unstable, novice who wasn’t accustomed to handling a firearm. Too many variables there.

“Look,” she said evenly, “just take it easy and we can work this out.”

His eyes darted from side to side, his head shaking regretfully. “Too late for that.” He motioned with the hand inside the pocket. “Come on. Me and you are going for a little ride.”

Sam tried to remain calm and think the situation through. It was doubtful he’d shoot her here with all the witnesses. If she went with him, he’d be a lot more likely to kill her.

“No way.” She shook her head. “Not going anywhere.”

“You realize I have a gun?”

“Yes. But I also realize you won’t shoot a police officer with so many witnesses.”

His face scrunched and more tears rolled down his cheeks. His head swung briefly toward the glass window, then back to Sam.

“You’re right.” The hand swiveled until it was pointing toward the outer office. The pregnant receptionist stood a few feet outside the window at a copy machine. She saw them looking at her and lifted a hand in a cheery wave. “But I’ll kill her. Sure, there are witnesses and I’ll go to jail. But how will you live the rest of your life with her blood on your hands, Detective?”

Shit. She’d underestimated him. She wasn’t sure if he’d do it or not, but she damn sure couldn’t take the chance.

“That’s what I thought.” He must have seen the surrender on her face. “Nice and easy, slip your weapon into that top right drawer.”

One of the first things she’d been taught at the academy was to never give up her weapon. But, there was no way she could let an innocent woman die to hold onto it.

Sam did as he instructed and he nodded. “Very good. We’re going to get along just fine.”

He swiped at his tears, then stepped to the side of the door and motioned for Sam to precede him. When she didn’t move right away, he raised his eyebrows and stared at her questioningly.

Gritting her teeth, shooting him a menacing glare, she stalked ahead of him out of the building.

The sun was warm, midway in the sky. A light breeze blew through Sam’s hair. A beautiful morning. Too beautiful a day to die.

Sam walked slowly in front of Brahern, hearing his rapid breathing behind her. She hoped his finger wasn’t actually on the trigger. The man was way too edgy to be in full control of his muscles.

In the insurance agency’s parking lot, Sam saw Dex, sitting on his Harley a few spaces away from her car.

Shock momentarily froze her as he climbed off the bike and approached, stopping in front of her, staring uncertainly into her eyes.

“What the...? What are you doing here?” she managed to say beyond the tightness in her throat.

Brahern had halted directly behind her. She could feel the tip of the gun barrel in her lower back.

“I stopped by the station to talk to you and I saw you pulling out of the parking lot. I followed you.”

“Why?” Her mind searched frantically for a way to use this unexpected distraction to overpower Brahern, but nothing occurred to her that wouldn’t endanger Hawkins and the innocent citizens milling about.

“I wanted to...” he glanced over her shoulder at Brahern, then his gaze went back to Sam. “Can we talk alone?”

“Hi,” Brahren said. “Detective Colby is taking me to the station for a statement. I think I may have some information in the Judge Mona case, so we’re sort of in a hurry.”

“Yes, I’m sorry. Now is really not a good time,” Sam said, studying the details of Dex’s face, committing them to memory, just in case it was the last time she saw him.