Leave Yesterday Behind (18 page)

He sipped his coffee. “With Olivia now. About five years ago, she retired and left East Texas for good. She always wanted to come back to Aurora. Aunt O was already a widow, and they’ve been living together ever since, causing trouble.”

“Do you miss your dad?” she asked quietly. She thought of the angry shouts and slaps she’d grown up with and how grateful she was when her father was no longer around.

“Sometimes. He was a traveling salesman. Gone from home a lot. Mostly, it was Mom and me. She actually taught me how to pitch. She’d been an ace pitcher in softball growing up. She’s the one that got me interested in the game.”

He laughed. “She never would let me play football. One of those mamas that didn’t want to see her boy tackled to shreds. I sure took shit from the guys for not being allowed to play football. In Texas, it’s sacrosanct.”

Nick eyed her remaining beignet. “Are you going to finish that?”

“No. I’m full. Especially after all those buttered hush puppies.”

He switched plates with her and tore off a bite. “Still, I played basketball in the winter. Baseball spring and summer and fall ball when I got older. I didn’t miss out on too much. My dad didn’t see many games, though. He spent most of his time gone on the road. It was always business with him. Not much left over for Mom or me.”

She rested her hand atop his. “I guess we both fell a little short in the dad department. I supposed our other relatives made up for it, though.

“My mom died when I was twelve. Breast cancer. She was sick for a long time before that. After she passed, Aunt C and Essie were all the family I had.”

Nick washed down his last bite. “I’m lucky. I still have Mom and all my cousins. That’s why I came back to Aurora. I . . . needed to be around family. I finally figured out that’s what’s most important.” He gave her a heated glance.

“Oh, Mom’s gonna cut off my nuts and deep fry them,” he suddenly proclaimed.

“What?” She laughed. “That sure came from left field.”

He ran his hands through his thick, dark hair. “Way out from left field. But she and Aunt O got back from their trip to Branson last night. They go every year around this time. I forgot to call and check on her.”

“Well, you can explain a lot was going on last night.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Eric’s probably brought them up to speed.” He stood. “Come on. We need to head home. We’ll drop in on Mom and let you two ladies get acquainted.”

He flashed a wicked smile. “I might be able to stay out of the doghouse by presenting her with my fiancée.”

She swallowed. “That sounds . . . serious.”

Nick gave her a quick kiss. “I am serious, honey. I’m just sorry I don’t have a ring on that finger yet to let the male population know it’s hands off.”

“Things have happened pretty fast.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss into her palm. “You look tired, else I’d say let’s go ring shopping right now.”

Her emotions threatened to overwhelm her, so she told him, “I am a little tired. This has been a pretty full day. I haven’t even taken my afternoon nap!”

“Then let’s go home. I’ll call Mom and tell her we’re coming over tomorrow instead. Do you think you can walk back to the car?”

“I’m fine. If I get tired, you can carry me.”

Nick swept her off her feet in a single move. “Good thing you’re light.”

“Nick La Chappelle, put me down,” she ordered.

He kept walking.

Her face felt on fire. “Oh, this is embarrassing. Please, please, put me down.”

He stopped. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She ducked her head down, hating the attention they were drawing.

He set her on the sidewalk and got down on one knee, taking both of her hands in his.

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?”

Nick grinned shamelessly. “Crazy for you. Now be quiet. I want to make this official. I know I told you I loved you and wanted to spend the rest of my life with you—but I never really asked you to marry me.”

Callie sensed the crowd gathering around them. Her cheeks burned bright red. “Nick!”

“Callie, I love you more than sleeping late on a rainy Saturday. I love you more than jambalaya or pecan pralines. I love you more than pitching a no-hitter in the seventh game of the World Series.

I love you and want us to spend every minute of every day together till we’re too old to remember each other’s names. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She couldn’t help but laugh at his outrageously romantic proposal. “Yes, yes, yes. I will marry you and sleep late with you and feed you pecan pralines and even watch the Series with you. Now will you get up?”

Nick rose and pulled her into his arms for a searing kiss. Vaguely, she heard applause surrounding them. When he finally pulled his mouth from hers, Callie realized not only had the crowd’s numbers swelled, but several people were shooting videos and taking pictures with their smart phones. Everyone around them wore a smile.

Nick took her hand in his and waved to the crowd. “Gotta go, folks. We need to talk about rings and babies and all kinds of important things.” He took her hand and pulled her through those gathered, hurrying her down the street.

“Stop,” she ordered after they’d passed two blocks. “I’m totally out of breath.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t resist.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “You’re just so cute when you blush.”

She shook her head. “What have I gotten myself into?”

He whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait to get myself into you.”

He grabbed her hand again and walked her down a few more blocks and around the corner to the car. Her face burned at his racy comment. She would pull on her sunglasses the minute they got into the convertible. She wished she hadn’t left them on the dashboard in the first place.

When they reached the car, Nick groaned. “Not a ticket. Come on, I’m parked fine. There’s no meter.” He lifted the windshield wiper and froze.

“What’s wrong?” She noticed a blank envelope resting on the glass. The pit of her stomach grew icy.

“Get in,” he ordered, unlocking the car and practically shoving her inside. He locked her door and slammed it before walking around to retrieve the envelope. He opened his own door and got in, locking it the minute it shut.

Silence weighed heavily inside the car. Callie bit her lip. The wonderful, beautiful, romantic day faded as she stared at the envelope in his hands.

“It could be anything,” he said, trying to convince them both. “An advertisement. A coupon.”

“It’s not. Just open it.”

As before, the envelope wasn’t sealed. Nick and Eric had discussed that no trace of DNA would be left that way. Since the previous note hadn’t had any fingerprints on it, she assumed this one wouldn’t either. She watched him pull out the folded slip of paper and open it, turning it around since it was upside down.

She watched as he read it, his eyes going dark as the color drained from his face. He refolded it and started to put it back in the envelope.

“I want to read it.”

“No. It’s just more crap. I’ll give it to Eric.”

Callie wrapped her fingers around his wrist. “We’re in this together. Please. I need to see it.”

Reluctantly, he handed it over. With shaking hands, she unfolded it.

Nick—

Hope you are having fun today. Because it could be your last.

Lipstick Larry

P.S. Believe it or not, I actually want you dead more than her.

Chapter 24

Cars packed the drive at Noble Oaks as Nick and Callie returned. He’d called Eric as he’d raced out of the city, relating what they’d found. Eric told him Detective Waggoner had arrived from New York and would be among those waiting when they reached Aurora.

He took in Callie as he swung into the driveway. She appeared so fragile in the leather bucket seat, her arms wrapped around her protectively. Her eyes stared dully, straight ahead.

“It’s not your fault,” he told her for the third time.

She quickly turned and shot daggers at him. “Of course it is. He wants
me
! He’s mad because he’s seen you with me. Oh, God, when I think how stupid we were to parade our feelings in front of the entire French Quarter. He was
watching
us, Nick. He probably had his camera out, snapping pictures of our proposal. We’ve inflamed him. The entire situation has gotten out of hand. I’m not going to risk your life, Nick. This is between him and me.”

He pulled the key out of the ignition and glared at her. “So what exactly does that mean, Callie? You’re just cutting me loose?”

“Yes.” Her harsh tone belied the frightened look in her eyes.

“What happened to love? Seeing each other through thick and thin?”

“I believe you’re talking about the wedding vows, and that’s through sickness and in health, for better or worse, till death us do part.” She unfastened her seat belt and tossed him a glance. “Well, we aren’t married, and we haven’t proclaimed any public vows or made any promises. So I declare this relationship officially over before it’s even begun. That way this raving lunatic won’t see the need to let death part us.”

She threw open her door and eased out. Nick jumped out and went around to her side of the car. One look told him how physically and emotionally depleted she was.

But she would hear him out.

He gently took her arm. “Listen. You are not going to fight this guy alone. I love you. I don’t care if the world knows—let alone this douche bag. We’re in this together, Callie, united we stand. I’m not going to run out on you at the first sign of trouble.”

She tugged, trying to get away from him, but he held on firmly. Finally, she stopped struggling. She raised tear-filled eyes to his.

“Don’t you see it’s because I love you that I’m not willing to sacrifice you? I don’t want to see you killed. If you’re not involved with me, he won’t see you as a threat. He’ll leave you alone. I won’t let him hurt you. I couldn’t save Wolf. But I can try to save you.”

Nick pulled her to him, enfolding her in his arms. He felt the tremors run through her as she sobbed.

“Baby, I won’t walk away from you,” he whispered in her ear. “If I can’t be with you, I might as well be dead.”

Callie looked up at him, biting her lips.

“Other than getting this stupid note, I just had the best damn day of my entire thirty-five years,” he told her. “I’m not going to let some psycho come between us. I don’t have to say the public vows or have the piece of paper to know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. I will stand by you, and I’ll tell you, hon—when this is all over—it’ll be the two of us left. Together. Stalker, be damned.”

She collapsed against him, her fingers bunching his shirt tightly. Nick stroked her hair. He looked up and saw Eric, Gretchen, and a man he assumed was the New York cop.

“Come inside,” Eric ordered quietly.

Callie pulled away from him. She spotted the cop and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. A pang of jealousy pulled at Nick, despite the fact that the man was old enough to be her father.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Waggoner,” Callie said. “This has turned into a nightmare.” She glanced over and gestured for him to come. He walked up to where they stood.

“This is Nick.” She took a deep breath. “My . . . fiancé.”

Nothing else she could’ve said would have made him prouder. He realized in that moment that she had committed to him. He thrust a hand out.

“Sorry to meet you under such circumstances, Detective.”

The cop grunted as he shook hands. “You’re deep in the midst of things now, Nick. Makes sense, though, that he’d want to go after you. You’re a roadblock between him and Callie. The idiot we arrested back in New York hollered day and night that he wasn’t a murderer. That he didn’t have anything to do with the other dead girls that resembled Callie.” He glanced around. “Let’s continue this conversation inside.”

They went up the porch steps, Eric and Gretchen in front of them. He spotted Miz C the minute they entered the foyer. Both and he and Callie went to her.

“I’m so sorry,” Callie apologized over and over. “I would never have come here if I would have dreamed this wasn’t over.”

Callandra’s stubborn chin went up a notch. “And I would thrash you soundly if you hadn’t come home. You’re where you are loved, my dear. Even Dorothy Gale knew there’s no place like home.”

The old woman pointed a finger at him. “And you need to watch yourself, too, young man. You and Callie must follow whatever instructions Detective Waggoner gives you until this madman is in custody. I wouldn’t want anything to interfere with . . .” Her voice trailed off as she looked mortified.

He grinned. “You haven’t let any cats from their bags, Miz C. Callie knows I’m nuts about her. We’re engaged. We’ve even talked about where we’ll live. But we haven’t done any negotiating on how many babies. Satisfied?”

Callandra beamed at them. “Immensely.” Her eyes sparkled as she took in her niece. “Despite Nick’s occasional bursts of sarcasm, he is quite a fine man.” She took Callie’s hands in hers. “And when this situation is over, I know you two will be so happy together.”

“I don’t mean to intrude, ma’am,” Waggoner said, “but Sheriff La Rue and I need to speak to these two in private.”

“Of course, Detective. Take as much time as you need. We must catch this lunatic. But when you’re done, we would be honored to have you stay to supper.”

“That would be nice. Thank you.” Waggoner looked to Eric. “Where would you like to do this?”

Eric indicated the parlor. The four of them adjourned there. Eric shut the doors behind them. Nick led Callie to a large, brocaded sofa and sat beside her.

Waggoner took a seat in the oyster-colored wing chair opposite them. “Tell me everything. From the minute you found the first note last night till you found the second one today. Don’t leave any detail out.”

Callie began the story, and Nick interjected his take on things every now and then. Waggoner scrawled a few notes as they spoke, but mostly he listened. When they finished, he placed his note pad on the coffee table.

“May I see the note from today?”

Nick fished the envelope from his pocket. “I figured there wouldn’t be prints on it.”

“True, but you never know. Sometimes they get sloppy when they get bold.” He removed a plastic bag from his pocket, as well as a glove. He slipped on the glove before taking the note and reading it several times. Eric stood over his shoulder, reading the text, too. Finally, Waggoner put the envelope and letter into the evidence bag and handed it to Eric, who stepped from the room.

“I won’t give you the soft sell, Nick. In plain English, this monster has a fixation on Callie. Quite frankly, the longer we’ve had Simon Bills in custody, the more I’ve doubted his link to the serial murders of young blonds.”

Waggoner turned to Callie. “I’ve had no solid proof to tie him to a single girl. Just my gut feeling. Everything that we thought was evidence in the murders proved to be nothing more than news clippings of Lipstick Larry’s exploits. You and I know that Bills is the guy who attacked you. You ID’d him. We found the knife with your blood on it in his medicine cabinet. The whole shrine he’d set up in your honor in his apartment. The log where he kept a record of your movements and all the times he followed you. We can get an easy conviction on his stalking and attack on you. That’s why I pushed for that case to be brought to trial first, so we could get one lunatic off the streets while we bought time for the murder investigation.”

The detective stood and began pacing the room. “But the guy’s not that smart. Our serial killer had to be smooth enough to get these girls to come with him willingly, to wherever he plays his private games with them. And he’s left virtually no evidence. That takes a clever man. Simon Bills doesn’t fit the killer’s pattern or IQ. He confronted you on a public street. He was hostile, not self-contained. You were even able to manipulate him for a while. I doubt you could’ve done that with our real perp.

“And Bills panicked. He got messy with you. The murderer is a calm, rational guy. He takes his time. He leaves no trace.” He frowned. “I think he’s the one behind these two notes. He’s followed you home and wants to play the game out to its finish.”

Nick put a protective arm around Callie. He sensed the shivers that ran through her body.

“So how do we catch him?” he asked.

Waggoner came and sat back down. “Obviously, he’s in the area. A stranger will stand out among locals in a town this size. I know Aurora is bigger than you remembered it, Callie, with a lot of tourists coming through. But he’s got to be staying somewhere nearby. And someone’s got to remember him. The Aurora PD has begun canvassing the area already.”

The cop blew out a long breath. “In the meantime, you both get round-the-clock protection. Eric has brought in the FBI. They’ll create a profile. We’ll tap the phones. And we wait.

“But . . . that could take a long time,” Callie pointed out. “I don’t know how long I can live like a bird in a gilded cage.”

Waggoner gave her a hard look. “It’s either that or let him succeed, Callie.”

“We could flush him out,” Nick suggested. “He wants me out of the way. You could use me to set a trap.”

“No!”

He recognized the panic in Callie’s voice and knew she was close to the breaking point. She gripped his hand tightly. “No way, Nick. I just found you and decided you’re worth keeping. I’m not going to lose you in some failed, heroic attempt to catch a killer. This isn’t one of your books.”

“But he does have a point,” interjected Waggoner. “We could get someone in with his general build and coloring. I’ll have to work on that with Eric and the FBI.” He nodded at Nick. “Callie’s right. No foolish attempts at bravery required. You got the girl, and she’s a real peach. Don’t blow it now. Let the pros do their job.”

He stood. “I’ve got a few things to check on. I’m sure you’d like a little time alone to unwind. I know this must’ve been a rough day.” Waggoner leaned over and kissed Callie’s cheek. “Good to see you again, kid. Sorry it’s under such rotten circumstances.” He shook hands with Nick and gave him a curt nod before leaving the parlor.

Nick didn’t care what the cop said. Callie might go stir crazy before this killer was caught. They needed time to explore their budding relationship and get on with their lives without this hanging over them.

Plotting was his forte. Given time, he knew he could come up with a way to catch the killer.