SEE HER DIE (22 page)

Her friend turned to look at her, her gaze expectant. “You know you can ask me anything.”

Elizabeth had sworn to herself she wouldn’t visit this place, but she needed all of this over and done with. No secrets. No lingering questions. “When Brian confronted me at Ned’s office, he said some hurtful things.”

Gloria harrumphed. “Well, I hate to speak ill of the dead, but there’s no surprise there.”

Elizabeth moistened her lips and worked up the nerve to say the rest. “He said you recommended me to Ned after
he
told you to. That you were in on the whole thing. His using me and then Ned doing the same.”

Gloria’s expression had gone from calm and patient to outraged in less than three seconds. “You’re kidding, right?”

Elizabeth gave her head a little shake. “I didn’t believe him, but I wanted you to know—”

“What do you mean, you didn’t believe him?” Gloria demanded, her tone filled with hurt. “You’re asking me, so you must have believed it to some degree.” She threw up her hands and pushed away from her desk. “I can’t believe you would even consider his lies as having any basis whatsoever.”

Duncan stuck his head inside the door. “Everything all right in here?”

The two severe glowers thrown his way sent him ducking back into the corridor.

“Gloria,” Elizabeth urged, “I didn’t believe him. I—”

“You didn’t?” Her friend was angry now. A flush had turned her pale skin a deep crimson. “Well, you could have fooled me. Why would you bother bringing it up if you didn’t?”

She was right. Elizabeth stared at the floor, ashamed of herself for believing Brian even for a second. “I’m sorry. I don’t know—”

“I do,” Gloria snapped, her arms folded over her chest in an unyielding manner. “You have that little faith in our friendship.” Mouth set in a grim line, she skirted the desk and began to shuffle through the mound of papers lying there. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

“Let’s not leave it like this, please,” Elizabeth pleaded. “I was wrong to let him get to me, but I—”

Gloria held up a hand and fixed her with a hard glare. “I can’t talk about this right now, I’m too upset. Please, just go.”

Elizabeth admitted defeat. She moved to the door, but hesitated before going through it. “Just remember one thing,” she said softly. Gloria didn’t even look up. “This isn’t your fault. It’s mine. I’m the one with the trust issues. I jumped the gun here and I’m sorry. No matter what happens with all this insanity, you’re still my best friend.”

Elizabeth didn’t wait for a reply. Gloria was too hurt right now. But they would work it out... somehow.

She sat numbly in Duncan’s car as he headed back toward SoHo. His cell rang and she jerked at the sound. Swiping the infuriating tears from her cheeks, she forced a deep breath and kept her gaze straight ahead. She tried not to think, but it was impossible. The events of the past ten days were spinning in her head, crashing down on her with a sense of finality that threatened her tenuous grip on composure. Ned’s deceit. His murder. The police. The murdered women. Brian’s preposterous accusations. His murder. Making love with Mac.

God, please let her be able to trust him. To count on that one thing. She couldn’t live with another letdown.

“It’s Mac,” Duncan said. “He needs to talk to you.”

Her hand shaking, Elizabeth took the phone. “Hello.” She cringed at the quaver in her voice. Strong. She had to be strong.

“Elizabeth, listen to me.” The sound of his voice was reassuring. “There’s been another murder. I’ve instructed Agent Duncan to take you home and to stay with you until I can get back there.”

She listened, too stunned to reply. Some part of her brain niggled at her, reminding her that she really needed to work, but she couldn’t quite grasp the initiative.

“Brannigan is sending another man over to keep watch on Gloria.”

Her friend’s name startled her out of her trance. “Annabelle said there’s still one more before he gets to Gloria and me.” God, she prayed her information was correct. What was she thinking? She was wishing the danger on someone else, someone just as innocent as they were. “Whoever she is, she’ll need protecting, too.”

Silence roared between them for a moment that felt like an eternity. Why didn’t he say something?

“If Harrison had another female patient whose name comes alphabetically after the latest victim and before Weston, I can’t find it in his files.”

Fear broadsided Elizabeth.

If that was accurate, Gloria was next.

Chapter Thirteen

Elizabeth retraced her steps across her suddenly too-small living room. She’d never noticed before that the old wooden floor creaked in a certain spot about three feet from the rear wall. It squeaked smack-dab in the center, too. Guess she’d never really had time to pace the floor that much or to be aware it made any sounds. Or maybe she’d simply been too exhausted by the time she dragged herself home at night. Whenever her panic attacks had struck at home, she’d done her walking off of the excess adrenaline outside. It worked better that way. Now that she thought about it, this apartment had really served as nothing more than the place she slept and showered. It hadn’t really been a home.

Her life had been in too much of an uproar and she’d been far too busy attempting to make ends meet to worry about anything else. The worn area rug and meager furnishings had been included with the place, for which she’d been immensely thankful. She’d had nothing of her own.

Nothing but a boxful of mementoes from the life she’d once lived in a small Maryland town. It felt like a dozen lifetimes ago now.

She hadn’t even bothered calling her sister, the only family she had left, and telling her about the murders or her connection to any of it. Her only sibling had enough troubles of her own. Fortunately for the kids, Peg had straightened out her life since becoming a widow. No more drugs or drinking. She even had a job. While working at the local Walmart might not sound like much to most, it was a huge step for Peg. Elizabeth’s little sister had never been much for responsibility, and she hadn’t really grown up until her third child was born.

But then, Elizabeth couldn’t blame it all on her sister. With a mother who deserted them and a father who’d been too busy working to keep a roof over their heads to influence their raising to any degree, what else could one expect?

She knew she was rambling down memory lane, as fruitless as it was, to avoid facing reality.

In the past a situation this stressful would have thrown her into full-scale panic, but strangely she felt an odd sense of calm. Her concern for her friend had overridden all else. Elizabeth turned and started across the room, once more silently willing the telephone to ring. She needed to hear from Gloria. She’d called her office as soon as she arrived home, but her assistant had informed her that Gloria had gone for the day. She’d called Gloria’s cell a dozen times and gotten no answer. Then she’d called Gloria’s sister’s house, and there hadn’t been any answer there either.

Uneasiness ate away at Elizabeth, but she stayed strong. She should have heard from Mac by now. What was going on with the latest victim? Had he gotten in touch with Brannigan about Gloria?

Elizabeth deviated from her usual route and pushed the curtain aside just far enough to see Duncan’s car outside. She didn’t see him in the fading daylight, but she knew he was around, watching the grounds, checking the doors and windows. She’d offered him some coffee, but he’d declined, saying that his wife always made him a thermos full each morning. Elizabeth wondered vaguely what it would be like to have that kind of relationship. Taking care of each other’s needs, always knowing someone to depend on was there. She closed her eyes and thought about making love with Mac. Long nights, cradled in his arms, sated emotionally, as well as physically.

Never count your chickens before they hatch, darling,
her daddy had always said. She, of all people, should know that adage was true. She knew better than to start thinking about forever where Mac was concerned. They’d shared one night, nothing more. When this case was over, assuming she survived it, they would probably never see each other again. He could have a girlfriend... or a fiancée.

The bottom fell out of her stomach. They really hadn’t talked that much. What did she actually know about him? He’d been born and raised in Washington, D.C. Had a degree from Columbia. He was thirty-five and he’d been with the FBI for ten years. She had no idea if he had any family or even what foods he liked or what his favorite color was.

The panic she’d been certain wouldn’t strike suddenly did. It tightened her throat, made her skin crawl, as her heart kicked into overdrive and unneeded adrenaline rocketed through her veins.

“Walk it off,” she muttered, disgusted with her inability to control the reaction. Damn, she hated being vulnerable to her own traitorous body. And just when she thought she’d get through this without a problem.

She grabbed the phone and punched in the number for Gloria’s sister’s house. When she got no answer she tried her friend’s cell again.

Still no answer.

Still no word from Mac.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

She punched in another number and the answer came after the first ring. “Speak.”

Despite the pressure building inside her, she almost laughed at Boomer’s barked greeting. “Boomer, I need your help.”

Forty-five minutes later Elizabeth climbed into Boomer’s truck and shouted, “Go!”

He floored the accelerator and the vehicle lunged forward like a bullet. She buckled up and collapsed against the seat. She’d made it.

Duncan was watching her truck, so she’d waited until he was doing his perimeter search on the far side of the yard and slipped out. Boomer had waited for her three blocks away. Even now Duncan was probably knocking on her door, wanting to know if she was all right. But it was too late. She and Boomer were well out of sight. Mac would be angry. He didn’t want her leaving the house for any reason. But she had to know her friend was okay. She’d left Duncan a note on the coffee table. It wasn’t like she’d left him completely in the dark.

“Hurry, Boomer,” she pleaded. “I’m really worried about Gloria.”

Keeping an eye out for the cops, Boomer made Brooklyn in record time. Gloria’s sister lived in a cop neighborhood. Half the residents were on one force or the other, as her husband had been. When her husband died, Gloria had urged her to move to Manhattan with her but her sister had known she had to stay. Her neighbors were like family. She couldn’t possibly leave.

“Just let me make sure someone is there,” Elizabeth said when Boomer parked in front of the small, neat cottage. “I’ll wave so you can go on if all is well.”

“I can come in with you,” he offered, his face scrunched with worry. “I don’t like leaving you here.”

“As long as Gloria is here and safe and sound, everything’ll be fine. I’ll call Mac and let him know I’m here safely. He won’t like it, but it’s too late now. He’ll send Agent Duncan on over.” All of this could have been avoided if only Mac hadn’t told Duncan to make sure she stayed put. She could have asked the agent to bring her here.

Boomer nodded reluctantly. I’ll wait for your go-ahead.”

“Okay.” Elizabeth slung her purse on her shoulder, slid out of the truck and walked to the front stoop. She pressed the doorbell, but not sure if it worked, she followed with a couple of firm knocks. A moment later the door opened.

“Elizabeth?” Gloria frowned at her. “Are you all right?”

“Are you?” Elizabeth countered, quickly sensing the subtle differences in her friend’s voice and posture. Something wasn’t right.

Gloria started to say yes, but Elizabeth read the lie in her eyes a split second before she admitted defeat. “I can’t do this anymore.” She opened the door wider for Elizabeth to come in. “I have to tell you...”

Really worried now, Elizabeth waved at Boomer to send him on his way, then she went inside. Gloria quickly locked the door behind her.

“Where’s your sister?” Elizabeth asked. The silence in the house seemed to close in around them.

“I sent her and my niece away.”

“What do you mean, you sent them away?” Fear inched its way into Elizabeth’s heart. Things were definitely getting stranger by the second. Maybe she should have kept Boomer around a little longer. “Where are they?”

“I can’t tell you, but they’re safe from that madman.” Gloria moved about the room, peeping between the slats of the blinds at window after window. “It’s better if you don’t know. I don’t want him to find them.”

Elizabeth moved to stand beside her friend as she peered out the front window. “What is it you have to tell me?” she asked softly, not wanting to push, but Gloria had said she had to tell her something. She suddenly wondered why the police officer who was supposed to be watching Gloria wasn’t parked in front of the house. “Have the cops been by to see you?”

Gloria spun toward her. “No!” she practically shouted. “I haven’t seen anyone.”

This was too bizarre. “Gloria, tell me what’s going on.”

Her eyes glistened with emotion. “That bastard is after my niece. I had to save her. I don’t care if he kills me.”

Elizabeth had missed something here. This didn’t make sense. “I don’t understand.”

“Ned, the son of a bitch, took advantage of my niece, too,” Gloria cried.

At first Elizabeth wasn’t sure what she meant, then she understood. “Oh, my God. Not Carrie.”

Gloria nodded jerkily. “I couldn’t believe it” She swiped at the tears falling freely now. “I wasn’t really that surprised when he used us, but she’s just a kid. Barely eighteen.” Gloria shook with rage, her face turning beet-red. “She kept having all those problems after her father’s death. Ned was certain he could help.” She clenched her jaw, a muscle jerking in her cheek. “He helped all right. Carrie didn’t tell me how he took advantage of her until a couple of weeks ago.”

Elizabeth put her arms around her friend and hugged her stiff shoulders. “I’m so sorry. You’re right he was a bastard.”

Gloria went completely rigid. “That’s why I killed him.”