Read Seeking Evil (Looking Into The Mind Of A Killer Series) Online
Authors: Mary Eason
Seeking Evil (Looking Into The Mind Of A Killer Series) (9 page)
They
stood huddled together
,
trying to decide what to do next when
John
threw
open the door in a rush, sending it slamming against the neighboring wall.
“
Get dressed and get your things. We
’
re moving you out of here right now. We
’
ve been compromised.
”
Anna
was ready to argue but he didn
’
t let
her
.
“
Now, Anna. It
’
s not safe here anymore.
”
Anna and
Bev rushed to
get d
ress
ed
and
to
throw essentials into a bag before
they
were whisked into the depths of a
n
unmarked
police
car in the middle of the night
with John
driving at breakneck speed over the causeway.
His partner
frantically
check
ing
behind them
for any
sign
they m
ight be follow
ed
.
“
What happened?
”
Anna
finally ask
ed
.
John
spared her a glance.
“
Someone tried to break into the house.
”
“How?
What about the two officers outside.
”
“
There
’
re dead. He killed them both. They never stood a chance. They had no idea what was coming until it was too late.
”
Anna
couldn’t think clearly
.
“
How could you let that happen?
You promised you’d protect me,
for God
’
s sake
,”
she
demanded while trying to hold on to what was left of
her
self-control.
John didn’t react to her outburst. “I am protecting you, Anna. You’re safe. I’m not going to let anyone near you again.”
She drew in a steadying breath.
“
Where are you taking us?
”
In her heart,
Anna
knew
the answer already
.
In the rearview mirror his eyes met hers.
“Somewhere safe. Somewhere that I can keep a close eye on you.
We’re going back to D.C.”
To the one place
she
feared the most. Back to a past
she
wasn't sure she wanted
to uncover.
Chapter Six
The closer they got to D.C., the more Anna's fears
increased
. It was as if they’d taken on a life of their own. It had nothing to do with the killer who stalked her, and everything to do with the past.
Her
past with Aaron. Something she’d tried to outrun for more than a year was waiting for her, rearing its ugly head once more.
They’d stopped once to refuel and make a bathroom break. While his partner paid for the gas and Bev took
Gemma
for a walk, John didn’t let Anna out of his sight.
“Anna, relax.
We’ll
get him.”
More than anything she wanted to believe him. “How? You don’t ever know who he is.”
John glanced at Bev then moved closer. He reached for her hand and held it. Just a simple touch and yet the gentleness in him brought tears to her eyes.
“Because I promise we’ll get him and I’d never break my promise to you.”
They stood side by side, leaning against the car and holding hands
. They could have been anyone, just two normal people with nothing but happiness ahead of them.
Bev had called Ed the minute she got the okay from
John
to tell him what was happening. He’d caught the next possible flight out to Dulles. Two agents would meet him at the airport and bring him to the undisclosed location where John would be stashing them.
Anna wished she could share her fears with Bev, but she couldn’t bring
herself
to open that door. Not even for her own peace of mind.
“We’ll be arriving at in a couple of hours
,” John broke the unbearable silence that had plagued them for hours. “Bev, y
our husband’s flight is on schedule.”
“
Thank you, John.
” Bev turned to Anna and made the goofy face of hers that always had Anna cracking up.
“Stop it.” Anna pretended to be angry with her, but she was actually grateful.
“At least I made you smile.”
“You’re always good at making me laugh.”
The smile left Bev's face. Her sister's tone turned serious once more. “Don’t worry. It will all work out, you’ll see.”
“Promise?”
Only a second passed before Bev gave her sister her word, but it was enough to scare the hell out of Anna. If her big sister couldn’t make her a promise and mean it, things were bad.
* * * * *
The Hoover Building had never
appeared
more ominous then it did with the sun shimmering off the Federal Bureau of Investigation logo.
Anna
squeezed Bev
’
s hand tighter and tugged
Gemma
’
s mutinous body closer against
her
chest.
She
wondered if
Gemma
would ever forgive
her
. She
’
d been whimpering and pouting ever since
Anna
force
d
her into the government
-
issued car.
A virtual battalion of federal agents met
Anna and
Bev at the steps of the building
,
including Agents Hays and Brady who’d followed them from
Pensacola.
John got out of the car and opened her door. “Anna, Rick and I have a lead
we have to act on
. I have to go, but I’ll be back
soon
. Hays and Brady will be with you until then. You’re safe. I promise you’re safe.”
She swallowed back the need to ask him to stay. All the old feelings resurfaced. It was like being sucked into a whirlpool of desire.
John held her hand and looked into her eyes. “I promise this will end soon.
This time it will be over.
”
She nodded
. She wanted to believe him. She didn’t.
They
were
escorted
them
up to a sterile conference room lacking in any human warmth.
For the first time
,
Anna
understood the emotional rollercoaster ride those who entered the doors of this world faced. They
’
d come to
Bureau
for help. In the past,
Anna had
always been able to keep a certain distance from their pain. Not anymore.
She
was one of them now.
They b
arely had time to enter the room before Assistant Director Mark Warren joined
them
.
“
Anna, it
’
s good to see you again. I
’
m sorry it has to be under these circumstances.
”
In the past, Anna had
only a limited amount of dealings with Mark Warren while Aaron was alive. With his death and because of
her
own professional connection to the team,
Warren
had made it his personal mandate to make a public showing of capturing the RCK. The pressure had been enormous to convict George Peterson for all the murders. There
’
d been whispers, even back then
,
that Peterson
might not be
responsible for the RCK murders.
Anna
suspected as much
even though
she’
d removed
her
self from the case both professionally and emotionally with Aaron
’
s death.
Anna
somehow managed to answer
Warren
, but
she
couldn
’
t hide
her
resentment at being back in D.C.
“
Thank you. I wish my coming back here wasn
’
t necessary
at all
.
”
After Aaron
’
s death, and to his credit, AD Warren had insisted on putting
Anna
on an administrative leave of absence. Officially,
she
was still a government employee, although
she
knew in
her
heart
she’
d never return to this life.
“
I know
and
I
’
m sorry, Anna. Is there anything you need? We want to make this as tolerable as possible for both you and your family.
”
Need?
She
needed this nightmare to end. Whoever was responsible for these killings had a personal connection to the victims, or at least that
’
s what he believed in his delusional world. The criminal profiler in
her
had begun working the case the minute
she found out
about the other victims
,
a
lthough few of the details were being shared with
her
, purposely. As a victim, the less
she
knew about the others the more cooperative
she’
d be.
“
No, only can you tell us when my brother-in-law will be arriving
?
John
said
his flight was on schedule.
”
AD
Warren
glanced to Brady.
“
Where is Agent Delaney and Garner anyway. I was under the impression they
were escorting you
here.”
“
They did. They’re a
cting on a lead, sir.”
The AD’s face turned bright red.
“What lead?
I wasn’t aware of any lead?
”
he
barked the question
back at
Brady.
“I’m not sure, sir,
it came in while we were on the road. I believe
the brother-in-law was
being picked up as we speak. He
’
ll be here within the hour.
”
Warren
recovered his composure and
headed for the door, the unpleasantries over with in his mind. He stopped in the entrance and spared
them
another glance.
“
Good. Then just sit tight.
As soon as
Agent Delaney and his partner
return, th
ey
’
ll be taking over your
case once I’ve had a word with Delaney
.
”
If
Warren
noticed Hays
’
pissed
-
off reaction, he did his best to ignore it.
Only Brady
appeared
unaffected by it all.
He had been busy roaming around the conference room with too much pent
-
up energy. Just like John. John hated the business side of the business as he called it.
He thrived on the details of the case. The hunt to capture a killer before he struck again was where John
’
s talents
shone
.
With nothing else to do but wait,
Anna and
Bev
ho
n
ed
in on the coffeemaker in the corner of the room.
