Strong Reflection: Book 2 of the Dark Series Trilogy (18 page)

Hate hearing the confusion and stress in her voice, Kyle tightened his hold on her. “Go on, sweetheart.”

“When he realizes I am watching him back he takes off.  I-I don’t know why but something just tells me to move, follow him.”  Ashley looked up and held Kyle’s gaze, “I can’t explain it, he didn’t look right, it was some gut reaction to follow him.”

Kyle stroked her long tresses, pushing them off her face.  “I know the feeling honey.  Lots of people in law have some sort of instinctive reaction that they follow religiously.  It’s save their lives a thousand times.  I have my own inside me.”

At his reassuring words, Ashley laid her head back against his chest, listening to his comforting steady heartbeat.  “I am trying to get through the throng of people.  There are so many, it’s almost claustrophobic.  The gap between us gets bigger so I pour on the speed as much as the crowd will let me and I am almost to him and th-th-then I s-see him…”  Ashley was afraid to tell Kyle that the person she was now referring to was the Newburgh Slasher as opposed to her 'father’.  

The same instinct that told her that day to follow the man who looked like her father was now telling her if Kyle knew she saw two different people that day that caused her actions to change, he would never let her back into the field.

Kyle thinking her hesitation was because of what she was remembering being done to her kissed her on the top of the head.  “Go on sweetheart, you can tell me anything, nothing you say can make me feel differently about you, I love you Ashley Anne Mackenzie.”

“Oh, Kyle, I love you too!”  They kissed slowly, lovingly and then parted on a gasp for air.

“Finish it, what happened next?”
 Kyle held her gaze.

“I see him start towards the water.  I thought that was totally crazy, especially since he was walking in the opposite direction of the people he was assigned to protect.  I drop back a little, wanting to see where he was going before I get right up on him.  In my dream I get this really really bad feeling, like something life altering is about to happen.  Then I wake up."

Confused, Kyle questioned, "You wake up before you're attacked?"

Ashley nodded, keeping her face against his chest so she didn't have to look in his eyes as she lied by omission.

“Ashley, you were screaming like your life was in danger, like someone was attacking you.”

“Well, I don’t remember everything I dream.  Sometimes I remember nothing.  I just find myself suddenly awake and drenched in sweat.”  At least that was the truth.

In more truth, Ashley could say that she had dreamt more about the day her family was slain than being attacked by the Newburgh Slasher.  She hadn’t even remembered the part about her ‘father’ being there until the memory was triggered at the mall.  She didn’t remember anything from that day beyond being at the dance and starting to follow Anderson.  She didn’t recall the attack, getting rescued, or being air-lifted to the major trauma unit at Westchester Medical.  

With her ongoing therapy, Ashley had resigned herself to never remembering the details of that day. And, although it bothered her a little, it didn’t weigh on her mind like the night she lost her entire family to crazed killers.

Kyle continued to hold and caress her while he came to terms with the fact that Ashley was lying to him. He had thought they made a deeper connection than this.  Why would she continue to lie to him?  He was going to give her a little more time but then they were going to have it out once and for all and he would accept nothing but the absolute truth from her or their relationship was over.  He couldn’t be with someone who wasn’t willing to share their inner most feelings.  They couldn’t grow and learn together if she was constantly holding a part of herself back.  He gave one hundred percent and by God he’d get one hundred percent from his partner.

“Let’s head down stairs for breakfast.  I guess nightmares make you hungry because I am starving.”

Keeping to the promise he just made to himself he gave her a convincing smile and said, “Why don’t you use the bathroom first then?”

Ignoring the fact that the smile didn’t reach his gorgeous blue eyes, Ashley gave him a quick peck on the cheek before scrambling off the bed to go into the bathroom.

****
 

“So what’s this meth-head’s name?” Jack asked Detective Carl Rider.

“His street name is Buzz because his family used to own a barber shop and he was apparently, at one time, a very good barber.”

“The things methamphetamine will take if you let it.”  Jack shook his head while looking over the file Carl had provided for him.  “You found this guy pretty quickly, Carl.”

“Yeah, the guy wasn’t hiding.  Addicts tend to be stupid and desperate.  He was basically hired to do the dog and dump him in your home with that message.”

“He’s in lockup now?”

“Yeah, and he’s hurting, gonna be in hell when withdrawl really grips his ass.  He is gonna be transferred to detox in a bit.”

Jack scowled, “Not before I talk to him.  Let’s go.”

Kyle and Ashley entered hand and hand as Jack was leaving.  Jack nodded towards their joined hands, smiling.  “Glad you two made up.  You make a great couple.”

Ashley asked, “Where’s Cat?”

“She’s in the kitchen getting a start on the shindig for tonight.”  

Ashley turned to Kyle.  “I am going to go give her a hand.”  She stood on her toes and gave him a kiss on his lips.

Kyle pulled her to him, extending the quick kiss to something longer and more emotional.
 Slowly Ashley opened her eyes, looking deeply into his.  Kyle tried to convey his love with his eyes.  He must have gotten through to her because Ashley’s look was a mix of returned love, fear and guilt.  She knew Kyle knew she was keeping something from him.

She turned to include Jack and Carl in a weak smile and a wave.  Kyle watched her go with a disappointed look.

Jack raised a brow, “You two really ok?”

Kyle turned back to Jack, “She told me a lie.”

“Sorry man.  If it’s any consolation, I think Mackenzie would only lie to protect you.”

“I know that.  We are together now and I am supposed to protect her.  She just doesn’t get that.”

Jack frowned, “Mackenzie is used to her role being that of protector not the protected.”

Kyle shook his head, “I wish she could see that she isn’t alone anymore.”

“Well, come with me to question the scum that broke into my house.”  Jack led the way to the front door.  “And, I should thank you too.”

Kyle rode with Jack while they followed detective Rider’s car to the police station.

“What are you thanking me for?”

Jack smiled, “I think you must have posted my security firm’s business cards all over your building. Tomorrow I have to meet with my fifth potential client from Virginia and the third from the FBI.”

“Really?  It was nothing.  I just left a stack of your cards with reception.”  Kyle waved away his thanks.

“I think you did more than that, the one tomorrow and the first client I got from Virginia both asked for me by name.”

Kyle nodded.
 “I admit I may have mentioned you to a few friends and Director Mackenzie but I am sure your successful transition into Virginia had more to do with your company’s reputation than anything I said.”

“Well, I am thanking you anyway.”  Jack steered his car into his reserved parking spot at the police station.

Kyle got out of the SUV and looked at the huge tower building across the street.
 “I like how you’ve got the actual station and the administrative offices of the police department separate, more municipalities should do this.”

“It was just a matter of needing room and this unused building being available.  It used to house a couple corporations, a bank, tax office and at one time was an extension center of the SUNY college.”

****  

Jack had his temper barely in control.  The fool Markus Venry was so high he couldn’t answer Jack’s questions.  He stuttered through an interrogation, pendulumed between begging for a ‘hit’ and mumbling about he didn’t do ‘nothing’.

Jack gave the scum another disgusted look before leaving the interrogation room.  Kyle and Carl came out of the observation room, meeting him in the hall.  “This piece of shit is useless.  He hardly knows his name never mind who hired him to pull that stunt at my place.”

Carl frowned, “You think it was this J.T. person though, your business partner’s twin?”

Jack nodded, “I just wanted confirmation.  I want to know if he is this close to Catlyn, so I can take her away while the rest of my team sets a trap for him.  I want this animal out of our lives and I want Catlyn to have peace of mind.   This waste of O-2 has tortured her life, dreams and sense of security for 25 years.  I want him incarcerated or dead and at this point I don’t give a damn which.”

Kyle nodded in heartfelt agreement as Carl said, “Don’t worry chief I am going to be this guy’s shadow until he becomes lucid.  I will get confirmation!”

“Thanks Carl, you don’t have to do that.  Besides he’s headed to detox for now.”

“I will sit there until he talks.  I’ll try every hour if I have to, I will get an answer from him.”

“Thank you Carl.”

“No problem chief.”  Carl matching actions to his words went into the interrogation room Buzz was currently occupying.

Kyle and Jack left the station.  “I am headed across the street to my office, why don’t you come with.  I have something to show you about the new client I am interviewing tomorrow.”

Chapter 11

Catlyn
 watched Mackenzie roll the pigs in a blanket like an automaton, not really hearing what she had been saying to her for at least the last half hour.

“Yeah, so that’s when I told Jack that I was leaving him.  And Director Strong and I are running away together.”

“Hmm, uh huh.”  Mackenzie intoned without so much as a facial feature changing or stopping her pigs in the blanket making.

“That’s it, “Catlyn gripped Mackenzie’s wrist, forcing her to drop the biscuit dough.  “What is it, Mack?  You’ve been a ghost of yourself since you woke up screaming.”  Catlyn gave her a little shake.

Her unfocused eyes zeroed in on Catlyn’s worried countenance.  “I’m sorry, Cat, what did you say?”

Catlyn grimaced, “Nothing worth repeating and getting my arm broken over.”

Mackenzie’s brow furrowed, “Huh?”

Catlyn picked up a dish towel and wiped the hot dog and biscuit goo from Mackenzie’s hands.  “Never mind, come sit down and talk to me.”

Sitting at the kitchen table Catlyn gave Mackenzie a stern look.  “Now, out with it, I know you are in some kind of trouble.  You’re never this unaware of your surroundings.”

Ashley had wanted to make an appointment in Newburgh for therapy since she seemed to be losing her mind but, Catlyn was a doctor, a profiler.  And, she was Ashley’s friend.  She could help her keep it together.  “Cat, I think I am going insane.”  Ashley’s voice was vulnerable and scared.

Knowing she was serious Catlyn curbed her first instinct to laugh.  “You’ll have to be a little more specific, Mack.”

Clutching her hands nervously and placing them in her lap, Ashley answered, “Remember when I told you I don’t like to sing anymore because it reminds me of my childhood?”

Nodding, Catlyn said, “Yes, you said it reminded you too much of being in an orphanage.”

“I know you think I am sad a lot of the times because I was never adopted.”

“Well, it’s a statistic that white newborns are adopted more than any ethnic newborn, regardless of the celebrity trend of adopting ethnic babies.”

Ashley whispered, “I was adopted.”

Frowning,
 Catlyn clarified, “You were?” At Mackenzie’s nod she inquired, “How old were you when you were adopted?  Where’s your family, Mackenzie?”

Tears came to Ashley’s eyes.  “I was adopted when I was 5 months old.”

Catlyn’s brows shot up.  “Really, I thought you said you grew up in the orphanage?  Adopted at 5 months how can you even remember the orphanage?”

“I was adopted before the orphanage?”

Shaking her head in confusion, Catlyn started to worry about her friend.  “Mackenzie, honey, you’re not making any sense.  Did your adoptive parents give you back to the orphanage?”

Unaware her tears began to fall she told Catlyn for the first time the complete story of the day she lost her entire family, resulting with her growing up in an orphanage.  

****  

“So, your client tomorrow is Director Mackenzie?”  Kyle was surprised looking over the file Jack had given to him.

“Yes, but I wanted to get your sense of actual danger.”

“To be honest, I’ve never heard of the group W.H.A.M. (White Heterosexual Aryan Masters) which is surprising considering the crimes attributed to them.  It would definitely be a group the FBI/HCD would monitor.”

“Apparently, many years ago, the Director had a run-in with the group both personally and professionally.  He took down a large part of their governing group.  There was retaliation by the underlings of W.H.A.M. in 1992 in which the Director’s wife and son were killed.  The director thinks his grandson is being targeted now.”

With a concerned frown, Kyle questioned, “What makes the Director think someone is coming after his grandson?
 And why after so long, I mean, it’s been 21 years?”

“The Director said he’d have more details and some video files he thinks will help my firm.  As to why now?  He said his grandson was accepted into USMA at West Point and will be residing part time in Newburgh, NY until he graduates.  Then the boy has every intention of following in his grandfather’s footsteps, making the bureau his home and going after groups like the one that killed his father and grandmother.”

Kyle pondered the situation before answering, “Even if the Director is being paranoid, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and I’ve seen some of these extreme groups hold grudges for ages, killing and exacting revenge for a supposed wrong years later.  I say, if the Director is worried than there is good cause to be.”

Jack nodded, taking the file Kyle held out.  “That’s what I was thinking too.  If you don’t mind coming on board for this case, I can pay you a consultant’s fee.  You could do the protecting while the kid is in Richmond.”

Kyle wanted to work things out with Ashley before he accepted a job that would most likely take up a good portion of his off hours.  “Let me get things worked out with Ashley.”

“Ok, let me know.”

****  

Catlyn sat stunned.  She couldn’t believe Mackenzie’s life.  She had known Mackenzie had grown up in an orphanage but she hadn’t known about the life changing events which led to her being in the orphanage.  She had assumed Mackenzie was born there or was brought there as a newborn.

Seeing that the paper towel she had given Mackenzie was now completely drenched and ragged by her tears, Catlyn went to the pantry door which blended into the wall and cabinets.  She took out a box of tissues and handed it to Mackenzie.  She needed to help her friend.

“Mackenzie why do you believe you’re seeing your father?”

Taking in a broken breath and hiccuping, Mackenzie spoke with conviction, “My twin’s, mom’s and dad’s every look is so deeply ingrained into my memory.”  Sighing in grief and adding in a whisper, “It’s all I have left of them.”

“Honey, it’s not your father.  It’s someone who looks like him.  If your father had lived you would not have grown up in an orphanage.”  Catlyn kept her voice even and soft.

“It’s him, Catlyn, I swear!”

Taking Mackenzie’s hands in both of hers and squeezing them, she gave Mackenzie a little shake.  “It couldn’t be, sweetie.”

Mackenzie’s tears flowed uncontrollably, tearing at Catlyn’s heart.  “Mackenzie, how old was your dad when he was killed?”

Wiping at her nose Mackenzie answered, “Me and my twin were days away from our 12th birthday, mom was 34 and dad was 40.”

Catlyn got up, going to the fridge she poured a glass of juice for Mackenzie, setting the glass in front of her she said, “Drink this and listen up.”

Following Catlyn’s instructions, Ashley drank the cool, soothing drink.

“How old is the man you saw at the waterfront the day the Slasher attacked you and yesterday at the mall?”

Mackenzie’s eyes widened in stunned realization and she spoke in a shocked whisper, “He’s no older than early 20s at the most.”

“If your dad had lived he’d be about to enter his 60s not be 15-19 years younger than when he died.”

Mackenzie bowed her head, shaking it in denial.  “I was so sure.”

Catlyn pushed a few loose tendrils which escaped her French braid off Mackenzie’s face, tilting her chin up so she could look deeply into her eyes Catlyn spoke gently, “It was just someone who looks like your dad.”

“Well, it’s official.  I am totally nuts!”  Mackenzie said partly in jest.

“No, of course not.”  Taking her seat again Catlyn elaborated, “But, I do think you’ve been stretched beyond normal means for a long, long time.  You’ve been a non-stop, relentless defender of; justice, the needy, the weak and the lost.  I think it’s time for you to seriously think about taking some much needed time for yourself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like me, you had your choices taken from you at a young age.  Jack and now I am convinced that had I not been raped by J.T. I would have gone into journalism and we would have gotten together much sooner.”

Mackenzie nodded, “Yes, I can see that reasoning.”

“Well, you Mackenzie would have probably been a singer, song writer.”

Mackenzie wiped her face with tissues, cleaning the evidence of her tears away, “I don’t think so, I only did the singing bit because my twin liked singing so much.”  Bowing her head again to hide the new rush of tears, Mackenzie husked out through her pain, “I miss her so much!  I use to sing with her because she liked it so much and she’d do cheers with me because I liked cheering so much.  We helped each other in our hobbies.”  Mackenzie gave a strangled laugh, “She hated doing those cheers, she called cheerleaders empty-headed fru-fru dolls.”

Catlyn laughed, “She sounds like a great person.”

Sniffing, Mackenzie gave Catlyn a smile, “She really, really was so great.  It should have been me that died.  She was so much better than me.”

Catlyn frowned and shook her head.  “Don’t ever think that Mackenzie!  It shouldn’t have been either or any of you.”

With very little conviction Mackenzie nodded.  “Thank you for talking with me and getting me to see how crazy I was being.”

“Not crazy, Mackenzie.  Just over tired and stressed.  Stress can manifest itself in many different ways. But, the next time you think you see this person that looks like your dad, I want you to get my attention if I am nearby or call me if I am not.”

Mackenzie knew that Catlyn would help her.  She also knew Catlyn would not lie to her, knowing this she asked her bluntly, “Cat, do you think I am losing my mind?”

Squeezing her hand in assurance, Catlyn shook her head.  “No, I don’t think you’re losing your mind. You have one of the better minds I’ve ever had the pleasure to come across.”

Mackenzie fell against
 Catlyn’s shoulder as she pulled her in for a hug.

****  

“Wow, Kitten, this looks absolutely fantastic.  I didn’t think we were gone all that long for you to have done all this.”  Jack indicated his kitchen table and the vast counter space which was taken up entirely with all kinds of dishes and entrees, snacks and goodies.

“I had some help.  Mackenzie is not only a great partner in the law.”

Kyle pinched a celery stick topped with spinach dip from a tray.  Taking a huge bite he mumbled, “This is good.”  Looking around he asked, “Where is Ashley?”

“She said she had an errand to run.”

Jack clapped his hands together.  “Well, best get out to the grill and fire it up and start my grillin’”

Catlyn rolled her eyes and glanced at her watch, “You couldn’t even last 5 minutes without mentioning the grill.”

Jack pulled her into his arms, “Kitten, it’s the Grill Master 5000.  I can’t wait to get it going.”

She laughed as he kissed her and gave a loud smack to her ass, “Stop distracting me woman, I got meat to burn.”

Catlyn
 turned away from her fiance’s retreating back to look at Kyle, “Are you alright?”

Sighing, Kyle decided to answer with his heart, “I love her but I think I am going to lose her.  She doesn’t trust me enough.”

Not breaking a confidence, Catlyn suggested, “Kyle, I think you should ask Mackenzie what’s bothering her.”

Kyle shrugged impatiently, “I have! She fed me half-truths and complete bullshit or she tries to make me go on the defensive by insulting me.”

Catlyn
 smirked, “And, I thought Director Strong was unstoppable.  The Director Strong I knew ran his team perfectly.  If he wants information he gets information, he’d let no one stop him, especially not S.S.A. Mackenzie his most trying team member.”