WATCHING (26 page)

Chapter
33

****

Georgia felt exposed and vulnerable in the baggy coveralls, with her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. Her entire body hurt, she was exhausted, and Hellbrook had her feeling raw.

She didn
’
t feel a thing like a competent agent. Instead, she felt confused, worried, and scared
—
and she could lay the blame squarely on Hellbrook
’
s wide shoulders.

She had no trouble finding those shoulders in the crowded bullpen. He stood taller than most men in the room; more than that, the man had a presence about him that drew people to him.

Something else she wasn
’
t too comfortable with. That sort of power was intimidating, and she
’
d lived with it her entire childhood. Her mother drew people that effortlessly
—
drew people and took what she wanted from them. It had made Georgia leery, in more ways than one.

But Hellbrook wasn
’
t like her mother; Georgia knew that on a rational level. She
’
d never seen him abuse his power. Except with her. That thought gave her pause.

Why her?
Why had he treated her the way he had, and did he expect things to change between them so easily, so quickly?

It was unrealistic. They both knew that, both were aware of the psychological and emotional aspects involved in relationships, especially whirlwind.

Georgia knew of the failure rates for whirlwind relationships, and those failure rates for office romances, as well. She wasn
’
t so sure she wanted to attempt one with a man like Hellbrook, regardless of how attracted she may or may not be.

But she wasn
’
t made for casual flings. She
’
d been with two men in her life, and she
’
d loved them both. And the decision to enter those relationships had been terrifyingly difficult for her. The biggest risks of her life, and she
’
d lost in both of them, for whatever reason. Been hurt, and she didn
’
t want a repeat of that. But could she stop whatever it was that seemed to be happening between her and Hellbrook? Georgia honestly didn
’
t know.

“
We have a name
,
”
Hellbrook said, from where he stood between Brockman and Dan. The white shirt he
’
d borrowed from someone was a bit too small and outlined the powerful muscles of his chest. With the two top buttons undone he looked casual, sexy, and tempting.
“
Joel Joseph Powers
.
”

“
What have we got on him
?
”
Georgia asked, shaking off the thoughts of him pressing against her.

“
He fits the profile. Zeke and Stephenson went with Handers to bring him in. He
’
s known Claire Reid since elementary school. Also has priors for sexual assault. Victimology is the same
.
”

“
Small brunettes
.
”
Malachi eyed both Georgia and Jules, a worried look in his blue eyes.

“
Who is going to do the interview
?
”
Georgia asked, sending Malachi a warning look. When he
’
d been her team leader he
’
d displayed a protective streak, but it had been a mild one. Hellbrook had better not be rubbing off on Malachi
—Georgia would smack them both
.

“
I
am,
”
Hell said.
“
You can observe. I don
’
t want you anywhere near this bastard
.
”

“
Georgia, love, we think seeing you may trigger him to shut down. This man is reactant, and will be highly defensive. He
’
s a social outcast and a misogynist. It wouldn
’
t be a good idea for someone fitting his profile
—
especially someone who he has encountered negatively before
—
to be so highly visible
.
”
Brockman stepped closer, and then rubbed her shoulder. Georgia saw Hellbrook
’
s expression darken.

He always had reacted whenever Malachi was around her, and never in a good way. It finally made sense to her.
Hell was jealous.

“
Like I said
—
you can observe
.
”
Hell
’
s voice held a note that had Georgia
’
s eyes narrowing.

“
I got that
,
”
Georgia said.

“
Good
.
”
Hellbrook crossed his arms across his chest and rocked back on his heels before looking at her intently.
“
Georgia
?
”

“
Yes
?
”

“
Can I speak with you a moment
?
”
He kept his voice soft, almost coaxing. Hypnotic. Georgia
’
s body stiffened.
He wanted something.

“
Of course
.
”
Her voice was as soft as she followed him out into the hall and to a small office near the end. He opened the door, checking to see if anyone was inside. It was empty, and he ushered her inside.
“
What
’
s this about
?
”

“
You
.
”
He moved closer.
“
About earlier...about me kissing you...I wanted to apologize
.
”

“
For experimenting or for kissing me a few hours ago?. What are you apologizing for? I need things clearly lined out. I always have
.
”

“
Both. All of it. I shouldn
’
t have put you in that position
.
”
He wouldn
’
t meet her eyes.
“
It was wrong of me
.
”

Georgia recalled what Ana had said, how he
’
d watched her, wanted her for a while. So why this sudden change of tactics?
“
I kissed you back
.
”

“
Still, I took advantage...both times
.
”

***

He lowered his forehead to rest against hers, running one hand down her free arm, the caress deliberate and intimate. She shivered, but didn
’
t pull away.
“
I want you to know that whatever decisions I make involving the team; it is not a direct result of this. But it is what I consider the best move for the team to make
.
”

“
I
’
m confused
,
”
Georgia said.
“
I can
’
t deny that. You
’
ve been
Dennis-enemy-number-one
for quite a while. It
’
s hard for me to change my thinking overnight. And I
’
ve never kissed a supervisor before, haven
’
t even considered it. Let alone having one tell me right out that he wants me. I don
’
t know how to deal with that. I
’
m not sure I want to now
.
”

“
If you tell me no, I won
’
t like it, but I
’
ll understand and I
’
ll drop it
.
”
He kissed her. The moment his lips touched hers she sighed, allowing him deeper entry. He took advantage of it. She didn
’
t tell him no, didn
’
t pull away. Didn
’
t want to.

Her fingers played with the buttons of his borrowed shirt, the new sling putting them at the right height to slip beneath the cotton. Her mouth opened, inviting him in.

She
protest
ed as he pulled back.
“
We need to stop. We have work to do
.
”

“
Yes, sir
.
”
This time her words held the slightest bit of humor, came out huskier than normal. Hell
’
s eyes darkened, obvious lust making them nearly black. Georgia felt an answering heat in her stomach.
He wanted her and
she
wanted
him.
“
Whatever you say, sir!
”

“
Georgia..
.
”

She smirked then sobered.
“
I
’
m not happy about being excluded, but I understand your reasoning. And I
’
ll try to keep from jumping to defensive conclusions where you
’
re concerned. It
’
ll be hard, but I will try. Is that enough
?
”

“
That
’
s all I can ask for at this point. And I know that. Come on, let
’
s go
.
”

Chapter
3
4

****

Georgia stood near the one-way glass facing the small interrogation room where Joel Powers sat picking at his fingernails. He fit the description given by Katherine Montehue. Smaller in stature, brown hair, blue eyed. And from the file she
’
d read, he preferred brunettes of a tender age. His prior victims had been eighteen and nineteen, young and vulnerable college students at the same university where he
’
d worked custodial. One had ended with a no-contest plea and the other had been dropped for lack of sufficient evidence. More importantly, he
’
d attacked them both in empty parking lots.

Hell took the seat in front of Powers. Malachi stood by the door, looking calm and almost welcoming.

The two men were a direct contrast from one another on the surface, but Georgia knew that where it mattered they were very similar. Both were physically daunting men, sexy and attractive in different ways. Both were overprotective and both wielded that natural power with little effort.

Supermen. She could easily see them both starring in their own superhero movies. Both had hero-complexes, the desire to save others in order to feel personal
identification
. But more than that, they were both honorable men. Even Hellbrook, despite the way he
’
d treated her for so long, had the deepest sense of honor. One of the things she
had always
admired about him
, even when she wanted to feed him to a pit of snakes
.

“
Joel. How are you? Are you comfortable
?
”
Malachi asked.

“
What
’
s this about? I
’
m warning you, I have rights and I know them
.
”

“
That
’
s good, but someone still went over them with you, correct
?
”
Malachi had not moved from his casual stance against the door.

“
Yes. I didn
’
t do anything. And I don
’
t know nothing
.
”

“
That
’
s apparent
.
”
Hell arranged pictures of the victims they had positive identifications on.
“
Do you know these girls? These women
?
”

“
No. Not really. Think that one goes to the same church as my mom
.
”
He pointed to the picture of Hailey Ann.
“
Them others, I don
’
t think I
’
ve seen before
.
”

“
You live in a small town and you can
’
t tell me you
’
ve seen these girls before? You work custodial at the mall, Joel. Teenage girls, they like the mall. And we know you like teenage girls
.
”

“
Not anymore,
”
Powers said.
“
All they talk about is television and stupid things. I like women my own age or older, I swear. I
’
m not into little girls!
”

“
How about this woman
?
”
Hell spread the hospital pictures of Katherine Montehue over the table.
“
These were taken after someone raped her and beat her. She your type
?
”

Powers took one look at the pictures and shook his head. Hell laid out one more. Georgia knew it would be the one of Claire Reid
’
s body as it had been found.

Malachi moved closer.
“
That
’
s your old friend, Joel. Claire Reid
.
”

Powers paled, clutched at his stomach with the hand that wasn
’
t cuffed to the table.
“
Claire? That
’
s Claire? That
’
s sick. Man. Sick
.
”

Georgia frowned. From his mannerisms, Powers was telling the truth. The door behind her opened and Ana entered.

“
Hey, George. How
’
s it looking
?
”

“
Not good. No physical indicators of dishonesty
.
”

“
You sure
?
”

“
At this point, yes
.
”
Georgia nodded as Hell began laying out the more gruesome photos.
“
Watch his face
.
”

They did for a moment, before Georgia continued.
“
He
’
s honestly revolted. If he was the UNSUB, he
’
d have been unwillingly fascinated
.
”

“
Unwillingly
?
”

“
He
’
d be fighting the urge to stare, would be excited
—
as a sociopath this is the most likely form of any type of feeling. Powers is not a sociopath. It
’
s not him
.
”
Georgia tapped the glass, signaling the men inside that she needed to speak with them.

It was unnecessary; she saw that as soon as Hell
’
s eyes flicked over the glass. He couldn
’
t see her, but he knew she was there. And she knew what he was thinking.

The depth of their latest connection scared her.

Hell followed Malachi into the room, pausing in front of Georgia.
“
You need something
?
”

“
It
’
s not him
,
”
Georgia said.
“
Powers hasn
’
t seen those images before. That last photograph nearly made him vomit
—
the one of Claire Reid
.
”

“
That confirms my opinion
,
”
Malachi said.
“
He most likely cared about her, and seeing what was left of her
—
it wasn
’
t something he was prepared for
.
”

Hell
’
s mouth twisted.
“
It isn
’
t him. Dammit
.
”

Georgia echoed that thought silently. If it wasn
’
t Powers how were they supposed to find him, now? Powers was the best lead they had had.
“
We
’
re missing something. I think we need to go over everything we
’
ve got again
.
”

“
Probably wouldn
’
t hurt. Call K.D., have her round up everyone she can
.
Refocus the search on Claire Reid
’
s associates and friends. Or even those she may have come into casual contact with
.
”

“
You
don
’
t
think she was a random choice
?
”
Georgia asked, hand reaching for the cell she
’
d stuffed in the pocket of her coveralls.

“
Not likely, but the possibility does exist
,
”
Hell said.
He paused, a considering expression on his face.
“
Georgia, I want everything
—
all branches, local, federal, Spurgeon Quarry, Carterville, all of it
—
coordinating through
you
from here on out. Sorin and Jacobs will assist. You will serve as the hub
.
”

“
Yes, sir
.
”
Georgia was dialing before he finished, and was barely aware of what she
’
d said
—
until his brow rose. She shrugged.
“
Force of habit
, Hell
.
”

“
I know. Keep me posted as often as possible
.
”