WATCHING (41 page)

She was afraid of him. He didn
’
t want that.
“
I just…I need to talk to you, without Ed Dennis
.
”

“
Me? Why
?
”
She stepped in front of the little boy before looking down at him.
“
Mattie, I want you to go play agent in the house, ok
?
”

“
Ok!
”
The boy bounced away back into the house behind her.

“
What is this about
?
”
Her tone had cooled, and the suspicion was clear on her face. He swallowed to wet his suddenly dry mouth. Did she know?

She had to. Why else would she have pulled the door closed, trapping herself outside with him? She was trying to protect the boy and the princess.
Her family.
“
I need to talk to you
.
”

“
About what? A case
?
”
Her tone was still cool and she held her body in a defensive position.
“
I think that can wait until later, don
’
t you
?
”

She tried to step away from him, her small hand going to the door knob.

His hand shot out, wrapped around her arm.
“
Dammit, Linda, it
’
s important!
”

Hazel eyes widened, then narrowed. She studied him like he was a specimen beneath a microscope, started at his head, seemed to catalog his height, his weight. She stared at the hand he still had wrapped around her narrow arm.
“
I
’
m not Linda
.
”

No, she wasn
’
t. She was the mouse. Edward Denni
s
’
mouse.
Not his, never his.
“
I
’
m sorry.
But I still need to apologize.
Explain…about the fire…
”

“
Explain what about the fire
?
”
Her stance stiffened even more.
“
You
started the fire. It was you! But why
?
”

She jerked her arm out of his hand, her body blocking the door to the princess
’
home.
“
Leave, now! Before I call E
d or Hellbrook.
I
’
ll even call Brockman! Go!
”

He stared at her a moment, watching as she trembled before him. She was scared, but determined to protect the occupants of the townhouse behind her.
“
Doc…mouse…
”

The door swung open and the little
blonde
boy called her name.
“
Aunt Jules! I
’
ve been waiting forever
s
! Come on! Come on!
”

The mouse jerked the child behind her, half-pushed the boy into the townhouse
’
s interior.
“
Run, Mattie! Go hide now!
Go! Bad man!
”

Small feminine hands landed on his chest and she shoved him. Her move did little good; she was so small compared to him. He wouldn
’
t hurt her, he wouldn
’
t. But if she yelled like that again someone would call the cops. He didn
’
t want her talking to Ed Dennis about him. Not until he could somehow make her see he wanted to make things right.

He grabbed her shoulder and pushed her backwards, into the home.
Where it was quiet, private.
He closed the door quietly behind him.
The mouse grabbed a nearby vase and tried to swing it at his head, but his years of
martial arts
training
when h was younger
had prepared him well, and had him reacting on base instinct.

His hand was wrapped around her narrow throat before he thought about it. She felt so delicate beneath his hands. The vase fell to the carpet with a soft thud.

“
Don
’
t yell. You don
’
t want the princess walking in on us
.
”

His hand dropped to his holster and he saw her beautiful eyes widen.
She shook and for a moment he was afraid she
’
d break beneath his hands. What was he doing? He didn
’
t want to hurt her. But instead of loosening, his fingers tightened.
“
Do you understand, mouse
?
”

She nodded, sending strands of honey-brown hair tickling his knuckles; he stroked the soft skin of her neck soothingly.
“
What do you want
?
”

“
Just to talk. Make you understand that I didn
’
t mean any of it. Not like that. Thought we could go for coffee, but…
”
His eyes stung as he thought of all that he
’
d done in recent days. That wasn
’
t him. He wouldn
’
t do that. Couldn
’
t. He wasn
’
t aware his hand had tightened on her neck until she coughed. He loosened his hold as he pulled his gun free unthinkingly. Hellbrook was coming to the princess
’
house and would probably be early.

It was well after six, now. Hellbrook would be there any minute. Roger didn
’
t want to be caught unawares while he finished talking with the mouse. He whispered soothing sounds to her, as he pulled his hand away from her neck. He touched that oh-so-soft honeyed hair. She was everything a woman should be, his little mouse. God, if only things had been different.

Her knee shot toward the underside of his groin and only quick reflexes had him avoiding her blow.

He swung out with one hand and connected with her cheek
before he thought
. Her blood coated the gun he still clutched.
She crumbled against his hold.

What had he done? His mouse
’
s blood…Linda
’
s blood.

He took several steps back, stopping just inside the kitchen archway as he heard sounds of a woman
’
s footsteps on the floor above them. The princess. She
’
d be down at any moment. The mouse lay at the foot of the stairs, much like Linda had when the gunfire had stopped that day. There was no way the princess wouldn
’
t find her friend. Oh, God, what had he done?

“
Mouse…
”
He bit back a harsh sob.
“
I
’
m so
fucking
sorry…
”

Chapter
52

****
*

Six o
’
clock came much too quickly for Georgia, but somehow she
’
d found the time to fix her hair and dress in a casual, yet elegant black dress that she knew made her figure look
great
. She wanted to look her best for what she was about to do. Georgia grabbed an extra blanket from the linen closet then called out to the woman waiting downstairs.
“
Jules, how do you feel about me ordering you two a pizza
?
”

The sounds of crashing and a female scream sent her running down the stairs.

She stopped abruptly, seeing Jules lying on the dining room floor, her body between Mattie
’
s favorite hiding place and the rest of the house. Georgia stepped closer
, halting her instinctive rush toward Jules. Someone was responsible, and probably still around
.
“
Jules!
”

“
Don
’
t move and be quiet
.
”
A harsh male voice ordered and had her stopping.

Georgia brought her hands up into a defensive position as Agent Stephenson stepped from the kitchen. Blood coated the hand he used to hold his gun. Jules
’
blood. She eyed the distance between her and the cabinet where she kept her weapons locked. Could she get it open before he shot her or Jules?

The only answer was a definite
no
.

“
Do not move. Or I
’
ll finish
the mouse
. I won
’
t want to, but I will…and then I
’
ll search this place until I find your boy
.
”

Mattie. The door of the cabinet Georgia kept empty for Matthew to play in wobbled and Georgia
’
s stomach clenched. Mattie.
No
.
..

She prayed the little boy stayed in the cabinet for a little longer and stayed still, quiet. And she hoped he wasn
’
t watching.
“
Ok. What do you want me to do
?
”

“
Turn around. I need to tie your hands
.
”
He stepped toward the drapes, pulled the silk cord free from the closest with a hand that shook.
“
You and I
will
be going for a little ride
.
”

“
Why? What is this about
?
”
Georgia studied the man she
’
d only worked with directly a few times.
“
I
’
ll admit, I
’
m confused.
“

“
It
’
s about favoritism. And that bastard Hellbrook and your dad
.
”
He rubbed his forehead with the back of the hand holding the gun. Georgia
’
s eyes narrowed, her stomach turning as Jules
’
blood streaked across his forehead. He ignored the blood, almost didn
’
t seem aware of what he done.
“
About Linda, about all of it. It shouldn
’
t have been this way. You need to understand that. I didn
’
t mean this
.
”

He was flushed, nervous, not the way she was used to seeing him. He was breaking. Something had triggered this change, had directed his attention toward her, toward Jules.

“
Excuse me? Hellbrook? How does he have to do with me
?
”
Georgia kept her gaze trained on him, even though she saw Jules on the floor beside him, saw Matthew
’
s head poke out of the cabinet
, in her peripheral vision
.
“
I don
’
t understand
.
”

“
Don
’
t play the idiot, princess. We all know you and Hellbrook are screwing. I didn
’
t figure you for the type, you know? Was it just for the team? The promotion? I heard you talking about it with the mouse
.
”

Georgia kept her hands still and steady, kept herself from rushing towards her baby.
“
Ok, Roger, I
’
ll go with you and we can talk about this. Work this out. I don
’
t know what happened here, but can we get help for Jules first? Call 911. Anonymously
?
”

“
I didn
’
t mean to hurt her. Come on. I have to do this
.
Hellbrook, Hellbrook will find and help her. Take care of her.
”
He looked down at Jules, his expression filled with regret. He knelt down and pushed the blood soaked hair off Jules
’
forehead before dropping a kiss on her brow
. He stood
up again before Georgia could attack.
So caring, so solicitous, yet he refused to get Jules help? Why?

Hadn
’
t she heard somewhere that he
’
d also had martial arts training at one time? She
’
d have to time her moves perfectly. He turned toward the cabinet where Mattie was hiding.
“
I know he
’
s in there..
.
”

“
Let
’
s go
.
”
She cooperated while he tied the cord around her wrists. If she could get him away from Jules and away from Mattie, she could begin planning how to take him down. Hell was on his way, would be there soon. Would find Jules and Matthew and help them. They
’
d be ok. If she got Stephenson away from them.

Then she
’
d think about getting away from him herself. Her hands may be bound, but her feet weren
’
t.

Six o
’
clock came much too quickly for Georgia, but somehow she
’
d found the time to fix her hair and dress in a casual, yet elegant black dress that she knew made her figure look it
’
s best. She wanted to look her best for what she was about to do. Georgia grabbed an extra blanket from the linen closet then called out to the woman waiting downstairs.
“
Jules, how do you feel about me ordering you two a pizza
?
”

The sounds of crashing and a female scream sent her running down the stairs.

She stopped abruptly, seeing Jules lying on the dining room floor, her body between Mattie
’
s favorite hiding place and the rest of the house. Georgia stepped closer. There was blood on her forehead.
“
Jules!
”

“
Don
’
t move and be quiet
.
”
A harsh male voice ordered and had her stopping.

Georgia brought her hands up into a defensive position as Agent Stephenson stepped from the kitchen. Blood coated the hand he used to hold his gun. Jules
’
blood. She eyed the distance between her and the cabinet where she kept her weapons locked. Could she get it open before he shot her or Jules?

The only answer was a definite no.

“
Do not move. Or I
’
ll finish your friend. I won
’
t want to, but I will…and then I
’
ll search this place until I find your boy
.
”

Mattie. The door of the cabinet Georgia kept empty for Matthew to play in wobbled and Georgia
’
s stomach clenched. Mattie. No.

She prayed the little boy stayed in the cabinet for a little longer and stayed still, quiet. And she hoped he wasn
’
t watching.
“
Ok. What do you want me to do
?
”

“
Turn around. I need to tie your hands
.
”
He stepped toward the drapes, pulled the silk cord free from the closest with a hand that shook.
“
You and I
’
ll be going for a little ride
.
”

“
Why? What is this about
?
”
Georgia studied the man she
’
d only worked with directly a few times.

“
It
’
s about favoritism. And that bastard Hellbrook and your dad
.
”
He rubbed his forehead with the back of the hand holding the gun. Georgia
’
s eyes narrowed, her stomach turning as Jules
’
blood streaked across his forehead. He ignored the blood, almost didn
’
t seem aware of what he done.
“
About Linda, about all of it. It shouldn
’
t have been this way. You need to understand that. I didn
’
t mean this
.
”

He was flushed, nervous, not the way she was used to seeing him. He was breaking. Something had triggered this change, had directed his attention toward her, toward Jules.

“
Excuse me? Hellbrook? How does he have to do with me
?
”
Georgia kept her gaze trained on him, even though she saw Jules on the floor beside him, saw Matthew
’
s head poke out of the cabinet.
“
I don
’
t understand
.
”

“
Don
’
t play the idiot, princess. We all know you and Hellbrook are screwing. I didn
’
t figure you for the type, you know? Was it just for the team? The promotion? I heard you talking about it with the mouse
.
”

Georgia kept her hands still and steady, kept herself from rushing towards her baby.
“
Ok, Roger, I
’
ll go with you and we can talk about this. Work this out. I don
’
t know what happened here, but can we get help for Jules first? Call 911. Anonymously
?
”

“
I didn
’
t mean to hurt her. Come on. I have to do this
.
”
He looked down at Jules, his expression filled with regret. He knelt down and pushed the blood soaked hair off Jules
’
forehead before dropping a kiss on her brow, standing up again before Georgia could attack.

Hadn
’
t she heard somewhere that he
’
d also had martial arts training at one time? She
’
d have to time her moves perfectly. He turned toward the cabinet where Mattie was hiding.
“
I know he
’
s in there..
.
”

“
Let
’
s go
.
”
She cooperated while he tied the cord around her wrists. If she could get him away from Jules and away from Mattie, she could begin planning how to take him down. Hell was on his way, would be there soon. Would find Jules and Matthew and help them. They
’
d be ok. If she got Stephenson away from them.

Then she
’
d think about getting away from him herself. Her hands may be bound, but her feet weren
’
t.