WATCHING (7 page)

***

Jenna recapped what Katherine had said, and from what Hell could glean, this woman wouldn
’
t have noticed anything that didn
’
t serve her own purpose. She wasn
’
t much of a friend. He checked his watch, then flicked his eyes back toward the restroom. It was taking Georgia a while to return. And that made him nervous.

The smoke cloud hanging over the entire bar made it difficult for him to see her, but Hell eventually found her.
“
Excuse me. My partner needs me
.
”

He left Jenna sitting at their table, a relieved expression on her face. He didn
’
t have to turn around to know the blonde slipped out the instant his back was turned.

He followed the path between their table and the restroom. A tall man—thin, slightly unkempt, several degrees past drunk—blocked his path.
“
What
’
s your hurry, cowboy
?
”

“
Move
.
”
Hell growled, now able to see Georgia in the midst of four men, a clear look of irritation written on her face. Hell threw a threatening glance at the man in his path.
“
Now
.
”

The man moved.

***

“
No, thank you
.
”
She shook her head as she tried to move past the table. It wasn
’
t her first time in a bar
—
or the first time a drunk had hit on her so it didn
’
t bother her. One of Ernie
’
s friends used a booted foot to block her path. One look at his face told her he was neither as drunk as Ernie
—
nor as affable.

“
If not Ernie then, dance with me
.
”
He stood, towering over her.

“
N
o;
if you
’
ll excuse me, I want to return to my table
.
”
Her voice coole
d, her spine stiffened. She
braced for things to turn ugly.

“
No. I say you dance with me first,
”
the man said.

“
She said no. And so did I
.
”
Hellbrook
’
s voice came from behind the man, cutting and vicious.

Georgia shivered. She
’
d seen serial killers and junior agents shrink back in fear when Hellbrook used that tone. Ernie
’
s friend smirked. Georgia wondered if he realized how large of a man, how large of a threat, stood behind him.
“
And that
’
s supposed to mean what
?
”

“
That you are going to step out of Georgia
’
s way, and we
’
ll all go on with our nights,
”
Hellbrook said.

It didn
’
t take a profiler to predict what happened next. The man rounded on Hellbrook, swinging at the larger man. Hellbrook blocked the first swing with his right hand, then slammed the man
’
s captive forearm to the tabletop in front of a wide-eyed Ernie. Ernie and one of his remaining two friends stood, all serious now and aggressive. They moved on Hellbrook with stunning intent. He took a hit directly to one eye, and another to the ribs.

“
What the fuck? Bastard has a gun!
”
One of the men yelled when he spotted the Sig Saur beneath Hellbrook
’
s coat. He backed up a step, the move mimicked by Ernie. The fourth man finally stood and grabbed the man facing Hellbrook. His words were low and reasonable, an unexpected ally.

“
A gun, cuffs, and a badge,
”
Georgia said over the sounds of several patrons moving away from the tables.
“
And he
’
s not the only one
.
”

“
Cops!
”
Ernie shook his head.
“
She didn
’
t look like a cop to me!
”

Chapter
7

****

The crowd stepped back, giving their small group wide berth. Hell felt the eyes pressing in on him as he jerked the final idiot back, avoiding the fist aiming for his face. His left eye already burned where the bastard had landed one lucky punch.

What brave
—
or drunken
—
onlookers remained
Georgia efficiently moved them on their way. Hell had to admire her composure
—
she didn
’
t look like she
’
d even noticed that she had men fighting to dance with her. Or that Hell was relegated to the role of valiant protector. He fought a snort at the images that evoked. She was the type of woman a man would slay dragons for
—
but he doubted she
’
d ever want him acting as her knight errant.

“
Sit down
.
”
He pushed his attacker into a chair, ignoring the man
’
s two-word reply and one-finger gesture.

“
We could call our friend Stanton,
”
Georgia said, her voice cool over the smoke of the bar.
“
Book these morons on assaulting an officer charges. What is the going rate for attacking federal agents these days? You
’
re the one with the law degree
.
”

“
I believe it
’
s still starts at five years
.
”
Hell pulled out a chair for his partner with a flourish. She sat after giving him a regal nod. Hell
’
s busted lip quirked. The woman sure knew how to play the princess. He
’
d use that to his advantage. With men like Ernie and his baboon friends, a princess was way out of their reach. Above them. They
’
d give them the information they needed to receive Georgia
’
s approval. At least Ernie, and maybe one or two of his friends. The big bastard who
’
d challenged Hell
—
he would give them nothing.

“
So. It
’
s either five years, or fifteen minutes of conversation
.
”
Georgia leveled a look at the four rapidly sobering men. A dark brow rose in question, she gave them a superior and haughty look.
“
What will it be gentlemen? Either you finish out the night
—
and the next five years
—
in a cell because of the bruises you put on my partner
’
s face, or you help us out
.
”

“
We didn
’
t know he was a cop, lady
.
”
Ernie put his hands up then dropped them to the tabletop.
“
Honest
.
”

The other two were silent. The belligerent one sneered.
“
What do you want to know, baby
?
”

“
Baby? Do I look like a baby to you
?
”
She looked at Hell with a slightly indignant look in her eyes. He knew it was an act, as he knew that the man had deliberately tried to rattle her. Looking at the two of them side by side, himself and his partner, and anyone would automatically assume that Georgia was the weak link. She was a small, delicate, reserved female
—by appearances
—
while he was a large, force
ful male. He would command atten
tion in any setting. Now he used that to his advantage.

Letting her interview Ernie and his buddies meant they
’
d be off
center
. Gave the control to Hell
’
s team. At that moment, Georgia was the captain.

“
That
’
s not what I would call you. Sweetheart, maybe. Or princess. You are more like a
princess
, I would think. Having us lesser mortals bowing before you
—
that
’
s something I could see you doing. What do you think
?
Ernie
—
does my partner fit the role of a princess
?
”
Hell focused on the weakest link with unerring skill.
“
What, no answer? You were certainly interested in her earlier. Interested enough to try to dance with her, even though she told you no
.
”

“
I wanted to dance, that
’
s all
.
”
Ernie mumbled the words. His two buddies were silent, nerves visible for even a junior profiler to see. The belligerent one rocked in his chair beside Hell
’
s. Hell kept part of his attention on that man, knowing he posed the biggest threat.

Hell had insulted his masculinity by beating him. And that stung the man. Hard. He was big enough and strong enough that few men probably had beaten him before Hell.

“
Maybe you wanted to dance with Katherine Montehue
.
”
Georgia pulled a photograph from her pocket and laid it before the men.
“
Last night
.
”

“
Kathy
?
”
The belligerent man straightened in his chair, his booted feet clunking against the wood floor. His face lost all animosity, then all color as he looked a the small snapshot showing the brown-haired woman and her bruises.
“
What happened to my sister
?
”

Hell and Georgia shared a look. They definitely hadn
’
t expected that curve. Georgia
’
s demeanor instantly turned soothing. Hell had to admire that. She easily could have shot the man moments earlier, yet now she sought to comfort.
“
Your sister is in the hospital in Rapid City
.
”

“
What happened to her
?
”
The man had tensed, all his attention focused on the sole woman at their table. Now only concern was in his voice.
“
Was she hurt
?
”

“
Last night your sister was taken from the parking lot at this bar
.
”
Hell began, turning his body to block the other man
’
s in case he reacted with rage.
“
There is no easy way to say this. Your sister was raped and beaten. We are here looking for information from those who may have noticed something. Were the four of you here last night
?
”

“
No. I wasn
’
t,
”
the victim
’
s brother said.
“
I was going to be, but I hooked up with a lady after work. Met her at the trade show. We hit it off. Dammit, not Kath
.
”

“
I was here
.
”
One of the silent men now said, a taller solidly built
blonde
man in his early forties. He
’
d been the one to try and stop the others
’
from challenging Hell earlier. Hell saw that he was pale as he stared at the picture of the victim, then alternated glances at the victim
’
s brother.
“
I spoke with her. I didn
’
t know she was your sister, Keith
.
”

“
You spoke with her, yet this still happened
?
”
Keith
’
s voice held anger and anguish and Hell tensed, afraid the man would lash out at his buddy for failing to protect the victim.
“
Who the fuck would do this to a woman like Kath
?
”

“
That
’
s what we are going to find out
,
”
Georgia said. She turned to the man who Hell suspected was the nice, shy man Katherine had been flirting with before the attack.
“
We need you to tell us what you know
.
”

“
Katherine and I hit it off real well. I honestly didn
’
t know she was your sister
—
I would have given you the heads up or something first, Keith
.
”

“
We know Katherine told you she had a ride ho
me last night after you offered,
”
Georgia said.
“
She told us that. She also told us that she wasn
’
t aware that her ride had left
.
”

“
Jenna
.
”
Keith
’
s voice grew harsh.
“
She would have been with Jenna. And Jenna probably hooked up with someone and left her. Like Always
.
”

“
And Rebecca Curtis,
”
Georgia said.
“
They thought Katherine would be getting a ride home with
—
”

“
Albert Gaudet, ma
’
am. Most people call me Al. If I had known I would have given her a ride home. I wouldn
’
t have left if I had known
.
”
The man was miserable and Hell felt for him. He was blaming himself for what happened to a woman he
’
d liked, and a sister of a friend. A double blow.

“
And what is it you do, Al
?
”
Georgia asked.

“
I
’
m a sub-contractor, mostly. I build houses. It
’
s a good living
.
”
He kept his eyes trained on the photograph still on the table. Hell unobtrusively pulled it from view. There was no need for the two men to have to see it. They
’
d probably never forget the image anyway.

“
We need to know if you noticed anything or anyone giving Katherine more attention than they should have been? And can you remember who all was here
?
”
Hell asked.

“
No. I
’
ll admit, I usually don
’
t come here. But last night, I lost a job I
’
d been bidding on and I didn
’
t feel like sitting at home. So I got in my car and ended up here. Katherine bought me a drink and we talked. I offered her a ride home but she refused. Said her friends would be expecting her to go with them. I had an early morning estimate on a job so I left around nine. My company had the winning bid. So we came out tonight to celebrate. I
’
m their boss
.
”
He nodded at his friends.
“
Drinks were on me
.
”

“
I want you to think back, Al,
”
Georgia said.
“
Was anyone staring at you and Katherine last night? Paying any more attention than they should have been? Anything, anyone, strike you as unusual
?
”

He shook his head.
“
Nothing I can remember. The truth is, I was so focused on Katherine that anyone could have walked by stark naked, and I doubt I would have noticed
.
”

They got nothing more from Gaudet or Keith, nor any of the other patrons of the Turn Around. They stuck around until closing time, ignoring the hostile looks sent their way. Ernie, Gaudet, Keith Montehue, and their forth buddy left shortly after the interview. Hell strongly suspected at least two of the men would be on their way to Rapid City.

“
She
’
s got a family who loves her. She didn
’
t mention her brother
,
”
Georgia said, later that night as they were driving back to their motel.

“
No. But it
’
s good she does. That will help in her recovery, having someone who obviously loves her there with her. And Gaudet
-
-ten to one says he
’
ll go see her
.
”
Hell sighed. Had the attack not happened, Katherine Montehue could very well have formed a lasting relationship with Albert Gaudet-
-
as he was a friend with her brother, their paths would most likely have re-crossed eventually.