Chapter Six
Hours later, the whole house was quiet. Moonlight lit up the night sky. India was sleeping lightly and uneasily. She knew this drill all too well. Ghosts from her past were trying to sneak into her subconscious but she had learn a long time ago how to wake herself up when this happened.
Opening her eyes, she laid there in the dark and stared at the ceiling. After a few minutes, she became aware of another sound in the room with her. Listening for a moment, she leaned over and turned on the lamp beside her bed. Sitting up, she looked around the room and found T.K. sitting on the floor in the far corner.
Pushing the covers off, India got out of bed and went over to her friend. She could see the tears on T.K. face and without a word, she pulled her into her arms.
T.K. wrapped her arms around India and cried for a few minutes. Then taking a deep breathe she leaned away from her friend. “I can’t do this. I can’t dig this up again.”
India reached up and tucked a strand of T.K.’s hair behind her ear. “Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
T.K. shook her head. “How can you do this? How can you relive the terror of that night?”
“We didn’t do anything wrong,” India insisted.
“If he finds out about us, he will come after us and do to us what he did to those other women.”
“Maybe. But if we can stop him, he won’t be able to murder another woman or us.”
“You really aren’t afraid of him are you?”
“Ha! I’m terrified of him. I’m just not going to let my fears let him get away with it. Don’t you see? I have to do whatever I can to stop this bastard.”
“I hope you don’t think I’m a coward for being scared.”
“No I don’t think you’re a coward. I’m scared too. We all have our own fears. I’ve learned over the years to hide mine better than most. It wasn’t easy growing up in foster care. Some of the people I lived with were okay and some of them shouldn’t take care of kids at all. I learned that the hard way.”
T.K. looked at her friend. “I’m sorry, I forgot about that. At least I had family around me. My mom just about killed me the night we were out so late. She grounded me for six months the night after I stayed in the warehouse all night. That was okay with me.”
“Let’s go outside, I really need a cigarette,” India told her.
“But you don’t smoke.”
“I might start. This is a very stressful time. It’s either that or a drink.”
A few minutes later, they slipped outside and sat down at one of the few tables spread out in the yard. T.K. brought out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and India reached for one.
When they both lit up India stared out at the water for a moment. “I think I could live here quite nicely.”
“Yeah, me too.” T.K. flicked her ashes and asked, “Do you really think these guys can find the killer?”
“I think they will try. Briar told me his brothers never give up and they usually get whoever they go after.”
“This case might be different. They have no way to track this guy.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” a voice from behind them said.
India gasped and turned.
Briar stood in the doorway. He was dressed in jeans and his shirt was open. She could see the muscles rippling on his abdomen and the light sheen of chest hair he had. She took a deep breath and tried to get a handle on her emotions. She could feel her blood getting warm. His feet were bare and he had a drink in his hand. T.K. nudged her slightly to get her attention and when India glanced her way, she noted T.K.’s knowing grin. India blushed in the darkness and hoped Briar wouldn’t notice.
He raised his glass and took a sip of the liquor as he made his way over to the table. When he sat down, he noticed the pack of cigarettes on the table. Looking at T.K. he cocked his head to the right. T.K. shrugged and Briar reached for a cigarette. After he lit it, he leaned back. “I couldn’t sleep either.”
“What did you mean we shouldn’t be too sure about finding this guy?” T.K. asked trying to turn the conversation away from India’s embarrassment.
“We don’t have a name yet, but I think we will before long. In fact, you’ve given us most of what we think we know already.”
T.K. sighed. “I have to admit something. I’m terrified clean down to my bones. I’m afraid if this guy finds out there was a witness to his crimes he might come after India and I.” She took another breath. “I’ve had nightmares about being laid out on that table and it’s my body he’s cutting into. It’s my screams filling the air and it’s my blood dripping into a hole in the ground.”
“He’s going to have to get through all of us before that would ever happen,” Briar told her quietly. “And we don’t go down that easily. You are safe here.”
India took her friend’s hand. “I’m here too.”
T.K. smiled. “I know but that still doesn’t chase the boogey man away. I’ve held this secret for so long, I don’t know if I can give it up.”
“We did find a link to our killer. When he wrapped his victims, he placed cheap jewelry in the linens. The jewelry could be bought in any dime store but there was always one piece that was different. In each case, we found an Egyptian Ankh made of ceramics. We think it’s from the same artist as the jars.”
“Do you have pictures? Maybe I can tell from that,” T.K. told him.
“Sure, we got some of the autopsy reports in this afternoon,” Briar said as he got up. Holding out his hand T.K. let him lead her back into the house. When they got into the living room, he flipped on a light.
India got up and followed them back inside.
While T.K. went over to the bulletin board, Briar went over to a side board and grabbed a bottle. Splashing some liquor into his glass and one for T.K. then he looked over at India. At her nod, he poured her a glass and brought it over to her. Handing her the glass he sat down next to her. “Is your friend okay?”
India took a sip of her drink and nodded. “I think she’ll be okay. She’s been living with this most of her life and she’s afraid but I’ve had those same nightmares. Maybe once this guy is caught, she’ll be able to let it go.” She leaned forward and picked up the jar she had buried so long ago. She stared at it as if she were trying to figure out something. “We know who made this jar but I think we’re missing something here.” She turned the jar around and tipped it upside down. There was something they were missing she could feel it, yet she couldn’t see it. She sat it back on the table and caught sight of something on the top of the jar. She picked it up again and stared at the top. The top was rounded and smooth except for a cartouche imprinted in the ceramic.
India put her glass down on the table and looked closer at the cartouche. She didn’t read hieroglyphics but she had seen them before.
“What is it?” Briar asked.
“It’s a cartouche, I think.”
“What is a cartouche?” he asked.
“It’s usually a name of some kind.”
“Hey, I think there’s one on the Ankh too,” T.K. told them. “But this one is too small to read.” She turned to Briar. “Is there any way we can enlarge the photo?”
“Yes we can. Our printer can enlarge it.”
“While you’re doing that, I’m going to look up the Egyptian alphabet. Maybe we can figure out whose name it is.” India to her room and brought back her laptop. Looking up what she needed, she figured out the name on the jar.
When Briar and T.K. came back, she had her answer. She left the alphabet up on the laptop. T.K. sat down and began looking up the letters. When she finished she handed the photo to Briar.
“Oh my god, this says Lynn. This has to be from Lynn Macken’s body. She was one of the victims,” Briar said.
“This cartouche is Jenna’s name,” India told them. “Do you know what this means?”
Briar stared at her. “He has these jars specially made for each of his victims. That means Gretchen Hawks is an accomplice to each of these murders.”
“I can’t believe that,” T.K. protested. “She wouldn’t be a willing partner in this. She couldn’t be.”
“Maybe we should have Cade check it out,” Briar said. “He can fly up to Boston in the morning.”
India nodded. “I want to scan the drawing into my computer. I have a facial recognition program that might help us find out who this guy is.”
“We’re running his photo through our recognition program,” Briar replied. “Ours are linked to the police and FBI recognition programs. Hopefully, we’ll have a name to go with the drawing by morning.”
“I hope so,” India said.
“Everything is beginning to fall into place.” He nodded. “Before long, we’ll know what we need to stop this guy.”
India grabbed her glass and refilled it. Then she grabbed T.K.’s pack of cigarettes and went back outside. She sat down in the dark and looked out across the water of the bay. Her hands shook as she lit the cigarette. Inhaling the smoke deep into her lungs, she held it there for a moment before she exhaled. She wasn’t used to smoking and her lungs hurt but she needed the momentary pain to make it real. Every time they uncovered something new, the whole situation became more real to her.
“Hey are you okay?” Briar asked as he sat down next to her.
“I’m still a little shaky,” India admitted. “I guess I didn’t realize when this started we might actually find him.”
“Isn’t that why you came to me? To help you find this guy?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why the doubt now?”
“After fifteen years, I never thought you’d be able to I guess. I mean I know he has to be stopped, I guess I never knew how this worked that’s all. It’s horrifying, yet exhilarating all at the same time.”
“I told you that my brothers never give up on a case, not until the bad guy is in jail.”
India turned her head and stared at him. “Yes you did, and I for one will be very happy to see that day finally come. Like I said, I didn’t know how all of this would come out.” She chuckled slightly, “I’m beginning to find this part of it very interesting. One clue leads to another and another until the whole story plays out. It’s scary yet fascinating.”
“Don’t let my brothers hear you say that,” Briar warned.
“Why not?”
“They might recruit you to work for them and then I would never see you again.”.
“Why do you say that?” India asked.
“Because I can see you living here.”
“And would that bother you?” India stared at the tip of her cigarette. “I mean I’m nobody, maybe I wouldn’t fit in around here.”
Briar grabbed her shoulders and turned her to look at him. “You most certainly are not a nobody. You’re an intelligent young woman with a fire in your belly for making things right. You are exactly the kind of person that’s needed for a job like this.”
“She was always like that,” T.K. said as she joined them. “Even as a kid she would stand up for her friends. I remember one time in the fourth grade one of the bigger kids was picking on a second grader. India walked past him and tripped the bully. Everyone started laughing at him lying on the floor. She made the move seem so smooth, the bully never did figure out what happened.”
“That doesn’t make me to be some kind of hero,” India told them.
“No but it makes you the right kind of person to work here,” Briar stated.
“I haven’t been asked yet though and that may never come.”
T.K. reached out and brushed India’s hand. “I think I can sleep now.”
“Good.” India smiled. “Maybe I can too, without the nightmares.” She and Briar watched T.K. head back to the house. She didn’t know why but he stayed out there with her. She wet her dry lips with her tongue then gathered her courage. They were both standing at the edge of the patio in the dark.
She felt this was her chance to let him know she was interested. She turned and stared at him briefly then she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. She turned to leave but Briar grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him. His lips crushed hers and when she gasped, he pushed his tongue inside her mouth. The kiss lasted forever and when he broke it, India was close to passing out due to lack of oxygen.
“Wow,” she whispered as she brought her fingers to her mouth.
“I was hoping you would do that,” he whispered to her.
“You were?” she was puzzled.
“Yeah, I was.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a long time now,” he admitted.
“You have?’ India swallowed hard. “Me too.”
Briar nodded. “I wanted that kiss and now I want so much more. Hell, I’ll take whatever I can get.”
“What about me?” India asked. “Would you take me?”
Briar groaned. “Yes, oh god yes I will.” He swept her into his arms and fused his mouth on hers again. He walked her inside the house fumbling with the door then walked her down the hall to the bedroom he was staying in.
Closing the door behind them, he pushed her against the door and began slowly undressing her. Her tank top flew behind them and his lips kissed down her neck to latch onto her hard nipples.
India groaned as he suckled her breast. Her fingers pushed his shirt off his broad shoulders. Then her hands began touching his hot skin.
Briar pushed her sleep shorts down her legs and reached for her clit. It was already wet and slippery and he sank his fingers into her body deep.
India groaned and bucked against his hand. “I need you, please. Please, please…” she begged him.
Briar turned her around and backed her up to the edge of the bed. He laid her down and fell beside her. He spread hot kisses along her body, to her belly and down further.
India spread her legs eagerly.
He delved into licking her and fingering her.
Gasping, she writhed on the bed. “P-Please…”
He paused and replied, “I am going to taste you as you come.” He went back to pumping her with his fingers and teasing her button with his mouth.
Her body bucked and she couldn’t believe she was coming already as she moaned aloud and her body seized with an instant orgasm.
Groaning and moaning, he slurped up every drop, and raised his head to grin at her. “Delicious, like I thought.” He paused. “Wait just a moment,” Briar stated as he quickly took his jeans off then grabbed a foil packet from the pocket.
India watched t him through a daze as he sheathed himself. It was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.
He moved to cover her body with his own. Smothering her lips with his, he thrust deep into her. He groaned as he felt her wet tight core wrap around his cock. His tongue in her mouth mimicked his cock thrusts.
India hissed and began moving her own hips in rhythm with his. His thrusts were deep and hard and it didn’t take long before they both went over the edge. Briar quickly covered her mouth with his own to stifle her screams as he thrust deeply and harder to reach his own climax. Soon he exploded inside her as he threw back his head and groaned out loud.
Neither of them wanted to move for a few minutes then finally, Briar moved to her side. He took of the condom, tied it off and tossed it in the little bedside trashcan. He turned over to a breathless India and tucked her close cradling her body to him.
“Wow,” she whispered in an awed tone. “Is it supposed to be like that?”
Briar frowned. “Supposed to be like what?”
“That incredible?” she whispered.
Briar’s frown deepened. “It wasn’t before?”
India shrugged, then blushed. “I’ve only had sex one other time and it was nothing like this.”
Briar was stunned. “Only one other time?”
India nodded but wouldn’t look at him.
Briar brought her face to his. “Only one other time?” he repeated looking her right in the eyes.
India flushed bright red. “I think I was seventeen at the time. A boy asked me to go to the movies with him. Instead, we went to make out point and he wanted sex. I have to say I didn’t like it much.”
“Did he force you?”
India shook her head. “Not really. I mean I could have walked away but I wanted to see what it was all about. It was disappointing to say the least. Not at all like this.”
Briar chuckled. “I’m claiming you. And there’s much more incredible things to show you.”
She smiled. “Oh… I like the sound of that.”
He chuckled. “Sleep now. I’ll watch over you.”
India closed her eyes and drifted away while Briar watched her for a while, then he closed his eyes and joined her in sleep.