Chapter Thirteen
She’d taken off her bandages. Stripped. Slid beneath the warm spray of the shower. Casey had left the lights on. She could have showered in the dark. Could have hidden in the dark. But she didn’t want to do that.
She was tired of hiding.
For years, she felt as if she’d just been pretending to be someone else. Cassidy had become Casey and she’d bottled up all of her fears. She’d locked herself down, not letting anyone close. She’d reported on other victims in an attempt to help them.
But inside, she’d stayed the same frightened girl.
She put her head under the spray, and maybe she used it to wash away the tears that trickled down her face. There was so much pain out there—the world was full of pain. But if you really looked, it was also full of good things, too.
She heard the squeak of the door opening. Her head lifted and she saw Josh standing in the doorway. With his eyes on her, he stripped. There was no hesitation from him. No shyness. She wasn’t entirely sure he understood the concept of shyness. Not Josh.
He eased open the glass door and slid into the shower with her. It was a truly massive space, easily big enough for them both. He grabbed the soap and then his big, rough hands were gently washing her skin. Massaging her as he tried to take away her aches and pains.
She closed her eyes and turned her face back toward the spray.
Then she felt his hand still on her back, right over the old scar that had marked her for so long. The scar that had changed her life—and her—forever.
There was a light, soft feathering over the scar and she glanced back—he was kissing the scar. Using such tenderness with her. Her heart ached as she turned to lock her arms around him. Their bodies were wet and steam drifted in the air around them. Their lips met. The kiss was slow at first, sensual as his tongue stroked past her lips. Her breasts pressed to his body, her nipples tight and aching. Every time they came together, the need surprised her. The way the desire built and twisted within her, a hunger that wasn’t weakening. It was just growing stronger the more that she was with him.
He reached behind her and turned off the water. The last drip, drip, drip seemed too loud. They didn’t speak as they slipped from the shower. Right then, Casey didn’t think there needed to be any words. He took a towel and dried her carefully, being extra gentle near her palms and her bruised knees. Then it was her turn. She picked up a towel and slid it over his chest. Her mouth followed the towel’s path. Kissing. Savoring. She pressed her lips to every inch of him.
His body shuddered beneath her touch. She was pretty sure her own desire was making her tremble. She took his hand and led him back into the bedroom. In moments, he had on protection and he was sliding into her. He filled her completely, so perfectly. Her breath came faster, her heart raced and the gentle pace gave way to fierce need. Her nails raked over his back. Her hips surged up to meet him. He slid in and out of her, and Casey had to bite her lip to muffle her cries.
“Don’t.” He stilled. “Give me everything. That’s what I’ll give you.”
He withdrew, only to thrust deep. Her legs locked around his hips and Casey let go. She cried out as the pleasure hit her, and he was right with her, driving hard until he found his own release. Then he shouted her name.
No holding back, not for either of them.
Not ever again.
*
HER PHONE WAS ringing again. Casey opened her eyes. She was still in bed, but Josh wasn’t there. Her hand slid out but the pillow next to her was cool to the touch, as if Josh had been gone awhile.
Her phone rang again.
She frowned even as she rose from the bed. It took a few stumbling moments, but Casey found the phone discarded on the floor. Her finger swiped across the screen. “Hello?”
“Kurt Anderson is missing!” Tom said, his voice sharp. “He’s missing and I just saw about your attack on the news. On a freaking competing show! What in the actual hell, Casey?”
She blinked and tried to push her sleepiness away. It was still early, barely 10:00 p.m. according to the clock on the bedside table. She’d just crashed hard after making love with Josh.
Where is he? She wrapped a sheet around herself, toga-style, and crept toward the bedroom door. The door squeaked when she pulled it open. “I’m sorry—I didn’t think to stop and call you while the guy was shooting at me.”
“Casey. I care about you—this isn’t about the story! This is about my friend getting hurt. I’m worried! We’ve known you for years.” His voice actually shook. “I want to know you’re okay. Are you still with the agent? Is he keeping you safe?”
She’d reached the den. “I’m at the safe house.”
“Casey...” He sighed. “Did you hear what I said about Kurt Anderson? He’s missing. You’re attacked and the guy goes missing. He’s coming for you. I know it.”
“He’ll have a hard time getting to me.” Not with the security at that place.
Josh stepped from the kitchen. He was completely dressed—dressed in his khaki pants and button-up shirt. His “FBI clothes” as she thought of them. And he had his holster in place. He frowned when he saw her.
“I can send your bodyguards over,” Tom said quickly. “Katrina said they were down at the club having a drink, and she just went to get them. They’ll be back in no time. Let me send them to you. Let me help—”
“I’m all right for now. I just—Let me talk to Josh for a moment, okay? I’ll call you back, I promise.” Because she had to ask him about Kurt. Had to ask why it looked as if he were about to walk right out of that place without her. She ended the call and set the phone on the counter. “Josh, that was Tom. He said Kurt Anderson is missing.”
A muscle jerked in Josh’s jaw. “The Feds couldn’t find him at his house or any of his usual hangouts. The cops tried tracking his phone, but turned up nothing. His lawyer says he’s just gone to cool off but...”
“But you don’t buy it.”
“He could be on the water,” Josh said. “At least, that’s what Hayden thinks. When it was cut-and-run time for his father, Theodore Anderson tried to go out on a blaze of glory on the water. With the victims turning up in the ocean, it seems like that might be a possibility we can’t ignore.”
“Do they want you on the search?”
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you.” His jaw hardened. “And...there’s no reason for me to dive into the water. We aren’t looking for a victim—we don’t have one yet—”
Her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and recognized the number there. Katrina.
“Go ahead,” Josh said. “Let your friends know that you’re all right.”
She exhaled and grabbed the phone. Casey answered and quickly said, “Katrina, listen, I don’t need the guards right now. Josh is with me and—”
“I’ve got someone new,” a low voice rasped.
She almost dropped the phone.
“It’s time for you to find her.”
Casey lunged forward and grabbed Josh’s arm. Then she frantically switched the phone to the speaker option so that he could hear—
“She’s going to die in your place. Hardly fair, isn’t it? I mean, she doesn’t even have any secrets to tell me. She isn’t like the others. There’s no story with her.”
“Who is this?” Casey demanded.
He laughed. “I have your friend. And she’s going to start bleeding soon. Too bad you got away. I never would have gone after her. But you made me so mad tonight. I don’t like getting shot, you see. Now someone else has to feel the pain.”
“Don’t!” Casey cried out. “You don’t have to hurt her.”
“Don’t have to do anything,” that low rasp told her. “Want to do it.”
Josh had his own phone out. He was texting rapidly and she knew he was probably messaging Tucker and Hayden.
“Think you can find her?” the caller taunted her. “Sheriff Black never got to them in time. Do you really think you can?”
Her frantic gaze met Josh’s. She didn’t know where the perp was—she had no clue. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been rushing away on that motorcycle.
“The agent is with you, isn’t he? Josh Duvane. He finds my bodies. He brings them to the surface. Duvane...do you think you can find me?” Laughter drifted to them. “But then, you’ve already been looking, haven’t you? Looking, but not finding. I’ve been right there, and you couldn’t catch me.”
“I could shoot you, though,” Josh growled. “I’m the one who did that. Not Casey. Not Katrina. So if you want to hurt someone, why don’t you try me? Or do you just enjoy targeting the people who you think are weaker than you? What kind of man gets off on torturing women, anyway?”
Silence.
Casey’s eyes had widened. She knew Josh was deliberately taunting the guy. Trying to pull his focus so that the perp would take out his rage on Josh.
“You think you can face me?” The caller’s rasp was even rougher. “Come on, try, FBI Agent. Come face me. You take me down and the woman can go.”
Where was he?
“I’m up high,” the guy continued. “I can see for miles. My light is shining. I’ll see you coming. If you bring someone else with you,if you bring backup, I’ll know. Just you and me, Agent Duvane. You come alone, you face me and maybe I’ll let both of the women go. Or maybe...maybe you’ll be the one who dies.”
Casey shook her head. She mouthed no, but Josh said, “The lighthouse. That’s where you are, right, you SOB? Up high, with your light shining...you’re at the old lighthouse out near the jetties. The place was supposed to be condemned.”
The caller laughed. “I think I’ll get started. Katrina has some secrets to share.”
A woman screamed.
The call ended.
Goose bumps had risen on Casey’s arms. “No. You can’t go in alone.”
He was checking his weapon.
She wanted to shake him. “He’ll kill you. They’ll kill you. We know he has a partner. He could just be waiting to shoot you on sight. Then he’ll kill you and Katrina.” Her voice was rising. “You can’t follow his orders!”
He gave her a grim smile. “You really think I’d play by his rules?”
She hoped to God not.
“Tucker and I will handle him. He’ll never see Tucker coming. Hayden Black will have our backs—that guy knows how to go in undetected. I’m not fool enough to go in that place alone, not knowing there are two of them out there. He has a partner, so I’ll have two partners.” He nodded grimly. “This is ending tonight. He wants a final face-off. That’s why he’s calling. The guy is breaking apart, and I’m going to be there when he shatters into a million pieces.”
That didn’t sound good.
“You stay here,” Josh told her gruffly. “This place is secure. You’re safe. The building has a security guard stationed below and Hayden sent Finn over to stand watch downstairs a bit earlier. I’ll get him to come up here.”
“I don’t need guarding. You do. Katrina does. Don’t worry about me!”
But he stared into her eyes. “I’ll always worry about you.” His hand rose and touched her cheek. “I’ve still got my laptop set to receive the security feeds from the building. You can see everything that’s happening outside this penthouse.”
“I’ll be fine.”
A muscle jerked in his jaw. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
She locked her hand tightly around his. “Be careful. You’d better not have so much as a single new scratch on you when you get back.”
His slow smile flashed. “Sweetheart, you keep talking like that, and I’ll think you care.”
She didn’t smile back. “I do care, Josh. I care a whole lot...because I think I’m falling for you.”
Shock flashed on his face.
“So come back to me. Come back safe.” She kissed him. Come back safe.
*
JOSH RUSHED FROM the elevator, his phone at his ear. “Yes, yes, Tucker, we’re closing in on him. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He hung up and waved to the deputy who’d been stationed in the lobby. “Finn, Casey is still upstairs. Go up there and make sure she stays secure, got it? Keep watch up there and don’t let anyone else in the penthouse.”
Finn nodded. “Got it.”
Casey’s words rang through Josh’s mind as he hurried out toward the SUV that waited. Good thing he had a backup rental vehicle, especially considering that his motorcycle had been totaled. I care a whole lot...because I think I’m falling for you.
He jumped into the vehicle, cranked the engine and shoved the gear into Reverse. He wanted this threat to Casey eliminated. He wanted to find Katrina alive. This time, things were going to be different.
This time, the victim had a chance. And he was going to fight with every bit of his power to make sure that the perps out there—the two sadistic perps who’d killed three women in that town—were stopped.
*
FINN ROLLED BACK his shoulders as he rode the elevator up to the penthouse. He wouldn’t screw this up. Casey’s safety would come first to him. He’d prove that he was good at his job. No more screwups.
The elevator opened.
A man stood near the door to the penthouse, bent over the lock. What in the hell?
Finn’s hand immediately went to his holster, but the guy was whirling around, alerted by the ding of the elevator doors.
Light glinted off the man’s glasses and his face flashed with relief when he saw Finn. “Thank goodness you’re here, Deputy! I heard Casey scream.”
What? Finn recognized Casey’s producer, Tom.
“She called me—said Agent Duvane had to leave and for me to come over right away.”
Finn had been downstairs, checking the guests who came back to the condominium with the security guard who’d been stationed there. He didn’t remember seeing Tom come through the checkin. And Josh had just left...
“I got here—I heard her scream.” Tom’s eyes were bulging behind the glasses. “I think she’s hurt in there—I think...I think that freak has her! He lured Josh away and now he has Casey.” He pounded on the door. “We have to get to her! She’s in trouble! Do you have a key?”
Finn’s fingers still hovered over his gun.
“She needs help, damn it! We have to help her!”
He hesitated. Josh had just left. How had Tom gotten up to the penthouse so quickly?
*
CASEY HURRIED OUT of the bedroom. After Josh had left, she’d gone to dress as quickly as she could. There was no way she’d just hang around in a sheet while she waited to find out what was going to happen next. He’d taken her phone with him, just in case the perp called again, and she felt lost as she rushed back into the den and checked the security feed.
Finn. Tom.
Her lips parted. They were both right outside the front door. Had Finn brought Tom up? How had Tom gotten there so quickly? She turned for the door even as she heard someone pound against the wood. “I’m coming!” Casey yelled. She hurried forward. Her fingers curled around the lock. She fumbled, opening it quickly. She yanked the door open. “Tom!” Her breath heaved out as both men whirled toward her. “The killer has Katrina! But Josh is going to get her—she’ll be okay.” I hope. I hope she’s okay. She has to be okay.
He nodded. “I—I know.” He smiled at her. There was something about that smile...
How did he know?
Tom’s hand whipped up—only it didn’t come at her. He drove his hand right toward Finn’s chest. His hand—and the knife that he’d gripped in his fist. The blade sank into Finn’s body and a choked gasp broke from the deputy.
“Finn!” Casey slammed into Tom, knocking him back. Finn staggered, then his knees seemed to give way as he fell to the floor, the knife still in his chest. “Finn!”
But Tom grabbed her from behind, yanking her up against him. “Don’t worry, love. I’ve got another knife for you.” And he pulled her back into the penthouse, slamming the door shut behind them.
Locking her inside...with him.