CHAPTER FIVE
‡
Remy hadn’t been too sure what to expect when it came to her temporary home for the next couple of weeks, but this? This took the cake and her hopes began to rise for the first time in four years.
“I have to say that you don’t strike me as an IT kind of guy. At least, you don’t look like the ones we have back at the office.” Remy slowly walked around the massive desk—if one could call it that—filled with monitors, devices, and various electronic equipment. Some of which she had never seen before. It was the exact type of surveillance gear that could give her the edge that she needed. It was this type of software that could prevent a killer from killing again. Brody’s sudden silence brought her up short, and she suddenly realized how she’d sounded right then. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t what I—”
“Yes, it was exactly what you meant,” Brody replied with a humorous half-smile as he leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his chin in thought, but it was almost as if he wasn’t used to the growth of whiskers. “But I take no offense. You don’t know me yet. Are you sure you’re getting settled in all right?”
“Yes, thank you.” Remy had already answered that question moments before, but she assumed that he was just doing his job in seeing that she was comfortable. It was hard to relax when she had spent the previous weekend thinking David Varan would finally finish what he’d started. “Although I don’t understand why I had to leave my cell phone back at my apartment. What’s the difference between my cell phone and my laptop?”
“Your phone has a GPS locator chip in it. It is easily traced, but the IP address of your computer is dynamically assigned, depending on what network you are ascribed to. The one you’ll use while you’re here is my system. It’s all but untraceable. The closest node you’ll be attached to that is identifiable to anyone outside of this estate, otherwise known as an intrusive entity, will see you are located outside Langley, Virginia.” Brody gestured toward the provisional area he’d set up for her, though she was too wound up to sit down and play on her computer. She was beginning to see that he and the agency he represented could provide her with the anonymity she needed, but now wasn’t the time to broach the issue. “You’re here so that this Varan character can’t locate you physically. It’s my job to make sure it stays that way indefinitely. If somehow he does find us, it will be my job to bury the body.”
Remy didn’t laugh as he had obviously intended her to with his small jest. Nor did she see David stumbling onto them as being much of a probability out here in the country. No one she knew would be able to find her here. She was finally beginning to realize that, along with the benefits this situation could provide her. Ralph and Julia had been there when she’d lost Anna, and they were unwittingly helping along her agenda now. She owed them so much.
Remy had arrived at Mr. Calvert’s rural residence a little after five-thirty this evening, with Brody following a few minutes behind. He never once let the front of his Jeep get more than three or four car lengths away from her bumper while they had been in the city. Once outside of town, he had disappeared from her rearview mirror and only reappeared once she was sitting in the driveway for five minutes. She could admit that the length of time alone had caused her anxiety level to rise a bit, though it had been rather nice to have someone else watching out for David. She hadn’t needed to look everywhere at once.
The first thing Brody had done was erase the address he’d entered into her GPS. He then reset the system’s memory before powering it off. She didn’t ask why, and she didn’t complain about losing her previous history, or the fact that he seemed to be taking his responsibility to an extreme degree. This was what Ralph had hired him for, so she wouldn’t make his job any harder by standing in his way. She already owed Brody a thank you for allowing her to bring her own vehicle. She didn’t want to get on his bad side now.
Mr. Calvert’s log cabin home and its nearby outpost of several similarly built buildings apparently doubled as SSI’s headquarters. The sprawling green acres surrounding the property were positively stunning, as was the landscaping on the grounds itself, the main residence, and the matching lot of outbuildings. Remy could easily picture herself spending the monotonous evenings ahead of her out on the back deck with a glass of wine, but right now she’d wanted to see what SSI could offer her for the foreseeable future.
And after finally witnessing the inner workings? She might actually be able to sleep tonight.
“Ralph mentioned that the rest your team is working on another case,” Remy said nonchalantly, glancing Brody’s way as she traced her fingers across the last monitor in line. He was still watching her rather closely. It unnerved her, and she had to wonder if he saw through her ruse. “Were you left behind because of me?”
“I try not to go out into the field if I can help it. The tools I generally use are better left in a contained environment. There shouldn’t be anyone arriving on the grounds in the foreseeable future. Deliveries are made to a secure package facility in town where we pick them up.” Brody gestured toward the monitors in front of him before reaching for the coffee he’d made earlier. How could he drink caffeine this late? It had to be going on ten o’clock at night. “I like my anonymity and comforts. This is a well-prepared defensive position. I get shit done without getting shot at on a regular basis. I’d say that’s a win-win all the way around. I was given your assignment because of my availability, as well as my training. You’ll stay here until we’ve verified whether Varan is going to be a threat to you or not. If by chance we encounter him anywhere, he will be made aware that he is not welcome. He will be forcibly removed from your presence with a reminder to keep his distance now and forever.”
“And how exactly are you going to accomplish all of that?” Remy was truly curious, because it was all but impossible to substantiate whether David would finish what he started or he’d actually turned over a new leaf. He’d fooled his doctors into believing he’d become a reformed and penitent citizen. He hadn’t. Now all they needed to do was catch him in the act of threatening her so that he could be put away for life. “You don’t know him very well, Mr. Novak. David Varan is a dyed in the wool killer, he’s a psychotic repeat offender, and he has no true remorse for what he’s done.”
Remy inhaled sharply, recognizing that she was letting her emotions get the best of her. She touched her keepsake necklace to maintain a sense of balance. She couldn’t show her whole hand quite yet, or else he would think she was a paranoid victim driven insane by her pursuer’s relentless attacks.
“Brody.” He said his own name like she’d never heard it before. He then took another drink of his coffee as he studied her over the rim of his mug. “We’ll be together for a fair number of days here on the property, so you might as well call me Brody.”
A number of days. Remy could only imagine what he could get done behind these screens during a single day, which was exactly why she needed his help. He had the ability to do what she’d been unable to do, but she didn’t know if he had the authority to take on new cases for SSI. Maybe she should wait to discuss her problem with Mr. Calvert. Besides, she was going to be here for a week or two anyway.
“Same here,” Remy conceded with a small nod of agreement, having made her decision. Working here in this technical haven would be rather nice, seeing as she didn’t even have her own printer in her office. They had to share a centrally located office printer. She also wouldn’t be looking out the window at every pedestrian crossing the road wondering if David was out there. “Call me Remy.”
“Are you sure you’re settled in? There’s nothing I can get you?”
“That’s the third time you’ve asked me that,” Remy pointed out in curiosity, having walked all the way back around until she was six feet from where he sat. It was then she took notice of how he was looking at her pantsuit. She tucked her hair behind her ear as she tried not to take offense. “Not everyone works in an open-air office where they can get away with your style of casual dress.”
“Believe it or not, I do wear a plain white dress shirt now and then.” Brody surprised her by standing, his lean and muscular frame taking up some of her breathing space. He was at least six feet tall with broad shoulders, and she was grateful that her heels gave her some height. “I’m just saying that you’d probably be more comfortable in something more casual than a pantsuit and heels. You know, maybe a pair of shorts or something else?”
Remy was so used to putting in long hours that she never gave what she was wearing a second thought. Were there times she kicked off her heels or took her jacket off while burning the midnight oil at the office? Sure there were, but it was rare that she was home before seven or eight o’clock at night. It was then she’d change into some sleepwear…usually a pair of running shorts and a ragged old T-shirt.
“Are you ever going to ask me whatever it is you’ve been wanting to ask me?”
Remy should have known Brody would see through her guise, but she wasn’t ready to shake things up just yet. Ralph had gone and called in a favor from a friend of his son, which couldn’t have been easy. She’d stay a week so that Ralph felt at ease before she requested SSI to work for her. She still had to figure out how much this would cost her and if she could gain access to her retirement money without too much of a tax penalty—one which she was more than willing to pay to get what she wanted.
“I was hoping to make a phone call or two privately,” Remy hedged with a small shrug, only telling him a half-truth. She did want to touch base with Ralph about one of their bigger clients, but she also wanted to talk with Susan. Their friendship had spanned throughout high school, college, Anna’s death, and the subsequent aftermath. Remy needed to hear a friendly voice that wasn’t in any way associated with work or David Varan. “Would that be possible?”
“Ralph Forsythe is the only person outside of this team who knows where you are, and it needs to stay that way. This particular cellular device is untraceable. Don’t mention the city, Sorrento, or your general location on the phone.” Brody reached for a cell phone beside one of the monitors and handed it to her, not releasing it when she took hold of the other side. She met his gaze and the fear that had been evaporating slowly began to creep its way back inside of her. “Who is your friend, where does she live, and what did you tell her about SSI?”
“Her name is Susan Kohnle,” Remy answered honestly, glancing down at the black phone Brody had finally relented. An untraceable device? She couldn’t help but wonder what all this other equipment did, but she refrained from asking just yet. “Susan is an old high school friend. She doesn’t know anything about where I am or SSI’s involvement.”
“Good. Please keep it that way. As far as she knows, you’re away on business.”
Brody pushed his chair back a little farther, walking away as he headed toward the small coffee stand that was positioned against the far wall. She was a little surprised that he didn’t stay close to hear her side of the conversation. She dialed Ralph’s cell instead of his house phone, because it was the one she’d memorized a long time ago.
“Hello?”
“Julia?” Remy was surprised to hear her voice instead of her husband’s. “It’s Remy. I just wanted to let Ralph know I’m safe. I also wanted to get caught up on the dinner he had this evening with Carrano’s board of directors.”
“Are you all right, dear?” Julia asked before letting Ralph know who was on the phone. “Ralph told me that he’d hired an agency, but I still worry. Do you have everything you need? Is there anything I can get you? You know that you could have stayed with us. I told Ralph all this was unnecessary.”
“I know, Julia,” Remy assured the older woman, smiling at the image of her futzing around the kitchen and driving Ralph crazy. She was seven years younger than her husband and only in her early sixties. She was one of those women who didn’t age. She kept herself in shape, still went to yoga class every day, and could out-shop Remy by hours. “But this is for the best for the time being. Just don’t let Ralph go changing the décor in my office during my absence. Oh, and that water fountain he wants in the main lobby would have clients running for the door.”
Remy chatted with Julia a little longer to reassure her that all was good. Ralph finally tore the phone away from his wife, giving a brief summary of his business dinner. There was nothing in the meeting that would change the course of their advertising campaign, so Remy could proceed as usual in coming up with an additional snappy slogan for their new line of gluten-free frozen dinners. She finally ended the call and couldn’t help but look over at Brody.
It finally dawned on her why his Hawaiian shirts bothered her.
“Magnum PI.”
Brody raised an eyebrow at the name, but he didn’t appear too surprised. At least he was good-natured when it came to her comparison. Remy pressed the phone to her lips to prevent a smile, but she lost the battle.
“Go ahead. Get it out of your system, Remy.”
“I’m sorry.” Remy was caught off guard by the sound of her own laughter, but it was impossible to keep a straight face. “Is that who you wanted to be when you grew up?”
“I knew you’d be trouble from the very beginning,” Brody mumbled amiably, gesturing toward the phone in her hand. “Finish up your calls. I still have work I need to get done.”
Remy almost asked what he was working on, but decided she already had enough worries of her own. She quickly entered Susan’s number, grateful that her friend had the same one for years. Who memorized phone numbers anymore, when they were all stored in the contacts’ folder and easily accessible by flipping through a list with a swipe?
Susan didn’t pick up the call, but that wasn’t unusual. Her friend never answered her phone unless she recognized the number. Remy left a brief message that she would be out of town on business and that she would touch base when she got back. She set the phone back down on Brody’s desk and was somewhat bereft now that she’d touched base with those who mattered. There was nothing to do now but return to the main house and retire for the evening. Sleep hadn’t been much of a friend lately, and it appeared their relationship would remain strained.
Brody had leaned forward in his chair and purposefully slid a piece of paper toward her before requesting an explanation. Her heartrate accelerated and her palms began to perspire when she realized she’d been caught red-handed. How could she explain without making herself out to be the guilty party?
“You want to tell me why you followed David Varan by yourself for two and a half days?”
*
She wasn’t home.
He could sense that something wasn’t right. He’d returned to his apartment, but it was suffocating inside this tiny space. Anything was better than a high security patient dorm room in the mental defect wing, though. He paced to keep the urges at bay.
“He killed her. He killed my sister, and he has to pay for what he’s done.”
The words she spoke in the courtroom that day rang over and over in his head.
She didn’t understand. She still didn’t.
Remy had no right to say those things. It had become more than apparent after hearing her testimony that she hadn’t known her sister at all. He’d done the only thing he could and exterminated the evil presence that existed inside of Anna Kinkaid. It had just transferred into the next available body.
Remy—his Remy—had been blinded by family loyalty.
But he would show her the truth before he liberated her soul, too, because she was no different than the others…so easy to possess.