CHAPTER SEVEN
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Remy quietly closed her laptop. She wasn’t being productive in the least. She’d reviewed the final round of a social media campaign for one of her clients, approved the launch of an art museum’s marketing proposal, and spoke with Ralph regarding an upcoming television commercial for a well-known jewelry retailer. That averaged out to around one project per hour. Her completed tasks were pitiful in comparison to the to-do list she’d compiled for the day.
It was Brody’s fault.
His accusation earlier had planted a seed, and she couldn’t stop the growth of stress that was now cultivating throughout her body.
Remy stood to alleviate some of her built-up frustration, wondering if she shouldn’t change her clothes and go for a run. It wasn’t like she was getting any quantity of work done, unlike Brody. He’d been scouring video footage, reading over copious amounts of information he’d printed out from his online research, and texting someone practically non-stop in between intervals of various search engines. He even drank his coffee without breaking stride or tearing his gaze away from his screens.
Not one word was mentioned about their brief conversation this morning. How could he think that she’d substituted David Varan for her sister? She purposefully used the man’s full name upon thinking about him. She didn’t want to believe she’d gotten too close, but this newfound awareness was all she’d struggled with this morning.
Yes, Brody was at fault for her lack of concentration.
He was also right. Hadn’t she made those annual phone calls, just like one would a long-distance relative during the holidays? Hadn’t she thought of him nearly every day as one would a sibling who lived far away? It sickened her to accept what she’d done, but it wasn’t like she could change who she’d become.
That realization in and of itself spoke volumes. David Varan would have to go back to prison before Remy would be able to move on with her life. Brody had excused himself a few minutes ago saying he’d left some files in the house. Remy wasn’t so sure that was the case, but she didn’t mind the privacy as she tried to mentally reform her previous request that he’d all but denied.
Remy had to get SSI to agree to help her. There was no other choice.
She rolled her chair out of the way as she stood from where Brody had set up her work station at the end of the table. The space had given her plenty of room to work, but it was far enough away that she really couldn’t see what he was working on. She had to assume he’d done that on purpose, but that didn’t stop her from casually strolling down the length of the various monitors and displays.
Remy’s breath caught in her throat at seeing a live video feed of the lobby within Varan’s apartment building. The small square next to it displayed the actual corridor of the man’s floor. No wonder Brody hadn’t wanted her too close to the monitors.
“Don’t get too caught up in it,” Brody warned softly, his unexpected presence causing her to startle. She swung her gaze to the door to find him standing there with a manila folder in his hand. She hadn’t noticed it before, but his hair was disheveled from where he’d been running his fingers through the thick strands. “You need to accept that Varan is free to do as he pleases for the time being.”
“What areas are these cameras looking at?” Remy asked, ignoring his advice in exchange for finding out more information. She leaned her palms against the hard surface of the table so that she could get a closer look. “Those two buildings on these cameras don’t look familiar, though isn’t this one here video footage of the entrance to Rollins College?”
“Yes, that’s Rollins College,” Brody conceded as he came to stand next to her. He pointed to a couple of the other video displays before explaining that the footage had no connection with Varan. “It’s for another case SSI is working on. This particular high school here is located in Colorado, while this one here is a college in New Orleans. Two of my teammates are currently out of the state doing some surveillance in these areas.”
SSI was working on another case. Remy always reminded herself that the world didn’t stop turning just because her life had come to a stop. It was as if she were in this lull, and the only way to move forward was to eradicate the past. That would mean erasing her sister, and she couldn’t do that. The next best thing was to remove the cancerous fragment, ensuring it would never again see the light of day.
“Is the man you’re looking for worse than…” Remy let her words drift off when she caught sight of a photograph partially hidden by some papers. She slowly reached out and used one finger to drag the picture from underneath the clutter. Her heart briefly stopped upon seeing the graphic image, while her mind refused to accept what was in front of her. “Oh, my God.”
“Don’t.” Brody quickly stepped forward and concealed the photo once more. This other monster who SSI was seeking carved the victim’s skin to leave behind what appeared to be a date, but it was the evidence of torture left behind that had Remy’s throat constricting in disgust. How could Brody see this day in and day out without losing his mind? “You have enough on your plate without adding more to your nightmare’s bonfire.”
Remy had involuntarily taken a step back as her anger mounted. Brody was investigating multiple cases, but they both involved murderers. These men weren’t human. They were something else entirely and always one step ahead of those seeking retribution.
“Remy, let me do my job.” Brody turned so that he could lean against the long table, setting down the manila folder he’d obtained from the house. His dark eyes settled on her, and she crossed her arms in defiance. She could help, if only he’d let her. “David Varan will either make a mistake or move on with what life he was left with upon leaving the asylum. Either way, his need to be noticed will always remain intact. You’re giving him exactly what he wants—your undivided attention.”
“He doesn’t deserve the freedom the courts and those doctors granted him,” Remy continued to protest, ignoring his implication. She took a step forward so he wouldn’t miss a word of what she was saying. “I was there, Brody. I was there the night he murdered my sister. He spoke to me, and I have no doubt that he would have killed me in the exact same manner. He will do it again to some other helpless woman. How can anyone, especially you, expect me to just let him get away with taking another life?”
“Remy, you—”
“You sit here and look at gruesome photos of victims like they are sketches from someone’s twisted imagination,” Remy whispered in disgust, gesturing toward the picture that gave proof that evil did exist. “Those women were real, and they left behind grieving families. We cannot let these tragedies go unpunished. Even God’s archangels had one wing dipped in blood. Vengeance needs to be served to Varan.”
Remy had been so occupied in trying to make Brody understand where she was coming from that she was caught off guard when he wrapped a strong hand around her wrist. She cut off the rest of her words and would have pulled away had he let her. Instead, she allowed him to wipe away the lone tear that had escaped during her plea for understanding.
The compassion within Brody’s dark gaze was a trigger, and she just barely caught the sob that arose in her throat. He drew her to him in an offer of comfort, and for once in her life she accepted what someone else was willing to give. The warmth of his embrace literally hurt as it enveloped her, causing her to realize how long it had been since she’d allowed someone to comfort her…to touch her.
“Life isn’t always fair, Remy,” Brody murmured as his cheek rested on top of her hair. His arms tightened around her and she soaked in his strength, all the while willing herself not to break down in front of him. She was fully aware this moment would end the second she stepped away, so she allowed herself to be somewhat selfish by remaining still. The gentle stroke of his hand against her back was soothing, and she didn’t want it to end. “I’ll do my best to find something that will enable law enforcement to put a closer eye on Varan. I can’t promise you anything, but I will do my best.”
Remy was now torn, and she squeezed her eyes tight as she struggled with a response. She hadn’t meant to put Brody in this kind of position. Yes, she wanted his help, but not because she appealed to his desire to protect those in need. She wasn’t that type of woman. She was independent, and she stood on her own two feet, although he undoubtedly didn’t see her that way at the moment.
“I’m sorry,” Remy whispered, forcing herself to pull away and take a step back. She wiped away any tears that remained before tucking a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear. She took the time to formulate her words in a manner in which he wouldn’t take offense. “I didn’t mean that comment about the pictures. I don’t envy you your job, and it was wrong of me to accuse you of being…”
“Heartless?” Brody presumed, finishing her sentence as he tilted his head to catch her gaze. The compassion shining through his brown eyes made her want to be back in his arms, and that just wasn’t possible. She forced herself to give him a half-smile in recognition. “I do have trouble sleeping at night knowing psychopaths like Varan are walking the streets. That doesn’t negate the fact that I have a job to do, and connecting the evidence to something tangible is part of my job description.”
“I know that,” Remy conceded, touching the silver heart that rested above hers. It was her sister’s favorite piece of jewelry that their mother had given her. It was a reminder that both of them now watched over her, and she wanted them both to be at peace. That couldn’t happen if she allowed her emotions to rule her head. “Again, I apologize for—”
“Being human?” Brody’s cell phone vibrated against the scattered papers, but he made no attempt to reach for it. His sole focus was on her and that was slightly unnerving. She didn’t want to believe that she was such an open book. “Remy, have you even taken a moment to breathe since you discovered Varan was being released?”
“Not really,” Remy admitted truthfully, looking to the left of her to see where she’d spent the last three hours.
She hadn’t once been worried or frightened that Varan could reach her without her noticing. Granted, she’d been the one to start this game of tag, but she was now safe behind these monitors.
Safe.
An idea slowly began to form until she realized that she didn’t have to put herself in harm’s way to get what she wanted. There were other avenues to take in order to go about seeing Varan back behind bars and possibly saving another woman’s life in the process. And the best part? She could do it on her own.
“You know what? You’re right,” Remy conceded, suddenly feeling invigorated. “I need to wind down some and think some things through. I could also use some fresh air. Is it all right if I go for a run?”
“Yes, as long as you stay on the estate’s property,” Brody advised, seemingly surprised by her question. He was also looking at her quite warily, but she withheld the conclusion she’d drawn. She had two weeks to gather the items she’d need. It would only be a matter of time before he would figure out what she was doing, but by then she would have everything she needed. It was a damned good plan and one she would smooth out over her run. “We have trails crisscrossing the acreage north of the lake. The edge of the estate’s land is recognizable by the perimeter two-track and the livestock fencing surrounding the entire property leading up to the edge of the main road we came in on.”
Remy gave him a half-smile and nodded her understanding as she made her way out the exit. For the first time since she was told of the hospital review board’s decision, she finally had a sense of calm. All it had taken was a brief moment of clarity, and he’d given her that.
“Brody?” Remy called his name out as she opened the door, turning slightly so that she could see him. She was surprised to find that he was still watching her, but then again, that was part of his job. “Thank you. I needed to hear some of things you had to say.”
“I’m not going to like where this is going, am I?” Brody asked reluctantly, rubbing his whiskers in frustration as he studied her from afar. She wished she could ease his concerns, but he’d given her the answers she’d been seeking. She could do what needed to be done while keeping herself safe. That fed into both their goals, didn’t it? His parting words made her smile. “I was right. You’re going to be nothing but trouble.”
*
He stared in disgust at the black ink written on the yellow piece of paper.
Sorrento, Florida?
Did she think she could hide from him? Did she think he wouldn’t know?
His anger became almost overpowering as he struggled to keep a composed appearance in public. This evidence only proved how weak Remy Kinkaid was that she would seek protection from another. He’d been right all along in believing she couldn’t be saved.
Or was this nothing but an elaborate trap?
Could he trust the person who had given him this information?
He reminded himself that he could be patient, but why? What would that accomplish? Evil saturated the pores of certain women, and it had finally made the leap into Remy’s body.
His poor, poor Remy.
He was solely to blame. He shouldered the guilt for what he had done. He hadn’t known that releasing the malevolent presence from Anna’s body would provide a conduit. It had gleefully insinuated itself into her older sister, and now Remy was possessed by the same foul manifestation that he’d swore an oath to abolish from this world.
It must be destroyed, and he was the only one who had the ability to carry out such a delicate and divinely inspired execution.
“I’m coming to set you free, Remy.”