CHAPTER FIVE
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“Why would Shepherd Moss be in Colorado?” Brett asked as cold tentacles of fear started to surround her in their cold grasp. She could literally feel them slithering around her soul. “I don’t understand.”
The national news coverage on the murder trial had revealed in microscopic detail the very specific way Shepherd Moss had taken great pleasure in torturing innocent women…including Shailyn. The reporters’ accounts of what was being said in the courtroom had Brett, and every other woman in the United States, sick to her stomach with nausea. It had been hard to watch that monster sit there with a disinterested look about him as they covered the trial, and even more difficult for Brett because she hadn’t been able to reach out to an old friend who’d once been as close as a sister to her. Shailyn had subsequently gone through unimaginable suffering at the hands of a sick bastard.
“I no longer believe Moss is here. You’re safe,” Coen reassured her from his seat across the island. He leaned his elbows on the grey speckled granite to apparently stress that fact, but it was lost on her as her mind swirled with its own thoughts. He was talking about a notorious serial killer who’d escaped from a federal prison. “I promise. My agency, SSI, is aiding both the Bureau and the U.S. Marshals service in their quest to bring Shepherd Moss back into custody.”
“That doesn’t explain why you’re here.” Brett did her best to prevent the tremor in her voice from becoming too pronounced. All she could envision right now was Heidi’s sightless eyes. What if Louise had been wrong about Martin? “Heidi’s death—”
“Martin Eyles killed Heidi Connolly.” Coen went to reach into his jacket, but then patted the back pockets of his jeans, unsuccessfully in whatever he was searching for. “Sheriff Whitney has evidence that those two had a brief affair that quickly ended in a manner that never pleased Eyles. But you already knew that, because you’re the one who gave him the lead that followed to an arrest warrant being issued. But you’re right about my role here being more involved than what took place up at the campground, Brettany.”
He’d called her by her first name. Now that she was able to relax somewhat upon his assurance that Heidi’s death was in no way was connected to a notorious serial killer, Brett was able to clear away some of her apprehension. He hadn’t used her nickname like she’d asked, but it was progress in the right direction.
“I’ll try to make a long story short,” Coen offered, though she bit her tongue to keep from telling him she wanted to hear all the details.
How was she involved? Was he watching her because he thought Shailyn had attempted to contact her? Wasn’t Shailyn in some type of federal witness protection program? Brett had so many questions that it was probably best to hear what he had to say before inundating him with a ton of inquiries.
“Shepherd Moss brutally murdered a woman in Wyoming a few months ago after his escape from federal prison,” Coen admitted while watching her closely for some type of reaction. Brett technically should be sitting down considering her knees were practically knocking together, but she didn’t want to chance them giving out as she made her way to a chair. Instead, she leaned back against the sink counter so that she had some support. “The woman had loose ties with Shailyn Doyle from back in elementary school. Based on that fact, we couldn’t ignore the signs that Moss was about to go on another killing spree to try and lure Ms. Doyle out from her protection under WITSEC. SSI very carefully chose certain friends and family of Ms. Doyle, specifically those who fit Moss’ preference.”
“I remember hearing something about that during the initial trial,” Brett recalled, trying to think back to what the women all had in common. It came to her like the stinging burn on her hand she’d received not thirty minutes ago. “Brunette. They were all brunettes, because I remember wondering why Shailyn would have been a victim, considering she’s a redhead.”
“I’ve read over the case files. Multiple times, in fact,” Coen shared as he pushed back the stool he’d been using. He came around the island and surprised her by reaching for the tea pot she had sitting on the stove. He picked it up, but set it back down on the burner upon realizing it was still full. All the while he had his back to her without turning to see her reaction. He twisted the dial until the gas flames came to life. “Ms. Doyle had changed the color of her hair many years ago. Moss never did reveal how she caught his attention, but their paths must have crossed at some point. I’m aware she went back to her natural color during the trial.”
Brett was still trying to accept the true reason for Coen’s presence, so she didn’t even think to tell Coen where the mugs were when he started to open the cupboards. It wasn’t so surprising to her when he chose the right one. Just how long had he been watching her?
“Why me? I mean, I know my hair color is the same as Moss’ previous victims, but so is half the population of the U.S. Why would he come after me? It’s not like I’ve spoken with Shailyn since I left Florida. My God, we were only eleven or twelve years old back when I knew her.”
“The U.S. Marshals service asked for help, and our first act was to ensure no one else died on our watch. As I said before, we weren’t taking any chances and were very careful to narrow down a possible list of names who Moss might target. You were on that short list, but now that Heidi’s murder was proven not to have any ties to my investigation, I’m heading back to Florida as soon as possible. There have been some new leads that developed while I’ve been gone that changes the course of our assignment. I’m needed there.” Coen already had a teabag in one of her favorite cups and was in the process of adding a teaspoon of sugar. “You’ll still have someone nearby should you need her. I’ll supply her name to you once she arrives into town after the storm clears. I just need your assurance that you’ll keep this information to yourself. You can’t mention this to your friends, your family, or any type of press agency. We can’t afford to have Moss figure out that we have eyes on practically everyone associated with Ms. Doyle who fits his predilections. He’d be more likely to kill outside of his comfort zone just to make a point.”
Brett couldn’t say she ever experienced true fear until she’d stumbled upon Heidi’s body up at the camp. Even then, it was more shock, disbelief, and sadness that her friend had died. Granted, they weren’t the best of friends like she’d once been with Shailyn, but Heidi had still been a kind person who had touched Brett’s life with her optimism.
Hearing Coen talk about Moss murdering women like it was an everyday occurrence was disturbing on an all new level. The average day should be waking up for work, keeping appointments one would rather cancel, making dinner for the family, and then enjoying a quiet evening before getting ready for bed and then doing it all over again the next day. What Coen was referring to was grisly, inhumane, and downright morally corrupt. It was evil.
“Brettany?” Just how many times had Coen been calling her name? “I need your promise that you won’t say anything to anyone about our Shepherd Moss investigation.”
Brett nodded, but she couldn’t answer him around the knot in her throat. She needed to clear her head before following up with those questions she had, so she mindlessly started to clean up the mess she’d made earlier in an effort to calm her nerves after her visit with Louise. At this rate, she’d have a kitchen full of sweets that she wouldn’t be able to eat for fear of gaining any more weight than she already had this far into winter.
“This new information we have points to Moss having his attention averted elsewhere.” Was Coen telling her the truth, or was he just trying to calm her already frayed nerves? “Brettany, are you hearing me?”
She hadn’t realized that he’d been standing next to her, nor had she expected him to take her by the arms. Coen had always maintained a professional distance between them, so having him touch her with such familiarity was a tad bit disconcerting. What was even more confusing to her was when she didn’t step away, but instead met his gaze when he slowly lifted her chin with his index finger.
Coen’s dark gaze was so confident that it was hard not to believe his next statement.
“I wouldn’t leave Colorado if I thought for a minute you weren’t safe.”
Brett startled a bit when the tea kettle began to whistle in that familiar high-pitched squeal. It also seemed to make Coen realize he was getting a little too close for comfort. He stepped back and dropped his arms, the movement causing his firearm’s holster to gain her attention.
She’d asked him who he was earlier, and he’d just told her…but it wasn’t enough.
“Have you spoken to Shailyn recently?” Brett asked after clearing her throat. She grabbed some of the bowls that needed to be washed, very grateful to have something to do with her hands. The focus of this past week had been about death. Maybe she shouldn’t have taken this week off, but instead spent it with her class. There was something to be said for a seven-year-old’s innocence. “Is she okay?”
“Shailyn is safe in WITSEC. The program is very effective when the witness follows the rules.” Coen was already in the process of pouring the steaming hot water over the tea bag. The kettle had stopped making that nerve-wracking sound, but Brett’s nerves were still quite frayed. It was hard to wrap her mind around the fact that a serial killer might have chosen her to make his point. “You’re safe as well. I’ll be heading out as soon as flights are permitted to take off from the regional airport. In the meantime, I’ll answer any questions you have while you drink your tea. I’ll finish icing the cupcakes so that you can sit down.”
Brett didn’t know what shocked her more—the ease Coen displayed about dealing with a serial killer or the image of him being domestic. She couldn’t fathom either one.
“Here.” Coen set the cup of tea in front of the stool he’d been sitting on earlier. He motioned for her to take it. She wasn’t about to argue. “Please. Sit down.”
“Now there’s the Deputy Fl—” Brett had been about to refer to him the way she’d thought of him all week, but that was completely incorrect. She’d also tried to lighten the mood, but all she did was remind herself that he’d misled her this entire time. “What does SSI stand for? Are you an agent of some sort?”
“SSI stands for Safeguard Securities and Investigations.” Coen lifted the spatula that she’d been using for the icing. He scooped up some creamy frosting with its bendable rubber end. “I’m technically an agent working for the federal government, but we really don’t use those kinds of titles. Townes Calvert personally selected a special group of former military special operators to round out his team. I happened to be one of them, along with four other men who I highly respect. SSI is based out of Florida.”
“Who is this guy, Danny?” Brett recalled the phone call he’d taken earlier this afternoon, right before Louise’s visit. “Someone from SSI?”
“Danny is my brother.” Coen’s reply had been short and sweet. It was apparent he didn’t want to talk about his troublesome sibling. For some reason, his response made her even more curious than before. “Sometimes our personal life doesn’t stop just because we’re on the job.”
Now there was the Coen Flynn she’d met up at the campground.
“There is something I would like to know.” He had smeared the icing on one of the cupcakes, twisting his wrist to try and make a swirl on top. She cringed at his technique, but she purposefully took a sip of her tea so that she didn’t say anything that would be considered a rebuke. “Were you aware that Martin Eyles and Heidi Connolly were having an affair?”
“No, not at all,” Brett replied honestly, setting her cup back down on the granite after seeing the darkened liquid come close to spilling over the edge. Her hands were still trembling, despite the fact that she’d found some measure of composure. “Heidi never said a word to me, but our friendship wasn’t as close as she was with the others. Truthfully, I’m closer to Chad than the rest of the group.”
“You went to high school with him and then attended college together.” Coen picked up another cupcake as if he hadn’t just let it slip that he most likely had memorized her background. Just how much did he know about her? Was he still gathering information? She shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she did her best not to reach out to take the cupcake out of his hand. “You’re close with Louise, though. Did she ever mention Martin and Heidi being together before yesterday?”
“No, she didn’t.” Brett thought back to last weekend, when some odd remarks made by Martin now made sense, given the context of what she knew now. At least the sheriff was making an arrest, and Martin wasn’t someone she needed to worry about…unlike Shepherd Moss. “Look, you basically know everything I do. I wasn’t even in the wedding party. Heidi was the maid of honor, and I was just a guest. But you’re now standing in front of me doing hideous things to my cupcakes while telling me that a serial killer is who I should truly be worried about instead of the fact that my group of friends all had secrets that led to one of them being murdered.”
“Hideous?” Coen held out the cupcake and examined his work of art as if she hadn’t almost had a complete meltdown and gone insane. His lip curled at the corner in pride. “That’s a damned fine-looking cupcake, if I do say so myself.”
Brett laughed, which was totally his intention. She rested her hands over her face, taking a moment to herself to assimilate everything that had taken place this week. It was a good thing she’d asked for the week off. Her class didn’t need to see her rattled like this.
“You don’t think Shepherd Moss is coming here anymore.” Brett said the statement aloud just to hear him verbally agree once more. She didn’t want to end up like Heidi, and she certainly didn’t want to go through the torture Shailyn had endured during those two days he’d held her captive. “And someone is going to be across the street until he’s captured or the case is closed, right?”
A resounding bang on the side of the house came out of nowhere, preventing Coen from answering. Brett was on her feet before he even dropped the cupcake back on the counter.
This was it. Moss had come for her to try and lure Shailyn out of hiding, but that wouldn’t happen. Did Shailyn even remember her? Would her death be in vain?
“Go to the bathroom and stay in the tub,” Coen ordered briskly as he walked around the island, holding out his hand. She didn’t hesitate to take his offer. Her mind was chaotic with thoughts until he guided her to the small hallway that separated the kitchen and living room. It was then that the severity of their situation became clear. He’d drawn his weapon from its holster. “Don’t come out until I tell you to.”
*
Brettany had no idea she was in over her head. It was kind of fun to watch, in a sadistic sort of way.
Did that make him insane?
No.
It was human nature to enjoy the suffering of others.