Deadly Lover (22 page)

The idiot in cuffs had taken the choice away, leaving them only grief and more death.

Beneath Sara’s jet-hop the midtown residential buildings stretched on for miles. Glistening with the silver of reflective glass, they twisted upward.

Her cousin cleared her throat with a noise clearly meant to drag Lily out of her thoughts. “Are you being all maudlin because the outcome is damn dreary, because you’re bummed you won’t get to pal around with the Law Keeper anymore, or are you just afraid of facing Mom?”

Lily considered the question carefully, but given the choices there was only one of the three she could safely discuss. “It doesn’t sit right, Sara. Everyone is acting like this is over, but it doesn’t feel over.”

The man who’d cut away Kabel’s restraints had turned out to be a member of
Earth For Earthers
, one of the extremist anti-Ormney groups. It made things fit neatly into the theory that the crimes had been committed to stir up trouble and make people afraid of the Ormney.

Sara sighed. “It won’t be over until they find everyone involved, but the arrests will calm the public and likely curtail EFE from instigating any further attacks.”

When Lily didn’t respond, Sara went on. “Sean said Metro is already questioning the EFE members who lived in the buildings where Jen Richardson and Mary Santini lived.”

 “It doesn’t feel right. So far, Metro hasn’t found any sign of the drug in the homes of any of the EFE members where they’ve searched.” Lily shifted in her seat to watch Sara. “Tell me about the drug.”

Sara glanced toward her then returned her attention to the sky and the heads up instruments display. “I have to agree, they need to figure out how EFE got the data on the drug. It was so close to the core formula on the Deepwater list, it had to be a direct derivative.”

Lily told Sara briefly about Simone Rawls, leaving out the part about how the Ormney had found and disposed of her body. “She was doing unauthorized research. Director Gardot wouldn’t tell me any more than that.”

“Maybe Rawls was freelancing,” said Sara. “Maybe she was EFE’s source for the drug. She could have sold the info to them. That would explain a lot.”

“Yeah.” But it didn’t explain how a dead woman had arranged to put Lily in the vicinity of one of the attacks or why. Lily couldn’t rest easy until that was cleared up.

She’d wanted to continue the investigation but no way was Sean letting her in on the Metro interrogations. Kabel’s death and the arrest of the EFE member had effectively eliminated the threat to Kabel’s lover and the Ormney had taken his body back to The Zone. Jolaj had gone with them, but Lily suspected he was no more certain that the situation had been resolved than she was.

“Metro is doing a sweep of the EFE headquarters,” said Sara. “Maybe they’ll find the answers there.”

Lily’s stomach did a flip as they cleared midtown and Sara dipped the jet-hop down closer to the tops of the shorter buildings of The Fringe. A smile flashed across Sara’s face and Lily breathed easier, knowing Sara would drop the grim topic for the moment.

“On to number two on our list.” Her grin widened, lighting her face as she spoke. “The Law Keeper.”

Lily’s belly flipped again, but the jet-hop remained steady under Sara’s hands. “What about him?”

“My amazing power of deductive reasoning tells me he’s the person you were hanging with before this latest round of badness.”

“And?”

“And he is a majorly iced exemplar of male hotness.”

Lily laughed. She and Sara had been school girls together, but Sara’s open sexual curiosity never failed to surprise her. “He’s Ormney. They don’t do sex with humans.” Lily fell back on the common fallacy trying to keep things light.

“Oh, honey. I’m sure you could convince him to give it a try.” Sara speared Lily with a wide-eyed look. “Take it from me, based on anatomy, I’d say there isn’t anything physical getting in the way.” She laughed at her own thoughts. “Well, he is seriously hung and that could be uncomfortable, but...worth a try.”

Lily shook her head. “You are completely insane.”

Sara did her best imitation of a mad scientist’s maniacal laughter. They laughed together and it felt good...until Lily realized they’d dropped into the Old Duval Street neighborhood. If it had changed, she didn’t remember the details well enough to notice.

Single family homes sprawled on lawns that were narrow but deep and dotted with trees. The family would never have been able to afford the luxury of land if the house hadn’t been paid off decades earlier. Sara parked on the street and Lily climbed out of the hop then leaned back against the side and stared at the house, a sprawling two level poly-board with gingerbread trim. The Azaleas wrapped around the foundation were quietly green. The trees in the back towered over the house now, waving at her with their red and gold leaves. The pavers up to the door were shiny-new. Recently replaced.

She didn’t look down the block to where the house she grew up in probably still stood. She never did. She’d visited for holidays only a few times over the years. Had never gone any farther down the block.

More than a dozen years earlier, her father had stopped his auto-cart three houses down from where she now stood. He’d stepped out of the cart, and died.

 That’s all they knew. Not why he stopped, why he got out, or how his body had ended up in the overgrown backyard of the neighbor’s house without the residents noticing a thing.

An entertainment unit turned too loud.

A blown circuit in the outdoor security system.

That’s all it had taken to allow the killer to hide the body and leave the scene without being noticed.

The front door of the O’Leary house swung open and Aunt Jane stood there, her arms wide. Lily straightened then jogged up the walk to cling to that warm embrace. The smell of baking bread permeated Aunt Jane’s sweater. She hugged her Aunt tight and savored the scent a moment before she blanked her mind, pushing the memories aside.

Aunt Jane pulled her inside and tugged her toward the kitchen.

“Rosalee’s here with the boys. Pat Jr. is in UT Metro with my Patrick and your grandfather. You think they would all have had enough of law enforcement without having to run off and play cops and robbers in the retirement community.”

The hallway led into the bright open space of a kitchen almost identical to the one she’d grown up with. She’d stood at the big center counter side-by-side with her sister, Rose, learning to make homemade bread, peel and mash real grown-in-the-dirt potatoes, and bake anything edible into a casserole fit for a family of five.

“We’re here, Mom.” Pat Jr.’s voice rang out from the vid-display located against the wall.

Rosalee, his wife, stood at the counter, smiling at the vid of her husband with a look both indulgent and deeply satisfied. She and Pat Jr. shared the kind of love Lily had always wanted. That I’ll-be-there-for-you-forever kind of love. Their boys, Connor and Mathew, giggled as they pressed cookie cutters into the dough that had been rolled across the floured countertop. Connor looked so much like Lily’s younger brother had at that age it brought another wave of nostalgia, like stepping back in time and finding Brian in Aunt Jane’s kitchen. Behind Rosalee and the boys a wall of windows looked out onto a green carpet of grass, spread beneath the shade trees, the old storm shelter just beyond.

Half-halo images of Junior and Uncle Patrick smiled and waved, the hint of a hov-cart interior ghosted around them. “We’re on a stakeout so we had time to check in.”

Connor glanced up from his cookie making with curious eyes. “Aren’t stakeouts supposed to be at night, Dad?”

“Stakeouts have to be when the criminal is likely to come out. Everyone here is Gramp’s age.”

Mathew elbowed his brother. “He means they all go to bed early.”

Connor pressed a flour-coated hand to his face and giggled. Rosalee wiped his face with a towel, ignoring her son’s pained “oh, Mom.”

Sara nudged Lily in the back as she moved into the room and Lily was drawn into more hugs and greetings. On the halo-vid, the image bounced as her grandfather climbed in to the hov-cart and her uncle and cousin slid over to make room. Gramp’s face came into view and seemed to track directly to her. “Is that my Lil-Bit?”

“It’s me, Gramps.”

“’Bout damn time you turned up.”

“I know, Gramps.”

“You’re not going to disappear on us again, are you?”

“No immediate plans to, sir.”

His bushy eyebrows drew together and she could see him consider grilling her further. In the end he let it go. “Good enough,” he said, then repeated, “Good enough.” The familiar words accompanied by a few sharp nods of his head signaled a return to casual chatter.

Lily was pushed to a work area and given salad greens and vegetables to toss together. The warm easy banter of the family wrapped around her as she worked, but her grandfather’s frown stuck in her head.

Lily stayed through the meal preparations and the dinner, served early to accommodate Connor and Mathew, then hugged Rosalee and the boys as they headed home and promised to visit. Sean hadn’t made it in time for the meal and wouldn’t be there until late. They made a plan to meet into the night then crash there so no one would have to head home late and exhausted. Sara needed to go back to her office to meet with her staff and she offered to bring back things for both of them to sleep in. That left Lily sitting with Aunt Jane in her parlor, eating cookies and sipping hot cocoa.

The house hadn’t changed much through the years. The furniture was a mix of textures and fabrics, all old and well made. The gold velvet recliner Jane had once threatened to set on fire, had been recovered in a more sedate whiskey color—no velvet. A collection of vintage family photography still hung on a wall near the entryway. The entertainment display had been upgraded.

She and Aunt Jane shared the sofa with the plate of treats between them. Lily nibbled at the edge of a chocolate chip cookie, savoring the sweet mix of vanilla and chocolate flavors on her tongue. “These are delicious.”

Jane smiled. “They’re my mother’s recipe. Your dad and I loved them when we were growing up. I wish you could have known your Rowan grandparents.”

Lily wished so too. “Dad used to talk about them, but I’ve forgotten the stories.”

“That’s not your fault, Lily.” Jane’s smile dimmed. “Stories have to be told often to be remembered.”

Taking a sip of her chocolate, Lily turned sideways in her seat and leaned back against the armrest. “Mom’s not one for remembering the past. She likes to look forward.”

Jane shook her head. “I should’ve found a way to spend more time with you. Maybe then you’d have come to us when…” A tear escaped the corner of her eye and tracked a wet line down her cheek.

Lily had never even considered that her decision to break ties would hurt anyone else. She set her drink on the end table. “Aunt Jane, please don’t...it isn’t… I made my own decisions.”

Jane wiped the tear from her cheek then set down her own drink and moved the plate. She scooted closer and reached for Lily’s hands. “It’s never too late to make new ones.” Jane squeezed her fingers. “Whatever is next for you, we’ll be behind you. Okay?”

Lily nodded, her heart aching like an overused muscle. Regrets were hell—and just one of the things trying to fit inside the shriveled muscle in her chest.

 “Good.” Her aunt released her hands and leaned back. “Can you tell me what’s been on your mind all evening? Or do you need to give Sean a call?

“Sean?”

Jane got to her feet and grabbed the plate of cookies . “I know that look, sweetie. Your worrying about that case.”

Lily took a cookie from the plate when her aunt offered it. “The case is wrapping up. Everything is settled.”

Heading toward the kitchen, Jane stopped and met Lily’s gaze. “Something is worrying you and if you don’t deal with it you won’t be getting any sleep tonight. Now finish your cocoa and think it over.” Jane gave her a half smile then left the room.

It didn’t take her long to admit her aunt was right. Lily had said as much to Sara earlier. The case didn’t feel over. Until it did she couldn’t believe the danger had passed. There could still be women at risk. Tomorrow she’d get Jolaj to share names with her but tonight she knew what she needed to do.

Tugging on her holster and coat she joined her aunt in the kitchen long enough to kiss her cheek and let her know she wouldn’t be sleeping over after all. She promised her aunt she’d be careful then headed for the nearest glide-rail stop.

He kept to the shadows as he moved down the street. He knew where the neighborhood watch cameras were. Knew the angles. Knew how not to be seen.

He wore a woolen scarf wrapped around his head and neck, obscuring most of his face. His coat covered him down to the gloves on his hands and down to his thighs. If the cameras caught him, they might get his height. They’d peg him as heavier than his own trim physique. The bulk beneath his clothes served as more than a disguise. It included the latest urban-amour available on the civilian markets.

He expected her to fight.

She was, after all, trained to defend, to attack, to kill.

A simple override-jacker, purchased from a street grifter, cleared him through the building’s side entrance so his entry wouldn’t be logged. A change in the setting disrupted the secure-cams. He quickly pulled sealant out and sprayed himself down with a second coat, a refresher to the more thorough job he’d done earlier. He shoved the tube back in his pocket.

His heart pumped fast and eager as he scaled the stairs. Blood flowed fiercely through his veins, fueling the deadly strength he’d trained into his muscles.

He stood at her door and took a delicious moment to go over the perfect fantasy of how the next few minutes would play out. It could have been different, but she had made her choice. She’d sided with the animals and it was time for her to die like one.

Gripping a pulser firmly in his hand he signaled for a response. Waited. Ready. The door slid open and she stood there.

“Hello, Lily.” He squeezed the pulser’s trigger panel as he spoke, then watched the shock play across her features.