BREAKING STEELE (A Sarah Steele Thriller) (12 page)

He raised his eyebrows. “That’s a part of Sarah Steele not many people hear about.” Then he leaned in. “But you forgot about one thing you like. What about me? You forgot to say that you liked me.” His eyes sparkled and I put on a serious face.

“Still thinking on that one. I mean, I am a hard sell, so keep working. But,” I whispered, “you’re off to a good start.” I smiled into his eyes as if we were long-lost soul mates, and then realized what I was doing. I broke the gaze. He took a long drag on his beer.

My eyes roved over the dance floor again.

“Are you looking for someone?” he asked. He certainly was nosy.

“Aren’t we all?” I said. He looked down, as if he understood I had dodged the question, but liked the answer anyway.

For some reason, meeting Solomon was like meeting an old friend. I don’t know how it can be so hard to connect with most people yet meet someone and in a matter of one conversation feel like there is this underlying bond.

“Hey, there you guys are!” Mandy and Rick came up to the table. “Sorry we were gone so long.”

“No worries, I kept her company.” Solomon said. “She has been humoring me and pretending to like talking to me.”

“Well, this is my public service for the week,” I said. “No more good deeds for this girl.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly saw a flash of auburn hair. I craned my neck to see around Mandy, and saw her. Hannah Williams was dancing with a handsome man with Middle Eastern features. They were in full bump and grind movement as if they were the only couple in the room.

Chapter 37

I SHOT UP, GLANCING at everyone. “Gotta run. See—there is—gotta dance. I just love this song. Bye!” I ignored their confused expressions and walked onto the dance floor.

It was darker there, and I felt the rhythm against my chest. Dipping and swaying, I lifted my arms up and danced my way to where Hannah and her partner were. Hannah had her eyes closed and was nuzzling the side of his neck.

I tapped the man on the shoulder. His mouth fell open in surprise, then pleasure. “Well,
hello
.”

“Hi,” I said with a sultry gaze. He was just the type I knew how to get past. “Mind if I borrow your partner for a while? You can watch.”

His eyes lit up and he stepped away. Hannah stumbled at his sudden absence, and I grabbed her waist and steadied her, and didn’t let go. She didn’t bat an eyelash; rather, she kept the rhythm as if she hadn’t traded partners.

We danced, and stared deep in each other’s eyes. What secrets was she hiding? What lies had she told me?

Finally, I spoke. “You’re not daddy’s little girl at all. And you were never betrayed.”

Her face still stayed hidden behind a mask, but I saw a flicker of anger in her eyes.

“I’d swear on my father’s grave you aren’t Hank Williams’ daughter,” I said, then leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Everything you have is a lie.”

The song pulsed louder and I turned my back to her, rocking to the beat. When I turned around she had stopped dancing.

“You’re quite brash,” she said above the music. She frowned and lowered her chin. Speaking in a low voice so that I had to lean in to hear, she said, “You shouldn’t have found that out, Sarah. And you certainly shouldn’t have told me.”

Was that a threat? Anger flooded through me and I grit my teeth. “All houses built on lies will crumble,” I said. “You better be clear of it when it does.”

She shook her head slowly, as if I’d just said the most preposterous thing in the world. “Nothing is going to crumble, Sarah.” She kept saying my name and I didn’t like it. She grabbed my arm and pulled me to her hard. “You’ll be broken.” And she kissed me on the cheek.

An involuntary shudder rippled through me. I was speechless.

She sauntered away, grabbing her male friend’s hand, and went for the door. I stood in the middle of the happy, dancing crowd. I think I’d just been handed my ass on a plate.

By the time I regained my composure she was already out the door, and had her phone to her ear. I took off after her.

The cool night air felt good on my hot skin. I took a deep breath, then looked around. There was not a car in sight. Suddenly, a blue Ferrari peeled out of the club’s driveway. I squinted my eyes, looking for a license plate number. Dang! It was too dark to see. But then they passed under a streetlight and I saw UVF615.

Walking back, I whispered the license to myself over and over so I wouldn’t forget. Once inside, I asked the nearest waiter for a pen, and then wrote it on my hand.

I had a feeling that wasn’t going to be my last talk with Hannah Williams. I had a feeling that our dance had only just begun.

Chapter 38

MANDY, RICK, AND SOLOMON still stood around the table, looking awkward. I approached as if nothing had happened.

“I think the club is going to close soon,” I said. “We should jet out of here.”

Rick nodded and put a hand on the small of Mandy’s back.

But Mandy wasn’t going to let me get away with it. “Where’d you go?” she asked. “Who was that?”

I shrugged. “Just some hot chick I wanted to dance with. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do at clubs?”

She glared at me but Rick put his mouth to her hair and whispered, “Later, babe. Let’s talk later.”

Mandy eyed Solomon, then nodded. He looked like he hadn’t heard, but I knew he hadn’t missed a thing.

“It was a pleasure, Solomon,” I said. And I really meant it.

“The pleasure was all mine. I hope you call again for another lesson.” He walked us to the door and I turned to say one last goodbye and he was standing right behind me. I could feel his breath on my skin. I felt a little woozy all of a sudden.

Solomon pulled me into his arms and hugged me. He whispered in my ear. “It was good to meet you, Sarah Steele.”

His body so close to mine made me shiver. Mandy was talking but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. All I could see was his face so close, and his lips …
what was going on, how was this happening to me, this was crazy!

He stepped back and waved, and went back into the club. I stood there so weak; I tried to move but was stuck.

“You okay?” Mandy rubbed the back of my arm and I snapped out of my trance.

“I, uh ... yeah ... just tired.”

I’d parked beside them, about three blocks away. The night had been fun, and full. I had a lot to process. My phone buzzed, and for a second I thought it might be Solomon, but that was silly. It turned out to be Joshua. Breathless, I answered the call. “Joshua!”

“Hi.” I could hear him smile through the phone. “I’ve got good news. Figured you wouldn’t mind the late night call.”

“I love good news,” I said, zoning everything out so completely that I tripped on a crack in the sidewalk. “Give it to me.”

“They processed the DNA from the barn and ...” He slowed.

“And what?” I nearly shouted in the phone.

“They found saliva on the candy wrapper and the DNA does not match Hank Williams. But it has to be someone in his family.”

I yelped with excitement. “So the sick psycho was watching after all, it had to be Glen. Was the pee on the wall Hank’s?”

“No, that’s the strange part.” I held my breath. He was clearly enjoying this hold over me. “The urine was the same person, not a match for Hank. As if he’d peed over her blanket, or on her, or something.”

“So all we have is DNA from someone in the Williams family at the crime scene?” I asked, somewhat awed by the turn of events.

“Yes. And you should see some of the stuff I found on Glen. He has several aliases, and legally severed his relational ties with Hank Williams when he graduated from college, although they’ve worked together closely since then. I’ve found some files from the police in Hong Kong that fit his description.”

“What do you mean?”

Joshua hesitated. “He was involved in a sex trafficking ring there, and then disappeared. The Hong Kong police have been looking for him since, but haven’t got a match until today.”

I pumped my fist. “You did it, Joshua.” I said.

“We did it,” he corrected. His voice softened. “Come back to work soon. No one works me as hard as you do. Besides, it is a mess around here with the internal investigation going on.”

“What investigation?”

“The judge ordered one, he is bent on finding out who paid off the jury. And the defense is claiming it was us even though that is ridiculous.”

I groaned. “Why would we do that?How is Dan taking it?”

“Like you’d expect, he is pissed, has me working like a dog. I could use your help, he couldn’t find a replacement for you and is seeing to the case personally.”

“I’m sorry, Joshua, that sucks.”

“Tell me about it. Anyway, thought you’d like to know what we found.”

“Thanks for the update,” I said, then we ended the call.

“Good news, I take it?” Mandy said.

“Absolutely,” I said. “Even though we don’t have anything on Hank Williams yet. At least we know it was a Williams family member. Now I just have to find out who.”

As we approached my car I saw something white fluttering on my wiper. It wasn’t a ticket, it looked like an envelope.

“What’s that?” Rick asked. “Are cops getting classy and putting tickets in envelopes?”

“Let’s hope not,” I replied. “I don’t want my tax dollars to go to that.”

The wind tore at the envelope again and I snatched it up before it could be blown away. It didn’t have a return address. It felt heavy, as if there were pictures inside or a really long letter. I got a bad feeling, and exchanged a glance with Mandy. She must feel it too, because her exhilarated expression was gone and she was frowning. I slid my finger under the edge of the envelope and tore it open.

Photos fell out and fluttered to the ground. I bent over to pick them up and the hair on my arms stood up on end. The pictures were of a girl; she was tied up and had ducttape around her mouth.

The faint smell of cherry wafted from the envelope.
Cigar smoke? Something that passed from the sender to the letter?

I gathered up the pictures and could feel my eyes grow hot. I wanted to cry and scream all at the same time. I knew the girl in the pictures.

It was Angela.

Chapter 39

WILLIAMS SUCKED ON A cigar and the end glowed amber. It was a clear night but a slight breeze made the smoke waft away. The girl was pretty in a punk sort of way. She put up a fight but was so small that her kicks did nothing to stop him. He was, after all, a driven man.

Walking back inside, he turned the corner and his breath stopped. She stood defiantly staring at him, holding a piece of wood. Why she didn’t try to run was a mystery, maybe she liked it rough.

“I see I need to work on my bondage skills.” Williams pulled on his cigar and let a small grin cross his lips. “Now just put the wood down, you’ll hurt yourself.”

“I’m gonna hurt something, you sick perv.” Angela stood knees bent ready to strike. She looked like a batter about to hit a home run.

Williams laughed and took a step forward, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “You got me.Please don’t hurt me.” This was fun, maybe his subconscious wanted her to get free so he could mess with her, was that why he didn’t tie her up securely?

“I lived with pigs like you all my life, you are just one more man who needs to be taught that you do not have the right to abuse women.” Her eyes flashed and Williams took a small step forward as if sneaking up on a scared rabbit. She took onestep back and that was all he needed to let him know that her front was just a cover for her fear.

He lowered his hands and pulled on his cigar one more time. “My father used to say, if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.”

Williams lunged forward and Angela swung, hitting him across the ribs. He did not stop and bull tackled her to the ground, not feeling the pain. She grunted under his weight, and in a matter of seconds he had her hands behind her back and hauled her to her feet.

Angela screamed for help, but he was not worried, this was a basement and her cries would do no good here.

“Yes, that’s it, scream. I like the wild ones.” Grabbing her throat he squeezed and pushed her against a wooden support post. Slipping the knife from his hip sheath he pressed it to her neck. She froze.

“That’s right, be a good little girl and hold still.” This time he used duct tape and put one strip over her mouth. She was crying and this made him want to kill her. Crying was for the weak and the weak did not deserve to breathe.

“You see, my dear, you are cursed to be submissive to man; you are weaker in every way and need to be ruled. Your only worth is to bear children to keep the human race going and for man’s personal pleasure. But you fight against it, demand freedom, only to miss your true calling.”

Taking the knife, he felt for her fifth rib. “You are a slave, you will always be a slave no matter how much power you think you have. Women in power are only there because we
let
them be there. But it all comes around in the end.” Pushing the knife in he let it slide in slow. Angela screamed into the duct tape.And once the knife was all the way in, he yanked it out again. Blood spurted from the wound and stained her shirt.

“There, you will bleed out for a few hours, and you will suffer as you were meant to suffer.” Williams wiped the blade on her pants and took another draw from his cigar. He didn’t even drop it in the struggle, more proof that he was the master and she the servant.

Her skin was pale now, the trauma too much for her to handle. She was a beautiful thing, a prize to be proud of, and the makings of a great gift for his prey.

Sarah Steele.

Chapter 40

I LAID OUT THE pictures on the table at my bed and breakfast, and unfolded the note. Mandy stood at my shoulder, and Rick was lying on the bed, stunned by what he’d seen in the pictures. I was in full-on business mode, and was analyzing the pictures and notes.

Miss Steele,

You wanted to play with me, and now here we are. This is Angela, say hi. She is in love with me and I with her. Will you stop our love? You have four hours, if you fail she and I will play … you like to play, don’t you?