Guarding Light (22 page)

   Inside Jack was coming to his feet. He rounded the desk to greet her. He took her in his arms giving her a kiss on the cheek. Catlyn willingly accepted both the embrace and the kiss.

   "So how did it go with Rider?"

   "He's devastated even after all these years. But he did give us somewhat of a lead. I think we need to go back further than

15 years to find a connection, to find the UNSUB."

   Jack released her going back to sit at his desk. "Well, I am willing to try anything. I want this nightmare to be over."

   Jack looked at her and picked his words carefully. "Sanchez said something a little mysterious. He said to brace myself for chaos. That you called in someone who might mess up my case."

   Catlyn coolly returned his scrutiny. "And, what, you're asking me to step down chief, you don't trust me?"

   Jack's eyes widen in surprise. "Hell no! Of course I trust you. I was just wondering to what Sanchez is referring."

   "I asked a colleague to help with some old files. S.S.A Mackenzie is on light duty after taking down a gang of bikers who just happen to be drug traffickers. S.S.A Mackenzie was shot with a through and through, healing nicely."

   "I remember reading about that. That dude Mackenzie sounds hardcore! I'll take any help I can get and if a man like Mackenzie is willing to shuffle some papers for us while he heals, then, I say the more the merrier."

   Catlyn hesitated as she studied his gorgeous smile. Jack automatically assumed Mackenzie was a man, as did most people when they read Mackenzie's service jacket. Trying not to feel slighted or annoyed that the man she loved was one of the biggest sexist she ever encountered, she gave him a loving smile. "Trust me, Mackenzie
is
hardcore and is nothing but an asset."

   Jack smiled back. "Then as far as I am concerned, enough said S.S.A. Lyte."

   Warmth went through her. "Thank you for siding with me."

   He winked. "Kitten, unless you blatantly break the law, I will always be on your side. And its iffy even then I'd go against you."

   Jack's cell chimed, picking it up, he quickly looked at the screen. His facial features went hard as he read whatever text he received. He looked up at Catlyn. "Honey, I am going to have to give you a rain-check for dinner. I have something else I need to attend."

   He stood, took keys out of his front pocket and wrote something on a pad. He tore off the page and rounded the desk. "Here are the keys to my house and the directions. I want you to go in and look around, make yourself at home and eat the dinner I arranged to be delivered around 4:30pm."

   Catlyn laughed, taking the items. "Wow, this is getting serious. You are going to let me loose in your house without you being present?" She tilted her head, looking up at him. "Aren't you afraid I am going to snoop through your private things, find all kinds of secrets about you?"

   He took her in his arms and began a series of kisses from her ear to her throat. "Baby, I ate your pussy, nutted a load on your stomach and you sucked my cock." He laughed at her surprised gasp at his crude words. "You go right ahead and snoop. Because if you find out something about me that you don't know already, you are going to have to tell me." He kissed her goodbye.

   After trading tempered kisses, they parted. "I am sorry about dinner. I promise I will make it up to you and I will pick you up after work to walk you home."

   "It's ok. I will just have to be satisfied looking through your bedroom for signs of your ex."

   He paused, giving her a look she couldn't identify. "I've never had another woman in my house. I've always took the person I was dating to a hotel sometimes her place. But never my house, it's never been serious enough."

   Another warm feeling rushed through Catlyn, her heart beat just a little faster. "This is serious to me too."

   Jack released her, giving her cheek a peck. "I am very glad to hear it." He swatted her behind. "Now, get woman. You're a distraction."

   Catlyn left the office almost skipping. She had never felt like this with anyone but Jack. Maybe it's true what they said about soul mates, everyone has one out there made just for them.

   Sanchez was still in the outer office. Catlyn walked passed him and Tasha. Sanchez said good bye to Tasha and fell into step with Catlyn.

   They walked in silence to their rental car that Sanchez had been using since they arrived in town. He used the remote on the keys to unlock the doors.

   "Are you going to be angry with me forever?" Catlyn asked as she buckled her seatbelt.

   Sanchez started the vehicle, giving her a quick glance before backing out. "I am not angry. Just concerned, now not only do I have you to worry about there is another potentially perfect victim headed to Newburgh."

   "You don't know for sure she is coming here."

   "Catlyn, do you honestly believe Mackenzie is going to stay put?"

   Catlyn knew she'd be lying if she said yes. Mackenzie was a doer. She was an in-the-mix type of person. She very rarely sat on the sidelines. If there was a game to be played she was usually a key player if not the leader.

   "You're right, but, I don't see that as a bad thing. Mackenzie is charmed or something and smart!"

   Sanchez laughed. "Your BFF and you are two peas in a pod."

   "I am nothing like Mackenzie. She's way tougher than I am."

   Sanchez laughed even louder. "Right! Two gorgeous black chicks, that kick ass, have an IQ off the charts, focused in all you do, a success rate most guys would give their left nut for and neither of you have ever been seen with a man." Turning a corner, Sanchez gave a quick glance. "In fact, until the scene with you and the chief in the conference room the other day, I thought you guys were lesbian lovers."

   "What?"

   "Hey, nothing wrong with lesbian lovers, I'm just saying?"

   "Whatever, besides, I think Mackenzie is into Assistant Director Strong."

   Sanchez laughed so hard he almost swerved off the road. "Are you kidding me? He practically spends all his time yelling at her and putting disciplinary letters in her file."

   "It's just a feeling I get when those two are together."

   Sanchez scoffed. "You are delusional. Mackenzie has said no to every guy…"

   "And woman." Catlyn quickly added.

   "And woman who has had the nerve to ask her out. I think Asst. Director Strong is the only man who hasn't asked her out. And he has that sexy, hot, busty, blonde Bambi warming his bed."

   "Bunny," Catlyn corrected.

   "Who cares? She is walking sex. When she comes into the office to do lunch with the Asst. Director every single guy in the place pants and has to roll their tongues back into their mouths."

   "Well, I think there is something there between them."

   "The day has finally arrived that The Great Catlyn, Profiler Extraordinaire is wrong about something."

   Catlyn stuck her tongue out at him as he looked at her and laughed.

   "We'll see."

Chapter 9

   Catlyn sat on the driveway of the stately, antebellum house stunned. She wasn't sure what she expected Jack's home to look like but she would have never guessed something so… romantic. It was Tara. The four pillars at the front of the house rose high, supporting an upper balcony that accommodated at least 3 rooms.

   The black shutters contrasted strongly with the bright white of the house. Catlyn got out of the unmarked police car she borrowed, walking slowly towards the stairs of the wide porch. The steps were a grey slate, concrete, wide and flat. Catlyn took all five in a state of amazement.

   On the porch to her left patio furniture, wicker with blue seat cushions, arranged in a cozy semi-circle. To her right there was a large porch swing with seat cushions matching the patio furniture.

   Catlyn approached the large oak door, thinking perhaps she had the wrong house. But, no she had the right house for centered where a knocker should have been was a gold plate announcing 'The Gards'. Although Jack told her to make herself at home, Catlyn rang the doorbell. She heard the resonating chimes through the solid thick door.

   Using the keys Jack gave her, Catlyn opened the door. Automatically she checked the paper Jack gave her for the key code to stop the screaming of the alarm. The foyer was huge, light wood floors polished to high shine welcomed her. Directly across from the door was a large staircase, which curved elegantly to the second story. And the topping grace was the embellished chandelier above the impressive stair case.

   Still in a bewildered state Catlyn toured one beautiful room after another. The house was a wonderful mix of the pass and modern conveniences and technology. The foyer split in opposite directions near the stairs. Off to the right was a large living room.

   There was a fireplace as high as Catlyn was tall. It had ornate candle holders on each side with a row of family pictures in between, some candid, some posed. The aged pictures included a beautiful blonde woman in different activities with Jack's father. Catlyn assumed it was Jack's mother. She knew his mother died during his birth so Jack never talked about her.

   The austere and stoic man she knew to be Jack's father was smiling and laughing in the photos with his wife. He looked more like Jack in these. The last photo in which Jack's mother was included she boasted a nice size baby bump. Jack's father had his arms around her with his hands resting tenderly on her belly. David Gard looked happy and in love. Catlyn felt a twinge of sadness at David Gard's loss for it had most definitely changed him. The man in these pictures did not resemble the man Catlyn had met when she was a kid and had seen at various school functions.

   Room by room she toured the downstairs. She found a kitchen that had recently seen new construction. It had a wide, long island in the center of the kitchen. There was a wrought iron wrack hanging above the island hooking several pots, pans, cooking utensils. The counter space was impressive and ran the circumference of the kitchen. One part of the kitchen had 3 stools forming a breakfast nook.

   In her search of the downstairs she found a den, a library, a home office, a TV room which was set up like a mini theater. Towards the back of the house off a long hallway from the kitchen she found glass patio doors which led to a massive backyard with a manicured lawn and an Olympic size swimming pool, which was covered for the season. Also encased in a Gazebo-like structure Catlyn found the hot tub.

   All she could think of as she made her way back to the patio sliding glass doors was 'Wow'. Just how much did a Chief of Detectives make? Whatever it was it was good. As she crossed the threshold of the patio doors she studied the glass. She tapped it several times. Shaking her head, she looked at the glass in confusion. Everything about the house so far had screamed money. Everything including rugs and accents for décor were all of top quality of the finest materials. All, except the patio doors, the glass was cheap, thin, hardly worth the money to install it. Why? Why cut cost on something that was literally an entrance to the home. It was one of its barricades, why so flimsy?

   Maybe he ran out of money while doing the remodeling. But, Catlyn knew that was not the case when she saw all the rooms up stairs. 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and another office of sorts all had the finest of furnishings too and an exercise room with all the latest equipment to help one keep in shape. Thinking of Jack's body Catlyn decided the equipment was definitely doing its job.

   The master bedroom with en suite bathroom, although it had a strong masculine touch, was still beautiful. The captain size bed with its deep burgundy and black comforter was the only thing out of place in the very neat bedroom. The unmade bed told the story of Jack's haste to leave it.

   Catlyn made her way to the bathroom. Marble floors in a light-blue and white swirl dominated the room. There was his and hers sinks with a mirror running the length of the counter. Near the 'Hers' sink off to the side was a vanity table with a circular mirror with make-up lights. With satisfaction, Catlyn took notice that the vanity table was not stocked. Jack was waiting for his mate to fill it. Catlyn sat on the thickly cushioned bench positioned in front of the mirror. She turned the make-up lights on trying to imagine herself starting her morning right here. Unable to see it, she turned off the light and went to inspect the huge tub. It had vibrating jets. Now she could definitely picture herself relaxing in the tub with soothing bubbles caressing her skin being agitated by the jets set to high. And to complete the opulence of the bathroom was an octagonal shaped shower with beveled glass doors and 6 shower heads which all could be pointed towards the center. The shower could hold half a dozen adults easily.

   Heading back down stairs, Catlyn wondered at Jack's reasons for allowing her to come to his home unattended. He obviously wished to show his trust of her. He let her cuff him during an intimate moment, making himself vulnerable to her. He trustingly gave her the keys to his house along with the alarm code. He was making a valid effort to show his love and trust in her.

   She knew that she loved Jack, probably always had. If J.T. Dark hadn't happened, it was not inconceivable the two of them would have gotten together as soon as Catlyn reached the age of consent. He was the only man who she responded to. He was such a good man even though some of his views regarding women were a bit antiquated and sexist. Catlyn loved him but she admitted to herself that she was having trouble trusting him. Oh, she knew he'd never hurt her, that she firmly established in her mind. He had ample time to hurt her physically if he wanted. No, Catlyn was afraid his form of hurting her was going to be emotionally. She was reluctant to put all her trust in Jack with matters of the heart. After all he nearly tore her heart out 25 years ago when Jack didn't side with her.

   But, could she fault him for his integrity? He believed J.T. was innocent and he refused to lie, even for the girl he said he cared for. How could she not trust him when he so clearly showed his loyalties to the law, the victims? Catlyn wasn't totally sure why she held back just a little bit of her trust in him. Perhaps the nagging feeling that he was lying to her about something, she didn't know what it was only knew that it stopped her from completely trusting Jack.