HiT 149: Anna Brookes First Chapter (13 page)

“Baby girl, are you ok?” Ben’s voice is soft and his hand comes out to grab mine but his gun is still elevated and pointing so that he can detect any further threat to us.

“Of course Ben. This is just so.........” I trail off not knowing what to say.

Ben’s eyes dart over me evaluating me and my safety, he is in full alpha male protector mode. He slowly lowers his weapon once he is satisfied that there’s not another threat. My eyes are trained differently to Ben’s. I’m inspecting everywhere. Ben sweeps me up in a hug and doesn’t let me go.” I’m sorry you were part of this Baby. But I need to call it in” as both our bodies relax into one another we hear the sound of the sirens. Maybe the chef or one of the other staff called it in. But Ben is not letting me go. I turn to look at Plastic Tammy and actually feel regret that she is lying on the floor not 4 feet from me, dead. Other than being an idiot she really didn’t do anything to me that makes me want her dead. Ben’s hands are running all over my body, in one hand he still has his gun. The feel of his hands and the gun running all over my body is sensational. “Don’t look beautiful. Seeing a dead body for the first time is very traumatising. That image will stay with you forever.” If only he knew this was not my first dead body, and it won’t be my last.

At that moment the police are through the front door with weapons drawn. The first in the door is Ethan Martelli. I watch him as he looks at the scene. He sees Simon the cable guy on the floor in front of him with 2 bullet wounds to his chest, he sees Plastic Tammy lying 4 feet behind Ben and myself and his eyes dart to me. He sees that Ben and I are entwined but his eyes are purely on me. He looks over his shoulder and he sees my car out the front. His eyes dart back to me and a small smile and furious look crosses his eyes. He knows I’ve removed the tracking device he had fitted on my car. My face reflects his. The same smile and immanent look in my eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention and the serpent bite feeling has made its appearance again.

Game on Ethan Martelli.

Chapter 16

“What happened here Ben?” Ethan’s asking questions, but directing them to Ben only.

“Anna and I were just about to order when that guy busts in and kills the waitress and goes to aim at us. Luckily we are the only patrons in here because it could have been messy. Anna ducked behind the chair and I had my gun on me from this morning and I killed him.” Ben has let go of the hug he is giving me but his hand is strongly holding on to mine. Thank goodness he thought I was trying to get cover, and not going to get my Glock.

“I’ll take Anna back to the station so we can make the report,” Ethan says to Ben. It appears that Ethan is satisfied with one sentence from Ben but wants to take me to the station for my report. That feeling in my stomach starts to niggle. Not a good idea for me to be alone with Ethan Martelli because he or I will end up dead, and its most likely going to be him. But the plus side is I’ll be able to find out some more information on him.

“I can drive myself Ethan. I’ll meet you at the police station.”

“Aren’t you in shock? It’s probably not a good idea to drive Anna.” Ben’s eyes are worried as he’s looking at me. Yes that’s right, I have a part to play until the very end.

“Of course. Ben would you mind driving me?”

“I can’t Anna I need to stay here and oversee the situation, Go with Ethan, he’ll take care of you.”
I’m sure he will
I think to myself as Ben finishes the sentence.

I lean in and give Ben a kiss, and he responds by bringing his arms around my waist and holding me to him.

“Come and get me when you’re done,” I say looking into Ben’s deep blue hypnotic eyes.

Ethan is waiting for me at the front door. He is emotionless, but I know he wants to find out as much as he can about me.

I leave Ben’s side and grab my bag making a start towards Ethan. Once outside Ethan eyes me up and down but says nothing. He is 2 steps in front of me and stops abruptly, he turns to face my BMW and says “nice car” this is his way of telling me he knows I’ve taken his GPS device off it.

“I know, it was messed with a few days ago, but rest assured Ethan, I take my safety very seriously.” Yes this game is a game I like to play.

Ethan snickers and leads me to a police cruiser. He opens the back door for me, and I stop. “Sorry Ethan, I didn’t realise you’re arresting me”

“You’re not under arrest Anna, you’re just coming to the Police Station to fill in your statement”.

I side step him and get in the front passenger seat. My bag is to my side between the door and myself and I have positioned my Glock so I can get to it easily. Ethan has come around the front and slides into the driver’s side.

“So Anna what were you doing there with Ben?”

“Having lunch.”

“Have you been seeing Ben a lot?” He leaves Mammas and is heading towards the Station.

“Really Ethan? You have me in the car alone with no listening devices and you’re asking me if I’ve been seeing Ben a lot? I thought a man of your calibre would be asking me questions that you know I won’t answer once we are at the PD. Of course, that’s if you’re taking me to the PD? But you do know that’s where you are expected to take me and that I’m sure if we don’t show up at a reasonable time that Ben will come looking for you and me. I do believe all the police cars are fitted with tracking devices aren’t they? Ever seen a tracking device Ethan? They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I may have seen some in my day. So I go back to my original question, really Ethan?” I’m taunting Ethan.

Ethan’s knuckles are white from gripping the wheel so hard. He has pure anger all over his face. I can see he’s working hard to control his urges to either yell or hit me.

“Who are you Anna Moore?”

“Such a boring question.”

“What question would you suggest I ask?” His nostrils are flaring and I’m antagonising him.

“Gee Ethan, I’m not the police officer here. I don’t think I should be doing your job”

“What are you doing here in St Cloud Anna?” His question rapid.

“Buying a house” I answer just as quickly.

“What are you doing with Ben?”

“Enjoying myself”

“What brought you to St Cloud?”

“To buy a house”

“Where do you live?”

“Ethan, back to this??? Didn’t you do a background check on me?” My question is rhetorical because we both know he has.

“FUCK ANNA. YOU’RE PISSING ME OFF”. He slams the breaks on and pulls over to the side of the road. He’s just about to get out of the car when my phone rings, it’s the burner phone. I answer it before Ethan has a chance to get it out of my hand.

“Hi Baby. Ethan’s just pulled over for a moment I’m sure we’ll be at the station within the next 5 minutes. How’s it going there?” I give Ben everything he needs to know and Ethan’s face is fierce with anger.

“Why has Ethan pulled over?” Ben asks sounding a little worried.

“I’m not sure, here speak to Ethan.”

I hand the phone over and Ethan takes it and smoothly says, “Ben I thought I hit an animal.” His voice says one thing and his eyes say something different. “Yes Ben” and with that he snaps my phone shut, but keeps it. I smile to myself knowing that I have gotten under his skin.

“So Anna, you were just about to tell me everything I need to know about you. Because it has occurred to you that you know I did a back ground check on you and there is fuck all information on you. I think you know that of course and I think that’s what you want people to see when they search for you. But I fucking know you’re lying about everything. I know you are not who you say you are.” His anger is almost uncontrollable.

I look over to him and tease him with a smile and a laugh. “Why Ethan, it appears you know me so well. So why don’t you tell me what you want to hear and save us both a load of trouble”

“Did you remove the GPS from your car?”

“Now there we go Ethan, that has got to be your best question. Of course I removed it. I don’t like people tracking me. I’m not an animal. If you want to know something then just ask?”

“What is your occupation?”

“Back to boring questions Ethan?”

“Are you in St Cloud for a reason?”

“Yes” simple answer for a simple question.

“What are your reasons for being in St Cloud?” his questions are coming to an end because we are fast approaching the police station.

“To buy a house” I smile over at him. “But let me ask you a question Ethan. Why the interest in me?”

“I want to know who comes into my town. I’m very protective of everyone and everything here.” Bingo. I have an answer. ‘Everyone and everything’. He just told me that there is something here in St Cloud that he wants to keep quiet and doesn’t want it found.

“Anna, where are you staying?” He wants to find me desperately but hasn’t been able to after I removed the GPS.

“In town, Ethan,” too late there’s no more to be said because we are at the station and Ethan can’t ask me anything that isn’t Mammas shooting related.

I’m out of the car and in the station before Ethan has even set foot on the first step. I see Grace at the desk and she smiles at me. “How are you doing Anna? As soon as it was called in I was horrified. Mammas is such a nice place to eat, oh my god poor Tammy. But when Ben called through a few minutes ago to say you were on your way in I just felt so sad that you had to be a witness to something so horrific.”

“I’m ok Grace. I’m just glad I’m here at the station and I’m safe.” I have to play victim. I can’t say I do that role well.

“Ben said to make sure you’re comfortable. He gave me strict instructions that you are to stay in his office whilst Ethan takes your statement. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Thank you Grace, a coffee and a glass of water would be great. Coffee is milk with 2 please.” Grace ushers me into Ben’s office and I take a seat to wait for my coffee. I look around his office and see he is just as homely here as he is at home. There are a few pictures in frames and I stand to look closer at them. There’s a picture of his sister Emily and her husband who was at the bar that night Ben and I first met. And there’s a picture of another girl with dark mid length hair and she has her arms around a guy who looks slightly older then her. They are cutting into their wedding cake. This must be Ben’s sister Claire. There is also a picture of an older couple with their cheeks pressed together standing on a beach, they must be Ben’s parents, taken before their death. Looks were handed out in this family because the siblings and their partners are all quite stunning. The common feature amongst the siblings is the deep blue eyes. They all have that hypnotic sensual gaze in their eyes.

Ethan walks in and sits in Ben’s chair. “So where were we Anna
?” What a stupid question Ethan.

“You were going to sit down in Ben’s chair and you were going to ask me what happened at Mammas today. You already know my full name and you have my phone somewhere in your possession.” I lean over the desk giving Ethan the cheekiest look I could manage and say, “It’s ok Ethan, you can keep the phone, I wouldn’t want a tracking device to be installed on it. Besides, it’s a burner.” I’ve just alluded to the fact that I am a criminal and that I certainly know what he is. That he is a criminal too. I just need to figure out why he is after me so desperately.

I sit back down and Grace comes in. She’s carrying my coffee and water and looks between Ethan and myself. The tension is rife in the room. Ethan’s face is flushed and anger is in his eyes. I have a smile on my face and lift the coffee and take a slip. “It’s delicious, thank you Grace, it’s just what I needed.” Grace scurries out without so much as a word but she does look worried. It wouldn’t surprise me if she calls Ben to let him know that something is happening here with Ethan and myself.

Ethan continues to ask me the routine questions about the incident. My façade is in place and I am cold and heartless towards him. I am letting a little bit of my assassin side out for Ethan to see. But I can tell he is trying to figure me out but just can’t.

Half an hour passes and I look outside to watch the traffic because frankly, Ethan is boring me. I’ve learnt what I needed to from him in the car on the way over. He is protecting something here in St Cloud. I watch the cars, bikes, trucks, earth moving equipment, milk trucks go by.
This really is a busy street
.

I then hear the beautiful sensual voice of Ben.

“Baby girl, is Ethan treating you right?” he comes up behind me and lifts me as I stand from the chair. He envelops me in a hug right in front of Ethan.

“He’s been awesome Ben. I see why you two get on so well. Are you done Ethan? Can Ben take me home?”

Ethan shifts in his seat “Are you taking Anna back to her place Ben?” Again Ethan is searching.

“No I think she can stay with me tonight, I want to make sure she’s ok, if you need either of us you can call me”.

I must admit, I almost feel sorry for Ethan. He’s desperate to find where I live and no matter what angle he tries he just doesn’t get a single thing.

“Thanks Ethan for the talk today. I learnt a lot”. Yes I did.

Ben and I turn to leave and I look over my shoulder to Ethan and give him a small wink.

“Thank you for coming to get me”, I tell Ben loud enough for Ethan to hear.

Ethan’s entire body tenses up and he snarls at me.

Chapter 17

Ben drove us back to Mammas which now had the yellow police tape around the outside indicating a crime had taken place and there was a huge flurry of foot traffic trying to see what was happening. I went to get my BMW. As I got into the driver’s side I saw Ben was waiting for me in his car. I quickly checked my phone to make sure that my car hadn’t been tampered with again. It appears to be untouched. Ethan Martelli will find another angle to come at me. I could see Ben on his phone and he is looking very frustrated. He jumped out of his car and walked over to me, I quickly hid my phone from Ben. He knocked on the window, “why aren’t you picking up. Your phone is ringing out.”