Luna Tick: A Sunshine Novel (10 page)

"Lonnie, why don't you talk first? We know you and Nick are close friends. How do you feel about knowing the man that you spent holidays and summer BBQs with is a cold blooded killer?"

"Honestly? Stunned. I would have never expected Nate, I mean Nick to have this side of himself." He seemed sincere enough but I don't trust him as far as I can throw him.

"Tell us more about your buddy. Anything that might give us a clue as to where he took my wife." I met the man's eyes, staring intently into them, willing him to give me something. Anything to go on.

"Well, last I saw him was at Moore Park where I got him to confess to all of the murders but he ran before I could arrest him." The pansy ass man's voice trailed off as though the words shamed him. I ran the words over one more time in my head while examining his expression.

"He got away after your best efforts to restrain him?" I questioned, but I didn't need to hear his answer. It would be a lie. His eyes said all I needed to know. He allowed the bastard to run. Exactly as I thought. He couldn't hide the shame in his voice or his face. He was easier to read than a Dr. Seuss book with only a quarter of the intelligence. Now, because of his stupidity and blind loyalty to a fucking murderer, my wife could lose her life.

"Of course." The words came out in barely a whisper. The urge to wrap my hands around his little neck was strong, nearly too strong to control but that would hinder me finding Sunshine, and nobody would deter me from finding her.

"I bet you did. Just know, if anything happens to Sunshine you're the first man I'm coming after." I gave him a friendly wink before moving on. No point fighting the little prick now. That would waste time that we didn't have to waste.

"Is there a place he likes to visit? Maybe a place the family goes camping in the summer? Any friends out of town where he could take advantage of an empty house?" Dade took over the questions. I'm sure from seeing me teetering on the edge of my own sanity.

"The Robinson's have been out of town a few weeks now. They live a few doors down from Nate. He also has a cabin up by Howard Prairie Lake. We've been there camping a few times." The regret and betrayal he felt were clear in his voice yet his moral compass and sense of right and wrong were stronger than the betrayal.

"Dade, we need to go check out both of those places." I stood up, ready to get the hell out of that square, suffocating room.

"Now?" Lonnie questioned, his voice a tad bit higher than before. Was he worried we'd find them? Was he worried Nick would kill him if he found out that his weasel dick friend ratted him out?

"Right fucking now." My hand was on the doorknob when the phone rang. The chief answered with a curt hello before his face fell into a look of remorse and concentration. The conversation was obvious that it was the orders to turn the case over to Dade and me while giving any assistance we requested. "We good here?" Dade questioned when the chief hung up the phone. He nodded then waved us off. I didn't think the chief had any idea that Nick was a killer, or that he had a killer on his force. I also didn't think the chief was a bad guy, just cocky and naïve when it came to solving a murder. Hell, had I not been so closely involved with The Bleach Killer I'd be that naïve guy. Joe got away with killing for years, was an integral part of our community. Nobody had any idea what Joe was, so I couldn't really fault the chief. However, I was in no frame of mind to make peace with the man.

"Lonnie, you're coming with us," Dade ordered, grabbing the scrawny prick by the collar. Lonnie, on the other hand, is a piece of shit. What kind of asshole has a killer in his grasp and lets him get away? I don't believe for a second that Nick just ran. This dick let him go. Now, he'd help us find his buddy and help us bring him in. That should make him feel like the pile of shit that he is.

"Where we going?" His voice stuttered as he was pulled along by Dade, through the station and outside to our waiting car. Ronin and Trish were standing next to the new Dodge Charger, clearly anxious and ready to go, as was I. "Good pick, guys." I reached my hand out to Ronin. "Well, it was this or a four wheel drive truck, figured this would be better. You ready?"

"Yeah, let's get going." I walked around to the driver side, opening the door while Dade shoved Lonnie in the back seat.

"Who's the skinny dude?" Trish asked, not impressed by Lonnie.

"That's Lonnie, a close friend of Nick's who almost had Nick, but he was too slippery apparently. Anyway, he's going to be our map right, Lonnie?" Dade looked back at Lonnie, a cocky smile spread across his face. This wasn't the time for smiling but Dade wasn't being funny.

"Yes, that's about right." His voice was soft and full of shame. I felt some gratification in his shame. Trish and Ronin slid into the back, sandwiching Lonnie in. "Let's get our girl back." Trish's hand squeezed my shoulder tightly as she said the words. I nodded then tore out of the parking lot.

We checked out the vacant house first. At first glance, everything appeared to be normal. All the family photos were in place. In the kitchen though, on the counter, was a book of matches from the only strip club in town. Something told me this was not a family that frequented strip clubs and if they did, they weren't leaving matchbooks around. "Bag this matchbook, Trish." We'd given her gloves and a baggy before going in. She wasn't trained on what to look for but she could put evidence in a bag. Every little bit helps.

"Over here." Trish and I both turned to see Dade on the floor, under the table.

"Find something?" I asked, walking over to him. He smiled and held up a long black hair. "I could be wrong but the woman in the photos is blonde with short hair."

"Good find, Dade. Bag it up, Trish. Let's get out of here." I did a final sweep of the house, not finding much more. The evidence we did find might turn out to be nothing, but a gut feeling told me it meant something. When we find Sunshine, god willing, she'll be unharmed, and we'll need something to tie Nick to the other murders otherwise he could, very literally, get away with murder. We needed evidence, and I hoped to hell we had it.

We met back at the car where Ronin was watching our little helper. Ronin may not be a police officer or know the law further than most civilians, but the dude was huge and intimidating to the best of men. To a scrawny little fuckface like Lonnie, he was formidable I was sure.

"Find anything?" Ronin asked as soon as we got in the car. Dade was the first to answer. "We did, actually. Seems likely that he killed one of his victims here. Lonnie, was one of the women a dancer with long dark hair?" He turned to look at Lonnie, daring him to lie.

"Yeah. One of the recent ones. She went by Jet and was a heroin addict. She hung out down where most the druggies hang out." With every piece of information he spilled, the more sorry he sounded.

"Directions to the cabin?" I demanded more than asked as I backed out of the driveway. I had to find my wife. There wasn't a choice. No option. I needed her back in my arms. Our kids needed her home. Our friends needed her in their lives. Sunshine would be okay, there was no other way.

Chapter Nine

Nick

When Michelle finally picked me up from the side of the road I was cold, hungry, and exhausted from my stint in the woods. I planned on ripping her a new asshole about how long she left me out there when I spotted a lump in the back seat. My interest was piqued and my anger subsided.

"Hey, baby, need a ride?" Michelle's voice had always been what most would call gravelly, I thought it was sexy. Right now it was damn erotic.

"I was beginning to think you'd never get here." I hopped into the passenger seat and leaned over to kiss her. She briefly returned the affection before pulling away. "Sorry, baby, but you reek. Ugh."

"You spend the night on the run in the woods and tell me if you come out smelling like roses." My irritation was returning, the lump in the back seat forgotten in the moment. I didn't like to be rejected. By anyone.

"Oh quit your bitching. I brought you a surprise." She glanced over her shoulder at the forgotten lump. I turned around to examine my surprise as Michelle pulled back onto the road. The face was covered by long dark hair and the body by a sheer nightgown. I didn't have to see the face to know it was Sunshine Everly. Fucking hell. Michelle kidnapped Sunshine Everly. Son of a fucking monkey. I looked at Michelle, who was smiling proudly.

"Baby," I said slowly, sliding my hand onto her thigh.

"Mhmmm," she replied softly.

"Baby, you kidnapped Sunshine Everly for me?" I slid my hand up higher.

"Mmhmm."

"You realize you're a part of this now? There's no going back, baby. If I go down, you go down. I didn't want this for you, bu…" I slid my hand up higher, grazing the lips of her pussy.

"Mmmhmm," she said again, slightly grinding into my touch. I slid a finger between the lips and felt my dick twitch when my finger was greeted with her juices. "But what?" she breathed, pushing against my finger again.

"But I am so fucking happy you're here with me. That it's you I will be with. That you accept me for me. But most of all…" I placed a finger inside of her reveling in her gasp of pleasure. "I'm so fucking happy you wore that skirt with no panties. Feeling that dripping wet cunt around my finger while that bitch is passed out in the back seat? Probably the most erotic thing I've ever been a part of."

"More erotic than the times you fucked your ex-wife Shannon?" The words came out dripping of jealousy and lust. I understood her jealousy. It was my love for Shannon and eventual loss that introduced me to my darkness. It was Shannon that I thought I'd always love and spent years missing and hating her. The twisted mix of love and hate nurturing my dark side. I’d been blind.

"Are you jealous of the bitch?" I moved my finger faster inside of her.

"Jealous? No. I just want to know that I can make your dick harder than she could. I want to know that you crave my pussy more than hers. I want to know that you love me, and she was nothing more than a stepping stone in your life leading you to me."

"Oh, baby. I've fucked so many women. Some of them with pussies any man would kill for. Whores that would do anything I asked of them." I fingered her faster, inserting a second finger inside. "I've fucked their cunts, their assholes, their mouths, their tits, and I've tasted every one of them and not one of them has a pussy like yours." For the first time in years, I was being honest with her, honest with myself.

"Ahhhh, don't stop," she whispered. I continued finger fucking her until I felt her walls gripping my fingers, grazing her g-spot with every stroke of my finger.

"That's right, Michelle. I fuck you because it feels good. Because your sweet pussy tastes so good. Come for me, baby." Her soft walls convulsed violently around my fingers. Her body tensed up as her juices dripped down my hand. I stilled my fingers, applying gentle pressure until her pussy stilled, allowing me to take my fingers out. Meeting her eye to eye, I brought each finger to my mouth, tasting her orgasm. "Mmm, yes, tastes so good."

"That was fucking amazing, baby." She leaned over, quickly kissing me before straightening her skirt and returning her attention to the road. "Here, I think you need to make a phone call." Handing me the cell phone with a number already dialed in, she returned her attention to the road. Michelle didn't have to tell me whose number I was calling. I hit call and waited to hear Matt's voice. I was quickly realizing she was just as twisted as me. The moment she handed me the phone, I knew it was to taunt my lifelong enemy.

She listened intently as Matt and I exchanged jabs, both determined we'd win the game that, in all honesty, he put in motion. If the cocky bastard had just stayed in Lincoln where he belonged, I wouldn't have Sunshine. I would still be killing whores, policing the streets, and fucking my wife. He couldn't mind his own business. He couldn't handle not being the one to take me down. His pride always got the best of him. While I was thankful his pride clouded his better judgment because this final game was the best and most exciting I'd ever played, I didn't start the game. I made sure he knew that. Sunny being in my backseat laid solely on his shoulders. I said what I needed to say then hung up.

"Did I say thank you, baby?"

"I don't remember hearing the words but the finger fucking spoke volumes," she said, smiling at me.

"Well, just in case I forgot to say the words, thank you. It's been so long since I heard his voice and yet it seems like just yesterday. I am so excited to face off with the prick." She didn't respond, instead she patted my thigh and smiled softly. The constant mix of insanity and sweetness that she portrayed since my confession to her was intoxicating. Confusing, but created a fucking high that was almost as intense as killing. Almost.

We drove the remainder of the way in comfortable silence. I couldn't let her go down with me. I had to figure out a way to make sure that she was not held responsible for anything. That would be hard to do since Matt saw her driving the car. Didn't matter, she needed to finish raising our daughter not sit in a jail cell. After all she's done for me the least I could do was make sure she was a free woman when the police catch up to us. I considered telling her that there was no way in hell I'd let her go down with me but something told me she'd stop me. She'd do something stupid to make sure she spent her life in prison just like I was going to do.

"We're here, and good thing," she said, shaking me from my thoughts. She pulled right up to the front steps and killed the engine before glancing over her shoulder. "Our guest of honor is starting to regain consciousness." I looked back to see Sunshine stirring and moaning softly.

"Let's get her inside and secured. It would be a shame if she got away after all you did to get her here, baby." Before hopping out of the car, I flashed my crooked smile she always said made her panties wet. "Go open the front door. I'll grab her." I stopped for a second and watched Michelle skip up the stairs to the front door. She was still a beauty even after carrying our baby. Her ass was round and tight while her legs went on for days. I always knew Michelle was a stunner. Real and true beauty on the outside. The kind of woman most men can only dream about marrying. I never took that for granted. I worked my ass off to keep this hidden from her. How was I to know that she had her own little demon living inside of her? She kept it hidden so well, much better than me apparently. Knowing what lies beneath her beautiful exterior pushed her from someone who I had always considered good eye candy to someone who was so obviously my soul mate.

"You gonna stand there staring at my ass while she wakes up or are you actually going to bring her inside?" Her hand was on her hip, and her mouth turned into a small grin as she spoke. She liked me watching her. She'd always liked me watching her. This sassiness was new. I don't know where my sweet and loving wife went, but I was loving this side of Michelle. I shook my head in acknowledgment before opening the back door. Pulling Sunshine's limp body out, I threw her over my shoulder then made my way into the cabin where I sat her in a chair and Michelle started to tie her up.

We both fell back on the couch somewhat breathless from the securing of our prisoner. Our prisoner. That sounded so sweet in my head. "I really can't believe you, Michelle. I mean, you're dark inside, just like me. How did I never see that?" I turned my head to face her. We were both leaned back on the couch, our fingers touching but nothing else. She turned her head to me. "You were just blinded by my good looks and your own darkness. I did work pretty hard to keep it hidden. It's not the biggest part of me. Most of me is that same kind and loving woman who loves her daughter and husband, but a small part of me loves this shit. I don't need it or crave it like you do but I enjoy it anyway. Mostly though, keeping you with me and giving you some kind of peace is my main motivator here, Nate."

"It's Nick, you know that right?" I turn my head to look at her, smiling softly.

"No, Nick died back in jail in that piece of shit town. You're Nate. My Nathan. My husband. The father of my baby girl. You're a new man, baby, and you're my man. I won't let you fall alone. Our vows said for better or for worse and I will fucking honor that, live or die."

"I guarantee it won't be living as soon as Matt finds you." Sunshine's voice came out strained and soft. "Awe, she's awake!" Michelle exclaimed excitedly, her hands clapping together. I felt a twinge of anger at Sunshine's timing. Why would I expect different from the cunt? I was having a nice talk with my wife but of course the bitch would fucking ruin it as she and Matt always have. They fucking ruin everything.

"Hey, Sunny," I said, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. I smiled at her, meeting her bright green eyes. Seven years may have gone by but she looked exactly as I remembered her. I may be smiling but there was no way she'd mistake my irritation.

"Hey, Nick," she replied, smiling sarcastically. "How the fuck did you find a wife as psychotic as you?" She looked up at Michelle, who was now standing beside her. "She's pretty enough but not as pretty as Shannon." Her lips curved up smugly. Just as cocky as her dick husband and still talks shit like a sailor, time hasn't changed much.

"Don't say that name," I warned her. "Michelle is everything Shannon never was. Don't you ever fucking compare her to Shannon. Shannon was a stupid whore who fucked with the wrong men and wound up dead. I never want to hear that name again." I heard a low growl escape my throat as my glare met hers.

"Huh, still pretty torn up over her, I see. It's okay, Nick. I get it. She was the love of your life. I understand that." She put an emphasis on my real name before sticking out her bottom lip, mock pouting.

"Don't fuck with me, Sunny. I don't really think you're in a position to fuck with me."

"I'm not fucking with you, Nick, just catching up with an old friend."

"Let's get a few things straight. My name is Nate. We are not old friends. You are my prisoner and my leverage with Matt. If you remember right I almost killed you once, I will have no problem finishing what I started so many years ago. So, watch your pretty little mouth and mind your manners. Do that and you might just make it out of here on two legs and not in a body bag." I leaned forward, squeezing her knee hard, but she didn't flinch.

"You, my friend will always be Nick to me. The same Nick who ate fucking mud pies in kindergarten. The same Nick who fucked most of the cheerleaders in high school. The same Nick who cheated on his wife then went bat shit crazy when she gave you a dose of your own medicine. You can rename yourself all you fucking want but you're still Nick. Someone who used to be my friend. Someone who learned from my sperm donor how to be a killer. I'm not afraid of you, asshole, so fuck off." She finished by spitting in my face, then flashing me a huge grin. Michelle raised her hand, ready to beat the shit out of Sunshine…I could see it in her eyes. "No, baby. Not yet. We have a phone call to make and she needs to be awake for that." I warned her and felt relief when she lowered her arm. "Let's call Matt shall we? Let's see what our friend has to say about your little predicament." Wiping the spit from my face, I returned Sunshine's smile before calling the same number I'd called earlier.

"Speak," Matt said when the call connected.

"Now is that any way to talk to an old friend?"

"You are no damn friend of mine."

"No? Well, yes, I guess you're right aren't you. Still, you're in no position to be a dick are you?"

"Keep taunting me, Nick. I'm coming for you. We'll meet again very fucking soon and if Sunshine has even one hair out of place I will rip your beating heart out of your chest."

"Funny you say Sunshine. Would you like to talk to her?" I asked but didn't give him the chance to answer before holding the phone up to a struggling Sunshine. After mine and Sunshine’s little exchange, Michelle had her gagged, so all that came out were moans and attempts at screaming. I pulled the phone away from her. "Well, she's alive, buddy, but I can't guarantee how long and I sure as shit can't guarantee I won't hurt her. I know you're coming. I'm waiting patiently."

"I'm on my way there right fucking now, you sick son of a bitch. I'm coming for you, Nick."

With that I hung up and tossed the phone away, chuckling. I looked Sunshine in the eye before pulling her gag out. "Well, that was fun! Whew! Won't be too long before he figures out where we are. This is going to be fun!" I stood up and grabbed Michelle, kissing her long and deep before reaching over and punching Sunshine right in her pretty green eye. The blow was hard, but not enough to knock her out, just enough to stun her.