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Authors: Cynthia Hickey

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BOOK: Ripped in Red
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7

C
assidy stared at the spot on the case board where her mother’s picture had been. Scrawled in red sharpie was the word Dragon. Stories said dragons could be killed. She wanted to be the dragon slayer. She
would
bring this beast down. “I’m checking the rest of the house.”

“There’s no answer at the security agenty.” Colin slipped his phone in his pocket. “I’m coming with you, then we’re paying a visit to my friend.”

She nodded and headed upstairs, weapon in hand. Not that she expected to find anyone. This particular dragon came and went like a whisper.

Her bedroom closet was closed, same as her drawers. She opened them anyway and went through the items one-by-one. “I’m missing a pair of underwear.”

“Laundry?” Colin peered into the drawer.

She slammed it shut. “I just did the laundry.” She definitely didn’t want him ogling her panties. “I don’t know when they went missing, only that they are. Sick pervert.” Some criminals took souvenirs, she just hadn’t expected something of hers to be valuable enough to anyone. Why was this unsub fixated on her?

If she were to suffer the same fate as her mother, why hadn’t he come forward and made a move? Why flit in and out of her house or spy on her at crime scenes? What had the man had against Cassidy’s mother?

She moved into the bathroom. Everything looked to be in place.

“I’m taking the room right next to yours,” Colin said. “Anyone after you, has to pass my room first.”

“Fine.” She still didn’t like it, but saw the need for protection with every passing minute. “Let’s go see why your friend’s security measures didn’t work.” Although locking the door seemed a waste of time, she did it on their way out anyway. The Dragon had proven he would go where he wanted. “The next stop is the pound. I’m adopting the biggest, meanest dog they have. That’s the best security.”

Colin shrugged. “I’m the best security, but I like dogs. Instead of the pound, I know a guy who sells German Shepherds. They’re well trained to listen to commands and not to take food from anyone other than their owner. That way, they can’t be poisoned.”

“How far?”

“About an hour.”

They made the drive to Colin’s security acquaintance in silence and pulled up in front of a modest bungalow. Cassidy cut the engine. “He works out of his home?”

“Yep. Wait until you see what’s in his garage.” Colin bounded from the jeep and hurried to the front door. He knocked, then peered through the front window before trying the doorknob. The door swung open. He exchanged a grim look with Cassidy, then pulled his gun.

“Stay behind me,” he said.

Cassidy pulled her own weapon and walked so close to him she could smell his aftershave. Tension radiated off Colin’s back, rippling his muscles.

They made their way through the three bedroom house, eventually ending up in a garage filled floor to ceiling with computer monitors and surveillance equipment. This was no small time security company.

Colin moved to the monitors and typed something on one of the computers. Video of Cassidy’s house popped up. A few more buttons and the video showed a man in black punching in the security code on the keypad inside her front door. Seconds later, he headed down the basement steps, took a few minutes to study the case board, then snatched the photo and strolled out of the house as if he had all the time in the world.

“This killer has nerves of steel.” Colin pounded the desktop. “Let’s go get that dog.”

“What about your friend?”

“I have no idea where to look for him. Either he’s out on an innocent errand or he’s dead. We won’t know until he answers my phone call or we find his body.” He stormed out of the house.

Cassidy took one more look at the video feed of her house, then followed. The killer was always one step ahead of them. They needed a huge break in the case.

“I’m sorry about your friend,” she said, sliding into the passenger seat and letting Colin drive.

“We don’t know that anything bad has happened.” A muscle ticked in his jaw.

Cassidy knew, deep in her gut, that the man was dead. The Dragon didn’t leave witnesses. He’d found out about the security, killed Colin’s friend, then strolled into her house as if he were an honored guest.

Their next stop took them to a ranch in the mountains. Colin drove the jeep down a dirt road and stopped in front of an A-frame log cabin. While dogs milled around the yard, not one barked as Cassidy and Colin exited the jeep.

A man stepped onto the porch. “Hey, Scot! This the lady that needs a protector?”

Cassidy pasted on a smile. “A female dog, if possible.” The last thing she needed was a dog lifting its leg on everything in sight.

“I’ve got the perfect girl for you.” He motioned for them to follow. “Her name is Rosie. She won’t bark unless you tell her to guard, then she’ll alert you the moment someone steps foot on your property. If you want her to attack, say Angriff, that’s German for attack, and motion toward the person you want a hurting put on. Say watch ‘em for her to watch. If you want any other command words, teach her. She’s a smart girl, two years old, and will catch on quick.”

He unlocked a gate leading into a large dog run. “Take care of her and she’ll take care of you. Rosie!” A beautiful dog with straight ears, a regal head, and a prominent black saddle against a dark tan body trotted toward them.

Cassidy held out her hand, already in love with her new best friend. “Hello, Rosie. How will she know I’m hers?”

“The moment I clip her leash on her collar and hand it to you, she’ll know. She’ll be loyal to death, ma’am.” He clipped a bright red leash to a matching collar and handed it to Cassidy.

The moment the dog stared up at her with trusting, wise eyes, Cassidy knew she’d do everything in her power to keep Rosie safe. “Thank you, girl. We’ll make a good team.”

~

Colin couldn’t help feeling a twinge of jealousy at Cassidy’s words. He wanted her to think of him as a good partner. What held her back? While she remained professional at all times, he often wondered why her hesitancy in opening up to him. They’d be together twenty-four seven until the silly dragon was caught.

His cell phone rang the same time Cassidy’s did. He pulled it from his pocket and read the text. “Another body.” He’d bet his teeth it was Seth Jargon, his security friend.

“That dog will track, too,” the trainer said. “Not much my furry children can’t do. They’re as docile as lambs until you want them to work.”

“Great. Come on, girl. We have a job to do.” Cassidy opened the back door of the jeep for the dog, then slid back into the passenger seat.

Colin informed Agent Ingram they were an hour out, then took his place in the driver’s seat. “Let’s see what our new partner can do.”

Driving above the speed limit, they reached the location where the FBI agents waited in forty minutes. Colin headed into a ditch, leaving Cassidy to bring the dog.

“A new friend?” Ingram motioned his head toward Rosie.

“I thought it a good idea.” Colin peeled back the blanket covering the body and stared into the lifeless face of his friend. “This is Seth Jargon. He owns Secret Eyes Security. I hired him to install an alarm system in Detective Monroe’s house. A security system that the perpetrator got around, strolled in, and stole a photograph of Monroe’s mother.” He straightened. “That’s been our day.”

“The victim died from what looks like a single gunshot to the heart. The ME can tell us more, but if it’s the same perp, he’s all over the place in his MO.”

“The Dragon.” Cassidy led the dog around the perimeter of the body. “He calls himself The Dragon.”

Rosie’s ears perked up, and she froze, staring into the trees.

“Let’s go, Colin.” Cassidy unhooked the leash and motioned for the dog to go. Like a rocket, Rosie shot into the trees, Cassidy following at a run.

Colin dashed after them. Just like the last time, they crashed through the brush to no avail. If anyone had been there, they disappeared, which became evident the moment Rosie stopped and looked up at Cassidy with a whine.

She glanced over her shoulder at Cassidy who patted her on the head. “Good girl.” She reattached the leash to the collar, then turned to Colin. “I’m getting very frustrated with all this.” She stomped past him.

“We’ll get a team out here to scour the woods. Maybe they’ll find something to help us. The man is bound to have left something behind.” Not that it would do much good to find DNA on someone not in the system. But, it would tell them they were chasing the same person responsible for the other deaths.

“I’m going to have the locks changed on my house and change the security code. If he doesn’t have anyone to kill in order to get the needed information, it might make it harder for him to get inside.”

“Have Rosie at your side at all times. Between me and the dog, you’ll be safe.”

She sighed. “I’m not worried about me, Colin. I want this man caught so the murders stop.”

She might not be worried about herself, but Colin was losing sleep at night. He couldn’t lose a partner. Between worrying about Cassidy and the nightmares that plagued him, it was a wonder he could think straight.

They rejoined the FBI agents as the body was being loaded into an ambulance. He hadn’t known Seth well, not being in the states more than a year, but his heart lurched to see someone he’d shared beers and laughs with zipped into a black bag and stowed away. He didn’t want that to happen to Cassidy. He steeled his heart against caring too much and marched to the jeep.

~

Draco looked over his group of nine. He preferred an odd number. Every form of art looked better in odd numbers. But, Harold had betrayed them. Soon, Mary would have to go, once she’d served her purpose. Then, he’d need to recruit another.

“When will I have my turn?” Ben, a man whose face was pitted with acne scars, scowled.

“Patience. Mary has almost completed her tasks, right Mary?”

She nodded. “One more. I’m ready. I’ve proven myself with Harold.”

Draco sighed. “We do not say the names out loud of those who have left us.”

Silence descended over the room as the implications of Mary’s slip of the tongue registered on the attendees. No matter. They needed to know the price of disobedience.

“It is often difficult to mete out punishment,” Draco said, “even when the person needs it. In order to help you all take the next step, I’ve designed some tasks for you to fulfill. Jobs that will help you face your adversary and inact your revenge without showing that you are a novice. In the jar on the table are slips of paper. Each of you are to draw one. On it, you will find your assigned task. Don’t disappoint me, people.” He fixed a stern gaze on them. “Show me you can do these things. Show me you can stay one step ahead of the police. Only this will prove that you are worthy to be my follower.”

Chairs scraped along the floor of Draco’s rented house. Not the place he called home, but rather his place of business. His followers formed a line and each took a slip of paper that would cause chaos in the town of Clear Springs.

A grin spread across his face. If his beloved Cassidy could continue with her bravery despite the coming disasters, she would prove her worth.

8

C
assidy sat on the basement floor, boxes piled around her. Rosie lay staring at her with big dark eyes.

She hadn’t slept a wink. Colin might have been in the next room but Cassidy couldn’t have been more aware of him if he’d snored in the same bed. What was wrong with her? She’d sworn off men for the sake of her career. Why would one handsome Scotsman with a sexy brogue and deep blue eyes rock her plans?

“Coffee?” As if her thoughts had called him, the object of her lack of sleep handed her a steaming mug. “What are you doing?”

“Thanks.” She took the drink. “Going back through my mother’s files. I must have missed something. With the new evidence, I thought it worth the time.”

Colin sat cross-legged across from her and pulled a box to him. “It’s as good a plan as any.”

Concentration was in short supply. Cassidy sneaked a peek at the man across from her. His dark hair was ruffled from sleep, his tee shirt faded, and baggy plaid lounge pants covered his long legs. She’d never seen anyone sexier. She sighed and dug further into the box.

“I haven’t looked through everything,” she admitted. “Some of these boxes are my mother’s personal effects. It was too painful…until now.” It was still painful, but needed to be done in the light of the current situation.

“I can do this if its too hard.” Colin gave her a lopsided grin. “I had to go through my parents’ things a few years back. Most difficult thing I ever did.”

“I’m sorry about your parents. How did they die?”

“House fire.” He sighed. “It was arson. They arrested a disgruntled neighbor a few days later. The man was angry over boundary lines.”

“That’s rough.” They shared the fact both of their families were murdered. In an uncharacteristic gesture, Cassidy reached over and placed her hand on his. “The pain never goes away, does it?”

“Never.” He handed her a leather book. “This looks like a journal. You should be the one to read it.”

Her hand shook as she took the journal and flipped it open. “It’s my mother’s.” She scooted against the wall and started to read while Colin continued looking through the boxes. An hour later, she froze. This couldn’t be right.

She read the words again. “I’m a product of rape.” She flipped through the pages again. “No name of her attacker, though.” The book fell into her lap. “Why didn’t she ever tell me?”

“What?” Colin stopped what he was doing.

“My mother wrote about the experience. She chose to keep me despite the violent act. Fought and injured the man and got away. That’s why she became a cop, so she could help victims.” Her eyes burned as her heart sank to her knees. “When I asked about my father, she always put me off, saying she’d tell me about him someday.”

Who was Cassidy’s father? Had they ever caught him? That was one mystery she might never know. Still, her gut told her she knew the man, had seen him before. Would she recognize physical traits they shared?

She shook off her thoughts and set the journal aside. They had multiple murders to solve. She could explore her genealogy at another time.

“Here’s something.” Colin handed her a yellowed newspaper page. “Your mother answered an advertisement. The same as our first two victims.”

Cassidy snatched the paper. “But our victims weren’t sexually assaulted.”

“Maybe he’s too old.” Colin gave a wry grin. “Can’t…you know.”

“Don’t be crude.” She set the paper next to the journal. “My mother was almost twenty when she had me. Right around the same age as our victims. He’s evolved. More in control of his actions.”

“I agree. It was a poor joke.” He closed the box and reached for another one. “We need to check the police records at the time your mother was attacked, then later when she was murdered. See what the officers thought about the situation.”

“I’ve read everything I could find on her murder, but didn’t know about the rape. We’ll go when we’ve finished these boxes.” They might find something else to help them in their search.

They didn’t. By the time they finished going through the boxes they’d uncovered nothing more of interest other than the journal and the newspaper. “I’m hitting the shower,” Cassidy said, “then I’ll be ready to dig through the police files.”

“I’m making more coffee and omelets. You have to be starving.” He unfolded his lean frame and took her hand, pulling her to her feet.

Handsome and could cook? “I am hungry.” She bounded up the steps, taking the book and paper with her and hurried to the bathroom.

She couldn’t help but glance in every crevice and corner for hidden cameras. No way did she want The Dragon, she smirked at his name, to see her in the shower. She turned the water to hot and disrobed, draping the shorts and tee shirt she’d slept in over the toilet.

Adjusting the faucet to a comfortable temperature, she stepped into the shower, wrapped her arms around her middle, and cried. No wonder her mother hadn’t wanted to talk about Cassidy’s father. How horrifying the experience must have been. A young woman right out of high school, her future promising, attacked and left pregnant by a monster.

She raised her face to the spray and let the water wash away her tears. She’d managed to hold it together with Colin, but now, alone, she let the grief swamp her. When her tears were spent, she washed her hair and body and toweled dry.

She stepped out of the room to the aroma of frying bacon. So far, having Colin around hadn’t been a hardship other than her heightened awareness of him. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She couldn’t let her emotions run rampant around him. Caring for another only opened one’s heart to ache.

~

The vulnerability on his partner’s face when she’d read the journal had ripped at his heart. He’d wanted to comfort her, but knowing that wouldn’t go over well, had told a bad joke instead. What was wrong with him? He wasn’t usually an insensitive person.

He flipped the omelet onto a plate and set it in the oven to keep warm while he cooked the second one. When Cassidy perched on a stool at the breakfast bar, he removed the first omelet and slid it to her. “Feel better?”

“A little.”

“Must have been a shock.” He wanted to comfort her the same way he did the relatives of murdered victims. But, Cassidy was different. No simple pat on the hand would suffice. Not when he wanted to pull her into his arms and cradle her against his chest. With her standoffish attitude, that wasn’t a good idea.

She fed a bite of egg to the dog. Having the biggest German Shepherd he’d ever laid eyes on, one that was trained to protect, eased his mind somewhat. He wouldn’t need to keep his eyes on his partner every second if Rosie was around.

His omelet finished, he sat on a stool next to Cassidy and dug into his breakfast. “Scanning old newspapers will be time consuming, but all we need is a little something to help us along.”

“I think we need to question the friends.” Cassidy left a few bites on her plate and set it on the floor for Rosie to lick clean. “I know we did preliminary questions, and that they all said they hadn’t seen the victims the night they died, but I want to dig deeper.”

“I don’t think they know the killer. The victims were both visiting family here.”

“I know, but I’m at a dead end here, Colin.” Her face was lined with stress.

“I’m starting to agree with Ingram.” He eyed the loose pants and shirt she had on. “I think you need to start dressing like one of the pretty people and lure this freak out of hiding.”

She sighed. “Such a bother. I worked hard to get where I’m at in my career. Looking like a fashion plate won’t help me be taken seriously.”

“It’s all about the attitude.” He grinned. “If you act kick ass, people will think you are. You can do that in stilettos as well as work boots.”

“Stilettos are out of the question. I’ll break my neck.” She slid from the stool. “I’ll go see what I have in my closet. There may be a shopping trip in my future.”

He laughed. “You make that sound like a death sentence.”

“It is.” She motioned for Rosie to follow, and left the kitchen.

The doorbell rang. Colin waited for Cassidy to give the order for Rosie to guard. When it didn’t come, he peered out the peephole in the door. Most killers didn’t ring the doorbell.

Agent Ingram stood on the porch, the other two agents waiting by the car. This did not look good.

Colin opened the door. “Sir?”

“Mail for Monroe.” He handed Colin a large Manilla envelope. “We’ve scanned it for anything hazardous. Seems clean, but we thought she should open it right away.”

“She’s upstairs getting dressed. Come on in.” Colin turned and almost stumbled over Rosie. Good girl. Silent as a wraith and as vigilant as the best cop. Her eyes never left Ingram.

“There’s coffee in the kitchen,” Colin said. “Will Smith and Wesson be coming in?” He couldn’t say their names without grinning.

“No. They’re on guard duty, but I’d love a cup.”

Soon, they sat at the breakfast bar, sipping coffee, waiting for Cassidy to come downstairs. Colin told Ingram their plans on looking through old newspaper articles, but left out the full reason why. He also explained about wanting to question friends and family deeper.

“This case is a tough one,” Ingram said. “Bodies are piling up, no evidence is left behind, we’re dealing with more than one perp, and we’re getting nowhere.”

“We can’t give up.” Cassidy stepped into the room. Her makeup had been artfully applied, her hair straightened down her back in an curtain of fire. A navy blue suit fit her as if tailored for her. A sea green blouse complimented her eyes.

Colin’s gaze flicked to her feet. The same black work boots. Still, the woman was stunning.

Ingram smiled. “You clean up nice, Monroe.”

“This had better work.” She poured coffee into a travel thermos. “It takes three times as long to get ready when I have to go this kind of trouble.”

“At least the view is better.” Ingram clapped her on the shoulder. “Let’s go to work.”

~

Draco stood in the shadows between two buildings across the street from the bank and watched as two of his followers tossed a pipe bomb through the open door of a vacant building. No one would be injured…this time, but it would bring his darling Cassidy running to the scene.

The two doing his bidding jumped into a waiting car and sped away as people flocked onto the sidewalk to see what the commotion was about. Fifteen minutes later, the FBI crows in the black suits and black SUV pulled up, followed by Cassidy and her partner in the jeep.

Draco smiled as his darling exited the vehicle, looking like one of the FBI agents. Only, her beauty shown as radiate as the fire spewing from the bombed building’s shattered windows. Yes, he had a personal grievance against beautiful people, but despite her professional demeanor, Cassidy Monroe was more beautiful on the inside than out. He’d seen her care for the citizens of Clear Springs. Watched as she put in more than one hundred percent effort in catching criminals. Beautiful, yes, but smart, and…his.

With one last adoring glance at her, he turned and headed down the alley toward his car. The pipe bomb was only the beginning. He needed to supervise the next follower’s orders. He rubbed his hands together. It was going to be wonderful!

“Hey, mister! You can’t park there.” A man in a white apron exited the back door of the bakery. “Employees only. Can’t you read?”

Keeping his face averted, Draco tossed the man a flippant wave and sped from the alley. Now, he’d have to drive his second favorite car. The baker was bound to have gotten the make and model of the car. Not the license plate, though. He grinned. That he kept too dirty to read.

BOOK: Ripped in Red
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