Ripped in Red (7 page)

11

“L
et me get out of this dress,” Cassidy said the moment they stepped into her house. “I’ll meet you in the living room.”

“I’ll make popcorn.” Colin grinned.

Still clutching her suit and boots, Cassidy hiked the dress to her knees and climbed the stairs to her room. Wadding the gown into a ball, she stuffed it into a paper bag and placed it in the corner before donning a pair of cotton shorts and a long tee shirt. The dress would go to the station in the morning for evidence. Not that they would find any prints other than hers and those of the man named Mark.

When she joined Colin in the living room, he had the lights low, a bowl of popcorn and two glasses of wine on the coffee table and was dressed in nothing more than a pair of cotton plaid lounge pants. Gracious the man looked good.

“Wine. The perfect thing after a day like today.” She sat on the opposite end of the sofa and grabbed one of the glasses.

“I even found a movie in your stack of DVDs. Something called P.S. I Love You.”

“One of my favorites.” She peered at him over the rim of her glass. The man was up to something. “Tomorrow, I need to research the two names we were given at the college.”

“No work talk. You need time off. Morning will come fast enough.” He pressed the TV remote. “Come closer. You’re too far away.”

“I’m fine where I am.”

“It’ll be hard to share the popcorn.” He sat the bowl in his lap.

The man played dirty for sure. Sitting that close to him was asking for trouble. “I can get another bowl.”

“Are you afraid of me, Cassidy?” His eyes darkened.

She snorted. “No way. You’re the softy in this partnership. The good cop. A real boy scout.”

“Let me show you how bad I can be.” His brogue deepened. “Let me help you forget your pain. Snuggle close and watch this chick flick with me.”

What could it hurt? She could use the distraction. Sitting next to him, smelling his heady cologne, breathing in…him. She scooted closer and let him put his arm around her shoulders. “You said you wouldn’t be a demanding roommate.”

“You make it hard in some cases.” He grinned down at her. “The sight of you in that red dress did things to my mind. I can not be held responsible.”

“Stop it.” She slapped his chest, freezing when he held her hand there. Heat radiated through her palm. Her gaze clashed with his. Before she did something stupid, like kiss him, she gulped her wine.

He moved her hand holding the wine glass from her mouth. She jerked. Wine spilled down his naked chest.

Colin jumped to his feet, almost tossing her to the floor. “Oh, that’s cold.”

“I’m sorry.” She dashed to the kitchen and grabbed a handful of paper towels. Hurrying back, she dabbed at his chest.

“It’s fine. I’ll take a shower.” He chuckled and strolled away, muttering something about taking her mind off unpleasant things.

Oh, he did that all right. She laughed softly, refilled her wine glass, and settled back on the sofa. The man was definitely a distraction. Funny how that didn’t seem to upset her as much as it had at first. It was nice having him around.

She glanced to where Rosie watched them. “A little bark when things start to get heated would be nice, my girl. You’re supposed to be here to protect me.” And she definitely needed protecting from Colin.

Her ears twitched.

“Seriously, us girls have to stick together.” She got to her feet, motioned for Rosie to follow her, and headed upstairs to bed where she would be safe from the distraction of handsome men.

~

Cassidy’s eyes popped open. A horrible moaning came from Colin’s room. “Stay,” she whispered to Rosie as she got out of bed.

Barefoot, she plodded to the room next door, pushed the door open, and peered inside. “Colin?”

He thrashed, tangled in the sheets. She rushed to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Colin, you’re having a nightmare.”

Moonlight streamed through the open curtains, highlighting his features. Perspiration coated his chest and face. He gripped her arm, his eyes wide. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Shh. I know.” She had no idea what he meant, but sat on the side of his bed and smoothed a dark curl away from his face. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Never. I can never forget.” His eyes closed. The sheet he covered with slipped, revealing a taut stomach and the fact Colin preferred to sleep in the nude.

Oh, boy. It also became evident he was talking in his sleep. What should she do? She tried to remember whether she’d read that you are to wake up the person having the nightmare or try to comfort them in their sleep? Since he didn’t seem as if he would do harm to himself, Cassidy chose comfort.

She pulled the sheet higher on his chest and caressed his cheek. Stubble rasped against her hand. A tear slid down his cheek. She leaned forward and brushed it away with her lips.

And found herself flat on her back with Colin on top of her. His lips claimed hers, his hands running up and down her body, lifting her shirt.

For a moment, she contemplated giving in. No. Going through with what he was offering would complicate their relationship beyond repair.

“Colin, wake up.” She pushed against him. “Colin!” Her palm stung from the force of her slap.

~

Colin jerked awake and rolled off Cassidy. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He lowered his legs off the bed and buried his face in his hands.

“You were asleep.” Her voice held a definite chill as she sat up.

Whether from his forcing himself on her or because he’d withdrawn, he was afraid to find out which had made her angry. He’d woken in time. “Why are you in my room?”

“You had a nightmare.” The rustling of the bedsheet told him she got up.

“I have them a lot.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard you.”

He turned his head as she stood in front of him.

“Colin, look at me.”

He sighed and glanced up. Her hair was mussed, her lips swollen. He shook his head. “How’s that for a distraction?”

“Don’t get crude.” She put a hand on his arm. “It was a mistake. Are you all right?”

After what he’d almost done, she was worried about him. Asleep or not, he’d betrayed her trust and a vow he’d made to himself a long time ago. Never get physically entangled with a partner. He’d come too close to stepping over that line.

He shrugged off her touch. “Please go.” He turned away so he wouldn’t have to see the pain flickering across her face.

“All right.” Her soft words tore at him. “Please don’t sleep in the nude anymore.”

He didn’t get up until her heard her bedroom door close. Then, he flopped back on the bed and flung his arm across his eyes. What a fool!

How would he face her? He groaned and rolled onto his side, hugging a pillow to his chest.
I’m sorry, Cassidy
.

~

Well, that was a first, Cassidy thought as she slammed her door. No one had ever regretted making out with her before or sent her packing from their room. Not that there had been many men. Just one in college and she had sent
him
away when she’d discovered she was one of many notches on his bedpost. She’d vowed to stay celibate after that, but Colin’s vulnerability had shot down every defensive brick in the wall she’d built around herself.

“Now what?” she asked Rosie. “Do I pretend it never happened?” She couldn’t. What an idiot she was.

If they were members of a larger police force, she’d request a new partner. As it was, they were stuck with each other.

She lay on her bed and stared through the dark at the ceiling. What a predicament. Shame washed over her like a cold winter rain. She shouldn’t have kissed him. Stroking his hair had seemed to be working. Why had she gotten so close?

Rosie growled deep in her throat.

Cassidy shot to a sitting position and reached for the gun on her nightstand.

Something crashed through her bedroom window.

She dove to the floor, scooting under the heavy bed as something exploded. “Rosie!”

The dog yelped and scurried to her side.

Cassidy slapped out burning fur and fought to see through the smoke.

“Cassidy!”

“Under here.”

A hand grabbed her and yanked her out and to her feet. “Let’s go.” Colin dragged her along, Rosie following.

“What happened?”

“Looks like a pipe bomb.”

“My house!” Cassidy grabbed a fire extinguisher from the wall and headed back to her room.

“I’ll do it. Get back.” Dressed again in his plaid pants, but barefoot, Colin aimed the extinguisher at the wall opposite Cassidy’s bed.

With one hand on Rosie’s collar and her tee shirt pulled over her nose, she watched through streaming eyes as Colin put out the fire. When that was done, she retrieved her cell phone and called 911.

“Stay close by me. We’re going downstairs.” Colin gripped her arm. Gone was the tender lover, replaced by a grim Scottish warrior.

In the kitchen, he ordered her to sit at the bar, then proceeded to pick slivers of glass from the bottom of his feet. “He hasn’t wanted you dead before. What changed?”

“It was risky to think a pipe bomb would kill me. How did he know I was in my room?” She shrugged.

“What. Changed?” He enunciated each word.

“Us. That’s what changed.” She glared at him. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“How does he know? Think. You have to be aware of everything happening around you. All the time.”

She quieted, running through each room in her mind. Her eyes widened. “Your curtains were open. He watched us.”

~

How dare she! Draco gunned his engine and sped into the night. His precious girl was soiled now.

She was no longer any good to him. Not for the purpose he wanted anyway. How could she lead his followers when he was gone? They needed someone pure in mind, if not in body. Someone like him. After Maureen, he’d had no other women. He thought his daughter kept the same values. What if she didn’t share his blood? What if Maureen had not been the nice girl she’d seemed?

Cassidy was no better than the others he targeted. Using her pretty face and lovely body to lure others into her web. He needed to find out for sure whether he had fathered her. If not, his plans would have to change.

The Scot had been sleeping! Deep in the throes of a nightmare. She’d taken advantage of him and needed to be punished. The pipe bomb was a warning.

Maybe her partner had led her on earlier in the day like Maureen had toyed with his affections a long time ago. Let her know he was open to her charms. Perhaps he wasn’t innocent in their night time romp. He’d have to be eliminated. No more games.

Draco would still lure Cassidy to his clutches. Somehow, he’d get her DNA and have a test run. Any fool could purchase the kit off the internet. He couldn’t make further plans until he knew for certain.

He sped home, closing the grey Lexus in the garage. He needed a consoling drink. He needed to kill someone!

In the house, he poured a double shot of whiskey and headed for his office and his list of names. He’d said he’d leave the killing to others, but in this case…

He chose a woman who had laughed in his face at a bar, calling him a freak. All he’d wanted to do was buy her a drink, have a little conversation. He’d planned on saving her for later, but tomorrow was not her lucky day.

12

W
rapped in a blanket too thick for the summer evening, Cassidy watched as Colin, still shirtless, spoke with the FBI agents and firemen raced into her house to make sure the fire danger was over. Colin had known when he’d asked how The Dragon knew about what had almost transpired. He’d wanted her to come to the same conclusion.

Whatever sweetness might have been from Colin’s kisses and tender endearments had been sullied, tossed into the dirt and stomped on. It was for the best. It shouldn’t have happened and the consequences were now more dire than she would have imagined. The target on her back was as big as the Ozark mountains.

She glanced at the trees bordering her property. Was he watching? Wanting to view his handiwork? The temptation to go and see was strong. But, she stayed perched on the hood of her car. Heading off alone would be stupid. There were times she might be impulsive, but stupidity was not a trait she wanted others to think of her as having.

Sarah Robertson, reporter and all around nuisance, approached Colin with a wolf whistle. He said something to hear, leaving her with a scowl on her face, and donned a shirt handed to him by Agent Ingram, then marched Cassidy’s way. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. The house is fine. Everything’s great.”

He sat next to her, his weight popping the hood. “Don’t sulk. There isn’t time for a pity party.”

She glared. “I never feel sorry for myself. It’s a wasted emotion.”

“We could see you sulking from the front porch.” He straightened the blanket around her.

“It’s too hot.”

“You might be in shock.”

“I’m not that weak. Nothing is damaged but my room.” And her pride. “I can deal with that.”

“Are you up to finding and interviewing the other two college students who didn’t return to the party the night your mother was attacked? The fire department will clear the house soon and we can grab some sleep. I’ll take the sofa.”

“No, you stay in the guest room.” She wouldn’t get a lick of sleep in that bed. “I’ve slept there plenty of times watching TV. You’ll hang off the edge. I’ll call someone to repair my bedroom.”

“They’ll have to be checked out by the FBI before we’ll allow them in,” Agent Ingram said, approaching the jeep. “I’ll have Agent West find someone. Glad to see you’re doing fine.”

“Except for the fact this perp stays one step ahead of us.” She shrugged off the blanket and slid from the jeep’s hood. “What do we do? Wait for him to come for me again?”

“He’ll slip up eventually.” Ingram clapped her on the shoulder. “In the meantime, keep hunting.” He flashed a thin-lipped smile and left to join the other agents.

Without glancing at Colin, Cassidy headed for the house to prepare a bed on the sofa, knowing without asking that Colin would sleep on the floor next to her.

~

Surprised that she had actually slept, Cassidy woke to the now familiar smell of breakfast and brewing coffee. She stretched, popping the kinks from her back and made a vain attempt to smooth her hair into place.

Colin, frying pan in hand, gave her a smile from the doorway that didn’t quite meet his eyes. Those were still shadowed with shame.

She sighed and returned his pasted on smile. Two could pretend nothing had happened, but there would come a day when they had to talk about what had almost happened in detail. Especially if they were to continue being partners. Nothing would be the same between them. They’d almost crossed a line she’d promised herself to never step over. She had no intention of leaving her home. If they couldn’t work together as professionals, he would have to be the one to leave.

“Omelets,” Colin said. “You have time to take a quick shower if you want. I took mine earlier.”

“I want.” She bounded up the stairs and through her room smelling strongly of smoke. Someone had taped plastic over the shattered window. The opposite wall was burned black, along with most of the bedding. Refusing to let the sight break her, Cassidy moved to the bathroom where, hopefully, a hot shower would clear her head and help her forget the night before.

When she’d finished and dressed in her customary baggy clothes, no suit today, she joined Colin in the kitchen.

His eyebrows rose at her outfit, but he wisely held his tongue and slid a plate full of omelet and bacon toward her. “I found the addresses for Daniel Haler and Vince Smith, so we’re ready to go once you’ve eaten.”

“Did you sleep at all last night?” She cut her fork into the fluffy omelet.

“Not much,” he muttered, turning away.

They ate in silence, the tension thicker than an autumn fog rolling across a lake. Cassidy tried not to take peeks at the man sitting next to her, and failed. She wanted to tell him it was okay. What had almost happened wasn’t the end of the world. Just an unfortunate mistake that, if they’d gone through with it, could have been dealt with.

She finished her breakfast, set her plate in the sink, and grabbed her badge and gun. “I’m ready.”

Colin nodded and followed suit, then set the alarm on the front door and followed Cassidy to the jeep. “Who’s driving?”

“I will.” She climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Haler lives in Little Rock, Smith in Conway.”

“Smith first then.” She backed the jeep from the drive and headed down Interstate 40. “Are we going to his home or work?”

“I don’t know where they work. I’m hoping neighbors can tell us.” He rubbed his unshaven chin. “You don’t need to make aimless conversation, Cassidy. I’m over my temper tantrum.”

“Good.”

~

He chuckled wryly. Cassidy seemed determined to pretend nothing had changed between them, so he’d follow her lead. If he didn’t, guilt would consume him. He couldn’t work efficiently under those circumstances. “Take the second exit,” he said, glancing at his GPS.

“What’s with the nightmares?”

“I don’t like talking about them.” He adopted the cocky attitude that always made her stop talking. “Of course, you coming to my room and all helped erase some of that.”

“It won’t work.”

“What won’t?”

“Making a joke of it. Tell me about your nightmare.” Her hands tightened on the steering wheel.

She was like a bulldog. He glanced out the window. “I shot an innocent woman.”

“Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. What happened?”

“Do we really have to do this?”

“I think so.”

He grinned. “Not going to come comfort me anymore?”

“If you don’t stop with the jokes, I’m going to punch you in the throat.” She whipped the wheel to the side and swerved into the parking lot of a grocery store before facing him. “I am not a pain killer for you. I am not a nurse maid. I am not your comforter, although I lost myself for a minute. I am your partner, and I want to know what your nightmares are about so I can find a more healthy way of helping you.”

Ouch. “On a professional basis.”

“Yes.” Her look could cut steel. “Sometimes, talking about these things actually help them stop. Have you seen a counselor?”

“Many times.” He didn’t believe in them, which is why they probably didn’t work. “We had a hostage situation in New York shortly after I arrived in the states and entered the police force. A man was holding two women and a small child inside a dress boutique. One of them was his girlfriend and her daughter, the other the store clerk. My sergeant ordered me to take the shot. I squeezed the trigger right as the man pulled the woman tighter against him. The shot went through him and into her, killing them both.”

“That wasn’t your fault.” She made a move to put a hand on his arm, then drew back.

Now, she was afraid to touch him. Way to go, MacKenzie. “I should have waited.”

“You didn’t know. You were following a direct order.”

“Are you always going to make excuses for me?” He narrowed his eyes. “I was asleep, I didn’t know what I was doing, I almost forced myself on you, I didn’t know he was going to pull the woman close? Stop making excuses for me.”

“Fine. It’s all your fault.” She drove back onto the road. “Maybe you need to learn to forgive yourself.”

The load was too heavy. Forgiving himself didn’t seem harsh enough in light of the things he’d done. “Can we forget personal conversation and keep things strictly professional? It’ll be a heck of a lot safer.”

She rolled her eyes. “That was my intention all along.”

~

Draco strolled into the bar, Mary trailing a few feet behind him. If he wanted the woman off his back, he needed to let her finish deleting her enemies.

She pointed out the target, a pretty blond around the age of twenty-five sitting alone at the polished mahogany bar. She was turned to face the men playing pool, her emerald slip of a dress sitting high on her thighs.

He knew her type. He’d approach her, ask to buy her a drink, and get laughed at. Then, he’d pester her until she made the excuse to use the restroom, where he’d grab her, drag her through a back door and turn her over to Mary. So simple these pretty people. So predictable.

“Hey, pretty lady. Can I buy you a drink?” He was careful to keep the scarred side of his face away from her. Let her think him handsome for a few seconds more.

She tilted her head, a sliver of a smile on her glossy lips. “Sure. Chardonnay, please.”

Motioning to the bartender, he placed the order, then faced her full on, knowing how the scar twisted his lips on the one side. “Do you come here often?”

Her eyes widened. “Um, no. Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”

Just as planned, she headed for the glowing red sign marked restrooms.

Just once, he’d like to know what it felt like for a woman not to look at him with revulsion in her eyes. He paid the tab, took the glass of wine, and followed Mary’s prey, motioning for the other woman to follow.

He dropped a tablet into the wine and waited. “You forgot your drink,” he said, when the woman emerged.

“Oh, thank you, but I must decline. My boyfriend…”

“One of those playing pool?” Right. Liar.

“Yes.” She smiled. “I really must get back.”

“Please take your drink. No hard feelings.” He held out the glass. “You can at least spare me a few minutes since I bought it for you.”

“I…suppose.” She took a sip, then another, as if by hurrying, she could rid herself of his company. She swayed on her feet. “Oh, I must have drank it too fast.”

“Here, let me help you. No strings attached.” He clubbed her on the side of the head, then propped one shoulder under one arm while Mary moved forward to take the other.

They helped their victim outside and into the trunk of Mary’s twelve-year-old Dodge Charger. “You make it look so easy,” Mary said.

“It is easy. You need only learn to read people. Who is this woman to you?”

“My father’s youngest daughter by his new trophy wife. She’s done nothing but point out how much better she is than me. Thinner, more attractive, more successful. I can’t wait to rid the world of her.” Mary slammed the trunk.

“Be patient and take care.”

“Aren’t you coming?”

Draco shook his head as he slid behind into the driver’s seat of his car. “I’ll be sure to watch the video. You should know what to do by now.” With a toss of his hand, he drove away. He couldn’t babysit the woman forever. She knew the consequences if she messed up. Either he would dispose of her or turn her over to the authorities. Either way, she’d no longer be his concern. He had bigger things to take care of.