Senseless (22 page)

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Garrison arrived at King’s just after ten at night. He should have just called it a day, but he couldn’t shake the things Kristen said about Eva. Probably because the image he had of her was just as Kristen had described: a sad little creature. There was something about her that made him want to protect her. And that reaction bothered him as a cop and a man. He’d tried to protect his sister and his wife. He’d tried to be their knight and both times it had ended badly.

He took a seat at the bar and watched as she served a customer a beer. She wore her long hair in a high ponytail that accentuated her fresh-scrubbed face. She wore jeans that hung from narrow hips and a form-fitting Redskins T-shirt that fit her frame just right. He grabbed a handful of nuts and popped them in his mouth as he waited for her to notice him. He didn’t have to wait long.

Eva moved toward him, drying her hands on a white towel. An aura of challenge wrapped her small frame, making her seem more like a late twenty-something than a teen. He welcomed the distinction.

“So, Detective, what can I get you?”

“How about a beer?”

She filled a mug from the tap and set it in front of him. “Grill’s open for another half hour. Hungry?”

He hadn’t planned on eating here but the idea made good sense. “Sure.”

“Would you the like the rare roast beef on toasted rye like you had before?”

“Do you ever forget anything?”

“Not generally. ”

“Roast beef would do.” He turned the mug handle toward him. “So if I rattled off a couple of dozen numbers you’d remember them?”

“Yes.”

No bravado. Just a statement of fact. “Care to try?”

She shrugged. “Is this some kind of parlor trick?”

“Just curious. ”

“Sure. Shoot.”

He pulled his notebook and pen from his pocket. “I’ll have to write down what I rattle off or I won’t remember.”

“Sure.”

“Ready.”

“Sure.”

He recited dozens of numbers, taking note of each as he did. “Too much?”

She rested her hand on her hip. “That the best you got?”

He liked seeing her confidence shine through. “Let’s hear the numbers.”

Eva recited the exact same numbers back to him. “How’s that for a show?”

He glanced at his notebook. She’d not missed one. “Photographic memory.”

“So I’m told.” She leaned over and punched his order into the computer.

He loosened his tie. “Why are you working behind a bar?”

“I like it here. King is a good man and the customers for the most part are good folk.”

“Eva, you have a photographic memory. And I’ve read your school file. Your IQ is off the charts.”

“You went to Price.” A bit of the teasing light in her eyes died a bit and he was sorry for it.

It hit him then that she was afraid to show the world just how brilliant her mind was. After all, the last time she did at Price, she’d ended up used, raped and convicted of manslaughter.

“I paid a visit to Kristen today.” He popped a nut in his mouth as he watched for her reaction.

“Did she tell you I came by?”

“Yes.”

She shoved out a sigh. “Before you ask, I went to see her because I had questions about the night Josiah died. Long story short, she offered no help.”

“That’s it?”

“What other reason would I have, Detective?” She leaned forward. “Think I went to kill her?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. People you know have a habit of dying.”

“I’m bad luck. I know that.”

“Kristen said you were having an affair with Cross.”

A flash of anger popped in her eyes before she hid it. “A lot of details are hazy, but that one is not. I never, ever slept with that guy. I saw the way he treated Kristen.”

“You sure? ”

“She was the one that liked the slimy bastard. Not me. She’s the one that hid the bruises he gave her and made excuses for his temper outbursts.”

“Why would she lie about the affair?”

She hesitated, her hands trembling just a little. “Kristen does two things well in life. She uses people and she lies.”

King pushed through the door behind the bar. “Eva. Need a hand.”

“Be right there. I’ll check on your order.”

“Sure.”

Garrison sipped his beer as he watched her walk away. He found that he enjoyed the sway of her hips.

Eva’s heart slammed her chest as she moved through the door. Sheltered by the kitchen, she let her shoulders slump forward. Shit. Cops in general rattled her, but it seemed this guy could get under her skin like no other. “What do you need, King?”

King looked up from the grill. “Nothing. You just looked like you could use a break.”

She rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. “You saw us? ”

“King sees all.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

King arched a brow. “Want me to toss him out?”

“He’s a cop.”

He flipped a burger on the grill and then lowered a basket of string potatoes into the fryer. “I’m not so partial to cops. In fact, I’d enjoy tossing him out.”

“I can handle him. But thanks.”

“Sure thing, doll.”

“Where’s Bobby?”

“Just ran upstairs to get another pen. Those pens and pencils you bought the kid have kept him busy for hours.”

“He’s very smart. Given a little time and attention and he’d rise to the top of his class.”

“Yeah,” King said. “He’s a good boy.”

She noted the full trash can and grabbed the excuse not to return back to the bar right away. “While I’m here I’ll haul the trash out.”

“Thanks, kid. I hate that job.”

She pulled the plastic bag from the can, grunting a little as she wrestled with the weight. “Do you toss bricks away?”

He chuckled as he flipped a burger. “Cinder blocks.”

She pulled the bag free, sealed the top and hauled it out the back door toward the dented green Dumpster. She hated the alley, especially at night, but she never shied from the task because fear did not rule her.

She half dragged and half carried the bag. Despite the cool air and the musty smells of the alley, it felt good to be outside and away from the stuffy bar. She opened the Dumpster and tossed in the trash. In no rush to go back inside, she moved slowly down the alley taking time to look at the stars above.

She was nearly at the back door when she saw a flicker of movement from the shadows. Tensing, she paused. She thought about Lisa and Sara. Stabbed. Mutilated. God, why had she come out here alone?

“Who is that?” she said in a clear loud voice. Her answer amounted to the sounds of scraping. Something scurried along the edge of the alley. “I sure hope that’s you, little kitten, and not a big rat. Here, kitty-kitty?”

She glanced at the bowl Bobby had left out for the kitten. Empty. “Kitty?”

A soft meowing from behind the Dumpster had her smiling in relief. “Kitty, I’ll get you more kibbles.”

As she scooped up his bowl and turned, she found herself face-to-face with Bruce Radford when he stepped out of the shadows. The guy looked twice as big as he had the other night.

Eva started to back up, her hands up in surrender. “I don’t want any trouble. I was just doing my job, Mr. Radford.”

He clenched large fists. “You should have minded your own business. You and that bitch wife of mine can’t leave well enough alone.”

“Hey, that was just business and nothing personal. In fact, I’m sorry for your marital troubles.” She clutched the cat bowl, wondering if she threw it just right if it would hit him.

He stepped toward her. “It was damn personal to me. You should have stayed the hell away.”

She glanced from side to side, wondering if anyone would hear her scream out here. The music in the pub would drown out her screams, and outrunning this guy down a darkened alley didn’t appear feasible. Still, running was the only option.

As she turned, he reached out and grabbed her, jerking her around and slamming her into the wall.

Images of Josiah slamming her against the floor exploded in her head. Josiah had told her not to scream or he’d kill her so she’d mutely taken his cruelty. But this time was different. She was different. This time she’d fight even if it meant dying.

Eva raised the cat bowl and slammed it against his head as hard as she could. He groaned in pain as she screamed until her throat burned.

He clamped a hand over her mouth and sneered. “Shut the fuck up, bitch.” To add weight to his words he slammed her against the wall again. The second impact knocked the breath out of her lungs and her knees buckled. He snatched the cat bowl from her hand and tossed it aside. His erection pushed against her belly. “When you fight, it excites me more because I know you’re afraid and I will do whatever I want to you.”

“I’m not afraid.”

He laughed. “When I’m finished with you you’re gonna look like hamburger. The cops won’t know which piece to pick up first.” He pulled his hand away to kiss her mouth.

“Fuck you,” she managed. When Cross had attacked her, she’d begged him to stop. No begging tonight. She jabbed her knee into his groin. His painful grunt sounded sweet.

But she didn’t have time to gloat. He shoved his forearm into her neck and started to choke the breath from her lungs. “I’m gonna drag you far away from here and tear you apart bit by bit.”

She started to see spots and feared her last conscious image would be his ugly face. Desperation clawing at her, she grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked as hard as she could. When he recoiled, she drove her foot down his shin. Prison had taught her a few valuable lessons.

In the distance, she heard a door open and close, but she didn’t dare remove her gaze from Radford. He growled with pain and reached for her T-shirt, jerking her hard against him. Fabric ripped as he grabbed her ponytail and jerked her head back so hard her neck hurt.

He reached for the snap of her pants and jerked it open. Smiling, his gaze bore into her. “This is gonna be fun.”

He forced her zipper down and his hand into her panties. Sweat pooled on her back as she tried to jab her knee into his groin, but he easily blocked her moves. The muscles in her body tensed. During those terrifying moments when Cross had held her prisoner and brutalized her, she’d been too terrified to bargain with God. This time she’d deal with Satan to stop a second rape.

Think, Eva. Think. You can stop him!

She curled her fingers into fists and rammed them into his Adam’s apple. He drew back and sputtered. This time he drew back his fist ready to slam her in the face. She braced for pain.

Before she could frame the next thought, his weight lifted. Without him supporting her, she dropped to her knees and started to gasp for air. Her hand clutched at the base of her throat, she looked up, trying to figure out what had happened.

Garrison slammed Radford face first against the wall and hooked the guy’s arm behind him, wrenching it so hard she heard joints crack.

“That bitch isn’t worth your trouble.”

Garrison twisted harder and shoved Radford’s face harder against the brick wall. “Don’t you move a damn inch,” Garrison growled, “or I swear I’ll rip your arm off.”

Eva held her hand to her throat, which still burned with the heat of Radford’s fingers. Her heart pounded as long-buried fears rose to life.

She zipped up and fastened her pants, her hands trembling so badly it took a couple of tries to get the snap fastened. Garrison had saved her.

“Let me go,” Radford said.

“Shut up.” Garrison’s powerful muscles strained against his pants. “Eva, are you all right?”

“Yes. Yes. I’m fine.”

“Did he hurt you?” The note of concern in his voice surprised her.

“No. Nothing permanent.”

“I didn’t hurt her,” Radford said. “I just wanted to scare her.”

Eva willed her legs to move forward. “He would’ve killed me.”

Radford tried to twist his head so he could look at her. “That’s a lie.”

Garrison shoved him back against the wall. “If you know what’s good for you, you will keep your mouth shut.” His gaze didn’t flicker off Radford. “Who is this guy?”

“I served him with a subpoena a few days ago. His wife is divorcing him. I was waiting for him at his house the night of the fire.”

“Is that true, Radford? She served you with papers?” Garrison said.

“She sure did. Monday night. Bitch hid the papers in flowers. Pretended to be a delivery person. Shit. It’s people like that bitch who drove her away from me,” the guy said.

“How’d you find me?” Eva said.

Radford grinned. “Friend at DMV ran your plates.”

Garrison frowned. “I’m gonna need that friend’s name.”

“I’ll call 911,” Eva said. The terror had faded for now, leaving a rush of adrenaline that left her mind jazzed and hungry for something to do.

“King already did,” Garrison said.

King burst through the back alley door, a meat cleaver in his hand. “Cops are on the way.”

Eva had to smile as she looked at her knight. “It’s okay, King. No knives necessary.”

King’s gaze narrowed. “Why not? I wouldn’t mind carving him up.”

Garrison kept his gaze on Radford. “Thanks for the offer, but for now stand down. ”

Garrison’s feet remained braced and she noted his gun holster. Seconds later the bright lights of two cars arrived at the lips of the alley. Two uniformed cops ran down the alley, guns drawn. When they saw Garrison had Radford restrained, one holstered his weapon while the other kept his trained on the man.

Garrison gave the cops a rundown of what happened and stood beside Eva as she told her story. After she signed a statement, they dragged Radford to the back of the squad car and took him away.

Eva stood silent and stunned as the cop lights retreated and faded. “Well, that’s that.”

She took one step and faltered, her ruined nerves belying her nonchalance. She tripped and had to stop and gather her thoughts before she could move forward.

“You’re not okay,” Garrison said.

“I’m fine. Just shaken.”

He captured her elbow in his large hand. “Let’s get you back inside.”

The top of her head barely reached his shoulders and she suspected his weight doubled hers. This close she could see that not an ounce of fat clung to Garrison’s frame. All muscle. Power. Normally, she stayed clear of men like him. Too risky. Dangerous. He could overpower her with less effort than Radford had used, but possessed a steady calmness that eased her nerves. He smelled of male earthiness and the faintest hint of aftershave. “Thank you.”