Sin With Cuffs (16 page)

Slowly lifting herself to her feet, she wanted to run but she denied the urge. Instead, she crept across the floor, hoping to miss any debris. As she moved, her only thought was to get away from the manic lurking in the shadows.

Boots thumped across the floor, the clanking of cans resonated, and more sounds came from several directions.
There could be two people!
Her knees shook but her mind was strong. She’d fight if needed. In total concentration, she listened and concentrated on any sound from the stranger. Scuffling sounded to her right. Closing her eyes, she allowed her senses to take over. His breathing quieted, but she knew he lingered nearby. His musk scent penetrated the moldy air.

Her phone lit up, followed by a popular song from the ‘90’s.
Liam’s ringtone.
A bottle hit her foot. Without thought or hesitation, Holly dashed toward her cell, and fell to her stomach as she grabbed the phone. With trembling hands, she tried hitting the talk button, but she couldn’t get her fingers to function. The ringing stopped. Turning it outward, the light pierced the dark. A shadowed figure scurried out of sight. Heavy footsteps faded down the hall. Could it be possible? He’d left and she was alive?

Holly climbed back to her feet. The moon’s purple haze crawled back through the darkness.  Without hesitation, Holly rushed toward the door but she tripped over something and fell to the floor. She kept her phone clutched in one hand.

Cautiously, she slid off the soft lump that had broken some of her fall. Warmth oozed against her skin and her clothes were wet. The scent of flowers mixed with iron clung in the air.

Every muscle in her body tightened.

Bringing the light alive on the phone again, she did what she had to do…not what she wanted to do. She knew what she’d find before the light reached the object.

A scream tore out of Holly’s mouth. She scrambled but slipped and slid through the puddle of blood. Her shoulder struck something hard and knocked her sideways. He’d come back for her. She started to scream for help when light blinded her. Fright bombarded her reasoning. Her death was near, like the girl lying on the floor. Holly wanted to move. She tried, but her body wouldn’t abide by her brain’s commands. Fear paralyzed her.

“Holly?” The familiar voice was like a beacon into the depths of hell.

“Liam?
There’s blood. Lots of it. I think it’s Danielle…her body!” Her throat hurt as she spoke. The beam of light swirled around the ceiling and walls then she felt his arms come around her waist, lifting her off the floor.

“Are you okay?” he whispered next to her ear.

“Is she dead?” Holly gripped his shirt for support and buried her face against his chest. “There’s blood,” Holly murmured.

“Let’s get you out of here.” Liam supported her weight as he led her toward the hallway.

“Did you see him?” she asked through a broken sob.

“Him? Who, sweetheart?”

“The man. He was here. The person that did this.” Her body burned and hurt to walk.

“I didn’t see anyone. Come on, let’s get outside.” He moved her through the door.

Holly stayed close to Liam’s side as they made their way toward his car. He took her to the passenger side of his cruiser, opened the door and helped her in. He knelt close to her and used the flashlight to examine her. “Are you hurt? Is this your blood?”

She pushed away the flashlight and shook her head. “No. It’s Danielle’s. She’s dead—I think. You’ve got to find out.”

“Okay.” He stood up, took out his radio and gave instructions that Holly couldn’t quite comprehend. He stooped down again, holding her gaze. “You said you saw a man, right?” he asked.

His comforting hand on hers made it easier to explain. “Yes, I mean, I saw someone.”

“Did you recognize him?” Liam asked.

“It was too dark. Didn’t you see him? Anything?”

“No, I didn’t.” he answered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“But he was there.” Holly looked down at her blood-covered hands, now drying and caking into her skin. The smell was strong.
Death?

“Holly, close the door and lock it. I’m going in,” he said and pulled his gun from the case on his belt.

A part of her wanted him to stay, but he had a job to do, so she did as he asked. He disappeared into the dark building and she kept her eyes glued to the door until he came back out. She unlocked the door and pushed it open.  “She’s dead, right?” she asked.

“Yes, she is,” he answered.

“How?”

He opened his mouth but didn’t finish because red and blue lights lit the parking lot as two police cars skidded to a halt in front of Liam’s cruiser. “We’ll talk, later,” he said to Holly then left her as he turned his attention to his men.

* * * *

The electric company got the power turned on at the schoolhouse. While the officers and forensic team scoured the premises for evidence, Liam went back to Holly where she still sat in his cruiser. Her trembling had subsided, but the shocked look in her eyes remained. Her disheveled blonde hair was red with the victim’s blood. Her clothes were damp and her tennis shoes were dirty.

His heart ached for her. He wanted to console her, to take her home and hold her.
He couldn’t
. This was an investigation and she was the only witness. “I’m going to drive you to the hospital and let the doc take a look at you.”

 He watched her drop her gaze to look at her hands. “I’d like to get this off me.” She held her palms up, turning them.

Liam had seen many people in shock and she was definitely one. Once the blow wore off, she’d break down and cry, he knew it. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll get you taken care of.”

He closed the passenger door, went around to the driver’s side and climbed in. He glanced across the cab at Holly’s profile. There had to be something he could say, but he couldn’t think of anything, not at the moment.

The drive to the hospital was in silence.

* * * *

While Holly took a shower, Liam waited for her downstairs in the living room.

After a thorough examination on her by the doctor at the emergency room, she had only cuts and bruises, no broken bones or lacerations in need of stitching.

He heard her soft footsteps on the stairs and he turned just as she came into view. Dressed in pajamas and with hair damp, she looked vulnerable. She came around to sit with him on the couch.

“I made you a cup of tea.” He handed her the mug.

“Thanks, Lem.”

He could breathe easier since her color was coming back and she seemed less shaky.  “Do you mind if I ask you some questions while the facts are fresh in your mind? I hate to do it, but it’s for the best.”

“Okay.”

“Why were you at the old school house?” he asked.

Her knuckles turned white from where she held her mug. “Danielle, from the diner, called. She needed to tell me something and asked that I meet her there. I didn’t see her, until…”

“I understand this can’t be easy, but I need to know the details.” She nodded and he continued. “She didn’t tell you what she wanted to talk to you about?”

“No.”

“Not even a clue?” He only hoped there was something. She shook her head and his thoughts crashed. “She told me you left your purse in the restaurant. I didn’t think—” He swallowed the pain in his throat. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. She would have gotten my number somehow.”

He blew out an annoyed breath. “I don’t get why she didn’t come here and talk to you. Why have you meet her in an abandoned building? Who didn’t she want to see her? I only wish you’d waited until I could have gone with you.” He wasn’t doing a very good job of protecting her.

“I tried calling you.” She took a sip. Her eyes appeared wide and innocent as she peered at him over the rim of her cup.

 “I’m sorry. I was tied up.” Guilt penetrated every part of his body.

“I wouldn’t have gone into the building, but I knew something was wrong.” He watched her set her cup down, then she brought her legs up onto the couch and tucked her feet under bottom. “I heard a noise.”

“A noise?” he asked.

“I heard her scream. A wretched sound that I’ll never forget.” Her voice sounded thick with emotion and he followed the movement of her fingers. She played with a loose thread on the hem of her shirt. He recognized the shirt. Once upon a time, it’d belonged to him but now it had more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese. Did she remember it was
his
shirt? She lifted her hand and tangled it into her now drying hair. Wearing no makeup, she looked like a teenager again, and in his shirt, he could easily imagine that it was years ago.

He pulled his thoughts back on track. “Are you sure it was a scream?”

“I’m sure,” she said in a whispered voice. “Without a doubt.”

“What happened when you got inside?” he asked.

“I went to the cafeteria.” She shifted on the cushion.

 “I know you’re tired and sore, but Holly, anything you can tell me will help.”

Bringing her gaze up to meet his, her vulnerability tore through him. “Everything happened so quickly. The memory is a blur.”

“You should have left the second you heard the scream.” His emotions crossed the professional line. “It was unsafe. You could have ended up just like Danielle.”

“But I could have helped her. If only I’d been a few minutes sooner.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“There was nothing you could have done. It was too late by then.”

“How was she killed?”

He swallowed. “Her throat was cut.”

With his words, her hand swept to her neck. “That’s why there was so much blood.”

He could see the moisture in her eyes. Would she cry? If she did, he’d fall like a tower of building blocks. “Yes.”

“The killer must be brought to justice,” she said.

“The forensic team will find something. I’m sure. There’s so much damn trash around that place from all of the teenagers who use it as party central.”

“He was very careful not to leave any of his own DNA there,” she said.

“Why do you say that?”

Her gaze drifted off. “He was wearing a toboggan and gloves. I remember now. He lifted his hand when I shone the light from my cell. And the killer is definitely a man. His breathing was ragged and his cologne was strong.”

“I figured it was a man. The cut on Danielle’s throat was wide and deep so it had to be someone with strength.”

“Boots. He wore boots. Leather. I felt them.”

“Did he say anything?” There were still too many voids to lead him to any suspect.

“Nothing.”

His cell rang. He grabbed it and hit talk, “Yeah?” He listened as one of his officers gave him details. “Okay. I’ll see you shortly.” He pushed the phone back into his pocket.

“Did they find anything?” she asked.

He scrubbed his jaw. “Maybe, but I’ve got to head back into the office. Are you going to be okay?” He stood up. He didn’t like leaving her, but he had a job to do and he couldn’t take her with him. A distraction was the last thing he needed. “I’m going to have an officer sit out front in a patrol car.” She stood up and she seemed so small. He knew she was tough, but no one should see what she had today.