The Predator (17 page)

* * *

Cassie peered through the scattering of people that surrounded the netball courts, hoping he was still here. She’d forgotten to tell him she didn’t play until twelve. He’d probably turned up at nine. She hadn’t explained how the start times changed from week to week.

He wasn’t there and it was all her fault. How could she be so stupid? It’s not like she could expect him to hang around for three hours.

She sighed and picked up her gym bag. It was a shame he’d missed it. Her team had won 6-5. It had been a hard-fought game and Cassie had scored the winning goal.

She shrugged off her disappointment, knowing there would be other games. But would he want to come and watch? He’d already tried twice and neither time had worked out. What if he got tired of trying?

Fear clutched at her heart.
No, please don’t let that happen. Please let him want to come again. Please, please, please. I’ll do anything.

Tossing her bag over her shoulder, she headed toward the bus station.

* * *

He stood back and gazed at the girl on the bed. She was now fully dressed, but to him she remained beautiful. The photos and video would be worth a fortune. He couldn’t wait to go online and share them.

She was fast asleep again. After he’d finished, he’d forced a concoction of pills down her throat and had watched while they’d taken effect. The cocktail of drugs would skewer her memory. She’d never be sure what was real and what was just a dream—or a nightmare.

He never did more than taste them. He wasn’t that stupid. He took his pleasure from having them spread out before him—naked and vulnerable. He’d carefully washed away the evidence of his orgasm—the arc of creamy fluid he’d sprayed across her chest—and he would launder the sheets as soon as he returned.

She’d been missing less than an hour and soon there would be no trace of little Veronica ever having been in his apartment.

She’d be dazed and confused and uncertain about what had happened. There was a possibility she’d remember seeing him in the park, but she’d seen him there before. She wouldn’t know whether it was this time or another that they’d spoken. Everything would be a jumble of confusing sensations, colors and sounds.

He smiled, secure in his knowledge everything was as it should be. His method of operation wasn’t new and it had worked every single time.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“All right, everyone, listen up.”

Alex heard Patrick’s order and stood and peered over the partition that divided her desk from the others. Other members of the team were doing likewise, making their way to where their superintendent stood in front of the whiteboard.

“I want to thank you all for working your asses off over the last few weeks. We’ve narrowed the list down to thirteen and we’re close to a breakthrough. But, we’re not there yet.”

Alex looked around at her smiling colleagues and joined in the murmurs of agreement. Her gaze slid to Brandon where he stood a few desks away. A small smile of satisfaction nudged at his lips.

He turned and caught her gaze. Embarrassment scorched her cheeks. He acknowledged their joint achievement with a slight nod then returned his attention to Patrick.

“I want to make special mention of our newest team member. You’ve all been working around the clock on this, but Brandon Munro’s work ethic has been beyond exceptional. The amount of data he’s managed to collate in the short time he’s been here has been impressive and incredibly useful. In fact, Brandon’s the reason we’ve managed to cull our list so quickly.”

Brandon ducked his head. Patrick continued.

“Brandon went over and above what I’d expect of any of you, let alone someone new to our unit. I don’t know how many hours of his own time he’s spent on this—I’m sure he could tell you and probably down to the last minute. I haven’t received his claim for overtime yet,” Patrick joked, “but when I do, I’ll be happy to approve it.”

A chuckle went around the room and Brandon’s cheeks turned crimson.

Their boss turned and looked at Brandon, his expression sobering. “I mean it when I say you’ve gone above the call of duty, Brandon. Without your extra commitment, it would have taken us much, much longer to narrow down this list. I know I speak for the entire team when I tell you how much we appreciate it.”

Brandon shrugged, obviously uncomfortable with the praise. “It was nothing, really. Once I got into it, I couldn’t let it go. It was tedious and painstaking, but every time I managed to eliminate a suspect, the rush was unbelievable.”

He gazed at the faces of the men and women around him. When he got to Alex, he stopped and her breath caught. “You’re an inspiration, all of you. I can’t believe you’ve been doing this for so long. Some of you, for years. I can only imagine the number of bottom dwellers you’ve managed to put away in that time. Not to mention the number of kids you’ve saved.” His voice shook with emotion. “I’m honored to be working alongside you.”

Alex’s chest tightened. The sincerity in his eyes was reflected in his voice. She swallowed the lump in her throat. This was the Brandon she knew and loved. The one that worked tirelessly and selflessly to eradicate evil. The one that put one hundred and ten percent into everything he did. The one that remained humble, despite the evidence of his achievements. The natural-born leader who remained a team player.

He was the reason she hadn’t felt a speck of interest in Phillip. For all of Phillip’s good looks and charm, he wasn’t Brandon. He wasn’t her husband.

Her husband.
That’s what Brandon was. The man she could still call hers, if she wanted to. If
he
wanted to.

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought. He’d seemed keen to try something again. She didn’t know exactly what, but he’d invited her to the family barbeque. That had to mean something. He’d been hurt and angry when she’d told him about Phillip. That had to mean something, too. You didn’t get upset over an ex’s new boyfriend if they no longer meant anything to you. At least, she hoped that was the case.

She wanted him back. Pure and simple. Brandon was the reason she’d been celibate for the last four years. No one else could measure up. He may have broken her heart and at the time, she hadn’t been able to see a way to forgive him, but time had a way of healing even the deepest of wounds and it wasn’t like she was without sin. It was time to let go of the past and try to move forward as a family.

The thought of Sam filled her with renewed guilt. She had to tell Brandon they had a son. It was wrong to keep it from him. If they were to have any chance at a future, he had to know. The longer she left it, the harder it would be to explain why she hadn’t said anything.

As the team dispersed back to their desks, several of them stopped to pump Brandon’s hand or pat him on the back. Alex regained her seat and waited with anticipation for the hubbub to recede. Nerves jangled in her belly and her hands went cold.

What if she’d read the signs wrong? What if he turned her down? She was the one who’d told him she’d moved on. What was she going to say? That she’d lied? And not for the first time?

Dread swirled in her stomach. Perhaps she should just deal with one lie at a time? Admit to him she still had feelings. That her time with Phillip had brought that truth home. Give them a chance to get to know each other again before she told him about Sam…

Relief surged through her at the thought of putting it off for a little longer. It wasn’t going to go away, but at least she could wait and see if they could rebuild their relationship.

Hopefully, by the time she told him, they’d
have
a relationship and be in a stronger position to deal with it. Brandon would be angry, naturally. She wouldn’t expect anything less. But she hoped by that time he’d love her enough, love
both
of them enough, to accept her reasons for withholding the information and everything would turn out all right.

Misgivings pricked her conscience, but she swiftly pushed them away. Her plan was far from fool proof and its success would ultimately depend on Brandon, but it would buy her some time to reconnect with him, to re-establish the loving relationship they’d had before it all went so far off the tracks. And it would give him time to get to know Sam. His son.

* * *

Brandon noticed the frown lines marring the smooth skin of Alex’s forehead and wondered at their cause. His cheeks were still hot from the praise he’d received from the superintendent and his colleagues.

He hadn’t done it for the recognition. That had never been his way. He’d done it because he’d cared and he’d really believed what he was doing would make a difference. It was what had driven him all these years. Through the years of living undercover, the loneliness, the lies. He’d only been able to do it because he’d learned his lesson; he knew his complete dedication was integral to the success of his missions.

In the end, though it had cost him his marriage, he wouldn’t have changed it—couldn’t have changed it. It was as simple and as complex as that.

He glanced back at Alex and his gut tightened when he noticed she’d pushed back her chair and was walking toward him.

“Brandon, um… Can I speak with you for a minute?” Her voice was as tentative as she looked.

“Fire away.”

Her gaze darted from his face to her hands and back again. He frowned at her reticence.

“Um, I was um…wondering… That is…”

Now he was confused. Since when had Alex been so tongue-tied? “What is it, Alex?”

Dark red color stained her cheeks. “I was wondering if we could talk? You and I. Somewhere…” Her gaze darted around the squad room. “Somewhere else.”

“Why?”

She looked away, flustered. Taking a deep breath, her gaze returned to his. “Please, not here. It’s really important. I-I don’t want to get into it here.”

He shook his head, confused. She mistook the motion.

“Please, Brandon. I really need to talk to you. I-I was wrong.”

His heart began a slow thud. “Wrong?”

“Yes, wrong. I should never have told you I was over you.”

Blood pounded in his ears. She’d spent the weekend with someone else, and now she was telling him she still had feelings for him?

“Are you for real?” he growled, resisting the urge to slam his hand on the desk. “Are you for fucking
real
?”

She bowed her head. When she lifted it, her eyes were filled with shame and desperation. He stifled the urge to offer comfort.

“I’m sorry. But, please. Please can we do this somewhere else?”

Brandon looked around the room, suddenly aware of the curious looks from some of the agents nearby. Drawing in a deep breath, he let the fog of anger and confusion recede and turned back to her with a brief nod.

“Okay, we’ll do it your way. I’ll meet you at the coffee shop on the corner in fifteen minutes. Don’t be late.”

As soon as Alex returned to her desk, Brandon pushed up from his chair and headed to the locker room. He’d said fifteen minutes and he needed every second to get himself under control. Each time he thought of what she’d said, his anger renewed itself.

What the hell had she meant, she wasn’t over him? He’d seen her having a lovely time with her boyfriend not three days ago. Was she really trying to play him? Turn his emotions inside out? If she was, she was doing a hell of a job.

Leaning over the hand basin, he turned on the faucet and splashed cold water over his face. Straightening, he stared at his reflection in the mirror and cursed the tiny ray of hope that had sparked to life at her words and was now reflected in his eyes.

He couldn’t keep doing this to himself. He couldn’t keep riding this emotional rollercoaster. She couldn’t keep blowing hot one minute and freezing the next. It wasn’t fair and he was darn well going to tell her.

He grabbed his jacket from his locker and pushed open the door that led outside. His gaze automatically strayed to Alex’s desk. Her chair was empty. His gut clenched with nerves and anticipation. His lips compressed.
Bring it on.

* * *

Alex twisted the napkin in her hands and tried not to look at her watch again. He’d said fifteen minutes. He’d told her not to be late. It was now going on for nearly twenty. Where
was
he?

Perhaps he’d decided not to show? Maybe he’d changed his mind? Her belly twisted in knots and she swallowed. What if he did turn up, but didn’t want anything to do with her? What if she’d completely blown it when she’d told him she was seeing someone else?

A waiter appeared before her and asked if she was ready to order.

“I’m waiting for…someone,” she murmured, hoping she was right.

“Of course; I’ll come back later.” The waiter disappeared and Alex picked up the laminated menu and studied it in an effort to distract herself. The coffee shop was a popular eating establishment and was filling up with a mostly professional set working in the nearby buildings.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Brandon materialized before her and took a seat. Alex did her best to keep her pulse under control. She smiled a little uncertainly to cover her reaction and handed him the menu.

“I think I’ll have the pumpkin soup with fresh bread. It’s soup kind of weather, don’t you think?” She inwardly rolled her eyes.
God, could she have said anything lamer? Is this what she’d been reduced to? Talking about the weather?

Brandon looked back over his shoulder at the dreary, gray day outside. “Yeah, you’re right. It wasn’t actually raining when I came in this morning.”

“You must have clocked on early. It was pouring when I arrived at six.”

“Yeah, it was going on four-thirty, I think.”

Alex shook her head. “Four-thirty? Don’t you ever sleep? No wonder the boss was impressed with the hours you’ve been putting in.”

Brandon nodded, but didn’t reply. Alex let it drop. It was none of her business why he wasn’t sleeping.

“At least the weekend was fine,” he murmured, his gaze snagging hers. “I take it you had a nice time at the beach?”

Alex frowned.
At the beach?
What was he talking about? Memories slammed into her.
Oh, God. He must have seen her with Phillip. There was no avoiding it now.