Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One) (22 page)

“Parker Davis didn’t have time to slash Garner’s throat and get back to his desk without being noticed,” Keane explained, having gone over and over this with Ashlyn. “Mia and Parker were at their desks from the moment we called them in to the time Ashlyn discovered Garner’s body. He might have gone to the small kitchen on the opposite end of the floor, but it was only to get coffee and he was gone maybe three minutes at best.”

“I’m not disagreeing with you, but it goes without saying that he is still missing and no one can locate him. If he shows up there, he has to be detained. Are you one hundred percent certain that Ashlyn didn’t take any electronic devices with her—nothing from the office? I had an in-depth conversation with Coulter regarding the timing of things and the fact that this unsub knew exactly who you were and who you worked for. Victor Wright was the only one outside of our circle who was aware SSI was brought in, aside from Ashlyn’s team.”

Which meant the random text Ashlyn had received regarding Keane’s involvement had to have come from someone close to her. Had Parker been able to find time to leave his desk without anyone noticing, take the elevator to a different floor without someone seeing him, and murder Jarod Garner in cold blood? He would have had to take time to clean up as well, considering the mess at the crime scene. Technically, that went to the theory that Parker had nothing to do with stalking Ashlyn or killing two people.

Keane walked over to Ashlyn’s briefcase that her father had given her and opened the leather flap. No electronics were found, not even a calculator. Only books and files she’d packed at the last minute. He examined each piece of paper, leather-bound books, and even the worn satchel itself. Nothing stood out and there were no electronics of any kind hidden inside.

“I’m looking at Ashlyn’s briefcase now,” Keane said, finally putting everything back into place. “There’s nothing that would emit a signal of any kind. Let me go and check her personal bag.”

It wasn’t that Keane thought Ashlyn had purposefully brought something with her, like a cell phone or tablet. For one, she knew better. Two, she was well aware the lengths they were going to in order to keep her safe. She wouldn’t jeopardize anyone else’s life, let alone her own. Could something have already been in her overnight bag that she wasn’t aware of? Such as an iPod? As innocent as an iPod seemed, even that type of technology could be tracked.

“Is there a reason to move locations?” Keane asked, wary of staying in the same place too long if there was any doubt their whereabouts had been compromised. “We can be out of here in under five minutes.”

Keane walked down the short hallway, the sounds of the shower coming through the bathroom door. He veered off into the bedroom and picked up Ashlyn’s designer duffle bag. Her briefcase, pen, and a few other work items had been hand-me-downs—family treasures—but she did have fine taste in other areas of her life.

“I don’t want to move Ms. Ellis unless we have a valid reason,” Townes stipulated before addressing another drawback. “The subject we’re dealing with has access to a variety of specialized equipment. Should he have some type of facial software, the two of you could be located within minutes should you step outside that house. He could use the D.C. area CCTV to locate your whereabouts.”

“Agreed,” Keane approved, finally zipping up Ashlyn’s bag. “Ashlyn has nothing but clothes in her overnight bag. She also has a small toiletry case, but no electronics.”

Thunder rumbled above the house, rattling the windows with its deep rolling tenor. It was a good thing they’d made an early dinner—at least, what he could get Ashlyn to eat.

“We’re in for some storms tonight, which will make visibility from Coen and Sawyer’s vantage point somewhat questionable,” Keane stated, walking back out the bedroom, down the small hall, and into the living room. There was a side table against the wall that appeared to hold a few knickknacks. He rummaged around until he found some candles. The generator should kick in if they lose power, but one could never be too careful. “I’ll get in contact with them and let them know Davis still hasn’t been located and for them to be vigilant.”

“I’ve already taken care of that,” Townes advised over what sounded like the rhythm of windshield wipers. He must be closer to Annapolis than he was D.C. “I also have Royce covering her apartment building, watching for anyone who might be looking for her. We have no idea where Parker Davis is or if he’s even the person we’re looking for. Just stay alert and call for backup if you feel there’s a problem. I should be there within the hour.”

Keane wrapped up the phone call and then walked into the kitchen. There was a small storage room off of the pantry where emergency supplies were kept. Sure enough, a couple of flashlights were positioned on the middle shelf. He picked them up and pressed the buttons on each, confirming they were in working order and the batteries had plenty of life left in them. He had one in his go-bag, but it never hurt to have more on hand.

Another round of thunder boomed loudly above the house, but a quick glance outside showed the lightning didn’t streak the sky until at least thirty seconds later. The eye of the storm was still quite a few miles away. He went back into the living room to find Ashlyn walking down the hallway in a white pullover shirt with a pair of blue jean shorts. They would both be washing clothes come morning, granted that they still had power.

“Everything okay?” Ashlyn asked, using the white terry-cloth towel in her hands to dry the long strands of chestnut brown hair already curling into the loose waves he loved. Keane didn’t answer right away, standing there in somewhat awe of the fact that they’d found each other again. They would take things slow and try to get things right this time, although that couldn’t happen unless they started living their regular lives. Keane had to trust in Agent Coulter’s ability to locate the person responsible for all of this carnage. “I thought I heard your voice.”

“I was talking to Calvert,” Keane admitted, setting the two flashlights on the coffee table. He was aware she’d taken her weapon into the bathroom with her, but he didn’t see it now. “Where is your firearm?”

Ashlyn didn’t so much as roll her eyes, but the look she gave him was one of disbelief. She reached for her hip, turning forward enough so that he could see she was wearing the small black clip-on holster Coen had brought her yesterday.

She was a pool of contradictions. She was a top-notch federal prosecutor in the courtroom that no one in their right mind wanted on their bad side, appearing every bit of a professional career woman as those who came before her. Now? She looked younger than her thirty-some years, baring no make-up with her naturally flushed cheeks and rosy lips. Her blue eyes practically dared him to make a comment, for which he was smart enough to stick to the topic at hand.

“Calvert is driving here tonight. He should arrive within the hour,” Keane admitted, walking over to the chair where his go-bag was currently seated. He was able to move it from room to room, taking with him the weapons and equipment needed should someone try to break into the house. “Parker Davis is still MIA. Calvert isn’t comfortable with all of the open-ended guesses being circulated. Since the Attorney General personally called in SSI to oversee your protection—and now to get involved in the investigation—Calvert isn’t leaving anything to chance.”

“You do know this isn’t about the Attorney General, right?” Ashlyn asked, moving farther into the room and taking a seat on the couch as she continued to towel dry her hair. “All of this pressure is because of my father and his friends in positions of power and influence. He’s scared for me and putting pressure on those who still owe him favors.”

“I suspected as much,” Keane said as another clap of thunder sounded above them. He took out the LED flashlight he’d used for years and checked it for service. “One of the reasons Calvert started his own firm was so that he could oversee operations, not take part in them.”

“I know we said we wouldn’t rush into anything, but have you thought about what happens after this?” Ashlyn asked, her blue eyes never once lifting off of Keane’s face. She lowered the towel and sat forward on the edge of the couch, her need to describe to him what she’d felt was evident. “When you told me to leave my laptop back at the office, I hesitated. Everything I am is wrapped up in that square device. Everything, Keane. I realized I hadn’t had dinner with my friends in probably nine months. I hadn’t spoken to anyone other than my colleagues or my parents in the same amount of time as well. I finally got what I’ve worked so hard for and…”

Keane caught Ashlyn’s hand as it waved in the air, demonstrating that nothing she’d done had garnered her true happiness. He pressed his lips to the back of her fingers, sitting on the coffee table across from her. He set the flashlight beside him, giving him time to formulate his words.

“I should never have let you walk away from me in California,” Keane admitted candidly, resting his elbows on his knees while never releasing her hand. He leaned forward enough so that their faces were inches apart and she couldn’t misunderstand a thing he said. “We were on different paths and instead of creating a new one, we both went our separate ways. We were wrong. I don’t think a day has passed that your face hasn’t appeared in my mind or memories from the time we shared together didn’t replay over in my dreams. I don’t want to live like that…the not knowing what could have been. Do I have all of the answers right now? No. But whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together.”

“Is it wrong that I’m afraid we won’t get to see that?” Ashlyn whispered, right before the lights flickered. The thunder was becoming louder and the lightning was even closer. “I don’t want—”

Darkness descended as the lights went out. The generator should kick in any moment…

‡

A
shlyn waited for
the electricity to come back on, but she realized they weren’t going to be that lucky after listening for a few seconds of pounding rain without hearing the generator kick in. Keane released her hand and reached for the flashlight, providing them enough illumination of the living room. She reached out for one of the other flashlights, wrapping her fingers around the cold handle.

“We needed a little mood lighting, anyway,” Ashlyn murmured, glancing toward the front window. Well, maybe not this kind of ambiance. It was pitch black outside, with the exception of when lightning would streak across the sky. The curtains couldn’t hide the bright light that lit up the night every now and then. “It’s either that or maybe fate doesn’t want us to have that conversation.”

“Hey,” Keane admonished, capturing a kiss before he stood and pulled his phone out of the front pocket of his jeans. “Fate might have had a hand in having our paths cross once again, but it’s up to us to do something about it once we’re given the opportunity. As for the electricity, the generator should kick on if they have kept up on the maintenance.”

Ashlyn sighed and set her flashlight in her lap as she picked up the damp towel, resuming rubbing her long hair with the soft fabric. She had been going to return to the bathroom and use the blow dryer underneath the sink, but that was out of the question now. She observed Keane as he made a call, wondering why she felt the instinctive urge to look around the house. The generator should have started up by this point. The only noise was that of the storm and it was unsettling, as not even the hum of the air conditioning could be heard anymore. It was as if the house had died.

Keane initiated a conversation with Coen regarding the loss of electricity, the apparent issue with the generator, and also the fact that it appeared as if the entire block had lost power. At least, that was what Ashlyn interpreted from what she could hear on this end. They believed it was nothing to be concerned about, though it did take the alarm system out and the wireless router, which connected a number of wireless sensors. Coen and Sawyer would be forced to observe the property from their location across the street. They spoke of check-in times and perimeter searches, leaving Ashlyn to wonder if Agent Coulter had ever located Parker. She was worried about him. She believed in his innocence, just as she’d believed in Victor’s. It wasn’t long before Keane disconnected the call, slipping his cell into his front pocket.

“It looks like we might not have electricity for the night, unless we do something to fix the generator,” Keane said, looking around the living room. His lips thinned slightly as he voiced what Ashlyn was thinking. “Sawyer is headed outside now to see why the backup generator hasn’t kicked on.”

“What’s the temperature outside?” Ashlyn asked, guessing it was in the high sixties this time of night. She set the damp towel on the side table. They’d be fine until daybreak, but they’d have to open some windows come tomorrow morning. She wasn’t so sure Keane would agree to that. “We can make it for a while without old sparky.”

“That’s not the point,” Keane said, the issue with the generator obviously bothering him more than he let on. Ashlyn absolutely hated that nauseous reaction her stomach immediately gave with his unease. She grabbed the flashlight and stood, wanting to be ready for anything. “I checked over the house after we entered and I know the brand of the generator installed. It should have kicked on without a problem. It’s a recent installation and the indicator was green.”