Heart of Fire (5 page)

“I am, I’ve been sweating, and I stink.”   She actually just wanted to say yes and would you like to join me, but instead turned her head away in shame, she hated that her mind was on sex all the time.  What is wrong with me?  She asked herself walking quickly from the room. 

An hour later Danni sat snuggled in the recliner watching the fire roar in the fireplace, Annabel was already fast asleep on the couch and for a moment all was right in the world.  She watched her sleep, it never occurred to her until then, how lonely her life has been.  She would wake up each morning, go to the gym, eat, shower and sit in the DEA truck every night.  She envied the agent who had families, and look forward to the new pictures they would bring in of the children.  Growing up in foster care never gave her a sense of belonging, so she never missed the comfort of having someone love her.  But now, things had changed, as she watched her sleep, she vowed no matter how long it took, or how dangerous the situation become, she would protect her with her own life. 

CHAPTER EIGHT

“More coffee honey?” the waitress at the greasy spoon asked as she approached Danni and Frank sitting in the booth with their heads together. 

“Yes please,” Frank smiled as he peered up at the woman.  “Can we also get more creamers?”

She filled their cups and quickly returned with their food.  “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

“We’re good, but thank you,” Danni said wanting to get back to their discussion.

They discussed every scenario possible and how it could play out.  The years as an agent taught Frank to always expect the unexpected and to never trust anyone.  He agreed they were going to have to get the Mayor involved.  He was going to have to be used as bait to draw out the killer.  Frank explained the Detective in the picture could easily explain away his reason for being at the building, and unless he was caught with the knife in his hand, there was no way of proving he killed the woman or was in her apartment. 

Reluctantly Danni gave Frank copies from the murder scene, the detective outside of the apartment building and her only copy of the man who identified himself as IA from the hospital.  He assured her he would run both into the facial recognition program and see what he could come up with. 

“Keep this under wraps Danni,” Frank ordered.  “Don’t do anything unless you clear it with me first, this should have already been turned over to the Feds since we have a serial killer on the loose.”  Frustrated with the lack of cooperation he has gotten from the APD, he sighed. 

“This is my collar Frank, I need this one,” Danni warned. 

“I’ll do the best I can to make sure you get it Pacelli,” he assured her.  “Call me if you come up with anything else Danni, and I will call you when I get our answers,” Frank said extending his hand, and his tall muscular frame hovered over her making her feel small and insignificant in his presence. 

“You got it Frank.  Thank you so much for meeting me and helping here.  I know I am asking a lot to keep this under wraps.”  She shook his hand with gratitude and smiled nervously.

Danni deposited herself in the booth.  She ordered a breakfast plate of pancakes, eggs, bacon and hash browns to go.  She knew that Annabel would be up pacing and worried by now.  She looked down at her phone and already saw three missed calls from her.  Hesitantly she dialed the number back. 

“Hey.”

“I was worried.  Where are you?” the frantic tone spat in her ear.

“Meeting with Cousin Frank and getting breakfast.”  She kept her pace steady.  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”  She shut the phone quickly when she heard a crackling sound. 

She looked around and saw a white van.  “Shit, shit!” Danni walked casually past the waitress to the back of the restaurant where she had seen a coin operated phone.  She hesitated as she looked around, when she saw a radio sitting on the counter she turned it on before she dialed the cabins number.  “Get our stuff packed.  I will be there in five.”  She opened her cell phone to pull up her contacts.  Quickly she dialed Frank’s cell number on the pay phone. 

He answered, but Danni spoke before he could say anything else.  “Hey cousin, I think the surprise party for your wife is no longer a surprise.  She is on to us.  I have some errands to do and I will call you later,” she said quickly then placed the phone back on the receiver.

As soon as she drove off she watched as the white van followed from a distance.  She pulled into the gas station.  She needed a moment to think, she did not want to lead them back to the cabin.  Once the gas was pumped she walked into the building and watched through the corner of her eye as the van parked just down the block.  She walked feverishly around the store.  When she saw what she was looking for she smiled.  Danni retrieved disposable phones from the rack and placed them on the counter. 

“Is that all you need?”  When she nodded her head the clerk rang up the gas and the phones.  “You want a bag for these?”

Danni nodded her head again.  She was nervous and she was not sure if they had the technology to listen from a distance, so she was not taking any chances.  Game on she thought getting back in her car driving down alley ways, country roads and once on the highway, she sped up leaving them in the distance.  Once she was sure she lost the van, she took the first exit and parked in an empty lot out of site.

She sat and read the direction on how to program the phones.  It was like reading Greek, but once she got the first one done, the second was easy.  First call she made was to Annabel and explained in detail what had just transpired.  She advised she would call Frank and get his input on what to do next. 

When she pulled down the county road that led to the cabin, Danni paid close attention to anything that seemed out of place.  She drove slowly and watched the deer in the pasture eat.  She knew if there was anyone out there they wouldn’t be there.  She breathed a sigh of relief and continued her journey to the cabin.  She pulled up in the back to ensure if anyone drove down the adjoining stretch of road they would not see her car.  She exited quickly and dashed into the back entrance to find Annabel standing in the kitchen with a look of fear on her face.

She placed a finger over her own mouth and gestured her into the bathroom.  She handed her the track phone and advised to only use it and not her regular cell.  She was not sure if their phones were both tapped yet, but she was not going to take any chances.  Frightened, Annabel wrapped her arms around Danni, she held on tight as she sobbed. 

“I was so scared when I woke up and you were gone.” 

Feeling like a horrible person, she lifted Annabel’s chin and looked in her eyes.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“Don’t ever do that again!” she scolded and pulled her closer to her.  She was physically, mentally and emotional frightened.  She had lost everyone she loved, and the thought of losing Danni too was unbearable. 

Danni could feel her partner’s heart race.  She returned the embrace and held her tight as she cried.  “I promise you, we will get these guys and nothing with happen to either of one of us,” she reassured and brushed a soft kiss on her cheek.

Annabel lifted her head and locked eyes with Danni, this was the first time in years she had felt safe, and in that moment, it gave her a sense of coming home.  “Don’t ever leave me,” she said and lifted her lips to Danni’s, but Danni stood paralyzed and trembled in her arms. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”  Comprehending what she had done, she knew she had crossed the line.  She put her head down in shame and tried to pull away, but Danni held on tight as she lifted her chin and return the kiss.  It was not as passionate as she would have liked it to be, but it was a start.  Feeling like the teenage girl who would watch her from a far, she smiled shyly and buried her head into the crease of her neck.

Silence engulfed the room as Danni held on tight.  She could feel the heat from Annabel’s breath on her neck.  Her body ached with desire, but her mind demanded composure.  “I think we’re safe here for now, but it won’t take long before they put two and two together and find us here.”

“If we don’t stay here, where are we going to go?”

“The FBI has a safe house, Frank said he’ll stock it and call at first light to give us directions, until then we are to stay put.”  As much as Danni hated to admit it, she needed the Feds help.  “You need to eat.  I’m going out back to call Frank.”  She tossed the other disposable phone on the table.  “Turn off your cell and use this one until all this is over.”

At that very moment Annabel was not worried about anything other than the feelings she was having for Danni.  The kiss still lingered on her lips, and as their bodies connected it felt as if they were the only two left in the world.  She had to fight the urge to finally admit to Danni once and for all that not only was she the girl next door, and that she saved her life as a child and her heroic efforts gave her the chance to grow up, join law enforcement, and if she would have her, she would look into those green eyes until the end of time. 

She sat down and played several scenarios in her mind, but the only one that seemed realistic was to just look her in the eyes and tell her the truth.  ‘Danni I need to tell you something, remember the girl next door to you that you pulled out of the fire?  That was me and as a child I had a crush on you, as a teen I idolized you, and as an adult, I am falling madly in love with you.’  She laughed as she heard herself say it, and shook her head knowing how ridiculous it sounded.  She knew exactly what Danni would say, she would say she suffered from the saving angel syndrome.  A term cops use when a victim falls for the officer who saves them.  Annabel knew that was not the case.  It was just before her thirteenth birthday when she realized she had a crush on Danni.  She would watch her from her bedroom window as she mowed the lawn.  She would purposely ride past her house on her bike at the same time each day just because she knew she would see her leaving to go to work.  Now as an adult the same butterflies still churned within her, so no matter how much she would protest, she would reason, as a child she had a crush, but as an adult it was so much more. 

CHAPTER NINE

The sky turned a dark shade of pink on top of the grey clouds as the sunrise clashed against the night sky.  Danni crept down the county road hidden amongst the shadows of the trees.  She put to memory the landscape as she drove in earlier that day.  Nothing appeared out of place.  She looked over the water’s edge to get a visual of the adjoining road.  She could see something in the shadows.  She crept around the man-made pond to the other side.  The closer she got, she could see the same white van that had followed her earlier that day.  There was no movement or noise coming from inside.  She reached under her jacket and pulled out her firearm.  She approached slowly as the smell of tobacco filled the air.  She peeked inside the van and she could see from her advantage point that there was no one inside.  To the left stood one lone man, she could see it was the man from the hospital surveillance, the same man that introduced himself as I.A. to Annabel.  She moved in closer from behind and held her service revolver to his head and then he turned around she could see the surprise look on his face. 

“Put your hands up.”  When he obliged, she reached inside his jacket and relieved him of his pistol and slipped it in her pocket.  She held the gun firm against him as she patted him down looking for another weapon.  Her search was not in vain as she removed another gun from a holster strapped around his ankle.  “Alright dirt bag turn around!” she ordered as she closed the handcuffs around his wrists. 

“Let me go you bitch,” he snarled trying to break free of the metal shackles. 

Danni took one step back then lunged forward, her anger harder to retrieve as she clenched her hand and punched him several times in the face.  Blood droplets splattered on the path.  She could smell the metallic stench as it drained from his nose.  He growled and then broke into a soft laugh as he glimpsed at her.  “I’m not telling you anything.”  He felt the blood drain into his throat, causing him to gag and choke

“So it’s going to be like that.”  She laughed as she put the gun to his head.  “Have it your way.  I guess it will be a good night to die.” 

His eyes widened at the sound of the gun when she cocked it back.  “Okay, okay.  I’ll tell you, but you have to protect me,” he pleaded.  “He’ll kill me.”

“Who will kill you, who are you working for.”  She could feel her anger build, she pushed the gun harder into his temple.

“Get me somewhere safe and I will tell you everything I know,” he pleaded as she pressed harder into his head.

She could not control her anger any longer.  With a quick thump to his head with the handle of the gun he was knocked unconscious.  Danni retrieved the phone from her pocket and dialed Frank’s number.  She went into detail about the altercation.  He told her to stay put and would be in her location with thirty minutes then disconnected the call.  She dragged the man across the ground and pulled him into the van where the keys were still dangling in the ignition.  Once her breathing steadied, she drove to the vehicle back to the cabin and parked it behind her truck. 

When Danni walked in the back door, she looked around at the neatly arranged table.  Salt, pepper and silverware neatly arranged.  She could smell the aroma of the food as it cooked on the stove.  Annabel was nowhere in sight.  She walked through the cabin and peeked into the open bathroom door.  She watched as her partner applied a generous amount of Chap Stick.  At that moment, she wanted to pull her close and kiss those full lips again and tell her how much she adored her.  She imaged their tongues dancing rhythmically together, their bodies melting into one.  Just then she heard someone at the door. 

Annabel opened the door completely and saw Danni in the hall.  “Stay here,” Danni whispered as she slipped down the hall and peered out the window.  She eagerly opened the door to allow Frank access.  Not a word was said as she pointed to the back and led the way through the cabin and out the backdoor.

“Where is he?” Frank asked looking around.

“He pissed me off.  He’s taking a nap in the back of the van.”  She let out a hearty laugh as she opened the sliding door.

He looked on at the man who lay unconscious.  He shook his head side to side as he looked at her.  “You’re wasting your talent.  You would make a great federal officer.”

“Once all this is over Frank.  Ask me again.  I might just say yes.”   She looked at him then turned her attention back to the cabin. 

Frank loaded the man into his car leaving the van.  “I’ll call you in the morning with directions.”  That was all he said before he drove off leaving Danni watching from the distance.

Relieved Danni smiled, she knew if anyone could find out the truth from the dirt bag he could. 

“Dinners ready!” Annabel stood on the back porch hand on her hips smiling.  Danni stood in awe as she could see the silhouette of her curves in the dim light. 

She extended her hand and smiled.  “Come here.  Join me for a few minutes.”

Annabel smiled shyly as their hands connected.  For a second when she looked down, she could not see where Danni’s hand began or where hers ended.  She could feel her heart skip a beat as Danni pulled her close into an embrace.  She was dizzy with desire.  Danni looked deep within her eyes, but Annabel felt like she could see into her soul when she looked at her like that. 

“When all this is over,” Danni purred.  “I would like to take you out on a date if that’s okay with you,” Danni whispered as their lips connected.

“I would like that,” that was all she could say before their lips joined and all her thoughts to spiral out of control.

They stood holding one another.  They began to kiss again, hesitantly at first. They could hear the thunder crash in the distance.  The fog of desire cleared as the clouds opened up and the rain let loose and poured down on them.  They both laughed aloud hand in hand as they ran in the house.

Danni felt like a teenager again as they cuddled on the couch.  She was nervous suddenly when she thought of where the night would lead.  She did not want to be reckless like most first time lovers that move so fast that within a year they become bored of one another.  It was time to put the brakes on for a little while longer.  They had a case to solve first, but that was not the only reason.  Danni still had an issue with mixing work with pleasure.  How could she continue to work with her and have a relationship too?  She knew she had other options.  She never really took Frank serious until now, but then again she never wanted to have a relationship with anyone before Annabel.

“What’s wrong?” Annabel inquired when she saw the distant look on her face. 

“I was thinking about tomorrow and the next day.”  She hoped her answer sounded convincing.  “We have to leave at first light.  We need to get some sleep.  I’ll take the couch and you can have the bed.”  She really did not mean that.  What she wanted to say was, ‘I would love to hold you in my arms, make love to you, and wake up in your arms for the rest of my life.’ But she needed to keep that distance to maintain rational thinking. 

“I would prefer to hold you while we sleep if that is okay.”  She put the offer on the table hoping Danni would agree.  “We don’t have to do anything.  I promise I don’t bite.”

With a hearty laugh Danni nodded her head.  “Let’s go to bed then, I’m exhausted,” she finally chok
ed out the words fighting the urge to admit she did bite even nibbled given the opportunity. 




The sound of birds flocking and playing outside of the open window brought Danni out of her slumber.  Eyes still closed, she sighed sweetly as she felt Annabel’s arm coiled around her waist.  She had to maneuver carefully not to wake her up.  When she turned over, she was face to face with an angel.  “Good morning beautiful,” she whispered as she looked into the bright blue eyes that stared directly into hers.  She casually peered over her shoulder to look at the hands on the alarm clock, she gasped softly.  “Time to get up!”

Annabel snuggled in closer.  “I don’t want too,” she whined.  “Just hold me for a while longer.”

“Believe me.  There is nothing I rather do than lay here all day, but we have to meet Frank in less than an hour.”  She stroked her cheek then kissed her softly on the nose.  Annabel giggled when Danni nudged her playfully.  “Come on sleepyhead.” 

She moaned in protest but did as told.  She watched as Danni disappeared into the bathroom and giggled as she did not hear the door close all the way.

She was tempted to follow in pursuit, but stopped when she thought what Danni really wanted.  If she wanted to make love to her, she would have when they cuddled side by side in the bed kissing and looking into one another’s eyes last night.  She could hear the water stop as she gathered the last of her clothes and placed them in the suitcase.  It drove her crazy to know that Danni was standing in the bathroom naked and knew if she walked in there naked and pushed her back in the shower, they eventually fall in the bed and have crazy passionate sex.  She took a deep breath and shook her head.  Being forceful was never her strong point, but she was willing to if she needed to be.  However, this was going to take time, Danni was not one of those who would fall easily. 

Danni stood allowing the water cascade off of her before retrieving the towel.  She stepped out slowly and toweled her toned and tanned body dry.  She wiped the steam off of the mirror and spent a long moment admiring her image.  She was still very attractive for thirty-five, she knew when she walked in the bar, she still turned heads and made women half her age drool.  Her large breasts were firm and her stomach flat, evidence of time well spent at the gym.  After blow drying her hair she shook her head vigorously sending her hair billowing wild and free.  She feinted playfully at her reflection, flexing her muscles in her arms. “You still got it Pacelli,” she said to her reflection and then blew a kiss. 

She tried to style her hair, but it was getting too long, she missed her last hair appointment, and now wished she didn’t.  ‘French braid it is’ she sighed.  It was time to do the finishing touches.  She carefully applied a subtle blush of mascara to bring out her eyes, plucked her eyebrows leaving impeccably groomed thin arches, and painted a light coat of clear polish to her fingernails.  Perfect she thought.

She was putting in the earrings her mother bought her when she heard a tap at the door.  “Can I come in?”

“Sure, I’m finished.  Are you going to get in the shower?”

Annabel smiled and nodded her head.  “Did you save me some hot water?” She laughed moving past her.  She eagerly stripped off her t-shirt and shorts and turned on the water.  Danni stood helpless trying not to look but not able to look away.  ‘Beautiful’ she said to herself as she held onto the sink to support herself from tumbling back.  “I would ask you to join me, but it looks like you already done.”  She winked playfully as she closed the curtains. 

The temptation to climb in the shower was overwhelming, but the rational side told her told her to walk out of the room and close the door behind her, and she did just that.  “Fuck! If we didn’t have to leave, I would do more than take a shower with you,” she said aloud once out of earshot.  “I am so overplaying the nice girl.  She wants to play like that, she better be ready!”  Danni chuckled as she peered back at the closed door.