Merciless (32 page)

Tears choked her throat. “What happened?”

“You know what I did to your sister? After I burned her, she passed out from the pain. Micah came inside and, we switched. It was his turn. I went out the front door for a smoke. I had no idea Kristen had come in the
back door. She struck and killed Micah and set the house on fire. I tried to go in and save my brother, but when I looked at him on the floor I knew he was dead. The place was already in flames, so I ran.”

He’d left Eva to die.

“The curtains were on fire and fell on me. That’s how I got my burns.” He shook his head. “But your Eva found her way out the other door. She’s a survivor. Like me.”

“Your father sent you to Europe during Eva’s trial so no one would guess.”

“It wouldn’t have taken any guessing. I was burned and in pain. There was no hiding it. Father had lost one son, and knew if the truth was discovered he’d lose his other one. Josiah attended Price University so the cops assumed it was Josiah.”

“And you became Micah.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“You got off.”

“Not really. Father kept me heavily medicated for years. When he got sick, I tossed away the pills. But it took over a year to get back to my old self.” Anger hardened his features. “So much time lost because of your sister.”

“She had nothing to do with Micah’s death.”

“She is the dark temptress. She drew me to her. If she’d not done that I never would have been at that damn house.”

He grew silent, and she panicked. Keep him talking. “What about Dixon?”

“He and my father crossed paths years ago. Under very similar circumstances as a matter of fact.”

“Dixon killed Fay for your father?”

“No. Dixon never had a taste for killing. His dark
appetites were sexual. He and my father shared a woman once.”

“What happened?”

He seemed relaxed, happy to talk. “Fay thought she could manipulate my father into marriage. She knew he and Blue were running guns through the museum, and she tried to blackmail him. When that didn’t work, she took up with Dixon. He was young and weak. When Father approached Dixon, he threatened to kill him. Dixon confessed that he and Fay had cheated. Dixon said he wished he’d not been so gentle with Fay. Father suggested that they could both get revenge and have a bit of fun if they worked together. Dixon agreed. Dixon took Fay, and when he was finished with her, Father brought her here and killed her.”

Her heart tightened. “Did my father help him?”

For a moment he hesitated. “I could lie but what’s the point? The truth is so much more interesting. Darius learned of the process from your father. The idea of stripping the flesh from his mistress’s bones appealed. When Fay’s body was found later, your father put the pieces together. He confronted Darius and threatened to go to the police. Father simply reminded Mr. Carlson that he had your safety to consider. After that, your father kept his mouth shut.”

That’s why her father had kept her from the museum and why he’d grown so distant.
You’ll never be vulnerable.
Those had been the words he’d uttered after her surgery. Oh, God. He had been protecting her.

Josiah leaned toward her as if they were best friends. “You’re lucky, you know. If Dixon and I were still working together you’d be in fairly rough shape by now.”

She was at the mercy of a killer and oddly grateful
that she’d not had to face Dixon. “What happened with you two?”

“We met at a charity function a couple of years ago. I could see the dark need in him hadn’t faded with the years. I suggested we team up. He’d been excited. We killed three prostitutes. And then he got bored. He hired Lulu. Got sloppy. Said too much. She ran, and you know the rest.”

“What happened after the trial?”

“I demanded he stop and he did. Then this past summer he contacted me. He swore he’d be careful. So we started hunting again. But the whores were like shooting fish in a barrel. I wanted more challenging prey. I saw Sierra on stage and knew she’d be the next one. I told Dixon about her and could see the delight in his gaze. The things he wanted to do to her …”

“You could each work it so that you had alibis when women vanished.”

“Exactly. When Dixon finished with a woman, it was my turn. But then he broke the rules a second time.” He shook his head. “I forgave him once, and then he went against me again.”

“What did he do?”

“He wanted to keep you all to himself. He didn’t want me to kill you.” A grin tipped the edge of his mouth. “My father taught me well…. If someone crosses you, you take everything from them.”

“Your father took Fay’s beauty. And you were smart, so he drugged you and took your ability to think.”

He frowned, pensive. “Yes.”

“Did Dixon tell you about Fay?” Her words sounded rough, like sandpaper.

“Father told me about Fay before he died. He thought I’d
not remember because of the drugs. But I remembered. I suppose Daddy needed to cleanse his soul.”

“Did Blue know?”

“Blue ran the guns. He knew about Darius’s affair with Fay, but he wasn’t involved in the murder. Blue was so worried about being respectable and getting one over on your father. Poor dumb Blue wanted the reputable life. And he had a thing for your mother.”

The download of information had her brain reeling. She couldn’t talk any more about her parents or the destruction of their lives.

“Who is your next partner?”

“I don’t want another partner. There’s a certain pleasure in doing things by yourself.”

There was nothing left for him to tell her. Nothing left to talk about, and still she scrambled through her memory searching for something to talk about. “What’s next for you?”

“I don’t know, long term. I’ll lay low for a while. Maybe a trip to Europe. But in the short term you and I have unfinished business. The time for talking has ended.” He grinned. “I must say, though, I’ve enjoyed it. You are smarter than the others, and your quickness is refreshing.”

Desperation coiled in her gut. “Then keep talking to me.”

He shook his head. “Time to play, Angie Carlson.”

Malcolm, Garrison, and three other squad cars pulled up in front of the Cross house. They’d cut the sirens several blocks back, fearing that Josiah would hear their approach and kill Angie.

Guns drawn, they moved to the front door and rang it. A maid answered.

Malcolm raised his finger to his lips, telling her to be silent. “Where is the basement access?”

She pointed toward the kitchen. He and Garrison moved through the house and down the stairs. They could see the outline of a secret door illuminated by an interior light.

They rushed the door.

Josiah lifted Angie to her feet. “So how do you want to die? I have many ways I can steal the breath from you. I’m feeling generous, so you can choose.”

Her legs wobbled, but she tightened her gut and straightened. “How did you kill the others?”

“More talk. You were wise to choose law as your profession.”

He dragged her toward a metal table. “I’ll cut your wrists and watch the blood drain. I was nervous with Sierra and rushed. With Lulu, I had a bit more time. But with you, I’ve been careful to clear my entire night. If I do this right, it’ll take all night for you to die.”

Angie jerked free of his hold. She whirled, ready to run for the door, but the drugs in her system made her dizzy. The sudden movements made the room spin, and she fell to her knees.

Josiah laughed. “It’s why I drugged you.You’re awake enough to know what is happening but not mobile enough to run. Great combination, if I do say.”

He wrapped his fingers around her arm. Thoughts of Malcolm, Eva, even David swirled in her head. So much love had come into her life. So much she should have embraced but didn’t.

She should have grabbed the chance with Malcolm and loved him despite the risk of loss. She should have tried harder at life after her second chance.

“You monster.” She reached around and raked her fingernails over the back of his hand. “I might die, but I want you to carry scars from me forever.”

“Bitch.” He drew back his hand and slapped her hard across the face. She fell back to the floor. Her brain rattled against her skull. He grabbed a knife from the workbench.

And then in the next moment the world exploded.

The door burst open and Malcolm appeared. His face a mask of anger and fury he shouted, “Back off, Josiah!”

Hearing his real name threw Josiah off for an instant before he rallied and raised his knife to stab Angie.

She braced for pain.

Malcolm fired his weapon. The bullet struck Cross in the chest. The man stumbled back. He hit the wall and slid to the ground, a plume of blood exploding on his scarred chest. He dropped the knife clutched in his hand, and his head slumped forward. Malcolm moved forward and kicked the knife far away from Josiah.

Garrison moved into the room, his gun trained on Cross as his gaze swept the room for any other threats. When both detectives were satisfied Josiah worked alone, Malcolm holstered his weapon.

With Garrison still alert, Malcolm knelt beside Angie. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Her voice was a raw whisper.

Garrison loomed over Cross as the uniforms arrived.

Angie glanced at Josiah. Wincing, she looked away and up at Malcolm. “I can’t stand so well. He drugged me.”

“It’s okay, Angie.” Malcolm cradled his hand under her elbow. “I’m here. I’m here.”

She leaned into him, savoring his scent and the feel of his body against her.

“Everything is going to be okay, Angie.” His voice was low and rough. His grip was firm and tight and so very soothing. “I swear.”

Angie gripped his arm. “I believe you.”

Three months later

Angie glanced down at the dried milk stain marking the shoulder of her silk blouse. “More dry cleaning. Great. At the rate I’m going, I’m going to be wearing a raincoat every time I hold you.”

One-year-old David gurgled up from his car seat secured in Angie’s backseat. He grabbed his sock, pulled it off, and tossed it on the floor. It was a game they played a lot. She’d put a hat on him. He’d toss it away. It had gotten to the point where he had only one hat left and most of his socks didn’t match.

“Kid, you are going to break me,” she said softly.

He laughed. When she leaned forward to unhook his seat he grabbed a handful of her hair. David was strong and had a grip that could be hard to break.

“Hey, mister. That hurts.”

Angie laughed, tickled him under his shirt until he released her. She hefted him out of the back of the car and glanced toward King’s.

So much had happened in the three months since Josiah had nearly killed her.

The diary Martin had given Angie had confirmed what Josiah had told her about Darius and her father. Darius’s donation to the museum had been his foot in the door—the leverage he’d needed to get Frank to do just one favor. That favor had led to a decade worth of arms dealing.

The cops had searched for Martin. They’d found him in Kentucky several weeks ago and he’d been extradited back to Colorado to face the pending charges against him.

The second body had then been identified as Donovan’s. The man who’d called in the missing persons report, Robert, had been trailing Angie. He’d been the one at group and the one at the newsstand. Donovan had hoped she’d reveal personal information that he could use in his story. The police had also tracked down the drug dealer Tony who had identified Lulu’s abductor as Micah, a.k.a. Josiah Cross. When the cops had asked why he’d done nothing, Tony had simply shrugged and said, “It wasn’t my business.”

In Josiah’s house they’d found so many pieces that appeared to be ivory but were in fact human bone. He’d been working on a chess set. The pawns were in place, and he’d left notes to himself that next he’d carve the queen. He’d planned to make Angie his queen.

With Josiah’s death so many questions had been answered. Louise had been enraged when she’d heard about her son’s death, and she’d threatened to kill both Angie and Eva. Garrison and Malcolm had made calls to the prison bureau and had Louise transferred to an out-of-state prison. They’d also severed all her contact with Angie, Eva, or anyone else they knew.

Angie had been shell-shocked by the entire scenario
but as her mind cleared, she’d begun to question the course of her life. She’d gone into law to prevent injustice, and yet all her efforts had brought so much pain and heartache.

Eva and Garrison had married ten weeks ago in a quiet ceremony. Garrison’s folks had been present and so had Angie and Malcolm.

Through it all Malcolm had been at her side. They’d spent quiet evenings together, making love and trying to build upon the foundation that they’d created. However, she’d never wrestled free of her worries that one day Malcolm would leave her.

And then Vivian had contacted Angie nine weeks ago seeking advice. The older woman knew she couldn’t raise David in the face of her own health issues and wanted help making an adoption plan for the boy. Angie hadn’t hesitated before saying, “I’ll take him.”

Vivian had been shocked by Angie’s offer. But as they talked and discussed the boy’s future Vivian had seen that if Angie adopted the boy, Vivian could still remain a part of his life.

Through tears, Vivian had whispered, “I want to be his grandmother. Not his mother.”

And so, Angie had hired an adoption attorney to draw up an agreement. They signed the final papers two months ago. Though Angie loved David as her own from the moment she’d held him, he’d legally become hers yesterday when the judge had signed the final decree.

Without the stress of raising David, Vivian had had the time to grieve for her daughter. Slowly, her health had begun to return.

Angie had visited Lulu’s grave several times. She prayed for the girl who had made so many mistakes but
had desperately wanted to change her life. She’d vowed that she’d tell David about his birth mother often.

Malcolm had been supportive, but the adoption had created a space between them that seemed to grow by the day. She’d assumed he wasn’t ready or willing to parent David. She’d let him go, knowing her path was first and foremost with David. They’d not seen each other in a month, and as much as she adored her son, she missed Malcolm.

“Now we get to go see Aunt Eva and see if she’s gotten the test results back.”

Angie glanced through the picture window into King’s. There appeared to be a crowd. “David, we are going to have some company.”

She’d taken leave from Wellington and James and had spent the last nine weeks learning to be a mom.

A cold wind rushed down the street, whipping up the edges of her coat. Balancing a diaper bag, she kicked the car door closed and, cupping her hand over David’s head, rushed into the heat of the pub.

She’d not taken two steps inside when the crowd turned in unison and shouted, “Surprise!”

Angie startled. David flinched and looked up at Angie waiting for his cue to cry or laugh. Angie smiled and the baby relaxed.

Her entire group of friends had gathered. Charlotte, Iris, King, Bobby, Garrison, and Eva. She searched briefly for Malcolm but didn’t see him.

Eva cut away from the crowd and moved toward Angie. Her slightly rounded belly and fuller face made her look lovely. “We wanted to throw a party for the new mom.”

Angie saw the sign that read, WELCOME, DAVID.
“Honey, this is so wonderful.You have enough going on and did not have to do this.”

“I wanted to do it.” She squeezed Angie’s arm and whispered, “The CF test was negative. My daughter is fine.”

The words took a moment to penetrate.
Daughter. Fine.
Tears pooled and ran down her face. “Honey, I am so glad.”

Garrison moved toward them. For the first time in weeks she sensed his grin was heartfelt. “We both slept like the dead last night. First night with no real worries.”

Angie had had a nightmare the other night. She’d dreamed of Louise stealing into her house and taking David. “You owe me a son,” the old woman had cackled. Angie had awoken with a start and gone to the baby’s crib. She’d been so relieved to see him sleeping, she’d wept.

When she’d returned to her bed, it had grown cold. She thought about Malcolm and how good his body had felt next to hers. She missed him and wished she could have both him and her son in her life.

Eva tickled David’s stomach. “Put your bags behind the bar, Angie, and let me hold my nephew.”

Releasing David didn’t come easy to her. She loved David so much that it frightened her. The little guy had opened her heart so wide. But she needed to let the fear go and enjoy her life. She smiled and let the boy go to her sister.

I will always keep you safe, no matter what.

Garrison touched the top of the boy’s head, now covered with thick brown hair. “We promise to take good care of him and will have him back in a minute. My sister Carrie wants to meet him, and my mom is itching to hold a baby.”

Angie watched as her sister moved through the crowd introducing her new nephew to everyone.

She’d grown so accustomed to carrying the boy around she felt oddly lost without the weight of his body in her arms. But this moment alone gave her the chance to scan the crowd again for Malcolm. There was no sign of him.

Irritated and disappointed, she moved to the bar, where King had laid out a feast. She reached for a square of cheese. It had been weeks since she’d eaten a meal without David in her arms.

“He’s a great-looking kid,” Malcolm said. His deep voice glided down her spine, making her skin tingle.

She turned and faced him. He looked good wearing a flannel shirt, jeans, and hiking boots. His hair was brushed back, and despite the winter chill, he had a tan. He’d no doubt gone to his cabin in the woods.

“I’m so lucky,” she said. It was all she could do not to touch him. “You look really good.”

He nodded. “So do you.”

If she’d learned anything during those horrific moments with Josiah it was not to hide her feelings. She spoke what was in her heart. “I’ve missed you.”

He cocked his head. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “That’s good.”

“It is?”

“Makes it easier to say what I need to say.”

“You look nervous, Detective.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you. And I’ve been trying for weeks to screw up the courage to tell you.”

She closed her eyes, unable to bear his gaze.

“I needed to make sure I had it in me to be the man you and David needed.” Tension rippled through his body. “When I make a commitment I don’t back down.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her through the crowd into the kitchen. King was at the stove. He raised his hand to speak, but when he caught Malcolm’s expression he mumbled something about the bar and left them alone.

Malcolm turned Angie to face him. “I’m crazy about you, Angie. I want to make a go of it with you just like I did before.”

“My life is a little more complicated than before.”

“David’s the kind of complication I like.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He hugged her, growing at her touch. He deepened the kiss.

She broke the kiss. “I don’t want to jump ahead and borrow trouble, but it’s what I do best. What if—”

“Stop with the what ifs. Please. For once.”

She leaned her forehead against his. She spoke softly, unable to not say the words. “I’m not going to be able to ever give you the perfect storybook kind of life you wanted. No mini-Malcolms running around.”

Malcolm traced a strand of hair from her face. “My mother would tell you that one Malcolm is quite enough.”

She laughed and kissed him. “I’m just so glad there is the one.”

The kitchen door burst open, and Eva held a crying David. The instant he saw her, he held out his arms.

Eva handed him over to Angie. “I swear he was just fine, and then in the next instant he looked around the room and didn’t see you and just started crying.”

Angie kissed him on the head. “It’s okay. I got him.
The books say they start to tell the difference between Mom and the world at this age.”

Eva patted the boy on the back. “Well, he sure does know who his mama is.”

Angie’s mind flashed to Lulu, the young woman who’d loved this kid to distraction. She would always make sure the boy knew he had two mothers.

When Eva left and David calmed, Angie faced Malcolm. “You two haven’t seen much of each other lately.”

Malcolm tickled the kid’s belly. “Angie, why does the boy have one blue sock and one green sock?”

“He keeps tugging them off. This was all I could find today.”

Malcolm laughed. “Kid, you are going to be a handful.”

David shoved his thumb in his mouth, and then thrust his weight toward Malcolm. He caught the boy easily and hoisted him up.

The baby stared at Malcolm and then at Angie. He grinned, still managing to suck his thumb.

They all three laughed.