Slice (The Elledge Family #1) (17 page)

Christmas break had snuck up on me and Whitney had grown attached. It made me happy that for once I had a girlfriend that I didn’t have to introduce to my parents. They knew her. Being childhood neighbors with her turned out to be a bonus. Holidays together, trips home and sex in the tree house. The last of which had not happened yet, but I was more than sure I could make it happen. My father had even decided that he would make an appearance. We were his only family, dating came after his work and he was honestly not that good at either.        

“What time do you go before the Doctoral Committee?” Whitney sat in the passenger seat and stared at her phone.

“They told me one.” I was nervous. None of my classmates had been called in this early we still had another semester to go before our approval. It even shocked me that a professor was still talking to students. Usually they were gone already. We were almost at the school and Whitney already dreaded the hour she had to wait in the car. I grabbed my research out of the backseat of the car. “It shouldn't take too long. Go shopping or something.” I tossed her my wallet and my keys.

“Yeah, yeah.” Whitney nodded her head. “I love you little nerd.”

“Love you too babe.”

I made my way to the office. I cut across the grass to make the trip shorter. The university was bare, there was not a student in sight and there were only a few cars in the parking lot. I walked into the office and smiled at the receptionist. She never looked up from her magazine as she said, “Mr. Woods will see you now.”

The office smelled like old books. His collection of books on the was worth more than my car. I sat down in the chair across from him. Mr. Woods was not a bad professor granted, I knew his area of psychology better than he did. I tried to keep my smart ass remarks and sneers to myself. “Hey, Mr. Woods.”

“Hello Asher,” Mr. Woods smiled at me and pointed to a man I was not familiar with at all. “Asher, this is Special Agent Tucker McMillan from the FBI. He'll take over, I don’t want to ruin his introduction.” Mr. Woods shook my hand. “If you two need anything I will be across the hall in the lecture hall. I have some last minute exams to get in before I leave.” He nodded his head at us both and walked out of the classroom.

“Hi, Asher.” Tucker was a fucking FBI agent. He adjusted his tie and perched himself at the edge of the large oak desk. I looked at him, scared shitless. What the fuck had I done? Well, there was technically a list of shit, but what the hell was he here for?  “You seem nervous.”

“I 'm being interviewed by a Man in Black.” I chuckled pointing at is a suit.

“Indeed,” he laughed. “So tell me about your research?”

“What would you like to know?”

“Well to be honest, I have read all of your research on your case study and I want to know who he is.” He got straight to the point. “I don’t want to hold you from going to see your mom.”

How in the hell did he know where I was headed? I cleared my throat and nodded my head. This shit was about Lucas and if he went down I went down. I had witnessed too much to not get charged with anything. “Well, it's not a real case... is it?”

“We have speculations built up against the case study. He fits a classic psychopath profile. We need to know who he is and I have a clue as to who he is. So just go ahead and tell me who he is, so you go.”

“Lucas Elledge.” I blurted out. “But he has not done anything violent. I have been following him around for years.”

McMillan nodded his head. “Don’t play stupid Asher. I know that you have been following him like white on rice.”

“Sir, I haven’t seen him actually act out on anything.” I stuttered through the sentence as my hands grew clammy and my head grew light.

“I'm not sure about that.” He paused. “I know that these kind of people tend to be secretive and you seem really scared there, son.”

“I follow him, everywhere Mr...”

“Agent,” he cut me off. “Look, kid you are not sure who the fuck you are dealing with. I have been following him everywhere he goes too, and everywhere he goes someone gets destroyed. I've even tried to reach out to his girlfriend, but I can barely catch her away from him. Her ex-boyfriend died a few weeks ago.”

“I heard about that and yes Cypress is rather attached to him.”

“He was stabbed, the knife marks similar to the marks found on victims in Ireland and England. I mean all of this circumstantial, but there are some real facts that are growing here.” He crossed his legs. “We just want him brought to justice and this research of yours could be the trick. Can you follow him some more and report to me with every step?”

“Why me? You are the fucking FBI. I mean you should have men on him. I have enough time just writing about him.”

“You don't have to Asher. I don't want you doing anything that you don't want to. But I think that you should be warned, if we find out that you have been around him while he murdered anyone and have not turned it, we will get you for murder as well, not accessory to it… not even obstruction. You’re right, we’re the fucking FBI. I’ll make sure you fry in a chair right next to him. I don't give a fuck about your life Asher. You have been doing it and you will continue to do it.”

“Fuck,” I moaned. “Okay,” I stood up.

“Have you seen something?” McMillan turned his head to me. “You gave in rather quickly.”

“No, I haven't. Exactly how many times are you going to ask me?” I lied. “I would love to stay and talk more, but my girlfriend is waiting in the car for me. We have a long trip ahead and I would like to start it before the daylight runs out.”

Before I could stand a hand gripped my shoulder pushing me back down in the seat. “You don't understand that Lucas is dangerous. He’s a psychopath, a real life freak show.  This guy could kill you in a millisecond and not think twice about it.”
      
“So can snakes, but we don't kill them if they aren't bothering us.” I spat back.

“Don't make this a light situation Asher.” his voice bellowed through the office.

“Fuck, look I don't know what you want from me. I said that I would keep observing him and if something happens he is yours.” Great, now I was babysitting for Mark and the FBI. Way to go, Asher, fucking dumbass.

“Good,” Tucker adjusted his shirt. “When you get back to town, report to this office. I've taken up an area the conference room and your teacher doesn't seem to mind. I'll know when you are back.”

“Okay for fuck's sake, I’m sure you will. I'm leaving.”

I could hear him chuckle as I made my way back to my Jeep. What the fuck I had I gotten myself into? For some reason I picked up my cell phone as I walked out and dialed Mark’s number.

“Better be important.” I could hear the female chuckle in the background.

“FBI is following your guy.” I hung up and hopped in the car. Enough of this bullshit. I just wanted to enjoy my damn vacation. I turned the phone off and smiled at Whitney. “Not sleepy are you?”

“Nope.”

“Good, I’m about to bore you to death with some Coldplay.”

Lucas

Luther was a shit bag. He walked out of the seven-bedroom house with a smile so bright he could stop traffic. Freedom was treating him well. Bloody cock sucker, my mind
raced. The kill was so near.  I trailed behind the car he hopped into. My cell phone vibrated against the cup holder. I scooped it up and answered. “Lucas speaking.”

“Babe, how is your trip? Are you at the airport yet?”

“It's perfect, still waiting at the airport, though.” I lied. The airport was more than three hundred miles behind me. It enticed me to watch Luther. I was hours away from sheer heaven. And then it was off to Cumbria and Ireland to see my family, who annoyed me. The car he was in stopped so I pulled into a spot and watched him laugh with his buddies.
Laugh it up Luther
.

“Really,” she sounded confused.

“Yes,” I sat back in my seat and stared, there was nothing better than watching the last few moments of a person’s life. “Still waiting to board.”

The peck at my window scared the shit out of me. She stood there and her eyes were red with rage I suppose. “What the fuck? Why are you lying to me?”

I rolled my eyes. Give me time to breathe damn it. Fucking Luther got back into the car and the driver pulled back into traffic. I had lost him. Fuck it. “Why are you here?”

“No, sir, why are you here? This is twenty minutes from my home town.” She turned her head and waited for my response. “Why are you over three hundred miles from where you said that you would be?”

My lip dropped and I nodded my head. This woman would be the death of me. Cypress was a detective and a fucking annoying girlfriend. Though I should have thought it out better. He only lived thirty minutes from her hometown. “Baby, you can't even let me surprise you.” I lied. “We left things bad. I was going to grab lunch with you and see if I could maybe reset some things to spend more time with you.”
      
“Why'd you park?”

“You called.” I retorted.

Cypress nodded her head. “Well, I'm here. What are we going to do?”

“Why were you here in the first place? This is not where you are from?”

“My mother works in the Mayor's Office here.” She pointed to the Maud building. “I was about to go see her.”

“Well, we could get a room.” My plan had died and went to hell might as well subdue to her demands.

“We can,” her face lit up. “I'm happy you came. I'll grab my purse.”

The vibrations filled the car again. The fucking phone was about to drive me mad. “Lucas speaking,” I snapped.

“A cop just came by looking for you. Whatever the fuck you have planned call it off. And I suggest you stay here for the Holidays.” Mark said.

“A cop?”

“Yes, a fucking cop, no you know what a FBI agent. Said he had some questions about you where you were when her ex was killed. You are getting sloppy. And it’s not just you that’s going down in a white fucking jumpsuit!” His nerves shattered in his voice. “You've got to stop all together.”

“Fuck,” he might have been right.

“Yeah, spend the holiday with her and stop what you are doing for the moment. And whatever

the hell you had up your sleeve that made you leave so quickly, drop it.”

“Mark,” I rolled my eyes.

“I am not fucking playing with you Luke. You stop this shit right now!”

My fist slammed into the dashboard and roar escaped my chest. “FUCK!” The red heat rushed to my face. “I can't.”

“Luke, are you fucking hearing me?”

“It's been months; no one understands I swear, but it's like falling off of a fucking cliff. It's a high and I'm crashing Mark.”

“Crashing right into death row.” He said. “I hate to even offer it, but take a hit and get the high that way. I'd rather visit you in rehab than prison.”

I hadn't felt anything in months. “I don't do drugs anymore.”

“I'll score them for you Luke, but fucking promise me you will call it off.”

A breeze flowed into the car and Cypress tossed her purse in the back of the car, “What time is your flight?”

“Change of plans,” I blurted out.

“No England?” Cypress questioned.

“Yeah, I'll have to go back and get some things at the loft.” Like a bag full of shit to calm my nerves before I exploded.

“That's five hours away.”

“I know that.” My lips pressed together. “You can stay and I can come back.” I suggested.

“I can go with,” she paused. “What's wrong with you?”

“Pardon me?”

“You fucking heard me,” she crossed her arms. “You look red and angry. Are you mad at me? I mean you were the person that said that you were coming to see me. I didn’t ask you to come and I don’t want to be around you when you have a pissy ass attitude.”

“No Cypress, I've told you like ten bloody times. I am not mad at you.”

“Well, drive to the loft. I don't mind going back with you. I'll tell my mom.”

“Okay.” I threw my hands in the air in defeat. “Fine, let's go.”

Cypress

The love between Lucas and I was different from anything that I had experienced in my life. I was so used to being in second place to something or someone that the negligent behavior was normal for my past boyfriend. It was either second to sports or second to his other women he blatantly flaunted in front of me. I was the fool, but that would never be the case again.

“I wrote some chapters in my new book.” Lucas said. “I want you to read it.”

“I would love to.” I was half asleep in the passenger side, watching the sky fade from an array of oranges and pinks to black. “I'm happy you are spending the holidays with me.”

“Me too,” It didn't sound sincere. I knew that his family was important to him he had talked about nothing else for the past few weeks.

“My mom is a great cook,” I said

“Yes, I love her food.”

“I know you wanted to spend it with your family Lucas.”

“It’s fine. We don’t have to talk it out. I said I was fine.”