The Deadliest Secret (The Deadliest Series) (5 page)

             
At her words Kody sat up, almost thinking she remembers, he stared right at her perfect face, thinking of what it was like to kiss those tender lips, to have those eyes look at him with longing and worship, and the last time he saw them with the hatred. She had to remember him. He needed that. He was selfish enough to want to force it.  “Fine you want to know about me I’ll tell you sweet cheeks. Where do you want me to start?”

             
Gwen had to look up from her note taking when Kody said the words “sweet cheeks” the phrasing was so familiar, yet she couldn’t place where it was from. She dismissed this as a bad case of movie déjà vu and spoke delicately. “Why don’t you start with your first arrest, I am guessing around middle school age? Or would you rather start later? Your college years appear to be turbulent for you.”

             
“Here is me in a nut shell baby. My father beat the snot out of me and my mom till he came up dead; after that my mom struggled, after my mom turned junkie I got put in the system, no one wants a fuck up or a teenager with my issues so I aged out and tried my hand at University Of Washington, fell in love with a bitch who was too good for me. I fucked up she hated me, then I just went to what I was good at, fuck that main stream job bullshit. You may be content with it but I sure as shit am not…”

              Kody continued to talk but more and more of what he said she felt like part of her knew already. Gwen asked him to concentrate on his high school and college, that seemed to be where more and more of his anger came from. He obliged, his words warped and pinged inside her head, and she knew more was coming, but this all sounded eerily familiar. She had read his file so many times perhaps that is why this all was on repeat in her mind. Gwen kept listening and looking at Kody to figure out who he was. According to his file he attended the same time period Gwen was working on her studies at University Of Washington. Maybe the news influenced her mind. She would have to look through his file with more competencies later.

             
Kody found himself divulging more of himself in this session than he ever let escape his mouth before. He was a man of very few words and even less emotions. Why wasn’t she noticing who he was yet? He spoke faster and faster as the hour came to a close. He knew she must have others to meet with but he wanted more time with her, no he NEEDED more time with his woman. His brown eyes softened as he gazed at his Gwen, her blue eyes pensive and he could tell she was thinking. Was she thinking about him as he only thought about her? What he wouldn’t give to touch her right now, to feel her silky smooth skin under the rough pads of his fingers.

             
Gwen looked at her watch, the case was getting intense, the first day and she felt as if a break through for McQueen was imminent, her bones were chilled from the conversation but this was the most open introduction interview she had ever had. Kody McQueen seemed to open up to her, an instant rapport. The only thing she could not get comfortable with was the way he would look at her, like she was a slab of meat that he wanted to devour like a starved lion.

             
“Kody, I thank you for opening up to me, but we must end this session I have to tend to other patients today. I think you are already making good progress, so perhaps I may only need to see you monthly.”

             
His eyes widened, and Kody couldn’t breathe, only seeing her once a month was unacceptable he blurted before he thought. “Doc, I want to hurt myself, I don’t think I am okay.”

             
The concern in Gwen’s eyes melted him, he felt like she might honestly still care for him. “Kody calm down, these feelings can be curbed, can I bring you in next week? We can talk more and if there is an emergency you can have the guards bring you to me and I will get you in as an emergency, just please do not hurt yourself.”

             
“Yes Doc…” Kody stood at this, once a week he could deal with for now, until she remembered whom he was he would have to hold parts back.

             
Gwen hit the buzzer under her desk again Torrian amazed her with his swiftness. He certainly was a sight to behold. “I will see you next week Kody.”

             
“See you Doc.” Kody said almost smug to Torrian that he was going to be spending more time alone with the female, and by his stance Torrian did not like that. Smart guard, for once a guard didn’t underestimate him.

             
“Alright inmate back to your cell inmate the doc has more people to see today.”

             
“Lead the way.” Kody spoke with his typical arrogance.

             
Torrian removed Kody and took him back to the cell, ignoring the normal chatter until Kody spoke up finally. “How long has she been here?”

             
“Few years and don’t even think about it dirt bag, she’s too classy for anyone in this joint.” Torrian scoffed at Kody even entertaining the thought that Gwen would lower her standards to him, before Kody could get belligerent or respond Torrian pushed him into the cell removing the cuffs quickly.

The simple move done numerous times per day and thousands of times per week, it almost looked rehearsed with how well Torrian did it.  Torrian left before the scumbag could ask any more questions about Gwen, he didn’t understand completely why he felt so protective over her but he did, hell all the men on McNeil were protective over her, she was just a good person to be around.  Torrian could not wait till the end of his tour just to have his daily banter on the ferry with her, maybe he could admit he liked her today, if she wasn’t quite as distracted as she seemed earlier to
day. He grinned to himself and kept his nose on the ground, went to clean one the tools of his trade and pass the time till he could leave.

CHAPTER
fIVE

The encounter
with Kody sent chills down her spine, it was as if she was on the cusp of where a dream turned into a nightmare, that’s the only way Gwen could describe the rest of her day at the prison. She was unable to concentrate as she normally did on her patients. The way he talked sounded like he was hinting at something. She just couldn't place it. Gwen kept thinking till her day was done at the prison, she packed her belongings and the files she wanted to study that night, but she knew she was only going to really be looking at one. Kody Lee McQueen’s eyes had been familiar and not to mention those eyed had been all over her as if he was trying to memorize her every curve, she shuddered at the thought of what he was capable of.

             
Gwen boarded the boat to head to the main land from the island she was still not paying attention to her surroundings. She was staring at beyond the waves that were hitting the dock, her eyes not concentrating and she was in her own world. Suddenly the corrections officer was standing beside her and he was making noise to distract Gwen from her reverie, he was always nice and started a conversation with her when they were on the boat. She guessed he was the type that needed constant entertainment like most people nowadays. His normal smile was plastered on his face.

             
"Hey Doc, how's it going?" He said with a smile.

             
"I'm fine Torrian, how are you? How many times must I say call me Gwen?" She rubbed over her face while she spoke, Gwen was tired of the title with someone she considered an equal because of the prison.

             
"You didn't go to school all those years to be called Gwen." He retorted quickly.

             
"The patients call me doctor or doc, not my coworkers, we're on the same team so please, just Gwen." She gave him a look that was pleased mixed with an exasperated smile this is how their normal conversations started, he would call her doc or doctor and she would correct him on the term leading to more banter between the two.

             
"Ok don't go all female on me, Gwen." He joked with her.

             
"Better, thank you. You dodged my question, how are you?"

             
"I'm always good doc… I mean Gwen." His blush warmed his features and his smile was contagious, Gwen could never figure out why Torrian had become a corrections officer, he was too happy of a person to constantly be near these jaded and dangerous people. Why wasn't he an actor? He certainly had the features women would drool over.

             
He was tall but not giant. He was tan, possible some Italian in his family but not much. Torrian had beautiful eyes that you just couldn't help staring at. Gwen always avoided looking him directly in the eyes because she was caught staring into them once; she blushed at just the memory. The color was odd but beautiful it was grayish-blue with a tinge of green depending on his mood. He was hardened as a male who worked as a corrections officer at a high security prison would be. He filled out his uniform very nicely Gwen thought to herself. His hair was buzz cut to his skull but it was black when he neglected to trim it. His jaw was strong but possibly the best thing about him is he was modest about all of that. If you mentioned he was handsome he would turn beet red and try to change the subject. She looked over at his ruggedly handsome features keeping her mind out of the gutter as much as possible; he was leaning over the edge of the railing always enthralled with what was going on around him. He made it impossible not to enjoy life while near him. She smiled again to herself that he had a good woman.

             
"That's good. How's Kristina doing?" She thought fondly of their yearly evaluation interview, it had turned into more of a friendly banter session than actual work for both of them, “And if you keep leaning over that thing you’re going to fall in one of these days, and I am not jumping into that cold ass water to save you, no matter how much I like to work with you” Gwen winked and laughed at her travel companion.

             
"You would have to ask her," he said curtly, Gwen instantly regretted asking about her thinking she either got the name wrong or things went south. "She left me, said she couldn't handle my job anymore. I love what I do so I didn't stop her. Plus she was always on my nuts and if I mentioned any other woman she went psycho and threw shit around. I already deal with that shit most the day so I don't need it at home, I don’t think she was the one. I might have an eye on someone else" He laughed suddenly, leave it to Torrian to not hold a grudge against someone that broke his property or threw stuff at him possibly hitting or hurting him, Gwen didn’t press for more, she knew Torrian would share on his own what he wanted.

             
The boat neared the dock and started to sound the horns, which cut Gwen off at mid thought. She awkwardly clutched her bag and made she collected all of her belongings. Torrian shook his head at Gwen.

             
"Haven't we been through this enough times that you know I am going to carry your big bag for you and make sure you get to your car alright?" He gave her a sarcastic but still somehow serious enough smile to let Gwen know he meant business.

             
Gwen fumbled with her words. "Yeah I guess, now should I let you carry my purse or do you think you can manage my case bag?"

             
Without hesitation he blurted, "Case bag Gwen you know better." They laughed in unison and walked off the boat together still talking about the most recent loss for the Seattle teams. Gwen's dad was a die-hard Seattle fan but she knew they weren't the best and wouldn't pretend they were. Torrian on the other hand was convinced they would go to the championship this year and debated that fact with her until they reached her car. Torrian loaded the case files into the back of Gwen's Lexus; they said their goodbyes and Gwen went on her way home.
             

             
Gwen went about her day as she normally would have, a workout at the gym, a light dinner and then her normal length, normal temperature shower. After her steaming hot shower Gwen trudged around her bedroom while she brushed her hair, that prisoner still on her mind, Kody had been the star of her thoughts since she met him this afternoon. Her mind far from the task at hand, her mind was on that new patient she saw. His story sounded so familiar, but why?

             
She put her brush away and opened her brief case and took out a large file on the man. Already a thick file, multiple arrests, drug collars, violent offender, he raped, killed, and did whatever else he wanted it seems. His crimes all had an effect on the Seattle area, perhaps it was just the local news that had covered the story, and she decided that must be it.

             
Gwen read about his family, every week or so CPS was called, as were the police because of the neighbors hearing fights and abuse. Kody's mother never pressed charges, Melva ended up in the hospital multiple times from accidents that involved her falling or hitting into things. Of course the doctor didn't believe it and wrote these notes to the social worker. Ollie was an angry immigrant from Eastern Europe. He didn't want to leave his home but for some reason Gwen couldn't find they settled near Seattle, Washington and he worked two jobs to get by.

             
Kody had a younger sister named Rebecca, who died suspiciously when they were both very young. The death was ruled an accident but Gwen wondered because more and more of this was sounding familiar, like she knew what was coming next and that worried her more than anything else. After Rebecca's death Kody began acting out in school to the point of being removed to an alternative school for troubled youth. The system had utterly failed him. He still came to school with bruises and he was filthy according to one teacher's recollections. Gwen was highlighting names and events hoping that someone might remember Kody from his past and perhaps be able to give Gwen more insight on whom she was actually dealing with.

             
Kody was finally removed from his home and put with foster parents when he was fifteen and his father put him through the wall during a fight they were having. Kody called the police because he was tired of being abused and he was quickly removed. Gwen knew what she had already read from mandated reporters would be enough to promise his removal for good, but she cringed at what she didn't get to read and the abuse that wasn't reported. Gwen pinched the bridge of her nose in disgust and kept reading until she fell into a restless sleep with her notes scattered around her.

             
Gwen shifted in her chair; aware she had eyes on her but she could not place whom they belonged to. Casually she turned and pinpointed the gaze coming from behind her.  She saw milk chocolate eyes looking back at her and she quickly returned to the reading material for her next class, the case study was interesting, but so were the eyes that she could still feel on her.  She decided to take another peek and the male moved, she lost him.

             
A book was suddenly slammed against her table, Gwen's entire body tightened in a fast spasm at the intrusion. She glared up not knowing what to expect, but when she saw it was the male she had lost track of her curt curses and other choice words were lost.

             
"You know its rude to disturb someone like that, you could have given me a heart attack." Gwen chided her intruder.

             
"Do you know it’s rude to stare at someone?" He quickly replied.

             
"I wasn't the one who started the staring, you were staring first." She felt the color rush to her cheeks being so petulant and childish with her excuse but she felt she had nothing else to come back with, her mind was just studying criminal psychology intensely.

             
"I was, and I was staring because you're beautiful and I want to draw you."

             
"You want to draw me?" She kept her laugh to herself.

             
"Yeah, I'm an art major and you have a perfect face. So what do you say beautiful?

             
Gwen floundered in her words, forgetting English while he looked at her the question still burning in his eyes. "I. Umm guess it would be ok, I don't have to be nude or anything right?"

             
"Not unless you want to be," his smile was breathtakingly charming and she knew he was trouble in a beautiful wrapping. "I just want to draw you as is, when you have time."

             
The male kept looking at her, Gwen was sure he was changing his mind while he was up close enough to see her imperfections. He kept standing there with the grin on his face; she simply nodded then said "Sure why not? When do you want to draw me?"

             
She looked around while waiting for his reply she expected there to be someone waiting to yell “GOT YA” but there was no one around, and no one paying attention to the exchange between her and this guy.

             
"Why not now?"

             
"Excuse me?"

             
"Now? I'm free you look free. Just come outside with me and we will sit you under a tree and I will get to work on what I do second best."

             
She closed her book, her headache already setting in from her criminal justice course. "I could use some fresh air."

             
Gwen stood and started leading the way, the guy followed her outside checking out the way she walked how her hips glided from side to side, she still had her hand clutching the pepper spray just in case he turned into some jerk only trying to get into her pants.

             
He caught up to Gwen when he finally realized he was being slow and that it did annoy her. She showed her annoyance by simply going faster. He laughed to himself and liked a woman that would be take charge. He placed his hand on her arm to delicately lead her towards the spot he had picked out.

             
“We’re over here.” He simply said.

             
“Oh ok well since you’re the expert lead the way mister.... Hey what is your name anyways?” She asked 

             
“Kody, Kody McQueen yours?”

             
“Gwen Bjorkman, its nice to meet you Kody.”

             
Gwen snapped back to present day her head whipping off the pad of paper she had in front of her. She finally put the puzzle together finally. She knew Kody, she knew him very well. He was the first man she ever loved. He was a drug runner at the time she dated him, but he never told her until it was too late she already had been in love with him. Memories came flooding back to her, the heat they shared. The passion they shared that was felt in every touch. Gwen’s heart started to break all over again when she remembered the night she found out that he wasn’t the man she thought he was. Her tears fell silent at first. She knew her mind had blocked all these memories for a damn good reason, the pain was worse than a lethal blow to her mind. There was a reason she kept him a secret, even from herself.