WATCHING (30 page)

“
How so
?
”
Georgia looked up from her notes, her manner telling Hell that she was not interested in what Byrum had to say, that she didn
’
t value the man
’
s opinion, that she was humoring him. Judging him and finding him lacking. Down-playing his perceived traditional role. She was aiming well placed stabs right at Byrum.

Stabs designed to get at
a
man who had no doubt been raised to believe the man was the final say in things, that a woman should defer to her husband or male relative in every situation.

Georgia turned to Hell. Leaned close enough to whisper, loud enough for the two men to hear.
“
Tell me, Michael, do I reveal
?
”

“
Oh, God. I certainly hope so
.
”
Hell smiled at her, deliberately giving her a predatory look.
“
Although I like it when you tease me. Draws the whole exchange out...Don
’
t you agree, Byrum
?
”

“
Men like you are weak. Despite your physical size. You are emotionally weak. Easily led by your lust
.
”
Byrum turned from Georgia and focused his attention on Hell
fully for the first time since the interview began
.
“
I take it you are a highly educated man. Am I correct
?
”

“
You may say that. I have a PhD and a JD. I
’
m a respected member of my field
.
”
Hell leaned forward, not looking at his partner.

“
He
’
s a legend in his field,
”
Georgia cooed.
“
Hellbrook here is a prime catch
.
”

“
Whore
.
”
Byrum flicked a dismissive glance in her direction.

Hell read the look for what it was. He
’
d been interested in a woman such as Georgia when she
’
d first entered. He
’
d most likely seen her as an enigma—a beautiful woman in a position of superior authority. Something a man like Byrum did not understand. But as the interview had progressed, his opinion of her had developed, and not in a positive way.

“
Now I
’
m hurt...but that is a good idea. Hell, darling, how do you feel about me catching you? You
’
re the right age, the right education, similar career goals, similar socioeconomic background. Perhaps I should give this some serious thought, focus my ungodly wiles on you
.
”
Georgia tapped her clear-lacquered fingernails on the table between the two men, drawing their attention in her direction. Hell fought the urge to laugh, despite the seriousness of the interview. She
’
d slipped open a button on her blouse, her hair was now sexily tousled. An over-the-top sexpot sat in place of the coolly sophisticated psychologist he was so familiar with.

He
’
d not caught the metamorphous at all. He wondered if Byrum had.
“
If you
’
d like to try to seduce me, go right ahead. I won
’
t fight it
—
and I probably won
’
t be too hard to seduce. Not for someone like you. I think there may be a supply closet in this building with our name on it...if you
’
d like to get started
.
”

“
When we
’
re finished with...uh...Travis, here. I
’
ll bring the grapes
.
”
She grinned a wicked hot grin that didn
’
t quite reach her eyes. The woman was plotting very specifically what she said, what she did. And it was all designed to ensnare not Hell, but Travis Byrum. Hell had seen that same type of intelligent calculation in her father
’
s eyes on numerous occasions.

Georgia was equally as good an agent as the elder Dennis.

Hell let a laugh loose.
“
You
’
re on, princess
.
”

“
You
’
ll never be able to speak against sin if you
’
re entertained by it
.
”
Byrum looked at Hell with disgust.

“
I don
’
t remember who said that
.
”
Hell tapped the file on the desk in front of him.
“
But I don
’
t think that applies to this situation. Flirting is not a sin
.
”

“
John Muncee
.
”
Byrum sat back in his chair, his smirk now aimed in Hell
’
s direction.
“
I thought you were an educated man, Agent Hellbrook
?
”

“
I
’
m. But we all know that there are many ways in which someone can be educated. My fields are psychology and the law. Yours is..
.
”

“
Theology. It was my calling
.
”

“
Yet you...drive a frozen food truck
?
”
Georgia snorted in the most feminine manner Hell had ever heard.
“
Some calling
.
”

“
Quiet!
”
Byrum barked at her and Hell straightened.
“
What do you know of it? Look at you! A little dark demon-eyed slut who probably slept your way to the top. You
’
re unmarried, probably because no good, no godly man would have you! You hide your true nature beneath those bitchy little suits, yet look at the undergarments you chose to cover your most secret places...I bet the bra matches the panties. You whore! Look at you! Look at you! You
’
ll burn in hell with the rest of your kind
.
”

“
Actually...I
’
m not wearing panties, Travis. What does that do to you
?
”
Georgia
’
s voice was a cold contrast to the rising heat in Byrum
’
s. Hell
’
s admiration of his partner grew. He tried to fight the sudden image of her wearing only that bra that hit his mind.
“
Does that make you hot
?
”

Byrum
’
s face twisted with rage and disgust, becoming more than plain, becoming only what Hell could define as crazy. Twisted.

“
You slut! How dare you use your wiles to ensnare men? You deserve to die! Deserve it!
”
His eyes widened and spittle flew from his mouth.

“
Like Maggie Evans
?
”
Georgia threw the question at him. She leaned forward, both hands on the table, now standing. Dominating the table. Byrum rose to meet her.

“
Like Claire Reid, Lindsay Graywater? Hailey Ann? Hailey was fourteen years old, Travis! She still slept with a stuffed teddy bear. She was a child! And you killed that child! You are a damned child killer! Yet you would condemn me because I batted my eyelashes at an interesting man? What does that say about you? You will burn in hell, not me!
”

Byrum lunged. Hell jerked between the two, shoving his much larger body in front of Georgia.

She kept shouting.
“
You killed them, Travis! Claire Reid, Maggie Evans, Hailey Ann Michaels, Stephanie Miller,
Kir
by Jaysons—all of them dead because of you!
”

Byrum fought against the cuffs holding his hands, straining toward her. Hell didn
’
t exist for him anymore.
“
The Bible says
‘
Kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him! And if, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl
’
s virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father
’
s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death!
’
Whores
,
the lot of them. Whores. They deserved to die. They did, they did, they did
.
”

Hell
push
ed him back into his chair as Jones and two other agents shoved into the room.
“
The Bible also says
‘
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
’
God
, Travis,
God
. If men are not gods, Travis, who the fuck gave you the right to kill those girls? Who are you, Byrum, to decide who lives and dies? Sit down. We
’
re not done
.
”

Chapter
40

****

He was going over his boys
’
reports in the middle of the Rapid City police department when a local officer led the children to him.

The bruising on her face was clear for all to see. She clutched the hand of the little girl tight and the baby rested in a homemade pouch over the girl
’
s narrow chest. He stood and stepped toward her.
“
Hannah? Can I help you? Who hurt you, honey
?
”

She looked at him, eyes wide and nervous.
“
My...my husband
.
”

He felt his own eyes widen.
“
Excuse me
?
”

“
You said you would help me, that we deserve to be safe
.
”
Her hazel eyes burned into his. Linda
’
s eyes in a young, bruised and battered face.
Heartbreaking.
“
I think I can help you, if you
’
ll help us. You said we deserved to be safe
.
”

“
You do, honey
.
”
He jerked a hand at his closest agent. The boy hurried to his side.

“
Yes, sir
?
”

“
Take over these reports. But first, I need a doctor in interview room three. A female, as quickly as you can. Hannah and I will be in there waiting
.
”

He got her a soda, settled her at the interview room
’
s table. He got the little girl a coloring book and crayons, then had to show the child how to use
them
. A child who didn
’
t know how to color
—
what had her short life been like?

The door opened before he could ask Hannah any questions. It was the little mouse.

“
Doc, I thought you were in North Dakota with Hellbrook
?
”

“
Brought the victim back for...processing
.
”
Her eyes were trained on the children.
“
I heard you asked for a
female
doctor. I
’
m it
.
”

“
Yes
.
”
He looked back at Hannah.
“
Thought it would be easier for another female to help her
.
”

The little mouse nodded
, her eyes meeting his
. She approached the two girls. They both just watched her. The mouse sat down beside the little girl.
“
My name is Dr. Bellows, but you can call me Dr. Jules I
’
m here to help you
.
”

“
Jewels like diamonds
?
”
The little girl asked.

The mouse nodded, smiling a beautiful smile.
“
Yes
.
”

“
That
’
s funny
.
”
The child giggled, then shot him a frightened look.

His heart broke for her.

“
Yes, it is. What
’
s your name
?
”

“
Ruth Mary Byrum. But Momma Hannah calls me Ruthie. I like that best
.
”

“
I like Ruthie best, too. Ruthie, I need to talk to the agent for a minute. Can you keep coloring that beautiful picture for me
?
”
The mouse ran a hand over the girl
’
s
blonde
hair, ignoring the way both girls tensed.

She nodded at him and he followed her into the hallway. Once the door closed behind him she spoke.
“
George and Hellbrook apprehended a suspect named Travis Byrum this morning
.
”

“
Hannah said her
husband
did this to her and that she could help us. And she looks like the victims
.
”
He fought the need to step closer. He could smell her over the coffee and sweat that characterize
d
every police station he
’
d ever been in. Flowers
, strawberries,
and woman combined to tease him.

“
Oh my God, that
’
s freaking nuts. She
’
s what, sixteen
?
”

“
If that
.
”

“
And the baby and the little girl
?
”

“
Half of the six kids I saw at the library. Other three are boys. The extremely religious type of family, is my guess
.
”

“
We
’
ll need someone from the CCU or Brockman
’
s team to assist you with interviewing her. I
’
m not very good at that part of things
.
”
She sighed, looked up at him with those sad, sad eyes.

“
Brockman
’
s here somewhere, I
’
ll have someone find him
.
”
He wanted to comfort her, to touch her, but he kept his hands to himself.

“
I think the little girl has bruises, to
o
. Arms, probably her back, too
.
”

“
Dammit, I hate when it
’
s kids
.
”
Nothing made him angrier. He
’
d never once raised his hand to his boy. Ever.

“
Me, too. Yet so many times it is
.
”

Their eyes connected, and for a long moment their connection had his chest hurting.