Jane Doe's Return (27 page)

“I think we both need to go to work.”

The white T-shirt looked about the same color as her pale body. She pulled the shirt over her head with great care, then stepped into his checkered boxers.

“You sure?”

Covering her mouth, she walked to the bathroom with her head held high, then closed the door.

“Damn.” The bed squeaked when he stepped on it and then tore the pictures down. How could he be so insensitive? She had to wake to seeing herself just hours after the worst day in her life.

When the water had shut off in the bathroom a few moments later, he threw on his running clothes and hurried toward the kitchen.

She had beaten him there, already dressed, and doing some stretches. Looking over her shoulder, she gave him a slight smile, her cheeks still pale.

“Are you sure you’re up to this?”

She shot him a warning glare. “I didn’t come back here just to run off when things got dangerous.”

He nodded.

All morning, she remained silent and he didn’t press her. Seeing Jeff was going to be a test to both of them. He knew her well enough to know she might snap.

He might snap.

With every knock on their office door, she almost jumped out of her skin. Jeff was due back around four and Travis needed to find a way to get her acting like her carefree self in the next hour. So, he shot a small rubber ball at her that he had in his drawer from when Kamy had come to visit. Unfortunately for him, it landed right on her breast. “Sorry.” He tried not to smile.

“Yeah, right.” She tilted her head, looking down the hall and rubbed her breast. “Oh, sorry.” She rubbed it one more time for his benefit, smirking at him.

“Yeah, right.” He laughed.

She smiled, relaxing back in her chair, just in time.

Jeff stood in the doorway. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say there’s definitely something going on with you two,” Jeff said, then waltzed into the office.

Travis tore his gaze from Shauna, and his body went rigid with rage. He stabbed a pencil under his desk against the wood; it cracked. “Get a life.”

“Craig Nagel was arrested this morning.” Jeff looked directly at Shauna.

Travis tried not to ball his fists. Keeping his cool under these circumstances was something he’d spent the better part of his life learning how to do. Today would be a testament to that training. “What for?”

“Beat the crap out of his girlfriend. Guess what they found in his apartment?” Jeff smirked.

Shauna moved across the room and touched Jeff’s back.
Why the hell did she do that?

The room spun around Travis. He had to focus to keep himself from seeing spots and reaching across his desk to grab Jeff’s neck, putting an end to his life.

“Have anything to do with the Princess Killer?” Shauna stood close to Jeff. Too close.

“Smart girl,” Jeff said with an eerie tone. “He had a box full of crowns.”

Travis twisted his neck, cracking loudly, wishing it was Jeff’s neck. “I told you.” Travis pointed his finger at Shauna, hoping to set the trap. Jeff had to think he and Shauna were on different pages. Amazingly, she seemed to be holding it together better than he was. “I knew he was up too no good.”

“I don’t think he’s smart enough,” Shauna said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they booked him soon.” Jeff squeezed Shauna’s arm. She actually smiled at him, but her complexion faded.

Just enough that Travis knew he had to get one of them out of the office. “One more case wrapped up.” Travis took a file off his desk, he had no idea what it was, but he handed it to Shauna and then glanced at his watch. “They have enough to hold him for the night?”

“Unless someone posts bail for the beating, I think he’ll be there for a day or two. Longer if they charge him with multiple rapes and murders.”

“Thanks, Jeff,” Travis sat back down, hoping Jeff got the hint.

“My pleasure.” Jeff turned and walked out of their office, with a horrid smile plastered on his face, humming that damn tune.

“Damn it,” Travis said. His gut told him Jeff knew they were on to him. Travis heard the change in Jeff’s voice and Shauna looked like she might lose it right there.

“Excuse me.” She walked past him, holding her stomach.

Travis stood in the doorway of their office as she barreled into the ladies’ room. Jeff wouldn’t do anything here. That would be a death wish. Then again, psychos usually hang themselves at some point.

Keeping a close watch on the hallway, Travis flipped his cell phone and called his brother.

“Hello?”

“Jessica?” he questioned.

“That would be me.”

“Put your dad on the phone,” Travis said. “It’s

important.”

“Nice to talk to you too, Uncle Travis,” Jessica said sarcastically.

When Shauna made her way back into the hallway, it appeared the color had come back into her cheeks. But just as she took a few steps toward him, Steve managed to back her into a corner.

Once again, her face turned two shades of white.

“What’s up?” Bill’s voice echoed in Travis’s ear.

“Stay close by. Things are about to turn ugly. I’m going to call Jake.” He closed his phone, eyeing the scene in the hallway.

Shauna nodded and then made it back down to where Travis stood.

“What was that all about?” Travis whispered.

“Not here.” She eyed him with caution. “Let’s go.” She grabbed her purse, not giving him room to protest.

Pulling his keys from his pocket, he followed her, deep in thought. What did Steve say to get her to go white again?

****

Shauna didn’t understand why her body was revolting so violently. She dodged Travis’s questions, talking him into stopping at Jimmy’s store to pick up dinner. She even talked him into going to her new apartment, saying it needed to look like she was living there. Thus far, she had only moved her car and some clothes. Travis managed to find her a bed, a couch and a television set, but that was about it.

Travis had settled on a chicken and rice dish that he thought might help calm her stomach. He rolled up his sleeves and started cooking. It amazed her how much she enjoyed watching him handle food.

Looking around the empty apartment, she decided with a little decoration, this place could be pretty cool. It was set up very similar to Travis’s, but it had only one bedroom and the kitchen didn’t have room for a table. It had two bar stools on the other side, almost in the family room, the only other room in the apartment.

“I wonder if I could paint the walls.” She placed her elbows on the countertop, dropping her cheeks in her palms.

He glanced up while he chopped the sizzling chicken he just took from the pan. “I don’t see why not. How long is your lease?”

“I didn’t sign a lease. We agreed to first and last month’s rent. Then I have to give one month’s notice.”

Travis gave her a puzzled look.

“I told him if I stayed more than two months I would sign a one year lease. Less, he could keep the first and last month’s rent. I wasn’t sure how long this would take.” She sat up straight.

“I guess money talks.” He tossed the chicken on top of two rice piles and then took the beans out of the steamer. “Let’s eat.”

When she inhaled, her stomach turned, but it also begged for food. “Thanks for leaving out all the extra spices.” Picking at her food, she forced herself to eat most of it. She knew she needed it. “Have you talked to your brother?” She looked up at him.

He stood, with his plate in his hand, leaning against the kitchen sink. “The whole family is going to Adam’s baseball game. Can’t say Kamy’s too thrilled. The only major problem is the dance on the
Minnie Ha Ha
this weekend.” He stuffed his mouth full of food.

“Why let her go?”

“My point exactly, but they don’t want Jessica running scared.”

“Can Jake help?”

“He’s already on it.”

“What if they pin this on Craig?”

Splat
.

His fork hit the floor.

“Enough dodging. What the hell was going on with you and Steve?” He picked up the fork and vigorously washed it and his plate.

“He knows I’m Jane Doe.” Forcing herself to stand, she folded her arms across her chest.

Travis wiped his hands on the dishtowel. “How? And why the hell would he care?”

“Don’t know, but he wants to talk to me tonight. He said he’d stop by around eight.” She separated her legs, then pushed her shoulder blades together, determined to hold her ground.

“What does your gut tell you?” Travis tossed the towel and moved closer.

This confused her. She was ready for a fight. She’d expected him to freak out.

“You heard the inflection in Jeff’s voice?” she questioned.

He nodded.

“Put a dark wig on him, a mustache, and he’s the man who raped me.” She held her breath. Hearing her own admittance sent a cold shiver up her spine.

Travis leaned his hip on the counter and looked deep in thought. “Steve was accused of sexual harassment in Buffalo. He requested this office when he asked for a transfer.” Travis looked at his wristwatch when a knock came at the door. “Answer it.”

She let out all the air in her lungs in big puff as she moved like a snail to the door. Whatever Steve wanted to share with her, she was glad

Travis was going to be in the same room.

“Hi, Steve. Come in.” The swirling of her stomach made her lightheaded and her brow broke out in a cold sweat.

“I tried Travis, but he’s not home,” Steve said, looking very uncomfortable.

“That’s because I’m right here.” Travis took his cell from the counter. “Damn silent mode. Sorry.” He hooked it back to his hip.

An awkward silence filled the room. It stifled her breathing and she felt like she got the wind knocked out of her.

Steve fiddled with a file and glanced between the two of them. “I’m really sorry about what happened to you.” There was an unmistakable sincerity to his voice. “I may be extremely old-fashioned in my views about the world, but what Wilcox did to you is unforgivable.”

Shauna’s mouth opened, but only a faint gasp came out.

“Care to explain how you know all this?” Travis said, taking a step toward Steve. “Specifically Wilcox.”

“This might help.” A folder shook in Steve’s hand as he passed it to Travis.

Shauna glanced at the name written on the tab. “This is one of the earlier victims. But Travis couldn’t make a connection. This case is still unsolved.”

Steve rubbed his hand across his face. “My cousin.”

Shauna exchanged a shocked glance with Travis.

“Why didn’t you say anything to me?” Travis flipped through the file. “It’s not like I kept my sister’s murder a secret.”

“I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t sure about everything, until Shauna showed up.” Steve

shook his head. “My cousin had been missing for six months before she was found. We think she had been turning tricks. Drugs. You name it. But she didn’t deserve this.”

Shauna squeezed Steve’s arm and then got a couple of sodas, handing them to everyone. “How do you know its Jeff?” Shauna tried to mentally control the gurgling of her insides. They were so close and she wouldn’t back down—or breakdown.

Not now.

Not ever again.

“Your friend Jake’s been asking a lot of questions. He just happened to ask my nephew who works here as a city cop. I put it together from there.” He took a long sip of his soda. “I meant nothing by what I said to those women agents. I’m just not comfortable working with…”

“Well, you’re just going to have to get over it. I’m not going anywhere, and I think the three of us need to figure out a way to help Jeff hang himself.” She took a deep breath, feeling a renewed strength. One way or another Jeff Wilcox was going to pay for what he did.

“Say one thing out of line, and so help me, I’ll hurt you.” Travis shot Steve a dirty look.

“Knock it off.” Shauna narrowed her eyes. “I can take care of myself.”

“I bet you can.” Steve laughed, slapping Travis on the back. “One of you is gonna have to quit when this is all over.”

“You have the wrong impression,” Shauna said with clenched jaw.

“Really?” Steve lifted a brow. “I’ll have to stay in the background. If I get all chummy with you two, he will suspect something. Does he know who you are?”

Shauna tried to hide her fear, but her body disobeyed her and shook.

He gave her and understanding look. Oddly, it made her feel better. “It won’t be too long. I’ll continue to monitor his movements. Keep your cell phone on.” He shook Travis’s hand and then faced Shauna, taking her by the shoulders. “I still don’t think women belong in this line of work. You’ll never change my mind about that, but I have a lot of respect for you. You’ve got some guts.”