Lucky Thirteen (17 page)

She shook her head. “Sympathy from either of you is
not
required. I did the right thing then although it hurt like hell; just as Audrey did the right thing thirty years ago. Now, it’s time for us to do the right thing. Let’s lay an inescapable trap.”

“Agreed,”
Larkin said.

Revealing the truth, Ray said, “Really?”

“Yes. I’ll be in very good hands.”

♣♣♣

Raif and Chris left Ray with Larkin
. The time would soon come when Ray would need to deceive a very cunning and perceptive jackal, not an innocent, trusting angel or a dear friend.

In Ray’s car, Raif, at the wheel, simply asked, “Where to?”

“Ray’s place. I have to keep you safe while we wait for Halloween.”

“Will we be going into the
police station?”

“I hate to send you in there alone, but all the guys know Ray would never leave you and Larkin unguarded
. We’ll have to put in an appearance now and then. I’ll go most often, but you’ll have to show up two or three times. Keep your conversations short. Be grouchy.” She nodded with high-arched eyebrows. “They’ll buy that. I’ll lay out the plans for Halloween night.”

Raif released a long puffy sigh
. “What about all the other time? I don’t mind telling you this whole act worries me.”

“I’ll stay with you, Raif
. Heck, Ray’s sleeper sofa is as comfortable as the hotel bed.”

“Thank you,” he said with deep humility.

“For what? Doing my job?”

“This is above and beyond the call of duty.”

“Now, I don’t think you’re as big a challenge as you do.”

“You’re not afraid of the psycho?”

“You are
not
a psycho.” She gave him an affectionate punch in the arm. “As a matter of fact, I think you need to see a neurologist. After what you went through in New Orleans, your problem could be physical, not psychological.”

“You really think so?”

“Yep.”

Raif glanced at Chris and could tell she was serious
from the firm set of her jaw and her narrowed eyes. “All right. When this is over, I’ll go if you’ll hold my hand.”

Chris winked
. “I’d love to.” She reached out her hand. “I’ll start right now.”

He squeezed her offered hand
. “I think this could be the start of something very nice.”

As they pulled into Ray’s parking place, she affirmed, “I agree, but first let’s get you looking presentable.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He scratched his chin. “This mess itches. I can’t wait to get it off. I feel for Ray. He has to keep it for
Latrice
.” He said the name with derision.

Upon entering Ray’s apartment, they were greeted by enthusiastic ankle rubbing
. Raif picked up Cyclops and rubbed his head soothingly. “Larkin is just fine. She’ll be home soon.” He turned to Chris. “I was surprised to see Larkin’s cat here.”

Chris waved her hand
. “Ray’s a softie. He won’t admit it, but he’s very sensitive.”

“I’m glad I’ve met my brother, but I do wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Me too.”

The FBI agent made her way through the small, functional apartment
. The living area consisted of one large open room with the living room and dining room running continuous and separated from the kitchen by a bar, which had cabinet space accessibility from both sides beneath it. The color scheme ran the gamut of the beige spectrum: wheat colored walls, ecru trim, grayish-tan Berber carpet, and tan linoleum with white octagons in both the kitchen and the bathroom. All countertops were off-white, tan-flecked Formica, and every appliance and every piece of plumbing was basic white.

Raif’s eyes crinkled as he chuckled. “You can tell I didn’t design this complex. It’s satisfactory, but sort of cheap.”

Chris laughed. Rummaging in the refrigerator, Chris said, “Yes! Go clean up, and I’ll make us something to eat.”

When Raif returned from the shower, he felt and looked like a new man
. He found popcorn shrimp, tater tots, and coleslaw waiting.

“This looks great.”
He took one of the four non-descript light brown chairs around the matching circular table.

Placing the food on the table and sitting beside her charge, Chris observed,
“So do you. A definite improvement.”

Deep dimples showed as he smiled. “I’m glad you noticed.”

Over the next week, Chris and Raif talked and bantered. Raif pulled off several visits to the police station, to his relief. The morning after the switch, he even facilitated the press conference in which Steve Journey delivered the killer’s profile to the public.

Taking the podium, he kept his statement short. “Let me introduce Special Agent Steve Journey, a profiler with the FBI. He has put together a psychological description of the person we think is responsible for twelve brutal slayings. He will answer any questions you might have.” He indicated the microphone with his hand as he stepped back. Journey delivered the news
, leaving out the actual suspect and the fact that they knew the killer to be female. Behind his colleague, Patrick Swift whispered something to the detective, who lifted an eyebrow. On
Ray’s
other side, Baker whispered something. To the press it appeared to be an exchange of information, but Raif’s heart raced. He left as soon as he could without drawing more attention to himself. Walking off the platform, Chief Gerard placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered. Raif’s whole body stiffened. He hurried away.

Raif entered the apartment, which Chris had domesticated, with a sigh
.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Patrick and Baker know.”

“Know
what?”

“That I’m not Ray
. And Chief Gerard suspects.”

She gave him a questioning look
. He shrugged. “They won’t say anything. Patrick thinks it’s funny, but he says I’m not as arrogant as my twin. Baker noticed I don’t have a scar on my lower right cheek. At least Ray has a beard right now so Latrice won’t notice his scar.”

“It’ll be fine,”
Chris assured. “I think they should
all
know before the actual day.”

“You’re probably right, but I still have to keep fooling the other two agents until then.”

After another visit to the station, Raif returned with a deep scowl, which made him look even more like Ray.

Anxious at his expression, Chris asked, “What happen
ed now?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You look upset.”

“Well…” He hesitated. “May
I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

Raif sat on the tan leather sofa, hugged an earth-tone paisley throw pillow to his chest, and stared at the floor. Chris recognized the barrier. She fretted.
Will we have to start over? I thought we’d broken down several walls
. “Have I done something wrong?” she asked.

“What’s your relationship with Lawrence Dantzler?” he asked
, looking up with his captivating eyes without raising his head.

“Excuse me
?” Chris shook her head as if she didn’t understand. “What relationship?”

“You don’t have one?”

“No!” she barked.

“He
…intimated otherwise.”

“
Jackass! I’ll put him in his place.” She sat beside Raif but hesitated to touch him because of the barrier he still held against his chest. “Lawrence Dantzler is a player. Likeable, but he strings women along.”

“You know this how
?” He cocked his head to the side, but made eye contact with Chris.

“We dated about five years ago
. The big problem was he had three or four other women he dated at the same time.”

“So, there’s nothing
now
?”

“No
. Why?”

“
It’s just…I wouldn’t want to step on his toes. He’s Herculean.”

Chris laughed
.
I hope I’m interpreting Raif’s dialogue correctly
.

He said, “After Halloween, I think, I’d like to ask you to dinner since you’re not with Dantzler.”

“I am
not
,” she assured him. “And I’ll go.”

He put the pillow against the back of the sofa.

Through their time, Raif’s admiration and respect for Chris deepened. He wanted to open up fully to her, but he kept up his guard. Old wounds ran deep.

She tried everything she could, including talking about her dark childhood afte
r her mother’s death when she’d had to shoulder the responsibility of helping parent six younger siblings. She shared about becoming involved with a boy no older than she was and how his parents had forbidden him to have anything else to do with her when she got pregnant. She related how her father had forced her to give the baby up for adoption. She talked about her own child she’d never held and wondered about every day. Her words were factual, but anguish and heartache showed on her face. Although a friendship blossomed, Chris was quite aware there was a shield, harder than the throw pillow Raif had held in front of him, over his heart. Only a miracle would make him lower it. Chris was angry with Lawrence Dantzler for replacing the mortar she had managed to chisel loose.

♣♣♣

Even as Raif and Chris bonded, Larkin and Ray grew close despite Ray’s resolve not to become involved any further on a personal level.

The ice broke the first day as they sat down to eat on the bed. Sitting cross-legged, Larkin joked, “All right! So, you deserve an Oscar. However, you can leave the playacting for Latrice. I would really like to get to know Raiford Reynolds.”

“What would you like to know?”
the detective asked.

“Everything
. I want to know about your childhood. I want to know your likes and dislikes. Then, you can choose an adjective that begins with each letter of your name that describes your personality.”

Shocked by her reply, Ray asked,
“Yes, Teacher. Ray or Raiford?”

She grinned
. “Raiford. Ray is too short, and Y is hard anyway.”

“I will if you will,” he challenged.

“Bring it on!” she teased.

Ray set about giving Larkin a synopsis of his childhood and family, including the death of his sister and the impact it had on his life
. He became quiet and thoughtful for he wanted to be honest without being offensive. Then, he seriously said, “Now, for your adjectives.”

“Not mine—yours,” countered Larkin.

“You know what I meant,” argued Ray, “but I just might do some for you and tell you what I think of you.” His cheeks dimpled teasingly.

“Go for it, if I get the same privilege.”
Her eyes danced with mischief.

Ray laughed. “Oh, this I have to hear
. Here I go: First of all, Y wouldn’t’ve been that hard. I would’ve chosen yare. I think yare describes me. I’m just like a Boy Scout; I was a Boy Scout, an Eagle Scout. I’m always prepared.”

Both of them laughed before he began in earnest
. “Rakish or Roguish—I couldn’t decide, but I confess I have a wild side, so either will work.”

She snickered
.
I have a hard time seeing you, so bent on justice, being a rake, although you are pushing the boundaries of the rule book with this double identity farce.

Face blank, he deadpanned
, “I like beer and tequila, and I can tie one on.”

“Okay
.”
Trying to get my goat, huh?
“Please, don’t let me stop you. I want to hear what you think of yourself.”

He nodded and kept on
. “Alert—I pay close attention to details. Independent—I’m used to depending on myself and I find it difficult to let other people make decisions for me or about me. Fallible—I make mistakes. Opinionated—And I will argue my point to the bitter end. Reliable—you can depend on me. Determined—I don’t give up easily. How did I do, Miss Sloan? Do I get an A?”

“Well, all the words were adjectives, and you explained yourself quite well
. I guess I’ll pass you.” The teacher pretended to write in a grade book and took a deep breath. All the while Ray had talked, she had weighed her options to describe a man that took her breath away. “But you might consider these: Restive—you’re quite impatient. Affable—you’re very kind and friendly, but. Irascible—you have a quick temper. Familial—your family and those you care about are important to you. Objective—although you’re opinionated, you must keep an open mind and weigh all the evidence. Rational—you have a great ability to reason. Daedal—you are very intricate and complicated. You’re not so hard to read, Raiford Reynolds, and you’re not as awful as you pretend to be. On the contrary, you’re one of the genuinely good guys.”