Past Will Haunt (33 page)

She wanted to scream. Instead, she needed a little help to work through this. Since Gabe was going to be busy with Livy, she had to call the only other person who might have her back.

“Doctor Leonard,” Chris said, answering the lab phone.

“Doc, I need you.”

He started laughing. “I wish my imagination wasn’t painting that picture.”

“Seriously, I think I know who the killer is, but I need background information on him.”

He got serious, and fast.

“What do you need me to do?

“I don’t have access to a computer. Can you be my research monkey?”

“Sure, but we don’t have access to the same databases, so I don’t know how much I can help.”

“I’m going to give you my password and ID. Just do your thing.”

She rattled it off.

The screen opened for him. “Okay, I’m in.”

She walked him through it. When he found the right database, he began typing.

“I want to know everything about Seamus O’Brien.”

Chris ran the searches. Fortunately, he was a fast learner, and he was good with electronics. “I’m pulling everything I can on him.”

“Anything?” she asked, impatiently. Elizabeth couldn’t help but think time was going to be the deciding factor on this one, and she didn't have a hell of a lot.

“It’s still running.”

She began pacing. “I’m going to put you on hold and make a call, okay?”

He didn't answer.

She could hear the keyboard keys clicking.

Elizabeth clicked over and tried to call the Boston number again. Once more, it was busy.

She looked at her watch.

How was that possible? It was nighttime. This was a really bad time for someone to slack off and take a day off.

When she clicked back over, Chris was waiting for her to return.

“Your search came back. He’s clean.”

“He can’t be. There has to be something that ties him to this.”

“He has no arrests, his prints aren’t in the system, and there’s no DNA log.”

She closed her eyes and tried to think. There had to be something there.

Think!

Think!

Think!

“Tell me about him. Does he have an education?”

There was more clicking and then a pause.

“He did go to school for a little while. The Federal student loan database has a hit. He has active loans.”

Elizabeth needed everything, and she crossed her fingers in silent prayer. “Where?”

“Boston University for Fine Arts.”

They both saw the correlation.

“He wanted to be an artist. This can’t be a coincidence. He lied to me.” She told him everything she found out. Elizabeth needed someone to bounce it all off, and Livy was busy.

“Jesus! When someone lies…”

Yeah, she knew what that meant.

“Chris, tell me I’m not insane to think that this guy is the one.”

He thought about everything she told him. “I think you might have found him. An ex art student creating something from the dead? Yeah, that’s a big red flag.”

“I need more. This is circumstantial. I don’t have anything on him yet, but in a day or two, I will. I just have to tie him to that pub.”

“I’ll see what else I can find for you. I’ll search the internet. I’m done for the night.”

“Will you be there?”

“Yes.”

“Call me when you find anything else.”

She hung up.

Elizabeth headed back toward the crime scene. What she needed was a camera showing Seamus near the pub when any of the women died.

She needed to tie him to it, or they’d never have enough evidence to get a warrant for his DNA so they could end his killing spree. Him lying, and being from Boston wasn’t enough. Every judge in the city would laugh in her face.

Shit!

Elizabeth popped some gum into her mouth and found that deep well of determination. She may be exhausted, but she had a suspect. This was the beginning of the end for him.

She could feel it.

One way or another,
‘The Butcher’
was going down.

     
 
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Gabe’s Brownstone

Livy tried to stop glancing over at the clock, but it wasn’t easy. As she sat there watching television, beside her sat her cell phone and Glock. As she kept the channel on the news, she calmed down when she saw Gabe on the screen.

He looked so handsome standing beside the director of the FBI. She imagined that one day, when the man retired, Gabe would be in that power position.

He’d be the one addressing the media, not as an agent, but as someone with so much power.

Her heart swelled.

She couldn’t believe her luck. He was going to be her husband.

As she went to flip the channel, waiting for the conference to begin, she heard something.

Livy hit mute.

There was nothing.

As she went to turn the sound back up, she heard what sounded like footsteps on the roof.

Yeah, that couldn’t be good.

Then again, there was nothing.

Maybe she was getting paranoid. It might just be some fat squirrel making its way to a tree.

Right?

As she was just about ready to talk herself out of the possibility that there was an intruder, there was another thump, but this time it was right above her.

She moved.

Grabbing the phone, she called Gabe.

It went right to voice mail.

Shit!

Shit!

Shit!

Someone was in the brownstone, she was alone, and Gabe wasn’t answering his phone. She probably shouldn’t have told him she was going to call for phone sex. In hindsight, she didn't blame him for not taking the call.

Livy thought about her partner. Elizabeth was supposed to be heading her way. She had one chance left. As she placed her back to the one wall, she made the call.

“LaRue,” she said.

“Lyzee, I need you,” she whispered.

“Livy?”

“I’m at Gabe’s and someone is upstairs. I’m going to try and find him.”

“Don’t! Get out of the house!”

“He told me not to leave the house, Elizabeth, and he might be right. What if the killer wants me out there?”

Elizabeth was well aware, but she’d have a better fighting chance. “If he’s inside, you’re trapped. Get out!”

She hesitated. “Okay, but stay on the phone with me. I’ve never been more scared.”

Elizabeth had already hit lights and sirens as she tore through Georgetown and toward Gabe’s home. “I’m here. I won’t leave you.”

As she focused on the drive, she heard Livy breathing.

“I’m almost there,” she said. “I just have to unchain the door.”

“I’ll be at Gabe’s in fifteen minutes, Livy. Get to the street and start screaming or firing your gun. Someone will call the police.”

She didn't hear anything.

“Livy?”

Elizabeth waited.

Then, she heard the scream.

Right before the phone went dead.

       
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Gabe was about to go on.

He and the director had conferred and made up their minds on how they wanted to handle it. As soon as this case was done, he was a shoe in for the deputy position.

He could tell.

Despite them not having the killer, the director liked him. It was his saving grace.

As the boss was giving his portion of the speech, his phone vibrated. Gabe looked down.

Shit!

It was Livy.

As much as he wanted a sexy conversation, this wasn’t the time. He had to be focused, and she was too much of a wild card.

He sent it to voicemail.

As he was practicing his information in his head, the phone buzzed again.

He glanced down.

It was Elizabeth.

He sent it to voicemail.

When he didn't answer it, he immediately got a text.

What the hell was going on?

Glancing down, he read it.

‘Killer is at your house inside with Livy. I’m on my way. I won’t make it. You have to get home. ASAP!’

Gabe didn't hesitate.

He jumped from the platform and raced for his car. Screw the job. There was something far more important at stake.

Love.

   
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

When she woke up, she tried to scream. Only, she had a balled up pair of gym socks shoved in her mouth. Immediately, she wanted to cry.

Livy knew she was dead.

She was naked, bound, blindfolded, and he was right there.

Honestly, she wanted to beat the hell out of herself for being so stupid. That minute of hesitation, when Elizabeth told her to run, had cost Livy her life.

She’d never see Gabe again.

“I see you’re awake.”

Livy began praying she’d survive. If she was going to last long, she needed to keep a cool head. She was well aware of what was going to happen first.

He was going to rape her.

Still, she had to accept that was better than the end result. She didn't want him touching her, but if it came down to rape or being slaughtered, she knew which she preferred.

She struggled.

He struck her across the face.

“I’m going to hurt you so bad, Helena. Before this is over, you’re going to beg.”

She memorized the name and the sound of his voice. He was insane. This man didn't have a clue.

“When I’m done with you, I’ll make you beautiful. You shouldn’t have broken my heart. Had you stayed with me, I would be an artist, and you would be my wife.”

Shit!

She’d heard his voice before.

Jesus!

Where?

Livy struggled as he climbed onto the kitchen island. She could feel the cold marble against her back and the press of his legs against her body.

In her head, she was screaming for help. She was begging to survive this.

She wanted Gabe.

She needed him.

As he touched her, she tried to move away, but his body was pinning hers. When she heard the slide of a zipper, she knew she was in trouble.

He was going to violate her.

She began begging any power that be to save her, to get Elizabeth there sooner, or Gabe home.

Anything.

Livy didn't want to go down like this.

She didn't want to be a Fed anymore.

When she felt his breath on her neck, the tears came. When she felt the nudge of his erection, she wanted to throw up. When he slid into her, Livy shut down.

In that horrible moment, she became a victim.

To make it worse, she was about to become one of the women she’d stood over in their death.

He was raping her.

Then he was going to kill her.

       
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Elizabeth was the first one there. She suspected Gabe would be right behind her, so she didn't hesitate. As her lights and sirens screamed, she raced toward the door.

She didn't have time to use the key Gabe had given her. Instead, she booted the door.