Past Will Haunt (34 page)

It took a few tries, but she was able to crack the frame. As she pushed it open, the house was dark except for the kitchen.

That’s when she saw Livy.

She was bound, naked, and had tears streaming down her cheeks.

Shit!

She prayed she wasn’t too late.

As she moved toward her, she talked to her. “Livy, I’m here,” she said. “Is he gone?”

There were only muffled sobs.

Elizabeth pulled the gag and blindfold from her partner’s face before she noticed that the back door was open.

The killer had run.

Livy didn't answer her. Instead, she sobbed over and over again, begging him to stop.

That alone told Elizabeth one thing.

She’d been too late. Livy was in shock. Holstering her sidearm, she grabbed a knife that was sitting there. Picking it up, she saw the dried blood.

He’d left it behind.

Then something shiny caught her eye. It was a medallion. He’d obviously planned on leaving it behind.

Now she had it.

This was how they were going to nail him. With Livy’s help, they’d send him away for a long time. She had a suspect, and all she had to do was get her partner to ID him. DNA and her testimony would put him away.

She cut her free.

Immediately, Livy raced for the bathroom. Elizabeth thought she was going to throw up. When she heard the shower go on, she realized that Livy wasn’t going to testify.

Her partner was destroying the evidence.

They were screwed.

They both knew that she needed trace and a rape kit. In the middle of the trauma, the woman made up her mind.

Elizabeth closed her eyes.

Well, fuck.

She heard the extra sirens, and knew she had to face Gabe. She’d failed in keeping her promise. She’d screwed up. Had fate been on her side, she could have had this creep earlier.

“Where is she?” he blurted, racing into the kitchen.

Elizabeth stared at him. “He raped her.”

He slid to a stop. Where she expected anger from him, there wasn’t any. Instead, Gabe’s eyes filled with tears. He rushed toward the bathroom and the sound of running water. As he pushed open the door, he saw the woman he loved.

Bruises were forming on her.

She was battered.

She was broken.

As he moved toward her, she opened her eyes. The second she saw him, the tears flooded free. They were hot, bitter, and poured from her in a wave.

“Livy, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you. I shouldn’t have…”

He reached for her.

She moved away, a broken creature now afraid of touch.

“We have to get you to the hospital.”

Her eyes went big. “NO! NO! NO!” she began to hyperventilate. “I can’t. Please don’t let them touch me!”

Gabe did the only thing he could. He dropped his gun and badge, kicked off his shoes, and went in with her. At the bottom of his tiled shower, he held her in his arms. She fought, but then relented. As she curled into him, she reminded Gabe of a broken child.

“Please keep me safe,” she whispered. “Oh, God, please keep me safe. Don’t let him come back for me.”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he said, stroking her bruised cheek. “I’ll keep you safe, Livy. I’ll never let him near you again.”

“He ruined me. I’m damaged.”

Her teeth chattered despite the scalding water.

Gabe had dealt with a lot of survivors. He knew what he had to do. “We’ll get through this. You and I will find our way. I won’t let him touch you. I’ve got you from here on out, Livy. I will keep you protected. No matter what he did, it doesn’t change us.”

She sobbed at his words.

Elizabeth stood in the doorway. She wept for what her best friends were going through. She knew this was going to be hard. She knew it was going to change them.

How could it not?

The storm was only beginning, and she’d broken a promise. She’d told Gabe she’d handle this.

And she failed.

She let them both down. This was on her.

He looked up at her, and the pain was in his eyes. As the water covered him and Livy, it didn't wash anything away. That stain would be there forever, and they both knew it.

“We need to…”

He shut her down. “No. She doesn’t want anyone to know he hurt her.” Gabe couldn’t say the ‘R’ word. It wouldn’t form on his lips. “She’s not going through with it. I won’t do that to her and neither will you! Screw this case. He’s not going to humiliate her anymore.” There was no way in hell he’d let a defense lawyer tear her to shreds on the stand, making her the one under the microscope.

Never.

Ever.

Elizabeth didn't blame her, but she also wanted to rage around too. She needed Livy. She needed proof. This maniac was moving so fast, that she didn't have time.

He might be out finding someone else to replace Livy.

If her partner didn't help, they were screwed.

“Get out.”

“Gabe.”

“I said, get the fuck out.”

It was like a slap. Here was the anger she expected. She’d been late. In those precious moments, it had cost Livy, Gabe, and now her too.

Livy wasn’t the only victim here.

Everything had changed.

Her heart ached, but she moved away. She closed the door, knowing she needed to push on. This wasn’t over. It couldn’t be.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed the only person left in her life she could trust.

“Elizabeth?” he asked.

“Chris, I need you to print out that man’s picture, and I need you to get to this address.”

She rattled it off.

“You don’t sound good.”

“He raped Livy,” she whispered. It hurt to even say it. “He got to her. I missed him again. It’s all my fault! I was too slow!”

He didn't hesitate. “I’ll be right there. We’ll get through this,” he offered.

She didn't believe him.

Elizabeth knew better.

This changed everything, and she knew it.

When she hung up, Elizabeth walked outside and turned off the sirens in both their vehicles. The police had gathered, but she lied to them. Elizabeth crossed that line, making up some cockamamie story about an alarm going off inside the residence.

They bought it.

As did the neighbors.

Already, Elizabeth was starting the downward slide.

Once back inside, she walked around the room to find anything that would help her.

She had his knife.

She had the medallion.

But that was it.

Without an ID, she couldn’t tie the DNA or the fingerprints to him, and he likely knew it.

At the creak of floor, she spun, going for her gun. Instead of a maniac, she saw Gabe carrying Livy out of the bathroom. He was dripping wet as his clothes clung to him, and she was wrapped in so many towels as she shivered in his arms.

Elizabeth cringed for the lost innocence.

She cringed for the next victim.

Giving Livy the option to not get the rape kit meant one thing. They were giving this maniac a free shot at his next victim.

Saving Livy from court and the public scrutiny of her assault meant sacrificing the next victim to
‘The Butcher’
.

It was a choice they had to make, and yet it didn't sit well with her.

“Livy wants to go to sleep. I’m going to put her in my bed and watch over her.”

She was torn.

Training kicked in.

“You can’t. I have to question her.”

He glared at her. “It’s not going to happen! Even you can’t be that cold.”

Yes, she was being cold. Unfortunately, someone had to be.

Elizabeth tried to stay calm.

She tried not to let it hurt, but it did. The line was drawn and on one side were the two people she loved. The other side she stood with the law.

There had to be a way to get justice.

“I get it. I know that the last thing you want to do is have her talk to me, but I have to do this, Gabe. You want him caught, right?”

“I want him dead.”

The words shook her as reality set in.

She wanted him dead too.

As she went to speak, there was a knock on the door behind them. Chris poked his head in.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Gabe growled.

Livy crawled even closer into his body—
if that was possible.

“He’s a doctor, and he’s brought a photo with him. I have a suspect. I need Livy to ID him, and then I’ll handle it.”

“She’s not going to court. You’re not going to make her endure the kit. I’m not letting it happen.”

She figured as much.

Chris stood by Elizabeth. He placed his hand on her arm. “Let me help.”

They all stared at the young man. He was a child, barely out of med school, and an ME.

“What’s he supposed to do?” Gabe asked, holding Livy closer.

Before anyone could speak, a tirade of profanity came flooding from the man before them.

They were both in shock.

Gabe had never been this out of control. He was dropping the F-bomb at regular intervals, and he, too, looked like he’d been pushed across the line.

“I went to medical school. Let me just check on Livy. I want to make sure he didn't do any damage to her. I want to make sure she’s okay. That’s my priority.”

She whimpered.

Gabe growled.

Well, there was no time like the present.

“Livy, did you know him?”

She didn't speak.

“Olivia, this is your partner. I need you to focus on me and answer my questions. As soon as you do, we can bury this.”

Chris got it. What happened there would never see the light of day. By not stopping them, he was just as guilty. He trusted Elizabeth, and he promised to have her back.

Gabe went to object, but Livy lifted her head and stared into her eyes. Green met blue.

Trust was given again.

“Did you see him?”

She shook her head. “I heard him. I’ve heard his voice, but I don’t know where.”

She took a deep breath and opened the folder Chris had given her. “Is this him?”

Elizabeth turned the photo over, and her look said it all. At first her brow scrunched up, and then the look of fear flooded her features.

“God! Yes! It was him!”

Gabe memorized the man’s face. He was dead. When he got a minute, he was going to destroy the animal who raped his fiancée. There would be no mercy in his vengeance.

“Where did you see him?” she asked, trying not to lead her. She was a witness, despite what they thought.

“He was one of the guys I interviewed at the first crime scene. When we split up, I talked to the deaf neighbor, and him. He was at the memorial.”

“What?” Elizabeth asked.

“He said his name was Liam O’Boyle. It’s in my papers. I didn't file it in the report because he didn't see anything.”

She closed her eyes. He’d been following and lying from the start. He was a sick bastard.

“Is this the man who raped you?”

Livy sobbed.

“I need a yes or no, Olivia,” Elizabeth stated.

Gabe glared at her.

“Yes.”

That was all she needed.

Only, it wasn’t for an arrest warrant. Elizabeth knew the cold hard truth. They had only Livy’s testimony. In order to get a warrant for Seamus’s DNA, she’d need a rape kit. Without that, there was no way to get it.

From the look on Gabe’s face, she knew this man was dead. If she didn't handle it, like she promised, he was going to jail—and for a very long time.

Livy needed him.

There was only one choice.

“Chris, can you go with them upstairs? I need to handle something.”

Gabe carried Livy up, warily staring at the ME. When he glanced back at Elizabeth, she was dropping her cell phone on the counter and heading toward the door.

In her hand was the knife.

A part of him felt horrible about how he hurt her. She didn't deserve his anger. Elizabeth saved Livy. She got there and scared him away. Had she not, Livy would be dead.

He wanted to tell her he was sorry, but he couldn’t. From here on out, he’d protect Livy, despite the consequences.

They were family.

Elizabeth would forgive him. Hopefully, she’d also be his alibi. When Livy was settled, he was going to find Seamus O’Brien, and kill him.