R. E. Bradshaw - Rainey Nights (32 page)

“Katie’s safe, right?” Rainey asked.

“They’ll be staying in the Center City Hotel, a block from the Sheriff’s Office. In addition to the deputy on duty now, I sent for another female agent to stay with her. She’s about to graduate and I think you’ll like her.”

“You put a trainee on protective duty? What makes you think I’m going to like her?”

“You recommended her for the job.” Danny’s laughter filled the air, just before he hung up the phone.

Rainey had written so many letters to the agency on behalf of applicants, she spent the next several hours trying to guess who the trainee could be. Danny wasn’t going to tell her. He enjoyed knowing something she did not and watching her squirm while she tried to figure it out. She would no doubt find out soon enough, if things went the way Rainey wanted. If they could catch this guy, the first thing she was going to do was go get Katie.

She took a long, soaking bath, and mulled the question over. The bruise on her shoulder was beginning to show hues of yellow and variants of purple, the deep black beginning to fade. The warm water relaxed her. She got out after an hour, combed through her hair, and waited for it to dry. Rainey hung out on the couch looking at Dalton’s correspondence, still searching for the key to the code. She called Ernie to make sure she got the email and the files Rainey reviewed, as promised. She checked in with Mackie, who wanted to come on the stake out, but Rainey convinced him a man of his stature was not good for undercover work. People were bound to notice him. All afternoon, no matter what she was thinking about or doing, in the back of her mind she played out the coming evening’s events. At six o’clock, she repacked Dalton’s files and tapes in the box and put it back in the closet. Then she went to get dressed.

“He’s coming for you tonight,” she said, to her naked image in the mirror. Her eyes travelled down the white scar. Flashes of memory from that night flooded her mind. She let the box lid fly open and remembered the terror and the pain, but it did not make her weak. It made her stronger. Rainey used those memories to fuel her fire. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, tracing the scar with a fingertip. Rainey knew a new fight for survival was imminent. This time she was ready.

Her father’s voice echoed in her head. “See him coming, Rainey. Nobody can get you, if you see him coming.”

“I’m banking on that, Dad. Stay with me. I might need you.”

“Always,” came the reply.

#

Rainey slid on her favorite boots. She could run in them and better yet, she could fight in them. A properly placed thick wooden heel could do a lot of damage. She already had on blue jeans and a black tank top. To accommodate the tech equipment and hide her weapon from view, she had to wear her jacket. Being inside the hot, packed nightclub necessitated she wear as little as possible underneath. She let her chestnut waves hang down over her shoulders. On the outside, she looked like many of the women that would be innocently wandering the bar, looking for a good time. There was nothing innocent about Rainey’s intentions.

Rainey made sure Freddie’s food and water bowls were filled. The sun wasn’t down yet, so he was still off exploring the grounds. Rainey checked the holster clipped to the belt at the back of her pants. She pulled the Glock from the holster, just to make sure it was in the proper position. Holstering the weapon, she put on her jacket, giving the cottage one last sweeping glance. The days here without Katie had been long and lonely. Maybe it was time to start over. She left the cottage knowing tonight could be the beginning or the end.

She stopped at the back of her car, opening the gun safe in the trunk. Rainey suspected she would be in or near her car when the UNSUB made his move. She took out the Sig and Beretta 9mm’s and slipped full magazines into them. She loaded the Mossburg shotgun with nine shells, racked one into the chamber, and added a tenth. Rainey started to pick up the Taser, and then left it behind. She had no intentions of taking this guy in. She closed the trunk and opened the driver’s side door. She put the Sig under her seat, the Beretta in the console, and laid the shotgun on the floor in the back. Someone was going to die tonight, Rainey hoped it wasn’t her, but she was going down in a blaze of gunfire if she did.

Rainey thought about calling Katie again, and then realized she would be in the middle of her father’s party. She’d call her later, before she went in the bar. Rainey didn’t want Katie saddled with the memory of how their last conversation ended, if indeed it was the last. She drove to the judicial building, listening to a Jason Mraz CD Katie had given her. When the song “I’m Yours” played, Rainey sang along and meant every word. It was her turn to win some or lose some. Rainey may have taught Katie to protect herself, but Katie taught Rainey a lesson or two about living life like there’s no tomorrow.

Her mood was surprisingly upbeat, while James hooked up his surveillance gear.

“So, James, when I go to the bathroom, are you going to turn this thing off?”

James continued working, as he answered her question, “If you need a moment of privacy, just say so. I will kill the video feed. I’ll have to leave the audio on, so you can tell me when to reactivate the camera.”

“That’s great. Everybody will hear me pee.”

James smiled up at her. “It won’t be the first time we’ve listened to someone go to the bathroom. Trust me, peeing is my least concern.”

The hubbub around her ceased, while the team went over the plans once again. Danny and Paula would stay in the van with James. Their job was to watch the people watching Rainey. Roger, Eric, and Curtis would split up and join the uniformed cops at both the front and back entrances. Detective Robertson reserved a table on the balcony where she could see most of the floor. She would also be carrying a signal booster for Rainey’s equipment. The other women would go in as couples stationed around the bar. Rainey was covered like a blanket.

She knew the UNSUB wasn’t going to take her in the bar, it was the ride home she worried about. Danny planned to follow her with the surveillance van, but it was still risky. The goal was to identify the suspect inside the bar, and pressure him into giving himself away. That was Danny’s plan, anyway. Rainey’s plan was to get him to follow her home, where she would dispense with him in short fashion. No trial, no jail time, no serial killer fans of his to come after her. No, this time she wouldn’t be aiming for a leg.

#

At nine o’clock, Detective Robertson and the others left to go to the bar. Rainey was to follow an hour later. Danny remained behind. He would ride over in Rainey’s car with her. Rainey paced around the room and fiddled with the earwig James gave her.

“You know this is going to be useless with all the loud music,” she complained.

Danny, who didn’t look up from his computer screen, said, “We’ve used that model before in loud settings. We got them after you left the Bureau. They work very nicely.”

Rainey ignored him and stuck the earwig in her pocket. She continued to pace. Danny called her over to his computer. He pointed at a satellite image on the screen.

“Brooks sent me the winter satellite images for the area around your house. It makes it easier to see the farm paths into the woods that connect to the road you’ll be driving. Make sure you are aware of their locations. Now that the leaves have come in, he could hide in there and come out at you unexpected.”

Rainey glanced at the screen. “Most of those paths have chains or gates across them to keep people out.”

Danny looked up from the computer. “You just watch those paths. Anybody can get a bolt cutter.”

“I got it, Danny. I could drive that route with my eyes closed. I know what to look for.”

“Let’s get him before it goes that far. Come on, it’s time to go.”

“Give me a minute, will you? I need to call Katie.”

Danny stood and put his hand on Rainey’s arm, as she reached for her phone. “I’d advise against that. I talked to the agent with Katie when they moved the family to the hotel. It seems Katie and her sister Helena had quite a bit to drink at their father’s party. Nothing good could come of you calling her now.”

Rainey thought about it and decided Danny was right. If Katie was still mad, the alcohol would definitely free up her tongue. Rainey didn’t need Katie’s stinging retorts in her head right now.

“Okay, let’s do this,” she said, heading for the door.

Danny hesitated to move. He stopped Rainey at the door by saying, “I know you’re going to kill him if you get the chance. Just make it righteous, Rainey. Don’t give me a reason to lock you up.”

“It will be a clean shoot,” Rainey said, smiling. “Don’t I look scared for my life?”

“No, you look hell bent on someone dying tonight,” Danny said, still not moving.

Rainey opened the door. She turned back to Danny. “Well, then your job is to make sure it isn’t Katie or me.”

#

The area around the bar was packed with cars. Rainey was lucky Roger had staked out a parking place for her, in the lot next to the bar. She and Danny got out of the car and went their separate ways, he to the van at the end of the alley and Rainey to the front entrance. She slipped in the earwig and checked the feed.

“James, can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear, Rainey.”

The LCD sign above the entrance flashed the Feme Sole logo, interspersed with the announcement that all proceeds from tonight’s door went to the families of Lisa Jones and Kim McNatt. From the looks of things, the lesbian community was more than willing to support their own. The line at the door disappeared around the corner.

“Okay, folks, let the show begin,” Rainey said, as she stepped through the line and walked up to the front door.

One of the girls taking up money and stamping hands was the same one Rainey saw yesterday. She nodded at Rainey, beckoning her to come on through. Rainey wasn’t trying to hide who she was. It was a good thing, too. Heads all around the front room started to turn, as women poked each other and pointed. The lounge area was covered in lesbians of all sizes, shapes, ages, and colors. Women were draped on the staircases, leaning against the walls, eating at the tables, and crowded around the bar. Music poured over the balcony, thumping so loud, Rainey could feel it against her chest. Rainey took a second to let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room and the flashing multicolored lights above her head. A thick haze hung in the air, not from cigarette smoke. Theatrical effect machines pumped artificial fog from the rafters. Laser beams sliced through the atmosphere, spilling over from the dance area beyond the doors.

Rainey scanned the room. She recognized one of the couples against the wall, as cops from Sheila’s team. Rainey heard voices in her earwig. She pushed it down further in her ear in time to hear Sheila’s comment.

“Agent McNally, we have a problem. If you’ll check the feed on the door, just before Agent Bell entered the bar, you will see what I mean.”

Rainey covered her mouth with a fake cough. She asked, “What is it, Sheila? I’m making my way to the doors now.”

“Don’t come through the doors, yet,” Sheila said, quickly. “Stop at the bar and get a drink. You’re going to need it.”

Rainey moved toward the bar, saying, under her breath, “Why? Who’s in there, Cookie Kutter?”

She heard Danny exclaim, “Fuck me.”

“Come on guys, who is it?” Rainey implored, not worrying about people seeing her talking to herself anymore.

Danny spoke hurriedly, “Rainey, get out of there. I’m coming in.”

“What the hell, Danny? I’m not afraid of Cookie Kutter.”

Sheila butted in, “Listen to him, Rainey. Walk away.”

“Who the fuck is it? Tell me now, or I’m coming through those doors… Danny?”

Paula’s voice joined the fray. “He’s on the move, Rainey. He’s coming to you. Come out and let him deal with this and then you can go back in.”

“I don’t understand,” Rainey said, frustrated.

Phyllis Rowan came through the large doors from the other room. The sound amplified and then muffled again, as the doors closed behind her. She spotted Rainey and made her way over to her. She slapped Rainey on the shoulder and laughed loudly. Phyllis leaned in close, but still had to shout.

“Damn girl, that’s a handful you got there. I didn’t know you were bringing her with you tonight.”

It suddenly dawned on Rainey who was in the other room. She shot around Phyllis, yanked open one of the wooden doors, and stormed into the dance hall.

She heard Sheila say in her ear, “Okay guys, I have eyes on Agent Bell. She’s moving across the room toward the northwest corner. I think she sees the problem.”

Rainey neared Dara Thomas’ private table. A blonde, with her back turned to Rainey looked extremely familiar. She was going to read Katie the riot act for this stunt. Rainey reached out and grabbed the blonde’s shoulder, whirling her around. She was shocked when the recognition hit her. Gillian Knox wore a surprised look, immediately replaced by consternation.

“Agent Bell, I wish someone had warned me that alcohol and these two don’t mix.”

Rainey looked at the table in front of Knox. Katie and her equally beautiful sister, Helena, were holding court, with all eyes on them.

Knox continued to defend her actions. “I tried to keep them at the hotel. They just walked out. Short of handcuffing them, I wasn’t sure what to do, so we just followed them here.” She pointed at the female cop in plain clothes and the two uniformed officers behind the table.

Danny was in Rainey’s ear again, “Let me handle this Rainey. Remember he’s watching you.”

“I am well aware of that,” Rainey said.

Knox looked puzzled. “You knew she was here? I just now called it in.”

Rainey pointed at her ear. Knox got it and quit talking, just about the time Rainey quit listening and stepped up to the table. Katie was drunk and loud.

She was saying, “Rainey said this would be the safest place in Durham tonight, so here we are.”

“Yes, here you are,” Rainey shouted over the music.

Helena saw Rainey first. She sprang from her chair and hurried around the table. She hugged Rainey, while saying, “Our hero has arrived. Rainey, we were looking for you and Katie said you would be here.”