Storm Front (16 page)

Earl snarled low in his throat as someone approached. He placed Tessa behind him and turned to see who dared to interrupt a personal moment with Tessa.

Detective Roebuck coughed as he stood in the entrance to the great room.

“What is it, Roebuck?”

“I … um … couldn’t help but overhear. But Ms. Andrews is right. She can’t stay here. It’s a crime scene.” Roebuck looked around, a fierce expression on his face as he took in the extent of the destruction. “Whatever your computer tech guy did, the security is running now. From what the CSI techs are telling me, Denuccio did this right after Ms. Andrews left on Saturday to fly to Idaho.”

The detective sighed and looked as if he had aged since the teleconference on Tuesday. “If Denuccio comes back, we’ll see and get him.”

“Fuck that, he won’t come back here, and we all know it,” snarled Earl. “This,” he waved his free arm around the space, “happened on your watch. You and Garcia dropped the fucking ball. Denuccio should’ve been arrested as soon as you tracked the e-mails and text messages.”

Roebuck’s face darkened. “I know CPD fucked up. And while it doesn’t totally excuse me, Garcia was running the case. We got big-footed by the Feds, okay? I didn’t like it, but I had to eat it and do what he said. Todd in our Cyber-Crimes Division looked over the shit both Dr. Walshes sent and agreed we should’ve found Denuccio’s lair a while ago.”

Roebuck ran a shaky hand through his thinning hair. “My boss knows all this now. He’s talking to Garcia’s boss. That Fargo field office mentioned on Tuesday looks like a real possibility for Garcia. He screwed the pooch, and we’re all paying for it.”

“I’m sorry about all this, Ms. Andrews.” Roebuck shook his head. “I want justice for you and all those girls this freak’s harmed all these years. It bothers the hell out of me we have to use money laundering of terrorist money to put him away. He should be going away for multiple murders, kidnapping, and sexual deviant acts. Crimes against persons always trumps crimes concerning property in my book, but we’ll take what we can to get him off the streets.”

Tessa trembled within Earl’s arms, but she held it together in front of the cop.

“Shut it, Roebuck,” Earl said, feeling feral. “Tessa lived it. You don’t need to stand here in her destroyed home and tell her what she already knows.”

“It’s okay, tough guy.” Tessa petted him. “Detective, you were very gentle and patient with me all those years ago.” Her voice was strained. “I’ve never forgotten. You treated me like a human being and not as an object of pity. I don’t blame you or anyone for what happened now or back then other than the person responsible. Denuccio will be caught and will serve time for his criminal acts.”

Earl was not as forgiving, but damn, he was so proud of Tessa. Her voice and demeanor exhibited none of the trembling he felt as she snuggled even closer to his body.

“Damn right, the man will be caught and soon.” Earl kissed the top of her head. “Paul and Loren are scouting his condo now. Keely and Tweeter are keeping eyes on his accounts.” The locals didn’t need to know the two were also using spy satellites to keep an eye on Denuccio’s hidey-hole from the sky. “We’ll know his every move.”

“And the Chicago police are providing backup as requested by SSI acting as agents for Homeland at the request of the National Clandestine Service,” Roebuck said. “The FBI’s nose is way out of joint.”

Earl snorted, “Well, if
all
of the alphabet intelligence agencies would’ve shared intel before now like they’re supposed to, the FBI would’ve known their stalker suspect was a person of interest in international terrorism and acting within the US.” He glared at Roebuck. “Homeland should’ve taken over the case and surveillance as soon as Denuccio had been identified as Tessa’s cyberstalker.”

“Yeah,” Roebuck looked around and sighed, “would’ve prevented this, that’s for sure.”

Earl said nothing else. Nothing and no one would ever violate Tessa’s world again and live to tell about it.

* * * *

11:00 a.m., Chicago Fairmont Hotel.

Tessa leaned into Earl as he gave her another kiss. They sat on the bed in the beautifully appointed, lake-front-view suite at the top of the Fairmont Hotel. When she’d complained about the cost, he’d just kissed her and made love to her until she was too exhausted to even think about it.

The man’s love-making had been both hungry and tender. Already she missed his touch, but he had work to do.

“Now, Tessa baby, you don’t leave this suite until I, Loren, or Paul come back for you. You go with no one else. Not even the cop Roebuck stationed at the door. He’s there to keep people out.”

“I understood that the last two times you told me, Earl.” Tessa smiled and petted his chest.

“I’ll be at Denuccio’s condo, but always reachable by my cell. Call if you need me.”

“Yes, Earl. I’ll be fine.” Her man really didn’t want to leave her, but then again he did. She knew he wanted to be in on the take-down of Denuccio.

He kissed her forehead so sweetly it brought tears to her eyes. “The warrant from the US Attorney General’s office should be coming through any second now. It should be over soon.” He smiled and rubbed his thumb over her lower lip. She sucked it and his eyes heated. “Hold that thought, baby. After it’s over, we’ll take the guys and celebrate at Gibson’s this evening. Then,” his voice lowered to a sexy growl, “we’ll come back here and burn up the sheets, get a good night’s sleep so we can head home tomorrow.”

Tessa kissed Earl’s lips. “I’m good with all that, but I have no clothes. Can we stay an extra day before going home so I can shop for something to wear? I can always shop for more stuff online once we get to Michigan. I assume UPS or FedEx deliver to Osprey’s Point?”

Earl nipped her lower lip and then licked it. “Yes, they deliver. We’ll be living in the U.P., not the Arctic Circle.”

“Same difference from what the Walsh twins told me.” Tessa giggled. “I can’t wait to see your home.”

“Our home,” Earl corrected instantly.

Warm and gushy feelings settled in her stomach and she nodded. “Our home.”

Tessa eyed her man sharply, taking in his dark clothing and winter gear which reminded her of what she’d seen SWAT officers wear. “You do have on a bullet-proof vest, right? I don’t want…”

“Shh, sweetheart.” Earl kissed her mouth as if he couldn’t stand not to. “Ren and the guys outfitted me fully. Loren has my weapons. I’ll be fine. If the Taliban couldn’t kill me, this fuck sure as hell isn’t gonna. Okay?”

“Okay.” She smiled. “Just think, instead of e-mailing or calling the Walshes for military details, I only have to turn over in bed and grill you.”

“Sweetheart, if you think I’m going to talk war games and tactics in bed when you’re naked and lying beside me, think again.” He rubbed his nose alongside hers. “I have much better ideas for our bed than that.”

“Okay, I’ll save the research for the dinner table.” She rubbed his nose back with hers. “I’ll research the sex scenes in bed.”

Earl grunted, his dark eyes turning smoky with leashed desire. “Much better plan.” He stood. “Now … order room service and eat something. You need to keep up your energy. You almost died on Monday. You need fuel, liquids, and rest.”

“I am hungry.” She frowned. “It’s not safe for me to go down to the restaurant in the hotel?” She got out of bed and pulled on Earl’s T-shirt to cover her nakedness.

The heat in her man’s eyes flared and seared her. He’d told her the first time she’d attempted to pull on her pajamas she was always to be naked in his bed. The dictatorial, dominant pronouncement had made her instantly wet, and the sex afterward had been incendiary and kinky.

Tessa found she could do kinky with Earl, but only with him. No flashbacks at all.

Earl was her miracle.

“I think I made it clear you weren’t to leave the room at all.” Earl took her in his arms and hugged her to him, his hand fondling her naked bottom under his shirt. “I have to know you’re safe, or I’ll go nuts. I need to keep my mind on the take-down.”

“Okay. Just call me when it’s over, so I know you and the guys are safe.” She peeked at him through her lashes. “I’ll be going just as nuts stuck here, not knowing what’s going on.”

“Just as soon as it’s over. I promise.” He kissed her once again, this one a deep, tongue-thrusting, hungry kiss that had her moaning. He broke off with a groan.

Tessa smiled because she could feel his cock against her stomach. He wanted her again. The man had some serious stamina.

“Hold my place.”

“Oh, I have it memorized, book-marked, and noted.” Tessa followed him to the door.

Earl turned in the open doorway. “Lock it. Use all the security locks. No one in, not even room service, just have them leave the cart outside the door and let the guard ring you. Okay?”

“Okay. Now go, or you’ll miss out on all the fun.” She pasted on a teasing smile, but inside she wanted him to stay here, be safe with her.

But she knew Earl well enough, even after knowing him for less than a week, to know he had to be there. Had to eliminate the danger to her. She’d never deny him his revenge, especially since he was doing it for her. All for her.

She said “hello” to the uniformed cop who sat on a chair in the reception area for the four suites on the top floor. She closed and locked the door, then headed for the bathroom to take a long, soaking bubble bath with the luxury products the hotel provided.

All the recent Earl-type sex had taken a toll on her body which was unused to such vigorous love-making. Her man was definitely in a league of his own when it came to sex. All the men she’d dated in the last seven years had been in the minors, no, less than that, they’d been bush league.

Tessa had herself a real man now. So, she’d needed to make sure she could keep up with him.

After the bath, she’d order in a light lunch. She’d need to save room for Gibson’s, her, and as it turned out Earl’s, favorite local steakhouse. She’d use the time after she ate lunch to use the computer in the hotel room to get a head start on replenishing her wardrobe and have the items shipped to Earl’s—now her—home.

God, she couldn’t wait to start her new life in Michigan with Earl.

11:45 a.m., Outside Denuccio’s Oak Street Condo.

The wind off Lake Michigan whistled down the residential street as a winter storm front moved into the city. Already the snow swirled around the law enforcement teams camped outside Denuccio’s condo. A blizzard warning was in effect with six inches of new snow predicted along with gusting winds upwards of sixty miles per hour.

The urgency to get the take-down done was palpable in the atmosphere. No one wanted to go head-to-head with Mother Nature at her worst. Getting Denuccio off the streets was piece of cake when compared to Chicagoland’s fierce weather patterns.

Earl wanted to get back to Tessa. Being snowed in, in a penthouse suite, wouldn’t be a hardship.

“Are you sure he’s in there?” Earl asked the SWAT team leader.

“Someone’s in there,” the man said, pointing to the infrared sensor. “CPD officers said they saw him go in with a cup of Starbucks and a bag from the bakery down the street around eight-thirty this morning, and he hasn’t come out since then.”

Loren and Paul came up to Earl.

Paul said, “The situation doesn’t feel right. The blinds are all shut as if he knows we’re watching.”

Earl looked at the twins. While he’d been Army Special Forces, he had a healthy respect for SEALs, who attended many of the same training schools. When a SEAL said something didn’t feel right, it wasn’t.

“We need to get in there. Now.” Earl shoved past the SWAT leader who grabbed him. Earl looked down at the man’s hand. “Move it or lose it.”

“You just can’t go barreling in there. He’s considered armed and dangerous.”

“Your orders are to support SSI. We’re going in.” Earl shrugged the man’s hand off. “He’s not there. I’m betting whoever is, isn’t even alive. Look at the infrared again. The pattern is too even. Humans’ heat patterns aren’t uniform, and they move, even when sleeping.”

The SWAT leader’s ego had just taken a hit, but Earl had seen terrorists use the same trick. A dead body wrapped in an electric blanket would show a warm human-shaped form.

“Don’t beat yourself up, Captain.” Earl waited at the condo entrance, really a row house, while Paul picked the locks. “I’ve seen this trick before. Now, so have you. You’ll never get caught by it again.”

“What happened the first time you were fooled?” Paul asked as he turned the handle on the door and shoved it open.

“I spent two weeks in the hospital and have scars and no spleen.” Earl went in low while Loren and Paul covered him and entered high. Two SWAT guys moved in behind them to cover the front and rear entrances once the main floor was cleared.

Earl checked out the first room, a home office. “Clear.”

Paul and Loren made their way down the central hallway to the back of the condo. Their “clears” echoed in the empty condo, empty except for what he suspected was a blanket-wrapped corpse on the second floor.

If there had been a live body upstairs, they should’ve been shot at by now or heard the man fleeing. All he heard was the lake-whipped wind howling through the front door.

Earl made his way up the stairs, keeping his eye out for any booby traps. He registered Loren speaking to the SWAT captain over the head sets. Loren remained downstairs to cover his and Paul’s asses as they cleared the second floor.

Paul shadowed him. They moved together as if they’d trained together. In a way they had; Special Forces training in all the service branches covered clearing a building as part of modern urban warfare. Just because Earl suspected the body showing up on infrared was a red herring that didn’t mean another person masking his body heat wasn’t secreted somewhere on the premises.

“So? Who’s the body upstairs? Denuccio?” Paul asked
sotto voce
.

“Maybe.”
Maybe not.
“There could always have been more than one silent partner. And bad guys have been known to get rid of partners.” Earl practically snarled the words. “I counted at least ten different men hurting Tessa in the photos and videos. Any of them could’ve been in on the filthy business.”