THE TAINTED TRUST: A DOUGLASS CRIME AND ROMANCE THRILLER SERIES (THE KING TRILOGY Book 2) (22 page)

“No. I told you we’re just friends.”

“Where have you been living?” Kerri asked, offering him one further chance to lie.

Brian’s eyes darted back and forth. “At Billy Maxwell’s, one of my teammates. He’s a defensive back. He has a house in Westhampton Beach.”

The third lie turned revulsion to anger. “We’re both wasting our time,” Kerri said, then turned and marched toward Dennis’s house.

“What did I say?” Brian asked, hurrying to keep up with her brisk pace.

“Nothing,” Kerri hissed, refusing to look at Brian and quickening her pace.

“Bull-shit!” Brian shouted. He raced to catch up, reached around Kerri with both arms and held her against his chest. “What the hell did I say to upset you?”

The vile smell of wine, toothpaste and stale beer sickened Kerri. She struggled to break free. “You’re a goddamned liar!” she screamed. “I can forgive you for your drinking, even for hitting me, but never for cheating and lying.”

“What!”

Kerri ducked under Brian’s grasp, then stood her ground and pointed an accusing finger at him. “There was a time when I worshipped you, Brian Pyper. You were everything to me. I would have given you anything. You abused that commitment, just as much as you abused your God-given talent.”

“You mean you imagine that’s what I did,” Brian retorted.

“How can you stand there and lie about it? That’s the worst transgression of all.”

“How can you stand there and accuse me of cheating and lying?”

“Your breath smells of booze, you’re living with Tina Desouza, and I know she’s more than a friend.”

“How can you be so sure? Did you have me followed?”

Visions of Brian and Tina in Visconti’s photo album swam in her head. She didn’t have him followed, Visconti did. “No, I did not have you followed.”

“Can’t we just forget the past? I love you, Kerri. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

“Maybe you can sweep the past under the rug, but I can’t.” Kerri turned and headed for Dennis’s house.

Brian made no further attempt to follow. “I’m never going to stop trying, Kerri,” he shouted. “Eventually you’re going to realize you belong to me.”

Andrea had watched from the bedroom window from the moment Kerri left the house with Brian. She raced to the front door. “What happened?” she asked as Kerri entered.

“He can’t accept that it’s over. He really scared me. I saw that same look in his eyes.”

“Where is he? Is he still out there?”

“He owns that black Jaguar out front.”

Andrea opened the curtains no more than an inch and peered through the window. “He’s getting into it now.”

“Would you please tell me when he’s gone?”

The telephone rang, causing Andrea to turn away from the window. “Would you get that, Kerri?” she requested. “I’ll keep watching.”

Kerri entered the den and lifted the receiver. “Hello,” she said, still breathing heavily.

“We belong together, Kerri,” Brian said in an ominous tone. “I’ll follow you forever if I have to.”

Kerri slammed the receiver down, then raced to the front door. “It was him,” she said, then stepped in front of Andrea and yanked the curtains aside. She saw Brian in the front seat of his car, still holding the receiver of his telephone.

“What did he say?”

Kerri closed the curtains and turned to face Andrea, her face almost devoid of color, tears filling her eyes. “He said he’s going to follow me forever. I’m really scared, Andrea. He lied about everything. He wouldn’t even admit he’s been sleeping with that stripper.”

“Did you tell him about Louis’s report?”

“No.”

“Had he been drinking?”

Kerri nodded.

“Maybe I should call the police.”

“No. Let’s wait and see what he does. Maybe he’ll just leave.”

Both looked through the curtains to see the car pull away from the curb, then disappear around the corner.

Andrea turned to face Kerri. “I’m going to tell Miles when he gets home. I’m sure he’s going to want you to get a lawyer. The sooner that man’s out of your life, the better.”

Kerri shook her head. “I can’t afford a lawyer.”

Andrea chuckled. “Don’t worry about that. Brian will pay the bill, one way or another.”

CHAPTER 58

Andrea kissed her husband’s cheek. “How was your day, darling?” she asked, helping to remove his rain soaked coat.

“What do you want, Andrea? You’re usually more subtle than this,” Miles said.

“I want you to talk to Kerri. She could be in trouble.”

Dennis placed his arm around Andrea’s shoulders and led her in the direction of the kitchen. “First I need a drink.”

Andrea was prepared. “In anticipation of that requirement, I have a jug of chilled martinis waiting for you.”

Dennis sat at the counter, took a sip of his first martini, then released a loud gasp. “I feel better already. Now, tell me about Kerri.

Andrea told her husband the story of Brian Pyper’s extraordinary visit with Kerri.

Dennis took another sip and shook his head. “She doesn’t deserve that. She’s too nice a girl… It’s really a shame. She was so much in love when I met her. I can’t believe that jerk screwed up so badly. Is she okay?”

“Who knows?”

“I’m worried about this weekend. We’ll be at the C.B.O.T. Convention, and she’ll be alone here until Sunday night.”

“Maybe I should stay here. Would you be upset?”

Dennis revealed a sly smirk. “Heartbroken. It’s the only time we ever get a chance to go away together. I’ll talk to her now.”

“You really care about her, don’t you?”

Dennis nodded. “I don’t want to see her future destroyed by that idiot she married. She’s brilliant, Andrea. I’ve never seen anyone grasp the fundamentals of the business as quickly as she did. She’s personable too. I think she’s more capable of handling clients that I am.” He finished his martini, headed downstairs and knocked on the door to Kerri’s apartment.

“It’s open,” Kerri shouted.

Dennis entered to see Kerri sitting on her bed, reading and dressed in faded blue jeans and an oversized gray sweater. Bare feet.

“Hi boss,” she said with a big smile, then placed her book beside her.

“Andrea told me what happened tonight. You okay?”

Kerri nodded, but her smile disappeared.

“Andrea and I are leaving town on Friday morning. We’re going to the Chicago Board of Trade Commodities Convention. We’ll be there until Sunday night… Now, under the circumstances, I hate like hell to leave you here alone. Brian could be a problem.”

“Don’t even think about it. I left no doubt in his mind. I told him the marriage was over, and I didn’t want anything more to do with him.”

“That’s great, but he still worries me. Andrea told me he’s decided not to give up, and if that’s the case, then you shouldn’t take it lightly. I’ve heard all kinds of horror stories about rejected lovers and husbands who let their obsessive possessive fantasies obscure reality.”

“Miles, he’s a drunk, a liar and a cheat, but I don’t think he’s crazy.”

“I hope you’re right, but maybe you’re not. Just to be safe, I want you to stay in a hotel for the weekend. I’ll pay for it.”

“Absolutely not!” Kerri protested. “There’s no way I’m going to let you do that. I’m a big girl now and I’ll be just fine.”

Dennis smiled. “You sure have grown up.”

“Thanks for caring, Miles.”

Next day. 9:00 A.M.

“Call for Kerri Pyper!” someone shouted.

“I’ll take it!” Kerri shouted, rushing from Dennis’s office to her desk. She pushed her hair back and lifted her receiver to her ear. “Kerri Pyper,” she said.

“How come you’re not home yet?” Brian asked, his speech once again slurred, obviously impaired by alcohol. “I’ve been waiting all afternoon for you. Please come home. I… I need you.”

Kerri’s heart pounded, but her resolve strengthened. “I’m not coming home, Brian. Not ever! I told you last night it’s over, and I meant it. Please don’t call me again.” She hung up and covered her face with shaking hands.

“What’s wrong?” Dennis asked, now standing in the doorway to his office.

Kerri removed her hands from her face, revealing an ashen complexion and a forced smile. “Nothing serious. I just have a bit of a headache. That was Pauline at the Exchange. We got a fill on the platinum offering,” she lied.

Dennis stared suspiciously at Kerri for several seconds, then returned to his office.

Brian’s determination to be with Kerri had intensified and matured into an obsession. He parked his car a short distance from Dennis’s house. He watched in silence for hours, then slept in the front seat until morning. He woke to see Dennis emerging alone at seven-fifteen. After placing his briefcase and two large travel bags on the lawn beside the driveway, Dennis proceeded to the garage. He opened the door, climbed into a burgundy and white Toyota van, and backed it out to a point in the driveway beside the bags. As he placed the bags in the rear section of the van, Andrea emerged from the house with Kerri. The three climbed into the van, then Dennis backed it onto the street and drove away.

Brian followed the van to the train station and watched as Kerri emerged alone. She waved to Miles and Andrea, then turned and ran to the train. Brian waited for two hours, then phoned Kerri’s office number from his car. “May I speak to Miles Dennis, please,” Brian asked.

“I’m sorry, sir. Mr. Dennis won’t be in the office today. May someone else help you?”

“Could you tell me where I could reach him? It’s rather important that I talk to him.”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to reach him until Monday. He’lI be out of town until then. If you would like me to give him a message, I could see that he receives it. Or perhaps you would like me to have him phone you?”

“That won’t be necessary. Thank you.” Brian smiled as he hung up. “‘Tonight you’re mine, Kerri,” he purred, then rubbed cheeks that hadn’t been touched by a razor for two days.

Kerri’s office telephone phone rang at four-thirty. She lifted the receiver to her ear. “Kerri Pyper.”

“Hi, Kerri. It’s Louis. I just called to make sure we’re still on for tomorrow.”

She smiled, relieved, excited to hear Visconti’s voice. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Is ten too early?”

“Ten’s fine. I’ll have coffee ready for you.”

“Great, then would you mind transferring me to Miles’s office? I should talk to him.”

“He’s not here. He and Andrea went to Chicago for the weekend. If it’s urgent, I could get him to call you.”

“No. It’s not urgent, but l’m surprised they left you alone.”

“My choice. To exonerate Miles, he offered to get me a hotel room for the weekend.”

“He’s a good man. Have you heard from your husband?”

“No.”

“Would you call me if there’s any trouble?” Visconti gave Kerri the number of his home in Connecticut.

CHAPTER 59

Glen Cove. Friday, April 13,1990.

Brian’s Jaguar rolled to a stop, no more than a hundred yards from the driveway of Dennis’s house. A six-pack of Budweiser rested on the seat beside him. He opened his first can and took a huge gulp. By the time he was half way through his third can, he saw Kerri walking toward him in the distance. Her red spring coat and flowing blond hair convinced him he was minutes away from his date with destiny. He chugged as much beer as he he could, then started his car.

When Kerri turned from the sidewalk to the concrete path leading to Dennis’s home he pushed the accelerator to the floor. Kerri froze when she heard the loud squealing of the car’s tires against the pavement. She turned to see the black Jaguar racing onto the driveway. She darted toward the verandah, but Brian jumped from the car and caught her before she reached the wooden steps.

“Let me go!” she screamed, struggling frantically to break free of his bear-like hug. Terrifying thoughts raced through her brain. The glazed determination in Brian’s eyes was a clear indication of his intentions. The smell of alcohol on his breath was even more ominous.

“I waited and waited for you to come home,” Brian said, pulling her against his body. “You’re my wife, Kerri. You belong with me.”

“It’s over, Brian,” she said, desperately trying to think of a way to escape. “I told you I’m not coming home. Not ever.”

“We belong together,” he insisted, the slurring of his words a clear indication that he was intoxicated. “We promised to love each other until death do us part.”

“Sure we did, and we also promised to forsake all others.”

“Let’s go inside,” Brian said with a contorted smile. He dragged her up the stairs to the verandah.

“Think about what you’re doing, Brian,” Kerri warned. “Andrea will call the police as soon as she sees you.”

“You and I know they’ve both gone for the weekend. It’ll be just the two of us, and there won’t be anyone to bother us. Now open the door like an obedient wife,” he demanded.