I can’t believe you love that bitch.
“Language,” Beckley said. Vie dropped her teaspoon onto the floor. She rushed over, reaching out her hand. He backed up and shook his head. Her eyes narrowed ominously. “Gloria’s dead. You must be very proud of yourself.”
She wouldn’t be dead if she’d done as I commanded.
“Commanded? What gives you the right?”
Power. Those with power will command.
“You know, you sound rather tired. Killing Gloria must have diminished your strength.”
Vie scowled at him and inched closer. Her gaze blazed with fearful determination.
It will return. I have more than enough strength to manage you.
“But you tried before, remember? Several times in fact. It hasn’t worked.” Beckley moved his hand so it hovered over Vie’s arm, taking care not to show his movements to Julius.
I’ve never used—
Beckley settled his hand on Vie’s arm. “One…two…three…four…five.” He let go of her arm.
Before.
“I’m sorry. What was that? You’re breaking up, Julius. There in the middle. I couldn’t hear you for a moment.”
What is this? There’s no such thing as stat—
Beckley held on to her arm for only a count of three this time. “Julius? Julius? I’m losing you. What was that last bit?” He could feel Julius’ growing confusion. “It sounded like you were going to say something about static.”
There is no static in this method of—
He pulled Vie into his arms, lifted her chin and kissed her hard, angry lips. She refused to open to his questing tongue so he laid his cheek against hers and sighed. “I’m so exhausted. Could we take our tea and coffee up to the bedroom? I need to clean my leg off properly and take some more drugs. What do you say?”
“Are you going to leave him hanging like that?” Vie demanded, pulling away so she could look into his face. “Do you think that’s wise?”
“I suppose I should sign off,” Beckley muttered, taking a deep breath. He released her. Julius’ voice immediately filled his mind, bouncing off every surface like an irate pinball.
Are you? What the hell is going on? What are you doing to block me?
“Nothing. I swear. It must be on your end. Maybe you’re still too drained.”
I am not drained! I—
Beckley broke in on him. “Well, I am. I need to get some rest. Because of you I’ve been wounded. Thanks a lot, by the way. So, if you don’t mind?”
Mind? MIND? You can go when I say you—
Recapturing Vie’s hand shut off the tirade. “I’ve had all I can take of him tonight.”
“You should have let me touch you right away.”
Beckley kissed her hand. “Our only chance is to keep him guessing for a little while longer. We need the time so we can go and see Clive.”
“I expect Julius will go ballistic when he discovers we’re visiting his pet minion,” Vie said, relenting.
She drew him around the island and handed him his cup of tea and two of the painkillers they’d picked up from the pharmacy. He downed them with a single swallow of his brew. With her travel mug full of coffee in her free hand, she led him slowly up the stairs toward her bedroom. There was no way she was letting go of him again tonight. The image of Gloria’s anguished expression lingered in her mind. Beckley would not suffer like her. Not if I have anything to say about it. Damn Julius all the way to hell.
Vie hadn’t forgotten that one of the bastards had been in her room, pawing through her lingerie drawer. However, after everything they’d been through since then, that incident seemed far in the past, buried behind Gloria’s death. Beckley stood beside her in the washroom, one hand on her shoulder, while she wet a washcloth with warm water at the sink. He pushed down his jeans and then sat on the toilet seat to strip them off. Once settled more comfortably on the toilet seat, his teacup in hand, he allowed her to clean his leg of the remaining blood and disinfectant since the paper towels on the plane had been almost useless for the task.
“We’ll get up early tomorrow and make a start for Clive’s place in Portsmouth,” Vie murmured, tilting her head to examine the bandage. It looked okay. She’d change it in the morning. “The drive will take us a couple of hours.”
“Do you know if he’s home? Perhaps he’s on a case,” Beckley asked.
She felt his hand on her hair, stroking his fingers through the short locks. Vie shivered when his fingertips caressed the curve of her ear.
“Uh,” Vie mumbled, arching her neck to one side so his featherlight touch would continue. “He, uh, goes to see his mother every month around this time. No matter what he’s…uh…doing, even if he’s in…that feels so nice…the middle of a case… Dang, Beck,” she whispered.
“I’m already partially undressed,” he murmured. “I thought I’d just mention that fact.”
Vie rose to her feet, pulling him up with her. “It’s an important consideration,” she acknowledged, tugging at the hem of his sweater vest. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to making love?”
“Oh yes,” he chuckled. His husky voice sent shivers down her back. “Violet? Take me to bed.”
Vie relieved him of his half-empty teacup, placing it on the vanity counter with the dirty washcloth. “Come on, then.”
They stood together beside the bed helping each other remove their clothing. The air in the room became saturated with anticipation. By the time they were fully naked, Vie had started to feel the exquisite double sensation of both their senses. He stroked the curve of her breast. She felt the warmth of his touch and yet at the same time she experienced the velvety softness of her skin beneath his fingertips. When he cupped her breasts, one in each hand, she felt their weight and through their mental link she knew the thrill he relished when his thumbs rubbed across her taut nipples.
Vie arched her back, pressing her hips against his. Beckley pulled her tightly to him and when his lips descended, she opened hers and welcomed the taste of him, of herself. She knew, because she felt it deep within, exactly what would give him the maximum amount of pleasure. It was her desire that pleased him the most and she wanted to weep as she understood that it was her ecstasy that fueled his own. His generosity of spirit humbled her.
They tumbled together onto the bed, taking care to keep Beckley’s injured leg on top and began to explore each other’s bodies in earnest.
“What does this feel like to you?” Beckley whispered, stroking the knuckle of his forefinger down the cleft of her bottom. He shuddered. “I like that. Wow.”
“Hmm,” Vie murmured, pushing him onto his back. “I’ve been thinking,” she whispered huskily, looking purposefully into his beautiful eyes and then down at his fully erect member. She splayed her hand over his stomach and pushed her fingers through his pubic hair and down around his shaft. They both gasped at the same time. “And, if I do this?” she asked, leaning over and blowing over his moist tip. She squirmed as bolts of electricity shot through her system. “How about this?” Vie opened her mouth and took him inside. He jerked against the flat of her tongue and she went weak in undeniable delight.
I’m no longer surprised that men like this so much.
Her body twisted and writhed in time to Beckley’s rumbling pants of ecstasy. Just before she could experience the full rush of his pleasure, he pulled away and rolled her onto her back. His tongue explored her, tasted her and she could feel his reaction to each tiny jerk of her body.
Beckley groaned every time he found the right spot to explore. His hips ground into the mattress with each undulation of Violet’s hips. When he felt neither could take a moment more without exploding, he rose above her, took her hips in his hands and slowly entered her hot, pulsating center. Violet’s back arched. Her arms stretched to the side where her hands grasped fistfuls of sheet. He withdrew most of the way and eased into her again. They felt amazing together. No. Amazing did not describe the feeling. A new word would have to be invented to describe the astounding connection between them. When she wanted him to speed up, he complied and was rewarded tenfold as her pleasure amplified. When he wanted to slow down again, she responded to his improved satisfaction.
Beck.
Violet?
I’m spiraling out of control.
Hold on to me. I will keep you safe.
Now, Beck. Now. I’m ready.
So am I.
They held onto each other as their bodies heaved and their throats shouted out so anyone might hear their roars of mingled release. Pulling away from her, Beckley opened his eyes to view Vie’s aura as it flared and flowed over him and through him and around him as if they lay in the center of a shower of celestial radiance. He stared around the room. Every corner of the space was filled with their energy. He’d never seen anything like this intertwining of auras before. The effect was even more pronounced than when they’d first made love. As he watched the ribbons of brilliance flow outward, through the walls, the roof, the floors, he wondered if the neighbors would all be making love tonight. He shared the thought with Violet.
Will our children be able to feel it?
The core of Beckley’s being stilled and he stopped breathing for a moment. He returned his gaze to Violet’s, took a breath and thought, Yes. I expect so. Children are sensitive to auras. Ours are likely to be more so.
Violet’s brow furrowed. I wouldn’t want to cause them any discomfort.
He brushed her damp bangs off her forehead and kissed first one eyelid, then the next. All they will feel is love. Our love. They will sleep better, feel wanted and adored. They will grow into confident, loving adults. All because of feeling our love for each other and for them. He nuzzled the side of her neck, pressing small kisses along her collarbone before he rested his head above her heart, sighing in blissful contentment.
Beck?
Violet?
How many children do you want?
As many or as few as come.
Are we getting married soon?
Yes!
Good.
Beckley felt her arms tighten around him. She stroked his head and shoulders as she held him close. He didn’t want to move. Ever.
* * * * *
Phil Two drove his stolen pickup onto the Interstate. According to the boss, Vie Tine would have difficulty following him using her talent if he took busy roads. He wove in and out of traffic but kept up a steady, legal driving speed. It was a habit to drive this way. Phil One had taught him that. Be normal. Don’t stand out. Always be polite. Remember to leave a reasonable tip—servers always remember the people who don’t tip.
“I’m just an ordinary guy out for a drive,” Phil Two muttered to himself. “This is my truck. No one notice me.”
He changed lanes again so he could exit the highway. Not far off the exit he spotted a mall.There’d be a bank machine at the mall. He needed some cash and he wanted something to eat.
An hour and a bit later, he was back on the highway, heading north this time. Switch it up. Keep them guessing. All he had to do to keep from being caught was to stay on the move. Sure, Tine could “look” for him but she couldn’t see into the future. She could only see into the past. She would only be able to see where he’d been. Besides, north was where the boss lived and Phil One was with the boss.
* * * * *
Chief Todd approached Jared and Suzy where they stood beside their driveway, watching as the tow truck pulled the burned van out of the wreckage of Jared’s garage. The body of the dead man had already been removed.
“This house is cursed,” Jared said, shaking his head. “First the rapes in the nineteenth century when it was just an abandoned mill, then the mob lynching not long after that and now this. I should clear out Arlee’s and my stuff and then send in a bulldozer to have the place razed.”
“You’ll get no argument from me,” Suzy said, resting her head on his shoulder. “The historical preservation society, though, might have more than a few arguments against such a plan.”
“Do you think the principal will still want it after this?”
“If you gave him a good deal, he’d jump at the chance.”
“Suzy. Jared,” Sam said, coming to stand beside them. “This is the devil of a thing, isn’t it?”
“Certainly is,” Jared said, his tone grim. “Do you think they knew it was my house?”
“Doubt it,” the chief said. “Maybe. Ah, heck, I don’t know. Suzy, have you ‘looked’?”
“The van broke down just as Rick and Arlee reported. After they drove off, one of the men—the bald one—broke into Jared’s house to get some hot water for their radiator. They poured it in and then they were able to drive across the road and down into the garage.”
“Did you see the murder?”
Suzy shuddered and hugged herself. “The dead one—the bald guy—never saw what was coming. The man with the ponytail is the killer.”
“Then what did he do?”
“He set the place afire and took only a duffle bag and another small bag. I watched him long enough to see he was walking back into town. I had to stop after that because we need to catch up to him by car and I didn’t think you wanted us to start until you were prepared to go with us.”
“We’ll take the cruiser,” Sam said, leading them over to it. “Is Arlee staying with the mayor?”
“Yes,” Jared said.
“Excellent.”
Once on the road, the chief told Suzy, who sat in the front seat with him, to tell him when she had a fix on the man.
“There he is. Turn left. Keep going. Turn right. Drive slower, Sam, you keep overtaking him. He’s walking, remember?”
“Sorry,” he rumbled.
“She can’t hear you,” Jared reminded him.
“I know. I know.”
“Okay, he’s starting to check to see which vehicle has unlocked doors. He’s found one. It’s a Chevy pickup. An older model. I’d say at least twenty years old. Blue, with white on the bottom.”
“Great. No GPS systems in those,” Sam moaned.
“He’s got away clean. Let’s go. Turn left. Now a right.”
They followed the truck through the town and onto the Interstate.
“It is fully dark now,” Suzy mentioned. “Sam, you have to do your best to keep as close to him as possible. Otherwise, I’m going to lose him.”
“Got it. Good thing it’s late,” Sam said to Jared. “Less traffic.”
“Speed up. He’s in the lane farthest to the left. We’re right behind him.” Suzy didn’t say anything for about five minutes, then she spoke, “He’s switching lanes. Right. Right again. Okay, stay in this lane.”
They continued this way for forty-five minutes. Until Suzy gave a gasp.
“He’s exiting. Damn him. At the very last second.”
The chief cursed as he drove right past an exit for New London.
“I should continue on to the next exit, get off and then get back on the highway. That would be the legal thing to do,” he said. “Screw that.” He flipped the switch on his siren and executed a screaming-tire U-turn.
He sped back down the highway to the exit. The only vehicle he passed while he was going the wrong direction was a semi. The driver flashed his lights and slowed but when the cruiser passed him without the chief flagging him down, the semi kept on. Just as the Sam was about to do another U-turn, Jared cried out.
“Look, is that his pickup? Going north?” He reached over the seat and shook Suzy’s shoulder.
“What? What is it? Why haven’t we left the highway?”
“Honey, I think we just saw the truck. Going north.”
“Sam. Pull over. I’ll check. Everyone be very quiet.”
Jared and Chief Todd held their breaths, waiting for Suzy to accomplish the tricky effort of “looking” into the near past.
“I think…yes. I think that’s him,” Suzy said. “Let’s go. It looks like we’ve caught a break.”
“I’ll radio ahead and get a roadblock set up,” Sam said, accelerating down the wrong way and swerving off onto an access road across the center verge of the divided highway.
They caught up to him just as he was slowing down for what looked to be a typical police check. The officers had orange cones and flares down on the pavement and were talking to the drivers of two vehicles before the suspect’s stolen pickup. The police chief pulled up behind the truck, blocking him in, and got out of the cruiser.
“You two stay in here,” Sam said. He drew his gun, kept it down at his side and cautiously approached the driver’s door. He waved a State Trooper over. “Cover me,” he mouthed. The trooper drew her weapon.
“Please open the door and step out of your vehicle,” Sam ordered, raising his gun into position. The man behind the wheel looked at him but didn’t budge. “Phil Two.” The man’s eyebrows rose. “Phil Two, step out of your vehicle.”
The door slowly opened and Phil Two stepped down onto the road. He was a big man, almost as tall as Sam and considerably wider. Sam backed up, keeping a cautious distance.
“What’s the problem, officer?” Phil Two asked, his voice calm and reasonable. “I wasn’t speeding and I haven’t been drinking.”
“You are in possession of a stolen vehicle,” Sam said, nodding at the truck. “I’m arresting you for grand theft auto, arson and the murder of the individual known as Phil One.”
Phil Two’s eyes narrowed and his face lost all its color. “Phil’s dead?” He swayed on his feet. “How? When? Who killed him?”
Sam frowned. Is this guy an idiot? “You did.”
“I did not!” Phil Two shouted, showing anger for the first time. “Phil’s my friend. I would never kill him.”
“Then who’s the guy burned to a crisp in the garage?”
“That’s Fred,” he revealed, seemingly unaware of how he had just incriminated himself. “Oh, you thought that was Phil?” He leaned over and rested his hands on his knees. “What a relief. Thank God.” He stood up and placed a hand over his heart, looking up to the heavens. “Thank you, God.”
“I’m happy you’re pleased it’s not your friend but Fred’s still dead,” Sam said, sure that he’d seen everything now. He waved over another state trooper. “And you just admitted to killing him. Turn around and put your hands behind your back. You’re under arrest.”
Phil Two obediently assumed the position while Sam read him his rights and the troopers cuffed him. Afterward, he flipped around and faced the chief once more.
In a sullen, insolent voice, he complained, “Nobody liked Fred. He’s better off dead. Believe me. He was a nasty, nasty man.”
“More nasty than you?” Sam asked, continuing to keep his distance and his gun trained on the killer. The thought of what an empty-hearted killer like Phil Two would classify as “nasty, nasty” boggled his mind.
“Way more nasty than me,” Phil Two swore. “You don’t know. You’ve never had to be his partner. The things he did…it would turn your stomach.” He hung his head. “Turned my stomach a few times. More than a few times. I should be given a reward, not arrested.”
Sam snorted. “That’ll be the day.” He nodded at the trooper. “Take him away.”
The chief returned to his cruiser and climbed behind the wheel. Before Suzy and Jared could ask, he spoke. “That was Phil Two, all right. He claims the dead guy in the garage is not Phil One. It’s some guy named Fred.”
“Who’s Fred?” Suzy demanded. She pulled out her phone. “I better call Vie.” After a moment, she said, “Vie? It’s me. We’ve got Phil Two but not Phil One. Call me.”