Bring Me Flowers (Detectives Kane and Alton #2)(19)

A secret bond had grown between them in milliseconds; in fact, about the same time as her intolerable unease had returned. If Kane and Wolfe were both ex government agents, had something she said triggered Wolfe’s memory about her case? If he had discovered her new identity, would he discuss the matter with Kane? Almost four years ago, after the government had recruited her for a special undercover mission due to her lack of family ties, she had testified against international underworld kingpin Viktor Carlos. The trial received extensive media coverage, with her face plastered all over world news. The moment the verdict came down as per her agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, she had vanished. No doubt, after Carlos threatened her in court, he would have offered considerable bribes for information of her whereabouts.

She chewed on her bottom lip. God help her if Wolfe being here had compromised her security after over two years of obscurity. Dammit, she had just started to feel safe again. She had one option: to divide and conquer. Wolfe seemed a hard nut to crack but Kane had at least offered her dinner. As three years of hiding unraveled in seconds, she pulled out her Glock and placed it on the desk then reached in the drawer for her backup Sig. Cleaning the weapons helped her to think, and if Kane had joined forces with Wolfe, she would need to up her game—and fast.





Eleven





Exhilarated, the man pushed through the row of pines and across a clearing to where he’d parked his car. The isolated area was perfect, hidden away but close enough to the road for convenience, and his vehicle could negotiate the narrow trail with ease. He pulled on a baseball cap then slipped behind the wheel. No one would ever discover his secret; he could clean the plastic-covered seats in his car with bleach and incinerate his clothes.

He shook with the thrill of killing and took a few precious moments to tie a band around the lock of hair he had taken from the girl in the woods. He ran his fingers over the silken strands and rubbed it over his lips. Pressing the hair to his nose and inhaling, he caught the scent of apple shampoo, and a quiver went through him. He could still taste her, and the ecstatic sensation of holding her as her life drained away shuddered though him again like a climax. She had been special, an unexpected gift.

The time with her had been far too short but someone might have arrived and caught him with her. He regretted hurrying to finish his work. Never mind. He had enjoyed every second of the rush and his next girl would receive his undivided attention. His plans for her would give him as long as possible with her. Ideas seeped into his mind, arousing him again.

He smiled. The stranger had even picked her own flowers.

The bouquet had been the sign. The girl was his for the taking.

The sight of her smiling and waving at him flashed through his mind. He had not met her before, which somehow made the anticipation of having her more thrilling. Jerking himself back to the now, he started his car and headed home, but the memories of the stranger flashed through his mind in an endless parade of desire.

He preferred to plan his kills and made sure he gained the ultimate pleasure by savoring each one. His pretty stranger had surprised him. In fact, the stimulation of catching her mid-flight had been incredible, powerful. His muscles twitched, reliving the feel of her squirming beneath him. He loved the way she fought like a wild animal. Who would believe someone so small and pretty like her could fight like a cat?

He had killed his cat.

He had enjoyed killing her more.





Twelve





Breaking the news to a family of a murdered child had to be the worst job Kane had ever encountered. His training had been nonexistent but he had suffered the pain of loss and understood the need to keep the facts clear and concise. He stared at the inquisitive faces of Mr. and Mrs. Parker. “I’m sorry to inform you, we found a body in Stanton Forest we believe to be Felicity. Your friend Magnolia Brewster identified her photograph.”

“Oh my God. I’ve been calling her for an hour.” Mrs. Parker fell against her husband. “This can’t be happening.”

“What happened to Felicity, was it an accident?” Mr. Parker hugged his sobbing wife.

Kane took out his notepad and pen. “The cause of death is undetermined until the results of the autopsy but we believe it was a homicide.”

“Murder! Who would kill our little girl?” Mr. Parker’s face paled and his hand shook as he held his wife. “I can’t believe anyone would do such a thing. Are you sure it’s Felicity?”

“I’m afraid so.” Kane watched the couple gaped at him in shocked disbelief. “Would you like to sit down? Is there anyone I could call, a family member perhaps?”

“No!” Mr. Parker’s voice trembled. “Why aren’t you out looking for her killer?”

“We have every man on the case but we need your help and I really need to ask you some questions?”

“Ask your damn questions but I don’t know how we can help.”

He hated intruding on the family’s grief. “When did you last see Felicity?”

“At breakfast.” Mr. Parker gazed at him with unseeing eyes as reality set in. “She mentioned she would be meeting up with some of her friends later.”

“Did she say what friends? Does she have a boyfriend?”

“Yes, Derick Smith, but they fell out over the upcoming rodeo dance. I’m not sure if they made up or not.” He gave him a tragic look. “You don’t think he killed her do you? Dear God, I allowed him to date her.”