Forged in Desire (The Protectors #1)(78)

He chuckled and gave her a look like he knew that wasn’t her real name, before sliding into the seat across from her. “So what kind of job do you have for me, Faye?”

She nervously looked around before turning back to him. He had come highly recommended from a friend of a friend. She wasn’t sure this was the place they should talk. It wasn’t crowded, but most of the tables were filled. The last thing she wanted was to have their conversation overheard. However, she didn’t want to go anywhere with this man. She felt safer inside the diner than outside, where the building was surrounded with dark alleyways.

She leaned over the table and said in a low voice, “There’s someone I want you to get rid of. Here’s a picture.” She slid the photo over to him.

He took it and looked at it for a few minutes and then smiled, showing his crooked teeth and a sinister glint in a pair of beastly eyes. “What’s her name?”

“Margo. Margo Connelly.”





CHAPTER THIRTY

RANDI STUDIED THE notes on her computer screen. She was alone in the office Harkins had provided for her use and she was grateful for that. Her meeting with Erickson had been draining. More than once today, while doing her research, she had lapsed into what she’d long ago termed a deep state of concentration. For some reason, her psychic mind was treating this case differently. It was strange how strong the ambiences were, and she was determined not to take any of them lightly.

She knew about Erickson’s sordid past. Most of it she’d decrypted from the time she’d spent with him. A part of her was glad he was finally behind bars for his crimes. But then there were murders he hadn’t been convicted of. Murders he’d never even been linked to. In her mind she had seen the victims, and they were calling out to her. The only good thing was that about 80 percent of those murdered had been assassinated by the same individual, Erickson’s personal hit man. And she hoped she would be able to stop him before he could kill again.

She looked up when there was a knock on the door. “Come in.”

Detective Ingram walked in. “How are things going? Do you need anything?”

Randi shook her head as she leaned back in her chair. This was the first she’d seen of Detective Ingram today. According to Chief Harkins, she’d been pulled to work another case. Randi got strange vibes whenever she was around Detective Ingram.

“Things are going fine,” Randi said. “And, no, I don’t need anything. In fact, one of the officers brought me a fresh pot of coffee a few moments ago. Guess it was obvious I’d be burning the midnight oil. Grab a cup. I’d like to go over a few things with you.”

“Sure. Want me to pour you a cup as well?”

“Yes. Thanks.” Randi looked back at the computer screen. The number three had been flashing through her mind most of the day. She had awakened at three o’clock this morning and had a hard time getting back to sleep. Then her mother had called to remind her that Randi’s twin nieces would be turning three in a few weeks. When she had arrived this morning, the room she’d been given by Chief Harkins had been office three. What did all this mean?

“Here you are,” Detective Ingram said, placing the cup of coffee on the desk.

“Thanks.” Randi lifted the cup to take a sip and glanced over at the detective, who was about to do the same. Suddenly, a flash of one of the recent victims’ faces nearly blinded Randi. “Stop!”

Randi’s word startled Detective Ingram. “Why? What’s wrong?” she said, moving closer.

Randi placed her coffee cup down and said, “Don’t drink that.”

Detective Ingram glanced at the coffee cup she held in her hand. She looked back at Randi, confused. “Why not?”

“It’s tainted with poison.”

*

CHIEF HARKINS DREW in a deep breath and glanced at the two women. For the second time since he’d been summoned, he asked, “And the two of you are sure you’re okay? That you didn’t drink any of that coffee?”

Detective Ingram shook her head. “No. I was about to, but Dr. Fuller stopped me.”

The police chief nodded and then met Randi’s gaze when she said, “No, I didn’t drink any either.”

Harkins’s phone rang, and he quickly answered it. “What have you got, Bill?” Moments later he hung up his phone and said, “It’s not that I didn’t believe you, Dr. Fuller, but I had to follow protocol. That was the lab, and you were right. The coffee was laced with arsenic. A high dosage. Had either of you taken a sip of that coffee, you would have died.”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Since no one knew Detective Ingram would be returning from that case she’d been assigned to work, I can only assume that coffee was meant for you. Do you recall the name of the person who brought the coffee to your office?”

Randi nodded. “You’re right. It was meant for me. And the name of the officer was Ted Elliott.”

Harkins addressed one of the officers in the room. “Bring Officer Elliott here immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

The officer left and within a few minutes he returned with Officer Elliott.

“Yes, Chief?”

“Officer Elliott, I understand you delivered a fresh pot of coffee to Dr. Fuller earlier today.”