Chilled (A Bone Secrets Novel) (27 page)

Alex’s technique with the cigarettes had been awkward, and Darrin knew the habit was recently formed. His chest had swelled with pleasure. He’d caused that habit.

“What’d you do this week?”

Alex hadn’t met his eyes as he flicked ash into an ashtray. “Nothing.” He’d sat casually in his hard chair. He’d dressed neatly in jeans and a jacket, but there was a feral look about his eyes that spoke of restless nights.

Darrin had frowned and tried again. “Did you watch
American Idol?”

Alex had snorted, one side of his mouth lifting. “Fuck, no.”

“You should. There are some very talented kids on that show. Some can really sing. Beautiful girls too.”

Alex’s gaze had flown to meet his.

Gotcha.

“I like the girl from the Philippines. She’s got an amazing range.”

Alex had inhaled heavily on his cigarette, gaze still locked with Darrin’s.

Darrin’s heart had slowed. It was like meth rushing through his system, and he’d wanted to stretch out the effects. He’d breathe shallowly and let the high seep through his body. If he kept calm, the buzz would linger.

“It was county music night. I hate country music, but she managed to transcend the twanginess. Truly a great performance by a beautiful girl. She reminded me of Olivia.”

Alex’s lashes had twitched ever so slightly, but Darrin had been watching closely and spotted it. “Olivia?” Alex’s voice had been purposefully casual. Darrin had inhaled and tasted the curiosity that permeated the air between them.

Darrin had swallowed and smiled. “Oh, yes. Olivia. She was from Hawaii or something originally, right? Long black hair, dark eyes, wide smile. Gorgeous.”

The room temperature had perked, but Alex hadn’t moved. He had charged the air in the room without moving a muscle. Darrin had casually moved his gaze to the small window where he could see the back of the guard’s head.

He’d let Alex sweat a little. He’d known better than to ask Darrin any direct questions. He’d known he’d have to wait until Darrin was ready to talk about Olivia. When Darrin had told him of Megan’s resting place, he’d drawn the facts out over three sessions.

He’d looked back at Alex. Alex had been acting casual, focusing on a blank spot on the wall, but the fingers holding the cigarette had quivered for a split second. Lovely.

Darrin had rested his chin on one hand and thrummed his fingers on the table. It was an art. If he gave too little, Alex would simply leave. If he gave too much, it would be over too soon. It was a delicate balance to keep Alex sitting across from
him. One time he’d said too little and Alex hadn’t come back for several months.

Darrin had nearly cried with relief when he did return. And had nearly dumped out every hidden body location on the table between them. Control. He’d had to exercise control. He’d spend hours thinking about how best to string Alex along. What words and phrases he needed to use to push those emotional buttons.

“Looks like I’ve got your attention now, A-man.”

Anger had flashed in Alex’s eyes as he avoided Darrin’s gaze. He’d crossed an ankle over his knee. “Don’t call me that,” he’d muttered.

They’d both known Alex had just made a mistake.

One of the unwritten rules of this game had been that Alex didn’t lose his temper or verbally react when Darrin prodded him. Darrin had licked his finger and made a score mark in the air.

Alex had shot out of his chair and slapped one hand on the handle of the door as he pounded for the guard to let him out.

Darrin had jumped to his feet. He’d fucked up.

“Alex. Don’t…Fuck! I didn’t…I’ll tell you where Olivia is.” Darrin had breathed hard. Alex had been one step away from leaving the room, and Darrin knew he wouldn’t come back again for months.

Alex had spun around and nailed him with a direct stare. “Now. Say it now or I’m out of here.”

Darrin’s throat had tightened and he’d scratched at his neck. “Well—”

“Say it now!”

He’d swallowed. “I’m not really sure—”

“Fuck this. I’m out of here.” Alex had turned back to the door and pounded again.

“She’s in Forest Park. About twenty feet off one of the bike trails!” Darrin had screeched. Then he’d pressed his lips closed.

The guard had finally opened the door, one hand on his gun as he’d stared in surprise at the two men.

“Get me a map of Forest Park. Now,” Alex had snapped at the confused man. He’d turned back to Darrin. “You are going to show me exactly where. The first sign of shitting around or screwing with my head and I’m out of here.”

“Yes,” Darrin had whispered as he sat. His spine had slumped. He’d lost the battle.

The snowfall started up again. Darrin raised the binoculars to his eyes and rolled his injured shoulder, pleased with the low level of pain. And his head felt a million times better too. The body of the plane looked silent, and he wondered what was going on inside. Were the two men blabbing his written message to the others? Pride expanded his chest. He lowered the glasses, blew out a satisfied breath, and turned to go back to his excellent hiding place. He had to be ready when they decided to leave.

Alex scanned for footprints outside the plane. Thomas’s big tracks led upward and to the woods, with paw prints close by. Jim’s messier jogging prints followed. Alex started after them. His mind wouldn’t slow down.

Beautiful girl. Beautiful girl.

How many times had he heard Besand use those words? The most disgusting, dreamlike happiness would cover Besand’s face as he uttered the words. Like he was remembering squeezing the life out of them. Desecrating the beauty.

A profiler had told him Besand had the need to destroy beauty. The profiler couldn’t tell him why but had theorized it had something to do with the women in his life from when he was younger. Perhaps someone physically beautiful had emotionally scarred him somehow. Alex had dumped the theory with a laugh. What guy hadn’t been shot down by a gorgeous woman? With that logic the world would be crawling with serial killers.

The profiler had shaken her head at him. It wasn’t the act itself, she’d explained, it was the act in conjunction with the killer’s psychopathic thinking.

Alex made no excuses for Besand. Besand simply liked to kill.

And he had Brynn in his sights.

Alex jogged through the snow. He could hear voices far ahead. Jim must have caught up with Thomas. They were tough men. The three of them should be able to hold off one injured serial killer. Alex pursed his lips. Besand had a gun, but Alex knew he didn’t have much history handling weapons. That was a big strike against him. Three against one. Four if you counted Brynn, which he did. She was incredibly tough. Too bad Ryan was on his ass. He was a scrappy kid.

They should have no problem overpowering Besand.

Then why was his skin crawling?

Besand had a good hiding place and was obviously well enough to move back and forth to the cockpit. If he’d been a halfway decent shot he could take them out one at a time like a sniper.

He glanced back and measured the distance from the body of the plane to the closest big trees. Darrin would have to be an excellent shot. And Alex knew he wasn’t.

Kiana barked in the distance.

“Jim!” he called out the name before he could see the men. He didn’t want the cop drawing on him as he came on them in the woods. They were all a little trigger-happy at the thought of Besand creeping through the trees.

The two men were watching for him, Kiana beside Jim’s feet.

“Ryan isn’t going anywhere,” Alex said. “He can’t even stand up. His fever’s pretty high.”

“Shit. We were just talking about what to do if that was the case.” Jim twisted his lips.

“Brynn has Ryan’s gun. Announce yourself before you enter the plane.”

“Crap. She won’t use that thing. She hates guns.”

“She said she knows how to use it.”

“She does. I taught her. I wouldn’t let her on any of my hasty teams without knowing how to shoot first, but she refuses to carry one.”

“What now?” Alex calmly asked the question even though his nerves were spiking like he’d been shocked.

Jim and Thomas looked at each other. “Someone needs to hike out,” Jim said. “Tell people where we are. I just tried calling Collins. There’s no coverage at the moment. I don’t know how long this storm is going to last. Whoever hikes out can’t go alone though. And obviously Ryan shouldn’t be left alone.”

“Something tells me he’ll see that differently,” Thomas muttered.

“Brynn won’t leave him. I know her. She’s in full nurse mode and won’t let him move.” Jim gnawed on his lip. “I think the three of us should head out. We can move fast.”

Alex pictured himself trying to keep up with the two mountain men.

Jim frowned. “Unless you’re not feeling up to it. You had quite a shock yesterday. And I’ve seen you favoring your knee. Did that happen in the avalanche?”

“No, but it didn’t help it. Old injury.”

“Can you hike out?”

Alex paused, and Jim didn’t let him answer.

“You wouldn’t have to stop to think about it if you could. You’re staying here.”

“I’m good with that. I think one of us should stay.”

“Good. It’s settled.” Jim made a definitive motion with his hand.

He hadn’t wanted to leave Brynn. That’s what had made Alex pause. He couldn’t leave her alone with a serial killer wandering the woods. Especially now that Besand had seen her. She might as well have a big target on her back.

“I’ll feel better knowing you’re here with her and Ryan anyway. Thomas and I should be able to hike out in under twentyfour hours if we push it. We’ll get more supplies and come back on foot or by copter if the weather breaks,” Jim stated.

Alex nodded.

Thomas scowled.

“What?” Jim asked.

“Don’t like breaking up the team,” he said evenly.

Jim exhaled and nodded. “Neither do I. But I don’t see any other choice. We could all stay, but what’s the point? We’ll get help faster if we move out.” He glanced at his watch. “As soon as possible.” He shifted his attention to Alex. “Can you hold down the fort?”

He nodded. Jim held his gaze for a second longer than was necessary.

“Let’s get going.”

Silently, eyes scanning, guns at the ready, the three men headed back to the plane. Kiana kept pace next to Alex.

“What happened to your leg?” Thomas asked.

Alex jumped at the sound of Thomas’s voice. The man spoke so rarely. “Uh, gunshot wound.”

“How long ago?” Apparently, Thomas was feeling chatty.

Alex counted in his head. “Four years or so.”

“Judge Braeden?”

Alex nearly tripped. Jim turned from his position at point and raised an eyebrow at Thomas. “You talking about that murdered judge? I remember that.” He frowned at Alex. “Were you there?”

Alex could only nod.
How had Thomas put it together?
He’d added one and one and come up with four. Accurately.

Jim stopped their trek and faced Alex. “Two marshals died in that courtroom. You were shot too?”

Alex met his gaze and nodded again.

Jim’s brows came together. “The judge and the shooter died too. Wasn’t the shooter the wife of some illegal drug importer on trial? She shot the judge and three marshals, but one of them managed to take her down with a shot.” He eyed Alex. “You got her, didn’t you?”

Alex looked straight ahead, avoiding Jim’s penetrating eyes. “Never shot a woman before.” And he hoped he never would again. He’d had horrific dreams and weekly counseling for months. Along with physical therapy for his leg. “Don’t we need to get back to the plane?” Alex asked in an end-of-topic tone.

Jim was silent for a second and Alex watched the emotions war on his face. Jim was curious about the incident, but obviously didn’t want to leave Brynn alone any longer than they had.

He mashed his lips together and spun around, setting a fast pace back to the plane.

Alex silently exhaled. He didn’t need the Braeden case rehashed at this minute. His forehead throbbed, and he wished for an evening alone with some Vicodin.

The wind picked that moment to blast up the valley, and he burrowed his nose into the collar of his coat. Kiana bumped against his bad leg, nearly throwing him off balance. Thomas cursed as his hat blew off. He lunged and stomped on it, barely catching it by the brim.

The hike out of the Cascades was going to suck. Alex was glad he wasn’t going anywhere for at least the next two days. It was going to be cold and cramped and there wouldn’t be much to eat, but he’d have all the time in the world to get to know Brynn better.

And be watching for Besand over his shoulder.

Maybe the hike out would be better.

Liam Gentry huddled over his brother, warming him with his body heat. Since he’d piled enough snow up over the broken window to create an icy wall, the temperature inside the helicopter wasn’t too bad. Didn’t people pay big money to sleep in hotels made of ice? He’d seen that in a magazine somewhere.

Last night had been the worst night of his life. Tyrone had faded in and out of consciousness, sometimes talking to Liam like he was their dad. Other times mistaking Liam for an old army buddy. At least this morning Tyrone knew who Liam was. And he knew how dire their situation was.