Deadly Obsession (15 page)

A sharp rap on the door had both her and Vanessa turning to the source of the noise. One of the officers—she couldn’t remember his name—poked his head in. “Hailey’s on the phone. Says it’s important,” he said to Vanessa.

“You want me to take the call since you’re monitoring them?” Lilly wasn’t on the taskforce but Braden was bending a few rules for her so she hoped the detective would do the same.

“Yeah, go ahead.” There was hesitation in Vanessa’s voice.

Lilly followed the officer down the hall, thankful for a reprieve from the suffocating room.

“You can take the call in Sheriff Donnelly’s office. Just press line two.” The young man held open the door for her, then disappeared down the hall.

She picked up the receiver as she sat. “This is Lilly.”

“Hey, Lilly. What’s going on over there? I’ve been trying to reach Braden on his cell.” Hailey’s voice was tight.

“He’s talking to a possible witness, but I’ll get a message to him.”

“What I’ve got to say might not be easy to hear, Lilly.”

“Is this about my aunt?”

“Yeah.”

Lilly raked a tired hand through her hair. “Whatever it is, I’m going to find out anyway. I’d rather hear it now.”

“I got the forensic results on the bat. There are small traces of Debra’s blood on it and the wood particles we found on her body are an exact match to the bat.”

“Any prints?”

“Just Abby’s.”

Lilly doubted Abby was involved, but maybe they could get her to turn on her husband. The woman already thought he was cheating. To some women, that was the only unforgivable sin. Hell, her husband beat her and she didn’t do anything about it.

“Thanks, Hailey. I’ll let everyone know.”

As soon as they disconnected, she headed back down the hall and found Vanessa shutting everything down. “They’re done?”

“Looks like it.” The detective nodded toward the window where Braden was leading the woman out of the room.

She quickly relayed what the medical examiner had told her.

“You need to wait in the sheriff’s office.” Vanessa checked her weapon.

“What are you going to do?” Lilly asked.

“Talk to Braden, and I’m sure he’s going to put out a warrant for Abby Murphy’s arrest.”

“You think she did it?” Lilly couldn’t mask her surprise

“No, but I think she knows where her husband is. The thought of going to jail might loosen her lips.”

Hopefully she was right. Lilly slipped into Braden’s office and shut the door behind her. Just as she settled onto the small couch, the door swung open.

“You okay?” Braden picked up his jacket and keys.

“Yeah.”

“Vanessa and I are headed over to the Murphys’ house. Hopefully we’ll catch Abby there. There are two officers here in case you need anything.”

“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

He hovered by the door. “I don’t like leaving you.”

“I’m in a sheriff’s office surrounded by other officers. No one is going to try anything here. Seriously, I’ll be fine. Lock the door on your way out if it’ll make you feel better.”

Worry lines etched across his forehead, but at least he nodded. “I’ll be back soon.”

After he left, she leaned back against one of the cushions. Sandbags weighed on her eyelids. All the church ladies might be bringing food tomorrow, but she still needed to clean and straighten her aunt’s house before the hordes of people showed up. Dozens of thoughts raced through her mind as a wave of tiredness swept over her.

She tried to sit up, but her body refused to listen. The nightmares were the worst at night. A small catnap shouldn’t hurt. Closing her eyes, she let sleep engulf her.

Weapon drawn, Braden knocked twice on the Murphys’ front door. “Abby? It’s Sheriff Donnelly. Open the door.”

Silence.

He glanced at his two detectives. Perry had been busy checking with the various motel owners, trying to find a lead on Greg Murphy’s whereabouts when Braden had called him.

“Go around back,” he whispered to Perry.

The detective nodded, and disappeared around the corner of the house.

Braden knocked again, this time with more force. “Abby, open the door,” he shouted. Her car was in the driveway so they knew she was home.

When she still didn’t respond, he jiggled the handle. The door swung open with an eerie creak. “Stay close,” he ordered Vanessa.

It had been a while since he’d swept a building, but all his military training kicked in like he’d never left. Crouching, he entered the foyer, listening for any signs of life. The house was deadly silent.

When he spotted drops of blood, he motioned toward the splattering. The trail led toward the living room. The same room he’d been in not twenty-four hours ago. The place was still a wreck with glass and papers strewn everywhere. Today however, the couch was flipped on its side and covered with blood.

Careful not to step on any glass, he maneuvered around until he stood on the other side of the couch.

“Oh my God,” Vanessa muttered behind him.

Abby Murphy lay spread eagle and naked on her back. Her normally silky blond hair was caked in dried crimson clumps against her face and the carpet. The rest of her delicate body was covered in cuts and bruises. But no carvings. He wasn’t sure what to make of that.

“Stay here.” He headed out of the room without waiting for a response. First he let Perry in the back door, then together they swept and secured the rest of the downstairs rooms and the second story.

Vanessa was waiting by the entryway of the living room when they descended the stairs.

“You okay?” Braden asked.

Her face was pale but she nodded. “Yeah. I already called it in. I couldn’t stand there looking at her. She was a little crazy, but no one deserves to go out like that.”

“If you need to wait outside you can.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Braden looked back and forth between Vanessa and Perry. “We’re officially releasing Greg Murphy’s picture to the media.”

“In what capacity?” Vanessa asked.

“That he’s dangerous and wanted for multiple murders. We won’t release details, but the public needs to know about him.”

“I’ll call Jordan and have him get something together. When we get back, I’ll go over it and send everything out to the local news and radio stations,” Perry said.

“Sounds good.” Braden’s gaze strayed toward the grisly scene and he was thankful the fallen couch blocked most of his view.

This scene was more disturbing than the others, probably because of the violent nature of the rest of the room. The body obviously hadn’t been moved like the others. He scrubbed a hand over his short hair and let out a long sigh. When would this nightmare be over?

The rotting stench of flesh assaulted her as she choked and writhed on the dirty cement floor. She tried to move, but it was futile. Frayed rope cut into her wrists as she struggled. Her captors hadn’t returned, but it was only a matter of time.

She glanced at the floor, trying to look anywhere but at her dead friend. Through swollen eyelids, she stared at the charred remains. They didn’t even look human. Her stomach roiled and she dry heaved. The retching movements jolted her entire body, sending splinters of pain shooting through her broken ribs and legs. Unwanted tears rolled down her dirty cheeks.

Distant screams sounded somewhere nearby. They’d moved on to another cell. Equal doses of relief and guilt flooded her that she wasn’t the one being tortured.

Her door started to slowly open. She tried to move, but her bindings kept her in place. Not that it mattered. She couldn’t run if she wanted to.

Her body and mind desperately screamed for help. Instinct told her to curl into a ball but it was impossible. Her limbs wouldn’t obey. They couldn’t obey.

Footsteps pounded closer and closer until scuffed black boots were right in front of her face.

The man said something she couldn’t understand, but she understood his tone and she knew what he wanted. Twisting her head a few inches, she looked up at him.

Still hiding behind his mask, he grinned at her. This time there was no wooden plank in his hand. This time, he held a knife.

“Ready to play?” His broken English sent a wave of cold rushing over her body.

She tensed, waiting for the pain to come, refusing to scream as long as she could hold off…

“Lilly, wake up. Hey, wake up.”

Groggily, Lilly opened her eyes to find Braden sitting on the couch, frowning at her.

“What…was I screaming?” As realization of her surroundings hit, shame washed over her. She was still in the privacy of Braden’s office, but if everyone in the station had heard her pathetic crying, she’d never be able to show her face anywhere again.

Braden shook his head. “No, you were thrashing around. Are you okay?”

Groaning, she pushed up on her elbows and planted her feet on the ground. “Just another dream. I’m fine.”

“You sure?” He rubbed her back in small, circular motions.

“I promise. Trust me, that wasn’t a bad one.” Shivers of cold still racked her bones, but she fought them off. She was alive and in North Carolina. Not dying in Africa. “What happened with Abby Murphy? Did you guys pick her up?”

He shook his head and before he said the words, she knew what was coming. “She’s dead, Lilly.”

Hollowness settled over her. Their first big lead was gone. And if Greg Murphy had no problem killing his wife, nothing would stop him from coming after her. “How?”

She watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down for a second. “Almost the same as the others. More violent though. She has a lot of defensive wounds.”

“This guy is like a ghost,” she muttered.

“He’s just a man and we’re going to catch him. Vanessa’s talking to a few of the local news stations now. Greg’s picture is going to be released on the five o’clock news.”

“You’re telling the public everything?” She pressed a hand to her stomach. Maybe this would finally push the case in the right direction.

“No details. Just that he’s wanted and dangerous.”

“That’s an understatement.” She tugged at her scarf and loosened it. All these layers had been helpful before, but now they were stifling.

“Before I came in here, I received a fax from Vegas P.D. so I called them back. Someone saw our request for info and remembered an old case that wasn’t filed with the other two they sent us. He thinks he might have a lead for us.”

Her heart leapt. “What kind of lead?”

“A woman that got away.”

“What? How did they miss this?” She tried to contain the excitement humming through her since she knew it might end up being nothing.

“It happened over six months before the other two women were raped and murdered. With the time lapse and the fact that she wasn’t murdered, they didn’t classify the cases together. After he stopped at two women in Vegas, they obviously didn’t follow up anywhere else.”

“Why does this guy think she might be one of his victims?”

“She was young at the time and a guy working vice remembers her because of the knife wounds she received during her attack. He wasn’t homicide then but when he saw our request, he remembered her.”

Lilly didn’t respond, but she allowed herself a small measure of hope. If they could locate the woman, maybe they could find this monster after all.

Lilly stripped out of her jacket and scarf before slipping on her Duke University hoodie over her jeans. She tried to tamp down the excitement humming through her, but it was impossible. She was still reeling from the news that they might have a witness. While she hated that they had to wait for more news, there was nothing she could do about it.

A detective had been sent out to locate the missing victim but four and a half years had passed and she’d been a prostitute at the time of her attack. From what the Vegas P.D. had told them, she didn’t have a permanent address they could find and even though she hadn’t been arrested for solicitation in a while, they figured she was still in the same line of work. After her attack she’d worked with a sketch artist but either her evidence box had been misplaced or lost completely. It pissed Lilly off but according to Braden, it wasn’t that uncommon for cold cases to get shoddy treatment in terms of evidence storage.

Braden was downstairs making sandwiches for them, and by the heated looks he’d been throwing her all afternoon, she knew what was going to happen tonight.

Her movements were silent as she descended the stairs. She stopped in the entryway of the kitchen and watched him at the counter. With his back to her, she could stare all she wanted. His sweater stretched across taut muscles and broad shoulders. The sight made her mouth water. He’d been the good looking All-American boy when they were younger. The biggest surprise seeing him again had been that his fresh good looks had been transformed into something a little darker. Edgier.

And it had everything to do with his eyes. Sure, he’d grown into himself, bulked and toned up, but his eyes occasionally betrayed the tragedy he must have seen overseas. Even though she’d been in college when he’d been in the Marines, she’d constantly worried about him.

“You okay?” Braden’s voice cut through her thoughts and she realized he’d turned around.

She averted her gaze from his chest to his face and hoped he couldn’t see the heat she felt creeping into her face. “Fine. A little tired I guess.”

“Still hungry?” he asked as he picked up the two plates.

“Starving.” A sandwich might not be much but it would be enough to fill her up before they called it a night. Even though she wanted to do more, until they heard back from the Vegas P.D. there wasn’t anything else they could do this late.

As she grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge, Braden’s phone buzzed across the counter, causing them both to freeze. She met Braden’s gaze as she clasped her fingers around the bottles.

He frowned as he picked up the phone. When his features relaxed, she shut the refrigerator door while he answered. Half listening, she picked up their plates and moved to sit at the table.

“That was Perry. All the equipment is working,” he said after he hung up.

“Thank God.” She leaned back in her chair.

The Hudson Bay Sheriff’s Office could trace practically any calls that came in directly to their operators, but they didn’t have the high tech equipment she was used to working with. Thankfully the FBI had sent the equipment to trace calls made to their cell phones. Everyone within the department was set up. If that monster called any of them again, they’d be ready for him.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Braden asked as he sat across from her.

She wasn’t sure how to answer. Part of her wanted to put some distance between them. Tell him the kiss had been a mistake and it couldn’t go further between them. There were too many things between them. Their past and a big secret she’d been holding on to for too long. Too many conflicting thoughts bounced around in her head. She took a sip of her water before she spoke. “I’m wondering if you were having second thoughts about…earlier.” If he said yes, it would be a lot easier to walk away from him.

“Not a chance in hell, sweetheart.” His words were low and sensual.

The hungry look he raked over her erased any doubts she might have had. A wave of heat rolled through her like a tidal wave, sending tingles shooting to all her nerve endings. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been turned on so much by a simple look.

His neck muscles corded tightly as they stared at each other. It was impossible to move from her spot, even if she’d wanted to. Swallowing, she stared into his dark eyes, hoping she didn’t get devoured by what she saw there. Sometimes she could see everything going on in his head. Other times, it was like a veil fell into place, completely blocking her out. Now, she could see his lust, plain and simple.

Finally, he tore his gaze away, breaking the spell. Putting some distance between them was mandatory unless she wanted to dissolve into a puddle of mush at his feet.

More than anything, Braden wanted to forgo food and take Lilly right on the kitchen table. Or the floor, or the stairs. It didn’t matter where. After that kiss he’d been worked up all day. Well, longer than that, but he shoved those thoughts aside as he turned the stove off.

Despite his desire, she needed to eat first. Between the nightmares and everything else, he didn’t want her passing out from lack of sustenance.

As he watched her take a small bite of her food, then lick her lips, he imagined what it would feel like to have her tongue and mouth all over him. He tried to shift in his seat to alleviate some of his discomfort, but it was no use. Just being in the same room and knowing what the night held, had him twisted up. Somehow he willed his jaw and throat to work.

Lilly’s hands shook as she picked up her water. Avoiding his gaze, she stared at her plate but didn’t make a move to pick up her partially eaten sandwich again.

“Not hungry?” he rasped out.

“Not for food,” she muttered.

Braden let out a frustrated growl. At the sound, Lilly’s gaze locked on his like a heat seeking missile. For a split second, her eyes widened, then a seductive, sexy smile played at the corners of her mouth.

He didn’t even remember moving, but suddenly they were kissing. Hot, raw, primal kisses. Years of built up lust surged through him as his tongue rasped against hers. Tasting her wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough.

A low rumble sounded and he realized he was practically growling. He felt like an animal and there wasn’t much he could do about it. “Upstairs now, or we’re doing it on the floor.”

In response, Lilly clutched his shoulders and wrapped her slim legs around his waist. “Hurry,” she whispered against mouth.

His erection pressed painfully against the denim of his jeans as he carried her up the stairs. When she raked her teeth over his jaw, his entire body jolted but he forced his legs to keep moving. He would not screw this up.

The guest room was too far so he stumbled into Lilly’s room. As soon as their bodies hit the bed, her hands went for his belt and his went for her sweater. In a flurry of movement, their clothes flew off in record time until he was stretched out over her lithe naked form, barely controlling himself. Now it was skin on skin.

Everywhere they touched, his body burned. When she locked her ankles behind his back, he groaned into her mouth.

He gripped the back of her head tightly, afraid she might change her mind. At the rate he was going, he’d be done in thirty seconds. And that was something he couldn’t allow to happen.

Using sheer willpower, he unclenched his hand and pulled his head back. Her dark hair pillowed seductively around her face. Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he stared down at her perfectly swollen lips.

Her green eyes widened at the loss of contact. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

Braden hovered over her. “Giving you some foreplay, woman.”

Grinning, she possessively slid her hands over him, raking her nails down his chest as she stroked. “I don’t need it,” she murmured.

His stomach muscles tightened at her words. “Too bad,” he growled. His body was a raging inferno. Every part of him felt touched by lava. As she ran her hands lower, he jerked back and away from her.

Her lips curled up at the corners as she propped up on her elbows, pushing her small breasts out further. “It’s a little late to start playing hard to get.”

Ignoring her comment, he slid lower until his face was between her thighs. Tasting her again was something he’d fantasized about too many times. He wasn’t passing up this opportunity. For all he knew, she might decide this was a one-time thing. And he planned to take everything he could from her.

Pressing lightly on the inside of her legs, he stroked between her folds with his tongue. She let out what he could only describe as a purring sound as she fell back against one of the pillows.

Her entire body hummed with energy and passion. He could feel it as if it was his own heartbeat. As he teased her with his tongue, the sound of her labored pants and moans filled the quiet room.

When she laced her fingers through his hair and clutched his skull, he relented and lifted his head. “Hold that thought,” he whispered. He quickly scanned the room for their discarded clothes. When he spotted his jeans on the floor, his heart thudded faster. In record time, he pulled out a couple of the condoms he’d shoved in his back pocket earlier.

With his teeth he ripped one of the foil packets open. As he sheathed himself, his hands shook. He cursed his unsteadiness, but grinned when Lilly sat up on her knees and grabbed the hard length of him.

Their mouths meshed as she slid her arms around his waist, drawing him closer. When she rubbed her hardened nipples against his chest, his cock jerked in response. Gripping her by the waist, he flipped her so that she was flat on her back. Instantly, her hands moved to clutch his shoulders. He’d tasted her readiness, but he dipped a finger inside her wet channel to be sure.

She arched her back as he dragged his finger against her inner wall. “I’m ready,” she panted.

As he hovered at her entrance, he propped himself up on one arm and cupped her cheek. “You’re so beautiful, Lilly.” Normally he wasn’t a big talker during sex and he barely managed to squeeze those few words out before he drove into her.

Lilly was on fire with need. Her inner muscles clenched around him as he mercilessly thrust into her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles behind him. Tracing her fingers up his chest and shoulders, she savored the feel of his taut, muscular body.

When he dipped his head toward her breasts, she arched her back, giving him better access. In measured movements, he licked and laved one breast while palming the other. His calloused palm over her sensitive skin sent erotic vibrations to all her nerve endings.

This was a side to him she’d never seen. His whole body shook with need and the dark look in his eyes was startling. Not that she was afraid he’d hurt her. He just looked…hungry.

And she was the main course. Gripping him tighter with her legs, she met him stroke for stroke. In more ways than one, he completely filled her. She couldn’t believe she’d gone so long without seeing him. Now that she’d tasted him once more, she didn’t think she could walk away from him again.

A groan gathered deep in her throat as the pressure built. Just looking at him was enough to get her turned on, but what he was doing with his hands and mouth should be illegal. She was ready to combust.

Her inner walls began contracting the faster he moved. He must have felt her response because he lifted his body up and braced his hands on either side of her head. His hands weren’t touching her but he stared at her with those soulful dark eyes and she found her release.

For a second her vision clouded over as the building pressure inside her exploded. Her back arched and her legs bowed as her inner muscles clamped around him. All the anxiety that had been humming through her was set free as she pushed over the edge.

Maybe he’d been waiting because as soon as she climaxed, he thrust into her with a few more long strokes before collapsing onto her.

After a few moments passed, she giggled and pushed at his chest.

“Laughing is not good for my ego,” he murmured as he rolled onto his back, stretching out next to her.

“I think your ego can withstand it. That was…was…”

“I really hope that sentence has a good ending.”

She shifted onto her side and placed a calming hand over her chest. Her heartbeat was still knocking erratically against her ribcage. “That was the most intense orgasm I’ve had in…ever.”

He propped up on one elbow and grinned at her as if she’d just told him he won the lottery. “Don’t let it go to your head, Sheriff.”

“Too late.” He grabbed her hip and rolled her over so that she was stretched on top of him.

She laid her head on his chest and listened to the steady thump of his heart. Being with Braden like this was surreal. Almost too good to be true. After what they’d just shared she wanted to open up to him, tell him the real reason she’d left.

“What are you thinking?” He traced a lazy finger down her spine.

Her mouth opened but the truth refused to come. She lifted her head and grinned. “I was thinking that we are definitely going to do that again. And soon.”

As he started kissing her, she pushed all other thoughts from her head. There would be time enough in the morning to worry about the outside world. For now, she wanted to enjoy what little pleasure she could find.

Using the darkness as cover, he crouched against the sand and stared at Debra Carmichael’s house.

That bitch Lilly was in there screwing the sheriff. He just knew it. Instead of being disgusted by her pathetic problems, the good sheriff was falling back into the slut’s web.

Probably wanted to protect her. Maybe he wouldn’t feel so chivalrous if he knew how dirty she was. How she’d teased every male in town. Including him. She’d flaunted herself in front of him every chance she got.

Moving his hand over the front of his jeans, he shifted against the sand and rubbed himself as he watched the house. About an hour ago the lights had gone off and they hadn’t come back on since.

The light in the guestroom had never gone on, though. Which meant they were fucking in her room. Just like old times. Maybe when he was done with Lilly he’d kill the sheriff. He’d thought about letting him live with the knowledge that he couldn’t save his precious Lilly but he might have to finish him off too. That kind of loose end could come back to haunt him later.