Deadly Obsession (20 page)

It was a small thing, but if he knew it was unlocked, he’d know she had escaped. And she’d take even a few precious seconds to delay him.

Her movements were jerky as she staggered across the patio and down the small set of stairs. Everything around her was surreal. She felt as if she was watching someone else. As if what had just happened in that cabin had been to someone else.

But it hadn’t happened to someone else. It had happened to her. And she planned to make sure it didn’t happen to another woman again.

A burst of adrenaline flared through her as she hurried toward the woods. If it was the last thing she did, she was going to tell someone who had done this to her and she was going to make him pay.

Braden glanced at his watch and frowned. It didn’t take ten minutes to get coffee. Easing the hospital door open, he checked on Greg Murphy. Even if the man woke up, both his arms and one leg were cuffed to the bed. He wasn’t going anywhere. But Braden couldn’t leave him without someone here to watch him.

He let the door shut behind him then started to reach for his phone. Immediately he cursed. He’d given it to Lilly and now he couldn’t call her. He pulled out his radio and buzzed Vanessa.

“What’s the status on the room?” he asked.

“Lot of evidence, boss. Black gloves, black mask, pictures of Lilly, anything we need to convict this guy. It’s just…” Static rustled and he thought he’d lost her until she came back on the line. “It seems almost set up.”

“I thought the same thing. And we still don’t know where Barbara is.”

“You think someone’s setting him up?”

“Maybe. Or maybe he’s working with a partner. Either way I’m pretty sure he killed his wife. Or at least he knows who did.” He sure as hell didn’t seem sorry about her death.

“What should we do?”

“Treat the scene like any other one. Collect all the evidence and bring it back to the lab. When you’re done buzz me on the radio. Lilly’s got my cell.”

As they disconnected, he heard a jangling sound from inside Murphy’s room. He opened the door to find their number one suspect thrashing around and cursing.

“Where the hell am I? What did you do to me?”

“I didn’t do anything to you. What kind of moron mixes heroin and fentanyl?” He needed to get under Murphy’s skin, and fast. Catching him off guard was the only way he might get information out of him.

Murphy futilely yanked both his wrists against the metal bars so Braden grabbed one of the cushioned chairs and scooted it next to his bedside. After a few moments, Murphy gave up and glared at Braden. “Where am I?”

“The hospital. You almost overdosed,” Braden said as two nurses rushed into the room.

He stood and pushed his chair out of the way while they checked Murphy’s blood pressure, temperature and whatever else they needed to make sure he was alive and functioning.

Once they’d finished prodding Murphy, Braden pulled his chair back to the edge of the bed. “When did you start killing women, Greg?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” he grumbled as he shifted against the stark white sheets.

“Why’d you kill Abby and where the hell is Barbara Allbright?” Braden asked.

Murphy looked away from Braden and stared at a spot on the wall. “I didn’t kill anyone and I don’t know who the hell Barbara is.”

Braden snorted and scooted his chair closer. “When I asked you about your wife, you said, and I quote, ‘the bitch had it coming.’”

His head jerked to face him. “She did! Abby’d been cheating on me for over a year…I didn’t kill her though.” The last part came out as a strangled whisper.

“So how’d you know she died?”

Murphy’s eyes flared with guilt and a trace of grief. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes but he cleared his throat and continued. “I came by the house early Thursday morning and found her in the middle of the living room.”

Braden wanted to throttle him. He’d beaten his wife for years and had no doubt killed her and now he was showing signs of remorse? Before Braden could respond his radio buzzed. Standing, he unhooked it from his belt and walked out into the hall.

“Yeah?”

“You alone?” Vanessa asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“Perry’s on his way to see you. We’ve got something you need to see.”

He didn’t have time for twenty questions. “What is it?”

“Vegas P.D. tracked down that woman who was attacked by our guy. She’s not a prostitute anymore like they thought and she was more than willing to help. Even though it’s been a while she sat down with an artist and gave a description of the guy.”

“Is it Murphy?”

“Not even close. I don’t recognize the face in the drawing, but Perry seems to think you need to see it right away.”

“Who is it?” A heavy weight congealed in his stomach.

“He wouldn’t say, but he’s bringing you the picture.”

“All right. Hey, have you heard from Lilly?” He glanced at his watch again, then down the hallway.

“No, why? I thought she was with you.”

He ignored the last statement. “Try my cell phone. She’s got it on her. Find out where she is.”

After they disconnected, he grasped the door handle, but paused when Perry rounded the corner. “What’s going on?” he asked.

Perry stopped a foot from him then glanced around. “Wherever Lilly is, she’s probably going to want to see this too.”

He wished he knew where Lilly was too. “She’s not here.”

They’d known each other a long time and the dark look on his friend’s face made Braden pause. Perry clutched a piece of paper in his hand and wordlessly held it out.

Braden grabbed it, not sure what to expect. When he saw a similar image to that of his dead brother’s face, all the air left his lungs. The sketch was black and white, but he knew what he was looking at. Even if it was
impossible.
The rescue team and the forest rangers had said surviving those mountainous elements would have been almost impossible for even a trained survivalist. Something James definitely wasn’t.

Bile burned the back of his throat. Survivalist or not, his brother was a fucking monster. If any of this was true it meant his brother had been stalking Lilly and killing people in both their lives. But to what end? Why would he hate either of them so much? His entire body felt clammy, but the feeling was quickly replaced by a fast-moving numbness. Braden swallowed hard and folded the paper in half. He couldn’t stand to look at that face. His heart pounded wildly. He
needed
to find Lilly.

Forcing himself to keep a level head, he looked at Perry. “Murphy’s awake now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he demands a lawyer soon so read him his rights and see what you can get. He denies knowing Barbara, but if anyone can get her location, it’s you. Find out if he’s working with…” He glanced down at the picture. He couldn’t say his brother’s name. “Find out if Murphy has a partner. I’ve got to find Lilly. Radio me if you need me.”

As soon as the door shut behind Perry, Braden jogged down the hall and made his way to the nurses’ station. When Lilly wasn’t there, he hit up the cafeteria. Worry churned in his stomach as various scenarios raced through his mind, especially now that he knew she’d been right. What if this bastard had gotten to her at the hospital? When he didn’t find her, he raced for his truck. Before he could contemplate anything, his radio buzzed again.

“Yeah?”

It was Vanessa again. “Listen, I was looking over our case notes on Murphy and realized something. At the time of Teresa Cochran’s death, Greg Murphy got a speeding ticket in San Francisco.”

“What are you talking about?” Murdered about six months ago, Teresa had been his Sunday school teacher in middle school. She’d been a sweet woman in her forties who’d gone out of her way to help people.

“I’ve got the papers in front of me. He got the ticket on the same day she was killed.”

As he digested the information, another flash of icy panic streaked through him. “He might not even be involved at all.” Which meant his brother was likely working alone.

“Exactly. There’s no way Murphy could have killed her. This pretty much blows a hole right through our case against him,” she muttered in disgust.

“I’ll see you in a minute, but keep trying to reach Lilly.” He’d be at the station soon and he wanted to try calling Lilly himself. After finding out
this
, he had to find her.

Lilly couldn’t stop the nervous tingles zipping down her spine as she strode up the drive toward Alma’s front door. She wiped her damp palms on her pants as the door swung open. She still hadn’t decided how to broach the subject of Braden’s brother, but now that she was here, she knew she’d better think fast.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve your visit, but I’m so pleased to see you again this soon. This house gets too quiet.” Alma stood back and let Lilly pass.

“Thanks for having me over on such short notice.” She shoved her hands in her pockets as she entered the foyer area.

Alma scoffed as she shut the door. “At my age, I just love having visitors.”

Lilly bit back a grin. Alma was a social butterfly and probably had more of a life than she did.

“This way. I’ve put out some tea and cookies.”

Lilly followed her down the hallway and into the sitting room she’d been in on more than one occasion. It surprised her that not much had changed. A plush chaise lounge sat by one of the windows and two accent chairs and a rich leather sofa were positioned around the mahogany coffee table.

She sat on one of the accent chairs across from Alma. Even though anticipation hummed through her, she waited for Alma to pour a cup of tea and hand it to her.

Crossing her legs, she leaned back in her chair. “I hope you don’t mind if I dive right into this.”

“Go ahead.” Alma took a sip of her tea.

Lilly mentally braced herself for a reaction. “Do you think there’s any possibility that anyone survived the crash that killed Braden’s parents?”

Alma’s eyebrows rose slightly as she set her tea on the table in front of her. “No. Why?”

Lilly took a sip of her tea and tried to think of a response. “I was just curious.” Okay, her answer was lame and unbelievable.

Instead of grilling her, Alma politely changed the subject. “What’s going on with you and my grandson?”

Not that the new subject was any better. A small smile touched her lips. “Ask me in a couple days and maybe I’ll have an answer for you.”

“I wish you two would work things out and give me some grandchildren.” Alma shook her head, making her gray hair swish softly around her shoulders.

Lilly choked on air at the woman’s words. She was thankful she’d already put her tea down or she’d have definitely dropped the tiny cup. Clearing her throat, she half rose, ready to leave. “I think I made a mistake coming here. I—”

“Why did you ask about the plane crash?” The abrupt turn back to their original conversation stopped Lilly cold.

She sat back down and frowned. “The truth?”

Alma nodded.

“I think James is still alive.” Her statement flooded the room with thick tension.

The older woman was silent as she regarded Lilly. After a few uncomfortable moments passed, she cleared her throat. “Things have been moved around my kitchen.”

“Uh, excuse me?”

“My kitchen. I keep everything in a specific order but lately I’ve noticed things missing. Not reorganized, but missing. Canned food mostly.”

“Does anyone have a key?”

“Other than Braden, no.”

“Did you ever get your locks changed after the accident?” As long as Alma wasn’t shooting down her theory, she was going to get every bit of information she could.

She paused then shook her head. “No.”

Lilly picked up her tea cup to keep her hands busy. If it was James, he was obviously taking enough precautions to avoid grocery stores, but it probably meant he was staying somewhere close. “When did this start?”

Alma clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “About a month ago.”

“Have you noticed anything else out of the ordinary?”

“Well…once or twice I noticed my office door had been left open when I was pretty sure I’d closed it. I’m getting old though so it may be nothing.” Her creased brow told another story.

“Do you still have that cabin on the other side of the property?” Years ago it had been used as a hunting cabin when the men didn’t want to trek back to the house after a long day. Truth be told, she and Braden had used it when they wanted privacy all those years ago.

“It’s still there but it hasn’t been touched in years. Why? You’re not planning to—”

Ignoring her protests, Lilly set her cup down and stood. “I don’t know how much Braden has told you about the case he’s working on, but it’s a matter of life and death. Do you still have any of your husband’s hunting rifles?”

Alma smoothed down her long skirt and sighed as she stood. “Yes, I do…Why?”

“Good.” Lilly had Braden’s pistol but she wanted to be prepared. She chose to ignore Alma’s question. Part of her wanted to call Braden, but she was going to prove James was still alive before she did that. After the way Braden had all but said she was crazy, she wasn’t going to give him any more ammunition. If she was wrong, she couldn’t bear to see the judgment in his eyes. All she was going to do was head to the cabin, check it out, then call him if she was right. And if she was wrong, he never needed to know about it.

When James Donnelly saw Braden’s truck sitting in the driveway of their grandmother’s house, he turned and sprinted across the property. The cover of night and his black attire let him blend in to his surroundings.

His food supplies were dwindling, but he’d be okay for a few more days. He’d been careful only to take a couple things at a time and so far he doubted his grandmother noticed. If she did, he wondered what she’d say if she knew he was alive.

She was the only decent woman in his family. Hell, she was the only decent woman he’d ever known. If she hadn’t been there he’d have stormed the house and taken Braden. Lilly too if she was with him. Which he assumed she was. Son of a bitch hadn’t let her out of his sight all week.

Once James reached the edge of the woods he slowed his pace and entered the thick underbrush. Before this past month he’d been staying in various dumpy motels that let him pay cash. Using his father’s old hunting cabin had been genius. Since the power was connected to the house, he had free electricity and running water. If he stayed too long he knew he’d get caught, but he planned to be long gone before that happened.

As he trudged through the woods he pulled out his hunting knife. A few beams of moonlight streamed through the trees, perfectly illuminating his killing tool. That bitch Barbara had held on long enough. Longer than he’d imagined. It was time to kill her and get the cabin ready for Lilly’s arrival.

As soon as Braden parked his car in the station parking lot, he jumped from the vehicle and strode inside. He felt as if time was slipping away from him. Vanessa sat at a desk hunched over a stack of papers.