Witness Protection (The Witness Series)

WITNESS PROTECTION

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Copyright
©
2012 Bec Botefuhr

Published by Bec Botefuhr, December 2012.

Witness Protection is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Books in this Series

Witness Protection (The Witness Series Book one)

Forsaken (The Witness Series Book two)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

For everyone who believed in me, who knew that I could do it even when I didn’t believe it. My family, friends, co workers and everyone who said “You can do it.” Thank you.

For my husbands patience and love, and for not hitting me over the head for all the hours I have spent working on my novels. For my gorgeous daughters who are the best children a mother could ask for.

For all my fans, for their encouragment and belief, for their kind words and amazing hearts. You all make this possible for me.

WITNESS PROTECTION

PROLOGUE

“Miss, tell us what you saw.”

Those damn eyes are melting a burning hole into my brain, those g
rey eyes. He looked right at me
and grinned when he slit her throat, slowly. Upside down, he had her strung upside down on a tree,
sick bastard.

“Miss…”

I peer up at the officer in front of me. He is short, round and bald. He has been in his job far too long.
His face is friendly
though and that, oddly enough, brings me a mild amount of comfort.

“He saw me.”

“Are you certain?”

“He…saw…me.”
I bite out, frustrated.

“What did you see?”

I blink rapidly, and breathe deeply. I need to steady my pounding heart. It just won’t slow down.

“I was driving home, windows down, I heard screaming. I got out of the car and hurried towards
the sound, it got louder. I just came into a clearing, and there he was
, he…slit her
throat. She was hanging upside down. He saw me.
”

“He didn’t try and come after you?”

“No, he
just…kept slitting her throat. He smiled at me.”
I shudder in remembrance of that cold smile, the way he just grinned as though he were merely taking a walk in the park and looking at the damned roses.

“Are you absolutely certain he saw you?”

“He saw me.”

“Can you give us a description?”

“He was covered, all except his eyes.”

“Colo
r?”

“Grey.”

“We found the body of a young
woman;
we believe it is the work of
B
TK.”

“Excuse me?
B
TK?”

“
Blonde
Teen
Killer .”

“Why do you name serial killers?”

The officer stares stupidly at me. “Well, it usually draws them out. They like to be considered special.”

I shake my head, I am still in shock. “And this
blonde
teen killer…picked her because?
”

“She was in her teens, blonde and he slit her throat and then slung her up by her legs for wild animals to pull apart. It is his ninth killing.”

“Ninth?” I cry.

“They are all killed the same way.”

My heart is thudding. “Well, I don’t fit his profile so I am safe…right?”

The officer rubs his chin. “You might not fit his profile…but you saw him and you got away, that makes you his profile.”

CHAPTER 1

“I don’t see why I need to stay with two people I don’t know.”
I huff, glaring at old man cop.

“Witness protection.”
The officer explains.

“Aren’t there safe houses for that?”

“Yes, but we want you cl
ose. The killer will be
looking;
you could be the key to drawing him out.
”

I shudder. “So you change my name and shove me with two fat, old cops who are
meant
to babysit me?”

The officer chuckles.
“Fat and old.”

“What is so funny?”

“You will see.”

I grunt. “What is your name?”

“Officer Clancy.”

“That’s it, officer Clancy?”

“James Clancy.”

“Well James Clancy, you better know what you are doing.”

“You will be
safe;
both these men are cops, highest ranks. They are our best.”

“I am sure two cruddy
,
old cops don’t want a young girl hanging around.”

“They don’t mind at all.”

“I b
et they don’t.
”
I bet they are two dirty, old men who jumped at the chance.

James Clancy
laughs again. Why do I get the feeling the jokes on me?

“So I am now,” I pull out the new ID and read the name. “Ariana Jacobs.”

“Yes, you are now Ariana Jacobs. You will no longer be
Maya Traydon.”

“Good, I hate that name.”

“You can’t tell anyone your old name, not even your family can call you by that name.”

“He saw me you know, changing my name isn’t going to put him off the scent…if he sees me…”

“That’s the next
thing;
you need to dye your hair.”

I frown.
“Seriously?”

“Yes, it is what…
honey
brown?
Go chocolate.”

“I don’t suit chocolate.”

James Clancy glances at me. “I beg to differ.”

“Fine, whatever.”

“Here we are. The two men you will be staying with are Nate and Ryder.”

“Well someone’s mothers didn’t like them.” I snort.

James gives me a look. “Be nice, you are in their home…I could have thrown you three states away.”

“Fine James Clancy, I will be nice.”

We get out of the car and I lug my small suitcase over to a very, very flash apartment. It is situated in a resort type set up. Lush gardens, pools, tennis courts, you name it. The men’s apartment stands alone,
and is huge. O
ut front
is
a Harley Davidson and some flashy sports car.
Cops.
James Clancy just walks right on in, so I follow. Here goes, time to check out my new
flatty
s
, or fatties.

“Ryder, Nate, we are here.” He yells out.

“Coming
Clancy
.”
I hear a male voice
call out from the bedroom.

I turn and peer around the lush apartment, wow. It is all polished white floors, white walls, top range electrical
equipment
, flashy kitchen and lush lounge. Well, two men sharing a house with a good wage, it makes sense.

“Hey.”

“How’s it going Clanc?”

I hear t
he two voices and turn, my mouth
opens to announce a polite hello
, however,
when I see the two
men that
turns to a dribbling stammer. Perhaps it is the two gorgeous men in front of me, or perhaps it is that f
act that both are so equally beautiful and in the same room, it is daunting.
I
blink;
sure I am seeing this all wrong. Two cops, two very hot cops in a house and…I am staying wi
th them? It’s a joke right, soon two fat old men will come out and yell “Gotcha!”

The first cop, the one that draws my eye, is tall dark and handsome. Heck, he is better than tall dark and
handsome;
he is
extraordinary
and so fucking beautiful. He has
longish
black hair, all ruffled and
disheveled
. His eyes aren’t blue, and they certainly aren’t green, heck, they are like aqua. His eyes are
a
one of, a colour I have never seen before on any person and they are striking against his olive skin. His body is firm, hard and rippled. He stands at about six foot and is as broad as a
linebacker
.
A tribal tattoo swirls over his left shoulder and down his left arm.

The second
man
is the complete opposite to the first. He has blonde
hair that
is thick and long. His eyes are a deep chocolate brown and he has the skin of a country boy, darker than the first mans. His body is tall and lean, if you could put a pair of jeans and a cowboy hat on him, he would look the part. His looks are equally as striking as the first man, but he doesn’t have that dark and dangerous feel. He looks gentle, sweet even.

“Ariana, this is Ryder and Nate.”

I blink stupidly, I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out.

“Well
, aint it a damn pleasure,” Say
s the blonde haired man, reaching out to offer me his hand. “Nate.”

I take it and shudder when he cur
ls his fingers around mine.
“A-A
-
Ariana
.”

“That is my pal, Ryder.”

I l
ook at the dark haired man,
whose
gaze is raking me from head to toe.
“Pleasure.”

His voice his husky
and deep.
Nate’s has a western twang.
God
, I am going to die.

“I…thank you for taking me in.” I manage.

“Pleasures all ours.”
Nate grins towards Ryder who gives a half smile.

“We have changed her name,” Chuckles James Clancy, who knew all along these men were
God
’s
gift
, I will be sure to punish him for that later
. “I have told her she needs to dye her hair
ASAP
. I will keep regular checks on the building and expect you to give me regular updates. That killer is out there, and no doubt waiting.”

“We got it Clanc, cops remember?”
Ryder says, leaning his
magnificent
hip against the counter.

James Clancy grins.
“Yeah, yeah.
Just watch her, don’t let her go out alone…”

“Cops.”
Nate reminds him.

“Right, w
ell, get that hair dyed will you?”

“Yes James Clancy.” I smile and he grins back at me. Stupid old fool, he is kind of addictive.

“Well, report in this evening and in the morning. We will keep you update
d
with our process.”

“The girl that was found?”

“Bianca West, nineteen, blonde…”

“It was him again then?” Ryder asks
.

“Yeah, it was. Ariana said he saw her, we can’t be sure what happened.”

“I am not delusional, he saw me.” I snap.

“No doubt.”
Nate says, giving me a smile.

“No one is que
stioning that
, we just can’t be sure of anything until he pounces…or doesn’t
.
”

“So, how long do I have to stay here?” I ask, folding my arms.

“Until we know if he is going to track you down.”

“Fine.”
I huff.

“Well,” James Clancy says, walking towards the door. “Enjoy.”

I snort and glare at him as he walks out the door. When he is gone, I turn back to the two men. Oh lord, this could be interesting.

“So, is what
is your real name
?” Ryder asks.