Chapter Twenty-Seven
Parking in front of the senator’s office building, I tried calling Helena again. I sighed when I heard her professional voicemail greeting play; I was growing concerned.
This doesn’t seem like her to not answer. Especially on a Saturday; I know she doesn’t have any appointments today.
“Sullivan!” Maria Santos called as I exited my Mustang, waving me over from behind the yellow “do not enter” tape the local police department had put up around the building.
“Santos,” I greeted, ducking under the tape.
“Stevens, Diaz, and Nichols are already inside. We're still waiting for Desiree and David, and Jacobs will be here shortly as well. She offered me a pair of exam gloves, and I pulled them on, following her into the building.
Nichols was standing at the security desk, questioning a security guard, and Stevens was talking to Diaz in one of the hallways leading to the senator’s office.
“Hey, Cam!” Stevens called out, catching my attention. Santos and I made our way toward Anton down the hall.
“Hey, Anton,” I greeted. “Diaz, good morning,” I said to Diaz behind Anton and she gave me a nod before answering her phone and walking away.
“Santos, can you please assist Nichols with interviewing the security guards?” Anton asked, and she nodded obediently.
“Yes, sir,” she said, walking away toward Nichols.
“This way, Cam,” Anton said, turning down the hallway.
I studied my surroundings as we walked down the hall. Each office had large windows with shades drawn closed. The doors leading to the offices had plaques with the occupant’s name and title, and a slot for mail.
Something about this space, this hallway, these offices… It felt familiar, like I've been here before.
“Here we are,” Anton said, opening the door to the senator’s office with a gloved hand. He let me enter first, and I stood in the doorway, scanning the room.
There were file cabinets on both sides of the room that had multiple drawers pulled open. Papers and files littered the floor, and at first glance it looked like there was a struggle.
“What do you see initially?” Anton asked as I looked further into the room.
“There are definitely signs of a struggle, but something is off.”
My eyes scanned the room beyond the mess of files and papers on the floor. There was no blood that I could see, and the windows behind the senator’s desk had the shades drawn closed. Being careful not to step on any of the papers, I made my way toward the senator’s body slouched over his desk.
Typical desk things like pens, picture frames, and a stack of sticky notes were strewn about the floor.
“Any sign of the Norfolk Butcher’s signature?” Anton asked from the doorway as I circled around the back of the senator’s chair.
“Not that I can see without moving him, not yet.”
“Fuck. Well, do your thing Camden. I’ll keep everyone out in the main lobby until you’re done,” Anton said, walking back down the hall.
I couldn’t help but wish Helena was here; I didn’t like diving into my mind without her. She’s helped to bring me back to reality, and I’m concerned that if she isn’t here, I’ll get stuck. Especially with how I’ve been finding myself missing time, and having strange dreams of events happening that I can barely remember.
Reaching into my pocket to check my phone, I saw it was eleven fifteen.
Is something wrong, Helena?
Dialing her number again, it rang six times before going to her voicemail. My intuition was screaming in my mind that something was wrong—something isn’t right. Opening my text messaging app, I sent a quick message.
Me: The team was called to the senator’s office. His body was found at his desk. Can you meet me there ASAP?
After sending the message, I stared at my screen, begging the little three dots to appear, indicating she was typing a response. Nothing.
I could hear the chatter down the hall, reminding me of my task at hand. I couldn't delay any longer.
Please, Helena… I need you.
Placing my phone back in my pocket, I cracked my neck, and looked to the ceiling. Closing my eyes, I took my deep, grounding breath, allowing my mind to succumb to my gift.
I was forced into my empathic state quicker than usual, as if it took a hold of my body, forcing me to fall.
Helena.
Opening my eyes to the familiar blue hue, I was standing outside of the senator’s office. I just exited a car from the passenger side and walked around to the trunk. As I reached to open it, the familiar sound of high heels on the cement caught my attention. A slender hand with blood-red nails reached for the trunk, helping guide it open. Helena.
“Quickly, please,” Helena commanded, and I lifted the dead senator out of the trunk and over my shoulder. Turning to follow Helena into the back entrance, she unlocked the door, and held it open for me to enter
“Last door on your right, pet,” she said, closing the door behind us. Helena followed behind me as I found the door to the senator’s office. Stepping in front of me, she pushed open the door, allowing me to enter first. “Have fun, love. Stage him however you wish,” she said, and I nodded in understanding.
Walking toward his desk, I lowered his body into the desk chair, positioning him sitting up in the chair. Sliding the chair in toward the desk, I shoved the senator’s head so his upper body fell forward onto the desktop, turning his head to the side and tossing his arms up onto the desktop.
After getting him settled, I walked toward the file cabinets along the walls, opening drawers and pulling out anything I could grab, tossing it over my shoulder.
“We have fifteen minutes, love,” Helena said, earning my undivided attention.
I slowly stalked toward her, unable to control myself. The way she tried to subtly clench her thighs as I inched closer to her sent a primal lust coursing through my veins.
“You asked me what I wanted.” I scanned her perfect body as I came to a stop, inches from her face. “I want to fuck you on his desk next to his dead body.”
“Fifteen minutes,” she warned, placing her palms on my chest. My hands found her hips as I yanked her body toward me, rocking my stiff cock into her.
Gripping the fabric of my shirt, she pulled her lips to mine. I backed her up until the senator’s desk prevented me from moving her further. Unable to resist, I gripped her hard and rough by her hair, a feral moan escaping her throat.
Helena lifted her eyes to the ceiling, granting me access to her neck, and I kissed, licked, and bit my way down to her shoulder. I could feel her skin breaking in between my teeth, and the way she whimpered in pain was… Fuck, I had to have her.
“Doctor,” I moaned as she dragged her nails up my back. Feeling her nails dig into my raised scars made me want to back away, but I couldn’t resist her. “Fuck,” I hissed, lifting her onto the desk, sliding my hands up her thighs. “I’m fucking starving, Doctor.” I ripped the flimsy fabric of her lacy thong off, admiring the damp fabric in my hands before tucking it away safely in the pocket of my slacks.
Kneeling before my dark queen, I guided her legs onto my shoulders, and reached up to tease her clit with my thumb.
“I want you to watch me devour your perfect cunt, Doctor,” I groaned, pressing my tongue into her pussy, dragging it up toward her clit. “God, Helena. You taste fucking delicious,” I groaned, burying my face in my pussy. Looking up at my queen, she reached behind her neck, unclasping her dress, allowing the soft fabric to fall and reveal her perfect, supple breasts.
“Such a good fucking boy eating me like you’re starved,” she moaned, encouraging me to keep going. She rocked her hips on my face, forcing my head into her cunt as I moaned on her sensitive skin. The vibrations from my moan sent her over the edge, her thighs gripping onto my head as she fought to remain quiet.
Allowing her to come down from her climax, I waited until her trembling stopped before curling my tongue inside her, dragging it toward her clit, devouring her come.
“Eight… minutes,” she whispered breathlessly, unfastening my pants. “It’s about time you decided to take what you want,” she whispered as my slacks fell to the floor.
“Camden?”
Fuck, Helena. Not now. God, I just want to feel my cock inside her.
“Sullivan!” Anton’s booming voice forced me out of my mind, the blue hue surrounding my vision shattering as if it was glass breaking around me.
Panting and out of breath, I looked around, trying to remember where I was. I was on the floor, on my knees in front of the senator’s desk.
“S-Stevens,” I stuttered, before falling backwards onto the floor, the darkness consuming me.
The world around me was dark, but I was wide awake. Still aware of my surroundings, I heard Anton call out into the hallway.
“God damnit, I said get me EMS in here now!” Anton roared and the sounds of feet running toward the exit met my ears. “Fuck, Doctor, pick up the fucking phone,” Anton said under his breath, as he began to pace.
“Supervisory Special Agent Stevens?” A familiar voice greeted Anton in the hall.
Elaine?
“Miss Hamilton, we need Doctor Lawson,” Anton said, concerned.
“She sent me to help in case Agent Sullivan had any negative effects after assessing the crime scene. I know this is off the books, but I have been training with her in preparation for Agent Sullivan.”
“EMS is three minutes out, boss!” Nichols called from down the hall.
“Cancel EMS, Nichols, false alarm!” Anton called out in reply.
“May I enter?” Elaine asked.
“This… This is,” Anton stuttered exasperatedly. “Just get him out of here before Jacobs arrives. Use the back entrance since the media is starting to gather out front.”
“A-Anton?” I groaned, forcing myself to my knees.
“Cam, are you alright, man?” Anton rushed to my side, helping me up.
“I—”
“Agent Sullivan, Doctor Lawson is waiting for you, we need to get you to the hospital,” Elaine said, her voice sounding different—urgent. Something was wrong.
“Go,” Anton ordered. “Just prepare a report and drop it off at the office. I’ll handle Jacobs,” Anton said, clapping me on the back as I exited the room.
“Anton,” I said, stopping him in his tracks. “It’s a copycat. This isn’t the Butcher.”
“Fuck. Alright, Cam. Just get me that report as soon as you get cleared.”
With a nod to Anton, Elaine guided me toward the back entrance where my Mustang was waiting.
“But I parked out front—”
“Just get in, please. It’s urgent,” Elaine said, opening the passenger door and entering my car. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I started the ignition. “I know you’re not one hundred percent ready to drive, but we cannot stay here. Doctor Lawson’s office is five miles away. Can you make it, or shall I drive?”
“I-I’m fine to drive. What’s going on?” I asked, pulling out of the parking lot behind the senator’s office.
“Something is wrong,” Elaine said, picking at her nails nervously in her lap. “Doctor Lawson…” she sighed before continuing. “We don’t have time to go into my backstory, but she saved my life, and I’ve been working for her since. I know everything.”
Why did she emphasize “everything?”
“She has given me instructions for when she doesn’t check in with me. She has not checked in for eight hours, and this is the first time in the three years I’ve worked with her that she hasn’t checked in. Something isn’t right, Camden.”
“Where is she supposed to be right now?” I asked, my anxiety rising.
“Her office.”
“Okay, we’re going there first. I had a feeling something wasn’t right when she didn’t answer my calls about the crime scene and—”
I was interrupted by my phone ringing in my pocket. Parking at the curb outside of Helena’s office, I fumbled for my phone with shaking hands.
“It’s Helena,” I said. Elaine’s eyebrows turned up in worry as I answered my phone, holding it to my ear.
“Doctor, is everything—”
“Now, you,” a familiar voice growled in the background. My gut twisted, and I stared out the windshield, trying to keep myself from throwing up.
My father.
“P-Please, just…just let me go,” Helena begged, her scared whimpers triggering my rage in my mind. I pressed the phone to my ear as if it would help me hear more.
“Can’t do that, sweetheart. You saw too much.” My father’s sinister voice made me flinch. “Stand up. A girl like you wearing designer clothes has a safe in their home. Am I wrong?”
“N-No… Please, I’ll give you whatever you want,” Helena sobbed. The sound of a gun being cocked made me snap.
“I said stand the fuck up. You're taking me home and emptying that safe for me.”
“Helena,” I said softly into the phone. All I could hear now was the sounds of stumbling feet on the ground and a door closing in the distance.
“My father,” I growled, glaring at Elaine. She didn’t back down from me, from my darkness. She stood her ground, her defiant eyes challenging mine.
“Go to her. If he hurts her,” she hissed.
“He won’t.” I snapped back. She opened the passenger door, stepping out of my car.
“She has given me instructions on what to do in this situation. I will meet you there.” Not allowing me to reply, she turned and ran into the building as I peeled away from the curb, driving as fast as I could toward Helena’s home.
The image of my father’s hands on Helena… I gripped the steering wheel as hard as I could, weaving in and out of traffic, blowing through every red light.
Evan. My rational mind was trying to reason with the darkness threatening to take over.
Call Evan, he can help.
“No. This ends today. I will fucking kill him for harming Helena,” I said, my tires screeching as I took the turn into her neighborhood too fast, fighting to keep control of my car.
Screeching to a halt at the curb in front of Helena’s home, I saw her car parked inside the gate in the driveway, partially parked on her lawn. Stepping out of my car, I tore my suit jacket off, tossing in on the seat and ran up to the gate.
With all my strength, I pulled it, forcing it open just enough for me to squeeze through. Unsnapping the strap on my holster, I drew my gun, aiming it in front of me as I slowly inched onto her porch. I took a moment to lean my ear toward the door, trying to assess if they were in the foyer. After a few moments of silence, I slowly and silently turned the doorknob, stepping inside.
I didn’t want to risk my father hearing me, so I left the door cracked open. My mind was spinning, trying to force me into my empathetic state, but I couldn’t—not yet.
Carefully, I made my way deeper into Helena’s home, scanning my surroundings. The table with the photographs of her with her father was a mess. Candles and picture frames were knocked over, and broken glass littered the floor.
Stepping over the glass, I moved toward the kitchen. Various drawers and cabinets were open and pantry items were strewn about.
What the fuck is he looking for?
The home was still eerily silent as I made my way into the dining room. The rug was kicked up in one of the corners, and three dining chairs had fallen on their sides.
“Where the fuck is it?!” my father growled in the distance, and the sound of a slap hit my ears.
My deep-seated rage was burning inside me, building more and more with each passing second. With soft, silent steps, I continued through the back of the dining room toward a half-closed door. The sounds of glass shattering drew me closer.
They were in there, in that room; they had to be.
“Where the fuck is your safe, bitch?” My father hissed as he pinned Helena to the wall by her throat.
My perfect Helena’s face was swollen and bruised. Blood stained her cheek and dampened her hair at her scalp. Struggling against his hold, she brought both of her hands to the wrist on her neck, trying to fight off his grip.
“I said, where… is… it…?” With each pause, he slammed Helena against the wall, the back of her head bouncing off the wall, leaving an indentation in the drywall.
Her head bobbed to the side, and I could see a thick trail of blood fall from between her perfect lips. Stalking closer to my father’s back, Helena lifted her gaze and her dull, green eyes found mine, full of relief as her tears began to fall.
“Get your fucking hands off of her, now,” I growled through clenched teeth, my voice deep with hatred and rage.
Releasing Helena, she fell harshly to the ground as he whipped his body around, pointing his gun at me.
“Franklin,” I growled.
The moment his eyes met mine, that last door in my mind that I desperately kept locked away flew open. The darkness I spent all my life fighting, the darkness born from years of neglect, suffering, and abuse, was freed. This time, I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t scared. Instead, I embraced it, allowing the hate, the suffering, the disgust to surround me and become one with my mind.