Chapter Sixteen
PATSY
I drove home, dreading the conversation I knew I had to have with Wes.
“Why did I volunteer him for such a fuckin’ risky assignment without even talkin’ to him about it first?
It’s too bloody dangerous!” I pounded on the steering wheel.
Then glanced to my left as I idled at a red light and saw the startled expression on the driver’s face in the next lane.
He snapped his eyes back to his windscreen, probably thinking he’d just witnessed a nutso madman with road rage.
“Feck me.” I shoved the Beetle into first gear as the light changed.
And hit speed dial on my mobile, using the Bluetooth as the phone rang.
“Hello?” Wes picked up on the third ring.
“Hello, luv,” I said, unable to keep the smile off my face as I pictured the big, beautiful bear who occupied all my thoughts these days. “Are ya at home?”
“Yes, I’m here, Patsy. Where are you? It sounds like you’re driving.”
“I’m on my way home. I have somethin’ important to talk to ya about. Please stay there, yeah?”
“O-of course.” He stammered but it was the worry I heard in his voice that made me pause. “Is everything okay?”
I blew out a long breath. “Everything’s good as gold, Wes. It’s just important that you’ll be there when I get home.”
“I’ll be here. I was just sitting here reading,” he said, sounding a little more relieved. “Honestly, I can’t wait until my job starts. I hate feeling unproductive.”
I smiled to myself, feeling so much affection for the quiet, sweet man who’d never hurt a fly. “You’ll be back to work in no time, mo mhuirnín.”
“I like it when you call me that, Patsy.” I could hear the warmth in his words.
I was pretty sure I could listen to him reading the phone book and I’d find it riveting.
Wes’ voice soothed me like nothing ever had.
He took away my anxiety and helped center me.
I hadn’t been kidding when I’d told him I liked how much taller and broader than me he was.
When he wrapped his big arms around me, I felt sexier than I’d ever felt in my life.
I slowed down for my street, pulling into the right lane to turn.
“Listen, I just got home, Wes. Let me park and I’ll be right up.”
“See you then, Patsy.”
I found a place to park, heading into my building a minute later.
When I unlocked the front door, Wes was waiting for me wearing a pair of sweats, and a long-sleeved tee, with a worried look in his different colored eyes.
Every time I stared into them, I marveled at how lucky I was.
The very idea that I could’ve lost him in Raj and Rami’s shop the night they’d been robbed, haunted me.
And now, more than anyone, I knew the danger I could be putting him in by asking for his help involving a heartless psychopath.
As soon as I shut the front door, Wes pulled me into his arms. The kiss that followed was warm and sweet, and all I could think was how badly I wanted to take him by the hand and drag him back to my bedroom where I could keep him safe.
When he finally broke the kiss and leaned back so he could see my face, he held me around the waist to keep me close while he searched my expression.
“What is it? Did the detectives find out something about the men who tried to kill me?”
I swallowed down the bitter taste in my mouth left from a hell of a lot of guilt.
The truth was, ever since last night when we’d been in bed together, I hadn’t given more than a passing thought to what my dear, sweet man had gone through and how that mystery was still unsolved.
I shook my head and reached up to cup the side of his face, loving the feel of his beard’s soft whiskers.
“No, luv. I didn’t hear from Cassidy or Mike today.
This is something totally different.” I reached down and took his hand.
“Come on and sit down with me. I have somethin’ important to ask ya. ”
“Okay.” He dropped his hands and let me lead him over to the couch. I stayed close to him, taking his hand as soon as we sat down. “What’s happening, Patsy?” He reached up and brushed a lock of hair off my forehead. “You look worried.”
I smiled at him, lifting our clasped hands and kissing his palm. “I’m a wee bit worried, but like I said, it has nothin’ to do with those men.”
He nodded. “Okay, Patsy. What’s going on?”
“I don’t even know where to start so I guess I’ll jump into it.
” When he nodded, I explained everything Lincoln and Dr. Reeves had discussed with us today, not leaving anything out.
Wes’ eyes grew wider and wider. By the time I finished, he looked alarmed.
I squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry I had to get so graphic, luv.
I just wanted ya to know why the FBI is huntin’ for this killer so badly. ”
Wes nodded slowly. “I understand but why did you tell me all that, Patsy, and what made you come home early to do it?”
I hesitated, hating that I had to ask for his help. I sighed, unable to start. It was Wes’ turn to squeeze my hand. “What’s wrong, Patsy?”
“The FBI thinks that the killer may be hidin’ out in a homeless encampment not far from his huntin’ grounds.”
Wes’ eyes got even wider. “Homeless encampment? Here, in Hollywood?”
I shook my head. “No, actually, it’s in South L.A.”
“So…what does that have to do with me, Patsy? I’m still not making the connection.
I never lived in that part of Los Angeles.
My parents’ house was in the San Fernando Valley, and my apartment wasn’t far from here in Hollywood.
I did spend a few weeks in a tent city here in Hollywood because my car was impounded at one point, but I’ve never lived on the South side. ”
“So, yer familiar with homeless encampments?”
He nodded. “Yes, but none in that area. I will tell you, though, they’re not good places to live. A lot of the residents are completely crazy, on drugs, or alcohol. Mental illness runs rampant in them. Why do you ask?”
“Because the FBI would like to know if ya can help us out for a few days.” I felt sick asking, especially when I’d practically volunteered Wes.
He furrowed his brow. “How?”
“They need someone to go in and see if they can identify the killer…well, anyone who the people might be afraid of.” I paused for a few seconds as I thought about how to explain exactly what I meant.
“When I say afraid of, what I mean is someone other than what they’re used to…
sinister…someone that they wouldn’t normally be afraid of like someone sufferin’ from mental illness or violent because of drug use.
We thought havin’ someone who knows how to walk through that world, might be helpful. ”
“And you think I’m the right kind of person for that, Patsy? I don’t have any sort of law enforcement background, so I’m not sure how helpful I’ll be.”
“I think yer underestimatin’ yerself. Ya think fast on yer feet, Wes, and what you’ve gone through in the last year gives ya the inside edge for intel and that’s what we need. What I’m sayin’ is the FBI needs someone who would know how to blend in, understands the way one functions.”
He nodded slowly. “Like I said, I don’t know that encampment, but if you need someone to help catch this killer, I’d be willing to poke around and ask questions. You said you think the people would be afraid of this individual?”
“We do.” I waved a hand between us. “You and I both know if somethin’ isn’t right about someone when we meet ‘em. Whoever’s committin’ these murders is a psychopath.
People have a gut instinct for self-preservation.
Believe me, when I’ve encountered those types, I always felt it when someone is a wee bit off. Have ya had that happen to ya?”
He nodded vigorously. “Of course it has. It’s just like you said.
It’s self-preservation that makes you want to get away from them.
The feeling is different than when you see someone with open animosity directed toward you.
Those types are much more sinister, and you know it when you see it.
It’s more of a feeling.” Wes paused, staring seriously at me.
Oddly enough, he didn’t look worried or scared, just relaxed, if I was reading his facial expression correctly.
Before he opened his mouth, I knew what he was going to say. “I can help, Patsy.”
I nodded. “If yer willin’ to do this for the FBI, I want ya to know, ya won’t be alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’ll be with ya every step of the way.”
“What?” He frowned, confusion obvious.
“I mean, there’s no way I’d let ya blithely go in there and put yerself in danger unless I was by yer side. I already told Candy that.”
“So, we’d be together?” I nodded and for some damned reason he smiled at me. “You don’t think two people asking around about a killer is going to make homeless folks even less likely to talk to us?”
I sat up straighter. “Well, I think we can be more subtle than that, Wes. And in answer to yer question, yeah, we’ll be together. I’m goin’ with ya or it isn’t happenin’ at all, because I’m not takin’ any chances with yer life.”
“So, you’re going to protect me?”
I nodded, noting the completely trusting expression on his face. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m goin’ to do. I’ll tag along with ya like the wee, Irish pain in the arse that I am.”
He shook his head, grinning as he looked at our clasped hands. When he glanced up again, his expression was angelic. “You really are the sweetest man I’ve ever met; you know that?”
“I’m not so sure about that, but I can tell ya, that’s the way it’s goin’ to be if ya agree to this.” I leaned forward and brought our lips together. For some damn reason, I couldn’t stop touching him.
He smiled when I broke the kiss. “Of course I’ll help, Patsy. When do they want us to do this?”
I sighed. “Tonight. Candy agreed to lendin’ me and a couple of others on my team to the operation for three days.”
He frowned. “So, others will be there too?”