Chapter 11
LOCKE
In the hallway, I listened to the extensive instructions.
I think the doctor was trying to scare me off. Too bad, she didn’t know me very well.
I hadn’t run yet, and I had plenty of goddamn chances.
“I’ll make sure to stock up on this list of things.
” I waggled my phone before shoving it back into my pocket.
“Look, doc, I know you want her here for another few days, but your security in here is subpar at best.” When she opened her mouth to argue, I held a hand up.
“I know you haven’t needed it. I appreciate that, but she’s a special case.
Detective Stone hasn’t given you a lot of details because he can’t.
I don’t have a superior to report to right now.
This is a dangerous man, and Cilla is the only victim who’s lived. ”
The doctor sighed. “I appreciate the situation, but it’s a serious wound and she already opened it once.”
“Won’t matter if she’s dead with a new ligature mark on her neck, now will it?”
The doctor’s jaw firmed. “You have a way with words, Mr. Jordan.”
“I’m not fucking around with her.” The words were out before I could temper them. She wasn’t my responsibility, but she damn well felt like it right now.
“To be inelegant, I am more worried about her current state. Not only her wounds, but she’s had a severe trauma. Are you ready to handle that too?”
No.
Hell fucking no.
“She might not remember him right now, but she might soon.”
Which would make her an even bigger target. Which was even more reason to get her the hell out of here.
“I’ll be back in an hour. Is that good enough for you for the paperwork?”
“I’ll make sure it is.”
“Good.” I stalked down the hall to the stairs and out.
I had a lot of work to do in an hour. Thankfully, I’d rented a car after the first night.
My dirt bike wasn’t going to work for all this bullshit.
I hit up a Target for the supplies that I’d need for her.
Food was mostly covered, but I got a few extras that I figured she might like.
Fruit and creamer since most people weren’t black coffee drinkers like I was.
Unsure what she’d need for clothing, I threw a few loose dresses in the cart along with shorts and tanks. Hopefully the rest would be in her luggage. I didn’t want to think about picking out underwear or a bathing suit for her.
It was bad enough I’d have her in my face twenty-four seven.
Thanks to an SOS with Stone, the hotel let me into her room to get her things.
The scent of her slammed into me as I walked in the door.
It was a quick and visceral return to the night that I found her.
It was a heady floral scent. Not soft, but more sultry.
Like something that bloomed at night. I shook my head against the sharp reminder of her that night. The fluid dress rucked up to her waist.
God, she’d looked so fragile and broken.
I pushed that aside and looked around the room. Her massive bag was open on a luggage stand. A few things were thrown over a chair in the corner. I grabbed that and tossed it in the bag. The bed was neatly made. Because she hadn’t slept there yet? Or just a conscientious maid.
Had Stone locked down her hotel room?
I glanced around, but there didn’t seem to be any sign that a cop had disturbed her things.
I was getting damn tired of the cops treating this like it was a random attack.
Then again, they weren’t able to see the same scene I’d seen. The way he strung her up. I fisted my fingers and slammed my fist into the chair making it skid across the floor.
I gathered up her toiletries from the bathroom and her scent wrapped around me.
It had been a damn long time since I’d been around female things.
The few times I’d run into port and found someone to kill time with, the end result had been as hollow as being alone.
Before that, I’d been working so damn much that the only people around me were clients or fellow Kendrick Group employees.
Both had been off the table as far as I was concerned.
I zipped the small case and tossed it in her luggage. And because the big clamshell suitcase had room, I stole a pillow.
Whatever else we needed, I’d order for pickup.
I grunted as I lifted the suitcase. Glad for the rollers, I left the room.
It was an updated hotel, leaving long corridors of soft carpeting. There was no reason for my hackles to rise, but I trusted my instincts. They’d saved my life on more than one occasion.
I slowed, letting my eyes skim across the doors and to the open area near the elevator.
A door down the hall clicked shut.
I was tempted to roll up on the person in the room. I didn’t look like I belonged here as much as Cilla did, but I could come up with something.
When the door opened again, a young guy of about seventeen came out. His eyes widened when he saw me and he slipped back inside.
Great. I’d scared the crap out of him.
I tried to shrug off the uneasiness. Either I was overreacting, or I’d missed something.
Quit fucking around, Locke.
I sighed at Milligan’s voice. How many times had he said that to me when I was being paranoid? Sometimes I was right. And right about now I didn’t know if I was wrapped too tight thinking about Cilla getting on my boat, or if I was picking up on something.
Would he come looking for her here?
Or waiting for her?
Annoyed, I hustled down the hallway into the elevator and stepped inside. I’d taken too much time and headed to the hospital instead of making a pitstop at the boat.
I texted Stone to make sure they were ready for me. It was already late in the afternoon, and I wanted time to get her settled so I could get us out on the water.
When I got up to the floor, the cop wasn’t on the door.
“Motherfucker,” I muttered.
Inside, I found a curtain pulled. In a sliver of space I saw Stone and a nurse helping Cilla into a wheelchair. Her dress had been beyond redemption, leaving her in a pair of hospital pants and slippers with a double hospital gown wrapped around her.
She looked impossibly small in the wheelchair.
And even worse, fragile.
How the fuck was I going to keep her alive?
I closed my eyes and dragged in a deep breath before I pushed beyond the curtain.
Cilla looked up at me with wounded, dark eyes. She tried for a smile, but I could see the sweat of pain dotting her forehead.
I crouched in front of her. “How are you doing?”
“Wishing for the good pain meds.”
I grinned. “I bet we have something in that bag on your lap.”
“Maybe.”
I glanced up at Stone. “Did she get her meds or do I need to find a pharmacy.”
“No. They hospital pharmacy hooked her up.” He patted Cilla’s shoulder. “But we need to be gentle with her.”
I nodded and got behind the wheelchair. “Let’s blow this joint.”
Cilla white knuckled her grip on the arms as I pushed her forward. “Are you sure about this, Locke?”
“I’m sure. We’re going into some clear skies. When you get on the water, you won’t want to get off. You’ll see.”
Stone walked beside me as we left. His eyes scanned the area, matching mine as we got to the loading area.
I tossed Stone the keys. “I’ll stay with her if you want to grab the truck. It’s a blue 4Runner.”
He nodded and loped off to the parking lot.
Cilla kept flexing her fingers on the wheelchair until I covered her hand. “We got this.”
“So you say. The way you two are looking around, I’m going to have a mini heart attack.”
I crouched beside her. “I don’t like being caught off guard. Once we’re out on the water we’ll be fine.”
She nodded.
I straightened as the truck rolled around the loading zone. Stone hopped out and came around to open the door.
Cilla tried to push up to her feet, but I just scooped her up.
Her arm went around me and her big honey eyes widened.
“Better get used to being in my arms.”
Her nails dug into my shoulders as I moved to the truck and set her inside as gently as I could manage.
Before she could reach for the belt, I stretched it over her and buckled her in and set a bottle of water in her lap.
The earlier scent from her room was missing.
Now it was a simple Ivory soap. Her hair was matted with the blood from her accident.
They hadn’t even bothered to try and give her a real bath.
I’d rectify that soon.
When I backed away from her Stone was staring at me with unreadable eyes.
“You guys going to be good?”
“We’ll be fine.”
“I’ll follow you so we can get those files back in—”
“I want to keep the files.”
He frowned. “Those are police files, Jordan.”
“I know. We’re already breaking a million rules. I just want to dig into some backgrounds.” Now that I’d opened the door with Nyx, I wouldn’t be able to get rid of her.
At least I could get her to help out. See if there was anything that linked the women that the cops couldn’t find.
He sighed. “All right. Keep in touch.”
I nodded. “Will do.”
He followed me around the truck to my side. “Where will you be?”
“For the first few days I’ll stay close. Then I’ll take us up around the coast to Maine.”
“That’s a bit far.”
I shrugged. “When she’s not so fragile, we’ll be back. Until then, get that detective hat back on.” I slapped him on the arm.
I got inside the truck, looked over at her. “You ready to do this?”
She nodded silently, then looked out the window.
The drive was quiet. I could feel the nerves building in the truck, but wasn’t sure how to dilute them.
Talk to her, idiot.
I cleared my throat. “I’m assuming Salem isn’t your home.”
She shifted in the seat, wincing. “Albany, New York, actually. I used to come this way for work.”
“Used to?”
“That’s a long story.” She uncapped the bottle and took a drink.
“We’ve got nothing but time.”
She huffed out a laugh. “I guess that’s true.” She nervously squeezed the bottle making it crackle. “I always loved Salem. I used to make a special trip over here when I had business in Boston.”
“What’s the business?”
“Doesn’t matter now.”
“Why not?”
“Because I got fired.”