Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Blaze sat at the kitchen table with Weston and a massive pile of paperwork while Pandora hid in her bedroom watching some stupid show about housewives. He could hear a bunch of ladies scream at each other from the television.
“She can’t bring herself to look at these anymore,” Weston said, pushing a folder across the table. “And I can’t say as I blame her. I had just finished the academy when this happened. I had only been a cop for three weeks. I was the first to arrive when the call came. I was also the first on the scene when Sully tried to rape Andrea. Pandora stared at these images and her own file for months during Andrea’s trial, trying to find any similarity between her case and Andrea’s, but there’s no connecting the dots. Andrea did date Sully. And they had been dating right up until two weeks before the attempted rape. The cops were also called twice, by Andrea, on an assault, but she changed her story each time we showed up.”
“It sounds like it should be an open and shut case when it comes to Andrea.”
“Not when it comes to the first few times we were called for domestic assault. Here’s the report.” Weston shuffled through the papers. “It sucks when we’re forced to walk away, but if the victim won’t accuse their attacker, and we can’t get them to do it, we’re left with no choice.”
“Were there any other girls who have ever accused Sully of anything before?” Blaze held up the document and scanned the report. It was pretty standard stuff and he’d seen it before. However, in the military, things were different. They took assault and sexual misconduct much more seriously. If a man had been accused, even if not proven, they were reprimanded. It was a strike against them. If it happened again, it almost always ruined their career.
“Yes and no.” Weston let out a long breath. “I have spent the last eight years talking to every girl I know who has ever been known to associate with Sully. I didn’t get very far. But my wife has had better luck. I suppose that’s because she’s a woman, and considering what she went through, she can relate to them.” Weston held up his hand. “But she couldn’t get any of them to come forward. Not even the two who said Sully was rough with them.” Weston pushed around the papers until he found another folder. “Neither woman would admit to being raped; however, they did say Sully hit them, but they wouldn’t speak out against him.”
Blaze pinched the bridge of his nose. The amount of paperwork this man had collected was impressive, but it added up to a whole lot of nothing. There were pieces that connected Sully to every aspect of Pandora’s rape, but it was all conjecture. All hearsay. Nothing concrete. No smoking gun.
“What about the fire?” Blaze asked.
“The investigator can say without a doubt that it was set on purpose. It was started in the kitchen. Set by an accelerant. A neighbor called it in. The fire was contained quickly, but there was concern that Sully and Tim were inside, which everyone thought was odd. It wasn’t a big fire, but it was early in the morning. Both their vehicles were in the garage. However, it turns out, they had gone camping with Carl and some other friends. There were witnesses who saw them at the campsite both the night before and in the morning.” Again, Weston shoved more files at Blaze. “There’s the witness list. I speak to each and every one as often as I can that wouldn’t be considered police harassment. As you can see in my notes, there are some minor discrepancies in a few of the stories, but not enough to build a case for the possibility that Sully left that campsite. If I can do that, I might be able to at least get the DA to open an active investigation against Sully for the rape of Pandora, showing that he had ample time to leave the campsite, set the fire, rape?—”
“I get it,” Blaze said, not needing the rundown. He leaned back and rubbed his neck. “I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“Thinking you were a shitty cop and doing nothing to try to nail Sully.”
Weston laughed. “If I were you, I’d probably think the same thing, but trust me when I say, this damn thing has haunted me for eight fucking years. I’d like to believe I’m a good cop. A decent detective. But this thing keeps me up at night.” He pointed to the bedroom. “That one back there is one hell of a brave woman. I wasn’t here when she moved to town. But my cousins, Ethan and Rocky, were. They said she was a hot mess. A broken girl with not two pennies to rub together. She stopped in Rocky’s bar and ordered a shot of tequila and a massive amount of food. Rocky sat there and watched her eat it while trying to figure out her story. Later, he saw her sleeping in her car in the back lot.”
“Jesus,” Blaze whispered. “I had no idea.”
“Rocky tapped on the window and told her to follow him home. He and his wife helped her get on her feet because that’s what my cousin does. Of course, those first few weeks as she bounced between Rocky’s and Ethan’s places, they got an earful about her life.” Weston arched a brow.
“So, that’s how you knew a little about me. Not from Greg.”
“Pandora told Haven about you one night after way too many tequila shots.”
“That woman does like tequila.” Blaze chuckled. “I wonder why she never told Brock. I’ve been friends with him for over ten years.”
“She and Brock aren’t as close as she is with me, my cousins, and Talon, another search and rescue man. Brock is kind of hard to get to know, but he’s loosened up a bit since he got married. Although he’s still a bit aloof.”
“Yeah. That’s true and I haven’t really spoken to him that much in the last few years.”
“However, he’s very involved in this case.” Weston tapped his finger on the stacks of paper. “He works with all of us to track down leads. He helps keep a watchful eye over Pandora and what Tim and Carl are up to. I spoke to him a little bit ago as we’ve all got a schedule. Unfortunately, there is only so much my department can do, legally.”
“I chatted with him right before you came over.” Blaze rolled his neck. “He informed me that Sully should be rolling into town right about now.”
Weston lifted his phone and waved it. “My wife said he’s already here. Nothing to report. Just hanging out at his home with his brother, Carl, and a few other friends.”
“That only means that they are sitting around a table, discussing their next move.”
“Trust me. I’m aware.”
Blaze stared at the folder on the table that he’d been dreading opening. But he needed to. He had to read the reports. To understand the exact nature of the crime. He lifted it from the table.
Weston grabbed his wrist. “I need to warn you that those will enrage you.”
“I’m already there. I’m just really good at keeping that demon in a bottle.” God, he prayed he’d be able to continue to. He flipped it open and swallowed. Hard. An image of an unrecognizable Pandora stared back at him. Her face was so badly beaten her eyes were swollen shut. Her lips were twice their normal size. It was amazing there was no scarring left on her face. “My God,” he whispered. Tentatively, he traced the picture with his finger. So many what-ifs filled his brain. Logically, he knew he couldn’t have prevented this. It wasn’t his fault. But if he hadn’t… He wouldn’t finish that train of thought.
What was done was done.
Regret filled his soul.
And love filled his heart.
He’d never stopped loving her. Not for one single second. For twenty years he carried a torch for Pandora. He could lie to his ex-wife. To their marriage counselor. To the entire world.
But he couldn’t lie to himself.
He flipped the page. Image after image burned into his brain. He scanned the police report, signed by Weston. It was all so professional, and yet Blaze could read between the lines.
Weston had been deeply affected.
God bless that man.
He closed the file and flattened his hands on the table.
“You all right?”
“Absolutely not,” Blaze said. “What’s your plan?”
“Official? Or unofficial?”
“Both,” Blaze said.
“Officially, I keep doing the same tired shit as always. I interview people. I talk to women Sully had relationships with. I try to find the loophole. Or even a mistake in the police work I did. Anything that will crack this case,” Weston said. “Unofficially, well, my cousins, Ethan and Rocky, along with Talon and Brock want to set up a sting.” Weston lowered his chin. “They’ve kept me out of the loop because I’m a cop and some of it won’t be legal. But I know what it would look like and I can’t say I wouldn’t be on board.”
“Why hasn’t Brock said anything to me?” But Blaze already knew the answer to that. However, he did want to hear if Weston would be honest or not.
“I can only guess, because again, they aren’t including me in the plan. They don’t want to get me fired. But they do want me as backup when the shit hits the fan or they need my handcuffs, but they would also need to run it by Pandora, and Greg has kind of put a stop to that. He doesn’t want her involved. He wants to find another way. So, for now, from what I can gather, they are still in the wargaming stages.”
Blaze rubbed his chin. “They want to use Pandora as bait.”
“They haven’t come out and said that.”
“I might have known Pandora twenty years ago. We were madly in love for over a year, but that was then. This is now.” Blaze slowly rose and paced in the small kitchen. “Greg was her husband. He was with her when this happened and I totally understand why he wouldn’t want them to do this. I don’t want to put her in the line of fire. But is Greg’s reasoning out of a sense of duty and protection? Out of having been in love with her and still caring for her? Or is it because he doesn’t think she can handle it?”
“Both,” Weston said. “I’ve known Pandora for as long as I’ve lived in Fallport. She’s strong. And brave. And as much as she acts like a tough cookie and can handle anything life throws at her, this changed her. For that first year after the rape, she was a shell of a woman. Afraid of her own shadow. Greg was worried she wouldn’t even be able to go back to fighting fires. It wasn’t until Sully went to prison that she was able to slowly put her life back together.” Weston stood, adjusting his holster. “Once we got news of Sully’s release date, Pandora started retreating. It’s subtle. Most don’t notice it. But Haven does. Pandora’s never going to be able to completely live again until that man is behind bars.” Weston waved his hand across the table. “This isn’t going to put him there, but I’m kind of with Greg on this one. I don’t believe using Pandora as bait is the right way to go. But honestly, that’s up to her.”
“I don’t want anyone asking her until I’ve had a chance to speak to your cousins and Brock about this,” Blaze said. “I’ll reach out to Brock. Would you mind giving me Rocky and Ethan’s contact info?”
“I’ll do you one better.” Weston nodded. “I’ll arrange for Haven to come over tonight and spend time with Pandora. Not only is she a good cop and Pandora will be safe, but she’s one of Pandora’s best friends. That way you, my cousins, and Brock can have a sit-down.”
“What about you?”
“I can’t be involved,” Weston said. “Besides, I have a little one at home who will need her father’s attention.” Weston glanced at his watch. “I need to get back out there. Call me if you need anything at all.”
“Thanks.” Blaze stretched out his arm. “I appreciate the candor.”
“Take care of her. I know you two have some history, but she’s always spoken highly of you.”
Blaze nodded, walking Weston to the door.
Once Weston left, Blaze made sure he locked up. He leaned against the wall and rubbed his temples. Using Pandora as bait was about the craziest idea he’d ever heard.
But it was the only thing that made sense to end the madness.
He strolled through the family room and kitchen, peeking into the bedroom. Pandora lay on her side, with her hands tucked under her cheek, her eyes closed. He couldn’t imagine what thoughts had been going on inside her mind while he and Weston went through her file.
She probably felt as though she were being raped all over again, but this time by her friends.
Quietly, he tiptoed into the room and eased onto the bed. The women on the television were still yelling at each other. His ex-wife used to love these kinds of shows and he never understood why. He lifted the remote and found a hockey game.
Pandora shifted, stretching her legs and arms. “How long have I been sleeping?”
“I don’t know. A half hour maybe.”
“Where’s Weston?”
“He just left.”
She snuggled up beside him, draping her arm over his chest and her leg over his thigh.
It was a sensation he shouldn’t welcome, but he did as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. She needed comfort and he could at least give that to her.
“He’s a good man and you’re lucky to have such good friends.” Blaze kissed her forehead. “He mentioned that Haven wanted to come over tonight and see you. I thought it would be good for you to have a little girl time so I’ll go see Brock. I haven’t really had a chance to catch up with him anyway.”
“Are you sure?” Her body trembled. God, he hated that she was scared. But he would be too if he were her. He also had to leave for a few hours. He had to know what these men had planned. He needed to be in the know. To understand and to make his own judgment if it was a good mission or if he should kill it.
“You’ll be safe with Haven. Weston has assured me of that.”
“I know.” She inched closer, if that was even possible.
He rested his head against hers, taking in her fresh coconut and roses scent. It got him every time. The first time he saw her on that beach, he’d been a goner. She’d been wearing a skimpy black-and-white string bikini and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He’d been on liberty call for a long weekend and he and his brother had gone to Myrtle Beach to blow off some steam.
Axel spent it in bars getting shit-faced.
Blaze spent it in a hotel room falling in love.
It had been the most humbling experience in his life.
She pressed her hand on his chest and straddled him, lifting her shirt over her head, exposing the sexiest bra he’d ever seen.
He swallowed. “Pandora, what are you doing?”
Leaning over, she pressed her mouth against his, kissing him softly at first, but it soon turned into a wild frenzy when her tongue looped around his in a familiar storm.
He eased his hands up the sides of her body until he cupped her face, prying their lips apart.
She blinked, staring at him with a combination of lust and fear in her beautiful blue orbs.
Running his thumbs across her cheeks, he searched his brain for the right words. Any words that wouldn’t hurt her feelings. She was scared. Her fuel tanks were running on empty. Her attacker had just been released and was now only five miles away. She was reacting to that and all she wanted was for someone to care for her and it didn’t matter what form that took.
Only, it mattered to him.
“My sweet Pandora,” he whispered. “This isn’t the way to deal with all the emotions you’re feeling right now.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what I’m feeling. You have no fucking clue.” She hopped off him and the bed so fast it made his head spin.
Well, fuck. That didn’t go over right.
She snagged her shirt and raced out of the bedroom, slamming the door.
“Pandora, wait.” He fumbled off the bed, nearly tripping as he reached for the door handle. He found her with the bottle of tequila and a glass in her hands. “That’s no way either.” He snatched them up, set them back on the shelf, and sighed. “I wasn’t rejecting you. It’s just that it kind of came out of nowhere. Or maybe it came out due to me and Weston going…” He let the words trail off as he glanced over his shoulder at the mounds of folders Weston had left behind.
“You don’t know crap.” She poked him in the chest. “And neither does Weston.”
Blaze raised his hands. “Oh, really. It seems that man knows a whole lot and even knew about me.” Fuck. That was a dumb thing to say. “Shit. I’m sorry. Look. I don’t know what just happened, but I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret later.”
“Because you believe I’m reacting to that.” She pointed to the kitchen table. “Ever think I might be reacting to you, big fella?” She cocked her head. “I’m not the one who kept an ex-girlfriend a secret from his wife for ten years. Or from everyone in your life. You did that. Weston knew about you. Greg knew about you. Hell, half this fucking town knew about you because I wasn’t afraid to tell people that you broke my damn heart and that part of me was still hung up on you.” She stomped over to the closet where the washer and dryer were kept. She yanked open the drawers and pulled down a box, while he stood there scratching the side of his face like an idiot.
Because he felt like one. He had no idea what the hell she was talking about.
“And before you go and get any stupid ideas. No. You weren’t a ghost in my marriage. You were right there with me and Greg. Yes. You were part of the reason we didn’t work. Not because I kept you a secret like you did with Ashley, which, by the way, was a shit thing to do. But because I could never let you go. Greg thought he could live with that. And maybe he could have. However, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t have been fair to him, because a piece of me always belonged to you.” She shoved the shoebox at him. “Suck on this for a while. I’m going to take a bath.” And with that, she was gone.
“Damn. And here I thought I understood women,” he muttered. He brought the shoebox to the sofa and plopped down. Tentatively, he opened it. “Holy shit.” He pulled out a stack of letters wrapped neatly in a red tie. He didn’t need to unfasten it because he knew what they were. She’d kept every letter he’d ever written, right down to the last two.
Also in the box were keepsakes from their time together. The necklace he’d bought the very first weekend they’d been together. It wasn’t much. Only cost him twenty bucks, but it had meant something. A pair of earrings. A bracelet. A few other stupid knickknacks.
All her reminders of him and their year together in one little box.
What the hell was he supposed to do with that?
He set the box aside and made his way toward the bathroom. He tapped on the door. “Pandora? Can we talk?”
“Nope,” she said.
“Come on. I’m sorry I misread the situation. I thought you were… hell, I don’t know what I thought.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He twisted the doorknob. It wasn’t locked. He stepped inside, almost grateful her body was covered by bath bubbles.
“Get the fuck out.” She tossed a bar of soap at him, missing his face by an inch.
“No.” He lowered the lid of the toilet seat and sat down.
“You’re an asshole.” She adjusted the bubbles.
“I’ve been called a lot worse.” He chuckled.
“This is not funny.”
“It kind of is.” He waved his finger. “Your nipple is showing.”
“Oh my God.” She moved the bubbles around again. “If I ask nicely, will you leave?”
He shook his head. “Not until I’ve said my piece.”
“Well, hurry up so I can enjoy my bath before the water runs cold.”
“Look. I know you.”
“Not anymore you don’t.”
“Yeah. I do.” He couldn’t sit on that toilet a second longer, so he moved to the side of the tub, which got him the evil stink eye. He wanted to burst out laughing, but he refrained. “When we were together, you always used sex to avoid emotional stress. Whenever big topics came up, you’d start ripping off your clothes, so excuse me if I thought that’s what you were doing. How the hell was I supposed to know that for twenty years you’d been doing the same thing I had.”
She tossed her arm over her eyes, exposing both her breasts.
He groaned, then reached into the tub and drizzled some bubbles over them, careful not to let his fingers touch her bare skin. If he did that, the conversation would be over.
“I thought that was obvious,” she said softly.
“Pandora, look at me.”
“No.”
He lifted her arm from her face. “I wasn’t rejecting you. Being with you again would be easy. From the second I turned around and laid eyes on you in Brock’s auto shop, I wanted you. I’ve always wanted you. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about you. Wondered if you were happy. If you got married and had a bunch of kids. It killed me not knowing. Axel thought I was nuts for not looking you up. He’d shove a computer in my face and tell me to find you, but I never did. What right did I have after all these years to insert myself into your life? So, me turning you down wasn’t about you. It was about me. I couldn’t have a taste of you and then walk away again, and trust me when I say, I’m not the same man I once was. I’m not the kind of man who can stick around. I can’t give you what you want or need.”
“I wasn’t asking for a lifetime of love, Blaze.” She palmed his cheek. “If you think I can’t see inside your soul, you’re sadly mistaken.” She sat up, lifting his shirt over his head. She fingered his scars across his chest.
Her touch sizzled his skin, reminding him he wasn’t dead. That he was flesh and blood.
“I see the emptiness in you. The coldness that’s in your heart where there was once so much more. I don’t know what happened to you and I suspect I never will. But what I needed was human contact by a man I once loved and perhaps will always love. I know what we had is in the past. I don’t pretend to believe otherwise. And that box out there, I kept it because, like you, it always brought me back to a time where everything in my world made sense. After Greg and I divorced, I learned something about myself. That I don’t need love from others. I needed it from myself. I’m not there yet because of all this shit with Sully. I don’t know if you’ll ever get there.”
He jerked his head. “What does that mean?”
“Besides soaking up blame for things that aren’t your fault, like you’ve always done?” She cocked her head. “You’re here, taking care of me, because it gives you something to live for. When this is over, and it will end, because the people of this town, and you, will make that happen, you’ll walk away. Not because you don’t care about me, because I know you do. But because you don’t care enough about yourself to live anymore. Tell me I’m wrong?”
“You’re dead wrong.” He stood. “Enjoy your bath.” He turned on his heel.
“I struck a nerve.”
“Nope.” He gripped the door handle with his heart in his throat. He slipped from the bathroom and went right for the bottle of tequila, only he didn’t open it. He couldn’t.
And she was right.
On all counts.