Chapter Ten
Wade Cooper
“Make sure that nowhere is left unchecked. Double and triple check it. Don’t forget to start the car as well.” I order the men who are tending to the car I asked to be brought for Ava.
“Yes, sir.” They continue their work in the garage, and I walk back to the porch where Ava is wrapping DJ tight into his jacket so not a single cold breeze can penetrate it.
To others, it may just look like a mother dressing her son warmly but up close, I can see her fear, her shaky hands and how she constantly looks over her shoulder to check if anyone out of the ordinary is watching her.
I looked at DJ whose face had turned as his mother had wrapped too many items of clothing over him just to be safe.
“I think you should do away with the scarf. DJ can handle a little chill.” I suggest and she straightens up and says nothing.
“Do you…do you think this is the right thing to do?” she asks again, and I confirm her fear as this should be the tenth time she’s asked me this question only this morning.
Yesterday, Ava had gotten an email from a large musical company that she had been selected for an interview. She had applied for the main lead position a few days before Lynn was murdered due to her manager’s insistence and she had gotten shortlisted.
Her first thought was to reject it. To not go to the interview at all or even try to get hold of that great opportunity, but I had talked her out of it, which was surprising to both of us.
I didn’t want her to throw away a great chance for her career when she had done nothing wrong but be the sweet person that she was. Maybe that was what the assassin wanted in the first place.
For Ava to be disoriented, anxious and scared for the rest of her life. For her never to go back to her normal routine and for him to be in full control of everything she does. I have interacted with such control freaks before.
I persuaded Ava that it was the right thing to do for her to gain control back of her life. And the show would be in six months if she got the role and by then, this case should be closed, and I will probably be out of her life too.
I had called the captain back at the station and updated him on the situation at hand. He was reluctant at first but after I had added that this would be a good way to lure the killer in one more time, he was willing to give it a try. Not just me, but a full squad will be all over the place to assure her safety as soon as we get to the venue for the interview, so there is no way this isn’t going to work.
“It doesn’t matter what I think, Ava. Do you want to do this?” I ask her gently, knowing the last thing she needs right now is to be forced into doing something she doesn’t want to do.
Besides, she won’t be able to sing well if she is under pressure.
Ava looks at DJ who is mumbling something incoherent, and she breathes deeply. “Yes. I want to do this.”
“You can do this.” I hold up my hand for her and just as she is about to take it, a loud explosion erupts, shaking the house, and sending us flying off the porch.
I look up from the ground and see the garage ablaze in flames and the alarms are all ringing at the same time. Ava’s screams pull me out of my daze, and I realize that my men had been in the garage and with this huge explosion, it can only mean one thing.
They are all dead.
* * * *
“Yes, we were just on the porch when everything happened.” I tell the policeman who is taking down notes.
The police and fire services are all around the house, putting out the fire and ensuring there are no other casualties. Ava and DJ are in the ambulance, cuddled up in a blanket as their minor wounds are being attended to. I look at Ava to see her eyes far away from reality and I fear that she is reliving the incident in her mind. Her garage was destroyed, one of my men dead and her life in even graver danger now.
The killer had never once targeted her in her home. Her house had been the one place she felt safe and now, that too was gone. She will never be able to feel safe in her house again.
I sigh and run a hand over my face in frustration. The day I get my hands on whoever is behind this, that day will be the last day he gets to breathe freely.
“Cooper.” I see Marcus, my senior, walking towards me and he hands me an ice pack. “For your head.” he adds after I stare at him in confusion. I take the pack from him and press it against my head, wanting to feel numb just for a moment. The anger boiling in my chest has blurred my vision and I feel like I want to hit something. Just anything in my sight.
“This is a rather perilous incident.” Marcus sighs and I turn to glare at him.
“You think?” I hiss. “Two of my men are dead, Marcus. One was unrecognizable. I sent for a car from the station because I thought that was the safest option I had. What the heck happened?!” I yelled at him.
“I know you are angry, but we are trying our best to investigate and get to the bottom of this. You need—”
“It’s been weeks, bloody weeks, and all you have to say is that you are still investigating. How long are you going to sit behind your desks and investigate when more lives are being taken?! I swear to God if anything happens to Ava— ”
“Wade, calm down.” Marcus takes my arm but that only infuriates me more.
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I threw the ice pack to the ground before I moved away from him. If I don’t control myself, I may beat the hell out of him. I moved closer to the street and looked at other houses while trying to calm my breathing. My hands clench in fists as I remember the explosion that took place just an hour ago.
How? How does he manage to get in and out with everything he does? How did he know we were heading out today?
“You have always had a dirty temper, Cooper.” Marcus pats my back before he stands next to me. The one thing I hate and admire about Marcus is that he is often unyielding.
“I thought you had it under control now. And your emotions.”
“What do you mean?” I turned to him with a glare.
“What do I mean?” He smiles at me. “I’m not blind, Wade. Nor am I too stupid to not recognize that you are just shooting yourself in the foot like you did five years ago.”
“Why on earth are you bringing that up now?!” I hiss, my rage elevating.
“I see the way you look at her, the way she looks at you.” He looks behind him and I follow his gaze to see Ava staring at me. “You need to know that this is not right, Wade.”
“There is nothing between us.” I say dismissively. “And even if there is, it isn’t the same. ”
“And how do you know that? That is the exact thing you said when your love for that woman blinded you years ago. And that’s the same reason you had to give up your uniform.”
“I said it isn’t the same, Marcus.” I grit out. Marcus is so far the only one who can test my patience this far and get away with it with a clean face. “I am making sure of it.”
“Well, you better get your head straight and focus on the one thing you have to do. Which is to protect Miss Anderson and her son. Nothing more, nothing less.” Marcus utters. “If I see you doing anything contrary to your duty, I will be the first to report you and take you off this case. That’s the least I can do for a friend.” Marcus pats my shoulder before he walks away.
“God!” I curse under my breath and turn to look at Ava who is still looking at me.
How I wish I could deny how much I am attracted to you.
* * * *
“Yeah, I got a name. Peterson Richards.” my friend, Jordan, informs me over the phone.
“Send me the address now.”
“Wait, don’t you think I should inform the police first?” Jordan asks.
“And let them know that you succeeded in infiltrating their data? No way, I will take care of it myself and hand him over to the police. Thanks, Jordan.” I cut the call and grabbed my jacket before exiting the room .
“Wade?” I heard a gentle voice calling me from the corridor and I turn to see Ava standing by the doorway, clothed in nothing but pajamas and a cotton cardigan.
“Where are you going?” she asks as her eyes move to my jacket.
“Go back to bed. I’ll be back soon. The men are still all over the house so you will be fine.” I told her and turned to leave.
“I will wait for you.” she says and I stop in my tracks. I want to tell her not to do that, but I know Ava, she is stubborn and will only insist. Without saying anything else, I walk out of the house and into the chilly night air. I ordered one of my men to stay inside the house until I am back.
I put the address Jordan sent to me in the GPS before driving off. Jordan says the mechanic, Peterson, is still at his workshop so I will be able to catch up with him.
During the police investigation, it was revealed that the car which I had sent for Ava had been rigged even before getting to her house. Someone knew where we were headed, and they knew about the car.
They planted a bomb, believing Ava was going to be the one to start the car, but in the end, my men took the hit. I don’t even know whether to be relieved that Ava wasn’t the one to start the engine or whether to be pissed that my man had to be sacrificed for a failed assassination attempt.
Marcus informed me he would investigate deeper into the matter but I’m too impatient to wait any longer for the police. I need to take matters into my own hands, which is why I asked Jordan to help me track the records of the car .
The last person to use it, the one who brought it to the station and the mechanic in charge of it the last time it went for a routine check. His search led him to this Peterson, who is my greatest lead to catching the killer behind this dreadful act. First, Lynn was shot multiple times, then Ava’s friends were mangled in the elevator and now, my man. Enough is enough. I am done playing nice. I park a few blocks away from the mechanic’s shop and I walk down the remaining path to take me to the address I was sent. The light is still on and I slid into the place before closing the door behind me.
“What kind of idiot doesn’t realize we are closed by now?” a snarky voice comes out of a room, and I stand with my hands in my pocket.
Thankfully, he didn’t have a huge build, not that it would stop me from getting what I wanted anyway, but it would only be easier.
Peterson is a lanky guy in dirty coveralls with a baseball cap covering his face. He crosses his arms as he sizes me up and I can just tell the kind of person he is with one look.
A foolishly conceited jerk.
“I’m looking for a Peterson Richard.” I say as I move further into the garage.
“And what are you looking for him for?”
“I heard he was in charge of the silver Camry that belongs to the police station just two blocks away from here. With license plate number FTR- 5647.” I noticed a change in his demeanor as soon as I mentioned the plate number. Peterson is not very good at keeping secrets, it seems .
“I-I have no idea what you are talking about. You have come for the wrong guy.” he stutters and shakes visibly.
“We shall see about that.” I close the distance between us and land a solid punch on his nose which sends him flying to the ground.
“Wait! Wait!” Peterson yells as he holds his face. “Please, do not do this.” he begs.
I crouched down to meet his eyes and a sneer smile leaves my lips. “Then, start confessing your sins, Peterson.”
* * * *
“Aren’t you supposed to be with Miss Anderson? Why are you—” Marcus stops dead in his tracks when he sees Peterson kneeling on the floor in the parking lot.
“Cooper, who is this?” Marcus turned his eyes to me.
“The one who planted a bomb in Miss Anderson’s car. Interrogate him and trace the person behind it. I have to get back to Ava and DJ now.” I moved back to my car and stepped inside.
“Cooper, wait!” Marcus calls from behind me, but I drive away without saying a word.
I have left her alone for too long. I must get back to her.