Mine's to Kill (4 page)

Colt poured himself a cup of cran-apple juice and sat down on the sofa in front of the television. He watched as the captioning appeared on screen. They were talking about him, not him in detail of course because they still didn’t know his name, but they were talking about the witness.

“This is a big break,” the reporter standing outside the police station had said. “This is going to stop this madman and police are sure of that. They aren’t releasing any details, but one can only assume they’re going to be vigilant in their protection of this witness.”

He sighed as he picked up the remote and turned the television off. He didn’t need to deal with this right now. Or maybe it was just that he didn’t want to deal with it right now. It was nearing midnight now and he couldn’t sleep. He would go for a run to work off the stress, but that hadn’t worked out so well for him the last time so he decided going into his studio would be safer. He checked the window, opening the shutter just enough to peek out and see the unmarked police car still sitting across the street before pulling the movable wood sections back down. His life was about to change even if he didn’t want it to. He might not be going into protective custody, but that didn’t mean they were going away. He couldn’t really be angry. He was the one who told them to park their “crap” car down the street. Of course he would have preferred if they had just left him alone.

“Oh well,” he shrugged. There was nothing he could do about it now. Since he couldn’t sleep he could paint, even if that did mean painting the same boring woman all over again. Maybe he should just change her features some. It wasn’t as if he didn’t see women weekly that he could draw inspiration from; it was just that none of them really inspired him. They all looked the same.

“You’re an artist,” he reprimanded himself. “Create a woman.”

Chapter Four

“W
e’ve had this discussion before, Nathan.” Candice popped a mini Snickers into her mouth. “My answer is no.” She said as she chewed on her food.

“I couldn’t understand you. There’s something in your mouth prohibiting speech.” Nathan quipped. “Look, this will be good for you.”

“How so?” She sloshed the food around.

“Let me talk so you can finish whatever you’re eating,” he snapped. “When we catch this guy and the witness goes to trail you’ll get full credit for keeping him safe. I know this doesn’t fall into your special unit conditions, but think of the press. And we both know you’re interested in going political.”

That was an understatement. She was planning to run for president in the next election. She was setting herself up with the right people, in the right places, and it was going to happen. She had money saved and money lined up. People owed her favors, too, so she knew she could make her bid actually turn into a nod for the nomination, but good press was still needed. “Go on,” she said.

“He’s deaf. He won’t go into protection and I can tell you he’s being a dick about communication.”

“Or more like it’s costing you a lot of money for interpreters.” She laughed as she unwrapped another piece of candy. “You all are just too cheap to want to keep paying the interpreter.”

He agreed. “Once it goes to trail the cost of the interpreter will be on the DA and you know that. Hell, if we can catch this guy and the DA takes over the cost of everything goes to his office. So, can you help me out or what? We need this guy alive at least long enough to testify against this guy.”

She laughed. “I still don’t see how this helps my goal. Why should I uproot my people for this?”

“Oh come on…this is a huge, very public, serial killer and I don’t mind telling you a lot of men are scared. Just think about the press, and the favors that will come your way. Your agents can’t take the limelight because they’ll need to keep their face off the screen just in case they want to go undercover. You know the drill as well as I do, but you…you can take all the credit for this.”

She thought about his words with a glint in her eyes. She was looking straight at being called Madam President.

“What do you say? Can you help me out? Can you put this guy into your program? He won’t leave his house. I can tell you that much. And he hates all the Feds I’ve sent his way.”

She chuckled. She could understand why. She wasn’t that thrilled with them either, but Nathan Hollister was a good man to have in her corner for future endeavors. “I’ll set it up,” she said. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the details.”

“Thanks, Candice. I swear when you embark on that presidential bid you have my resources at your fingertips.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Nathan. You know I will.”

“Oh don’t I know it,” he chuckled before disconnecting the call.

By morning Candice was ready to put her career aspirations front and center. She took a trip down to the unit and pulled Autumn out of a staff meeting along with Huck. She didn’t care that they were going through the usual motions. She needed one of their people on it and to her Huck was the easiest sacrifice because he served the least purpose for what she needed done.

“So you and Huck go by there. Huck will be our protecting agent, but Autumn you’re going to have to interpret to set it up.”

“Huck is really busy around here, Director. Are you sure this is our kind of case?”

“It is now,” she said; her raspy voice dominated the conversation.

“And what if he doesn’t want me moving into his house?” Huck balked.

“I don’t care. If he doesn’t want that then you can sleep outside in the car.”

“Director…”

“This isn’t open for negotiations. Now I know what you’re all doing here,” she cut Autumn a look to remind her that she knew what her place in the unit was too. “But this is big and we’re taking it on. Whatever he wants you get it for him.”

“What if he doesn’t want one of our agents?” Autumn reminded her they couldn’t perform miracles here.

“I don’t care. You get him what he wants. If he wants God then you get him God.”

“Like I have that kind of connections,” she mumbled.

One thing Candice liked about the woman she had seen working over the years was that she was outspoken, but usually had more tact than most. She was, for lack of a better word, a protégé worth having. Candice had been watching her since her early years. She had been maneuvering all of her advancements, her department moves, her entire career and the woman didn’t even know it. She was where she was going to stay. That is until Candice became president and then the woman was going to have to make another move to the Secret Service because she would be on her protection detail even if she didn’t want to be there.

“Make it happen, Miss Kitsap.” She said as she turned and left the room. She heard the door open and Autumn’s shoes clacking on the floor behind her. Usually the woman could sneak up on anybody without being heard, but this time she wasn’t trying to sneak up on anybody; she was trying to catch up to argue. Candice smiled at the thought. She loved this woman. She was just too perfect to let sit idle and too much of an assets to let go to waste on some bland desk job. She had been right about Autumn from day one and she was right about her now. She would find their leak, plug it, and assure victory for Candice’s presidential bid. Oh yes, she had everything planned and now was the perfect time to put it all in place.

“You do know why you put me here right?” Autumn kept her tone hushed as she walked beside her.

“Yes. And I have faith that you can do more than one thing. Whatever this guy needs, whatever he wants, you see to it. We’re going to help keep him safe so we can get a killer off the streets.”

“There are a lot of killers on the street.” Autumn reminded her.

“Not like this one.”

“Oh, because he’s raping and killing men now it’s important, huh?”

Candice snorted. “Seems that way. Men are such idiots, but they are useful,” she reminded her. “Whatever this guy wants you get it for him. We just have to keep him safe until trial.”

“And after that?”

She shrugged. “DA’s problem then.”

“How caring,” Autumn mumbled.

“Caring isn’t in my job description,” Candice reminded her. “My job’s to keep them alive until trial and if the DA requests us for longer we’ll work until the trial is over, but outside of that it’s not my job.”

“Do you think the DA will request our services?”

“No. The man hates me. He would much rather go through the regular Marshal service, and honestly by that point I’m sure this Colt guy will be begging for twenty-four seven protection. This is going to get big and dangerous fast. Now, forget about that,” she said as they stepped outside the building. “How are things going in there? Any leads?”

“I have my suspicions, but no proof yet. I’ll keep working it. But you do know this isn’t going to resolve itself in a matter of weeks.”

“You’ve had three months,” she reminded her with a wink. “But no, I figured this would take a while. This is deep and I’m not sure it’s just one man. I want the leak plugged, but I know it’s going to take a little work. You have six months. If you don’t have it by then I’ll have to handle things the not so diplomatic way.” She reminded her. She was sure Autumn knew what she meant. Autumn had seen things through her years of service that left no doubt to what she meant. If they couldn’t find the leak then every member of that unit would be eradicated. They would all have to die. She already had their replacements picked out so it wouldn’t be any loss to her, but getting rid of that many members of their team could get messy. “Plug the leak, Autumn; or I’ll have to call in the plumber.” She nodded before turning and walking away.

Cold hearted? Maybe. But she didn’t get to where she was in this business by being a diplomatic pussy cat. She had claws sharp as a tiger and she would use them whenever she had to as long as she achieved her purpose. Making friends wasn’t in her long-term goals, but making connections with people who could help her seal the Whitehouse as her new residence was in her plan. She would help those who could deliver, but she would also keep an eye on them. She didn’t trust people. They could stab her in the back rather quickly and she had to be alert for that. Autumn, on the other hand, was one of those good people. She liked the woman for her skills and her intelligence, but she was going to have to harden her up if she was going to claw her way to the top. Oh yes, Candice had plans for the young woman—plans she had been orchestrating from day one and now it was time to put into action the next step.

“So we have a new thrown on us assignment,” Kyle Levitz shook his head.

“Afraid so,” Autumn said. “The Director wants Huck to take the assignment, but she has made it perfectly clear to me that this guy gets what he wants. If he wants a new keeper he gets it which means you’ll all have to be alert to the possible scheduling change since you’re all still local.”

“Grand,” York said. “Especially since I’m sitting here practically doing nothing until I’m called to duty.”

She laughed. “Hey, orders are orders. We all have somebody to answer to. We have to go see the new witness so while Huck and I are away York is in charge.”

“What?” York dropped the pen he had in his hand.

Autumn laughed. “Hey, you’re the one who just said all you were doing was sitting around. Now you get to sit around and be in charge.”

“That’s not the kind of job I wanted,” he shook his head.

“Hey, York take one for the team.” Kyle teased.

“I’ve taken more than one for the team,” York mumbled.

“We don’t always get to choose the bed we lie in, York.” She gave him the best smile she could given the circumstances. She wasn’t thrilled about the “drop everything,” mandate either. She just hoped this guy allowed Huck to come out of the cold otherwise Huck would be sleeping in his car and she couldn’t have that. Then again, she could always mandate a large vehicle for him with comfortable seats to sleep on and great heating to keep him warm. Although sitting in a car all day and sleeping there at night wasn’t her ideal setup for protection.

“Guys, Huck and I have orders to head out now. We’ll finish the staff meeting when we get back.”

“I guess I’m staying there,” Huck said.

“Actually I need you back here for the rest of the day. You’ll take over the job in the morning.”

“One more night in my soft, comfortable bed,” Huck chuckled. “If I hadn’t been in that meeting, Autumn I would probably hate you thinking you gave me this crap assignment to get back at me for something.”

She laughed. “So was it you who ate my lunch last week?”

He blushed.

“Oh you are so guilty. You just wait until you have something in there I want and it’s gone, buddy.” They all laughed. “Okay, if you have to go out just be back by three o’clock so we can finish our briefing.”