© copyright by Lorraine Kennedy, June 2008
Cover art by Eliza Black, June 2008
ISBN 978-1-60394-204-1
New Concepts Publishing
Rating: Spicy.
For fifteen years something evil had stalked the people of Sinister, Wyoming. Brody Silver wolf had always known Jenna was the only one who hadthe power to stop it. When she was drawn back to Sinister by the latest murder … it was waiting for her.
PROLOGUE
The steam swirled and danced within the inipi lodge, filling his body with the sacred medicine of the earth – cleansing his soul. His heart beat in sync with the rhythm of the drum, luring him to the underworld. The atmosphere within the lodge changed as the darkness retreated.
Her aura was bright – so bright that it seared into his brain, tearing at his mind until he was sure he would go mad. Just when he was certain that he could take no more, the light dimmed to reveal her angelic beauty. It was her . . . the one he had to find, had to protect against the darkness.
His need for her burned deep within his groin until it erupted into uncontrollable desire. Her innocence was so complete that it sent shards of guilt into his heart.
He must find her, save her . . . but he couldn’t take her innocence.
The Soul Eater was taunting him, tormenting him with the girl’s beauty. It wanted to destroy her for she was a threat. Her light could chase away its darkness and starve its hunger. The Soul Eater’s need for her was as strong as his own, but it would devour her soul, and the light of her power. The vision wavered, changing until she stood before him, seductively beckoning him to caress her naked flesh.
The mist crawled over her peach-colored skin, stroking her with its ghostly fingers. Her, dark nipples stood erect, inviting him to nibble them. Luscious full lips parted as she gasped, revealing her pleasure at the phantom’s touch.
Lust overwhelmed him. He could almost feel her flesh wrapping around his swollen thickness, squeezing until he erupted within her.
The Soul Eater would use his passions against him, tease him . . . blind him with lust until he was sightless to its evil . . . until he forgot his purpose.
The shadows crept ever closer to his angel. Its hunger would devour her as he watched, helpless to stop it.
The vision changed abruptly. She was gone and in her place was his little brother. The sweet ring of the child’s laughter filled the air. Happiness reflected in the boy’s large, dark eyes.
Finally . . . a new bike! He’d wanted a new bike for a long time. He’d take the dirt trail and only be gone a moment. His parents wouldn’t even realize he was gone.
Night was falling quickly and with it would come the coldness of the grave.
Couldn’t he see the darkness, the evil that stalked him?
Watch out little brother! Go faster . . . don’t let it catch you!
A slight uneasiness descended on the boy and he pedaled the bike faster, but it was gaining on him. The darkness was close to him. It would rip the life from him in its quest for the soul’s essence.
The vision wavered and broke apart to become one with the thick mist of the inipi. He was seized by violent trembling. Terror such as he had never known before gripped his heart.
“The evil of the Soul Eater reaches through your dream to touch your heart.” The old shaman’s voice brought him out of his vision. Raven Heart stared at him from across the lodge.
“I saw her,” he told the old man. “It’s coming after her and it will come after my brother.”
Raven Heart nodded.
“I didn’t see where to find her, though.”
The old man’s bony finger pointed toward the mountain. “You will find her in the shadow of its lair.”
* * * *
From this distance he appeared ethereal as the flames cast flickering light on his dark, features. He stared into the fire as if he could see something in the flames that was invisible to everyone else. At the moment he was alone, but for how long?
Now that she was here, watching him from only a few yards away, Jenna Claremont wondered how she would ever have the courage to approach this fantasy man who had trekked through her dreams for months now. One thing was for sure, though, if she was going to talk to him, she would have to do so soon, before Angie returned from wherever she had gone.
She wouldn’t stand a chance of even being noticed next to Angie McNeil, who was older than Jenna and one of those perky blonds that just seemed to draw men like magnets.
Jenna felt herself to be plain at best next to someone like Angie. She had a mass of dark red hair, with a face marred by the occasional freckle. Would she stand a chance with an older guy like Brody?
The first time she’d saw him was over a year ago at a local rodeo. Since then, Jenna had been in his company several times, but not once had he paid her the slightest notice. He often hung out with her older sister’s friends who were all college age and probably much more interesting that Tina’s little freckled faced sister.
Jenna frowned at the discouraging thoughts that kept crowding in on her courage. She had to do this. For such a long time she had been waiting for this moment. Now that she was eighteen years old, maybe he wouldn’t think of her as such a child.
It would be crazy not to talk to him. After all, Brody Silver Wolf was the only reason she’d risked her father’s wrath to come to this party in the first place. Jenna’s gaze scanned the many little campfires that dotted Mirror Lake’s beach, briefly wondering how long Angie would be gone.
She knew Brody wasn’t Angie’s boyfriend, but she’d sure been clinging to his side tonight. It grated on Jenna’s nerves when she thought of the way the other girl had been all over him since he’d arrived.
Jenna knew she was way out of her league at this party. Everyone was older than she was. The only reason she’d even known that there was going to be a party at Mirror Lake was because she’d overheard her sister talking about it with some friends. They had mentioned that Brody was planning on going and that’s all it had taken to make up Jenna’s mind.
Shivering, she imagined her father’s anger if he ever found out where she was tonight. Though she turned of age a few days ago, he still treated her like his little girl, and Jenna hadn’t been eighteen long enough for him to get out of the habit yet.
Brody was forbidden fruit, for many reasons. Not the least being that he was ten years older than she was and bad news as her father often referred to him.
Jenna’s father had arrested Brody more than a few times and whenever she would ask about it, Brent Claremont would just say that he was one of those hell-raising Arapahos from the reservation. Officer John Claremont obviously had no idea that his eldest daughter was often in the company of many people like Brody, but he wouldn’t. Her father would want to think of his daughters as perfect and chose not to see that which was unpleasant.
Running her fingers through her unruly auburn tresses, Jenna jumped to her feet and made her way to Brody’s fire. When his gaze moved from the fire to Jenna’s face, her stomach twisted into knots. She’d have turned tail and run right then and there if it weren’t for the fact that it would have made her look even more foolish.
“Didn’t you ride in the rodeo last summer?” She was so nervous that her voice squeaked when she spoke.
“Yeah, I did,” he answered while he studied her with open curiosity. “Jenna right? Tina’s little sister.”
“Yes,” she admitted. A frown touched her lips. She had so not wanted him to remember that she was Tina’s sister tonight. Just once she wanted to be Jenna instead of Tina’s little sister. But on the bright side, he at least remembered her.
Jenna sank into to the sand next to him. “I think you should have won.”
Brody’s lips broke into a smile. “I think you have to actually stay on the bull for a few seconds before you can win.”
Jenna blushed, knowing that she’d just given away the fact that she knew very little about bull riding. Remembering the bottle of water in her hand, she lifted it to her lips and took several swallows of the lukewarm liquid.
“If you don’t watch how much you drink you might not make it home tonight.” Brody regarded her with unmasked amusement.
“It’s just water,’ she assured him, her face flushing with embarrassment.
In that moment Jenna felt more like a little girl than she ever had in her life. She knew if she didn’t take desperate measures the only opportunity that she might ever have would slip right by her.
“Well maybe I could have a real drink and just go home with you then.” She smiled impishly, scooting closer to him.
Brody’s gaze traveled from her flashing green eyes to her graceful neck, coming to rest on the cleavage visible above her silky blouse. Even through her innocence, she didn’t miss the flickering of desire in his dark eyes.
The look he gave her made her heart pound so hard that she felt sure it would burst forth from her chest at any moment.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” Jenna asked before she lost her nerve.
Without a word, he stood up and held out his hand to her. Jenna let him lead her away from the crowd. They walked along the beach in silence until coming to a secluded cove.
Undercover of darkness he pulled Jenna to him, crushing her against his chest. Holding her yielding body close to him sent flames of lust ripping through his body. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her he’d know it was she--the girl from his vision. He had yearned for this moment but dreaded it at the same time.
His hunger for her sweet flesh consumed him, nearly clouding his reason until there was no thought but her soft body beneath his.
Burying his face in her softly scented hair he whispered. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
She tilted her head to look into his eyes. “Yes, you’re Brody Silver Wolf.”
His teeth playfully bit at her ear as his hand slid beneath her blouse to caress her back.
“Yes, but do you really know who I am?”
“I don’t care who you’re.” Her words came out in little gasps.
Going up on her tiptoes, Jenna put her lips against his. With a moan he invaded her warm inviting mouth with his flickering tongue. He held her so close he could feel her taut nipples beneath the thin blouse.
It couldn’t hurt to sample just a morsel of what she so badly wanted to give him. Maybe . . . just maybe she had already lost her innocence and it wouldn’t matter. He’d only seen her from a distance a few times, and he had no idea even how old she was.
Your hunger will blind you, Brody. Obscure your sight to the evil that stalks her.
Pushing the mocking voice from his head, he pulled her even closer so that she could feel his rigid flesh against her stomach. She moaned in response, sending shivers through his body.
“You’re so beautiful, just like a little doll.” His voice shook, revealing the magnitude of his passion.
Jenna let herself slip into the unfamiliar feelings that gripped her. Whatever rational thought she’d started out with was far out of sight. For the moment, nothing existed but his touch. He was at the center of her universe.
Gently, he pulled her down with him to the soft sand and with little effort opened her blouse, exposing her small breasts. She felt his long hair fall against her skin and his hot tongue flicking across her tingling nipple.
Without a second thought she reached down and unbuttoned her pants. Grasping his hand, she helped guide him to her throbbing wet pussy that was screaming to be touched.
“I want you,” she told him between little gasps.
“Oh baby doll . . . if you only knew how badly I want you.” His deep voice was laced with obvious passion.
He was up on his knees pulling off his shirt. With uncertainty, she touched the firm ridges of his stomach and let her fingers trail down to the hard bulge in his jeans. She unsnapped his pants and gently slid the zipper down. The molten fire in his eyes set her blood boiling.
“I want you to be my first.” Jenna’s voice quivered with yearning.
Brody froze. He looked as if someone had poured ice water over him.
“Are you a virgin?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen” She wanted to lie, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Brody hung his head, and for one terrifying moment she wasn’t sure what he would do. The fact that he was angry was unmistakable. It emanated from every fiber of his body.
“Get dressed!”
To her surprise there was no evidence of his obvious anger in his voice, only regret.
“I’m not a little girl Brody. We can do this . . . and I want to.” Jenna pleaded with him, wanting him to crave her as badly as she did him.
He shook his head. “You’re too innocent to understand. If we do this . . . it will distract me.” Brody didn’t elaborate and she didn’t bother asking him to explain further.
So many feelings hit her at once. Her naive heart was shattering into a million pieces as wave after wave of shame washed over her. She had innocently hoped that he would fall in love with her and nothing else about her would matter.
Brody had already dressed, but Jenna was still where he’d left her. Her devastation was so complete that she couldn’t move. Brody picked up her blouse and handed it to her.
“Get dressed,” he told her again, his voice soft.
Jenna complied without a word. There was something about his manner that alarmed her.
Brody looked away from her and out over the black water of the lake. For a long time he said nothing, and when he did speak he did so in a very low and dangerous voice. “Your father has been trying to lock me up for a long time. I guess now he will want to get me more than ever.”
“I have no intention of telling my father.” Jenna stood and straightened her clothes the best she could.
“Someone should tell him.” He had risen with her and had her arm clasped in a steel grip. “The next time you might not be so lucky. The guy may not stop, or worse he could hurt you.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, blurring her vision. Her heart could take no more of this pain. “There would have been no one else Brody Silver Wolf.” Jenna’s words came out in sobs. “Are you so dumb that you can’t tell? I love you. I have since the first moment I saw you. This would have happened with no one else. You’re the only man I have ever wanted.”
She thought she saw a flicker of emotion in his dark eyes. Could he actually care about her?
“You’re just a kid. You don’t even know what love is. Believe me, when you’re older, you will look back and wonder what you ever saw in this Indian anyway.” His words were soft and spoken with a slight smile that was intended to numb the sting.
Before he could stop her, Jenna brushed his lips with a kiss.
“You’re wrong Brody. I will love you until the day I take my last breath, but … never again will I give you the opportunity to hurt me.”
Jenna walked away, leaving Brody to watch her disappear onto a darkened path.
“Wait, let me walk you home,” Brody called after her.
She didn’t even break her stride. Jenna promised herself she wouldn’t look back and she would never again let Brody Silver Wolf fill her heart with pain.
Blinded by tears, she relied on memory to find her way through the dark. Their house was located on the edge of town, about a mile from the lake. Jenna was so submerged in grief that her father’s warning completely escaped her memory. That is until she realized that she was utterly alone and surrounded by the dark forest.
The sun had still been up when she’d walked to the lake. The walk home was something she hadn’t taken into consideration. On further thought, Jenna had to admit that wasn’t entirely true. She’d just been so full of hope for this evening, she’d felt it would be worth it.
Jenna froze, behind her had been the sound of a branch breaking. Holding her breath she listened. The night was silent, unnaturally silent. There wasn’t even a hint of the usual sounds of crickets or coyotes.
The conversation she’d overheard this morning came rushing at her.
Another victim.
A drifter.
Found in the foothills.
This time there had been a witness, but all they saw was a shadow near the victim.
Again, there was that noise coming from behind her, the sound of rustling leaves in the wind … but the night was still … without the slightest hint of a breeze.
She picked up her pace until she was practically running, looking over her shoulder every few seconds.
Then she saw it, a silhouette in the moonlight that moved. A sound resembling a squeal erupted from her throat and she shifted gears to high. Blinded by panic, she ran, not knowing or caring where she was going.
She felt herself falling and at the same time burning pain ripped through her ankle. Then there was nothing but the terror of the dark figure looming above her and the coldness that wrapped around her throat. Her screams shattered the stillness of the night before the gripping chill cut off her air and she sank into darkness.
* * * *
Someone was shaking her and she began to flail wildly at whoever had her in their clutches.
“Jenna, stop it! It’s me, Brody!”
“It took a minute for his words to penetrate her terror, but finally she stopped fighting, and her screams turned to unrelenting sobs.
“It was the killer.” Jenna told him while her body trembled with shock.
He pulled her into his arms trying to warm her. “It’s okay now. Whoever it was is long gone.”
Jenna shook her head, “No, he might still be around. We have to get out of here.”
“I think whatever it was is gone. It took off through the trees when I got here.” He tried to reassure her.
“I want to get out of here.” Still panicked she tried to get to her feet, but collapsed against Brody with a cry of pain.
“I think my ankle is broken.”
With gracefully swift movement, he picked her up and cradled her in his arms. Brody made his way through the woods with the efficiency of an animal, but Jenna didn’t miss the way he kept looking around, as if they were being hunted.
“Is he out there?” she asked in a barely audible whisper.
“Yes, don’t make a sound.” His lips were up against her ear.
Fear crawled over her skin like a million tiny spiders. She found it hard to even breathe. Finally the dirt path gave way to a paved road and the lights of town came into view. Jenna knew he had to be tired by now, but he kept walking. Only a little ways further was her house, she could see it from where they were.
She didn’t have to tell him where she lived. Her father’s police cruiser was clearly visible in the driveway. Upon reaching the house, he put her down, but continued to support her so she wouldn’t have to put any pressure on her injured ankle.
“You know he’s probably going to try and find a reason to put me in jail over this.” Brody spoke in hushed tones.
“Wait.’ Jenna stopped moving, forcing him to do the same.
For some time she stared at the darkened house, not moving, not saying a word.
Finally, Jenna looked up into Brody’s curious eyes. “Something’s not right.” Her words cracked through the night.
“What is it?”
“It’s only 10:30 and the house dark.”
Brody shrugged. “Maybe they are in bed.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “My sister never goes to bed before midnight.”
“Well, maybe she isn’t home,” he offered
Jenna shook her head. “No, she told me she was staying home tonight because she didn’t feel well, and besides, my dad never goes to bed until we’re both home.”
“Where does he think you’re?”
“The movies,” Jenna answered guiltily.
“Sit here, while I check it out.” Brody helped her onto the grass on the front lawn.
At the door, Brody rang the bell a couple of times and then waited. Nothing stirred within the house. Once more he tried, this time he pounded on the door, but still there was no response of any kind.
Finding the door unlocked, he slowly pushed it open. Jenna watched as lights began to come on throughout the house. A moment later he returned.
“The house is empty. No one’s here at all.”
“That’s impossible. Their cars are here!”
Shrugging, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the house. The warmth of the lit living room should have quieted her trembling, but it only grew worse. Brody gently set her on the sofa.
“You have to get to the hospital and have that looked at.” He motioned toward her injured ankle. “Is there someone you can call?”
Jenna’s gaze was fixed on an area of the carpet that was soaked with blood. “Something’s happened to them.”
He looked to where her gaze rested on the carpet. With a sigh, Brody picked up the phone that was sitting on the end table. “I must be insane,” he muttered. “Never thought I’d see the day I voluntarily called the police in this town.”
The rest of the night passed in a haze of flashing red and blue lights, the hospital, doctors and an endless stream of questions from the police.
Three days later her Aunt Alison arrived from Texas, and there had still been no trace of her family.
CHAPTER ONE
Ten Years Later
The early morning sun rose above the horizon to shroud the surrounding aspens and pines with its golden light, but the town of Sinister Wyoming still lay deep within the shadow of Eerie Mountain.
Jenna pulled to the side of the road and studied the town from the slight incline of the highway. It had been ten long years since she’d laid eyes on her hometown, but ten years hadn’t been long enough. Just the sight of Sinister sent shivers down her spine.
So many times over the years she’d thought of coming back here to put the ghosts of the past to rest once and for all, but each time she’d contemplated driving into this dark little town, her stomach lurched and her skin would crawl with fear. For a long time she’d wake up in the middle of the night, trembling from nightmares that wouldn’t let her rest.
Had fate brought that unfortunate girl through Sinister? Senator Brodrick’s granddaughter had been on her way to Jackson Hole to meet up with some friends, but she had never made it. Her car was found abandoned on the Indian Reservation and her body discovered floating in the Sweetwater River near Sinister.
The official report said that Mary Brodrick was another victim of the Eerie Mountain Killer, but Mary was only one in a long line of victims.
This was her first field assignment for the FBI and Special Agent Jenna Claremont had been given this assignment specifically because of her history in Sinister.
With cold determination, Jenna pushed the hellish images away and pulled back onto the road. The streets were still quiet, almost unnaturally so. Though the town had grown, it couldn’t be called a city by any stretch of the imagination.
She was surprised when she pulled up to the police station on the west end of town. No longer was the station housed in the shabby little red brick building she remembered. What greeted her was a larger, ultra modern white building. She wondered if the Sinister Police Department now consisted of more than five officers.
Jenna had been sure she would know just about every soul in town, but she didn’t recognize the uniformed officer at the front desk.
“I’m Agent Claremont with the FBI. Could you let Captain Findley know I’m here?” Jenna flipped open her identification for the officer to examine.
A few moments later, Jenna sat across from the person who had been her father’s best friend. The man who peered at her with eyes set deep in a fleshy overweight face, bore little resemblance to the person she remembered.
“What a pleasure to see you again, Jenna. So you followed right in your daddy’s footsteps?”
Gordon Findley gave her a hearty welcome and a smile, but Jenna couldn’t shake the feeling that something just wasn’t right with her dad’s old partner.
“I would be happy to even be half the officer my father was,” Jenna returned the captain’s smile.
Captain Findley drummed his meaty fingers on the desk in what Jenna took as impatience.
“What’s the status of the Brodrick case?” Jenna attempted a smile but just couldn’t make the muscles of her face cooperate.
“Girl, it’s fantastic to see you again. All grown into a fine young woman, and an FBI Agent to boot … but I do have to tell you that I think your trip here was a waste of time.”
“Why’s that?”
“We took the perpetrator into custody last night. We’ll be bringing charges up on him within the next day or two.”
“Really, after all this time?” Jenna’s green eyes widened in surprise and she couldn’t help but wondered at the fact that the killer had eluded the police for nearly fifteen years, but was caught so quickly after this case.
“How did that come about?”
Gordon leaned back in his chair. “A witness saw him leaving the area where the car was discovered and tracks matching Ms Brodrick’s car were discovered on a road leading to this gentleman’s property.”
“How interesting. Do you mind if I take a look at the case file?”
Jenna was quick to notice Gordon’s slight hesitation, but she was sharp enough to keep it to her self.
Skimming through the file, she stopped to stare at the larger than life, crime scene photos. The girl lay pale and lifeless against a blanket of dry leaves. Jenna felt her stomach tighten at the sight of the close up of the girl’s neck. Discoloration of the neck and lack of blood attested to the Eerie Mountain killer’s MO.
After looking through the rest of the file Jenna was a little unnerved to see that there was no autopsy report, nor a report on the arrest made the night before.
“What happened to the autopsy report? There must be one by now.”
“No autopsy,” the captain smiled. “The cause of death is obviously loss of blood. I saw no reason to waste the tax payers’ money on ordering an autopsy.”
Jenna peered at the man in disbelief. “An autopsy is an automatic when dealing with a homicide case, captain. You must know that.”
Gordon shook his head. “City ordinance says that we only order an autopsy if the cause of death is not immediately obvious.”
Jenna knew that the state law would definitely override that, but she refrained from commenting further for the moment.
“What about the arrest report?”
Gordon lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “The arresting officer hasn’t finished writing it yet, but I can tell you what you need to know.”
“Okay, what evidence has been compiled against the suspect?”
“Well, what I’ve told you. A witness seeing the suspect near the abandoned car, and possible tracks on his property.”
“That’s all?” Jenna asked incredulous. “You’ll need something a little harder than that to get a conviction.”
“Jenna, the investigation is ongoing.” Gordon paused, taking a tired, rattling breath. “I’m sure more evidence will pile up. Right now we’re in the process of getting a search warrant for the suspect’s property and residence.”
Jenna was angry at the department’s incompetence, but her features softened as she remembered that she was talking with her father’s best friend.
“I’m sorry Gordon. I would just hate to see this monster walk after all these years because the investigation was bungled.”
“I can understand that.” Gordon smiled but the smile faded rapidly at Jenna next words.
“I’ll need you to have the body ready for transport to the Medical Examiner’s office in Cheyenne by noon.”
Gordon was shaking his head. “That’s completely unnecessary, I assure you. Besides, it’s Sinister’s jurisdiction.”
Jenna shook her head. “Sorry Gordon, with the fact that the car was found on a Federal Indian Reservation, and that the murder could have possibly taken place there, it is now FBI jurisdiction. We’ll be taking over the investigation. I’ll need to interview the suspect and I’ll also need access to any additional case files that may link the suspect to other crimes.”
Mouth agape, Gordon stared at her through hardened eyes.
“If it helps at all, I am sorry. I’m just doing my job,” Jenna said, attempting to sooth him.
Slowly his mouth widened in a grin. “Of course you’re. We’re just not used to a little sprig of girl coming in here and taking over our cases.”
Jenna knew that there was probably a lot of truth to Gordon’s words.
* * * *
The interrogation room was bright with harsh florescent lighting, hardly an atmosphere conducive to relaxing a suspect and taking him off guard. The white clinical walls gave one the impression that they were about to undergo some major surgery.
None of this penetrated Jenna’s shocked consciousness at the sight that greeted her when she entered the small room. The man who sat on the other side of the table appeared to be tired, but instinctively alert.
All the hurt, anger, and passion of that long ago night reached its ghostly fingers through the wall of time to wrap around her throat. Jenna had to make a conscious effort to breathe. It was finally the amusement in those dark eyes that broke through.
“Do you find something funny Mr. Silver Wolf?” Jenna’s words held a razor sharp edge.
Brody shook his head slowly. “Only that you seem to be following in your father’s footsteps. How ironic is it that ten years ago I was staring at him from across a table.”
“Indeed, Mr. Silver Wolf. Why don’t you tell me what did my dad arrest you for?”
“Oh, just about anything and everything that went wrong if I was within miles of town. I guess something about me seemed to rub Officer Claremont the wrong way.” Brody gave her a crooked smile.
“I don’t believe that.” Jenna’s voice held a note of bitterness. Brody knew nothing of her father.
“Relax Agent Claremont.” Brody leaned back in the chair as if relaxing was exactly what he intended to do. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but I suspect that he must have guessed his little girl’s very grown up interest in me.” The look in his eyes told her much louder than words that he hadn’t forgotten their night by the lake and her indiscretions.
Heat flooded Jenna’s face, sending a torrent of humiliation through her that was quickly replaced by anger. “That was a very long time ago and has absolutely no bearing on either of our lives at this point.” Jenna’s voice was soft, but unyielding. “I would have thought that you have a much more serious matter to occupy your thoughts.”
Brody’s gaze traveled from her eyes to her mouth and down the curve of her neck. His eyes glazed over as if his thoughts had ventured to a place that Jenna dared not remember.
Her pulse quickened, and she was helpless to calm it. Against her will, she felt herself spiraling back to a time buried in the past. In that instant she was a girl of eighteen again and her whole world revolved around the man who sat in front of her.
It was an era of innocence and golden dreams, a time when she had dared to dream of her father walking her down the aisle and reluctantly placing her into the capable hands of the most handsome man in Wyoming. It lasted for only the briefest of moments before Jenna slammed the door shut with an echoing crack of finality.
With new purpose, Jenna sat in the chair across from Brody and opened the case file in front of her.
“What were you doing in the vicinity of the victim’s car, Brody?”
“That’s a confidential matter,” he answered without hesitation.
“Did you know Mary Brodrick?” Jenna’s curiosity was piqued.
Brody shook his head. “No never saw her before in my life.”
“Then I repeat, what were you doing?”
“And I repeat that is a confidential matter,” he said with a smile.
“Brody, do you realize how serious these charges are?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do.” Again he gave her a soft smile. “But Jenna, you’re fully aware that I’m not the Eerie Mountain Killer.”
Jenna watched him closely, realizing for the first time that he didn’t appear to be the least bit agitated over his predicament. It was as if he knew something that the rest of them were completely overlooking.
How could she be sure that it hadn’t been him that chased her through the woods on that terrifying night? If she had to testify in a court of law, could she swear that it hadn’t been him?
The fact was, if her testimony was based entirely on what happened and what she saw, then she couldn’t swear it hadn’t been him … but in her heart she knew then and she knew now that it hadn’t been Brody who had assaulted her that night.
“I’ll admit that I think it highly unlikely that you’re this monstrous serial killer that has plagued Sinister for the past fifteen years, but you and I both know that it isn’t my opinion that counts.”
“And so you’d let the man that you swore you’d love forever go to death row?”
Jenna couldn’t believe that he could speak of such things with so much amusement dancing in his dark eyes. Somehow he knew that he’d never be convicted of this crime.
“Brody, it would be fine with me if you’d stop referring to that naive little girl that I once was, and just take my word that she doesn’t exist anymore.” Jenna pasted a hard smile on her lips.
“Are you so sure of that baby doll?” Brody had grown serious.
Jenna leaned over the table, bringing herself close enough to him that she could speak in a hushed tone. ‘I am quite sure, Brody Silver Wolf. That girl is long gone, and I’m also sure that everything we say and do is being caught on camera. So if you don’t want to compromise this case, I’d keep it as impersonal as possible. Otherwise you may risk dealing with an agent that doesn’t feel you aren’t guilty.”
Brody gave her a slight nod of affirmation.
Jenna stood up, but before leaving she turned back to Brody and assessed him in a cool, professional manner. “I’ll have to get a warrant to search any property or vehicles you might have. If they don’t find any further evidence against you, they’ll have to let you go.”
She left the room, wishing she could walk away from the emotions that were stirring within her as easily as she’d just walked away from Brody Silver Wolf.
* * * *
The finality of the electronic cell door clanking shut behind him was unnerving. The new cells were constructed of solid steel with one observation window cut in the door. Brody calmed his nerves by reminding himself that they would find nothing when they searched his property.
That was unless they planted it? The unbidden thought crept its way into his brain like poisonous worms.
He pushed the thought aside, wondering where it had come from. It was true that he had a natural distrust of the Sinister Police Department, but Jenna would play it straight.
Reclining on the small cot that was supposed to pass for a bed, Brody closed his eyes and indulged in thoughts of Jenna. Like so many times over the years, images of her haunted him relentlessly. How often had he regretted not plucking the fruit of her innocence when it had been offered?
Brody groaned inwardly as the memories of her soft lips became so vivid that he could almost taste her sweetness. With his arousal becoming almost painful he attempted to close his mind to the memory, but instead of the blank nothingness that he wanted, he heard her hushed words on that fateful night.
I will love you until the day I take my last breath.
Those innocently spoken words had haunted him for all these years. Had Jenna any idea what she’d done to his life on that night? How she’d turned it inside out, and how it had torn at his soul when she’d gone away?
He had long ago accepted the fact that the little waif had gone from his life forever, but every time he looked at a woman, or yearned for the touch of a female, those bewitching green eyes had been there … stalking him, pleading with him.
Another unwelcome thought intruded into his peace. Jenna showing up at this point in time wasn’t an accident. The Soul Eater’s evil had reached out to pull her back within reach of its grasp.
She was one smart woman. He doubted that she would miss much. What if she got too close to the truth as a few others had? What would happen to her? He had no doubt that it wanted her. The other victims had been mere appetizers. It is Jenna that it wanted.
Fear wrapped around his heart, squeezing painfully. Brody got to his feet to impatiently pace the confines of the cell like a caged panther.
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