The TAKEN! Series - Books 13-16 (Taken! Box Set Book 4) Read online

  “Jace is relieved of duty,” Tyler said. “I’ll stay here for as long as you need me.”

  “Thank you Tyler; it eases my mind to know that you’re guarding my family.”

  ***

  When he returned to the hallway, he saw Jace talking with Lawson, and when he joined them, he asked Lawson a question.

  “Is there any progress on finding, Mitchell?”

  “They have a lead now. Your Chief of Police came up with it. It appears as if Mitchell was corresponding with a girl from the area named Circe Doyle. Ms. Doyle distracted the guard so that he would be away from the security monitors.”

  “Why the hell would she help?”

  “Chief Dent thinks the girl suffers from some form of mental illness.”

  Jace stretched and yawned.

  “Is Tyler staying? I could use some sleep.”

  “Yes, he’s staying, but Lawson, how long do I have Jace for?”

  “For as long as you need him, along with six other men. Mitchell just made himself a priority. I’m sorry to say, but your mother’s killing is all over the news.”

  “Are they reporting that Mitchell is my brother?”

  “Not yet, and no one outside of law enforcement knows about the message he left behind.”

  “Hey Lawson,” Jace said. “Could I get a lift to Hamilton? That’s the town where my lawyer got me an apartment.”

  “Forget Hamilton,” he said. “You’re coming home with me.”

  “Really?”

  “I need you nearby.”

  “Alright dude, whatever you need, I just got to get my duffel bag out of Lawson’s ride.”

  “Is everything you own in that duffel bag?”

  Jace shrugged.

  “I ain’t exactly been putting down roots these last few years, you know?”

  “Yeah, I understand, now let’s go get your bag.”

  ***

  There were cops parked at the entrance to the driveway and he spoke with them momentarily before driving on.

  “Lawson told me that you chose the name White for your agency name, Jace White?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “I figure when we work together people will think I’m your grandson.”

  As he came around the final curve, he saw Chief Dent’s car parked in front of the house.

  The dog came over to greet them as they got out of the car, and Jace bent down to pet him.

  “Cool dog! What’s his name?”

  “His name is Stitches.”

  “He’s got a cool name too.”

  As he opened the door, Amanda greeted them.

  “How are Jessica and the babies?”

  “They’re good, and they may be coming home tomorrow.”

  “The chief and his wife are in the kitchen.”

  “I’ll go and talk to them, but tell me, how is Maggie?”

  Amanda shook her head sadly.

  “I think the poor thing cried herself to sleep.”

  “That’s not surprising, but speaking of sleep, Jace will be staying with us, Could you show him to a guest room while I go speak to the chief?”

  “Of course, follow me Jace.”

  “All I need is four hours down time and I’ll be good to go again,” Jace said.

  “Fine, and thank you,”

  “You don’t have to thank me; I owe you more than a little guard duty. If not for you I might be rotting in prison.”

  ***

  As he greeted his guests, the chief’s wife, Traci, gave his hand a sympathetic squeeze. She was also a cop, and was on duty and wearing a uniform.

  “Is there anything new, Jack?”

  “Have you heard about Circe Doyle?”

  “Yes, but what the hell is she, some sort of serial killer groupie?”

  “That’s exactly what she is, and she’s not the only one. Ted Bundy used to receive hundreds of love letters, hell, even Dahmer received love letters, and some women have married serial killers who were incarcerated.”

  “And that was before the Internet,” Traci said. “These days, the women form online communities and gain a sense of belonging.”

  “So he and Hanna are using this girl?”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s against her will.”

  Dent’s phone rang. He answered it, listened, spoke a few words, and listened again, before saying goodbye.

  When he hung up, his face looked grim.

  “What is it, Jack?” Traci said.

  “They located Circe Doyle’s car twenty miles from here. It was abandoned, but they found something inside.”

  “What did they find?” he asked.

  Dent hesitated a moment, but then spoke.

  “There were pictures of the hospital on her phone, the hospital here, not the one your mother was... your mother was at. The time stamp says that they were taken yesterday in the afternoon.”

  “At the time my children were being born,”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you telling me that Jeffrey and Hanna were targeting my children and Jessica?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would he kill my mother if Jessica was his true target? He must have realized that once he struck there, that security would be heightened here.”

  “Bud Shelton,” Traci said. “They had to change their plans because of what happened to Bud Shelton.”

  Dent nodded in agreement.

  “Yes, that must be it.”

  “Who’s Bud Shelton?” he asked.

  “Bud’s a retired cop. He was on the job for forty years before retiring. Last evening he had a heart attack. He survived it, but there were cops going in and out of the hospital all night checking up on him and his wife. Mitchell must have seen all the cops coming and going and changed his target.”

  “So, if this Bud Shelton hadn’t fallen ill, Mitchell would have gone after my wife and children, a pair of newborns and a woman recovering from giving birth?”

  “He’s truly despicable,” Traci said.

  Dent stood and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “We have to go now, but we’ll be coordinating with the FBI to provide security here and at the hospital.”

  “Thank you, Jack, Traci,”

  “Anytime, and give Jessica our love,”

  He showed them to the door and watched as they drove away.

  A twist of fate had saved Jessica and his children and doomed his mother.

  For just a moment, he imagined what his life would be like had Mitchell not been dissuaded from going after his family, thought about it, and nearly vomited.

  Jessica gone, along with his blessed children,

  It was pure luck that saved them, or maybe it was fate. Yes, it was fate. He was a big believer in fate. In any event, he knew that Jeffrey David Mitchell, his brother, now had only one fate, and it was that he would die at his hands, and his hands alone.

  CHAPTER 2

  The funeral for his mother, Elizabeth “Betty” Walker, was held four days later, on an unseasonably warm winter’s day.

  Maggie stood between her brother and Jessica with her brother’s protective arm wrapped about her shoulders, as she cried deep tears of grief and loss.

  Maggie’s best friend, Katie, stood nearby, also crying, and she was joined by a few others who were Maggie’s friends or schoolmates.

  And while the news had not been leaked that he and Jeffrey Mitchell were brothers, it was made public that one of Mitchell’s victims was the mother-in-law of Dr. Jessica White.

  That bit of news was responsible for the extensive media presence and a parade of news stories concerning the doctor and her husband’s history with the murderous Mitchells. It also made friends old and new aware of the tragedy, and many had shown up at the gravesite.

  There were numerous FBI agents and police officers in attendance that he and Jessica had worked with over the years, as well as some of the people they had saved.

  There were also a nu
mber of trained bodyguards. These were hired to protect their family members. Until Mitchell was caught or killed, he and Jessica felt that they were all at risk, and had insisted that they be protected.

  At one point during the solemn service, a wave of activity and noise came from the area where the media were gathered. When Jessica looked to see what had caused it, she got a glimpse of red hair.

  “What are they so excited about?” She whispered to her husband.

  A friend of theirs, FBI Special Agent John Brice was standing behind them and answered the question as he stared down at his phone.

  “It’s Summer Gray, she and her husband, Todd, have just vowed to help you in any way that they can.”

  Jessica turned her head and stared at Brice.

  “Are you serious? She’s using our family tragedy to grandstand for the Press?”

  Brice sighed. “It would appear so,”

  Jessica shook her head and went back to listening to the reverend speak, and soon, the service ended, and all those present were invited to their home for a gathering.

  ***

  Their home was not small, but neither was it huge and so it soon became crowded. With the funeral done, the mood turned less solemn and groups formed among those gathered together.

  The police and FBI agents gravitated together, as did Maggie’s friends and classmates. Those friends and colleagues of Jessica’s from the mental health field seemed to cluster around her father, Dr. James White, whose career was legendary.

  ***

  He was upstairs with his children, lost in thought as he stared down at them as they slept. When a light kiss fell upon his cheek, he turned his head and saw his sister-in-law, Gabby.

  “Jessie sent me to check on you, how are you holding up?”

  He hugged her around the shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. He had known her since she was a child and she was as much a sister to him as was Maggie.

  “I’m alright. I just don’t enjoy crowds.”

  “It is packed down there, but you should make an appearance, people want to give their condolences.”

  “I’ll go, but will you stay here with the babies? I know there are guards outside and a baby monitor, but I feel better if someone is always with them.”

  Gabby grinned.

  “I’ll stay, and you’re a good daddy.”

  ***

  He went downstairs and walked among the gathered, accepting condolences on his loss and reconnecting with some whom he hadn’t seen in years. The experience wasn’t as unpleasant as he had imagined it would be, but he was at heart a solitary man, and so once he felt he had performed his required social duty he went outside and wandered behind the garage.

  Drawn on the back of the building was the life-sized outline of a man. It was what he used to practice on with his knife, and he did so now, tossing throw after throw at the image.

  At one point, after plucking the knife free, he turned and found a woman walking towards him, a dark-haired beauty in black who kissed him boldly on the lips before slipping her hand into his.

  “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m good, but I will be glad when this day has ended.”

  Blue Steele sent him a bright smile.

  “I spoke to Amanda; it would seem that we’re cousins?”

  “Yes, although distant,”

  “I should have known you had the Steele-Caliber blood in you.”

  “Have you met the newest members of the family?”

  “I did. Jessica just showed them off to me.”

  “And asked you to go look for me?”

  “She did that too; it’s not good to be alone at a time like this.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Blue held out her hand.

  “Give me that knife; I want to take a few throws.”

  ***

  As they target practiced with the knife, he talked.

  He told her about Jeffrey Mitchell being his brother, about his father, and about his difficult, but ultimately healed relationship with his late mother, when he was done; he stared at her in wonder.

  “How is it that you can always get me to open up?”

  Blue smiled.

  “We’re simpatico, you and I, plus there’s the fact that you find me utterly irresistible.”

  He laughed.

  “I’m glad you came, Blue.”

  “I’m here for you, Big Boy, whenever you need me.”

  ***

  As they returned to the house, Blue went in search of her boyfriend, Ramón, as he stood by the porch and looked about.

  He saw Maggie talking with her friends, and took note of her occasional smile. It was good to see, and he knew that in time she would heal and recover from her loss.

  Along with the kids from her neighborhood and school was a new friend, Heather Beck, the daughter of Jack Beck, a man his mother used to date. The Becks had moved in next door, although, given the amount of land separating their properties, it was more accurate to say that they lived in the area.

  Jace stood nearby, but at an unobtrusive distance, watching over Maggie. He sent him a nod of thanks and received a wink in return.

  A strong hand clapped him on the shoulder and he turned to find Jack Beck smiling at him.

  “How are you holding up, kid?”

  “I’m good, sir, and thanks for coming and sending the flowers.”

  “You’re welcome, son. Although we hadn’t seen each other in years, I still considered your mother a friend, and I hope that bastard Mitchell soon meets his maker.”

  “He will, sir.”

  Something about his tone of certainty made Beck study him closely, but his inspection ended as Lawson approached from behind, as he came down the porch steps.

  “There you are.”

  “What’s up Lawson?”

  “I wanted to—” Lawson began speaking, but stopped as Beck turned around. He then looked shocked and more than a bit awed. “Colonel Beck, sir, it’s an honor to see you again.”

  “Tommy? Well, I’ll be damned, it’s been a while.”

  Lawson looked at him.

  “How do you two know each other?”

  “Mr. Beck, or, I suppose it’s Colonel Beck? He dated my mother when I was younger.”

  Beck looked back and forth at them.

  “And just how do you two know each other?”

  Lawson, recovered from his surprise at seeing Beck, answered casually.

  “I’ve been tapped to coordinate security between the FBI and the local authorities.”

  Beck stared at him.

  “From what I hear, Tommy, that sort of work would be well below your pay grade these days, hmm?”

  Lawson smiled and reached out his hand.

  “It’s been nice seeing you again, Colonel Beck.”

  “Yeah, you too Tommy, now I’ll mosey along and let you two talk, and kid?”

  He looked at Beck.

  “Yes sir?”

  “Come by my place someday soon, I think we have more in common than we realize.”

  “I’ll do that, sir, and again, thank you.”

  Lawson relaxed visibly as Beck wandered away.

  “What’s the story there, Lawson?”

  “You really have no idea who that is, do you? But what am I saying, how could you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say, but I’ll tell you this, that man was you before you were you, and possibly even deadlier.”

  He looked over and watched as Beck made Maggie laugh.

  “He was an agent?”

  “I’ve said all I can. What I actually came to say is that there’s a meeting being held tomorrow afternoon in Dalton Creek, and I’d like you to be there, you and Jessica, actually. It’s a briefing on the hunt for Mitchell.”

  “Any progress?”

  “Not yet, but I’ve expanded our resources and have brought in Dr. Harven.”

  “Harven? What can he do?”

  “More
than you imagine, but it’s really his ex-wife’s help I sought.”

  “Who is his ex-wife?”

  “Dr. Elena Colt, and like her husband, she has her own unorthodox methods.”

  “The Dr. Colt that runs the crime victims charity?”

  “Yes, so you know of her?”

  “Only by name, does she have experience in tracking down serial killers?”

  Lawson grinned.

  “It’s what she lives for,”

  ***

  In Texas, Dr. Elena Colt sent a look of disdain towards the television as she watched a replay of Summer Gray’s impromptu Press conference held at the funeral. Elena was somewhat younger than her octogenarian ex-husband, and still retained a youthful energy, energy that she poured into her work. She had long white hair above bright, blue eyes, and was dressed in a colorful print skirt and silk blouse.

  “That woman is either an insensitive twit or a grandstanding ass,” Elena said, “Why did you want me to watch this?”

  Harven studied her, waiting to see if she would have a reaction to what was about to come on the screen.

  “Summer Gray isn’t who I wanted you to see.”

  Elena began to speak, but stopped as a photo came on the screen showing Jessica’s husband.

  She pointed at the TV.

  “He’s one of them!”

  Harven turned off the television with a remote.

  “He’s not a serial killer, Elena; I’ve tested him.”

  “You’ve...? He was here, in this room?”

  “He and his wife, they came to me for help.”

  “He must have fooled you, Emile. I mean my God, his aura is so strong that I could feel it from a televised photo, that’s rarely happened, and never this intensely.”

  “Even your gift has its limits, my dear. That man is plagued by tendencies, he admitted that, but he’s never—” Dr. Harven had begun to say that Jessica’s husband had never acted on his impulses, but then remembered that that wasn’t quite true. “He’s overcome his nature, transmuted it, and turned it towards positive results. It’s one of the reasons that he and his wife, Dr. White, have the reputation they have.”

  Elena looked unconvinced.

  “What was he like, evasive?”

  “Not at all, he and his wife were having trust issues and he was very willing to work at healing things, which they have I’m happy to say.”

  “I’ll be meeting him tomorrow.”