Kiss Me, Kill Me Part 36

She'd lived with this truth for years, but hadn't thought about it. When she was eighteen, having children had seemed so far away and unreal that it hadn't affected her, not with everything else she'd had to deal with at the time. And then, she'd been so angry and hurt that she couldn't even comprehend raising a family in such a violent and brutal world.

But now, for the first time, she felt a wave of loss. She wasn't ready for a family now-but even so, she'd never have the chance to have one in the future.

"I'm sorry," she said.

Sean turned her face to his. "Don't tell me you're sorry." He kissed her hard, holding her chin, his hand shaking. "Just, don't." His voice cracked. "I love you. That will never change." He kissed her again.

Lucy held on to Sean. With him, she felt not only strong enough to handle anything, she knew she'd be okay in the end. He was a rock, he didn't budge, he gave her exactly what she needed even before she knew that she needed anything. In Whitney's apartment, he had been an unmoving tower of strength, but didn't coddle her or try to protect her from the cruel truths in Whitney's drawings or writings. He understood without her telling him that any personal emotions would have undone her, so he let her do what had to be done. And afterward, he was still there, ready to listen or just hold her hand.

"You're pretty amazing, Sean Rogan," she said.

"So I've been told many times." He kissed her again, then pulled her to her feet and gave her a tight hug. "You're pretty incredible yourself, Lucy Kincaid."

"So I've been told," she said with a smile.

They stood there in the middle of the hotel room holding each other, neither wanting to let go. Lucy felt a peace she couldn't voice, but didn't have to.

Several minutes later, she kissed him. "We really should go."

They grabbed their bags and left the room. In the elevator to the lobby, Lucy said, "Is there a route home that goes over the water instead of under it?"

"Already programmed into my GPS."

"Thank you."

"The route goes through Staten Island."

"Okay."

"You were upset last night about Dennis Barnett."

"The interview was hard on him, and he didn't have anyone to support him afterward. And now Wade is out of prison, but Dennis can't go see him. And then there's Whitney Morrissey still out there."

"Want to stop by? Check up on him?"

"Suzanne sent NYPD over. He's fine."

"Do you want to stop by?"

"Do we have time?"

"We'll make time."

Wade tried to focus on an ESPN interview with the Yankees coach about the upcoming season, but even baseball couldn't get his mind off Whitney and all the women she'd killed.

He didn't care what the FBI agent said; he blamed himself. He had been so d.a.m.n selfish and blind to who she really was, but thinking about her behavior now, all the signs had been there.

He'd been a fool to sleep with her after Alanna died. He did stupid things when he was drunk.

His cell phone rang. He almost answered it, but Agent Hansen shook her head and took the phone from him.

"Wade Barnett's residence." A moment later, she handed it to him. "He says he's your brother Dennis."

Wade smiled and took the phone. "Denny. Hey, I'm glad you called me back."

"Whitney is here and she hurt Mom," Dennis whispered. "She wants you to come right now with no one else."

Another voice came on the line. "Come alone, no police, or your r.e.t.a.r.ded brother will die."

Dennis whimpered on the phone.

Wade discreetly glanced at Agent Hansen. She was looking at the view from his window. How much attention was she paying to his conversation? "Sure," he said cheerily. "I can do that."

Whitney gushed, "I knew you would come. I love you so much, Wade. It hurts how much I love you. Hurry."

The line went dead.

Wade looked around his twelfth-floor apartment. How was he going to get out without the Feds knowing? The only way was the fire escape, but could he get out without attracting attention?

He had an idea.

"Okay, Denny," he said into the dead phone. "I'll talk to the FBI and I'm sure they'll let you visit. I'll call you back. Love you, too." He put down his phone. "Agent Hansen, do you think my brother could come over for dinner tonight?"

She said, "I don't see why not, but I'll clear it with Suzanne when she calls in."

"Great. Do you mind if I put on some music?"

"Not at all."

THIRTY-TWO.

Sean turned into the exclusive Staten Island neighborhood of Todt Hill, where Dennis lived with his mother. Lucy hadn't expected the sedately grand homes mixed with trees and gentle hills so close to the towering buildings of Manhattan, and the sprawling development in Brooklyn. She liked it here.

"Thanks for avoiding the tunnel."

"It was truly a feat of engineering."

"It's just plain creepy. Aren't you scared of anything?"

"Scared?" he said with mock indignation.

"Bad choice of words. You know what I mean."

"Prison. I didn't like the door closing and locking behind me at Rikers and I was even free to leave."

"Most normal people are scared of prison."

He stopped in front of a multilevel house surrounded by trees on a deep, narrow lot near the end of a cul-de-sac. He looked at her. Though his voice was light, his sentiment wasn't. "The only thing I fear is losing you, Princess."

Lucy's heart flipped. She leaned over and kissed him. "You're not going to."

They got out of the car and walked up the short stone path that led to an elaborate curving staircase. The main entrance was on the second floor, with the first floor housing the five-car garage. Sean rang the bell.

Lucy asked, "Does Kirsten want to see Dennis?"

"After her surgery. She believes he saved her life, and he may well have."

"Good. Telling Dennis that should help him put this whole mess behind him."

Lucy saw movement on the other side of the leaded, beveled gla.s.s door. "I saw someone down the hall, just a shadow through the gla.s.s."

Sean rang the bell again, taking a slightly protective stance half a step in front of Lucy.

Still, no answer.

"Maybe it was a dog," Lucy said. "A big dog."

"That doesn't bark? Probably his mother."

"Why wouldn't she answer?"

"The police may have told them to stay indoors, not answer the door, any number of security measures," Sean said. "I'll check out the grounds."

"I'll call Dennis," Lucy said.

They walked down the stairs and Lucy stood next to the garage while Sean walked around to the back of the house. She dialed Dennis's cell phone, but on the fifth ring his voice mail came on.

"Hi Dennis, this is Lucy Kincaid, remember me? I'm a friend of Kirsten's. I just wanted to check if everything is okay at your house. Please call me back, okay?" She left her number and hung up. She stared at the house, filled with a nagging sense of dread.

Sean returned. "We have a big problem. Whitney Morrissey is here."

"You saw her?"

"No, but she made her mark. On the wall of one of the rooms is a life-sized drawing of Wade Barnett."

"I'll call Suzanne," Lucy said.

"Let's go to the car. I have an idea."

They got into the car and Sean circled the cul-de-sac and drove past the Barnett house. If Whitney was watching, she'd see them leave.

Lucy called Suzanne.

"Lucy, what's up? I'm in the middle of a crisis."

"Something's wrong at Dennis Barnett's house. Sean and I are here, no one's answering the door or phone, and Sean saw one of Whitney's signature drawings through a window."

"s.h.i.+t!" She talked to someone in the background. "That must be why Wade took off down the fire escape. I'll call the locals, because I can't get there in less than thirty."

"Tell them to steer clear of the house. No sign of cops. If Whitney's in there-"

"I know. Two, maybe three, possible hostages. You and Sean keep your eye on the house, but don't engage."

"When did Wade leave?"

"Between fifteen and twenty minutes ago. He didn't take his car, so he's probably in a taxi."

Lucy hung up. "She said don't engage. Wade disappeared."

"If Whitney's inside, she'll kill Dennis as soon as Wade shows up."

"If she hasn't killed him already."

Sean turned the car around again and parked two houses up from the Barnetts', around the bend in the cul-de-sac, out of sight. "We'll cut through the neighbor's side yard and enter the Barnett property from the rear," Sean said. "You make your way around to the far side of the garage-you won't be seen from the house, but you'll be able to watch for Wade. Keep him out of the house. I'll find a way inside and a.s.sess the danger."

Lucy didn't like that idea. "Be careful, Sean. Whitney is volatile, and won't care who she kills."

"I'm more concerned about you. She seems to hate women more than men."

Lucy considered that. "Women are her adversaries, but so is Dennis because he takes Wade's attention away from her."

"Our goal is to secure the house until the police arrive." He retrieved his gun from the trunk and a small pouch with tools. "If I can get Dennis or his mother out, I will." He kissed her quickly and handed her a .22 pistol strapped into an ankle holster. "Just in case."

She checked the ammo and the safety, then strapped on the holster, but she wouldn't be able to easily get to it under her jeans. She tucked the gun into the small of her back instead.

"When we get home, I'm getting you fitted for holsters," Sean said.

"I have my own gun."

"Which you didn't bring."

"I was following the law. No guns in the city."

"Tell it to the criminals."

They cut through the neighbor's yard around the back of the Barnett property. Sean motioned for Lucy to run low along a path camouflaged by neatly trimmed hedges, which would put her on the far side of the garage.

It took Lucy less than a minute to get into position. When she looked back, she couldn't see Sean anywhere. She wondered how he'd disappeared so quickly.

Near where Lucy hid there was a side door leading into the house. She checked the k.n.o.b; locked. She moved to the other side so she could watch the road and the door at the same time.

How long ago had she called Suzanne? Lucy looked at her phone. Only four minutes?