Unwritten Chapter 24

A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.- G.K. Chesterton

Reed made his way into the precinct, smiling at the fact that Russo had finally realized she needed him. He didn't mind the escort this time into the Homicide division as he was actually a desired guest. "I knew you'd come to your senses and realize how much you wanted me."

"Come with me, Reed." Rachele got to her feet as soon as she heard his voice. She forced herself not to react to his arrogance; she would work around it today.

"Can't we talk someplace a little more private?" Reed whined as he nodded to his officer escort who hung back allowing him to follow Detective Russo.

"How about interrogation room number 2. It's as private as you get." Russo pushed open the door and stepped aside allowing Reed to enter first. She then followed and shut the door behind her. "I need answers, Reed, and I know you have them."

"Depends on what you need answers to."

"I don't have the patience right now to spar with you. Alright. I need to know where Davies is." Russo leaned up against the door watching as Reed helped himself to the uncomfortable chair he had become so familiar with.

"And you're so sure I know. Why?" Reed smiled at Rachele and then he bit his lip not to laugh as he could tell she was instantly aggravated with him.

Rachele kept her position but shifted her weight before answering. "Is this all really a game to you, Reed. Does the fact he killed three police officers mean anything to you? He murdered my fucking partner and you want to play word games with me."

"It's not a game at all. I am sincerely sorry for your loss, but I am in no way involved. In fact, if I remember correctly, I was here. With you when Detective Lefevre went down." Reed stood and took two steps toward Russo, stopping when she changed her stance. "You're nervous, Detective. Why?"

Rachele narrowed her eyes, searching Reed's as he studied her. "How did you know I was pregnant? You actually knew before I confirmed it for myself."

"Detective Russo, I am sure you pride yourself on being able to read people. Most importantly, their intentions. Well, I read people as well and forgive me for saying, but you are an easy read."

"Not buying it, Reed." Rachele shifted again, this time using her hands to wipe her face. She shot Reed a warning look as he was still focused on her. "You seem to know a lot of things that are not common knowledge."

"What can I say. I'm good at what I do." Reed let his eyes travel Rachele's body expecting her to react, but only slightly disappointed when she didn't. "And you are as well."

"What is it exactly that you do? Follow serial killers around the country and help to frustrate and aggravate the detectives trying to stop him? Yeah, you are good at what you do." Rachele watched Reed as he returned to his chair. She waited as he stared at her, she knew he had something to say and she was definitely interested.

"Your man, what's his name? Marcus? He seems like a good guy."

Rachele ignored the comment. "I know you've spoken with Davies back in Memphis and I know you've had extensive conversation with Jerome Mathis as well. Now Davies is here in Boston and you are too. I don't believe in coincidences."

"You probably never believed in Santa Claus either, did you?" Reed shook his head before laughing out loud. "How does Marcus handle you doing this work. It's dangerous and you're sure to get into trouble from time to time. In fact, getting injured is likely and you probably shouldn't even be back to work yet as you're sweating from your exertion here today, just talking to me."

"Marcus is none of your business. Nor is my health. I want to know where Davies is and I do believe you know how to find him if you needed to." Rachele hated that she was feeling weak and dizzy and she hated even more that Reed was aware of her weakened status.

"You know you can never really know a person completely. Everybody keeps something for themselves. Every victim holds something back, every killer keeps a souvenir and every lover holds a trump." Reed watched as Rachele glanced around the room before returning her focus to him. "You ever wonder about Marcus Rivera? You ever wonder what's he's hiding from you."

"I know what I need to know about Marcus. Who I need to know more about is Davies." Rachele could feel the sweat begin to form on her forehead. She rolled her sleeves up, seemingly more interested in her shirt than Reed's insinuations.

"Where's Regan today? I was hoping to see her this morning." Reed licked his lips before offering Rachele a grin that suggested he had made progress with the Southern beauty. "Christina and I have gotten close over the last few days."

"Reed..."

"Now that you're back, Detective, I'm all yours. Every man has a preference, you know that, but that doesn't mean he won't indulge when able." Reed got to his feet when Rachele reached for the chair in front of her. He pulled the chair out and gently took hold of her arm to guide her down. "Should I call somebody for you?"

"No. What you can do is give me something to go on. If you're so close with Regan now, then you don't want her hurt do you, Reed?" Rachele took a deep breath before continuing. "Davies will try to kill her, you know that."

"Of course he will. That's the message he's been sending since being here in Boston. He followed her here and is tormenting her by killing those close to her. Your partner was very close to her in a way Davies could not accept. You do know that, don't you Detective."

"Why wouldn't he just shoot her then and there? It would have been so easy." Rachele finally got Reed talking and she was careful not to interrupt his roll.

"He wanted to punish her, hurt her. Shooting you was intentional, killing Lefevre was intentional as well. Understand?"

Rachele glared at Reed. "Yes, I understand. I also understand that I need to find him. I want him, Reed, for killing my partner and my friends. I want Detective Regan to be able to heal and to live without him in her head like he is."

"I don't want Detective Regan hurt. If I knew I would definitely tell you, but with all due respect, Detective, you people have a way of making things harder than they need to be. Looking too deep." Reed stared Rachele down hard. "If you want Davies, let him go after his wife. It's a risk, but you guys take risks all the time."

Rachele looked at her watch. "Don't go too far, Reed. I may need you."

"Don't tell Marcus, that?" Reed laughed out loud despite the dirty look Rachele gave him. "Regan is on the way to Springfield with her detective friend. That is common knowledge as it is easy to know when the funeral is scheduled and she is not here. No protective detail, Detective?"

Rachele hated that Reed once again had her off balance. "They are more than capable of handling themselves. Besides we have every man tied up looking for Davies and your Cayden Kyle."

Reed smiled. "Again, Detective, with all due respect, somebody dropped the ball I think. All eyes need to be on Regan, not Davies. They left three hours ago. If I know this, who else does."

Rachele got to her feet. "Show yourself out, Reed." Somebody did drop the ball and she was angry. She was always on Regan about being focused and here she let her leave without proper thought given to her safety. Randy German was more than capable of protecting Regan and Regan equally as capable of protecting herself. Nathaniel Davies was a known cop killer and he needed to be found now.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Thirteen years, Love." Christina tried to focus on Nathaniel as he spoke but her head was throbbing and her vision blurry. She closed her eyes tightly hoping to be better able to see once she opened them again. "That's a long time to have to wait for you."

Christina tried to figure out where she was as her surroundings seemed to move. She looked back at Nathaniel and he seemed to be studying her gun. She reached for it at her waist, despite knowing he had taken it from her. She began to tremble as a wave of silent panic rushed through her. "Nathaniel."

"Do you have any idea what living day in and day out in that hell-hole was like? Too much time to think, to remember, to fantasize." Nathaniel stood to his full height, so that he was looking down at his wife. "Makes a man crazy, do crazy things. Get up, Chris."

Christina hesitated, trying desperately to clear her head. She was not Christina Davies, not any longer. She had chosen to change that. She had chosen to never be a victim of her husband again. She had done the time and the work to make sure she would never again be at his mercy. Yet, here she was, being forced to obey him once again. She had to decide if she was the strong, determined detective or the frightened young girl that jumped at her husband's words. Christina could feel her face swelling from where he had hit her with his gun, but she slowly got to her feet. "Three detectives, Nathaniel. Did you do that girl too?"

The deep throaty laugh Nathaniel offered was too familiar to the both of them. "I don't want any other girl, just my wife."

There was nothing to offer him in return for her freedom, there was no way she would be able to help him. He had murdered three Boston Detectives and even he knew there was nothing that she could do for him. "You don't want to do this, Nathaniel."

"You don't want me to do this." Nathaniel moved closer to his wife, pleased when she kept her eyes on his. He had trained her well and she remembered it all. "Don't make me hurt you, I hate it when you make me hurt you."

Christina took a quick moment to size up her ex-husband. He seemed bigger, stronger and she instantly found herself doubting her own abilities to defend herself against a man of his size. She brought her hand up to her face in an attempt to keep the blood from running into her eye, suddenly remembering that was not allowed. She had angered him with the slight movement and the way his eyes darkened was enough to cause her heart to race. She believed he would not shoot her, he could have killed her when he killed Vince if that was his intent. She kept her eyes trained on his until she suddenly broke for the door. She was quicker, faster, stronger than she was years ago and she remembered the promise she had made to herself. She would never willingly lie down for him again, the rest would be as it should.

The door provided an obstacle not an escape and as she turned to face the man she once loved, the man that changed who she was, how she lived, how she fought. There was no time for another decision as his body was suddenly driving her into the cold, damp, wood floor. Her breath escaped her with the impact and her vision clouded under his weight, yet she fought him with the strength she pulled from deep within. She could feel her shoulder dislocate as Nathaniel worked his body position against hers, his intent very clear. He was preparing to rape her and she knew it would be hard and fast, death being the final result. He had nothing to lose by killing another detective, she knew this and so did he.

Christina tried to call out to Nathaniel, but his weight was suffocating her every attempt. Fear swam through her veins and she could no longer hear her own breathing as total blackness tempted and teased. She could feel Nathaniel's hands as they worked her clothing, each attempt to move met with excruciating pain. She fought against losing consciousness as he positioned himself directly above her, smiling as her fearful eyes met his determined ones.

Christina stopped fighting, stopped moving and her decision was enough to make Nathaniel stop as well. "Please don't do this. Not like this. Please."

Nathaniel kept his hand firmly on her throat as he questioned her with his eyes.

"It's been a long time and I've missed you. Just, take it easy, please." Christina could hear herself and her voice seemed foreign but she was encouraged when Nathaniel gave her just enough room to breathe. "Kiss me."

Nathaniel didn't trust her and it was evident as he refused to remove his hand from her throat, yet he began to kiss her. He was rough at first, but slowly relaxed when Christina responded to his kiss. He stared into her eyes and she was scared, he could tell. He liked that, but he liked even more that she was willing to surrender to him. He removed his hand from her neck and let it slowly move down to her chest. He gave her the chance to fight, the chance to escape, not sure what to think when she did neither. "You're going to let me do this?"

"Make love to me, Nathaniel." Christina's whispered words burned her throat, but she would do anything to avoid what he had in mind otherwise. She closed her eyes as he began only to snap them open when he placed his hand on her face. She was never allowed to close her eyes; never allowed to escape to any other place. He wouldn't allow it then and he wasn't about to allow it now. Christina could feel him begin to enter her and she knew in so many ways he once again controlled her. He would kill her from the inside and she had to decide if her mind was stronger than her body. She would never be free of him and the defeat she felt was almost enough to derail her mission. He demanded she keep her eyes on his and so she did. She watched him and she read him and she timed him perfectly.

Christina reached up and wrapped her arms around her ex-husband's neck as he moved and she gently pulled him down to her. She tried to avoid reacting to the pain in her shoulder as she forced herself to rest her arms on his wide shoulders. He kissed her and the way his breathing was irregular told Christina it was time. Just as he released she tightened and with one quick turn she snapped his neck. She instantly felt all of Nathaniel's weight slam down onto her and she was nearly crushed under it. He was so heavy and her breathing was compromised as she struggled out from under him. She quickly backed away from him until she was stopped by the wall behind her. Her body was shaking and her head swimming but she refused to take her eyes off her ex-husband as he lie naked on the floor where she had been.

The tears came without her permission and her hands shook uncontrollably. She brought them to her head in an attempt to stop the shaking and was distracted by the blood that was still very fresh. Her head wound was deep and she instantly felt dizzy at the sight of so much blood on her own hands. "It was just sex, just sex and he would have killed me." Christina could hear how her voice shook as she tried to justify her actions to herself. She forced herself to crawl over to her clothes where she dressed quickly. She picked up her gun, squeezing it in her hand. She turned to Nathaniel and placed the tip of the gun to his head. She could feel the tears fully now and forced herself to stop them. Crying wasn't allowed and he hated when she did that.

She was not Christina Davies anymore, she was Detective Regan and she refused to be a victim, his victim. She stood tall, this time above her husband as she placed her gun back where it belonged. There was no need to shoot him, she had killed him. She had killed him with her hands and that was the way it should be. Christina had loved Nathaniel Davies at one time and she had allowed him to control her, but now she was free and the feeling was more overwhelming than she could have ever imagined.

She searched his pockets, pulling a phone from one and immediately called for help. She didn't know where she was but knew they would trace her call. Once she had confirmation that police were on the way she called Russo. She didn't trust her voice, only managing to tell her that she had gotten him and that it was over. She listened to the soft, controlled way Russo talked to her and she knew she wouldn't have to explain much to her when she arrived. It was when Russo hung up that she felt the familiar fear and panic that nearly consumed her while in Nathaniel's hands. She had worked so hard to become stronger, tougher, harder and it didn't seem to matter when she looked him in the eyes. She felt weak and vulnerable and she slowly let herself slide down the wall until she felt the floor meet her. She sat only feet from her husband and she allowed herself to say goodbye to Christina Davies for good.