The Right Woman Read online

  “Yes, the police are waiting.”

  “I can’t,” Brooke cried. “Please don’t make me.”

  Sarah resumed her seat and reached through the bed rail for the girl’s trembling hand. “I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

  Brooke took a deep breath and Sarah tried to think of a way to reassure her yet convey how imperative it was for her to talk. “Have you read anything about the other rapes in the paper?”

  “Yes. He killed them.”

  “That’s right, and he will continue with his crimes until he’s caught.”

  “You mean, he’ll rape another girl?”

  “He’s what’s known as a serial rapist and he won’t stop until he’s put behind bars.”

  The silence dragged as Brooke thought about the situation. “They want my help, but I don’t know anything.”

  “You might and not realize it.”

  “Did you have to tell your story?”

  “Yes,” Sarah said. It had taken all the courage she had.

  “I—I…” Brooke stopped and started again. “I don’t think I can, but I don’t want this to happen to another girl and…”

  “And what?”

  “Will you stay with me while I talk to them?”

  A sigh of relief escaped Sarah. “Yes, I’ll be right here.”

  “Okay,” Brooke said. “I want the police to catch him.”

  Sarah patted her hand. “I’ll get them.”

  Outside the room, she addressed all three detectives. “She’ll see you, but please take it slow and don’t push her.”

  “Ah, Ms. Welch, I wouldn’t think of doing that,” Russ replied with his usual sarcastic wit.

  Sarah didn’t respond as they entered the room, but she went to the girl and held her hand. “Brooke, this is Detective Devers and Detective Garrett. I’m sorry—” she glanced at the other cop “—I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Joel Sims, ma’am.”

  “They’re going to ask you some questions.”

  “Okay,” Brooke replied.

  Daniel decided to take the lead and stepped in front of Russ. “Can you tell us what happened, Miss Wallace?”

  Russ glared at him, but he didn’t care. Russ had no tact, no propriety. After seeing the shattered innocence in the girl’s eyes, Daniel broke the rules for the first time in his career. He knew this wasn’t his case—it was Russ’s job to do the questioning. But the sight of this traumatized girl made him protective, gentle.

  Brooke’s hand gripped Sarah’s. “I—I went to this party and there were older college students there doing drugs, drinking and having…and having sex. The party wasn’t like I thought it would be and I was uncomfortable and left. As I was walking to my car someone grabbed me and pulled me in the bushes and…”

  Daniel waited a minute, then said, “I know this is difficult, but we need to hear what happened next.”

  Sarah squeezed her hand and Brooke continued. “I screamed and he hit me a couple of times and told me to shut up. I kept screaming, but no one heard me because the music was so loud. Then he…” Brooke visibly swallowed. “He ripped my clothes off and something stung my arm then he…he pushed my legs apart…and…he hurt me. He hurt me.” Brooke wept silently and her body trembled.

  Silence filled the room.

  “It’s okay, Brooke,” Sarah said, comforting her, rubbing her arm. “Can you continue?”

  Brooke nodded and brushed away tears. “When…when he was through, I felt something around my neck and it grew tighter and tighter and I couldn’t breathe. I was choking and he was laughing…then someone began talking by the parked cars and he let go and ran off. I tried to scream, but my throat was too sore. I managed to get up and I was dizzy and felt weird. I stumbled over to a couple talking by their car and they called 9-1-1.”

  “Did you recognize the man?” Daniel asked.

  “No. It was dark and I was scared.”

  “Besides telling you to shut up, did he say anything else?”

  “He, uh, kept asking how I liked it. Did I like it now? It…it was awful and I was sick to my stomach with revulsion. Please, I can’t talk about it anymore.”

  “It’s okay,” Daniel told her. He glanced at Russ and received a cold stare in return. Russ wasn’t pleased with Daniel’s intervention and Daniel didn’t care—sometimes he had to do what he felt was right.

  Russ moved to the bed. “Then let’s back up to the party. Was there anyone there you knew?”

  “Yes. My friend, Whitney, and I went together, but she left with some guy.”

  “Any other people?”

  “Yes, several students from the university.”

  “Did you speak with them?” Russ was doing his usual—firing questions. The girl seemed to be holding up, though.

  “Yes.”

  “What about?”

  “Mostly about drugs. Everyone was doing them and they wanted me to do them, too, but I told them I didn’t do drugs.”

  “Who are they?”

  “A guy named Neal, and Brian Colley who gave the party.” Russ and Joel scribbled names on a pad.

  “Anyone else?”

  “An older guy who brought the drugs, but I don’t know his name. Neal pointed him out to me and said he was going to be offended if I didn’t participate. I refused again and left.”

  “Now think, Miss Wallace,” Russ instructed. “You heard the voices at the party. Can you identify any of those voices as the rapist’s?”

  Brooke shook her head. “No. I was so scared. I don’t know who he was.”

  “Are you sure?” Russ kept pushing.

  Brooke nodded.

  “Now, Miss Wallace, that’s hard to believe, you spoke to several guys at the party. Surely you can remember something.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Did you drink anything at the party?”

  “A glass of wine.”

  “Did you make out with anyone?”

  Brooke’s face crumbled. “No.”

  “You did nothing but watch. You didn’t participate in—”

  “The questions are over,” Sarah broke in. “She’s told you all she knows.”

  “Ms. Welch…”

  “The questions are over, Detective Devers,” she repeated firmly.

  Russ’s eyes narrowed.

  “Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Wallace.” Daniel intervened before Russ could do any damage.

  “Please catch him.”

  “We’ll do our best.”

  The trio left the room. In the hall, Russ turned on Daniel. “Don’t you ever do that to me again. I’m the lead detective on this case and you were way out of line taking over the questioning. You’re only here for your expert knowledge, that’s it.”

  Daniel held up both hands. “I realize that, but you have as much tact as a telemarketer.”

  “Don’t start with me, Daniel, or I’ll report you.”

  “Go ahead. I’ve had about all I can stomach of this job.”

  Joel stepped between them. “Let’s put the personalities aside and concentrate on what we’ve just learned.”

  “Yeah.” Russ jammed his notebook into his pocket. “Now we locate Brian Colley and get a list of everyone at the party. Our rapist was there and I have a feeling Miss Wallace knows him. If Ms. Colder Than Ice hadn’t stuck her two cents in, I’d have gotten it out of her.”

  Daniel was stunned at Russ’s insensitivity, but he didn’t say anything. Words would be wasted on Russ.

  Russ and Joel started toward the door. Russ turned back. “Daniel, we’re through with your expert knowledge. I’ll inform your lieutenant that we don’t need your help anymore.”

  “Fine,” Daniel replied. The two men stared at each other in stony silence. Russ was the first to look away and he hurried toward Joel.

  DANIEL LET OUT a long sigh of frustration, trying to get Brooke Wallace’s story out of his head, trying not to see the look in Sarah’s eyes. He was tired. Tired of c
rime. Tired of dealing with cops like Russ. Tired of the bad guys always winning. He was just tired in general and he knew he was at a point in his career where he had to make a decision.

  He raised his head and saw Sarah talking to a couple, obviously Brooke’s parents. When they went inside the room, Sarah sank into one of the chairs in the hall and buried her face in her hands. Daniel’s chest expanded at the defeated picture. He remembered the day he’d pulled her, barely breathing, pale and terrified, out of Rudy Boyd’s closet. He hadn’t known if she’d ever make it back to the real world after what Boyd had done to her. But she’d been a fighter, just as he sensed Brooke Wallace was, and she had rebounded with strength and determination.

  Sarah had been the star witness for the prosecution in Boyd’s trial and she had held up beautifully, as she had in the appeal, making sure Boyd paid for Greg’s death. Mentally, though, he wondered how strong she was. Looking at her now, he feared she hadn’t fully recovered.

  Unable to stop himself, he headed toward her. He knew he shouldn’t. He was the last person she wanted to speak to and although he didn’t understand why, now he had to talk to her. He’d always thought it best to leave her alone, but tonight he didn’t heed his instincts.

  Since Sarah had been a witness at Boyd’s trial, they’d been thrown together numerous times and he’d encountered her on several occasions in the years that had followed. On each encounter she treated him the same, with disguised disdain. They had to talk. He recognized this wasn’t the time or the place, but he was tired of putting it off, just like he was tired of so many things in his life. Tonight Sarah Welch was going to tell him to his face why she hated him.

  Then he could forget he’d ever known her.

  CHAPTER TWO

  SARAH BRACED HERSELF as Daniel sat beside her. What did he want? Why couldn’t he just leave? It had been a horrific night and she didn’t want to talk. If she looked at him, she’d see that expression he always wore when he was around her.

  “Are you okay?” Daniel asked softly.

  There it was—that worried tone. She restrained herself from gritting her teeth. “Yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” She raised her head, but didn’t look at him. She just wanted him to go away and to leave her with her thoughts.

  “Well, a young girl’s life has been altered forever and I can see it has affected you.”

  This time Sarah gritted her teeth; she couldn’t help herself. Then she calmly answered, “I’m human and what Brooke Wallace has just endured would affect anyone.”

  “But for you it’s different.”

  She clenched her jaw so tight that it hurt. Go away, Daniel. Please go away.

  Daniel could sense that she wanted him to leave and normally he would, but not tonight. Tonight they were going to talk even if those frosty blue eyes chilled him to the bone.

  He took a deep breath and clasped his hands between his knees. “Why do you hate me so much?”

  “I don’t hate you.”

  “You’re stiff as a board and you won’t look at me. That’s not a positive, happy-to-see-you reaction.”

  A tangible pause followed.

  “Okay, Daniel.” Those cool eyes looked directly at him. “You make me uncomfortable, but it has nothing to do with you personally. You remind me of the past and when I see you, I relive that awful time. I just want to forget it. But you’re always there with your worried glances, asking how I am. I don’t need you to be concerned about me. I’m fine, and I think it would be best if we stayed away from each other.”

  He’d asked and he’d gotten his answer. It was the reaction he’d been expecting so he didn’t understand why he couldn’t leave it alone—leave her alone. But he couldn’t wait any longer. Everything had to be brought out into the open then maybe he could let go of whatever the hell was bothering him.

  “There’s another reason, isn’t there?”

  “Like what?” Her eyes never wavered from his.

  “Greg.”

  She looked away.

  “You blame me for his death.” He said the one thing that had stood between them for the past five years.

  She bit her lip. “You were his boss, his leader. Why wasn’t someone there to help him? Why wasn’t someone there to save his life?”

  “Greg volunteered to go undercover in the strip clubs to nail Rudy Boyd. A personal bodyguard doesn’t come with undercover work. It’s dangerous. We all know the risks and we gladly take them to get scum like Boyd off the streets.” He took a long breath. “You’re right about one thing, though. Greg’s death is my fault. I should have been on top of his activities, but I didn’t have a clue you were with him. That’s something I’ll never be able to forget.”

  When she didn’t say anything, he stood. “So we’ll agree to stay out of each other’s lives. That shouldn’t be too hard because I’m quitting the force.”

  Her head jerked up. “You’re quitting the force?”

  Daniel hadn’t made his final decision until this very moment. Talking to Sarah, hearing the pain still evident in her voice, he made his choice—one he’d been wrestling with for months.

  “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m burned out and I’ve had my fill of seeing victims like Brooke Wallace. The good guys are losing and there’s nothing I can do about it. I just have to get away.”

  “I hope it’s not because of something I said.”

  “Don’t worry, Sarah. I have a very thick skin.” He glanced toward Brooke’s door. “I hope you’re able to help her.”

  Sarah followed his gaze. “Me, too.”

  His eyes caught hers. “But who’s going to help you?”

  She glanced down at her hands. “You’re doing it again.”

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just part of my nature, but I can see you haven’t dealt with the past.”

  “That doesn’t concern you.” She gripped her hands together.

  “You’re right about that, too. Just remember that Rudy Boyd isn’t worth the pain you’re putting yourself through.”

  “I…”

  “Goodbye, Sarah. Have a good life.” He turned and headed for the emergency room doors.

  Outside, he sucked the frigid January air into his lungs, letting it cool the heated emotions inside him. For the first time in ages he felt good about himself. He wasn’t exactly clear about the future. He might take a cruise or go fishing on the Texas coast. He just wanted to get away from the darker side of life and to find some sunshine. He wanted to laugh, to feel happiness again. All that was out there—he just had to find what was right for him.

  Zipping his bomber jacket, he headed for his car thinking that, at forty, a man shouldn’t have to find himself. He should already know who he was. But all Daniel felt was a discontentment he couldn’t shake. And Sarah Welch had been a big part of that.

  Now he planned to put her out of his mind, out of his future.

  SARAH WATCHED DANIEL leave with mixed feelings. She didn’t want to run into him all the time, but she didn’t want him to quit his job, either. He was a good cop—even she knew that. An uneasiness settled in her stomach as she hoped she’d had nothing to do with his decision. But she felt she had.

  She picked up her purse and slipped the strap over her shoulder. She’d had this strange relationship with Daniel since her involvement with Greg and Boyd.

  Relationship? She wasn’t sure what else to call it. All of a sudden, he was in her life. He was kind, understanding and supportive of the trauma she’d been through—and that’s what irritated her. She obviously blamed him for Greg’s death. That had become clearer as the years had passed. She knew, though, that it hadn’t been Daniel’s fault. She and Greg had lied to him. Daniel had no idea she’d been living in the apartment with Greg, who had gone to great lengths to ensure Daniel wouldn’t find out. Daniel would never have allowed her to be in that situation. She’d wondered several times over the past years why Greg
had. Love. They’d been so in love that nothing else had mattered—not even their safety.

  He’d been her fiancé, yet she couldn’t even conjure up Greg’s face anymore. It was a blur, just the way she wanted the past to be. She’d made so many mistakes.

  At thirty-one she should have been wiser, should have been more attuned to the danger Greg had put her in. But sometimes emotions were hard to control. Like now, at thirty-six, she was beginning to acknowledge that she’d made another mistake in blaming Daniel for Greg’s death. She’d been more responsible than Daniel. She’d been the one to persuade Greg to let her tag along. And Rudy Boyd… Nauseating feelings welled in her stomach at the mere thought of him. Sometimes when she closed her eyes, she could feel his disgusting hands on her body. She fought the image—as she always did.

  She swallowed, admitting something else to herself: Daniel’s kindness irritated her because he shouldn’t be kind to her at all. He should be upset with her for her involvement. Yet he’d never said a word. That was Daniel, though. He was as gentle and caring with Brooke as he’d been with Sarah. If Daniel left, there’d be too many cops like Russ Devers in charge.

  Now what did she do? She didn’t want to talk to him yet she didn’t want him to quit his job, either. That left only one option.

  Daniel Garrett, why can’t you stay out of my life?

  Mr. and Mrs. Wallace came out of the room and Sarah turned her attention to them. Bob Wallace walked off down the hall, a shattered expression on his face, and Lois came up to her.

  “I want to stay with my daughter, but she said for me to go home. I’m not sure what to do.”

  “If she wants you to go home, then that’s probably best,” Sarah told the woman whose eyes were filled with tears.

  “I don’t want her to be alone.” Lois twisted her hands in agitation.

  “I’ll stay until she falls asleep,” Sarah offered.

  “Thank you. That makes me feel better.” Lois glanced toward her husband. “Bob’s having a difficult time. She’s his little girl, his tomboy. She does everything with her father—fishing, riding four-wheelers and the yard work.” Lois wiped at her eyes. “I’m not sure how to help him. I don’t even know how to handle the rage inside myself.”