Karen Rose - I’m Watching You

Kristen felt the sting of tears. „Yes.“

„This is where the godparents are recognized,“ he whispered. „Annie is godmother and Ruth’s cousin Franklin is godfather.“

Abe watched as Annie and Franklin took their places. He’d been the first choice as godfather for Jeannette, who was now five, but he’d just gone undercover and couldn’t take full responsibility for his vows. Reagans took their vows seriously, after all. Aidan got to be Jeannette’s godfather and Abe missed out on the joy of watching her grow from infancy to the happy child she was today.

He and Debra had chosen Ruth and Sean as their son’s godparents. Of course they’d never gone through the ceremony. Perhaps they could be called on when he and Kristen christened their first child. Warmed within, he took her hand, squeezed it lovingly.

She looked up at him with a smile that didn’t come close to reaching her wet eyes. She’d been through so much this week. It was hard to know what lurked in the shadows behind her brittle smile. So much pain. He thought of the little girl, Savannah. Thought of the pain Kristen must feel every year when a new photograph arrived in the mail. He knew it. It was the same pain he felt every year when his son’s birthday came and went without celebration. He thought of the night before, how she’d told him she loved him. How natural it had been to love her. He looked down at her profile, felt his body stir. He’d come inside her last night with no barriers between them. She’d been so sure they were safe, that it was the wrong time. He smiled. He was Catholic after all. Half the people he knew got their start during the „safe“ time of the month. Maybe she’d be wrong, too.

He slid his arm around her shoulders, pulled her close. And imagined the day they would stand next to the priest and the baby he held would have tiny red curls and big green eyes. His life had finally begun again. He felt reborn and Kristen was the reason.

Saturday, February 28,

12:00 p.m.

Drake slid into the pew next to Jacob and Elaine. Elaine sat numb, stoned out of her mind. Jacob held her hand and shouldered the grief for them both as he stared at the coffin. Perhaps the fact that a portion of his vengeance was complete would be a balm.

„It’s done, Jacob,“ he murmured.

Jacob didn’t move a muscle, just sat staring at the coffin. „Good.“

Saturday, February 28,

12:15 p.m.

„Nice party, Abe,“ Mia said, walking up to him with a cup of punch in her hand. „Would be nicer if the punch were fortified, but it’s still nice.“

„It’s a christening, Mia,“ Abe said with a smile.

„Hey, everybody’s got to learn to party sometime.“ She looked around the church hall, her eyes sharp. „I think you’ve got enough coverage. I just got a call from Miss Keene, the hat lady. She found her high school annuals, and they have pictures of Robert Barnett.“

Abe’s pulse leaped. „Maybe we can finally figure out what ties Paul Worth, Robert Barnett, and those bullets to Leah Broderick. Do you want me to come?“

„Nah, you’ve got family stuff. I can handle Miss Keene. She likes me, you know.“

Abe gave her a steady look. „Lots of people do.“

Mia looked away. „Ray would have liked you, Abe. I’ll bring the yearbooks back here.“

Abe stared after her as she walked away, knowing approval from her former partner was one of the highest forms of praise he could ever expect. Then his own cell phone trilled, and he let the moment go. „Reagan.“ He listened, every nerve ending suddenly buzzing. „We’ll be there as soon as we can.“

He looked around and found Kristen talking with Aidan.

He made a beeline and watched her expression change as she read the urgency in his face.

„What now?“ she asked, her tone low.

„You got another envelope. Aidan, can you tell Sean and Ruth how sorry we are? Let’s get our coats and go.“

Saturday, February 28,

12:50 p.m.

Kristen stood on her front porch, frowning at the envelope. „It’s not a box. He always leaves a box.“

A car pulled up behind the cruiser and Jack got out. „It’s not a box,“ he said.

„We know, Jack,“ Abe said. „Let’s open it and find out why.“

„I hope this is fast,“ Jack muttered, waving to his car where Julia sat waiting. In the back was a small boy in a car seat. Jack blushed. „We’re going to the circus.“

Kristen’s smile was weak, but sincere. „I’m glad, Jack. Let’s get this over with so you don’t disappoint him.“

Jack stopped abruptly at the sight of her gutted kitchen. „Did you do this?“

„Only part of it. I had some help.“

Jack spread white paper on her table. „Let’s see now.“ He shook the envelope and two pieces of paper slid out. He handed the letter to Kristen and unfolded the other sheet.

„Oh, God,“ Kristen gasped. She held her hand over her mouth and looked sick.

Abe looked down at the unfolded paper and it was as if he’d taken a sledgehammer to the head. It was a political poster. Geoffrey Kaplan for Kansas it blazed, and below was a picture of a bland, balding man.

He was looking at Kristen’s rapist. Dear God .

„This is him?“ he asked and she nodded, her hand still clamped over her mouth. „How did he know?“ Abe demanded. „Dammit, Kristen, how did he know this?“

She sank into her chair, horrified. „I don’t know.“ She looked over her shoulder at the window. „Was he listening?“

Jack squatted down to look up into Kristen’s face. „Who is he?“

Her eyes flew to Abe’s, silently beseeching.

„Think, Jack,“ Abe said quietly. „Think about what Kristen said to the Erickson girl on the phone yesterday morning.“

Jack paled. „No.“

Kristen’s hands were shaking. „I only told you, Abe. The only time I’ve ever talked about him was sitting here in this kitchen with you on Thursday night. Either he was listening at the window or he’s bugged this room.“

Jack looked around the room, every wall picked clean. „The only place to hide it is under the table. Help me, Abe.“ Together they flipped the table and Jack searched. „Nothing here that I can see. Wait.“ He was gone for just a moment „Somebody was out there at some point. The thaw started Thursday morning, so I could believe he was out there Thursday night. You’ve also had something going on by that shed out there.“

„I can answer that.“ Mclntyre came in from outside. „There was a small disturbance in the backyard and I saw smoke. When I went to investigate, I found a smoke bomb. I ran back around to the front porch and found the envelope.“

„Diversion,“ Abe muttered. „When was this?“

„Two minutes before I called you,“ Mclntyre said. „I called a unit to sweep the neighborhood, looking for a white van, but they haven’t found anything yet.“

„Read the letter, Kristen,“ Abe said.

„I can’t.“ She was shaking like a leaf.

Abe took the letter. It was handwritten on a plain sheet of white paper in a flowing hand. „ ‘My dearest Kristen. I can’t tell you how sorry I am to have caused you and your friends and family so much pain. My intention was only to make you feel safe and vindicated. I will not send you any more letters, but I wanted you to have this last ultimate retribution. I have avenged you, my dear. The man who stole your innocence and youth will never harm anyone again. I remain as always, Your Humble Servant’“

Kristen’s face was stunned. „And the P.S.?“

„‘Good-bye.’“

Saturday, February 28,

1:00 p.m.

He sat on the basement step, staring at the three men he’d bound to tables. All three stared back, eyes glassy with shock and pain.