C. Paradee - Deep Cover

Shelby's brow furrowed. "I don't know. Part of me insists there is no way he would cross the line from abuse to murder. Rationally, I know men like him do it all the time. But it usually takes something to trigger the escalation. I haven't done anything to him."

Kris mulled that over. "Does he know about the agreement you made with your mother? About him not moving in until she talks to Kim?"

The analyst's face paled. "I never thought of that. If she changes her mind about letting him move back in, I could be in trouble."

"I think you already might be." The words hung like a black cloud in the small room.

SHELBY LOOKED OUT the window as Kris drove through the small trailer park. Most of the dwellings were singlewide structures in various states of disrepair. Shutters hung haphazardly, and the few awnings still existing were rusty and dented. Dilapidated cars sat up on blocks, their tires long since removed, adding to the sense of apathy the residents seemed to exhibit toward their homes. Litter fluttered across the ground, its movement determined by the gentle breeze, and a couple of resident cats picked at the sparse offerings in the uncovered garbage cans.

Kris commented dryly. "Not exactly a trailer park I would want to live in."

"Tell me about it. This place should be condemned. No wonder he wants to move back in with Mom so badly." Trying to ignore her growing uneasiness, Shelby pointed off to the left. "There's his car."

Glancing in the direction that Shelby had indicated, Kris pulled to the side of the road in front of a small, dingy white trailer, and turned off the ignition. The operative half turned in her seat. "I'm going in with you."

Surprised at the change of plans, Shelby said, "I thought we agreed that you'd wait outside."

The operative wanted to assess Jonathan and assure herself that she wasn't letting Shelby walk into a lion's den. "We did. But I want to get a feel for him."

Shelby thought it over for a moment, actually happy that her partner was going to accompany her at the onset. "Okay, but then I need to talk to him alone. He won't give anything away in front of you."

Kris nodded her agreement, then, sensing Shelby's discomfort, reached over and squeezed her hand. "Fine. But I'll be waiting right outside and if I even hear him raise his voice, I'm coming in."

Shelby smiled and gave Kris' hand an answering squeeze, resenting the tendril of fear she felt at the prospect of facing her stepfather. "Well, it's now or never."

Jonathan tried to ignore the insistent knocking, until it finally filtered through his beer-induced sleep. Dragging himself up to a sitting position on the couch, he shook the cobwebs from his mind. He'd been furious when the cops had rousted him from bed that morning, asking him to provide proof of his whereabouts the previous evening, and when they'd departed, he'd sought solace in a six-pack of Budweiser.

He stalked angrily to the door, prepared to threaten the officers with harassment charges, knowing they had absolutely no evidence to tie him to the shooting. Totally oblivious to his appearance, Jonathan pulled open the door, his glare turning to a look of surprise at the sight of his stepdaughter and her bodyguard.

Shelby looked at the stubble covering Jonathan's face and the red-rimmed eyes squinting against the sunlight before taking in the grayish T-shirt and boxer shorts he was wearing. She suddenly wondered why she'd never been able to fully escape from her childhood fear of this pathetic man. The last time she'd seen him was in the courtroom. He'd been in complete control then, particularly when he'd uttered his threat against her, making certain he wasn't overheard. Now she was seeing the unvarnished version, and it finally sank in just how weak he was without anyone to bully or abuse.

The analyst had no intention of letting her guard down, knowing her stepfather was still very dangerous, especially since his plans to move in with Lisa were being threatened. However, Shelby's lingering fear faded as she looked at him objectively, and she found herself feeling a mix of contempt and revulsion.

Shelby glanced quickly at Kris, but was unable to read any expression on her enigmatic companion's face. Keeping her voice neutral, she asked, "Aren't you going to invite us in?"

Jonathan swallowed uneasily at the unforeseen visit from his stepdaughter and began backing out of the doorway. "Yeah, come on in. I'll be right back."

Kris tensed, watching the door down the narrow hallway through which Jonathan had disappeared. Her peripheral vision scanned the interior of the trailer, and she was disgusted by the rank smell of garbage left sitting too long. Beer cans squashed to a fraction of their size lay scattered on the floor around the couch and end table. Some guests on the Jerry Springer show were screaming their hatred for each other from a small television set, and she smiled her appreciation when her partner turned it off.

Her eyes landed on the barrel of a rifle, barely visible in a corner behind the entry door. She moved toward it, her eyes still trained on the hallway, and spared it a quick glance. Kris quickly determined it was a 20-gauge shotgun and immediately eliminated it as the weapon used in either shooting.

Kris could see Shelby still standing in the middle of the living room, shaking her head with a look of disgust on her face. That pretty much mirrored her own thoughts.

Shelby spoke quietly, not wanting her voice to carry beyond the room. "He never used to be like this."

Drolly, Kris commented, "He never had to clean up after himself before. He thrives on manipulation and control. Without anyone to bully, he's lost. Power is the whole focus of his life."

Jonathan reappeared a few moments later, clean-shaven and wearing jeans. He smiled with practiced ease. "Sorry for the mess. It's been a rough day." Looking at the large bandage on Shelby's arm, he added, "I'm glad you're okay. You really should get a safer job."

Shelby rolled her eyes at Jonathan's feigned concern and glanced at her tall companion.

Kris nodded imperceptibly. "I'll be waiting outside." She stared at Jonathan, delivering an unspoken warning, and smiling inwardly at the flicker of apprehension appearing in his pale blue eyes.

When the tall woman left, Jonathan crossed his arms, his smile disappearing. "I'm surprised you sent your bodyguard outside. Aren't you afraid of me?" His voice took on a derisive tone. "You must be, since you sicced the cops on me." He sighed in mock injury. "You never give up, do you?"

Shelby shook her head incredulously. "I never give up? You're the one that keeps pressuring Mom to take you back. You might have her fooled, but you can't fool me."

"It's not an act. I love your mother."

"You love to manipulate and bully her." Shelby gazed deeply into her stepfather's eyes. "It's only me and you now – no witnesses. So how about telling the truth? Did you shoot at me last night?"

"No, I didn't." Jonathan grinned malevolently, deciding to have a little fun since there were no witnesses. "It's too bad that guy missed, though. It would've been satisfying to have witnessed your death."

Shelby was chilled by the words, but refused to show any fear. And he had piqued her curiosity. "You saw the guy that did it?"

Jonathan assumed the intimidating stature he had wielded successfully against Shelby as a child and grinned cruelly. Enunciating each word, he spoke slowly and clearly. "Yeah. Seems I'm not the only one who would like you permanently gone. Great minds think alike."

Refusing to allow her stepfather control of the conversation, Shelby calmly asked, "What did the guy look like?"

Jonathan smiled smugly. "You really think I'm going to tell you? Maybe he'll be luckier next time."