Vendetta: An Amber Monroe Crime Thriller, #3

Chapter 1

Late Sunday night, her screams broke the silence. It was after one o’clock, and we had gone to bed hours earlier. Now jarred awake, I shot straight up and listened. Jade’s bedroom door flew open, and I saw her run past my room. I tossed back my blankets and followed on her heels. The screams coming from the downstairs bedroom had turned to sobs as we closed in on the lower level of our condo. When we cleared the last step, Jade flipped the switch, and the recessed lights illuminated the basement. Kate’s bedroom was behind the closed door straight ahead.

Jade called out Kate’s name as she turned the knob. When we entered, Jade’s hand hit the wall switch. Sitting upright in bed, Kate was tangled in her blankets, and her knees were pulled in against her chest. Tears filled her eyes, and her sobs caught in her throat. We rushed to her side and held her tight.

Honey, it was just a dream. Breathe in and let it out slowly, Jade said.

I reached for the tissue box and grabbed a handful. You’re safe, Kate, and we’re right here with you. It was a nightmare. It isn’t real.

Kate looked frazzled and confused, as if she had barely survived a horrific attack. She reached for her throat and began to pant. I can’t breathe.

Jade pulled back the blankets that had our friend and housemate in a tangled knot. It took a minute before Kate settled down.

Are you okay? Jade asked.

When Kate began coughing, I went to the bathroom to get a glass of water. I returned to her side and took a seat on the bed. Here you go. This will help.

She nodded and took a deep gulp then handed me the glass. Thanks, Amber. I’m so sorry I woke you guys. I dreamt he was back and strangling me. He had that knife. Kate reached up and rubbed her neck.

The blankets and sheets had you all wrapped up, Jade said. Robert is dead, and there’s no way he can hurt you anymore.

But the dream was so vivid, so real. She wiped her eyes with the tissues then blew her nose. The alarm is set, right?

Jade nodded. I’d never go to bed without it set. We’re all safe, hon, and nobody can get past that alarm system or our guns. We’re good. Do you need some Sleepynight tea?

Would you mind? Kate gave Jade a tiny smile.

Not one bit. I’ll be back in a minute.

We watched as Jade walked out and went up the stairs.

Do you want to talk about it? I pulled back Kate’s curly hair and tucked it behind her left ear. The scars Robert Lynch had left on her neck were visible, and they always made me wince.

Not yet. Maybe after I write everything down and try to make sense of it. I did watch a slasher movie a few nights ago.

Seriously? I thought you knew better.

I couldn’t sleep.

And a slasher film will help with that?

Kate shrugged. She looked up when Jade returned to the bedroom, carrying a cup of tea on a saucer.

Thanks, Jade. You guys should go back to bed. Kate glanced at the clock on the nightstand. We all have to get up in five hours. I’m so sorry I woke you.

Jade waved away her comment. Don’t give it another thought. I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in years. Why start now? Jade leaned forward and kissed the top of Kate’s head. Drink that tea. It’ll help you sleep. She tipped her head toward the door. Come on, Sis. Let’s go upstairs.

Chapter 2

Once the basement lights went off, he rose from the frozen ground and brushed the snow from his winter jacket and pants. There was nothing more to see. The small lower-level windows, wrapped by the window wells, provided just enough space for him to peer in when he was pressed flat against the ground. He saw the three of them sitting together on the bed. From his research and Tony’s descriptions, he knew exactly who they were.

Warren Ricks and Tony Lynch had been close friends. By sitting with Tony in the prison’s lunchroom at mealtime for the last two years, Warren had received plenty of information. He had heard the stories, knew the names, and grown to hate the women Tony wanted eliminated. Now Warren wanted them taken care of as much as Tony did, and he had been itching for his release date.

When that day finally came, Lea, the Lynch matriarch, waited at the prison gate to pick up Warren. She would take over from there. Warren’s role was to follow to the letter the instructions Tony fed him. His main request was for Warren to kill the women in a manner Robert would be pleased with. Warren remembered Tony’s words. Slit their throats and do Bobby proud. He’d do the best he could, but at the end of the day, the women had to die by any means available.

Warren received information about each woman, and the descriptions were engrained in his mind, thanks to Tony. The cash payment promised to him on proof of their deaths would definitely help him as months went by. He was a newly released inmate with no modern skills and no money. Twenty thousand dollars, pooled from Tony’s relatives, would take him a long way if he stayed under the radar and lived frugally until the right people heard that he was back in business. Jade—Robert’s killer—was worth twelve thousand dollars, and Kate was worth eight. Amber, the younger sister, didn’t have a price on her head but would die simply because she could be a witness to the murders.

Watching the women from a distance, Warren would follow their every move then decide what the best execution method would be. Killing was in his blood, and no eight-year prison stint for armed robbery could squelch that desire. The number of murders for hire he had completed had never been discovered, but they were indicated by the dots of prison ink on his knuckles. He was the perfect person to carry out the crime, according to Tony Lynch. Tony had a vendetta against the Monroe bitch who shot Robert. The desire was seared deep into his and Lea’s hearts. Kate Pierce, the woman who’d defied death after having her throat sliced open—twice—needed to be put in the ground once and for all. The younger Monroe sister would be collateral damage.

Warren pulled from his pocket the prepaid cell phone that Lea had provided for him upon his release from prison. He checked the time—it was nearing one thirty. With a thousand-dollar cash advance, he was on his own until the deeds were done. Time was of the essence, and the thousand bucks wouldn’t last long.

He walked to the car and climbed in, his shoulders stiffened by the January chill. The stolen Altima that Tony’s uncle had snagged for him was reliable enough and had gotten him that far. A week’s stay had already been paid for at a twenty-dollar-a-day room attached to the back of a house on the outskirts of North Bend. Lea had found it on the internet and paid her neighbor to book it for her. Warren hoped to complete the task in a week’s time and head south to warmer weather. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he wasn’t a fan of the cold. He wanted to return to his old neighborhood, where he had connections, but first the deeds needed to be done.

Chapter 3

I couldn’t help worrying as I poured the coffee on Monday morning. Kate sat at the table, her chin resting in her open palms, and stared into space. She appeared to be in her own head, and I was sure she was trying to dissect the nightmare from last night. Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot—she looked a mess.

I’m making toaster waffles for breakfast. Want some? I pulled the package of waffles out of the freezer and set the butter and syrup on the table. Kate?

Huh? She looked up at me as if she was holding back tears.

Do you want to eat breakfast with Jade and me?

Okay. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Are there any legal pads or spiral notebooks in the house?

Yeah, they’re in the second desk drawer on the right. The pens are in the center drawer.

Do we have pencils?

I shrugged. Maybe, and they’d be in the same place if we do.

Kate rose from the table and disappeared. I heard an exchange of words in the hallway. Jade must have finished her shower.

Jade rounded the corner and came into the kitchen. Morning, little sister.

I gave her a quick smile. Morning. I’m making toaster waffles.

That sounds good. Jade opened the cabinet to the right of the sink and fished through it until she found the pink mug she was so fond of. She filled it with coffee. Kate looks beat.

I nodded. Those nightmares have to be taking a toll on her. I’ve never actually witnessed her having any before.

Me neither, but they’re no joke. Jade took her place at the table.

Moments later, Kate returned with a legal pad and a pencil. She scooted her chair closer to the table, took a sip of coffee, and began writing.

I raised my brows at Jade then popped two waffles in the toaster.

Kate tapped the pencil against the paper, appearing frustrated. It’s just not right. The man in my dream doesn’t look like Robert Lynch, but he behaved like him.

Jade covered Kate’s hand with her own. The dream could have been a memory of his deeds but with a different character. It doesn’t mean it’s a premonition, Kate.

I added my two cents. You did say you watched a slasher movie a few nights ago. Maybe you combined the movie character with a memory. I placed a plate with two waffles on it in front of her.

She sighed and set down the pencil. You’re probably right. Maybe it was nothing more than a bad dream.

I’m glad we agree on something. Now eat your waffles before they get cold.

Jade tipped her wrist. Crap, I’ve got to go. I heard Milwaukee is getting lake-effect snow. I need to give myself extra time to get to work.

Tell J.T. we said hi. We need to comingle law enforcement agencies again and have another party soon.

Jade slipped on her coat. I’ll make sure to relay your message, Amber. Don’t forget to set the alarm. You’ve become forgetful lately.

Sorry. It slips my mind when I’m running late.

Jade shook her head. That’s why there are two of you. Don’t forget.

I took my seat at the table and placed a pat of butter on each hot waffle. The butter melted and ran down the sides to the plate. I gave the waffles a thick coating of pure maple syrup and dug in. I felt Kate’s stare and looked up. Why are you watching me?

She shrugged. I don’t know. Sometimes these dreams feel like they help solve cases, and other times they feel like curses. I’d like to be as carefree as you and Jade seem.

I smirked. We’re far from carefree. The only people who are carefree are lottery winners. No, I take that back. They get hounded for money from every third, fourth, and fifth cousin out there who never even sent them a Christmas card in the past. We all have our problems, Kate. Don’t think of your ability as a curse. You’re a gifted woman, and sometimes gifts come with conditions.

I know, and I’m sorry I involved you guys with my drama last night.

What are friends for? Speaking of friends, where’s Spaz? He’s usually snuggling up to you and begging for a saucer of milk before we leave.

Kate looked left to right. That is weird. I haven’t seen him either. Maybe he’s downstairs. She bit into the last piece of waffle. I’ll check the basement while I brush my teeth.

I cleared the table, rinsed the plates, and then crossed the living room to the sliders. I turned the wand on the blinds and opened them. The deck, covered in a fresh dusting of snow, had cat prints all over it. I yelled downstairs to Kate. Spaz is somewhere outside. Jade forgot to close the laundry room door behind her when she left, so now I have to find the damn cat before we leave.

The small kitty door alongside the dryer was perfect when Spaz wanted some fresh air. It led to the enclosure we had installed several years back when Spaz got loose and was found nearly dead the next day. Now when he wanted to go outside, the enclosure was perfect for him but only when the gate was closed. I pressed my face against the cold glass and looked to my right. The gate, unlatched and standing open, was wide enough for a cat to slip through.

I mumbled profanities under my breath as I pulled my boots over my feet, put on my heavy parka and gloves, and headed across the deck. At least with the fresh snow, I could follow his tracks. I went into the woods, made a few circles, and then came back toward the condo. Where the hell are you going, Spaz? It appeared that he continued toward the street along the side of the house.

Damn it, where are you? Why don’t cats come running when called, like dogs do? Maybe it’s time to trade your butt in for a dog. At least they do tricks, and they’re normally loyal to their owner, unlike you.

I continued toward the street then stopped abruptly in my tracks.

What the hell is that?

I stared at the second window well and saw a definite shape on the ground, as if a person had been lying there. Looking around, now with my police instincts in high gear, I noticed shoeprints too, coming and going from the street. It was too early for anyone to be outside roaming their yard and accidentally crossing into ours, and we were on a cul-de-sac, anyway. Tromping through our yard wasn’t something our neighbors would do. I looked over my shoulder, and the only tracks behind me were my own. What the hell is going on? The gas and electric meters were near that spot, but I thought the readings were all done by mobile technology these days. I crossed the yard to the neighbor’s house. The snow by their meters hadn’t been disturbed. When I heard Kate yell from the patio doors, I turned.

I just saw Spaz through the front window. He’s on Mr. Spencer’s porch.

Okay, I’ll grab him. How much time before we have to leave?

It’s seven thirty.

I had fifteen minutes before we headed out to work. I’d keep the discovery to myself for now and discuss it with Jade when I had the chance. Since the disturbance in the snow was at the window looking into Kate’s bedroom, I wasn’t about to tell her my findings. I didn’t want to upset her any more than she already was.

Instinctively, I reached into my pocket for my phone so I could take a picture of the area. My pocket was empty. Damn it, no phone. I stomped across the street and scooped up the hissing cat off our neighbor’s porch and took him home. I scratched behind his ears as I carried him. Maybe it’s a good thing you sneaked out after all.

Chapter 4

Warren lowered the binoculars as he watched from a distance and jotted down the make, model, and plate number of the car leaving the driveway. He turned the key in the ignition and shifted into Drive. Then he inched around the corner and followed the Prius from a distance. A half hour earlier, he had watched the older sister, Jade, leave for work. His paperwork showed that she had ended her career at the sheriff’s office two years prior and was now an FBI agent working at the serial crimes satellite office in Glendale, a suburb of Milwaukee.

I’ll take care of the FBI agent later. I have special plans for her.

His internet search hadn’t provided a lot of information on Amber. Internal law enforcement files weren’t available to the public. Everything he had learned was through public records and online newspapers. He knew the psychic and the younger sister worked at the sheriff’s office but under what capacity, he wasn’t sure.

From what Tony had told Warren in prison, the psychic lived downtown in a two-bit apartment above the hardware store. It was in the alley alongside that building that Robert had been gunned down by the woman who was a sergeant at the time—Jade Monroe. Warren had paid that apartment a visit yesterday when he arrived in North Bend and learned she had moved out. The building’s owner gave him Kate’s forwarding address. She had moved in with the Monroe sisters several months earlier.

An easy ten-minute drive lay between the rented room he was holed up in and the sheriff’s office. He followed three car lengths behind them until they reached Schmidt Road. When the Prius turned in to the parking lot, he pulled to the shoulder. Warren watched as the women got out of the parked car and walked to the main entrance. He snapped off a half dozen pictures of them then pulled away.

That downtown café looked inviting. He parked in front of the street-side window and walked into the small, cozy building. He needed a quiet place to contemplate the women’s fate, but he also needed food. He hadn’t eaten since that truck stop lunch yesterday outside Kenosha, Wisconsin.

A twentysomething waitress, wearing a black apron over her jeans and her hair secured with a clip, approached with a coffee carafe in each hand. Coffee, sir?

Yeah, sure.

Regular or decaf?

Regular and a double stack of pancakes and bacon.

Coming right up. She poured coffee into Warren’s cup and gave him a friendly smile. I like your tattoos.

Yeah? He looked at her with a suspicious eyebrow lift as he tried to figure out if she was being sarcastic or sincere. She looked sincere. Thanks, I guess. Warren watched as she returned to the kitchen counter and passed his order slip to the cook. He pulled the folded paper out of his jacket and smoothed it on the table. Trying to separate the psychic and younger sister might prove difficult since they worked and lived together. He’d go for Jade on her own, and if that didn’t work, he might have to resort to plan B.

I may have to take all three of them out at the same time. No loose ends, and nobody would have a heads-up if I do it that way. That may be my only option.

Here’s your breakfast. More coffee?

He nodded.

The waitress placed the plate of pancakes and bacon on the table and poured Warren a second cup. Anything else?

He responded without looking up. Nope, I’m good. Warren folded the paper and slid it back in his pocket then dug into his pancakes. An idea bubbled in his head as he chomped on a slice of bacon. He’d