Blackstone's Heart (Blackout Security Inc. Book 1) Read online

  My fair Kris,

  How's Jerry these days? Oh it broke my heart to hear you were in the building with him, but that is the price you pay for ignoring me. For going to the police and F.B.I.

  Now, who are these new players my dear? Hmmm?

  You went to Blackout. Shame on you darling. Now you have to pay. I don't like hurting you but you refuse to obey me and continue to ignore me. That cannot go unpunished.

  "My god, he is crazy." Krista gasped.

  "Shit. What's this freak planning now?" Cain hissed.

  “How did he know that dad came here? Dad, you did have your office swept for surveillance right?” Krista asked.

  “Actually, me and Lance did that right after we left your place when we upgraded your security. His office was clean.” Tony spoke up. “Sir, did you mention to anyone that you were coming to see us? Or tell anyone about the letters you were getting?”

  Nick frowned. “No. The only person besides myself that knew about the letters was my wife. Oh, and Ethan’s dad. It was his idea to come here.”

  Ethan lifted a brow at that. “Wait, my dad told you to come here?”

  “Yes. He told me to come here the day I got that first letter, well he and Debbie told me, but I didn’t. I haven’t even told Jimmy or Cain about them. Oh I went to them as well as Austin PD about getting added security, but not WHY I wanted it.” Nick explained.

  Keeping calm, Krista turned her attention to the package as Jimmy slipped the letter into an evidence bag. She pulled out her pocket knife and carefully cut one side of the wrapping. Once the wrapping was off and passed on to Cain, she stared at the plain white square box and fighting back her urge to throw up.

  “Fuck that reeks!” Tony gaged, pulling his t-shirt up over his mouth and nose.

  “It smells like rotting meat.” Lance stated as his eyes made contact with Krista’s for a brief second.

  Though it was only a second, Krista was sucked into those piercing green eyes of Lance Archer. Like he was trying to tell her something, but she wasn’t reading the message right. She looked away first, and looked down at the box. More strange fluid had leaked out and both bottom corners were soaked through. She also found that her hands were shaking again. She nearly jumped when Ethan moved to her side and laid a hand on her shoulder.

  "You want me to open it?" Ethan offered.

  "No. No, I got this." Krista breathed, squaring her shoulders and forcing her hands to stop shaking.

  Krista placed her knife on the table and closed her hands into fists. closing her eyes, counting to ten, she took a slow breath in and released. When she opened them again, her hands were steady as a surgeon’s. She cut open the box and looked inside. She frowned as she pulled out a smaller box. Licking her lips, she opened the smaller box, which smelled worse than the first and was even more soaked through. She was confused at what she was looking at. She looked up when Lanced moved to her other side.

  "Holy fuck! What is that" Jimmy cried from behind Krista.

  Ethan took Krista’s knife and cut away the sides of the smaller box to reveal what was inside. It was Cain who was able to speak first. “That looks like some weird ass Frankenstein organ or something.”

  “It is an organ.” Lance said. “But it’s covered in so much stuff I can’t tell you if it’s human or not. It looks like it was put in jello or something.” Lance turned and hurried from the room and returned with a field medical kit. For several minutes he wiped the greenish gelatinous goo from the organ. Krista spotted it a second after Lance did. The four chambers. “Fuck. This is a human heart, Ethan.”

  Just then, Ethan's phone rang. "Blackstone." Krista turned her eyes on him. "Fuck. When?" Krista gripped his arm, but he kept talking. “You sure it’s him? Okay, how long? Wait, his WHAT was missing? Oh shit. Wilson, you better get over here right now.”

  “What is it Ethan?” Krista demanded, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of her stomach.

  Ethan opened his mouth, yet couldn’t get the words out. He closed his eyes, took a deep settling breath and tried again. “Krista, Wilson said that…fuck, there’s no easy way to say this. Jerry was murdered this morning.”

  Krista froze. Her whole world just froze. “W…what?”

  “I’m so sorry baby. The morning nurse came in to take his vitals and found him in bed.” Ethan said as he moved to her and pulled her into his arms.

  “M…murdered? But…but how?” She stuttered.

  Ethan glanced over her shoulder at his men. He looked from the heart on the table then back at them. He saw the instant they made the connection. “You don’t need to know…”

  “Don’t.” Krista snapped and backed out of his arms. As she did, she bumped into the table. For the second time in less than five minutes her world tilted on its axis. One part of Ethan’s conversation came to the forefront of her mind, Wait, his WHAT was missing! “No. No.”

  Ethan took a step toward her. “Krista…”

  “Th…that’s Jerry’s…heart isn’t it?” She gasped.

  Ethan sighed. “I…it could be. Wilson said that Jerry’s heart was missing.

  “Oh god. Oh god. I’m gonna…”

  Ethan knowing what was about to happen, managed to grab the small trash can near his board and got it under her head just as Krista became violently ill. He felt helpless. His woman was hurting and he had no idea how to begin helping her. Ethan held her hair back and rubbed her back while whispering soothingly to her. After a few moments, she sat back on her heels

  "Jerry's parents, they're at his...condo. Have they been told? Are they alright?" Krista gasped out.

  "Wilson has notified them. That's why he didn't call us right away. He had to notify next of kin. They are physically fine. He said both are in a rough shape." Ethan sighed. “They are still at the condo and Wilson has two men posted outside the building just in case, but he said Jerry’s mother was almost inconsolable.”

  Krista couldn't take it anymore. Surging unsteadily to her feet she grabbed the chair she had been sitting in and with a scream of rage and pain hurled the thing across the room. Her vision tunneled as she screamed and cried, reaching for another chair. She was stopped when twin bands of hard muscle banded around her. She struggled to get free, to pound the hell out of something, but the arms wouldn't let her go.

  "Sshh. It's okay Krista. I've got you. It's okay baby." Ethan whispered into her ear.

  "He. Killed. Jerry." She sobbed. "I. Want him. Dead."

  All Ethan could do was hold her as she cried. He looked up and met the eyes of Nick. The older man's eyes burned with rage. One by one Ethan looked at the other men in the room. Every single one of them looked ready to paint the streets of Austin red with Krista's stalker's blood. He looked down when he felt Krista go limp in his arms.

  Nick walked over and knelt beside them. Ethan looked at the older man. “Take her home Nick. I will have four of my guys from one of my other teams stay there with you, Krista and Debbie until after I meet with Wilson.”

  Nick started to argue, then he saw the look in Ethan’s eyes. It was a look that gave no room for argument. “Alright son. After you meet with Wilson, come to the house as soon as you can. You can fill me in before you take Krista home.”

  Ethan said nothing. Lance walked over silently and knelt. “Boss, I volunteer to go with Councilor Jameson and Krista. I will stay there until you relieve me.”

  This shocked Ethan to his core. Lance had never shown any kind of attachment to any previous client. Yet here he was, volunteering to stay with Krista and her parents. “Thank you Hawk.”

  With a nod, Lance gathered Krista out of Ethan’s arms and then he and Nick left the room. Not a full second after the door closed, Ethan rose to his full height, stomped to the nearest wall and drove his fist right into it, punching through the drywall.

  “I want this fucker.” He said quietly.

  “Boss, we’ll get him.” Gage replied as he and the other Blackout members gathered around Ethan.

  �
��Yes we will get him. And when we do, he’s mine. I want to watch the life ebb out of his worthless eyes as I wrap my hands around his throat.” Ethan growled, his whole body shaking with the rage that he was feeling.

  “I’ll hold this mother fucker down for you.” Cain stated.

  “Cain gets to hold down the right side and I’ll take the left.” Jimmy added.

  Chapter 13

  Wilson and Ingram walked into the conference room at Blackout. Wilson found Ethan pacing. He moved to the younger man. “Ethan.”

  Ethan looked up. “What the hell happened Wilson? This asshole sets off a bomb in Jerry’s office and then a week later kills him! How in the ever loving hell did he get into a hospital unseen?”

  Wilson sighed heavily. “He got in the same way he got into Mr. Summerland’s office building. He kept his head down. He was dressed in scrubs and a doctor’s coat. It looks like he may have caught Mr. Summerland asleep. I won’t know for sure until the tox reports come back, but I bet he drugged Mr. Summerland.”

  “So this fucker dresses up and just walked right in. No one is going to question or stop a doctor walking into a patient’s room.” Tony said.

  “Exactly.” Ingram nodded. “What is that smell?”

  “Ms. James received a letter and a package from this guy. I went with her to check the P.O. Box and we found this.” Grant replied pointing at the table.

  Wilson walked over and cursed when he saw the heart. “Fuck me. And she got this only this morning?”

  Grant nodded. “We got there about nine fifteen or so. As we were leaving he was waiting and shot at us. I was grazed, but Ms. James got me out of there and we came here. The postmark is San Antonio and dated yesterday. You said Jerry Summerland was killed this morning right?”

  “The approximate T.O.D, is about six this morning. That’s right around shift change.” Ingram answered.

  Ethan walked over then. “There’s no way this box was mailed to Kris yesterday if it contained Jerry’s heart. He had to have hand delivered the box to her P.O. Box this morning AFTER he killed Jerry.”

  “I agree with you Ethan. A post mark can be forged if someone has the right equipment. I’m betting this guy does. Where is Ms. James now?” Wilson stated.

  “Lance took her somewhere safe. I’ll be checking up on her after we’re done. I know you will need to confirm through DNA, but I just know that’s Jerry Summerland’s heart.” Ethan answered, his voice hard as steel.

  “Ingram, bag it up and get it to the lab asap.” Wilson ordered, then faced Ethan again. “You said there was a letter?”

  Jimmy handed him the bagged letter. “The handwriting and content seem to be a visible match to the previous letters. We’ll have our lab geeks confirm that. Since this letter is also now part of your crime scene, I’ll have all of our findings forward to your lab as well as you.”

  “Appreciate that Agent Fortner. Will you guys be willing to join up? Sharing the pervious evidence you guys have collected? There could be something there that could help us with Mr. Summerland’s murder.” Wilson inquired.

  “I think we can do that.” Cain agreed.

  ***

  Two hours later, Ethan pulled up in front of Nick and Debbie’s house. He sat in the cab of his truck for a moment, with his eyes closed and head back against the headrest. He was still feeling his rage just under the surface, but he needed to be calm when he walked in there. Feeling as calm as he could be, he climbed out of the truck and headed for the house. He was met at the door by Nick.

  “What do you know?” Nick asked.

  “Let’s go inside, I’ll tell you and Lance together.” Ethan answered, his voice clipped. Nick led him inside. They found Lance in the living room. The three sat down and Ethan jumped right in. “Wilson said this guy was dressed as a doctor and walked right in there. The postmark on the letter and package says San Antonio. Both me and Wilson believe that this guy is forging the postmarks.”

  Lance growled low in his throat. “That means this guy could very well be right here in Austin and a hell of a lot closer than we think.”

  “That’s right.” Ethan agreed.

  Nick looked deep in thought. For several moments he sat there before he finally spoke. “This complicates things gentlemen. Debbie is on her way to get Jerry’s parents, Tessa and Carl, and bringing them here. It will be a few days before Jerry’s body will be released. I have already notified Detective Wilson and he will call me once they release Jerry.”

  “How’s Krista?” Ethan asked.

  Surprisingly it was Lance who answered. “She’s upstairs in her old room. When I started to leave, Christ boss, she wouldn’t let me. When she finally drifted off again I came down here. She’s trying to stay strong, but she’s devastated.”

  Ethan nodded. Without a word he walked out of the room and headed upstairs. He wanted Krista. Quietly he slipped into her childhood bedroom and walked up to the side of the bed. He studied the woman that he knew without a shred of doubt he loved. Hell, he had always loved her if he were honest with himself. He sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her cheek.

  “Ethan.” Krista whimpered.

  “I’m here baby. Come on, let’s take you home.” He said.

  Ethan stood, squatted down and gathered Krista into his arms. Holding her securely and tightly to him, He found Lance waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. Without a word, Lance took the lead and started walking for the door. Lance climbed into the cab and Ethan placed Krista into his arms.

  Neither man spoke as Ethan drove a few streets away to Krista’s house. Ethan pulled into the drive and moved around the hood. He retook Krista into his arms and led the way into the house. He vaguely heard Lance resetting the alarm as he headed upstairs. He gently laid her in the bed and tucked the sheets securely around her. Sighing, he turned away and walked back downstairs.

  “I’ll call one of the guys to come get you.” Ethan said.

  “No boss. I’m staying right here. If you’re right, this mother fucker is here in Austin. He’s been watching Krista and her father for weeks now. That means he knows where she lives.” Lance argued.

  “What are you saying Lance?”

  “This isn’t just a stalker turned killer. He’s using psychology to fuck with her. He knows enough about her to know that killing Jerry will devastate her.”

  “You think he could come here?”

  Lance nodded. “He could. For the rest of the day and tonight I will stay right here with you and Krista. If he does try something, I will cover you while you get her out. Do I think he will? More than likely not now. But it could be a possibility.”

  Ethan ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, but knew his guy was right. “Alright. Alright, call up Gage and let him know what the situation is. Tell him if anything happens or he gets any information from either the Feds or PD, to call me immediately.”

  “Yes sir.” Lance replied and walked into the kitchen.

  Suddenly feeling exhausted, Ethan went back upstairs and into the bedroom. He removed his boots and slipped under the covers with Krista. As if she sensed him, she turned onto her side and snuggled into him. Sighing, Ethan held her close and rested his head atop of hers.

  “Don’t worry Krista, I’ll find him and I’ll take care of this. I won’t let him get to you. I swear to you.” He whispered.

  ***

  Krista groggily walked into the kitchen. The tempting smells wafting upstairs had stirred her. She nearly screamed when she saw the man standing in front of her stove. “Jesus Lance, you scared the hell out of me.”

  “I’m sorry. Where’s Ethan?” Lance replied as he faced her.

  “He’s getting a shower.” She said moving to the coffee pot and poured a cup. “I thought it was just me and him here.”

  “I volunteered to stay here tonight.” He stated, as he returned to whatever he was stirring on the stove top.

  “Why?” She asked as she slipped onto one of the barstools at the kitchen island.
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  Lance gave the pot’s contents one more quick stir before placing a lid on it. He then moved so that he was standing across from her. “Just in case this fucker makes another move.”

  “You think he would so soon after…after he killed Jerry?”

  “It’s a possibility. Look, you’ve shown to me that you’re not just some pampered princess. This morning you got my boy Grant out of a hairy situation and have shown that you’re tougher than you look.”

  “Thanks, I think.”