06

« She just went all bat shit crazy, Boss. » Darrien winced as I glared at him. « Picked up the water bottle you tossed her and jammed the capped end into my eye. »

« Well you would go bat shit crazy too if you were in my shoes, you asshole, » Lea spat out as she struggled in Darrell’s arms.

I calmly walked over to the cabinet above Tony’s head and pulled out a small bottle and syringe. « How much do you think she weighs ? » I asked Darrell as Lea’s eyes went wide.

« You wouldn’t, » she whispered, fear lacing her eyes as she watched me draw the clear liquid from the vial.

« I’d say no more than one fifty, Boss. »

I nodded and made a quick calculation and finished drawing the liquid into the syringe. Lea went still in Darrell’s arms as I walked closer to her. I stopped and watched as a tear roll down her paled cheek.

« Please, » she whispered as she shook her head and raised her glistening eyes to meet my curious ones. « I, I’ll, » she gasped as she started to shudder and pressed back into Darrell’s chest.

« You’ll what, Lea ? » I asked firmly.

« I’ll behave. » Her heartbroken whisper reminded me of a child who had been beaten into submission.

I handed the syringe to Tony and nodded at Darrell. He dropped his arms and took a step back from Lea. As I stepped closer to the fiery young woman, she cringed back into Darrell’s chest. « I’ll behave, » she whispered once more as more tears fell down her face.

« What’s wrong with her, Boss ? » Darrien asked quietly from behind me.

I shook my head and held my hands out for Lea to inspect, « It’s gone, Lea. »

The look of terror in Lea’s eyes as she held my gaze caused my chest to tighten. As I stepped toward her, she turned and fled to the back cabin.

« What the hell ? » Tony looked at the syringe in his hand. « All over a needle ? »

« Do you have her wallet ? » I asked as I looked toward the back cabin.

« Yea, I took it from the car before I torched it. »

« Do a full back ground check ; family, friends, bank accounts, hospital visits, news articles, court records, etc. I want a full work up and I want it A.S.A.P. There is a reason why she reacted the way she did and I want to know why. Understand ? »

« Yes, Boss. » Tony pulled his laptop and a wallet from his computer bag.

I turned and walked down the short hallway to the cabin and knocked on the closed door. I hadn’t expected an answer and after a few seconds of silence, I pushed the door open. Lea was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands by her sides. I watched as she curled and uncurled her hands into the covers and took slow deep breaths.

« Lea. » I spoke softly as I walked into the room.

« Why didn’t you just pull the trigger ? » Lea’s quiet voice quivered as she spoke.

As I knelt in front of her, I reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, but stopped as she drew her legs up and pushed herself to the center of the bed. I sighed out in frustration and stood. « Honestly, » I looked Lea over, « I don’t know. It would have been a lot simpler if I had. »

I walked out the door and pulled it closed as Lea leaned back against the headboard and let out a deep sigh.

« Boss, you need to see this. » Tony waved me over to his workstation and pressed play on his laptop.

« It is alleged that Lea Miller, who was seventeen at the time, was given a paralytic and made to watch as her fifteen year old sister, Cecily Miller, was beaten and strangled to death by David Kent. It is reported that Ms. Miller was told that she was being made to watch the beating and strangulation of her sister for what Mr. Kent referred to as Ms. Miller’s « punishment for misbehaving », which KQRT has learned was her refusal to engage in sexual activity with Mr. Kent.

Ms. Miller was able to escape the house where she was being held when Mr. Kent left Ms. Miller alone while he buried the body of Cecily Miller in the shallow grave where she was found two years ago.

KQRT has also learned that the Miller family had filed a restraining order against Mr. Kent before the kidnapping of the two girls for stalking and harassment after he had been dismissed from his position from Miller’s Steel Works and Design, a successful custom iron fabrication corporation, for threats he made against the two girls. »

« Miller ? » I asked as I clenched my fist and tuned out the rest of the archived news report. I was sickened. Even in my line of work, I didn’t allow for children to be touched in that manner.

« From what I can gather, when she left Rhode Island, Lea changed her last name to Mason. » Tony stopped the video and closed his laptop.

« Why did she leave ? » Darrell asked as he sat back in the leather recliner, his jaw clenched as he nodded at the laptop.

« Her parents cater to some very influential clients and enjoy being in the limelight and all that has to offer. From what I can find, during and after the trial, the focus shifted from them and their company, to Lea and what happened, » Tony explained as he packed away the computer and Lea’s wallet.

« Let me guess, » Darrell hissed, « they felt that all the negative publicity was hurting their lifestyle ? »

Tony nodded, « They pushed her away and chose fame and fortune over their own daughter. »

I was enraged.

Why I felt such strong emotions was still foreign to me. « Where is the son-of-a-bitch ? »

Tony smirked knowingly, « I thought you would ask that, Boss. He is being held at Rhode Island’s Department of Corrections. »

« Deal with him. » I ground out the order and walked to the cockpit.

Tony grinned and nodded, « Yes, Sir. »

Marcus looked up as I opened the door, « We land in five Boss. »

I nodded and turned toward the back cabin. I knocked and pushed the door open, « Lea ? »

I walked to the bed and sat down next to Lea’s curled up body and reached over to caress her cheek. « Lea, » I stated softly but firmly.

Her eyes flew open and brought her hand up, knocking my hand from her face, « Don’t freaking touch me. » She scrambled to the far side of the bed and drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as her eyes followed my every move.

« We will be arriving at our destination in a couple of minutes. I need you to come to the cabin so you can be secured for the landing. »

« I’m fine right where I’m at, thank you very much. »

« Dammit, Lea. Would you just do as I ask ? » It would have been so much simpler if I had but that bullet in her.

« Why ? You murdered a man and kidnapped me. Why should I just do as you ask ? » Her voice was full of venom as she spoke and I felt my chest tighten.

This is what you get for violating two of your own rules, Carter. Never leave a witness alive, and never, ever feel.

« It’s what I do Lea. » My voice was edged with ice as I narrowed my eyes at the blond beauty. « Now, get your ass to the cabin so you can be secured when we land, or, I can damn sure give you a matching lump on your head. Understand ? »

Lea nodded as she slowly stood and hugged the far wall of the room as she made her way to the door. She kept her eyes on me as she backed out and pressed her back to the hall wall and walked sideways to the main cabin.

My body went cold as I realized what she was doing.

Never turn your back on your enemy.

Lea thought I was her enemy. I guess in a way I was, and I understood that she had a good reason for her actions, but watching her slide down the wall, away from me, her eyes full of terror, that didn’t set well with me.

It didn’t set well with me at all.

« One minute to landing, Boss. » Marcus’ announcement over the intercom pulled me from my thoughts.

As I entered the main cabin, I narrowed my eyes on Darrell, who was knelt in front of Lea, securing her to her seat. He put his hands in the air as he finished and backed to his seat as his eyes met mine. I took the seat next to Lea and didn’t miss the fact that she shrunk back from me.

I closed my eyes and drew in a slow breath. Never, ever feel, Carter.

It was too late.

This girl had gotten to me. I knew it and my men knew it.