Panic Room Read online

  (FADE IN:)

  INT. – CONGRESSMAN BARNES’S OFFICE – NIGHT

  “You know I’ve only ever had your best interests at heart. All of our best interests.” He led his companion in to his office, closing the door softly behind him. His words were met with silence, though he was hardly surprised. This would take delicacy and nerve. Maybe more nerve than he had. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to stop.

  He’d seen far too much, knew too much, to allow the lies to continue.

  He left his companion standing silently, watching, as he went to the panic room door and slid aside the wooden panel cleverly concealed in the wall of the same material. A few soft beeps as he tapped out his code and the door slipped open with a whisper, exposing the small room within.

  “It’s time,” he said, feeling excitement rise inside him, smothering his trepidation. “We’re on the cusp, on the edge of history. The world and posterity will remember us for what we’re about to do.” His chest swelled, pride taking over. “They might not thank us at first, but we will persevere and when the dust has settled, we will be stronger for it.” His favorite clichés fit perfectly here. The faint, blinking light of the safe’s keypad lulled him. The contents within would set him free.

  Set them all free.

  He didn’t see the heavy object coming down on the back of his skull, had no idea between the moment of life and death he was in danger. In fact, he expired without a hint of pain, body shutting down the instant the sharp, weighted edge cracked open his skull and excised a path through his brain, his body sparing him the agony of death.

  He folded gracefully to the floor of the small room, blood pooling from the wound, spreading out around his still smiling face.

  He’d made history, all right.

  ***

  Episode Eleven: Panic Room

  (Smashwords Edition)

  Copyright 2014 by Patti Larsen

  Purely Paranormal Press

  www.purelyparanormalpress.com

  Find out more about Patti Larsen at http://www.pattilarsen.com/

  Sign up for new releases http://smarturl.it/PattiLarsenEmail

  ***

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Director Annetta Ribken www.wordwebbing.com

  Production Designer Valerie Bellamy www.dog-earbookdesign.com

  Editor Jessica Bufkin

  Producer Anne Chaconas www.badassmktg.com

  Series Created and Written by Patti Larsen

  ***

  INT. – CONGRESSMAN BARNES’S HOUSE – NIGHT

  Gerri did her best not to shift uncomfortably inside her ball gown, glaring down into the bubbles rising from the depths of her champagne. Worst. Decision. Ever. Not that the captain or Mayor Austin Price gave her a choice in the matter.

  The thrumming cheer of Christmas carols soaring over the sound of chattering voices did little to make her feel better. She clung to the corner she’d claimed a half hour ago, defended with barely disguised snarls for those who attempted to join her for conversation. Bad enough she had to dress up, bad enough she had to come to this fucking party at Congressman Barnes’s mansion, bad enough she was supposed to act like she was happy to be here.

  It had to be Christmas, too.

  Her father had called her at least four times in the last six hours, her mother—no, wait, the liar who said she was her mother—the same number in half that time. Gerri refused to answer. She tossed back her drink with a grimace that sent a thin, starving looking young woman scrambling for protection, hooking another glass from the platter of a passing waiter. Beer. What she wouldn’t give for a beer.

  As if she’d respond to either of her so-called parents. After a lifetime of deceit, Gerri had spent the last few weeks struggling to understand who she even was. Canceled her plane ticket back East, didn’t bother decorating her apartment or even thinking about buying presents.

  She just wasn’t in the mood.

  Didn’t help her two best friends and lifelines in the entire world were avoiding her as much as she avoided them. The revelations dumped in their laps that night, three weeks ago, at Cici Panther’s apartment, simply couldn’t be ignored. And, in Gerri’s case, had led to cutting off everyone and everything that had to do with emotions or facing the truth of her past.

  Easier to throw herself into work and ignore the burning ache deep inside herself. Even her normally asshole partner, Jackson Pierce, had turned a cheek. It helped knowing he wasn’t the enemy after all, not that Gerri was in love with the guy or anything. He grinned at her from across the room where he seemed happy surrounded by pretty young women drawn in by his Hollywood looks. Gerri offered a sour grimace in response and finished her drink.

  Fucking bheast blood. She just wanted to get drunk and screw everything.

  “Detective Meyers.” The prim, older woman entered Gerri’s space without seeming to care she wasn’t welcome. The redhead glared down into the softly wrinkled face, the crisp blue eyes, carefully applied makeup hiding the worst of the woman’s sixty years. Good genes, Gerri thought, as Meredith Krist spoke again. “His honor, the mayor, is waiting for you in the front room.”

  Time to play trained monkey. Gerri swallowed the bile rising in the back of her throat. “He doesn’t need me,” she growled.

  Meredith grasped Gerri’s elbow firmly and began to lead her away from her safe corner. Gerri’s shock the congressman’s head aide was gutsy enough to touch her—added to the wobbly instability of the heels the detective shoved her feet into—left her helpless in the woman’s grasp. “You are the star detective of the SCPD,” Meredith said through clenched teeth, barracuda smile firmly in place, though she seemed less controlled and more irritated. “You will stand next to the mayor and Congressman Barnes and you will smile.” She looked up at Gerri, glittering determination in her eyes, a hint of anxiety showing. Worried Gerri would screw up her event? “And you will behave, Detective.”

  Sure was.

  Gerri almost laughed, choked on it, found her mood lift slightly. Jesus, this woman was a piece of work. She pulled free of Meredith’s grasp and followed like a docile—if still wild—animal through the crowd and into the front parlor.

  Lights had been set up, a small podium area with microphones. Gerri spotted Kara Tremaine from Channel 8 smirking at her and gave the reporter the finger behind Meredith’s back. From the glare Meredith shot Gerri over her shoulder, she hadn’t missed it.

  This might actually turn out to be fun.

  “Detective Meyers.” Gerri came to an abrupt halt as a tall, handsome man with a sunny smile and an edge to his expression that screamed Hollywood, stepped into her path and held out his hand. Gerri shook it while his gameshow persona settled around her as much as his thousand dollar tux hugged his lean frame. “Doug Divers, host for The Maze. So happy to meet such an esteemed and popular member of the Silver City Police Department.” She didn’t know about popular or esteemed, but the continuing glare from Meredith made Gerri pause and smile like she was doing her job. Even though the delay had to be driving the lead aide nuts.

  “Mr. Divers.” Gerri wracked her brain for where she’d heard the name before, scanning his California tan, the faint wrinkles around his blue eyes. Then beamed a real smile. “Wait, The Maze. That’s the new reality show, right?” She’d caught a few episodes, but hadn’t gotten into it yet. She preferred t
o watch a full season from the first episode once they were available all together.

  “You’ve seen our show!” His smile upped the megawattage, artificially Chicklet white and gleaming. “I’d love to talk to you about a feature, maybe a guest judging shot—”

  “Detective Meyers is a little busy right now.” Meredith grasped her arm again and tugged. Gerri shrugged at Divers and moved on, slightly flattered but freaked at the same time.

  Her, on TV? Suddenly the idea of this kind of notoriety made her uncomfortable as the prim aide shoved her off to one side. Mayor Price chatted with a pair of older women, nodding acknowledgment to Gerri who stood there for a long moment, frozen, anxiety growing in the pit of her stomach.

  She was just doing her job. Sure, she’d closed ten cases in the last three weeks, a record even for her. But she had no idea there might be publicity repercussions from her ability to solve murders. A quick look at the entry and she spotted the last two people she expected to see tonight hovering in the doorway, watching her with as much nervousness as she felt.

  Unable to help herself, missing them with an ache in her chest that washed away her anxiety, Gerri raised one hand and waved at Kinsey and Ray. The blonde anthropologist smiled, much brighter than any artificial smile from Doug Divers, one that meant more. Even Ray seemed happy to see her.

  Kinsey wound her way through the crowd gathered to listen to the press interviews, squeezing her tiny body past a pair of dark suited security guys with an apologetic smile on her tiny, trustworthy face, in order to reach Gerri.

  The redhead didn’t grab her friend and hug her, but it was a close thing. The tightness around Kinsey’s eyes told the detective there was still some tension. And fair enough. Gerri had her own resentment toward the Nightshade League, toward the Collective and their leader, Gideon Orter. Toward Simone Paris. Speak of the devil, the stunning woman with the shining black bob winked at Gerri from the doorway before moving on, club owner and suspected drug dealer, Julian Black, at her shoulder.

  “Benedict is here.” Kinsey’s whisper was just audible. “He’s keeping an eye on them.”

  Gerri wasn’t so sure that was a good thing. But Kinsey seemed fine with the presence of the lurking vampir her grandmother tasked to watch over her. So Gerri had to let it go.

  Well, chose to, anyway.

  Ray leaned in and pressed her cool lips to Gerri’s cheek. “You look stunning.” Her softly British accented voice was full of warmth at least. Gerri shuddered inside the deep green sheath of satin and wrinkled her nose at her friends.

  “This sucks,” she said, shifting from one foot to the other, balls of her feet aching from the stupid shoes. “I want my jeans and boots.”

  Kinsey laughed lightly. Gerri appreciated the fact neither of her friends acted as if anything happened between them. They’d all sit down, now that the tension was past, and talk it out. Once this night was over. Gerri knew it, felt it in her heart, the easing of her hurt. She’d missed them both, their strength and support. And, it seemed, nothing would keep them apart for long.

  Not even life shattering truths.

  “Have you heard from Margot?” Gerri met Kinsey’s blue eyes, saw the guarded wall go up in them as the blonde looked away.

  “She won’t talk to me,” Kinsey said. “And Benedict is as quiet. He says I’m not ready to know.”

  Gerri disagreed. They all needed to know. Specifically, what made Kinsey so important, and why they’d all been purposely left in the dark for so long. She didn’t mean for it to happen, but the reawakening of her ability to ponder these questions triggered her temper. And her bheast.

  Kinsey leaned in with a small smile as the thing inside Gerri began to pace its agitation.

  “Careful,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “Your wolf is showing.”

  “How is Cici doing?” Maybe not the best thing to bring up at the party considering the therapist had been a wreck the last time Gerri saw her. Both Simone and the Collective had made a toy of her. With no thanks to Margot DanAllart and the fucking Nightshade League. And though Gerri and Cici hadn’t parted ways amicably, the detective now knew why. The woman she’d once liked and respected had no choice but to dump her.

  Another thing to blame on the League when she had a chance to stand before them and tell them exactly what she thought of them.

  Ray’s twitch of distress answered Gerri’s question and made her feel like shit for asking.

  “I haven’t seen her since that night.” The medical examiner looked down as Kinsey took her hand, but shook her head with a small smile, tears standing in her eyes. “I’m sure she’s coping. She has a job to do.”

  According to Margot, having a job to do wasn’t unique to Cici. As messed up as this stupid game was.

  Gerri wished she hadn’t brought it up. Fished around in her mind for a way to change the subject, throat closed over with the desperate need to say something, anything, that wouldn’t make things worse.

  Was saved by a scream as a woman staggered into the room and collapsed into the arms of the older aide, drew a breath and screamed again.

  “Andrew!” Linda Barnes fell to the floor, clutching Meredith Krist, as Gerri recognized her tear stained and crumpled face as the congressman’s wife. “Someone help, please help.” She met Gerri’s eyes, her own panicked, full of agony, holding out her hands. Her dark dress might disguise it, but her pale skin couldn’t hide the smears of red. They were covered in blood. “I think my husband is dead!”

  ***

  INT. – CONGRESSMAN BARNES’S OFFICE – NIGHT

  Gerri was already moving before Kinsey registered the fact the tall, broad shouldered redhead wasn’t frozen like the rest of the room. She followed her friend, instincts pushing her to keep close to the detective who rushed toward the fallen congressman’s wife and crouched, grasping her by the upper arms and shaking her just a little.

  “Where?”

  “His office. Upstairs.” The woman was barely coherent thanks to her continued weeping, but Gerri seemed to hear as well as Kinsey and stood, off like a shot out the door and around the corner. Kinsey turned her head to see Ray following, the pair pushing through the gaping crowd. At least no one was trying to race them to the scene, though Kinsey did spot Kara Tremaine, the troublesome reporter from Channel 8 News, heading in their direction.

  Kinsey grabbed two large men in suits and planted them at the bottom of the stairs, cutting off access. “Keep everyone out.” She spun and ran up after her friends, hoping she’d used enough of an authoritative tone to do the job. When Kinsey reached the top and glanced back, Kara glared up at her, though a pair of equally burly men were thundering up behind her.

  Security from the look of things, both grim faced. Kinsey kept moving, following the sound of Gerri’s voice, around the corner of the dark paneled hall and down the deep green carpet to an open door where the tail of Ray’s dress was just disappearing. Kinsey rounded the doorway, breathing hard from running in heels and a floor length gown, to find Gerri circling a heavy desk.

  The two security guards pushed her aside, but Gerri spun, glaring, pointing from where she stopped. “No!” She barked the order so loud the pair froze in their tracks at the edge of the large office. “This is officially a murder scene. Get the fuck out and keep everyone back that I don’t approve.”

  They looked like they wanted to argue. But the arrival of the mayor and Captain King changed their minds, the pair backing out of the now crowded room. It might have been large in square footage, but there were more than enough people in it to feel claustrophobic. Mayor Price looked like he could give the captain a run for his linebacker job, though his thicker waist and beginning jowls were evidence the soft life was getting to him. Still, the strong, dark skinned mayor always gave Kinsey a sense of confidence, big voice and bigger laugh completing his hard-on-crime and soft-on-families election platform.

  Jackson trailed along behind them, grimacing his distaste as a slim, older woman in a crisp suit
pushed past him, face tight and afraid. The congressman’s wife clung to Meredith’s hand, still weeping.

  “What’s happened?” Meredith stepped past the large desk before anyone could stop her, Linda Barnes stumbling behind, eyes down. For the first time, Kinsey noticed the presence of a young man in a charcoal suit, blond hair perfectly swept from his forehead with too much product, face pale. No tux? If he wasn’t here for the party, why was he here? He had tucked himself out of the way, hands jammed in his pockets. She was about to point him out to Gerri when the older woman gasped. Then froze, staring. Kinsey eased to her side and finally caught sight of the body.

  Congressman Barnes sprawled face down on the carpet, just inside a doorway to a small room on the other side. The light in the space was brighter than the main office’s wood paneled walls, almost industrial. Made it simple enough to take in the bright red blood pooling on the floor.

  “Oh my God.” Meredith gasped a breath. “How did this happen?”

  “Good question, Ms. Krist,” Gerri said, all cop despite her dress and heels. Kinsey had a fleeting moment of wonder if her friend was happy there was a murder to save her from the hell of a Christmas party. She ran her own palms down the sides of her black silk dress and admitted this was more fun than she’d had in weeks. Gerri was a horrible influence. “Sir,” the detective addressed the mayor, “with your permission, I want this house sealed and everyone in it questioned.”

  “Consider it done.” The mayor turned to Captain King who nodded and spun, Jackson beside him, exiting the room. Kinsey stayed out of the way, tucked to the side so she wouldn’t be asked to leave, as Ray eased forward to check the body.

  “The wife made a mess,” the brunette said, just loud enough for Kinsey to catch, holding back the hem of her dark blue chiffon skirt to avoid disturbing the body. “You’d better call Binks, Gerri.”