Blackwaters: A Kate Reid Novel (The Kate Reid Series Book 4) by Robin Mahle Page A

over to the side table.
    Lizbeth’s eyes followed his movement as she sat still on the couch, his knees holding her legs in place.
    He opened a photo album and set it on her lap, pointing to a picture of a young girl. “You see her? That’s my sister. Her name was Charlie, short for Charlene. She’s a pretty one, ain’t she? Oh yes, the boys liked Charlie. Can you see the family resemblance?”
    Lizbeth looked at Arlen, but didn’t answer, instead casting her eyes back down to the photograph.
    “I truly loved my big sister, I truly did. And you know what? She loved me too. That’s right. She showed me just how much she loved me damn near every night.” Arlen flipped a few more pages and stopped. A picture of a man and a woman, posing in front of a nondescript building, was the only one on the page.
    “But you know, my daddy loved Charlene too, just like she loved me, oh yes he did.” Arlen’s eyes darkened and he grew silent, studying Lizbeth’s features. “You look a little bit like her.” He inhaled a deep breath, puffing out his scrawny chest and stroking his heavy beard. “The problem was, you see, Mama never took notice, or if she did, didn’t really give a shit, but anyways, I didn’t like what Daddy was doing to Charlene. It hurt my feelings.” He stroked her hair again and let his hand slide down to her shoulders. He could feel Lizbeth tense beneath his touch. “Girls just don’t seem to get me, I guess. Oh, they like to look at me. I’m an attractive man, so I been told. But when I look back, they just turn away.” Arlen laughed. “I guess maybe I give them the creeps, I don’t know. Do I give you the creeps, Lizbeth?”
    With a face full of terror, Lizbeth shook her head. It seemed she thought that if she agreed with him, maybe he would reconsider. But what she didn’t understand was that the man now known as Arlen Tucker didn’t view her as someone whom he wished to share any sort of relationship. He didn’t view her as a woman, or even a person. Her existence was a minor inconvenience that would have to be dealt with. Once she was devoid of life, he could do what he wanted and that was to control her. That was all he really ever wanted from any of them.
    “I can assure you,” Arlen leaned in to within inches from her face, “I will before the night is through.”
     
     
    » » »
    The WFO was quiet as Nick made his way into the washroom. It was still early, six am early, but Nick wanted to get a jump on the day. His return would bring a lot of talk and probably a lot of changes. Straightening his tie and tugging on his jacket, Nick gave himself a final once-over and walked to the door in shoes that echoed on the slate-grey floor.
    “Sir?” Nick said as he leaned into Campbell’s open doorway.
    “Scarborough, please, come in and welcome back.” Campbell extended his hand to exchange a mutual greeting.
    Nick unbuttoned his jacket and took a seat across from the man whom he believed brought about his preventable absence in the first place. But he said nothing and waited for instruction.
    “Listen, um,” Campbell scratched at his high forehead, “for whatever it’s worth, I think this whole situation got blown way out of proportion and I’m sorry you got caught in the crossfire.”
    Nick pursed his lips and nodded. “Thank you, sir. I’m just glad to be back at work.” He’d preferred to have said a few more choice words about the man’s petty behavior just because he went to the Assistant Director to ask that Kate be assigned to the WFO. Instead, Nick wanted to keep his job, realizing now how easily it could all have slipped away.
    “I’m sure you’re wondering about the Blackwater investigation and where you stand on the matter of mentoring Agent Reid.”
    “It has crossed my mind.” Nick intended a sincere tone and hoped it had been conveyed as such.
    “I think it’s best if you step back and let Agent Jameson continue to handle this with Reid. I’d like your