Fifth Regret (Heaven Sent Book 5) Read online

  “Be careful, Em.”

  “I will. I’m not going through hell like last time. I know my limits.”

  She pushed the door open. Holding her purse in her uninjured hand, she left the car. After closing the door, she stood with her back to the vehicle.

  “I hope you’re ready to leave this state as soon as we’re done because I am,” she said and then turned to look in the window to the back seat.

  Andrew gave her a thumb up.

  Anxious to get her task completed, she headed toward the bar.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Her voice had sounded a little muffled, but he’d understood her. After she’d walked away, he tossed the blanket over his head and scooted lower. The soft light from his cell allowed him to see fine. With his knees bent and turned to the side, he felt cramped. The hard door offered no comfort to his head and his hips ached from pressing against the small bump on the floor separating the two areas. He should’ve moved the seat forward to give him more room. Too late now.

  Loud music came through the phone. He suspected she’d entered the bar. The loud guitar and male vocals sounded similar to some of the heavy metal tunes he’d heard in the 1980s.

  “Wow,” she said.

  Andrew wondered what the inside looked like. He could imagine a dark room with bikers dressed in leather with bandanas on their heads, young women wearing shorts and revealing tops with makeup caked on their faces, and older men drinking in groups while they sat at tables and stared at the women. He doubted the bar had billiards or any other game since the building was small.

  “You waiting on someone?” a female asked.

  Andrew barely heard her through the shrill music.

  “I am, but can I get a beer please,” Emily said.

  “Bottle or tap?”

  “Bottle, and I don’t care what brand.”

  Andrew lowered the volume on the phone. Emily had spoken up when she’d asked for her drink, so he’d heard her better than the waitress.

  While he waited, Andrew’s concern for her remained strong. She liked to be in control, so he’d agreed to let her go in to meet Deon. Andrew would’ve preferred to chain her to the bed at the hotel, keep her as far away from the demon as possible. But the last couple of months working together had proved they performed better as a team. He couldn’t keep her locked up and hidden from all the dangers in the world. And since she was in a public setting, he believed the demon couldn’t harm her. If at any time he thought she might be in harm’s way, he’d walk in to protect her.

  “Here you go,” the familiar female said.

  “Thank you,” Emily said.

  “I’ll check back with you in a few.”

  “You can keep the change.”

  More heavy guitar music played.

  “This place is awful,” Emily said in a low tone. “I may need to shower when we get back. I can’t believe they allow smoking.”

  He grinned from her comment. At least she had a positive attitude. She typically did and he loved that about her. Truth be told, he admired everything about her. If he hadn’t been sent back, he never would’ve met her. For a change, he let go of the displeasure he had toward the council. They’d sent him back at the right time and place for him to meet her. The complaint he’d once thought about writing about them seemed petty now. He should thank them for the punitive sentence they gave him.

  While he still had to destroy demons, at least he’d found the one woman who could rock his world forever. Looking back at his past sexual promiscuities, he felt embarrassed. Sure, he’d had fun. But what he had now was real heartfelt breathtaking love. He couldn’t be happier. Well… He could if she were pregnant.

  He’d noticed weeks ago she hadn’t been taking pills. She knew more about her cycles than he did, but it didn’t take a genius to determine she hadn’t had a period in over a month. If she were carrying his child, he’d have to prepare for his or her future since he wouldn’t be around much longer.

  The sound of an engine nearby claimed his attention. The low hum died not too far away, possibly the next row over. A soft thud interrupted the peace and quiet of the night. Andrew turned his phone over in case the glow might show through the cover. He listened for taps on the ground, but couldn’t hear any. He dared not move in case the demon took a peek inside the car.

  Silence stretched, except for the screeching metal tune. Andrew twisted his cell enough to see the time. It showed 1:38. The demon was late.

  The blaring song ended and a new one started. The type of music for this small town Louisiana bar surprised Andrew. He’d thought they’d play some kind of Cajun or popular tunes, maybe even country. He never would’ve guessed heavy metal.

  “Hi,” Emily said.

  “Did you have trouble getting here?”

  Disgust shot through Andrew upon recognition of the demon’s voice.

  “Not really,” she said. “This is a different kind of bar. Do you come here often?”

  “I’ve been called here while I was on duty.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “I noticed you drove Spencer’s car.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t want to pay for a taxi. I spent enough on one today when I was looking for him.”

  “I would’ve given you a ride back to your hotel.”

  Andrew’s temper rose.

  “Do you have anything for me?” Emily asked.

  She’d ignored his offer. He very much loved his smart and sexy woman.

  “I left it in my car. Let’s have a drink first.” Deon said.

  “I can’t stay long. He’s waiting for me.”

  “Hey hun. What can I get you to drink?” the waitress from earlier asked.

  “Four shots, two for each of us,” Deon said.

  “I’ll be right back,” the waitress said.

  “Spencer saw me leave. He expects me back soon,” Emily said.

  “Relax. Have one drink with me and then we can go to my car for the file.”

  Perspiration forming, Andrew sat up and tossed the cover off his head. He scanned the lot for the police cruiser. An old truck and a late-model black sedan sat idle in the back row since the last time he’d looked around. The sedan reminded Andrew of one he’d seen parked outside the demon’s home.

  “I really need to get back. He thinks I ran to the store. He’ll suspect something is wrong if I’m gone too long,” Emily said.

  “Carrie, right?”

  “No, I’m Penny.”

  “Right. Well, the way I see it, Penny, you’re here now, so let’s enjoy the drinks.”

  “Are you stalling me?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Two shots for each of you,” the waitress said.

  “Keep the change,” Deon said.

  “I’ll check back to see if you need anything else,” the waitress said.

  “Nothing like good, hard liquor,” Deon said.

  Several seconds of silence passed between him and Emily, allowing the music to fill the void.

  “Drink up,” Deon said.

  “I don’t drink and drive.”

  He chuckled. “Afraid I’ll pull you over?”

  “I don’t want any trouble.”

  “You should’ve thought about that before you came here.”

  “Excuse me? What does that mean?”

  “Tell me, Penny, how is it you don’t know about your boyfriend’s work?”

  Andrew had an ah-ha moment. He’d been right about the demon not believing her story.

  “I know he’s been researching dirty cops in the state,” she said. “Is that the work you’re referring to?”

  Her response prompted Andrew’s eyes to widen.

  “Has he mentioned any names?” Deon asked.

  “Yeah. Your name. Didn’t you check the laptop I gave you?”

  Andrew’s pulse picked up speed. What was she doing? Did she want to spark the demon’s temper? The conversation started to head in a different direction, a bad one, and for the li
fe of Andrew, he couldn’t figure out why.

  “There was nothing on that laptop and you know it,” Deon said.

  “What a shame. I know he’s done research about the serial murders too. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about them, would you?” Her tone sounded condescending.

  “I don’t know what game you and your boyfriend are playing, but you fucked with the wrong man.”

  Andrew’s concern for her shot up fast. Taking the gun, he pushed the sleeve into the handle. The conversation between her and Deon sounded as if it were heading into dangerous territory. If the demon thought he could hurt her, he had another thing coming to him and it was a shiny bullet.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The fast drumbeat and screeching guitar amplified Emily’s ire. She stared at Deon with intense loathing and revulsion. “My boyfriend and I don’t play games. We are interested in the large amount of women being hurt and murdered. Since you’re a cop, you should be concerned too.”

  She started to sweat from all the anger built up inside her. When she’d first met Andrew, she hadn’t believed he’d been sent from heaven to destroy demons as part of a sentence. She hadn’t believed in heaven and hell. But after seeing a demon come out from a human, she realized her beliefs had been misguided by society and the modern world. Demons were destructive. They enjoyed harming people as well as taking lives. Although she feared demons, she refused to let them continue with their vicious evil ways.

  “What makes you so sure I’m not concerned?” Deon asked.

  The hate lurking in his black eyes kept her on edge. She was ready to bolt at any second if she had to.

  “You have several complaints about you. There are several women who said you forced them to have sex or face going to prison,” she said.

  “What women? Give me their names.”

  She scoffed. “I’m not endangering their lives. But I’m sure they would be willing to testify in court if they got the chance.”

  The demon grabbed his shot and tossed it into his mouth. He set the glass on the table with a heavy clank. “I have a damn good record as a policeman.”

  “Once the article gets out, I’m sure the FBI or Internal Affairs will take an interest in you.”

  “You have no evidence. The women I run into are not innocent. They all have some violation or criminal background. I bet you do too. All women have something to hide. So bring them in front of judge and let them talk. Let’s see who the judge will believe, a cop or some tramp.”

  “So you think that gives you the right to force them to have sex with you?” His presence sickened her. She fought the urge to spit in his face.

  “You’ve been misinformed. Give me the names of the women you spoke to and I’ll clear up the matter.”

  “No fucking way. I’d bet you’d kill them the second you got a chance. If I guessed right, you’d stop them, force them into your police car, and then take them somewhere to rape and murder them.”

  He jerked forward, pushing the table toward her. “What makes you think I’ve killed anyone? There’s nothing to connect me to any murders.”

  She held her composure. Showing fear would give him power and she refused to let him have any over her. She wanted him outraged so he would follow her. So far, it seemed her plan was working.

  “Maybe because nobody has looked,” she said. “Those zip ties have to be somewhere. The knife used to stab the women is somewhere too. The right people need to take an interest.”

  “You and you’re boyfriend need to keep your fucking mouths shut. You don’t know nothing. I should lock you both up.”

  “Go ahead. That will only prove we are on the right track with this article. A man and woman with no criminal record put in jail. The couple was investigating a dirty cop who might be the serial killer. I can’t wait to see this story on all the major news channels.”

  “You fucking cunt. I will cut you into pieces and feed you to the gators,” he sneered.

  She knew at that moment her time to go had arrived. Andrew would burst through the door with the gun loaded. She couldn’t let that happen.

  Emily shot up from her seat. “Try it. You’re the one who is going to see death.”

  She grabbed her purse and one of the glasses. She tossed the fluid at his face before throwing the glass at his chest. Before he could contemplate what had happened, she stormed through the smoky bar and headed for the exit.

  Her heart rapped fast as she shoved the door open. She didn’t bother to look behind her. The demon had sounded furious. Given his evil nature, she had little doubt he’d follow her. Now, she hoped she could get far enough away from the bar so others wouldn’t see Andrew kill the man and destroy the demon.

  She saw Andrew between the seats in the back of the car as she reached it. She swung the door open.

  “What the hell did you just do?” he asked in a panicky tone.

  She tossed her purse to the passenger side as she fell into her seat. Her stitches pulled a little and stung from the quick movements. “I made sure he’d follow.”

  The door to the bar opened.

  “Get down,” she said, and Andrew slid to the floor.

  Deon stepped outside. He turned his gaze to her direction. She started the car and then shifted the gear.

  “Is it him?” Andrew asked.

  “Yes.”

  She backed the car out. Before she changed gears, she spotted the demon striding toward them. And he did not have a happy expression on his face. She pushed her foot on the pedal and the front tires skidded.

  “I don’t think it will take him long to catch up to us,” she said, keeping her focus on the road as she left the parking lot.

  “Put your seatbelt on.”

  She turned on the headlights as the car picked up speed. “What?”

  “Seatbelt, Em, put it on.”

  With her good hand on the wheel, she tried to grip the belt with her thumb and forefinger of her injured hand. The strap wouldn’t pull across her, so she hooked her stint on it and managed to bring it over her chest. During the process, she’d lifted her foot from the pedal and the car had slowed.

  “A little help please,” she said.

  Andrew reached between the seats and took hold of the belt. He fastened it into the lock. Now that she had both hands free, she pushed on the accelerator.

  “I can’t believe you did that. I was about to walk into that bar and pull you out,” he said.

  “I know. I wanted to rile him enough so he’d follow.”

  “Goal achieved. But next time tell me that.” He sounded upset.

  “I didn’t want you exposing yourself. I knew what I was doing.”

  Two small lights in the distance appeared in her rearview mirror.

  “I think he’s on the road. Get ready,” she said, gripping the wheel.

  Andrew settled behind the seats, shifting the blankets over him. “He’s not driving his police car. I looked for it while you were inside.”

  “What kind of car is he driving?”

  “It’s a black sedan.”

  Staring at the lights in her mirror, she wondered how the demon planned to stop her. She doubted he’d want to bang up his car. “Should I pull over?”

  “No, absolutely not,” Andrew said in a firm tone.

  “Well I can’t let him follow us back to town.”

  No other cars traveled on the dark road. Bugs smacked her windshield and hood.

  “If you pull over, he’ll expect you to have a weapon. He will kill you the second he can,” Andrew said.

  She checked her side mirror. The lights behind her were drawing closer.

  “He’s catching up,” she said.

  “Just keep on the road. He’s probably going to tap the bumper and make you think he’s going to run you off the road. Speed up. Don’t let him intimidate you.”

  “Fuck,” she said softly while her pulse raced.

  She’d never been in a car chase or had tried to out run a vehicle before. Hell, sh
e’d never been in any accident worse than a fender bender. Although fiberglass surrounded her and the sedan had airbags, she dreaded the thought of being in a crash. Adding to her anxiety, she feared flipping over. Because of the darkness, she couldn’t see the sides of the road much. She could be driving between swampland. The last thing she wanted to happen was to get stuck in a ditch or swamp with alligators nearby.

  “If he manages to pull up to the side, let me know and I’ll shoot at him,” Andrew said.

  “All right. Stay down for now. He’s gaining on us.”

  She continued bouncing her gaze from the road to her mirrors. If she remembered well, the stretch lasted for several miles before curving. But they were traveling fast. Without any markers, she had no way of knowing how soon she’d reach the turn.

  “He’s closer,” she said.

  “How close?”

  “A few car lengths.” She pressed harder on the pedal and the engine hummed louder.

  “Relax, Emily. You can do this. Just tell me when I can shoot him.”

  His calm words should’ve eased her nervousness even if only a smidge, but they didn’t. She’d never driven at such a high speed to escape someone trying to kill her. What the hell had she been thinking? She wasn’t supposed to be putting herself in such danger.

  The lights approached faster.

  “He’s almost on us,” she said.

  She darted her gaze from the rearview mirror to the concrete ground in front of the car. Her heartbeat hammered in her chest as the two beams moved closer. She tightened her grasp on the wheel, expecting a slight nudge from the back bumper. When the lights shot forward and the car jerked, all her expectations flew out the window.

  “Fuck!” she yelled as she tried to maintain control of the wheel.

  The car swerved from side to side. Instinctively, she lifted her foot from the pedal just enough for the demon to shove her forward again.

  “Fuck!” she said again, fighting to keep the car on the road.

  “Speed up!” Andrew called out.

  She pressed her foot on the accelerator, but not quick enough. Another jolt came from behind. Apparently, she hadn’t pissed off the demon. She’d infuriated him and he had no qualms about banging up his car.