Destiny's Wrath (Destiny Series - Book 3) by Straight, Nancy (read full novel .txt) 📗

to stay away from me. I was hoping Dennis might be able to help me. You know, tell me something that would scare this guy.”

Maggie hadn’t talked to Dennis since the previous night when he called her late asking for a ride to the police station. Then she received that cryptic call from Bert about his not having to work. She knew he was probably sleeping, but if he could wake her up in the middle of the night for a ride he really didn’t need, she could wake him up for this. Maggie picked up the phone and dialed Dennis. When he answered, “I need you to come over to my house right now. It’s important.”

“Uh, okay, what time is it?”

“I don’t know, but I need you over here now.”

“Maggie, what’s going on?”

“Dennis, just come to my house. I need you to see something.”

“Did you find something? Something about the case?”

“No, this has nothing to do with Jimmy. I need you to come here. I’ve got a friend here that needs to talk to a policeman.”

“Okay. I’m on my way. You’re okay though, right?”

Maggie smiled to herself, “Yeah, Dennis, I’m okay, but I need you to come talk to a friend of mine.”

Ten minutes later Dennis walked through the door. He looked at the lady sitting on the couch with Maggie. She looked familiar. He knew he’d met her once, but couldn’t remember where. Dennis was great with faces, but horrible with names. He stuck his hand out, “Hi, I’m Dennis. Maggie said you were looking for a cop.”

“Hi, Dennis. We met about six months ago at a charity dinner at the Charleston Place. I’m Cynthia.”

Dennis searched in his mind and remembered a smoking red head that night in a low cut dress and stilettos that he and Maggie had spent time with. “Right, I remember. So what can I do for you?”

“I’ve been dating a man. I’m a little scared of him and want to get him to leave me alone.”

“Has he hurt you or threatened you? If you believe you’re in danger, we can file the paperwork for a restraining order.”

Maggie cut in, “It’s a cop, Dennis. Will a judge sign one on a cop if she doesn’t show proof?”

Dennis’ brows narrowed, “Who?”

Cynthia asked, “Before I say, can you answer Maggie’s question?”

“It’s hard to say. A cop with a restraining order against him, that’s enough to get him bounced off the force. A judge probably won’t sign an order of protection without some sort of physical evidence. Has he hit you?”

Cynthia shook her head. She was proud of herself; she kept her tears from flowing again.

“Did he threaten you?”

She nodded and could feel her eyes clouding over.

“Tell me about the threat.”

Cynthia whispered, “He said he was going to do it again.”

“Do what again?”

Cynthia looked to her friend; Maggie nodded in encouragement. Cynthia stood up again. This time she didn’t turn her head away; she needed to see Dennis’ reaction. She lifted her t-shirt several inches, enough that the bruises would be visible and those humiliating chains were hanging from her. Dennis looked but made no effort to touch her.

“You said he didn’t hit you?”

“No. He used these clip things, all different sizes; he said he wanted me to scream.”

“And the chains?”

Cynthia couldn’t hold the tears any longer; they let loose again. She murmured, “He pierced my body tonight, then put the chains through them.”

“All of this was against your will?”

Cynthia roared, “Yes! What kind of a woman would ask for this?”

“Easy, I have to ask. These are standard questions. I’m not judging you. Did you ever tell him to stop?”

“Yes, I told him to stop.”

“And did he?”

“Does it look like he stopped? I look like a Dalmatian!”

He asked her again, trying to remain calm, “After you told him to stop, did he?”

“No, he did not stop. He continued to torture me for hours. The sick bastard got off on it.”

“Do you want to press assault charges?”

“Are you kidding me? If I press charges, people are going to find out what he did to me. I just want him to stay away from me.”

“Without evidence, no judge in this county is going to give you an order of protection.”

“Is there another option? Is there anything you could do?”

“I could take some photos, make it look like you are going to file assault charges. Maybe I can get him to back off if I tell him you’ll drop the charges if he stays away.”

“You have to photograph me?”

“Without it, there’s no proof of what happened to you. I don’t have to be the one to take them. Maggie could take some, or we could take you to a doctor and let them do it.”

“No, no doctors. Maggie, will you take them?”

The two went into Maggie’s room. Cynthia took her t-shirt off and Maggie gasped again. “Let me give you a bikini top.” After Cynthia put it on, Maggie took several digital photos and muttered, “This guy is a monster.”

Cynthia changed back into her t-shirt, “Yeah, thanks for this.” The two returned to the living room.

Dennis asked, “Okay, who is this guy?”

“Bert Ross.”

Dennis and Maggie both froze. Dennis asked, “Detective Ross did this to you?”

“Yes.”

Dennis took a seat, wrenched his hand through his hair, eyes on the floor. “Detective Bert Ross?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve known Bert for years. I knew both his ex-wives. This isn’t something Bert could do.”

“So you think I did this to myself?”

“No, I don’t think that. But, maybe, it was someone who said he was Bert.”

Cynthia couldn’t believe her ears. “I’ve been Bert’s neighbor for several years. I know exactly who he is.”

Dennis looked scared. After being sent away from the station last night, Bert might think this was some form of retribution. What if this was a scam she was pulling? He looked back at Maggie, then uttered, “All right, I’ll talk to him.”

Chapter 21

Dennis looked at the photos in the folder. What kind of monster could have done