Page 78 of Protected

Darci led the way to the elevators. When they reached the door, the guards asked her to wait for them while they swept the apartment. Handing them her keys, she stepped back to wait for them. A minute later, she heard one of the men curse, so she tried to push past the one who waited by her door.

“Please don’t come in here ma’am. We need to call the police.”

“Why what is it? What’s wrong?” she asked, still trying to push past the guard standing in her way.

“You don’t want to see this I promise.”

“Damn it let me in. Is the killer in there?” Of course he wasn’t. Darci wasn’t sure why she asked.

“No, ma’am. Please stay back.”

“Fucking let me in. It’s my apartment.” The guard was not moving, so she kneed him in the groin and ran past him while he doubled over in pain. He was on her again in seconds, but it was too late. Darci paled when she saw what they were trying to keep from her.

Tied to her bed was a very bloody body. The throat was slit, and her bed was covered in blood. It only took Darci a moment to recognize the woman.

“Holy fuck,” Darci whispered. Her stomach lurched and her lunch came up before she could stop it.

The last thing she remembered was a guard catching her and then blackness. When she woke, was in the back of a car. The memory of Elise’s bloody corpse would forever remain etched in Darci’s memory and she thought she might be sick again. What was Elise doing in her apartment? How did she get in here? How did the killer get in here?

“What’s going on? Are the police here?”

“We’ve called them, ma’am. Mr. Givens still isn’t answering his phone, but Detective Silas has been alerted as well as Mr. Mercer.”

If Bradley wasn’t answering their calls, that meant he was still busy with the campaign. The police arrived, and everything was a blur of activity around her. They questioned her, but Darci barely heard them. Michael Silas appeared on the scene as the initial officers finished their questions. He said nothing, just wrapped her in his arms.

“Michael, what is happening here? How are we supposed to catch this guy? It’s like he’s invisible.”

“Shh, it’s OK. Where’s Bradley?”

“He had to go out of town with the senator.”

“What were you even doing here?” he demanded.

“I had to get some of my files, so I had the security team escort me. They entered first. They tried to keep me out I promise. Don’t yell at them, they’ll get enough of that from Bradley when he gets home.”

“Lord knows you can be stubborn.”

“I wish I hadn’t been. I can’t get her face out of my head.”

He left her with the security team to check in with the responding officers. One of the guard’s cell phones rang. When he answered, Darci winced as she could hear a furious Bradley on the other line. With a palm out in front of her, she motioned for him to give her his phone. The guard closed his eyes as the voice on the line released another string of obscenities, so she grabbed the phone from him.

“Stop yelling at him Bradley. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You mean other than letting you talk them into taking you back to an apartment that’s already been broken into. What thefuckwere you thinking Darci? I swear I'm going to make sure you can’t sit for a week when I get home.”

“Don’t yell at me over this, please. I just found the body of one of my best friends. Somebody had to discover her sometime, or she would have just laid there for days decomposing. I know you’re upset, and you’re worried about me, but I promise I didn’t go in alone and I only went because I had to get files for work. I even tried to call you first, but I knew you were busy. Please don’t be angry with me. Not when I did everything I could to be safe.”

He sighed when she finally stopped talking. “Fuck. I’m sorry, baby girl. You’re right. God, I hate not being there right now. I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“When will you be home?” she asked.

“We’re flying home in just a little while. I’ll have to go to the office for a couple hours when we get in, because Atleigh is leaving again tomorrow, but I’m staying behind this time.”

“I love you, Bradley. Thank you for not being angry with me.”

“I was at first, but you’re right, you did nothing wrong. I’m so sorry about your friend sweetheart. I can’t wait to hold you.”

“Well, I’ll be up. I don’t think I can sleep anytime soon after seeing her like that.” A sob escaped her throat, but she quickly pulled herself together. “I should let you get back to work. I’ll call you when I’m heading home.”

---