Page 39 of Double Edged Hearts
Chapter Eleven
Cora
Richard took me to his office. He wanted to talk to me away from everyone else. Everyone is going to be given a brief in a little while regarding what happened to Giles and our safety during the investigation.
Richard looks pale and his eyes sullen. He’s known Giles for over twenty years. They were very good friends.
“How did it happen?” I ask.
“He was shot, and it looks like Matvey’s work.”
My heart sinks. “Were his eyes…” I can’t bring myself to finish the question.
Richard nods confirmation and I feel like I’m going to vomit. It’s bad enough to have the memory of the guy from that last murder stuck in my head with his eyes gouged out, but Giles too… someone I know.
“Oh God…” I wince and wipe away a tear.
“I’m sorry Cora.”
“When did it happen?”
“Must have been last night. His wife came home from her vacation early this morning and found him at home dead in the study, a bullet hole in his head and…the other mutilations.”
Mutilations. The bile rises from my stomach and lodges in my throat. I almost heave. For him to say that, it means Matvey must have done more to Giles than taking his eyes. Cutting people’s eyes out are just one of the gruesome things he does. He’ll go as far as limbs too, or burning people. With women it’s worse. He rapes and tortures them until he makes them beg for death, and that is why Alex didn’t want me working on this case. I’m completely numb. I don’t know what the hell to make of this.
Giles… he’s dead. Matvey killed him. I can’t believe it.
“We have to catch this bastard, Cora.” Richard sighs. I can’t imagine what he must be going through. And he’s putting on such a brave face.
“We have to. Richard, I don’t get why Matvey would have killed somebody so important. It’s asking for trouble, and for us to retaliate big time.”
“It’s a message, my dear. Cut off the head, and the body is weak. That’s what we are now. Thrown into a state of disarray while he gets to run around doing what he’s here to do.” He draws in a shallow breath. “Cora, I want to be the professional and the man I’ve been employed to be and tell you to be careful, but you are like a daughter to me, so I can’t help it if I say I don’t want you working this case anymore.”
I widen my eyes and shake my head. “Richard, no. I can’t just quit, and definitely not now. Giles is dead.”
Out of my own personal need to help I have to stay, definitely after what I found last night.
He releases a heavy sigh and swallows hard. “Things have just gotten more dangerous than I realized.”
“I know, but I have to do this. It’s Giles, Richard,” I insist. I wish to God I’d gotten more out of the ghost tracker. Maybe I can. Maybe the phone will be used again and I can catch a live conversation. If I do then I’ll be better prepared.
“Cora… I’m biased. I won’t lie and tell you I’m not worried for your life.”
“I’ll be careful. Richard, if you take me off this case then I won’t be the agent you trained me to be. You’ve always wanted me to be an agent and you know I’m capable of doing this job. Please allow me to do it,” I plead.
“God, girl… as if I wasn’t worried enough. Okay. But you promise me you’ll be careful and you take security and back up everywhere you go. Safety is of the highest concern. We’re going to get extra security around here and around the hotel apartments.”
“I will.”
“I mean it Cora.”
“I know. I promise I’ll be careful,” I assure him.
“I’ll be running things for a while here, but I have to go back to LA tomorrow for a few days. Just promise me you’ll be safe.”
“Richard I will. Just focus on what you need to do to get this bastard.” I will be doing the same.
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