Death Comes At Three

By Carol Ann Brown

Once again things heat up for Special Agent Kyrie Shea and she has to use her investigative skills to figure out who's bombing the town locals. When one of those locals being targeted turns out to be one of her teammates, and her sister unwittingly becomes the only one who can identify the serial bomber, it's up to Kyrie and her intensely alluring boss, Matthew 'Fox' Foxworth to protect them. So the four of them retreat to a cabin in the Maine wilderness. That's when things really heat up. Kyrie thought the heat coming off the bomb blasts was hot, but being locked in a cabin with a boss she's overwhelmingly attracted to may just top it. Still unsure she's ready to give up her life-long friend and lover, Derrick Chamberlin she tries desperately to keep herself in control. Another problem arises when heat ignites inappropriately between her married sister and her teammate. It sparks Kyrie's anger, and lust is not the only urge she needs to rein in. It's a good thing Fox took her Taser away!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carol Ann Brown
• Release date: Sep 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781495197109

Carol Ann Brown

Carol Ann Brown is a real estate agent in Northern California. Carol sells new homes and is one of the top sales agents in her office. Carol attended the College of Alameda in Alameda, California. She also attended Anthony Real Estate School, where she received her real estate license. Carol’s hobby is writing, and she has written another manuscript called Destined, which is also a fiction story.

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Death Comes At Three

DEATH COMES AT THREE

A KYRIE SHEA NOVEL

Carol Ann Brown

Carol Ann Brown

2016

Also by Carol Ann Brown

One for the Girls

Second Coming

Copyright © 2016 by Carol Ann Brown

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2016

ISBN 978-1-4951-9710-9

www.carolannbrown.com

1

MY GETTING INTO BIZARRE SITUATIONS started in childhood and has continued into my adult life. Hey, why break a streak, right? My latest situation… I am lying in a hospital room with my best friend and lover, Derrick Chamberlin, sitting on one side of me, my sexy boss, whom I share mutual lust with, on the other. I was put here by another man who is fascinated with me, a serial killer named Sebastian. He stabbed me to get away, but not to kill me. Go figure.

I keep saying I need a new life. Somehow, I know the madness would still find me.

I am not your typical girl-woman, and I have never been a girly-girl. I like action movies more than romantic ones. I love kicking a bad guy’s ass, and I don’t know a Feng Shui from a Jimmy Choo. I am Kyrie Shea, and I’m an agent for a little known branch of the United States government. It’s kindov like the FBI and the CIA combined, only much more intense. Most of the agents working with me do all kinds of secret missions for high-ranking government officials; my job is tracking serial killers. And I also specialize in crimes against women.

While my Special Agent status is a fairly new thing, I have dealt with bad guys up close and personal since an early age. The first and worst was at sixteen, his name was Jordy Fitzpatrick. He was a twenty-four year old FBI agent that I eventually found out was also evil as the devil himself. He did some really bad things to me. Those things did not kill me, but he did kill a lot of other people. Bringing him down is what brought me in contact with Dark Force One.

Dark Force One (DFO) consists of a group of highly trained ex-military guys who handle any case the government throws at them. It was a rocky start with my being the first woman to join the squad, but things have cooled down now. At least in regards to my fellow agents. It’s a completely different story with my sexy boss, Matthew Fox Foxworth. I still have inappropriate and unwanted feelings for him, and he has made it clear he has some of his own in regards to me.

Which brings us to where we are now…

I bolted right out of bed, knocking the tray table over as I went. Derrick and Fox were instantly next to me.

What’s wrong? Derrick asked, with frantic, worried eyes.

I eyed the room for Sebastian. He was not there. I looked at Derrick, then Fox. They were unharmed.

And there were no little black boxes in hand.

I think I had a nightmare, I replied, running my hand through my thick, long brown hair.

I still felt a little groggy. I vaguely recalled the morphine drip the nurse had pushed a while ago.

Derrick and Fox helped me back into bed just as the nurse came into the room to see what the commotion was.

Fox placed the table upright, told the nurse everything was fine, and then joined Derrick in staring at me. Waiting.

What was your nightmare about? Derrick asked when I was not forthcoming. The nurse left the room.

Did you and Fox ask me to marry you? I asked, still a little disoriented.

That was your nightmare? Derrick asked, placing his hands on the hips of his muscular, 6’2" body.

I…well…

They grinned and shook their heads. I amused them quite often.

Wow. That morphine is some wicked shit! I sighed, breathing easier. I dreamed you and Fox pulled out these little black velvet boxes and asked me to marry you, then Sebastian came in and shot us all.

Silence filled the room. They shared a glance, and then looked back at me.

You equate marriage with death? Derrick asked.

Did I? I had not considered it before; I guess it could be possible at this point. Hell, I cannot even make a decision who to be with; much less know that I even want to get married. Or, maybe, the dream meant my uncertainty was hurting the two of them, and if I prolonged…

Fox looked at his watch. I guess I should get back. We need to head out.

I was instantly filled with sadness. My team was going back to Maine without me. I was now on medical leave due to my injuries.

I’ll fly back as soon as I’m out of the hospital.

No, you won’t, Derrick said. You’re staying here in Montana. You won’t take time to heal if you’re anywhere near Dark Force.

"That could take weeks!"

"He’s right. And I won’t let you come back until you’re cleared by a doctor…" Fox started.

That’s not fair! You’re ganging up on me! They have a rivalry because of their feelings for me, however, when my health and safety was in question, they sat it all aside and worked together. Totally not fair!

They grinned.

You’ll go back in eight weeks, Derrick said.

No way. Two weeks, tops! I replied. I’ll go crazy one day longer.

They grinned again.

We’ll talk in four weeks, Derrick offered, placed a hand on mine. If you’re good and listen to the doctor.

I agree, Fox added.

What the heck am I supposed to do for that long? This was going to be very difficult for me, too much time to think. Think about the past. No way had I wanted to go there in my awake thoughts, I already had to deal with the nightmares every night in sleep.

You’ll spend time with your family, Derrick caressed my hand. And me. I’ve got plenty of vacation time built up, I’ll stay with you.

Fox had the look of a boy who had lost his puppy. Derrick noticed it too. And while they take great pleasure in annoying each other, they were never cruel about it.

I need to run down to the cafeteria to grab a coffee. Can’t be caught sleeping or she’ll try to escape, Derrick said. Could you hang for a few minutes? Make sure she doesn’t make a run for it.

Fox nodded, a thankful glint in his eye.

After Derrick left the room, Fox shook his head.

What? I asked.

He’s not making my desire to steal you away from him easy, Fox replied. He’s a good guy.

One of the best, I smiled softly, eyeing Fox. Fox is a good guy too. A very intense, sexy one as well.

Silence filled the room.

Staring at each other, we tried to figure out what to say. We were both still unsure of what to do with our increasing feelings for each other.

I’m going to miss you, Fox said.

I’ll miss you, too. But it won’t be long until I come home…

He smiled, knowing that Derrick’s joke about my making a run for it was not far from the truth. They knew me too well.

Just relax. You should enjoy this time with your family, he said, a deep sadness crossing his face. Fox had no family now. His parents had been killed in a plane crash, and though he has never said so, I think his brothers and sisters were too.

I’ll call you every day.

I’d like that, he replied in a soft, sad voice. Then, out of nowhere, a grin stretched across his face. Just don’t ask about the cases we’re working on.

Damn! I sighed. There was no way I was going to make it without going nuts!

Fox leaned in and kissed my cheek, lingering as he inhaled. See you soon, Kitten.

I TRIED TO BE GOOD; I actually stayed in Montana longer than my initial two-week assertion. I spent the time with family and friends, and took it as easy as I could. Derrick and I ate out a lot, shopped, and hung out in all our childhood haunts. It was wonderful to spend Christmas and New Years with our families and friends as well. But I needed to get back to work.

My nightmares of victims in need were starting again.

I’d found that working keeps them at bay. All this leisure time was allowing too much time to think about things past, and victims yet to be saved. I had resigned myself to my own pain, but I could not sit back and allow others to feel helpless and alone.

I wanna go home, I said, stopping next to Derrick. I looked up at the evening sky, and then out over the most beautiful snow covered terrain on the planet. We had taken this walk around my parent’s Montana ranch every evening after dinner. "I need to go home."

Derrick pulled me into his arms, his eyes scanning mine. I guess I’ve held you here long enough. Four and a half weeks was more than I had hoped for.

I’m sorry. It’s not you, I replied. I just can’t sit around…

I know, he said, his smile softening. It’s ok. It’s part of why I love you.

Let’s go home.

HOLLOW COVE, MAINE, the second most beautiful snow covered place in the world. We were home. I was thrilled to be back in my apartment. I released Scamper from his pet carrier and he immediately took off to explore. Scamper is my best four-legged feline friend, and my only roommate. He is a big footed, oversized headed, eating machine of fur, and I have been in love with him since the day I found him in the dumpster where someone had discarded him.

Four weeks away, my apartment needed a good dusting, and several sweeps from a vacuum. Derrick and I spent the morning and early afternoon doing just that. My apartment was not huge, only two thousand square feet, but it was all open, and the multi-platform design and floor to ceiling windows made it seem spacious.

Now that that’s done I’ll run to the store for groceries. I’ll fix us some dinner when I get back, Derrick said, with a kiss to my neck from behind.

I figured you’d want to go check on your apartment, and your office… I said, looking over my shoulder at him.

I get the distinct impression you’re trying to get rid of me, he smiled.

Not at all. I just… well, I stumbled for words because, I was. I was dying to get to my office and check on things. I missed working, and I especially missed my team.

I’ve talked with Fox and he’s not going to let you out on the street until you’re good and healed.

We’ll see about that, I replied.

I’ll tell you what, Derrick said, sliding his arms around me. We’ll go by your office, you can see the guys, and we’ll invite them over for dinner so you don’t feel so out of connection with them. Will you settle for that?

Ok. Maybe.

Derrick drove us to Dark Force headquarters. It was still the huge ominous fortress of testosterone that I remembered with muscle bound, ex-military guys bustling about. I was bombarded with hugs and kind words as soon as we stepped off the elevator on the floor where my office is. I smiled. It was a far cry from the cold shoulder greeting I had received when I first joined Dark Force just months before.

Vincent Nicoterro pulled Derrick aside after hugging me, then they slipped off to discuss some case his team and Derrick’s were working on together. We often worked with local police, and Derrick’s FBI team that is stationed here in Hollow Cove.

I walked over and knocked on Fox’s office door.

Come in, Fox’s voice called from inside.

I opened the door and went in. Fox was busy watching one of the twenty monitors lined four high and five across on his left wall.

Just sit it on the desk, he said, not turning around, he just kept watching the blips on the screen."

I went around and slid up onto the edge of his desk, watching him. I noticed his chin raise, his head swept through the air ever so slightly, as if he were assessing its composition. Abruptly he turned toward me, a smile spreading across his face.

Hi, I smiled.

Before I knew it, his arms were wrapped around me, and he was hugging me tightly. At 6’4, he towered above my 5’7 frame, but when our bodies were pressed together like this, it felt perfect. I had not forgotten how good his arms felt. I swallowed, trying to bury the emotions welling.

I can’t breathe, I said, to get him to release me, and although it was a very tight hug, it was not his strength that caught my breath. I missed him more than I had even thought.

Sorry, he replied, pulling back, blue eyes glinting with happiness. I just missed you.

I missed you, too.

You look… his gaze washed over me. Well. His eyes said something different. When he looked at me like that, it made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. I tried to push the thought from my mind.

Thanks. I feel good.

I didn’t expect you to return to Maine for another week, he said, then grinned. Well, I actually figured you’d have shown up weeks ago. I assumed because you hadn’t, that Chamberlin had you handcuffed to him to keep you from getting away.

I grinned. Almost. He used a lot of blackmail instead.

Fox laughed. His laughter filled me with warmth, and a strange sense of happiness.

So, how’s everything going? I asked, looking over the mounds of paperwork on his desk.

Too much crime, not enough agents. The usual.

I could… I looked up at him, hopeful.

Oh, no you don’t, he smiled. This office could be filled to the rafters and I wouldn’t let you back until you’re healed.

I sighed deeply, eyes locked with his. He assessed my sadness in a nanosecond, and it was as if he read my deep need to get my mind back in the game.

When do you go back to the doctor?

Two weeks.

He inhaled, let it out in a slow breath.

If I let you… he stopped when my eyebrows shot up and the start of a smile crossed my lips. Nah, on second thought...

"Oh, please let me come back tomorrow, I begged, taking hold of his shirt. I’ll do anything you want. You can fill my office with thousands of case files. I will even scrub the guys’ bath… no not that. But I’ll do anything else."

He still looked hesitant.

I took off my coat, tossed it into his chair. His eyes flared as he noticed what I was wearing.

His jaw clenched. Not an angry clench, it was more a control mechanism, locking down an emotion. You play dirty.

I know, I smiled. So do I win? Do I get my way?

He smiled, brushing his hand down the cashmere sleeve of the sweater that I had found gift wrapped on my bed when I returned from Montana. It was his Christmas gift to me. A replacement for the one that got ruined the night he’d so romantically tried to show me he was more than some hero I fantasized to be superhuman. He was man. Pure man. With feelings, and desires…

I figured you’d try and return it to me, he said, inching closer.

I love it, I replied. It’s exactly like the one that got ruined. I don’t know how you ever found one like it. The original sweater was several years old, but I had taken good care of it. And it was my favorite.

Finding things is no different than tracking down men, all you need is the know-how, he said, his fingers sliding onto my side at my stab wound. You’re ok? You’re sure?

I am. And I promise I’ll be careful, no crazy stuff.

Ok. I’ll let you come back tomorrow.

I grinned. Thank you.

One condition.

What condition?

"You do whatever I tell you," he said, his fingers now brushing across my cheek.

My temperature went up twenty degrees. "Wha-whatever?"

He nodded, his head inching closer. Just as I thought he was going to kiss me, he stopped. You do only the work I give you. You go home when I tell you. And absolutely no wrestling around with the guys.

Um… ‘kay, I replied, lost in his beautiful blue eyes.

Derrick came through the door. Fox took his eyes off me to look at Derrick, repentantly.

"Ah, shit! Derrick said. She got to you. I knew letting her wear that sweater was a mistake."

Probably wouldn’t have mattered, Fox offered.

So did you ask him over tonight? Or were you too busy persuading him to sign over ownership of his balls?

Fox’s mouth twitched slightly, fighting a smile. She doesn’t need mine, she already has yours.

Derrick smiled. Yeah, if we could clone her persuasive abilities we could rule the world.

I grinned.

2

BEING ON RESTRICTED DUTY SUCKS! My days since I had returned to work seemed longer than normal due to the fact I was not allowed out on the street. I was however, bombarded with serial killer profiles. At any given time there are approximately thirty serial killers operating in the United States alone. Today, there was an additional twelve added to the ones we already knew of. My history and expertise caused me to lean more to the ones aimed at women.

Which is most of them.

Adding to the madness that comes with my life, one of my older sisters had shown up on my doorstep a couple of days earlier. An odd occurrence of its own, in that she had never done it before. Susan and I were not the stay constantly in contact kind. And were never the visit and hang out kind. Four years difference in our ages, she was close with her twin, and I was close with mine. Our relationship is more classified in the I’ll be there if you ever need me, until then I got things to do category.

Susan has always been one of those don’t get in my way, I’m the princess kind of females. She is a beautiful statuesque, blond haired, blue-eyed bombshell, who truly wouldn’t have had to work a day in her life. The thing about Susan is, she has brains, too. And she is very driven; nothing came before her goal of becoming a doctor.

Which added to the mystery of her visit.

Our family, despite each of our independent natures, knew, usually, what was going on with each other. This was one of those times when something was off. Susan was keeping something from the family; I had no doubt about that. I first noticed it during the time I spent with her over the holidays at the family ranch. She was very evasive when the subject of relationships came up so I suspected she and her husband of five years had a disagreement of sorts, and she was pouting about it. I’ve yet to get the story from her, but I hoped maybe the argument was winding down since I’d overheard her on the phone before coming to work this morning, being all flirty.

I pushed thoughts of her out of my mind as three of my teammates came into my office. It was obvious they missed my presence on daily patrols, using any excuse to visit me in my paperwork lockdown hell. I missed them, too. Montoya, Ghost, DK, and I were kind of like the four musketeers, always finding something challenging to throw ourselves in the middle of. Everything just seemed off when we weren’t out there together. Nevertheless, I was trying hard to be good and ride out my restricted duty with patience. Not a strong point for me. I was antsy when on leave, and now I was outright stir crazy.

Hey, Wildfire, Montoya said.

Chicklet, you’ve got to get off this restricted duty, Ghost said, dropping into a chair in front of my desk. We’re bored out of our minds.

Yeah, we haven’t had any fun in weeks, DK added.

We’re in real need of your brand of fun, Ghost chuckled.

My brand of fun, as they call it, usually entails me in some awkward or embarrassing moment. Moments they find great hilarity in. I’d gotten used to the fact I have an abundance of them. Being a self-titled mishap magnet, it comes with my existence. I allowed them their humorous comments and jokes because I knew they needed the release. And it was never meant to be disrespectful of hurtful. It was like the exchanges between siblings. We were all very close now, like family.

I’d gladly end this desk duty if I could, but it’s up to Fox. He’s the boss.

Of the rest of us, DK grinned. You, not so much.

I couldn’t help smiling. Fox did tend to let me get away with more than the guys in respect to being disobedient. I’d discovered on our last case though, even I have boundaries I’m not allowed to cross.

We’d just finished discussing the influx of crime, when Fox poked his head in the door.

Come on, guys. We gotta roll, he said. Bombing at a local gym.

I leapt up along with the guys.

Where do you think you’re going? Fox raised an eyebrow.

Habit. Sorry, I could feel the momentary rush of excitement drain from my face. I looked sadly down at my mounds of paperwork. Ugh.

What’s that look for? Fox asked.

Nothing. You guys go ahead, I replied, forcing a soft smile.

You want to go, Fox said, knowingly. His eyes washing over me as if ex-raying to see if I was physically ready yet.

I’ve just never worked a bomb case before. I’m also going a little stir crazy… I gave him my best pout. Another reason I get away with more.

He smiled. Come on.

SucKER, DK grinned at Fox.

Just a few short months ago, you wouldn’t catch the guys kidding Fox. Heck, they didn’t even talk about anything except cases with him before I came along. The team says I’ve brought them closer as well.

My team, minus one (Train. Real name-Nate Franco, who’d asked off today. Which was totally odd because he never takes time off), loaded into the team Nav. Fox drove us to the bombed gym.

The bomb squad and paramedics were just finishing up bringing the injured and dead from the partially charred building when we arrived. Fox spoke with the leader of the bomb squad, and then we entered.

Fox took a quick visual scan and instantly zoomed in on the area he says the bomb originated. It all looked the same to me. He had skills I only dreamed of having.

Spread out, see if you can find any fragments, Fox instructed the guys. Kyr’, you take a look around for anything that might seem out of place to you.

As he and the guys continued to search for fragments of the bomb I wandered off toward the seemingly untouched office, looking for anything out of place. I found a small flat piece of metal on the floor. I knelt down, picked it up, and placed it into an evidence baggie. There was a strange symbol I’d never seen before etched into the metal. I slid the baggie into my pocket, not sure if it was significant, but it was definitely out of place.

Just as I began to raise from my position, a flicker beneath a wire rack about five feet to my left caught my eye. Two minutes? A minute fifty-nine seconds? Fifty-eight… What the… HOLY SHIT! I jumped up and slammed through the door leading out of the office, tripped over DK-who was squatting down looking at something, and rolled right up against Fox’s leg.

We gotta GO! I grabbed Fox’s arm as I came up off floor. A m-minute f-forty-five seconds! I shrieked. "Must go now!"

EVAC NOW! he yelled at the guys.

We all scrambled out the door.

There’s another bomb! GET BACK! Fox screamed at everyone close to the building.

The bomb blew just as our team landed, crouching in a huddle behind a parked van. All manner of debris rained down upon us.

What a rush! Ghost forced a chuckle. The others followed suit with macho comments, and laughing. Guys’ way of dealing, no doubt. I personally wanted to hurl. I relaxed onto the ground, legs too shaky to sustain my squat.

Fox placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. You did good, Kyr’.

Yeah. Good thing we brought you, we could be toast right now, DK added.

"Toast crumbs, maybe, X-man added. Thanks."

Are you ok? Fox asked, a flick of a glance toward my side. Instinctively, I slid my hand over the area of the stab wound.

I’m ok.

Can you describe the bomb? Fox asked, fighting the urge to go all protective, knowing I didn’t want to be treated differently than he would one of the guys. He leaned his body back against the van and lowered himself to the ground, his shoulder touching mine.

After retrieving the little memo book I carried around with me from my pants leg pocket, I drew the bomb as best as I could remember it. Which turned out to be pretty good, considering I’d almost been blown up just minutes before.

Nausea rolled in my stomach again.

Boss, you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’? X-man asked.

Military, Fox responded.

Military? I looked over at Fox.

See that mechanism right there? he pointed to something on my drawing. That’s a characteristic of a military style bomb rigging. Your average person doesn’t know about this particular style bomb.

Why would someone military want to bomb a gym? I asked, knew none of us had that answer. And why two bombs?

The guys stared back at me with the same question burning in their eyes. None of us had that answer either.

The leader of the bomb squad came over. You people ok?

Fine, no thanks to you, Fox scolded, coming up off the ground, his muscles puffing up with the anger that flowed through him. I thought you said you’d done a sweep and cleared the building. Fox was normally a calm, disciplined man. A result, I suspected, of his good up-bringing and Army training. I’d learned quickly that the only thing that can set him off is for people he cared about to be in unnecessary danger.

I’m sorry, Commander Foxworth. We’ve got a new guy, and well, he screwed up…

He almost got my people killed! I’d say it was more than screwed up.

The bomb squad guy stared at the ground, taking the tongue lashing Fox gave him for the next ten minutes. I’d been on the receiving end of his safety reprimands before; they made you feel really bad, and foolish, and about an inch tall. But, you knew you deserved it.

Fox takes safety very seriously.

After the lecture, Fox and the bomb guy went over my drawing and decided to work the case from different angles. They would keep each other informed of their progress. Despite Fox’s ability to seem superior, it wasn’t on purpose. He just radiated it. His knowledge and abilities made him the envy of all who worked with or around him. He also commanded respect.

He got that in spades.

A van pulled up, a guy and a dog hopped out. The guy led the dog toward Fox. When they were within a few feet of us, the dog immediately ran at me, jumped, caught me center of the stomach, knocking me onto my ass. He growled and snarled, his snout inches from my face, saliva dripping onto my shirt.

Fox reached down, took hold of the dog’s collar and pulled him back from me.

What the hell’s wrong with that dog? I yelled up at the owner.

I’m sorry, you must have part of a bomb on you, the owner replied.

Kyr’, meet Boomer. He belongs to the bomb squad, Fox said, kneeling down, cuddling and petting the dog as if it were his own pet. He’s trained to detect bombs, and anyone who has touched one.

Well, you need to have his nose checked. I didn’t touch the stupid bomb! I replied, aggravated and embarrassed about being knocked on my ass by a dog.

Are you sure? the dog’s owner asked. He’s never made a mistake.

The only thing I touched was this, I took out the bagged piece of metal I’d picked up off the office floor.

Boomer started barking.

Doesn’t look like a bomb part. It must have been handled by the bomber, Fox said, taking it. He handed it to