Part 21 (2/2)

Rainey slid on her favorite boots. She could run in them and better yet, she could fight in them. A properly placed thick wooden heel could do a lot of damage. She already had on blue jeans and a black tank top. To accommodate the tech equipment and hide her weapon from view, she had to wear her jacket. Being inside the hot, packed nightclub necessitated she wear as little as possible underneath. She let her chestnut waves hang down over her shoulders. On the outside, she looked like many of the women that would be innocently wandering the bar, looking for a good time. There was nothing innocent about Rainey's intentions.

Rainey made sure Freddie's food and water bowls were filled. The sun wasn't down yet, so he was still off exploring the grounds. Rainey checked the holster clipped to the belt at the back of her pants. She pulled the Glock from the holster, just to make sure it was in the proper position. Holstering the weapon, she put on her jacket, giving the cottage one last sweeping glance. The days here without Katie had been long and lonely. Maybe it was time to start over. She left the cottage knowing tonight could be the beginning or the end.

She stopped at the back of her car, opening the gun safe in the trunk. Rainey suspected she would be in or near her car when the UNSUB made his move. She took out the Sig and Beretta 9mm's and slipped full magazines into them. She loaded the Mossburg shotgun with nine sh.e.l.ls, racked one into the chamber, and added a tenth. Rainey started to pick up the Taser, and then left it behind. She had no intentions of taking this guy in. She closed the trunk and opened the driver's side door. She put the Sig under her seat, the Beretta in the console, and laid the shotgun on the floor in the back. Someone was going to die tonight, Rainey hoped it wasn't her, but she was going down in a blaze of gunfire if she did.

Rainey thought about calling Katie again, and then realized she would be in the middle of her father's party. She'd call her later, before she went in the bar. Rainey didn't want Katie saddled with the memory of how their last conversation ended, if indeed it was the last. She drove to the judicial building, listening to a Jason Mraz CD Katie had given her. When the song ”I'm Yours” played, Rainey sang along and meant every word. It was her turn to win some or lose some. Rainey may have taught Katie to protect herself, but Katie taught Rainey a lesson or two about living life like there's no tomorrow.

Her mood was surprisingly upbeat, while James hooked up his surveillance gear.

”So, James, when I go to the bathroom, are you going to turn this thing off?”

James continued working, as he answered her question, ”If you need a moment of privacy, just say so. I will kill the video feed. I'll have to leave the audio on, so you can tell me when to reactivate the camera.”

”That's great. Everybody will hear me pee.”

James smiled up at her. ”It won't be the first time we've listened to someone go to the bathroom. Trust me, peeing is my least concern.”

The hubbub around her ceased, while the team went over the plans once again. Danny and Paula would stay in the van with James. Their job was to watch the people watching Rainey. Roger, Eric, and Curtis would split up and join the uniformed cops at both the front and back entrances. Detective Robertson reserved a table on the balcony where she could see most of the floor. She would also be carrying a signal booster for Rainey's equipment. The other women would go in as couples stationed around the bar. Rainey was covered like a blanket.

She knew the UNSUB wasn't going to take her in the bar, it was the ride home she worried about. Danny planned to follow her with the surveillance van, but it was still risky. The goal was to identify the suspect inside the bar, and pressure him into giving himself away. That was Danny's plan, anyway. Rainey's plan was to get him to follow her home, where she would dispense with him in short fas.h.i.+on. No trial, no jail time, no serial killer fans of his to come after her. No, this time she wouldn't be aiming for a leg.

At nine o'clock, Detective Robertson and the others left to go to the bar. Rainey was to follow an hour later. Danny remained behind. He would ride over in Rainey's car with her. Rainey paced around the room and fiddled with the earwig James gave her.

”You know this is going to be useless with all the loud music,” she complained.

Danny, who didn't look up from his computer screen, said, ”We've used that model before in loud settings. We got them after you left the Bureau. They work very nicely.”

Rainey ignored him and stuck the earwig in her pocket. She continued to pace. Danny called her over to his computer. He pointed at a satellite image on the screen.

”Brooks sent me the winter satellite images for the area around your house. It makes it easier to see the farm paths into the woods that connect to the road you'll be driving. Make sure you are aware of their locations. Now that the leaves have come in, he could hide in there and come out at you unexpected.”

Rainey glanced at the screen. ”Most of those paths have chains or gates across them to keep people out.”

Danny looked up from the computer. ”You just watch those paths. Anybody can get a bolt cutter.”

”I got it, Danny. I could drive that route with my eyes closed. I know what to look for.”

”Let's get him before it goes that far. Come on, it's time to go.”

”Give me a minute, will you? I need to call Katie.”

Danny stood and put his hand on Rainey's arm, as she reached for her phone. ”I'd advise against that. I talked to the agent with Katie when they moved the family to the hotel. It seems Katie and her sister Helena had quite a bit to drink at their father's party. Nothing good could come of you calling her now.”

Rainey thought about it and decided Danny was right. If Katie was still mad, the alcohol would definitely free up her tongue. Rainey didn't need Katie's stinging retorts in her head right now.

”Okay, let's do this,” she said, heading for the door.

Danny hesitated to move. He stopped Rainey at the door by saying, ”I know you're going to kill him if you get the chance. Just make it righteous, Rainey. Don't give me a reason to lock you up.”

”It will be a clean shoot,” Rainey said, smiling. ”Don't I look scared for my life?”

”No, you look h.e.l.l bent on someone dying tonight,” Danny said, still not moving.

Rainey opened the door. She turned back to Danny. ”Well, then your job is to make sure it isn't Katie or me.”

The area around the bar was packed with cars. Rainey was lucky Roger had staked out a parking place for her, in the lot next to the bar. She and Danny got out of the car and went their separate ways, he to the van at the end of the alley and Rainey to the front entrance. She slipped in the earwig and checked the feed.

”James, can you hear me?”

”Loud and clear, Rainey.”

The LCD sign above the entrance flashed the Feme Sole logo, interspersed with the announcement that all proceeds from tonight's door went to the families of Lisa Jones and Kim McNatt. From the looks of things, the lesbian community was more than willing to support their own. The line at the door disappeared around the corner.

”Okay, folks, let the show begin,” Rainey said, as she stepped through the line and walked up to the front door.

One of the girls taking up money and stamping hands was the same one Rainey saw yesterday. She nodded at Rainey, beckoning her to come on through. Rainey wasn't trying to hide who she was. It was a good thing, too. Heads all around the front room started to turn, as women poked each other and pointed. The lounge area was covered in lesbians of all sizes, shapes, ages, and colors. Women were draped on the staircases, leaning against the walls, eating at the tables, and crowded around the bar. Music poured over the balcony, thumping so loud, Rainey could feel it against her chest. Rainey took a second to let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room and the flas.h.i.+ng multicolored lights above her head. A thick haze hung in the air, not from cigarette smoke. Theatrical effect machines pumped artificial fog from the rafters. Laser beams sliced through the atmosphere, spilling over from the dance area beyond the doors.

Rainey scanned the room. She recognized one of the couples against the wall, as cops from Sheila's team. Rainey heard voices in her earwig. She pushed it down further in her ear in time to hear Sheila's comment.

”Agent McNally, we have a problem. If you'll check the feed on the door, just before Agent Bell entered the bar, you will see what I mean.”

Rainey covered her mouth with a fake cough. She asked, ”What is it, Sheila? I'm making my way to the doors now.”

”Don't come through the doors, yet,” Sheila said, quickly. ”Stop at the bar and get a drink. You're going to need it.”

Rainey moved toward the bar, saying, under her breath, ”Why? Who's in there, Cookie Kutter?”

She heard Danny exclaim, ”f.u.c.k me.”

”Come on guys, who is it?” Rainey implored, not worrying about people seeing her talking to herself anymore.

Danny spoke hurriedly, ”Rainey, get out of there. I'm coming in.”

”What the h.e.l.l, Danny? I'm not afraid of Cookie Kutter.”

Sheila b.u.t.ted in, ”Listen to him, Rainey. Walk away.”

”Who the f.u.c.k is it? Tell me now, or I'm coming through those doors... Danny?”

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