UNMASKED: Sequel to Behind the Mask Read online

  CHAPTER 1

  2 weeks later…

  Detective Weston was at the police station, catching up on old case files when Special Agent DeGrazerio, rushed in and announced. “Just heard from Quantico, they identified one of the dead gunmen.”

  Weston briefly glanced up as he handed him a stack of papers then loudly stated, “John Bettencourt.”

  Weston quickly read through them and commented, “His rap sheet is a mile long, just like Schaffer’s.”

  “Now we have two men to tie together, which is good,” remarked the agent. “But absolutely no criminal record for Matthews.”

  Weston stared at a photo of Liam’s driver’s license, still unsure if suspicions were warranted. DeGrazerio sat down and with his arms tightly folded behind his head, he muttered, “Everything comes out clean, but I’d be willing to bet we can link him to Schaffer and Bettencourt.”

  “Or maybe he’s not involved at all,” chimed Weston. The agent shook his head, not agreeing. “No, I feel that heist has Matthews written all over it.”

  “He has no record, and for all intense and purposes, why would he have to rob banks?” scoffed Weston. “He’s got a decent paying job plus comes from a wealthy family, just don’t see any reason why he’d pull a heist.”

  DeGrazerio got pensive then suddenly blurted, “I know why.”

  “Why?”

  “For the thrill.”

  The detective rolled his eyes. “He’s robbing banks for the hell of it?”

  DeGrazerio laughed, “No, he’s robbing them cause he gets off on it.”

  Weston looked at the driver’s license again, remembering back to how Liam made no qualms about disliking his parents. That gave him pause, thinking maybe it was possible that Liam had an alternative lifestyle, which involved criminal activities, a sort of harsh payback to the parents he despised.

  DeGrazerio suddenly snapped his fingers while calling out to one of the secretaries sitting nearby. “I need you to dig up all of the unsolved local bank robberies and jewelry store heists in the last three years.”

  Weston questioned, “You think this crew committed other jobs?”

  The agent nodded, as the secretary asked, “What specifically do you want?”

  “Surveillance videos, physical evidence, witness reports, and anything else you’ve got,” the agent replied. “Thanks.”

  After she had left to retrieve those things, DeGrazerio turned to Weston. “I know you have a soft spot for Catalano, and you don’t think she’s involved, but her relationship with Matthews, whatever it may be, makes me think she’s knee deep in this shit, whether you want to believe it or not.”

  Weston sighed, because though he didn’t doubt her, Degrazerio obviously did, which was worrisome.

  Remi sat in Olivia’s office, along with four other assistants, obtaining details about an upcoming benefit being thrown by the Denton Foundation. Specific tasks had been handed out to each of the young women; Remi’s was to seek donations for a silent auction. She was excited because this was the first time Olivia was giving her such a big assignment. As soon as the meeting dispersed, she looked over the list of potential donors, and one name immediately caught her eye. Penny Matthews. Seeing it, instantly made her think of Liam. Of course, she didn’t need an excuse to do that. It wasn’t as if she spent every waking moment thinking about him, but he was never far from her mind. Constant reminders always seemed to be around. It had been three weeks since he left, and life, as they say, went on. Of course, she often wondered what he was doing and where he was. His lack of communication didn’t help as he had sent her exactly three short notes, just to let her know he was alive and well. She never read anything more into those notes being that the sender was, after all, Liam. His trusty sidekick, Chris, would give her updates here and there as Liam would check in with him to make sure she was all right. However, for some reason, Liam didn’t call or text her himself, not that she reached out to him either. She couldn’t exactly be mad at him, more like just frustrated. Having no clue where he was at that moment, the one thing she was sure of, he still wasn’t in Philadelphia.

  It was almost five o’clock, so Remi stuck the list into her purse then headed out. The short trek to the train station was a pleasurable one, as Mother Nature gifted the city with a rare winter treat of fifty-five degrees. As soon as she sat down on one of the few empty seats left on the passenger packed train, she pulled out the donor list. Penny Matthews’ name stood out like a flashing neon sign. The thought of meeting this woman caused her to feel nervous yet thrilled at the same time. Remi stared at the name and pondered what their encounter would be like, this preoccupation lasted the entire ride. Her fascination with a woman she’s never met remained on her mind while she walked home. Of course as of late, home consisted of Melanie and Justin, who had practically become their third roommate. Remi was happy that Melanie found love and genuinely liked Justin, but his constant presence could be a bit much. Thankfully, she had a saving grace—Liam’s apartment. When he offered it up, she didn’t think she’d actually take him up on it, but the past couple weeks it had become a godsend. She popped in her place just long enough to say hello and pick up a few things. She didn’t need much because she wisely began keeping things at Liam’s, so she didn’t have to lug all her stuff back and forth.

  After chatting with Melanie for a couple of minutes, she ventured next door. The first thing she did after entering, was kick off her heels and slide her tired feet into her favorite pink fuzzy slippers. She then hit the refrigerator, which was now fully stocked and removed an already prepared salad along with Fat-free Italian dressing. Instead of the table, she opted to eat in the living room, but first, she cracked opened the sliding glass doors. A cool yet comfortable breeze sneaked through as she sat on the couch and flipped on the television. As she waited for her Macbook to boot up, she took a few bites of the salad, and read the rest of the names on that list. She soon began emailing each name, in an attempt to set up appointments. Thankfully, Olivia had given her a standard format to follow. Things were moving along smoothly until she got to Penny. Having left her name until the very end, she typed up the generic information but hesitated to send it. There it was, Remi’s name plastered in the introduction of the message and at the bottom. She wasn’t sure why exactly but wondered how Liam would react to this. On the one hand, he wasn't there, by choice, so he had no say in the matter, and it was for her job. But on the other, meeting his mother, technically behind his back, knowing how he felt about her, felt like a betrayal. “Dammit!” she hollered, standing up abruptly.

  Leaving the email draft unsent, she strolled out onto the balcony and leaned up against the railing. Looking out towards the city, she searched for some guidance. “Will you be mad if I meet with your mom?” she asked, feeling silly talking as if he was standing right beside her. After uttering that question, she had a serious ‘what the hell’ moment. “He’s not here; he left—remember that,” she berated herself for even caring what he thought.

  She strolled back inside, opened up her purse and removed three neatly folded notes from Liam. She also pulled out her Glock 26, which happened to be a newly purchased gun, since she didn’t feel comfortable using the same one she had used to shoot Tom. A slightly smaller model, it still packed a mean punch. Not that she thought she would need it, but liked having the power and ability to protect herself. In fact, Liam’s absence had toughened her up to some degree. Plus, having the gun didn’t hurt. Often hitting the shooting range to hone her skills, the sharper she got, the more badass she felt. If only Liam could see her now, she thought as she opened the first note. It arrived exactly a week and a half after he left.

  Dearest Remi,

  Hope things are well. I’m up north at the moment, not sure how long I’ll be up here, but checking a few things out. I watched your video online. You did a great job. I also appreciate that my name was only mentioned once. I’m sure they tried hard to bring it up more than that, but never doubted you would
do your best not to let that happen.

  Remember if you need anything, just call.

  Sincerely,

  Liam

  All she could do was shake her head at the vagueness. He’s traipsing all over the country, doing God knows what. His line about needing anything only made her try not to need him, a sort of reverse psychology in her warped sense of reality. Of course, she needed him and wished he was back in Philly, but wanted to prove to him and herself that she could function just fine without him. A part of her believed she was accomplishing that. While another part, desperately wanted to call him.

  The second note arrived a week later, and it was very short.

  Dearest Remi,

  Not much going on with me. Heading through the mid-west for a few days, things up north didn’t pan out and felt it was time to move on. Hope things are well with you.

  Call me, if you need anything.

  Sincerely,

  Liam

  She thought that one was definitely colder than the first one but still took it with a grain of salt. Because she knew he wasn’t going to divulge much in a note, he was too smart for that. So, she tried her best not to take offense to the lack of substance. Often reminding herself that Liam kept his emotions in check and even when he displayed a rare glimpse of his vulnerable side, it didn’t last.

  The most recent note came yesterday, but the tone was quite different from the other two.

  Dearest Remi:

  I’m in the south now, seeking much-needed solitude. Talked to Chris the other day, he said you were doing well. Glad to hear that.

  Take care,

  Liam

  This note she analyzed ad nauseam. The tone of it, a significant departure from the other two, especially the lame ‘take care’ part. It sounded as if he had no plans of ever coming back. And though before leaving, he didn’t put a timeline on his trip, she held out hope he’d be back sooner than later. Unfortunately, after reading that, those dreadful doubts emerged with a vengeance. She solemnly sighed as she placed the three notes next to the computer and stared at the unsent email message. Her finger hovered over the trackpad, her mind flip-flopping, to send or not to send. A second later, she uttered, “Screw it,” and off the message went.

  Within minutes she received replies from a couple of recipients, stating they were interested in meeting with her. Happy to get some positive responses, she shut the computer down and headed into the bathroom to wash up. When done, she used a bleach wipe to clean the area around the sink. Not that she was sloppy per se, she just respected it was still Liam’s apartment. Knowing he preferred things spotless, she conscientiously cleaned up after herself, most of the time, anyway.

  Just before getting situated on the couch, she realized she’d forgotten her pillow and didn’t feel like going next door to get it, so she decided to use one off of Liam’s bed. That of course, required her to actually enter the bedroom, something that she had neglected to do in all the times of staying there. There had never been any reason to go inside; she also didn’t feel it was right. However, she needed the pillow, and the pillow was on his bed. She just needed to muster up the nerve to open the door and enter. When she finally tiptoed in, as if she’d be caught doing something wrong, she waited a few seconds before flipping on the light. The room was exactly how she remembered it. With the bed neatly made and everything in its proper place. She was half-tempted to toss a coin on it, being almost 100% positive it would bounce. The closet doors to her left caught her attention, and the desire to look inside was highly tempting. It would be inappropriate to snoop, she thought, but couldn’t help being curious. So, without even debating it, she slid open the six-panel bi-fold doors, and there in front of her was a closet full of Hugo Boss and Armani designer suits, pressed shirts, and pants, all uniformly lined up. The clothing was mostly all black, dark grays, and navy blue. Running her fingers down one of the gray suits, she envisioned him wearing it, which only made her miss him even more. She giggled at how silly it was touching his clothes, though it didn’t stop her. As she continued to feel the sleek fabric, she marveled at his exquisite taste in style and designers. He always looked so polished and well put together, she thought then sighed. After getting lost in a sea of suits, she shut the doors then walked over to the bed and tentatively sat down on it. Sliding her hands over the smooth black Egyptian cotton sheets, conjured up the morning after she had downed numerous shots of tequila at the bar and Liam allowing her to sleep in his bed. She smiled at the sweet gesture, and what a gentleman he had been that night. The longer she sat there, the more tired she got, and without thinking, she just collapsed back, crawled under the sheets, and rested her head on the pillow. As she lied there, she wondered what Liam was doing at that exact moment. That didn’t last long, because her eyelids grew heavy and she soon lost the battle to stay awake. And for the first time since she’d been using his place, Remi slept in Liam's bed.

  An inebriated Liam stumbled into his Miami hotel suite, completely hammered from a beach resort party he had regrettably attended. Having played it smart for weeks, he decided to kick back and just let loose, but it was at that party where he ran into his ex-girlfriend Zoe and tossed all good judgment aside. To make matters worse, in a rare moment of weakness, he invited her back to the hotel. Zoe had made herself comfortable while Liam retreated to the bathroom, to presumably hide. The instant they exited the taxi, he began rethinking the invitation. Not that things were all bad regarding their past relationship. She was the only woman he ever dated that knew about some of his extracurricular activities. But she didn’t care as she was obsessed with him from the second they met three years ago in New Hope, Pennsylvania. A tall, thin, brunette with big brown doe eyes and long, curly hair, Zoe was nothing short of stunning. The two complimented each other well, physically that is. From outward appearances, they were the perfect couple, but underneath the surface, he was too complicated while she was too lazy. With zero ambition, she opted to mooch off Liam, hoping to become his trophy wife. Needless to say, she was devastated when he broke things off, but running into him in Miami and being inside his hotel suite, Zoe was hoping they could rekindle what they once had. Liam stared angrily into the mirror and asked, “What the hell are you doing?”

  He then splashed cold water on his face, attempting to sober up. As the droplets dripped down his cheeks, he braced his hands on the white marble sink and looked into the mirror one more time. Though still partially drunk, his mind was more lucid now. He waited about five minutes before exiting, and when he did, Zoe was pouring Chardonnay into two wine glasses. Liam immediately put up his hands. “I think I’ve had enough.”

  “Just one little sip won’t hurt,” she purred, trying to slip a glass into his hand but spilling it all over his shirt instead. “Oh I’m so sorry,” she said deviously, dabbing it with a cloth napkin. He stepped back from her and stripped off his t-shirt. “Look, it’s been great seeing you again, but it’s probably best you leave,” he said, tossing the shirt on the floor. “Leave?” she questioned, while her eyes scanned his bare torso, realizing just how much she missed him. “We have the whole night ahead of us,” she said, inching closer towards him. To which he swiftly backed up a little. “I’m not going down that road again.”

  She made a sad puppy face, purposely playing him. Only to find out, he was just as cold as ever. “Well, I see you haven’t changed,” she said, sounding defeated. There was no acknowledgment from him. So, she gave it one more shot, by sidling up to him, counting on her sex appeal to ignite something inside of him. “It’s just one night,” she whispered. He sighed but not in a good way. Not the response she had been hoping for, she harshly remarked, “An hour ago you were laughing it up, getting drunk, just having fun, now you’re back to brooding and boring.”

  Liam uttered a smug, “Whatever.”

  She studied his serious expression for a moment, and convinced he was hiding something, she boldly asked, “Is there another woman?”

  Liam’s knee j
erk reaction was to state no, but though she wasn’t in his life the way Zoe was implying, Remi was definitely the woman she was sensing. “Not like you think,” he replied. Disheartened at the thought that Liam could have possibly found that rare woman who succeeded in thawing that icy heart of his, Zoe asked, “So, you’re not in a relationship with this alleged woman?”

  He shook his head and replied, “No.”

  With a raised eyebrow, she questioned, “Why do I get the feeling you want to be?”

  Defensive as usual, Liam was quick to debunk that theory. “You’re wrong; I don’t want to be in a relationship with her or anyone for that matter, you of all people should know that.”

  “You can protest all you want, but this woman, is definitely on your mind,” she said, tapping her index finger on the side of his head. He laughed it off. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Knowing there was no chance they were going to have sex, she grabbed her purse and conceded, “I’m jealous.”

  “Why?”

  “Because this woman has clearly left her mark on you.”

  He smirked, “Her mark, huh?”

  She nodded, while he just wickedly grinned. She then suddenly spotted the now healed four-inch scar on the lower left side of his abdomen. “Does that have anything to do with her?”

  He subconsciously glanced down then surprisingly replied, “Yes.”

  Zoe immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion, “Oh my God, she attacked you?”

  He busted out laughing.

  “When I said she left her mark, I didn’t mean literally,” cried Zoe.

  Still laughing, Liam assured, “She didn’t do this to me.”

  “Let me guess, she had or has a boyfriend or possibly a husband that came after you because you two were having an affair.”

  Liam sighed. “Where do you come up with this shit?”

  “Well then just tell me what happened,” she demanded.