“I know. I wondered where you’d finally gone. I hoped it was someplace nice.”
She rubbed her cheek against his hand. “There was a moment this morning, after we’d… you know… finished. I looked up at you looking down at me and thought it might have been the most wonderful moment of my life. That’s where I went.”
His fingers tightened around hers. “Thank you.”
She kissed the back of his hand. “You’re welcome.”
They arrived at her bungalow, passing the unmarked GBI vehicle parked on the street. Meredith had left Bailey’s house with the two agents who would take her and Hope to the safe house after she’d gathered their things. One of the agents sat in the backseat, guarding Hope as she slept.
Daniel came around to open her door, then pulled her to her feet and into an embrace so tight, so huge, that Alex wished she could just stand there with him forever. She slipped her arms under his coat, around his waist, and held on. His heart was thundering beneath her ear and she understood she’d affected him on a level that was entirely new. Unfamiliar ground, he said… Could it have been only two days before?
Alex felt like she’d lived a lifetime in those two days.
Daniel pushed her hair away from her face, his lips grazing her cheek, making her shiver. Then he whispered in her ear, husky and hot. “This morning, Alex, what we did was not you know. We made love. And I’m not even close to being finished.” He tipped up her chin and pressed a hard fast kiss to her mouth. “If that’s okay with you.”
This was the bright light at the end of the tunnel. They had a chance to make something good out of so much darkness. “It is.”
“Then let’s go in.” He pulled away with a grimace. “I forgot all about Riley today. I’ve never left him alone so long before. He may have had an accident in your house.”
She smiled up at him. “It’s okay. I have renter’s insurance.”
His arm wrapped possessively around her, they walked to the front porch. Then as one, their steps slowed. Meredith stood in the middle of the living room, her arms crossed over her chest, scanning the room with weary futility. Everything had been ripped apart-drawers dumped, crayons littered the floor, and the sofa where they’d made love had been slashed, the stuffing everywhere.
“I don’t think my renter’s insurance will cover this,” Alex murmured.
Meredith looked up, her eyes narrowed. “Somebody was looking for something.”
Daniel stiffened. “Where’s Riley? Riley!” He ran into Hope’s room, Alex on his heels. The other agent was in there surveying a similar state of disaster. “Where’s my-?”
The agent pointed down where only a tail could be seen sticking out from under the bed, wagging like a metronome in slow motion. Daniel heaved a sigh of relief as he gently pulled Riley out. Riley gazed up with his sad basset eyes and Daniel cupped the dog’s head in both hands, scratching behind his ears. “What happened to you, boy?”
“I found a bowl on the floor in the bathroom, under the window,” the agent said. “The window was open and the bowl still had a little canned dog food in it.”
“I left a bowl of dry food in the kitchen. Riley can’t have canned food. It’s bad for his stomach.” Daniel’s jaw clenched. “Whoever did this drugged him.”
Alex checked Riley’s eyes. “He looks dazed. Would he have barked at an intruder?”
“Loud enough to wake the dead,” Daniel answered. “We need to get the food in that bowl tested.”
“Well, there’s quite a mess in the bathroom,” the agent said. “Doesn’t look like too much of the canned food stayed in him.”
Alex met Daniel’s eyes. “Could have saved his life.”
Daniel frowned. “What could they have been looking for?”
Alex stood and looked around the trashed bedroom with a sigh. “I have no idea.”
“They did the same thing in my room,” Meredith said. “Thank goodness I had my laptop with me. Where’s yours?”
“It was in the closet. Daniel, can you open it?”
He’d already pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket and slid the closet door open with one hand. It was completely empty. “What was on your computer, Alex?”
“Nothing, really. Maybe old tax returns, so they have my social and my address.”
“We can report it to the credit agencies tomorrow,” Daniel said.
Meredith cleared her throat. “Alex, where’s your thing?”
Alex looked at Daniel. “Is my gun still locked in your trunk?”
He nodded grimly. “Yeah. Although I’m sure they brought their own, just in case.”
Alex’s shocked gaze flew to Meredith’s. “If we’d been here…”
Meredith nodded unsteadily. “But we weren’t. And Hope’s safe. She may have to wear the same clothes for a few days, but she’s safe.”
“We can pick up what you need on the way to the safe house,” the agent said. “Everything here’s going to need to stay the way it is until we can process the scene. You want to call CSU, Vartanian, or should I?”
Daniel rubbed his head and Alex could see the headache lurking in his eyes. “If you would, I’d appreciate it, Shannon. I need to get Riley to the vet. There’s an all-night emergency clinic near my house.”
“I’ll make the call,” Shannon said. “You need help getting the pooch to your car?”
“No.” Daniel scooped Riley into his arms, settling the dog’s head on his shoulder like a baby’s. “He’s a lead butt, but I got him. Call when you get to the safe house, Meredith.”
“I will.” Meredith pulled Alex to her in a fierce hug. “When will I see you again?”
“Tomorrow morning. You’re bringing Hope in to do her hypnosis, right?”
Meredith’s nod was shaky. “I hope I can make it through another one.”
“You will. Thank you for being there with me tonight.”
Meredith faltered. “Alex…”
“Sshh. Hush now. You couldn’t have known. So let it go.”
“You call me when you get to Vartanian’s. I assume that’s where you’ll be tonight.”
“Yes. That’s where I’ll be.”
Athens, Georgia, Wednesday, January 31, 11:35 p.m.
Mack flinched, the buzzing of his cell phone startling him. Careful not to reveal his hiding place, he checked his phone and frowned. It was a text message from Woolf. He wondered if Woolf had followed him here. But he’d been careful. No one had followed him. And Woolf should be busy right now.
He opened the text message. Thanks for tip. Here at scene. Who is he? 2 much blood 2 see face. Need ID before 12 for a.m. edition.
He hesitated, then shrugged. Up until now the Woolfs had been able to reason that he might just be an anonymous tipper and not necessarily a murderer. It was his experience that people could tell themselves all kinds of things to make themselves feel better, and the Woolfs were no exception. Romney, Sean, he texted back and hung up.
The Woolfs might not leap to his command anymore. But he was almost finished with them anyway. He heard footsteps. A male voice. Female laughter.
“You should let me drive you home,” the man said.
“I’m fine. I’ll see you in class, okay?”
There were sounds of kissing, then a male groan. “I want you. It’s been three days.”
She laughed lightly. “I have a paper due tomorrow, so not tonight, big boy.”
Mack hadn’t anticipated she’d have companionship. Stupid move on his part. He fingered the safety on his Colt, prepared to do what he needed to do to get away. But the man just groaned and after another kiss, left.
Lisa got in her car, humming. She checked her rearview and pulled her car away from the curb. He let her drive a few blocks before coming up behind her like a thief in the night. He stuffed the handkerchief in her mouth and pressed his knife to her throat. I’m getting good at this. “Drive,” he said. Now this was going to be fun.