Mark kneeled down in front of her, his hands sliding to her knees. “The mind has a strange way of sensing danger. I’m not dangerous to you. You have good instincts. I’m sure, had I been someone else, you would have been alert well before you were.”
His words didn’t support what he had said to her in the past. “But you don’t believe in instinct, remember?”
Mark gave her a reassuring smile. “Not in myself, but I’ve learned to trust yours.”
“Don’t,” she said flatly. “I’ve done nothing but get us all in trouble.”
His fingers tightened on her legs. “That’s far from the truth. You were right all along. If people would have listened to you, things might have been solved a long time ago. People like Greg, who hid the facts for personal gain, caused this hell.”
The intercom went off. “Steve is here,” Judy stated.
“Send him in,” Mark said, and then returned his focus to Lindsey. “Don’t start doubting yourself. We need your instincts more than ever.”
Lindsey smiled but didn’t say anything. Mark straightened to his full height and with his normal grace moved to the office door and opened it. Steve stood there about to knock. Mark offered him his hand. “Glad you’re here.”
Steve stepped into the room, his eyes on Lindsey “You can’t seem to get rid of this particular case, can you?”
Garth walked through the door directly behind Steve, and shook Mark’s hand. He gave Lindsey a quick nod. She tried to smile, but couldn’t. “What do you think, Steve?” she said, wanting to get on with finding answers.
“I have the flower being taken to the lab right now,” he said walking towards her and sitting down in a chair.
“We won’t find anything though,” Garth added. “You know that. No florist tag, and Judy said the delivery person wasn’t more than fifteen or sixteen. Probably grabbed off the street and paid to bring it up.” Garth sat in the chair next to Steve.
“Did you read the card?” Steve asked.
Lindsey swallowed back the queasiness that was lifting to her throat. She could feel the eyes of the room watching her. Steve pulled a piece of paper and slid it on the desk in front of her. “I wrote down what it said. The lab will, of course, need the actual card.”
She read it in silence, Mark walking behind her to lean over her shoulder.
Ring around the rosy
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes they all fall down.
I knew you would come back. Tonight we celebrate.
Lindsey pressed her palms on the desk, trying to hide the way they shook. Mark squeezed her shoulder in silent support.
Steve reached for the piece of paper as if he was afraid Lindsey would read it again. “His fixation on you is confirmed.”
Lindsey’s hand closed down on the paper. “No. Do you understand what he is saying . . .” She looked around the room. “Tonight we celebrate. He plans to kill another woman.”
“Tonight,” Mark said.
“But not you,” Garth said quietly.
Lindsey focused on Garth. “How do you know?”
“Instincts,” he said. “You’re not the only one who follows them. It’s not you. He’s toying with you.”
Steve looked at Lindsey. “The words ‘ashes to ashes’ and the choice of the posy are both symbolic of death.”
“What are the chances he will harm Lindsey?” Mark asked.
Garth responded again, “I don’t think she’s in immediate danger. Right now he appears to be enjoying the game.”
“But,” Steve interjected, “we can’t take chances.” He jabbed a finger at the note. “He could be talking about Lindsey.”
“Either way,” Lindsey said, “he plans to kill again tonight.”
“Any evidence found at the apartment?” Mark asked.
Steve looked at Mark. “Nothing helpful, I’m afraid.”
Lindsey’s mind was racing. “He’ll go to the Pink Panther to choose his victim. I’m sure of it.”
“It fits,” Steve said. “The question is, will he expect us to be there?”
Steve looked from Mark to Lindsey. “Will he, Lindsey?”
Lindsey thought a minute. “If he’s been watching me, which we have to assume he has, then yes. He knows I have been there and that I know it’s his place.” She paused. “He knows I know.”
Mark shook his head. “It’s going to be impossible to catch the guy. He probably picked the victim weeks ago. I can’t believe he will grab her at the Pink Panther.”
Steve replied, “He might. These guys get bolder and bolder.”
Lindsey tapped her fingers on the desk. “We need to throw him a curve ball.”
The room fell silent while everyone fell seemed to consider her words. “Me,” Lindsey said, unable to think of anything else. “I’m the curve ball. The last thing he will expect is for me to come walking into the Pink Panther. His attention will turn.”
“Oh, no, forget it!” Mark declared, his face etched with tension. “You are not going to be the lure for some psychotic killer.”
Lindsey bit back the nasty retort that formed on her lips. He was just worried. “Mark,” she said. “We’re talking about stopping this guy once and for all. I’m trained to deal with this kind of thing. That other woman he plans to kill isn’t.”
Garth’s eyes were alert but he kept quiet. Steve exchanged a glance with him and then gave Mark a level stare. “Look, I know how worried you are, but Lindsey is a trained professional.”
Mark started to protest, but Steve held his hands up stop-sign fashion. “Wait,” he said. “Hear me out.” Mark exhaled, his eyes hot with anger. Steve continued, “Lindsey is more to me than a job. She’s a friend. I don’t like this one bit, but it makes sense. We need to save lives.”
Mark practically yelled his response. “She’s a damn target for a serial killer.” He walked to the window, giving them all his back. As if he needed distance to calm himself.
Lindsey and Steve stared at one another. “Why don’t I go back to my office and give you two time to talk.” Steve pushed to his feet, followed by Garth. “Call me when you make a decision, but we don’t have much time.”
Lindsey nodded. “We’ll call you soon.”
The two men left without another word, pulling the door shut behind them. Mark kept his back to the room. Lindsey approached him and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his back. “Thanks for worrying about me.”
Mark turned to face her, his hands on her waist. “Please don’t do this.”
She cupped his face with her palm and he rubbed his jaw against her hand. “Mark—”
“You’re going to, aren’t you,” he said, taking her hand in his.
She gave him an understanding look. “I have to. Other people could die if I don’t.”
“There has to be another way.”
She tried to make him feel better. “I’m a trained professional, and if it will make you feel better, I will tell them if you aren’t in the observation van I won’t do it.”
He nodded. “I definitely want to be with you.”
Lindsey gave him an understanding smile. “We better go to Steve’s office.”
Mark cursed. “I have to be in court in an hour. It won’t take long, but nevertheless, I have to go.” He paused. “I don’t like the idea of you going anywhere alone right now.”
“Mark—”
He raised a staying hand. “I know,” he said. “You can protect yourself. You’re a trained professional.”
“I’ll meet you at Steve’s. Call me when you get out of court.”
* * * * *
As soon as Mark was gone, Lindsey grabbed her purse and headed out the door.
She needed to go by her apartment and grab a few things. It had been days since she had restocked. She needed clothes desperately. Digging her cell out of her purse, she dialed Steve’s desk, figuring he was already back in his office. “Bryant here.”
“Oh, Garth, hey. Is Steve around?”