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“I don’t. Just a guess.” He smacked both hands on the dock and pushed up to his feet. “Let’s get going before your toes turn to icicles.”
She shoved her feet into her hiking boots. “Warm and cozy now.”
He hovered over her, extending his hand. She took the offer, and he pulled her up beside him. He kept hold of herhand and with the other brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “I was scared as hell when I heard you scream. That few seconds before you answered your phone felt like minutes ticking by in my head while I imagined all sorts of things happening to you.”
“Instead of screaming, I should’ve gone after him. I had my gun. I knew he’d cross the creek. I could tell from his creepy laugh. Maybe I could’ve…caught him. Stopped him.”
He pinched her chin, his thumb almost touching her bottom lip. She closed her eyes, waiting for his anger to well up again, waiting for him to chastise her for her stupidity.
His lips brushed hers, and her eyes flew open. The tenderness that touch communicated melted the ball of fear and tension lodged in her chest, replaced by a deep longing. Before she could respond in kind, because oh, she did want to kiss him back, he drew away from her.
His voice rough, he said, “I’m glad you didn’t.”
Lacing his fingers with hers, he tugged her back up the dock toward the hotel. They dropped their beer bottles into the trash can in the parking lot, and he finally released her hand as they stood just inside the lobby.
She wanted to invite him up to her room, but that desire felt so wrong hours after discovering Missy Park crumpled at the side of the creek.
He made the decision for them as he turned toward the door. “Try to get some sleep. You’ll have a busy day tomorrow, and school is going to be a nightmare again. I haven’t forgotten about the card. I’ll have a look in the student store.”
“Thanks again for…following me. See, you’ve still got those instincts.”
He made a gun with his fingers and cocked it at her before heading back to his car.
She sighed as she crossed the lobby, and the hotel clerk called out to her. “Did you hear about another body down by the creek? Just like Morgan.”
“I did. Terrible news.”
“Be safe out there, Ms. Eller.”
“Oh, I will.” She patted the gun in her pocket on the way to the elevator. She’d be safe enough from physical danger, but keeping her heart safe from Finn Karlsson was another matter.
Chapter Nine
The following morning, Finn still had that kiss on his mind. He hadn’t wanted to take advantage of the situation, as Jessica had been shaken up by the discovery of Missy Park’s body.
What kind of sick game was this guy playing with Jessica? Why her? If he didn’t kill Tiffany Hunt ten years ago, he was obviously fascinated with the case, seeking to make Jessica a part of these current murders.
Finn could no longer ignore the fact that the person tormenting Jessica had killed Morgan and Missy. He had led Jessica right to his most recent trophy. That was no coincidence—he’d wanted her to find Missy’s body.
Finn knew the investigators were already trying to trace the number that texted Jessica last night. She’d turned over her cell phone to them at the scene, but she’d nailed it. The number would belong to an untraceable burner phone.
Finn hoped they’d find some useful evidence at the scene. If the killer led Jessica on from Morgan’s murder site to Missy’s, he may have left a trail.
Finn still had his contacts at the King County Sheriff’s Department where his father had worked as a deputy for fifteen years. That’s why the department had asked him tostand with them when Detective Morse held an information meeting for the students this morning. A sense of dread had crept over Finn as he had stared out at worried, fearful faces, many of them past and present students.
He hit the lights and locked up as he left his office. He had his own piece of the investigation to do today.
In the university bookstore, he took the escalator up to the student store and squeezed past a gaggle of people clustered around the energy drink display.
He located the carousel of cards in the back of the store and spun it around to find the sympathy cards. As he ran his fingers down the empty racks, someone bumped his elbow.
“Sorry, Dr. Karlsson.” One of his students hovered behind him, her backpack swinging in front of her. “Are you looking for a card to leave for Missy Park, too?”
“I…uh, yeah. Looks like they’re all sold out.”
The student, whose name he’d forgotten, dabbed the end of her nose with a tissue. “Maybe they never restocked them after Morgan’s murder. My parents want me out of here. Thought I’d be safer at this small school than at U-Dub, but Seattle isn’t looking so bad right now.”
“They’ll catch him, but in the meantime, stay safe. Don’t walk alone at night, skip the online dating for now. Did you know either of the women?”