Page 9

Chapter 9

An electronic chirp stirred Brenna from a wonderful dream in which a strong, sexy man held her throughout the night, keeping the bad guys away.

Faint fingers of light slipped in through the sides of the curtains, letting morning inch its way into a room she didn’t recognize at first. When the electronic chirping persisted, Brenna rolled to her back, memories of all that had occurred over the past few days flooding her mind. Where was that sexy stranger of her dream to rescue her from this nightmare?

“About time you got up.” Nick strolled into her room, wiping residual shaving cream from his chin with a hand towel.

“What time is it?” she croaked.

“Six-thirty.” He sat at the edge of her bed. “That was Melissa. She’s at the station, going through the news articles and video clips.”

How could he look so awake and perky, not to mention incredibly sexy with his bare chest and clean-shaven chin? She, on the other hand, probably had a terrible case of bed hair. Brenna wanted to slide further under the sheets, but he was blocking her feet. “Could you call her back and tell her to look for any articles pertaining to the victims?”

“Sure. I’m done in the bathroom. It’s all yours.”

“Thanks.” When she slid out of the bed, she noted that both pillows were dented. Had her dream been more than a dream? Her heart skipped into overdrive as she gathered toiletries and clean clothes.

Nick stared out the window, his cell phone pressed to his ear.

Not like Brenna would ask him if he’d slept with her. A girl should know these things, not guess or ask. For that matter, she didn’t recall getting herself to bed. She glanced at the laptop. The last thing she remembered was going over the list of names in the files.

With a glance her way, he nodded then turned back to his conversation. “Hey, Mel, while you’re looking for stories on arson, Special Agent Jensen wants you to look through the archives for any reference to our victims. Apparently, one of them was in the news recently. Pull anything you find. We’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”

Brenna shrugged aside her dream and trudged into the bathroom to repair her face and hair and scrape the layer of morning breath off her teeth and tongue. Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom.

With her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, and wearing black jeans and a black pullover sweater, she felt more presentable and less the tumbled bed-head. Not that she cared what Nick Tarver thought. They were here for the job, nothing else.

Heading straight for the coffee maker, she stopped to glance at the notes she’d made before falling asleep. Some of them she could read, others were scribbled and undecipherable. Her eyes had crossed with fatigue before she’d gotten halfway down the list of patients.

But there was a star next to one of them. She leaned close. Klaus. Her sister’s married name. There were probably a dozen or more Klauses in the German-Scandinavian town of Riverton. The name was as common as Smith or Jones.

“Anything interesting?”

Brenna jumped and fell back against a hard chest.

Nick’s strong arms came around her. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” His voice rumbled against her ear and the tantalizing scent of aftershave blended with coffee-scented breath.

A gulp of air caught in her throat. These were the same arms that had held her yesterday when she’d thought she’d fall apart, and they felt like the same arms that had held her in her dreams. Her world rocked, and it took a full five seconds before she could pull herself together and out of Agent Tarver’s arms.

“Interesting? No, not yet.” And really, she hadn’t found anything that had jumped out. “This’ll take time. We don’t really know who or what we’re looking for.”

“I’d start with any names you might recognize. The killer knows you.”

“Yeah, but there’s no guarantee I know him.”

“True.” He nodded at the laptop. “You want to bring that with us to the station?”

“You betcha. I have a lot more work to do, and I’m not letting that drive go up in smoke like Dr. Drummond’s office before I get a thorough look.” As Brenna gathered her computer and slid her arms into her jacket, she summoned the courage to say, “You know, I don’t remember getting from the computer to my bed last night. I must have been really sleepy.” There. If that wasn’t fishing for answers, she didn’t know what was.

“Yeah, you must’ve been really tired.” He headed for the door, no expression whatsoever on his face.

What was that supposed to mean? Did he see her go to bed or not? Brenna counted it off as not and breathed a sigh of relief. She’d hate to think he’d picked her up and carried her into her room while she’d slept like a baby. Not that he would, since it wasn’t part of his job.

Without waiting for Brenna, Nick pulled the door open and walked out first. “By the way...you snore.”

“What?” Her short-lived relief kicked up into a swarm of butterflies in her stomach.

“You heard me.” He didn’t slow down, just kept walking.

Brenna hurried to catch up, all her concerns about this stranger burbling up inside.

Snore?

“I do not.”

“Hey, boss, Agent Jensen.” Paul climbed out of his car at the same time as Nick and Brenna.

“Find anything at the doctor’s office?” Nick didn’t wait for his response as he hurried toward the station.

“Fire chief said there was some kind of electrical device in the plug with the computer. And get this.” Paul opened the door for them. “It triggered a short in the circuit that started the fire.”

Nick stopped short. “Sounds like our guy knows a little about electronics.” Interesting. He glanced at Brenna.

“I’ll add that to the list of things to look for in that patient file. I’m not sure the doctor would have made note of something like ‘not afraid to use knowledge of electricity to torch buildings,’ but you never know.” Brenna stepped around him and continued down the hall to the war room.

Nick followed her, liking the way her black jeans swayed side to side. Familiarity with the muscles beneath didn’t help his concentration. She’d probably be furious if she knew he’d carried her to bed last night. Not to mention having slept most of the night with her curled up against him.

No, Agent Jensen would not be happy. But Nick had slept a whole lot better knowing she was in the same room. Now, if he could just get the curve of her hips off his mind and get back to the business of finding one psychotic murderer.

“Nick, you gotta check this out,” Melissa called from the computer in the corner.

Nick, Paul and Brenna gathered behind Melissa and stared at the screen.

“I didn’t find any recent arson cases, but I found something more interesting. I did like you asked and searched on the victim’s names, starting with Dr. Gomez. Look at this.” Melissa clicked a button, and the screen displayed an online newspaper article with a picture of a smiling Dr. Gomez. The header read “Riverton Women in the News.”

Nick’s stomach clenched. “Any clues in the article?”

“None that I could tell, but wait, there’s more.” Melissa rolled the mouse over a saved website icon and clicked. A picture of Dr. Drummond flashed onto the screen. “You see what I’m seeing? Riverton Women in the News.”

Brenna leaned closer, her face pale and her eyes intent on the picture. “You think he’s targeting these women because they were in the news?”

“I don’t know, but it looks awfully suspicious.” She looked back at Nick.

“What about Michelle Carmichael?” Paul asked.

“She’s in there, too, a week after Gomez.” Melissa clicked and Carmichael’s photo appeared. “It gets worse.”

Nick was almost afraid to ask. “What do you mean?”

She clicked on another icon and a short list of names appeared with dates next to them. “These are the other articles under the same series.” She clicked again, and Brenna’s picture appeared.

Nick’s chest tightened and his glance shot to Brenna.

With her bottom lip caught between her teeth, she lifted her gaze to his.

“Sorry, Brenna,” Melissa reached out and touched her arm.

“For what?” Brenna attempted a smile. “This is probably the biggest break we’ve had yet. Good job.” She leaned close to the screen. “Who are the others?”

Before she could answer, Chief Burkholder walked in. “I’m glad you all are here.”

“What’s wrong, Chief?” Brenna asked.

“Might be better to ask what’s right.” He sighed and held out another evidence bag. “Two things. You got another letter, Brenna.”

The letter was one, but not what had the chief worked up. “What else?” Nick asked.

“We had another woman go missing last night.”

Angry heat spread through his body like liquid silver, and Nick clenched his hand to keep from slamming a fist into the wall. “Damn.”

Brenna raced from the room and returned with gloves and a mask. “Let’s look at that letter.” She pulled on the gloves and mask and reached for the evidence bag.

Inside, the letter looked like the previous ones—innocuous and so normal anyone could have sent it from anywhere in the city. As she took the knife Paul proffered, a chill skittered down her spine. What horrible things would he say this time? With a deep breath, she glanced up at Nick.

“Want me to do it?”

“No.” I want you to hold me again . The only place she’d felt safe in the past forty-eight hours had been in Agent Nick Tarver’s arms. The unbidden thought jolted Brenna back to reality and the room full of expectant law enforcement personnel. She dug the knife into the end of the envelope and ripped it open.

Her hands trembling, Brenna removed the sheet and read.

Think you’re smart? But I know more. Won’t be long to number four.

Brenna’s face paled, and she shook her head. “He’s going to kill her if he hasn’t already.”

Nick’s gut clenched into a hard knot.

“Who was the latest missing person?” Melissa asked.

The chief walked to the whiteboard and lifted a marker. “Willa Stinson, a local chemist at the Biolab.”

“Damn.” Melissa shook her head, staring at the computer screen. “Look at this.”

She clicked the mouse, and Willa Stinson’s face appeared in the Riverton Women in the News column. “If you follow the dates of the articles, he’s moving in order of appearance. And there have been two more articles since Willa’s.”

“Oh my God.” Brenna sank into the seat beside Melissa. “Who’s next?”

She clicked the next article in the list, and a young woman’s face appeared. “Robin Rutledge, Senior at Riverton University, and all-around perfect student.”

“He’s going to kill a kid.” Paul’s mouth twisted into a snarl. “The bastard.”

“No, he’s not.” Nick banged his fist on the desk and the computer rocked. “We’re going to put twenty-four-hour protection on the girl and find the son of a bitch before he hurts anyone else.”

“I’ll assign a patrol to the girl.” Chief Burkholder hurried from the room.

“Paul, get out there and interview everyone in Ms. Stinson’s neighborhood. Note anything, even the most minute and trivial recollection. Ask them if they’ve seen anyone coming, going, lurking or casually strolling past the woman’s house in the last week. And find out where Victor Greeley went after he left the Rusty Nail last night.”

“Who’s he?” Paul asked.

“He’s one of the guys in Dr. Drummond’s files. We ran into him at the bar and grill around the corner.” Nick’s gaze sought Brenna’s.

Hers was intent, waiting. Did she think he’d tell the others all about the little scuffle? He broke eye contact, a little disappointed she didn’t trust him. “Melissa, work with the chief to warn Robin Rutledge. I don’t want to lose another woman to this psycho.”

“Yes, sir.” She went back to the computer and clicked several keys. As the printer beside her engaged and several sheets of paper emerged, Melissa turned back to Nick, her gaze darting from him to Brenna. “Something else you need to know.” She lifted a sheet and crossed the room to hand it to Nick. “Special Agent Brenna Jensen is the last one in the group of articles.” Her lips twisted. “Sorry, Brenna.”

“Don’t sweat it. I’m not. We knew I was in his crosshairs from day one.” Her chin tipped up. “I’m not running scared from him. I’m going to work.”

Nick almost smiled at her back as she walked to her laptop.

“The lady has spunk,” Melissa murmured.

“Yes, she does.” And Nick was getting too familiar with it, along with those smooth curves, tight muscles and...

An elbow to his gut made Nick grunt.

“Oops, sorry,” Melissa said, her look implying anything but an apology. “Careful, Nick. She’s likely to crack that I’m-all-about-the-case veneer. How long has it been since Trish?”

Nick frowned. “None of your business.”

“Still, it’s about time you thawed a little and gave yourself another chance.”

He tore his gaze from Agent Jensen and straightened. “It’s not in the job description.”

“Sometimes, you have to say, ‘what the hell’ and go with your gut.”

Nick rubbed his belly where Melissa had elbowed him. He couldn’t remember when his gut had been more knotted, and he had a feeling it all had to do with one North Dakota Criminal Investigator. But he wasn’t ready to admit to that.

Melissa dropped into the swivel chair. “What’s wrong, Nick? Worried you’ll fall like a ton of bricks?”

“Shut up, Melissa.”

She smiled and turned to the computer. “Just calling it like I see it.”

“Stick to the work, Bradley. You’re not ready for a career in counseling.”

“Chicken.” Her lips curled in a knowing smile.

Nick turned his back on her and hurried from the room. He needed coffee. Lots of coffee.

The files were cryptic, and Brenna had difficulty deciphering some of Dr. Drummond’s notes, but with a few calls to Mrs. Keckler, she learned enough to get a picture of each patient’s concerns and diagnosis.

One by one, she worked through the male names first, scanning for any clues. She didn’t know what she was looking for, but maybe something would jump out.

When Brenna got to Klaus, she opened the file. The notes indicated a couple seeking marriage counseling. Brenna stopped when she got to the couple’s name. Stanley and Alice. Brenna sat up straighter. Could it be? Her sister and brother-in-law had the perfect marriage. Why would they have sought counseling? No, surely this troubled couple was another by the same name. She clicked on the address to be sure, her hand shaking as she moved the mouse—214 West Nodak Street. Her sister’s home.

Wow. Her sister’s perfect marriage wasn’t so perfect after all.

Instead of being elated by this little piece of information, she felt her stomach roil as if it fought to digest a lump of clay. All these years, her mother had told her Alice’s marriage was perfect, and it wasn’t. Alice was human like Brenna. Instead of vindicating her, the knowledge led to another conundrum. What should Brenna do with this information? She didn’t like prying into her sister’s troubles, but if Alice was having difficulties, maybe she needed her sister’s help, a shoulder to lean on.

How could she bring up the subject with her sister if she was never supposed to know anything was wrong? Patient confidentiality was sacred, and her sister's marriage had nothing to do with the murder case.

Still...

Brenna glanced over the notes, guilt weighing like a lead blanket on her chest. She had no right to pry into her sister’s private life.

She closed the file and moved to the next one.

After several hours pouring over cryptic notes and psychiatric jargon, she had only two names that stood out. Victor Greeley and Jason Conlin. Both had been Dr. Drummond’s patients, they had notes in their files about potential violence and both rang a bell with Brenna.

She found Nick in Chief Burkholder’s office using the computer. “I have a couple names we should check out.”

“Okay, shoot.” He stood and stretched. The circles under his eyes were more pronounced than earlier this morning. Nick Tarver hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, and the way things were going, wouldn’t until they solved this case.

Brenna suddenly wanted to reach out and smooth the lines across his brow but resisted. “As you know, Victor’s wife accused him of going out every night and fooling around on her. However, she also complained of the occasional smacking around.”

“So, your friend likes to hit other women, not just you?” Nick asked.

Brenna frowned and started to say something.

But Nick went on, “Paul reported in twenty minutes ago. He said Victor didn’t go straight home last night, and he doesn’t have any witnesses who can vouch for him. Bears looking into. Who else?”

“Bart Olsen was not in the database, but he’s been locked up for the past twenty-four hours.”

“I think that rules him out. Our chemist’s disappearance last night puts Bart in the clear. He should be released.”

“Then there’s a young man, Jason Conlin. He knows Robin Rutledge. Seems he beat up on her once during college. I also had a run-in with him a couple of years ago when I pulled him over for DUI. Definitely another worth looking into.”

“I’ll have Paul and Melissa take Jason. You and I are going after Victor. Are you up to a little stakeout?”

“On Victor?” Brenna asked.

He nodded.

Victor, the lying sleaze-bag? “You betcha.”