Page 24 of Scorched (Killer #2)

“Will do.” Melissa jerked her head toward the door. “ But right now, you need to get back to Breuer. Elise will be biting her nails until you get there. After seeing the writing on the wall, I don’t blame her.”

“I know. She says she doesn’t like me hanging around, but I think she feels safer when I’m there. She’s more afraid people will start asking questions and find out about her past.”

“It’s a tough past to live with. But maybe if she would let her secret out, others around her would be on the lookout for her and keep her all the safer.”

“It’s hard convincing her.” Paul paced the length of the office again, needing the release of exercise or hitting something, someone.

“Okay, tough guy. If you think you’re needed here, why aren’t you sitting at your desk pushing paper like a good supervisor should?” Melissa’s words acted as a finger poked in a wound, gouging a hole in the thin veneer of reason he kept on his tightly strung control.

Sitting behind his desk would make him want to crawl right out of his skin, and damned if Melissa didn’t know that. He couldn’t leave Elise exposed to whoever was killing women in Breuer. “I’m going back to the school. I have a feeling there’s something we’re missing.”

“How so?”

“The first note appeared in her box at school.”

“Did you find out how it got there?”

“No. Elise didn’t want me nosing around the school, alerting the staff to her situation. But I want to know how that note got in her box.” Paul glanced at the paperwork piling up on his desk, a twinge of guilt eating at his gut, but not enough to stop him.

“Leave the drudgery.” Melissa waved at the documents and reports. “It’ll still be there once we’ve apprehended the Breuer Killer.”

“You sound confident we’ll get him soon.”

“I know you,” Mel said with half a smile, “and you’ve got that look in your eye.”

“What look?”

“That look you get when you’re on the trail of someone and won’t let it go until you find him.”

Paul shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He stepped out of his office, Melissa following close on his heels. “So tomorrow, while I’m out of the office, you’re going to keep up with Cain.”

“Yes, sir.” Mel followed him. “You know, I’ve never known a person Paul Fletcher couldn’t get along with.”

Paul strode past Cain’s empty desk, noting the papers stacked in neat piles and the pens standing in an FBI coffee mug.

The guy liked things orderly. If he handled his cases like he did his office, he’d be thorough.

So why was he skipping out on his assigned duties?

Paul made a mental note to review Cain’s past cases to get to know his style more and have a talk with him in the morning. He wanted his people to work as a team.

“I have another assignment for you this afternoon. I told Elise and the boys that you would be at their house when the boys get off the school bus. She insists on being at the school for parent-teacher night. ”

Mel’s brows rose. “What do I know about babysitting boys?”

“About as much as I do.”

Mel lifted her chin. “Why don’t you pick them up?”

“I’m going to the school to keep an eye on Elise.”

Mel grinned. “You get the girl. I get the kids. One of the perks of being the boss, right? Just don’t take all night, will you? I might have had plans.”

“It’s business,” Paul insisted. Although what they’d done last night had nothing to do with business. His jeans tightened at the memory. “And you? Plans? When was the last time you had a date?”

Mel bristled. “I’ve had dates.”

“Yeah? When?”

“Well, I could have had a date if I wasn’t working.” Mel’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “Okay, so I haven’t had a date in a while. What’s it to you?”

Paul shook his head. “Just be there, will you?”

“Yes, boss.” She pulled her gun from inside her jacket, checked the clip and slammed it back into the handle. “I guess I can pick up pizza on the way. Kids like pizza, don’t they?”

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like pizza. Leave the stinky fish off.” Paul smiled at Mel as he shot through the door leading out of the office. “Thanks, Mel. I’ll let you know if we’re going to be really late,” he called out over his shoulder.

“Don’t worry about us. I can come up with something to do with the boys. ”

“Just don’t let them play with your weapon. And keep a close eye on Luke. He’s got a habit of sneaking out the back door.”

She grinned. “Check.”

“I’m headed over to the coroner’s office to check on our latest victim.”

Melissa shook her head. “Shame about Mary Alice. She was only twenty-six. I did a background check on her boyfriend. He came up clean.”

Paul snorted. “So did Stan Klaus.”

“How are you feeling now?” The school nurse pressed a cool compress to Elise’s forehead as she lay on the couch in the nurse’s office.

Principal Ford poked her head in the door. “How is she?”

Elise pushed to a sitting position, removing the compress from her forehead. “I’m fine. Really. I should get back to my class before they destroy my room.”

Principal Ford waved a hand. “I got Coach Hensley to stand in. He’ll have them bench-pressing their desks to keep them busy.” Her smile went a long way toward making Elise feel more at ease. The older woman nodded at the nurse. “Could we have a few minutes?”

The nurse glanced at Elise. “I’ll get you a bottle of water from the lounge.”

“Thanks.” Elise gave the woman a wan smile, her gaze following her out the door. She wished she could escape as easily. It seemed as though the time for confession was upon her.

Principal Ford took the seat across from her and leaned forward, her hands clasped, elbows resting on her knees. “What happened?”

Elise hated lying. “I got light-headed and must have passed out.”

“Elise, I know something is going on. For the past few days, you’ve been pale, tense and jumpy. If there’s anything you’d like to tell me, maybe I can help.”

If only she could. “I’m not getting much sleep.” That wasn’t a lie.

“Does it have to do with the man that keeps showing up around here?”

Elise’s eyes widened. “What man?”

Principal Ford frowned. “The one who got Caesar to back down in your class the other day. You know, tall, blond and gorgeous. He showed us his badge in the office. FBI.” She paused, giving Elise all the opportunity she needed to spill her guts.

But she just couldn’t, could she? She sat silently biting her lower lip.

“Is he really your boyfriend or is he here on official business?”

Elise smiled for the first time in what felt like days, her cheeks warming at the images of what they’d done on her couch last night. Paul had obviously told the office staff he was her boyfriend to avoid generating suspicion. “He’s really my b-boyfriend.”

“Are the incidents with Caesar getting to you?”

“No, although that was pretty scary.”

“Rumor has it he threw a brick at your car. Is that true?”

Elise shrugged. “I didn’t see who threw it.”

“If we find out he did it, we can press charges.” The lines in Principal Ford’s forehead deepened.

“I don’t like it when my teachers are threatened or hurt by students.

I won’t tolerate it. His parents have been notified that upon his return from suspension, Caesar will be placed in the alternative center until his attitude improves. ”

“For his sake, I hope he returns. He needs an education. All teens need an education.”

“I wish they could see that as clearly.” The principal sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lumped all the hard cases in your final class of the day. Between Caesar Valdez and Ashley Finch, you’ve had more than your share of trouble.”

“I can handle them.”

“Yeah, but you shouldn’t have to handle Ashley’s mother. The woman is a force to be reckoned with. If she even hints at anything resembling a threat, a reprisal or a lawsuit, you bring it straight to me.”

Elise gave her boss a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

Principal Ford sat back in her chair, pressing her fingertips together in a steeple.

“You know, Elise, I’ve liked you from the start.

That’s why I hired you. You’re fresh, personable, and interested in making a difference with the students.

I’d like to think you could confide in me and let me help you with any issues you might be having here at school or even outside of school. I only want to help.”

Ready tears welled in Elise’s eyes. For a moment she teetered on the verge of telling the other woman everything, right down to the note in her mailbox, but reason took hold, and she straightened.

“Thanks, Principal Ford. I’ll keep that in mind.

I’m sorry for the spectacle I must have made in my classroom. I won’t let it happen again.”

Principal Ford rose and crossed to Elise, extending her hand to help her up from the couch. “You can’t help it when you aren’t feeling well. If you’d like to take the rest of the day to recuperate, please do. I can get a substitute in.”

“No. I think I’ll be fine. I must have skipped breakfast this morning.

A little food in my stomach and I’ll be fine for the rest of the day.

Besides, this evening we have parent-teacher conferences scheduled.

I can’t miss those. Most of my students are doing well and their parents need to hear that from me. ”

“They’ll understand if you’re not feeling well. I can stand in for you.”

“No, really,” Elise said, “I feel like such a bother already.”

“No bother. I just don’t want to lose one of my shining new stars. It’s hard to find high school teachers who can inspire their students and who actually care whether or not they learn.”

“Thanks for your confidence in me.” Elise leaned across and hugged the other woman. Maybe someday she’d share her secret with her. Just not now.

Principal Ford hugged her back, then pulled away, brushing a hand over her blazer. “Remember, my door is open if you need anything. Anything at all.”

I need more than you could imagine just to survive this ordeal . “I’ll remember.” Elise left the room and went in search of her two pupils with a disk she needed back in her possession ASAP.