Page 138 of Secrets Beneath the Waves

Two cruisers passed her, heading toward the building. As soon as his colleagues arrived, Dante took them up in the elevator, filling them in on the situation as they rode. After unlocking the apartment and showing them around quickly, he handed the keys to the woman he’d spoken to at Jules’ place. “Need me to stick around?”

She shook her head. “Nah. Your shift is over. We’ll take care of this. Given the last two places the suspect showed up, I doubt we’ll find much, but we’ll give it our best shot.”

“I know you will. Do you mind giving the keys to Mona when you’re done? I’ll get them tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

She’d gone out to the balcony before Dante reached the exit. If anyone could find a clue as to the killer’s identity, it was these guys, although his colleague might be right about him being too smart to leave any sign he’d been there. Still, the man was playing with fire, showing up at Jules’ home and now her friend’s place. Sooner or later, he would make a mistake and they would nail him.

Until then, Dante would do everything he could to keep Jules safe whether she wanted him to or not.

CHAPTER

NINE

Her stomach clenchedas Jules pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine, which ticked her off. This guy was seriously starting to make her mad, turning her life upside down the way he had. Even so, she had promised Kelli she’d be careful, and she intended to keep that promise.

She might even keep her promise to Dante and consider staying somewhere else for a few days. A hotel, maybe, since she wouldn’t put anyone she knew in danger by leading the murderer to their door.

Jules grabbed her bag from the passenger seat before climbing out. She jumped when a dark, shadowy figure on the sidewalk moved.

Before she could cry out or grab her phone, the man lifted a hand. “Sorry, Jules. Didn’t mean to scare you. Just taking George for a quick stroll before bed.”

The tightness in her muscles eased. One hand pressed to her chest, she made her way down the driveway to talk to her neighbor from across the street and give his beautiful German Shepherd a pat on the head. Scott was a nice guy, if a bit too interested in what everyone else on the block was up to. “No problem, Scott. How’s Lisa feeling?”

“She’s much better. Over the worst of the cough, which is good, since it kept us both awake the last few nights.” He glanced up and down the street. “Speaking of which, where’s your friend tonight?”

The knots in her stomach twisted tighter. Had Scott seen the murderer lurking around her place? “My friend?”

“Yeah. Tall guy. Dark hair. Gray Mazda. We noticed he’s been parking in front of your house, although he doesn’t usually pull up until after midnight and he’s gone by five am or so. Not our business, of course, as long as you’re okay.”

A gray Mazda? The knots loosened. Not the killer then. Dante. What in the world was he doing parking in front of…No. The man had staked out her place every night since she’d seen that face in her window? No wonder he had shadows under his eyes. He had to have barely slept in days.

How was she supposed to feel about that? Would he return tonight? If he felt the need to as long as she was at home and the killer remained at large, she would have to seriously consider leaving until all of this was over, for Dante’s sake as much as her own.

Before she could make a firm decision, she needed to get to her computer. She slid the key into the lock and turned it. Pushing open the door, she listened a moment before stepping in. Silence. Wouldn’t hurt to do a quick walk around like she had the other night, though. After locking the door behind her—making a mental note to get a deadbolt or two to increase security around the place—she strode from room to room, checking every window as she went. No sign of the man or any indication he had come here again.

Thankful there was no second story to worry about, Jules headed for the living room couch and her computer, still on the coffee table where she had left it.

She worked her way systematically through all the sites she wanted to ensure that psycho could never infiltrate. Thankfully, she wasn’t on social media much, so it wasn’t all that painful to shut down her accounts. She changed the passwords on her banking site and anything else personal or sensitive.

By the time she got to her email, she could barely keep her eyes open. All those files that held carefully stored messages, bills, invoices, notices, income tax receipts. She’d have to save the important ones before she changed her address and started over with a new account. As soon as she got home from work tomorrow, she’d do that.

Speaking of which… Jules turned her wrist to check the time. One am. Her alarm would go off in five hours. Better try to get some sleep.

He doesn’t usually pull up until after midnight. Her neighbor Scott’s words drifted through Jules’ mind. Was there any chance Dante was parked out at the curb right now? Trying to get a little sleep in the uncomfortable front seat or maybe attempting to stay awake in case anyone showed up?

She had to check. It might not be the smartest move, going outside in the middle of the night. Still, if Dante was out there, Jules needed to convince him she was fine, and he should go home and get some sleep.

After tugging on her sneakers, she grabbed her jacket, slid it on, and then unlocked the door. She stepped onto the porch and peered into the shadows. Although the closest streetlamp was half a block away, Jules could make out the shape of a dark sports car parked at the curb.You’ve got to be kidding me.Wrapping the jacket tighter around herself, she stalked to the street, rounded the rear of the car, and came up next to the driver’s side window. Aware that she could very well be on full display for her neighbors right now, she rapped her knuckles against the glass.

Dante jerked as though he had actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Even in the dim light, she caught the sheepish look on his face when he rolled the window down. “Hi.”

He was still in his uniform, which meant he’d come here straight from work. “Don’thime. What are you doing here?”

“Neighborhood watch?”

She let out apfftbetween her teeth.