Page 22 of The Creekside Murder (Pacific Northwest Forensics #1)

She crawled onto the bed, fluffed pillows behind her and sat cross-legged as she slid her hand around the paper cup of steaming tea. “Fire away.”

“If you’re not up to…”

She sliced a hand through the air. “We both know we need to debrief here.”

Finn didn’t waste any more time. “He texted you from a different number during the vigil. The text you forwarded to me—was that the first one?”

“No. The first text was that it was getting rowdy here . So I knew he was in the quad or had been in the quad. When I asked him, he answered that he had left with a friend. And I knew then he was going to do something bad or had already done it. I fired off a million questions and he answered with the one I forwarded to you.” She slurped the tea.

“I really did try to get your attention before I went to the Art Garden.”

“I believe you. The scene was crazy. I didn’t even hear my phone ring. I did notice you leaving, though, and when I got that text, I figured it out.”

“I had my weapon with me, which I no longer have. I should’ve gone in more aggressively, but when I saw that woman…when I saw Gabby, I lost it. He took advantage of that and attacked me.” She tapped a fingernail against the paper cup and stared into her tea.

“What’s wrong?”

“He attacked me. He’s never done that before—the tires, the doll, even the discovery of Missy’s body—he never tried to physically harm me.”

“I hope you weren’t sitting around thinking you were safe from this guy just because he spared your life a few times.” He dropped onto the bed beside her, making her tea slosh in the cup. “He’s a psychopath. Now he’s a serial killer. He’s not rational.”

“I know, but why now? And why is he leading me to his fresh kills? It’s sick. I hate it.” She dropped her chin to her chest, and a tear rolled down her face.

“It has something to do with your sister’s murder. Maybe he’s a Plank fan. I know, I know. Maybe Plank didn’t kill Tiffany, but most people believe he did. This guy believes Plank was responsible for Tiffany’s murder, so he’s involving you.”

“I wish he’d stop.” She dashed her wet cheek with the back of her hand. “What about Gabby? Her name doesn’t start with an M , but did she work on campus?”

Finn’s eyes darkened and a muscle twitched at the corner of his mouth. “She worked at the ice cream shop. I saw her the day I talked to Deke. She popped her head into his office.”

Jessica clapped a hand over her mouth. “Does Morse know this?”

“I told him everything.”

“Those alibis. I hope the sheriff’s department is going to recheck those alibis. Deke has a brother, right? Maybe it was his brother in that bar at karaoke night while Deke was murdering Morgan. Maybe they look alike. Tiffany and I didn’t, but we had different fathers.”

“I’m sure Morse is on it.” He gave her a glance out of the corner of his eye. “He’s on you, too. He’s not happy the killer led you to two bodies.”

“ He’s not happy?” She thumped her chest. “How does he think I feel? I didn’t ask for this.”

“You didn’t see anything in the Art Garden?”

She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping one arm around her legs.

“I was so focused on Gabby’s body, I didn’t even hear him come up behind me until it was too late.

I was right at the edge of the fountain, giving him a perfect opportunity.

He rammed into me, pushing me into the water face-first. Before I got over my shock, he was holding my head down.

I saw black jeans, felt a gloved hand on my neck.

He was probably wearing a mask just in case he didn’t successfully kill me. ”

“Didn’t see any red scarf, hair color? Smells?”

“No, he wasn’t wearing cologne or aftershave. Hadn’t eaten any garlic or kimchi, either.” She inhaled her tea before taking a sip. “I just don’t understand why he tried to kill me.”

“Uh, because he’s a killer.”

“You know what I mean.” She yawned, the adrenaline of the evening finally dissipating. “I’m okay now. You can go home.”

“There’s no way I’m leaving you in this hotel room alone tonight.” He got off the bed. “I can sleep on the sofa in the corner.”

“With your legs draped over the edge?” She smoothed the covers beside her and then patted the bed. “If you’re staying as my protector, you can sleep in the bed. It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before.”

“Yeah, and I remember how that ended.” He toed off his sneakers. “I’ll swish some of your toothpaste around in my mouth, and then I’ll join you on the bed.”

The terror of the night had buried any lustful inclinations she might have had about Finn for the moment, but his presence made her feel warm and safe—and sometimes warm and safe beat out lust by a mile.

As Finn took a step toward the bathroom, his cell phone rang on the nightstand. He pivoted. “This time it’s my phone.”

While handing it to him, she looked down at the display and swallowed hard. “Unknown number.”

“Then I’d better take it.” He plopped on the bed next to her and put the phone on speaker before answering it. “Who is this?”

A low voice hissed over the line. “It’s your subject, Avery.”

Jessica hugged herself. His voice sounded even more sinister over the phone.

“How’d you get your hands on a cell phone, Plank?”

“Come now, Professor. You know by now a con can get anything inside—for the right price. I call you after midnight and you’re wondering how I got the phone?” Plank clicked his tongue. “You never stopped being a cop.”

Finn met Jessica’s eyes and rolled his own. “What do you want?”

“I heard all about the hijinks at Kitsap College tonight, Professor, and how Jessica Eller was involved…again.”

Jessica scooted closer to Finn and twined her arm through his. She didn’t like hearing her name on Avery Plank’s lips, even over the telephone.

Finn’s voice grew rough. “A woman was murdered, and another was almost murdered. I’d call it more than hijinks.”

“Of course you would. To me it’s a lark.”

Finn growled low in his throat. “What do you want?”

“If you’re still in touch with Jessica Eller, and I’m betting you are, you need to warn her.”

Finn squeezed her thigh. “About what? She already knows this killer has a target on her back.”

Plank chuckled. “I’m sure she does, but you’d better tell her to watch that target on her back very closely because I didn’t kill her sister. That guy’s still out there—and now it’s personal.”