Jesus, there’s two hunting her.A chill creeps up my spine.
This isn’t just about protecting a witness anymore. I care about her—way more than I should.
Needing her closer, I tug her hips until she drops on my lap.
Eyes wide, she cups my beard with both hands. “Don’t you see? This proves I wasn’t lying. You can get them to drop the charges… right?”
That raw hope nearly shatters me. I wish to God I could lie.
“Babe…” I swallow. “I didn’t see him.”
“Why can’t I ever catch a break?” Backbone stiff, she jumps to the window, as if she could conjure evidence out of thin air.
“Don’t.” I yank the curtains shut. “He could still be out there.”
For a moment, I consider calling Hunt, but it can wait. Other than footprints, there’s nothing new.
Besides, we’ll both probably think straighter with some food in our stomachs.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you happen to see him?” The front right burner on high, I glance over my shoulder.
She’s already tearing into a box of mac and cheese.
“Couldn’t miss him. Becca didn’t need to pee—she was trying to warn us.” After pouring the noodles into the pan, she leans down to pat my dog.
The star of the hour wags her tail, flashing a toothy doggy grin.
Minutes later, we’re sitting in front of steaming bowls of cheesy noodles when my message notification pings.
“What now?” She lowers her fork while I read the text.
“DNA results are in.”
“And?” Her chair scrapes on my old plank floors as I open my laptop.
“Says here the stalker’s name is Diego Carmine. Former Army Ranger, dishonorably discharged over twenty years ago. Psychiatric history flagged. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies. IT professional. Works remote. Keeps busy—church, youth groups, hiking clubs. Motorcycle enthusiast. No spouse. No arrests.”
I open the image of his driver’s license and tilt my screen toward her. “Is that him?”
“Yeah. It’s him.” Biting her lower lip, she lifts her eyes to mine, then drops them to the floor.
Whatever’s going on in her brain, it probably doesn’t bode well for me.
“Listen… about the sex.”
Ah shit, babe. Don’t say it.
“It doesn’t have to mean anything, okay? We’re adults. We’re attracted to each other. No need to go changing your Facebook relationship status.”
Normally, my ego might take a hit, but this isn’t about us. It’s about a cold blooded killer coming after her.
Rather than call her out, I simply grunt.
It seems to do the trick.
Shifting gears, she points at my screen. “See these two murders? They don’t match. Neither victim was killed hiking in the woods.”
No, but if the ex-Ranger had gotten off a shot, hers wouldn’t’ve been flagged as a part of a pattern either.“This guy adapts, switches things up. The only common thread is the stalking.”
