“I’m going to assume it was in a corner with no cameras,” Autumn replied wryly.
Tracy nodded again. “Damnit, the name is right on the tip of my tongue.” Her eyes were wide, face pale as she looked at Autumn. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could be more helpful. Normally, I am but—”
“Tracy, you’re fine, I promise,” Autumn squeezed the woman’s shoulder. She stood, and the woman followed suit. “You have been more than helpful. I can finally create a more complete profile of my suspect.” Tracy had a troubled expression as she bit the inside of her lip. “I’m just sorry you had to dredge up painful memories.”
Tracy gave Autumn a tight smile, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.”
Autumn knew better, though. This woman may have a spine of steel, but her husband, a police officer, was going to notice the difference when she went home.
“I’ll get that name to you as soon as I can.” She shook her head, “God, I need to change the name of my store now.” Her nose scrunched up, and when they resumed walking back toward the trail’s entrance, she looked at Autumn, “Why did he never come back and finish the job? Why did he let me go?”
“I’m not sure,” Autumn wondered the same thing. Why not finish the job he started? Why let her get away? “We don’t always understand the way a killer’s mind works. The reasons behind a sociopath’s murders are complex at best.”
Tracy nodded.
Autumn had a few ideas, but they blanked as she narrowed her eyes at the man leaning against a Lamborghini in the parking lot.
A smirk curved one side of Scala’s lips, his indigo-colored eyes brightened on her. He stood a tad straighter .“Buonasera,Miss Taylor. Are you enjoying the views of this beautiful city?”
“I was,” she muttered.
“Damn, do you know him?” Tracy’s gaze ping-ponged back and forth between Autumn and Scala.
Autumn momentarily forgot where she was and who she was with. She turned back to Tracy with a wry smile. “Unfortunately.” She cleared her throat and turned away from the incorrigible man leaning against the expensive red car. “Thank you again, Tracy.” She slid a card from her pocket, and handed it to her. “If you can remember anything else, let me know.”
After Tracy got in her car and drove away, Autumn took her time walking toward Scala. A tight smile tilted her lips up. “It’s not even five, and here you are.”
“I had a change of heart.” His eyes moved down Autumn’s body like a caress.
Goosebumps covered her shoulders. Instead of reacting, she lifted her chin, “You had me followed.” She cocked her head to the side where the car with Newspaper Guy was still nearby. “It would explain how you found me so quickly.”
He had that innocent expression she was coming to recognize. “What makes you think I had someone follow you?”
A dry laugh cracked between her lips. “Oh, Scala—"
“My name is Nico, Autumn. You can stop calling me by my last name.”
“Scala,” she purposely used it again to irritate him.
His eyes followed her lips.
She licked them and glanced at his. The sound of a car moving over the gravel turned her head. It was another dark-haired, olive-skinned man. He looked between Autumn and Scala and waved to Nico through the window.
Autumn turned back to her tormentor with a pointed expression, “I’m guessing that’s not one of Casale’s men?”
His lips twitched. He watched the car pass, and a sarcastic smile spread across his lips, “They wouldn’t step foot in Boston if their life depended on it.”
“Why not?”
He looked at Autumn, then at his watch. “Why don’t we get out of here? I have a dress in the car for you.”
Smooth Scala, real smooth.
She followed and he opened the door for her. She sat and when he started the car, she waited until they were on the road. “So where are we going that I need a dress?”
“Dinner.”
This made her pause in putting her seatbelt on. “In the city?”
