“He still deserves due process.”I press my fist to my mouth, biting the knuckle.
Mina snorts, but Hamish assures me, “Rex will handle him with care.He’s our best lead in the case.”
“And the sooner we get answers, the sooner we can catch BK,” Mina says.
I hope she’s right.This will get us closer to our goal.But I’m not okay with crossing this line.I wanted Rex’s help, and I’m grateful for it, but that means doing things his way.I know how far he’s willing to go.I don’t want him to kill anymore, but in the heat of the moment, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop him.
“I’ll message Rex for an update,” Hamish says and heads off to his own computer console, leaving me alone with Mina on the line.
“How was the party?”she asks.“Other than the whole getting-another-letter-from-a-serial-killer thing.”
“Fine.I’m glad it’s over.”She’s trying to distract me, but I need to focus on the case.“What have you found out about Ted?”
“He’s not a reporter.He freelances as a photographer for theNew Rome Post.You know, the sort of paper that publishes stories about alligators in the sewers.”
I close my eyes.“Great.”
“The Postis a sensational rag that barely rates being called a newspaper, and Ted isn’t exactly a model employee, but it was enough to get him a press badge tonight.”
Exhaustion hits me, and I sink into a swivel chair.I’m still in my gold dress but wrapped in Rex’s suit jacket.I didn’t take the time to change, claiming I wanted to get down to HQ right away.In truth, I wanted to keep wearing Rex’s jacket.His scent surrounds me and might be the only thing holding me together.I couldn’t think of a better excuse to keep wearing it and couldn’t bear to give it up.
So much for me being a brilliant detective.I’m unraveling, barely able to do my job.I let my serial killer husband hunt down a prime witness while I clutch his suit jacket like a safety blanket.
Mina’s still talking, giving me the rundown on Ted.“—a ton of debt.It’d be easy to bribe this guy or threaten him.He might not know anything.But then again, he might.”
“Guess we’ll find out.”I can’t stifle a yawn.
Mina hears it.“You should sleep.It’s late.”
“I’m good.”I don’t know if I can fall asleep.I miss Rex like a phantom limb.He’s the only one who can comfort me.Not sure when that happened, but it has and it frightens me.It’s not safe for me to need anyone.How did I get in so deep?
“I’ll keep you company,” Mina says.“You still haven’t told me the whole story about why you got married.”
I rub my eyes.“It was a spur-of-a-moment thing.He thought it would keep me safe.”
“Huh.Ted still got close to you.”
“Yeah, but it probably was a lot harder than it would have been a week ago.”I hate having my movements constricted, but Rex has gone all out to make me safe.And I do feel safer.For the first time in my life, I’m able to fall asleep without checking the locks and security system twice.
“True.And now you have more resources to follow up on leads.”
“A little-known perk of being a billionaire’s wife.”
“Speaking of perks, I have to thank you for my new digs.”
I search my tired brain and then remember the gift I was going to use to lure Mina out of hiding before Rex beat me to it.
“How did you find it?”she asks.“It’s seriously perfect.”
“Hamish helped.”
“Sexy moustache man?”
“Oh gods,” I guffaw, looking around.Hamish isn’t in my line of sight, but he’s somewhere in this cave.“Mina, you’re on speakerphone.”
“I don’t care if Butler Daddy hears me.He looks so deliciously stern in all his photos.Like he’s the type to keep a stiff upper?—”
“Mina!”
