“No,” Zello said. “Sorry. Is she another victim?”
“No.” Laurel stood. “Is it odd that you were the one who took Dr. Rox’s report all three times? I assume you’re not the only officer on duty here?”
Zello shook his head. “No. After the first time, she asked for me when she came in. I think she knew I believed her and wanted to help.”
That made sense. Laurel held the file folder against her chest. “You did a good job on this case, Officer Zello. In fact, I think you did the best you could without any support from the sheriff.”
Zello also stood. “Don’t tell him that. Besides, if I’d done a good job, Charlene Rox wouldn’t be dead.” His shoulders went back. “If I can do anything to help you find her killer, call me. Please. I want to help. She was really scared, man. Terrified.”
* * *
He meticulously made a notation in his notebook. She’d walked out of her building and down the icy sidewalk to get a yogurt. Why? Had she been hungry or had she needed to get outside, even though the weather was freezing? He’d watched her when he could for weeks, and this was the first time she’d ordered a yogurt.
Though she’d very often walked out of the place she worked to the little shop on the corner, she normally had a latte, muffin, or oatmeal. Not yogurt.
What a mystery she was turning out to be. Oh, she was an uptight and vicious bitch, but at least she was interesting. The satisfaction he’d felt at killing Sharon had disappeared surprisingly quickly. He’d been so aroused, had tried to share his excitement with her, but he’d failed. It had been her fault.
Then the world had gone black.
The rage had been so complete and so raw. He’d come back into himself to find her face gone and his gloves bloody. The darkness of the blood on his gloves had matched the flowers perfectly. The black dahlia flower—the beauty of betrayal.
Every woman was full of betrayal. It was all they knew.
Yet so was he. He’d learned from the best. He could put on a good face. Could mirror their actions and their movements. Even their damn emotions. They thought they were so fucking brilliant, but he was smarter than the smartest of them all.
His hands clenched in the cold. He’d had to destroy the gloves after taking away her beauty with his fists. So much stronger than she’d expected. But the rage had ruled; he hadn’t been able to enjoy the moments. Didn’t really remember them. But those gloves had told a story . . . a bloody one. So bloody he’d never be able to clean them, so he’d burned them out in the woods. Then he’d scattered the ashes and let her go for good.
She’d deserved to die.
Then the same thing had happened with Charlene. He’d thought she was stronger than Sharon, because she was definitely of stockier build. Like a purebred mare, but even so, he hadn’t been able to complete the act. He’d lost it again, and it had been her fault.
She’d ridiculed him. Fought him and then laughed at him. He could still hear the echo of her laugh. Maybe not during their last moments together, but she’d laughed at him from the first second they’d met. Of course, he’d laughed at her, too. The way she looked down at him and thought him harmless, and the unnatural way she thought of herself as so powerful.
Women were not powerful.
His current project held her head high and strode like another prized mare. Proud and intelligent with unearned confidence. She’d probably slept her way to her position, just like the rest.
They all deserved to die.
Bloody.
Chapter Fifteen
Genesis Valley Community College had been built when the lumber companies of the area were raking in cash, and they had contributed generously to the construction. Lovely wooden buildings made up most of the campus, with a few more recently built residence halls built of off-white stucco.
Faculty offices were housed near a wooded area in a two-story building that blended into the forest.
Laurel strode across the shoveled walk to the door. As she reached it, her boot caught on a chunk of ice and her feet flew out from under her. Just before she struck the ground, Huck caught her up, swinging her against his chest. She hit his muscled torso and let out a pained gasp.
Startled, she looked up into his dark eyes. “You have incredibly fast reflexes.”
“Came in handy when I was a sniper.” In addition to the impressive reflexes, his strength was something to admire. He held her easily against him. “You okay?”
“Yes. Thank you for catching me.” She wasn’t a woman who became flustered easily, but heat rose into her face now.
“No problem.” His gaze dropped to her mouth.
She caught her breath. They were fighting, weren’t they? Was he going to—
