Encouraging the woman would be a mistake. “No. You’re not the only person with multiple degrees. Please answer.”
“Oh no, not yet. It’s my turn. Tell me about the love kiss on your neck.” Abigail clasped her hands in her lap. “Is he the animal he appears? He did bite you.”
Any information Laurel gave to Abigail could and most likely would be used against her in the future. Even so, she needed answers as well. “I’m not willing to discuss personal matters with you.”
Abigail’s chin firmed. “It’s okay to like it rough. Some of us do.” Her voice lowered conspiratorially. “It’s not like we’re from pure stock. Daddy’s heart was black as the devil’s and twice as thick, and we do come from him. No matter what your earth-loving, moon-worshiping, mother has told you. Rough can be good. Very good.”
“Please focus on the matter at hand.” Laurel’s ears began to ring and her anxiety clicked up several heated measures.
“I am. If my baby sister is drawn to the dark side, I can only be of help.” She winked. “There’s a bruise on your left wrist. Did he pin you down?”
She’d gotten the bruise smashing her own arm against the wall when lost in the throes of an orgasm. Laurel flashed back to the passionate night, knowing the hint of violence between her and Huck had only increased her desire for the former soldier. “Do you think Davie could be a killer?” She might as well get down to business.
Abigail’s gaze remained on the bite mark. “Of course.” She lifted her eyes, nailing Laurel with intensity. “Can’t we all? Take you, for instance. You can put yourself right into the mind of a psychopath, and you’ve convinced yourself it’s because of your intelligence and experience. And yet, what if that’s not it?”
Laurel decided to play along while ignoring the quickening of her breath. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning . . . perhaps you are a psychopath. You’ve convinced yourself otherwise and imitate emotion well, but is it real? Do you trulyfeelwhat you want to feel?” Abigail’s lips twitched, and the pink gloss shined in the light. “You think you’re awkward with people because you attended university so young and didn’t have normal relationships with peers. What if you’re awkward because you’re trulydifferent? You don’t feel or think like they do.” Her voice lowered even more and the slight British accent emerged. “What if your awkwardness is actually psychopathy?”
Laurel barely kept her interested expression in place. Abigail had zeroed in on her biggest fear. “Are you talking about me or yourself?” Now her own voice lowered.
“We’re the same,” Abigail countered. “Of course, I would’ve bitten the good captain back. I don’t believe you did so.”
How had she lost control of this conversation? “Tell me about Davie or get out of my office.”
“Now, now. Let’s not get testy,” Abigail purred. “I’m here trying to make a connection with you, and girl talk about Huckalishous is one way to do that.”
Laurel drew in a heated breath. “You can’t connect, Abigail. You know you can’t, but that’s okay with you. Connections aren’t what you want.” Anger trilled through her veins, and she didn’t push it away. “People mean nothing except for how they intrigue or entrain you, and this is just another game or study for you. That’s all. Don’t think for one second that I fail to see the real you. You’re correct in that I am intelligent and well trained, with experiences that give me nightmares, but Idoconnect with people. I feel to a degree you can’t fathom because it’s out of that realm where onlyyouexist. We are not the same.”
Abigail sprang to her feet. “Do you think it’s because of your mother? Because she was present during your childhood?”
“Maybe.” Laurel could be that honest with her. “I don’t know.”
“Well. How is Deidre lately? She seems both likeable and lost, if you ask me. Like somebody who’d spook easily.” Abigail brushed an invisible piece of lint off her jacket.
Laurel’s body chilled as her mind filtered through Deidre’s latest fears. “Is that a fact? Have you been harassing my mother to gain my attention?” Or to force Laurel to remain in town?
“Harassing? Of course not.” Abigail brushed the air with one hand as if to push the idea away, but her eyes gleamed. “Why would I do that?”
To show that she could? To prove that Laurel needed to stay close to protect her mother? Laurel stood and planted both hands on her desk. “Do not leave footprints around my mother’s vehicle again, do not follow her around, and do not try to scare her. Ever.” Laurel had feared she’d have to protect her family from this new half sister. “We both may favor logic, but I’ll destroy you if you hurt my mother. Hard and fast and with a viciousness even you couldn’t match.”
Abigail’s smile showed too many teeth. “Again, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but your point is well taken.” Her tone was coy. “However, do not for one second consider rejecting me as a sister.”
Laurel straightened. “Why not?”
Fire splashed across Abigail’s high, smooth cheekbones. “You would not like the result. At all.” She grabbed her purse and spun out of the room, clipping rapidly down the hallway and through the door.
Laurel sank back to her chair, her entire body shaking. Heat blasted from the vents pointed at her, but she didn’t feel the warmth.
What had she just done?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Huck stopped by Monty’s office on his way out. “Hey.”
Monty looked up from his computer, his eyes bloodshot. “Hey. Where are we with the investigation?”
Nowhere good. “Now with warrants, we’re heading out to search the other greenhouse owned by the first victim, and the Seattle FBI is searching Dr. Rox’s shared workspace at the hospital.” Huck motioned for Aeneas to sit. “You don’t have to be here if you’d rather rest.” The radiation treatments were obviously taking a toll.
