by Lara Lacombe
“Do you think Jenny was her real name?” Quinn’s quiet voice interrupted Rebecca’s thoughts, and she turned to look at him in the golden glow of the afternoon light.
Rebecca blew out a breath through pursed lips. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about that, and it’s possible she lied. Based on what her neighbor said, it sounds like she was on the run from something. Maybe she gave a false name to try to protect herself.” The medical examiner had entered her DNA sequence into the normal databases, but nothing had popped up. Jenny hadn’t been running from a criminal history, but there were other kinds of trouble that a person might want to escape.
“That makes your job more complicated, doesn’t it?”
She nodded. “Yeah. But I’m going to let the police take the lead now. Hopefully, they can find out more based on the information we gathered today.”
“What about the second victim?”
“That’s a little harder.” Rebecca had hoped to identify both women, but no one they’d spoken to today had recognized the other victim. “Maybe she’s from a different town?”
“Anything is possible. Do you want to try another place tomorrow?”
She frowned, considering her options. She was torn between two competing desires—to identify the second victim, and to scout more of the trails Quinn usually patrolled, in a bid to anticipate where the killer might leave another body. “Let’s see if the police can take over the search for now,” she said, thinking out loud. “There are more of them than us, and they can split up and cover more ground than we can.” Some officers could also go back to Terlingua and try to learn more about whom Jenny had been with in her last days—she’d probably met the killer in town, which meant someone must have seen them together.
“What’s on our agenda for tomorrow then?”
“I want you to take me on some of the other trails you spend time on,” she said. “Walk me through a basic tour of your day. I want to know where you go and what you see. The killer knows your schedule, which means I need to as well.”
Quinn swallowed hard. “You think he’s going to strike again.” It wasn’t a question.
Rebecca nodded. “I do. Guys like this don’t just stop. He’s going to keep going until we catch him.”
Quinn was silent for a moment, and she could tell he was shaken by the situation. Her heart went out to him—it wasn’t easy to be the one to find one murder victim, let alone two. And the knowledge that he was somehow tied up in this whole situation had to be disturbing at best.
Brandon would have known what to say. He’d always been good at putting people at ease. It was one of the qualities that made him such a fantastic interrogator. But he wasn’t here and never would be again. She was on her own.
“What time do you want to start in the morning?”
“The sooner the better. Before it gets too hot.”
Quinn nodded his assent. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to join her for dinner—he looked like he could use the company and, frankly, she wouldn’t mind having someone to talk to, either. There was something about Quinn that made her relax, that eased the knot of tension she seemed to permanently carry in her chest. It was the strangest thing, the way his presence made her feel...safe.
Brandon had done that for her. When she’d been with him, she’d felt like nothing could go wrong. His murder had shattered those illusions, and ever since then, she’d felt raw and exposed. She hadn’t expected to ever feel secure again, which was why being around Quinn was such a revelation. Was this simply the next stage in her healing process, or was there something special about Quinn that gave her peace?
It wasn’t fair to compare the two men, and truth be told, they were quite different. She was still getting to know Quinn, but she already recognized he lacked Brandon’s easy smile and ready charm. Quinn had a quiet charisma that was more subtle. He could put people at their ease, but she suspected he could also use his large size to intimidate. Brandon hadn’t been as tall or strong as Quinn—he’d spent his time behind a desk rather than hiking and patrolling the land. Quinn’s physical efforts showed in his toned arms and flat stomach, and Rebecca would be lying to herself if she pretended she hadn’t noticed.
“Would you—” He paused, then shook his head. “Ah, never mind.”
He seemed suddenly shy, and she recalled his words about Rebecca from their initial interview, which now seemed so long ago... I was so nervous around her that if it had been up to me, I’d probably still be searching for the courage to ask her on that first date.
Did he want to have dinner with her, too? Or was she simply misreading the situation? Only one way to find out...
“I’m hungry,” she announced. “Would you join me for dinner? That is, if you have room in your stomach after today’s lunch.”
Relief flashed in his eyes, followed quickly by a grin. “I think I can eat something. If you’re not too sick of my company yet.”
She shook her head. “Hardly. Why don’t I follow you back to town?” She would have preferred to ride with him, but this way he didn’t need to make a trip back out to the park to drop off her car.
“That works. I know just the place.”
He waited while she climbed into her rental and got things started. Then he turned onto the main road that led back to Alpine.
It’s not a date, Rebecca told herself as she followed. Just dinner between two colleagues. Because that’s all they were to each other.
And all they ever could be.
* * *
This is...nice.
In truth, it was more than just nice. Having dinner with Rebecca was proving to be one of the most enjoyable things he’d done in recent memory.
Quinn had taken her to one of his favorite places—a little hole-in-the-wall Tex-Mex restaurant. It wasn’t much to look at from the outside, but their salsa was to die for, and the tamales were out of this world. Even though he was still feeling a bit full from the monstrosity of a burger he’d tackled earlier, he couldn’t resist ordering some queso dip for them to share.
“This is fantastic,” Rebecca said around a mouthful of food.
He smiled, happy to know she was enjoying her dinner. “You can’t come to this part of the country and not enjoy Tex-Mex,” he said. “Even people who don’t like Tex-Mex have to admit it’s pretty good out here.”
They spent most of the meal chatting, the conversation light and casual. It was eye-opening to see a different side of Rebecca. Most of the time they had spent together, she’d been focused on the case. Now, her intensity was gone, replaced by a lightness that he found refreshing.
And very attractive.
If he’d thought she was pretty before, seeing her laugh made him realize just how beautiful she truly was. The light over their table made her eyes shine and her skin glow and turned her hair the color of a desert sunset. He could have stared at her all night, soaking up this side of her.
He found himself leaning forward, unconsciously trying to get closer as she told a story about one of her friends back in Virginia. Her body language mirrored his own, and he suddenly realized that to an outside observer, they probably looked like a couple on a date.
The thought sent a little jolt down his spine. He’d been on a few dates since Ashley’s death, but none had ever gone this well. He felt a connection to Rebecca that had been lacking with other women. Maybe he’d tried to move on too quickly, or perhaps Rebecca was simply special. Either way, this dinner was going to make it hard to keep his developing feelings under control.
But it doesn’t matter how I feel, he realized. Rebecca was a professional, there to do a job. His fascination was one-sided, and he wasn’t going to make things awkward for her by admitting to or acting on his attraction. Besides, if he let himself really fall for her, he was only setting himself up for pain later, when she left to go back to Virginia. He
’d experienced quite enough heartache in his life already—he wasn’t going to sign up for more if he could help it.
The waiter brought their check and he grabbed it without thinking. Rebecca eyed him over the rim of her glass. “Still not gonna let me pay?”
Quinn shook his head. “Maybe next time.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” she replied. “Both the promise of a next time, and the fact you agreed to let me pick up the tab.”
A jolt of pleasure went through him at her words. In another time and place, he might have thought she was flirting with him.
It’s not a date, he told himself sternly. Sure, they were enjoying a meal together, and yes, he was paying for it. But that had more to do with the manners his mother had drilled into him from a young age than any potential for romance.
Right?
After he paid, they walked outside. The evening air was cool and smelled of desert sage, tinged with a hint of smoke from a campfire somewhere. Nerves fluttered in his stomach at the prospect of saying good-night. If this had been a real date, he’d know what to do—hug her and kiss her cheek. If they had simply been coworkers, he’d say goodbye with a smile and wave. But Rebecca’s status wasn’t easily classified, and he was uncertain about how he should act.
In the end, it didn’t matter. Once they reached their cars, Rebecca turned to face him. She took a deep breath and stepped forward, her arms going around him as she pressed herself against his chest.
“Thanks for your help today,” she said softly. She pulled back, studying his face for a moment. Her blue eyes sparkled like stars in the glow of the parking-lot lights. Before he could respond, she rose to her toes and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.
Quinn froze, his breath caught in his throat. Rebecca slipped out of his arms with a shy smile. “See you in the morning.”
“Yes,” he said, his voice sounding like the croak of a dying frog. He swallowed, trying to act normal. Rebecca probably hadn’t meant anything by the kiss, but the simple contact had thrown him for a loop. He waited while she got into her car, watched her start it up and head off. He said goodbye with a wave, his feet planted in the gravel of the parking lot and his heart still pounding in his chest.
“She was just being friendly,” he told himself. “Nothing more.”
But no matter how many times he said it, his heart refused to give up hope.
Three hours later...
“How much longer? I can’t really see anything out here.” Crystal’s voice was teetering on the edge of a whine, and he clenched his jaw. Soon, he told himself. Soon enough he would be rid of this troublesome woman.
“Not too far,” he told her, striving to keep his tone friendly. “Trust me, the view will be worth the hike. When you see the comet, you’ll be amazed.”
“If you say so,” she muttered. They walked on in silence for a few more moments before she spoke again. “What did you say the comet was called again?”
“It’s the Voyager comet,” he lied.
She hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t remember hearing anything about it on the news.”
“It comes around once every couple of years,” he said, thinking fast. “Not really a big deal.”
“I guess,” she said skeptically.
Her suspicion was well-founded, but it was too little, too late. Now that he had her on the trail, it was just the two of them. They were alone, with no one around for miles.
Just the way he liked it.
She stumbled a bit on some loose rocks. He reached out to steady her, and she shot him a grateful smile. “Thanks,” she said. “I’m not used to walking around in the dark.”
“You won’t have to worry about it for much longer,” he promised.
His heart began to pound as they approached the site, but not from exertion. It was anticipation that sent his blood racing and warmed him from the inside out. He felt a flush creep over his skin and was grateful for the dim moonlight that kept him in shadows. His fingertips tingled as he pictured wrapping his hands around her throat, imagining the supple give of the tissues in her neck as he squeezed. Quinn’s face flashed before his eyes and he grinned, wishing he could witness the moment the park ranger discovered this new offering.
“It’s just up ahead,” he said, sounding a little breathless even to his own ears.
They rounded a bend and he indicated a large boulder off to the side of the trail. He sat on the still-warm surface of the rock and patted the spot beside him. Crystal lowered herself next to him, her head tilted up as she examined the sky.
“I don’t see anything.” She sounded unhappy, and any reservations he had about killing her vanished. They’d spent a few enjoyable hours together, enough that he’d started to feel a slight twinge of guilt at the idea of hurting her. But it was something that had to be done, and after listening to her complain tonight, he no longer had any qualms about what he was going to do.
“It’ll be here soon,” he said. “Keep watching.” He stood and she jerked her head around.
“Where are you going?” There was a note of alarm in her voice. “You can’t just leave me out here by myself! It can’t be safe.”
“I’m going to step away for a minute and relieve myself. You’ll be fine.”
She relaxed a bit, but still looked uncomfortable. “Don’t take too long,” she said. “It’s kind of creepy out here in the dark.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” he said. “No critter is going to sneak up on you. I promise.” A little thrill went through him at the words. If she only knew the truth of her situation...
He walked a few feet away and tended to his business. He wasn’t worried about leaving any evidence—what the ground didn’t soak up, the morning sun would evaporate before long. By the time Crystal was found, there would be no indication he’d been here at all.
Well, except for her body. He nearly giggled at the thought. A surge of giddiness rose in his system like bubbles in a champagne glass. The idea of champagne was appealing—perhaps he deserved a treat after this? It wouldn’t be hard to find a liquor store, and if he paid cash there would be no record of his purchase. Yes, he decided, zipping his pants. A celebration was in order. He’d been working hard the past few weeks; he’d earned a moment’s enjoyment.
But first, business.
He turned back to see Crystal was still sitting on the rock, her face tilted toward the sky as she searched in vain for a comet that would never appear. A warm rush of tenderness flooded his chest as he watched her, just as it had when he’d taken one last look at his earlier victims. He wasn’t a monster. He simply had a job to do, and these women had their own parts to play in this tale. If anyone was in the wrong, it was Quinn Gallagher.
Anger flared as the park ranger’s face appeared in his mind once again. If not for Gallagher, none of this would have happened. He was the reason those women were dead, the reason more would continue to die. Quinn had ruined his life, and he wasn’t going to stop until he’d returned the favor.
But none of that mattered now. He couldn’t let his hatred and anger toward Gallagher ruin this final, special moment. If nothing else, he owed it to Crystal to be fully present with her, to keep her company on this final walk.
He slipped on the gloves and stepped carefully, quietly, as he returned to the boulder. No sense spooking her. She’d realize what was happening soon enough.
He stopped just behind her, studying the glow of the moonlight on her hair. It looked almost black in the silver light, not the right color at all. But no matter.
A bug chirruped nearby, making her jump. “John?” she called out uncertainly. “Are you almost done?”
“Yes,” he whispered. She let out a shriek, but before she could do so much as turn her head, he snaked his arm around her and put her in a choke hold. She clawed at his forearm, her nails digging for purchase as
she tried to fight him off. The excess fabric of his long-sleeved shirt protected his skin and made her struggles useless. In a matter of seconds, she went limp, her body leaning back into his chest as she lost consciousness.
He lowered her down until she was lying on the rock, her hair streaming down the sides like an ebony waterfall. He allowed himself a few seconds to study her—she looked so peaceful there in the dark. Then he reached for her neck, gripping tightly as he squeezed the last gasps of life from her body.
Chapter 7
“How’d you sleep?” Quinn greeted Rebecca the next morning with a smile, handing her a cup of coffee. Rebecca forced herself to take it smoothly from his hand, resisting the temptation to snatch it out of his grip and down the contents in one go like some kind of feral animal.
“Fine,” she lied, hoping the concealer she’d applied this morning was doing a sufficient job of hiding the dark circles under her eyes. In truth, she hadn’t slept much at all. Between thoughts of the case and reliving their dinner, her brain simply hadn’t been willing to shut down and allow her to rest.
I shouldn’t have kissed him, she told herself for probably the millionth time. She’d let herself get caught up in the pleasure of the moment—they’d shared such a nice meal, with good conversation and lots of laughter, despite the shadow of the case hanging over their heads. It had been so long since she’d experienced anything like that. Even though it hadn’t been a date, it had definitely felt like one. And when he’d reached for the check again, she couldn’t help but feel a little flattered.
So as they’d stood in the parking lot, the full moon just starting to ascend in the sky, Rebecca had thrown caution to the wind. She’d meant for the hug and kiss to be nothing more than a friendly good-night, a means of thanking him for his efforts during the day and for treating her to another meal. Hopefully, Quinn had interpreted it that way.
Too bad her body had gotten the wrong idea.