She stepped away. If he touched her now, she wouldn’t have the courage to do what came next. “I’m going to confess, Gabriel.”
“What?” He stared at her as though she’d lost her mind, fairly certain it was true. “Confess what?”
“To the murder of Nathan Rhodes.” Before he could speak, she rushed through her explanation. “If Kenneth is the killer, then he might tell them to cut a deal.”
“Who gives a damn? No one will believe him.”
“Sanchez might. Someone might. But it doesn’t matter.” She took a long breath and placed her hand on his chest. His heartbeat thumped beneath her palm. “Kenneth might be innocent. If he is, there’s a psychopath out there who won’t stop. How do you think he’d react when his prey turns herself in?”
Pushing past outrage, Gabriel forced himself to consider the angles. “His hold over you is broken.”
“And he’ll want to punish me. He’ll come for me. That’s his endgame. Twenty-six deaths and then me.”
“No.”
“Yes.” Her response was simple, absolute. Not only had she decided to stop running; she also planned to fight. “Help me, Gabriel. It’s the only way.”
An hour later, Peter answered the phone. Quickly Gabriel issued terse instructions to Peter, explaining the situation. The editor grunted in agreement. In the Ledger offices, Peter began to shout out orders as quickly as Gabriel fed them to him. When they finished, Peter transferred him to Kelly. She cheerfully accepted his directives about drivers and distributors. It was past 7:00 p.m., and the inaugural daily edition of the Ledger would roll off the presses in six hours.
Erin turned the key in the brass lock and stumbled into the apartment. She braced herself against the door, unable to move farther. Every instinct, every fiber, shrilled at her to run. But, she accepted resignedly, this time they’d know to look for her. Sylvie had taken her confession. Sanchez wanted to book her that night, but Sylvie’s logic had prevailed. Booking Erin would mean an open record and might undermine her plan. Grudgingly Sanchez gave in to letting Erin go, on condition that she surrender tomorrow after it was over.
Assuming she lived through it.
It was then she registered the muted hum of the television. The television that had been off when she left the apartment. Raw nerves trembled through her, and she thought of the killer whose sick mind held her in focus. Her hand scrabbled behind her for the knob. It wasn’t running if she was evading a thief. Or worse.
Beyond the hallway, a laugh track sent its muffled hilarity through the apartment. Clutching her bag, she forced herself to be rational. What type of criminal would lie in wait, watching cable?
Breath seeped out of her and she managed his name through the receding iron grip of fear. “Damn it, Sebastian.”
“Hey, kiddo.” He strolled into the foyer, arms open, wry smile at the ready. Tall, angular, with gaunt cheeks and heavy-lidded ebony eyes that saw too much, Sebastian Cain possessed a mysterious unearthly beauty that reminded Erin of wizards and warlocks and fallen heroes. Without hesitation, she ran to him, her bag falling to the floor. Unerringly his arms closed around her, lifted her for inspection. “I guess you missed me.”
She hugged him fiercely. “Oh, Sebastian.”
He led her into the living room and settled her on the sofa. Brushing a kiss across her forehead, he cuddled her next to him. “You didn’t sound good on the phone.”
“You broke into my house.” She pulled free to give him a warning look. “I thought we agreed you’d try to reform.”
“Killed anyone lately?” was his droll response.
He wasn’t prepared for her to dissolve into tears. They poured out of her, and Sebastian drew her to him. “What have they done to you?” he murmured into her tangled hair.
She didn’t answer. Clinging to him, she wept for what seemed like hours. Finally empty, she sat back and scrubbed at her drenched face. “I’ve gotten you all wet,” she muttered.
“You’ve done worse.” Matter-of-factly, he reached for a tissue from the side table and mopped up the tears she rarely shed. Too rarely. “Remember the day before you moved to Callenwolde? At least, this time, you didn’t draw blood.”
Calmer, Erin chuckled. “That was an accident. If you hadn’t gotten in my way, I wouldn’t have broken your nose.”
Sebastian shifted on the wide cushions, turning so he could face her. “We can leave the minute you say the word.”
He made the suggestion simply, without asking questions, and Erin loved him for it. She didn’t have to tell him about Gabriel or the serial killer or why she’d collapsed into tears. He didn’t care.
For her entire life, he’d been the truest friend she’d ever known. Loyalty had stretched three thousand miles. Loyalty had met her in the mountains of California and helped her hide the man she’d killed.
“They know about Nathan.” Erin sprang up from the couch, needing to move.
“How?”
“I confessed.” She spun toward him. “Not about you. I’d never do that.”
“Of course you wouldn’t.” Sebastian stretched his long legs in front of him. He was a man who never regretted his decisions. Life sifted through time at such a rate, regret had no place. Death had none, so why should he? But he’d broken his rule twice. Once when he let pride send him away from Erin’s door, friendship shattered by nasty insults he should have known were forced.
But he had no regrets about his decision two years ago. The night a shattered Erin had called him, terrified, he caught the red-eye to San Francisco and drove to San Cabes without hesitation. It was his conclusion that the bastard Rhodes deserved no better than to be pushed over the jagged rocks into the ravine below. Then he’d bundled her into his car and taken her home.
It had taken him months to bring her around. To convince her of her worth. He’d come up with altering her identity, using the name he’d always preferred. With his less savory contacts, he’d forged her degrees from Gorham. When Erin decided she was strong enough, needing him to let her try out her new wings, she left for New Orleans. Sebastian promised to watch over her.
He’d failed. Again.
“Give me the whole story.”
He patted the seat beside him, but Erin preferred to stand. She started from the beginning. Had it only been a few weeks ago that she’d read about Maggie’s murder? “The police believe me now. Gabriel is planning to run the story in tomorrow’s paper.”
“This Gabriel. You trust him?” Sebastian had his doubts. He didn’t like reporters or cops, and the combination couldn’t be any good. Plus, he saw the way her eyes shifted when she said Gabriel’s name.
Images from the television screen flittered in the room. Erin watched them, trying to frame her response. “Gabriel is—He’s a friend. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
Blunt as always, Sebastian disagreed. “Sounds to me like he’s trading on your pain for his story.”
Erin bristled. “I’m not an imbecile.” Hearing what Sebastian didn’t say, she relaxed. “He’s not Nathan, either.”
“How do you know?” Sebastian quizzed, apprehension coiled inside him but not in his voice. “You don’t know men.”
“I’ve learned.” Erin walked over to the television and clicked it off. She sat on the low bench she’d placed near the armoire. Twisting the silver ring, she tried to explain. “The first time I met Gabriel, I was wearing this awful, frumpy suit. I ran into him, literally, in the hall. Most men ignore me now, and I want it that way.” She lifted her eyes to meet his. “He saw me, Sebastian. Saw through the clothes and the hair and the makeup. He liked me.”
“You’re a beautiful woman,” Sebastian argued grumpily. “No matter what you try to hide in. The fact that he can see it makes him a man, not a friend.”
“Is it impossible that he could care about me?” she asked in a small voice.
Sebastian immediately crossed the room to kneel beside her. “Of course not. But I couldn’t stand to have him hurt you. This Gabriel
or anyone. You’ve always deserved more from life than you’ve gotten.” Years of aggravation had him clutching her shoulders. “First your parents, then Rhodes. I couldn’t stand watching you fall apart again. You’ve worked too hard.”
Erin clasped the strong, wiry wrists and leaned close to kiss him lightly. “I’m stronger than I was then. I’ve gotten used to being content. Occasionally, I’m even happy. Gabriel, when I let him, makes me happy.”
“Then why were you crying all over me like a baby?” The question was teasing. Sebastian was not. “I’m the closest thing you’ve got to a brother, Erin. If I have to break his legs, I’ll do it.” And enjoy it, he thought grimly.
Erin’s smile fell. “I don’t know if he despises me now. I told him I killed a man. I abandoned the body and didn’t call the police. I must repulse him.”
“Did you ask?”
“Well, no.” Sometimes she hated the way he cut to the heart of things. “There really wasn’t time.”
“It’s only nine o’clock. Seems like there’s plenty of time to me.” Sebastian nimbly gained his feet and he hauled her up beside him. It occurred to him that Gabriel Moss needed to understand Erin wasn’t alone. She had friends already, ones who wouldn’t put up with another tear from her wide eyes. Besides, Sebastian hadn’t been in a good fight in a while. The prospect cheered him, and he draped an arm around Erin. “Let’s go and meet your friend, shall we?”
Slightly dubious, Erin allowed herself to be led out of the apartment and down the stairs. Outside, a gleaming chrome and black motorcycle was parked near the corner. Sebastian strode toward it, but she hung back. He felt her hesitation and tugged at her hands.
“Come on, Erin,” he cajoled. “Live a little.”
“Why don’t we wait for a nice, safe, enclosed taxicab?” If her voice whined, she didn’t care.
“I forgot you were such a wimp.” The childhood dare had its desired effect. Erin stomped over to the monstrosity and swung her leg over the seat. Sebastian sat in front and passed her a helmet. He strapped his in place and kick-started the beast. “Hang on!” he yelled. In seconds, they peeled away from the curb.
Erin shouted directions to him and held on for dear life. Sultry wind whipped past her cheeks. Honeysuckle and heat filled her senses. She reveled in the freedom and cautiously opened her eyes to watch their progress.
Too soon, Sebastian screeched to a halt beside the warehouse. A white neon sign declared the space the home of the Bayou Ledger. He locked his bike and helped Erin to alight. Lights burned in every window, oblivious to the late hour.
Erin pressed the intercom for admission, and Kelly’s chipper voice asked for her identity.
“It’s Erin Abbott.”
“Hey, Erin! Gabe didn’t tell me to expect you. I guess things are too crazy for him to remember all the details. I swear, if we get this issue out, it’ll be a miracle.”
Erin grinned. “Kelly, can you let me in?”
“Sure thing!” The locks clicked open and Sebastian hauled the metal door aside.
Together, they entered chaos.
CHAPTER 24
News made itself in an instant, in a second’s thought or indecision. Lives altered course, spun in wild, untried directions. Information slithered in through whispered betrayals or bounded onto consciousness as shouted exaltations to the masses. Febrile and frozen by turns, the daily acts of randomly connected existences conspired to create human drama destined to unfold on oversize sheets creased with ink.
Newsworthy events made themselves over hours and days and years.
The Ledger had one night.
From the confines of his office on the main floor of the converted warehouse, Gabriel surveyed the commotion. He’d expected to be anxious or excited, probably both. He hadn’t expected to feel like a traitor. Even when the one he was about to betray asked him to do it.
The lead story on the twisted triangle of Analise Glover, Nathan Rhodes, and a serial killer was written. Right now, Peter was slashing through it with his green pen, punching up Gabriel’s prose. By morning, readers would know about a murder in California that had come to haunt New Orleans.
By tomorrow night, a killer would be behind bars. As would Erin.
Fascinated, Erin absorbed the flurry of activity. She and Sebastian halted just inside the main floor as a runner sped past, a page fisted in his hand. From her perch overhead, Kelly waved down to them. The friendly greeting motioned them inside and signaled that she’d join them soon. Erin intentionally refrained from glancing down the length of the floor to Gabriel’s office. But despite her best efforts, her gaze was drawn in that direction.
Sebastian impatiently observed the surreptitious glances. It didn’t take a genius to guess what she was trying so hard not to look at. Or who. Gabriel Moss had a great deal to answer for, beginning with the smudged shadows beneath Erin’s eyes. And the wounded catch in her voice when she said the man’s name. And agreeing to sign her death warrant by running her struggle for survival in his paper.
Loose morals were Sebastian’s specialty, but he drew the line at harming the defenseless. A line Moss didn’t seem to recognize. Once more, Sebastian congratulated himself on listening to his instincts. His delayed task in New York could wait until he convinced Erin to come home with him before she was taken into custody.
In marked contrast to his restive thoughts, he drawled, “Have they done this before?”
“I explained that. They’re moving to a daily issue. This is the inaugural edition.” Erin twisted around, eager to take it all in, and pain melted into pride. Gabriel had created a superb monument to the family he held so dear. For better or worse, she would be a part of this creation and, come what may, a part of him. “Gabriel should be proud of himself.”
“Hmm.” Lithely Sebastian sidled out of the path of two warring reporters, who seemed to be disputing the closing bell on Wall Street. The duo stormed by and he had to arch to avoid another collision. He lightly clasped Erin’s arm and tugged her into what appeared to be a safe corner of the bedlam. Guiding them to an alcove, he mocked, “This is the crack team that’s trying to stop a killer?”
“Yes. And who the hell are you?”
Sebastian turned lazily and encountered a pair of glacier gray eyes that perfectly matched the icy voice. It amused Sebastian that the cold stare was directed at where his hand wrapped familiarly around Erin’s wrist. Deliberately he ran his thumb along the soft skin there. When the ice melted into dangerous heat, Sebastian lifted a brow in challenge. It had definitely been too long since he’d been in a fight. “You must be the inestimable Gabriel Moss. Nice shop.”
“Thanks.” The gratitude did not extend beyond that single word. Gabriel could barely see past the red haze to the face of the man who stroked Erin with such familiarity. Where Gabriel touched her. Where only Gabriel should touch her. Infuriated, he started to snatch the hand away, to demand she explain herself.
Nearly as tall as him, the newcomer looked rawboned and lean and self-indulgent. For affectation, Gabriel silently derided, he wore all black. The gaunt face had the look of culture, but Gabriel could see it was a facade carefully slicked over rougher, less cultivated edges. The primal glint in the black eyes proved his point. “I guess your name is Sebastian.”
A wily grin quirked lips women swooned over. The newsman definitely didn’t like him, which suited Sebastian fine. Lucky for both of them, he felt the same instant antipathy.
Gabriel Moss wasn’t a small man, but neither was Sebastian. Still, it was unusual for him to have to look up at anyone, even an inch. He didn’t like the sensation. Irritated, he relied on his preferred weapon. Arrogance. “Way to use your powers of deduction. You’ll be a success yet, young Clark Kent.”
“Sebastian.” Erin shot him an exasperated look. Waves of hostility poured off of both men. She had no energy left to referee a bout mano a mano tonight. “Gabriel Moss, meet my oldest friend, Sebastian Cain.” She nudged Sebastian. “Shake hands like good boys,�
� she instructed.
Gabriel quickly accepted the gesture, knowing it meant nothing. His eyes remained focused on where long fingers toyed with Erin’s satiny skin. Misery throbbed hard and fast, because what he’d also noticed was that she didn’t seem to mind the caresses. In fact, he could have sworn he saw pleasure flicker briefly in her wary eyes.
It appeared he’d been a poor substitute for her errant knight, he fumed. When Sebastian abandoned her again, as he had in California, she’d have no one but herself to blame. But he sure as hell wasn’t going to wait around to watch her fall apart.
Love had bloomed hastily, and surely, Gabriel promised himself, it would wither as fast. When he finally met her quizzical look, his expression was deliberately blank. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”
“I wanted to see the story.” Erin tried to read the impassive face, to no avail. He had a right to be annoyed, but surely she deserved more than this chilly reception. She’d done everything he asked. Told him everything.
But if honesty earned her his contempt, then so be it, she thought, hardening her heart. Tightening her hold on Sebastian, Erin explained briskly, “I told Sebastian our plan and he wanted to come along.”
“Our plan? No, this is your idea, Erin. I’m just the fool too stupid to say no.”
“Try harder next time,” Sebastian suggested dryly.
Gabriel’s urge to smash his fist into Sebastian’s smirking face nearly overwhelmed him. Instead of succumbing to the violent impulse, he snapped, “I don’t make a habit of leaving my friends to the wolves, no matter how badly they hurt my feelings.”
The harsh accusation drew a stunned gasp from Erin. “I told you that in confidence.”
“I’m a reporter. I don’t keep secrets.” He held her shocked look, refusing to apologize. She’d rejected what he had to offer, except for his newspaper. Well, she could have the front page, he thought tiredly, but that was it. “There’s no room for you here, Erin.” With a final, withering look, he turned to walk away.
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