Deadly Potential

  “I should think so. Poor Aggi, this must be so difficult for you.” Bernice’s show of sympathy was offset by her tight grip on her daughter’s arm.

  As she watched Aggi’s skin twist under her mother’s nails, Katie wanted to snap the woman’s fingers off. She never cared who she hurt, as long as she looked good to the audience.

  Aggi shot her a warning glance. “Mom, why don’t you go ahead to the hotel? I’ll meet you there.”

  “But, Aggi dear—”

  Ray returned, and gently pried Bernice’s hand loose. He cradled it between his two hands, and lifted it to his lips. “We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting. Investigator Ray Corwin from Special Investigations.”

  Bernice simpered, her eyelashes fluttering fast enough to raise a stiff wind. Ray kept talking, escorting her from the makeup room. Aggi rubbed at her arm, the red marks livid against her pale skin.

  So much for motherly protests. Katie joined her sister. “Are you okay?”

  “No.” The reply was blunt but honest. “I’m sorry. She’s the last thing you should have to deal with.”

  Her and Razel. She’ll never forgive me for kicking her out. Twice. And she couldn’t forget Trevor’s media manipulations. Or the thousand and one things needing attention to keep a multinational tour running smoothly. It would overwhelm anyone. Katie swayed on her feet. None of it matters. Someone wants to kill me.

  Strong hands caught her, and eased her into a chair before her knees buckled.

  Chapter 8

  Ben settled Katie in a chair. Aggi took over fussing, forcing him to step back. He could still feel the warmth of her skin against his fingers. The flimsy costume and silk robe barely counted as clothing. Unprofessional fantasies played in his mind, and he fought them back. Courtesy told him to leave, but he remained in place. The reality of her situation had hit Katie hard, and she would need help.

  “Talk to me. Are you okay?” Aggi knelt in front of her sister.

  Katie raised her head, and Ben would have happily sold several years of his life if it meant she never wore that haunted, stricken expression again. Her bloodless skin and blue-white lips made her seem as if she were already in the morgue.

  Her lips opened, but only a faint whisper emerged. “He was right here.”

  Aggi pushed back her sister’s hair. “You and I are leaving.”

  “It won’t help,” Orlund said. “People have run before. He’s found them.”

  Ben remembered the notes from the case files. Seraphique Dionne, the fifth target, and Tina McNally, the second, had both tried to flee. Seraphique went to her family in Montreal, and disappeared from the airport. Tina had picked a destination at random, but vanished out of her hotel room.

  Katie turned her haunted eyes to him.

  “He’s right.” The words came out gruffer than he’d intended. “You’re safer where we can protect you.”

  “How? He stood in the room. No one saw him.” Renewed anger flashed in Katie’s eyes.

  Ben’s breathing slowed in relief. Thank God she’s angry. Despair and helplessness would indicate she was giving up. With anger, she had a chance.

  Orlund added his opinion. “We can maneuver him into position—”

  “With me as bait?” Katie’s hands clenched into fists.

  Bait. The word snatched the air from his lungs, and left Ben running hollow.

  “I think we’ve heard enough.” Katie stood up, the lost expression gone. “You can find your way out, gentlemen.”

  Ben followed her and Aggi into the hall. He couldn’t leave her defenseless against a psychopath.

  “Katie, please listen.” He kept his gaze focused on her. “You have no reason to trust us. But I’ve read up on this guy. He is coming after you no matter what you do. The only way to keep you alive is to work together to stop him. Orlund has tracked him for years, he knows this unsub backward and forward. Ray and I are specialists at figuring out what special powers unsubs have and how to even the playing field.”

  She was listening, but he could see signs of uncertainty. The way she fidgeted with her keycard and the darting glances to the exit both told him that her thoughts were on escape.

  “We are your best chance. You saw how close he got tonight.” Ben held out his hand. “So what’s it going to be?”

  “You can’t be-”

  “Agatha.” The helpless look in Katie’s eyes was gone.

  He hoped the strength stiffening her back would be enough.

  She met his eyes. “This is your job. I’ll trust that you’re good at it.”

  Her hand curled around his, and the softness of her skin hit him like a jolt of lightning. His fingers brushed over hers, claiming something his post-caveman brain realized he had no right to. But the images crowding into his brain weren’t slow-motion replays of her lips, or imagining her naked. Instead, he wanted to erase the lines of tension from around her mouth, and replace them with smiles over morning coffee.

  She’s part of an investigation. The five-alarm reminder screeched across his mind. He needed to remove the illusion of intimacy, and re-establish the proper professional distance. Except his brain stayed stubbornly stuck in a PG fantasyland. His tongue lay limp in his mouth, unwilling to stir itself for anything beyond vague vowel sounds of appreciation.

  “Mommy dearest has been deposited in a limo headed to the hotel.” Ray arrived, and raised his eyebrows. “I seem to have missed the interesting portion of the petty bickering.”

  Katie yanked her hand free. “It’s late. Can I go back to the hotel, or are you planning to whisk me away to a safehouse?”

  The hotel had more security than a random motel. With a clientele of the super-wealthy and celebrities, the privacy and protection features were state of the art. Ben would still have preferred a nice, secluded, access-controlled safehouse. He repressed the instinct, and answered the question. “Ray and I will escort you to the hotel. Special Agent Orlund, why don’t you process the evidence?”

  Orlund seemed happy for an excuse to depart. Ray claimed Aggi’s arm, and the two walked ahead, leaving Katie and Ben to follow awkwardly behind. He didn’t dare touch her again after the last two times. Not if he wanted to keep the last shreds of his self-control.

  The silent ride back to the hotel held the weight of things people wanted to say but couldn’t. Even Ray abstained from his usual quips. They searched Katie’s suite to be sure no unpleasant surprises were waiting.

  “Everything’s secure.” He didn’t know what to do with his hands, and awkwardly hooked his thumbs in his belt. “We could stay, and keep you safe.”

  Ray went still in surprise. Since Ben had never volunteered to babysit a target, the shocked reaction was understandable.

  “I appreciate the offer,” she replied graciously. “But I prefer to be alone.”

  Ben should have felt relieved when the doors closed, leaving him alone with Ray in the hall. Instead he fought an impulse to knock on her door, and insist on spending the night. His primal brain insisted that she would only be safe in his physical presence. Except he hadn’t kept her safe tonight.

  Ray poked the elevator button. “Come on. You and I need a drink.”

  Ben allowed Ray to drag him away before he could find out whether or not his willpower would resist her particular temptation.

  Once in the hotel bar, he refused alcohol, ordering a water. His partner ordered a Scotch, but Ben expected Ray would use it to gesture rather than to drink. They found empty seats at the back of the room.

  Ray didn’t mince words. “She’s got you twisted, doesn’t she?”

  “Is it that obvious?” I’m losing my mind. Ben closed his eyes. “I’m too distracted. I should go back to Denver.”

  Ray studied him. Ben knew his partner would notice the micro-tremors in his forearms, t
he knots twisting into position along his neck and shoulders. Or the way his feet kept pointing toward the exit, all classic signs of repressed tension and nerves.

  “You’ve been on edge since we arrived,” Ray said quietly. “I’d like to believe it was solely for romantic reasons, but I don’t think that’s it. This case is a nightmare. Unless we can figure out the unsub’s abilities, he’s going to be able to walk right past us.”

  “My head’s not in the game. She’d be better off with someone else.” He hated admitting the weakness, but his professional pride insisted on honesty.

  “Like hell.” Anger darkened Ray’s usual carefree cheer. “You want to condemn her? Make her a dead woman walking?”

  The last three words hit him like a one-two-three attack. First, the sucker punch driving deep into his gut, making his stomach feel as if it was being slammed into his throat. Next, a tight uppercut, knocking his teeth together, and snapping his head back. And last, a sweeping kick to fold his knees, and drop him to the metaphorical ground.

  “You’re not distracted. You’re motivated. And you won’t be able to let this go, so stop fighting it. Concentrate on making sure she gets a future. She deserves the absolute best, and that’s you and me. You’re the best profiler in Special Investigations. I’m the one who prevents you from getting kicked out for your surly attitude.”

  Ben gave his partner a brief smile of appreciation.

  “Much better. Now, what do we know?”

  “The unsub didn’t appear on the surveillance recordings before tonight,” Ben said slowly. “Security was on high alert. There were no reports of incidents beyond a few fans trying to get access to the VIP area. Most intimacy-seeking stalkers use a ruse to insert themselves into their target’s life, but there’s no sign of it here.”

  “We’ve never had access to raw, immediate footage before.” Ray swirled the amber liquor in his glass. He had yet to take a drink.

  “If he could psychically change or block the recording, he would have.” Ben mentally reviewed the case files. “His messages are hand-written notes and packages left in public. He’s escaped through checkpoints. He’s not afraid of being confronted and noticed. He wasn’t afraid to walk into the room, leave the note, and walk out again.”

  “And none of us noticed him.”

  “We’ll find a way to stop him,” Ben replied through clenched teeth. That son of a bitch is not getting Katie.

  “Protective is a good look for you. Much better than grumpy solo artist.” Ray lifted his glass. “To the femme fatale who felled you.”

  “Keep your voice down.” Ben hoped none of the show’s staff were in earshot. “Katie does not need your attempt at a comedy routine on top of everything else.”

  “Don’t worry, your dour secret is safe with me. Along with your lady love.” Ray finally sipped his drink, and made a face. “For fifteen dollars, I would have expected something a little more palatable.”

  Ben stared at his water. As tempting as temporary oblivion was, he needed to stay alert. Otherwise he would do something stupid like knocking on Katie’s door.

  Ray grimaced. “I realize they may revoke my male membership for this, but you should tell her how you feel.”

  “It would be unprofessional.” He had a job to do. No part of that job required kissing the woman he was protecting. Technically, I’m not even the one protecting her. I’m just the consultant. His spirits sank even lower.

  “Trust me, the feelings are already out there, loud and clear. Saying it won’t make a difference except to discover if she feels the same.” His partner watched him with sympathy.

  I must look pathetic if he won’t even make a joke. Ben scraped his hand over his bare scalp, his fingers catching on the rough edge of stubble. Time to shave it again. He hated having to deal with hair, and had been shaving his head since he was a teenager.

  “Fine. We have work to do.” Ben set down his glass. “We need to figure out what this guy’s powers are. That’s the only topic I’m interested in talking about.” And if I have to stay away from her to make sure I can do my job, then I’ll do it, even if it kills me.

  Chapter 9

  “Good morning. Here you go.” Katie handed her sister a fresh strawberry smoothie.

  With Bernice in town, she’d guessed Aggi would need an escape. Katie had made sure her sister had an extra keycard for Katie’s suite. From the dark circles under Aggi’s eyes, it had been rougher than usual.

  “Long night?"

  Aggi made a face, and tapped her throat, the sign for a silent day. Most singers and vocal performers used the technique to avoid vocal strain.

  “Got it. I’ll do the soundcheck vocals tonight. If worse comes to worse, we have the playback vocals.”

  Neither of them liked using recorded vocals for a live concert, but it was one of the industry’s less publicly known realities. It’s better than canceling. Their backup recording was Aggi singing without any post-recording embellishment or editing. In other words, as close to the actual concert experience as possible.

  Katie sipped her water. “Bernice didn’t let you rest?”

  Aggi shook her head. She held up one hand and rubbed her first two fingers against her thumb.

  “She wants more money. Again.” Katie wasn’t surprised. Her stepmother played the same tune whenever she popped her head up.

  Finger to the nose for accurate guessing. Followed by a shrug and a grimace, which meant Aggi was feeling guilty about saying no.

  Never mind that Bernice’s weekly payment is more than most families make in a month. Katie frowned. “You absolutely cannot give it to her. You remember what Dr. Phillips said.”

  A solemn nod answered, and Katie heaved a sigh of relief. The psychologist had been clear, but Bernice excelled at applying motherly guilt. She’s always going to be an addict. Gambling, drugs, alcohol, shopping, the form of the high changed but not the cycle.

  “How much does she want?”

  Aggi held up four fingers, then five more, followed by the ASL sign for K.

  “Forty-five thousand?” Katie whistled a long, low note.

  I K-N-O-W, Aggi finger-spelled before delivering an inquisitive poke with her pink nail toward Katie’s chest.

  “I didn’t spend the night brooding, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  Aggi shook her head. Her sister didn’t share Katie’s preference to work things out on her own, but she’d come to accept it.

  “I was exhausted, and went right to bed.” She’d expected nightmares about the Director. Instead her dreams had featured Investigator Ben Morgan doing things she definitely shouldn’t be musing about under these circumstances. “It’s hard to even remember. It seems so bizarre that someone is planning to hurt me. And yet, normal life goes on. Or at least, what’s normal for us.”

  Her sister raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

  Okay, not my best lie. Normally neither of them could sleep after a concert, not without burning off the excess energy. “I promise I will tell you if I’m having trouble.”

  Aggi tapped her fingers to her lips in the ASL sign for thank you.

  “We should both learn proper sign language for your silent days. Less temptation for you to verbally cheat.” Katie took the empty glasses to the sink. They’d picked up a few signs, and could finger-spell, but not enough for complicated conversations.

  Rolled eyes and another determined poke communicated that Aggi wasn’t accepting the change of topic.

  Katie’s phone buzzed. “It’ll have to wait. Razel is coming. She’s pissed about her camera. Do you want to be out of sight when she gets here?”

  Her sister mimed planting her feet on the ground. Bring it on.

  Katie didn’t enjoy the moral support for long. Razel stalked into the room, brandishing her new camer
a. The escorting concierge waited for Katie’s nod before closing the door behind the irate reporter.

  Razel wasted no time. “Where the hell is my camera?”

  “The FBI has it.” Katie kept calm, despite the sudden onslaught of memory of the camera’s footage. Less than a foot away from me.

  “If I don’t get it back today, I’ll sue you. And I’ll ruin you both.” The hissed insult left tiny flecks of spit on the woman’s lacquered red lips.

  Aggi’s brows knitted together, warning that she was about to abandon her silence.

  Katie laid a restraining hand on her sister’s shoulders. “The FBI is grateful.”

  “What?” Razel snapped.

  “You filmed a possible serial killer. One who’s gone uncaught for a decade.” Katie hoped to appeal to the other woman’s journalistic background.

  “Which one?”

  And visions of Pulitzers danced in her head. It was easy for Katie to keep her smile strictly internal. Having to say the name reminded her this wasn’t a clever distraction gambit. “The Director.”

  “The Director is after Aggi?” Razel pushed past Katie. “Do the police have any leads? Why do you think he’s chosen you for his next victim? Have you hired extra security?”

  “Aggi is resting her voice, but we can arrange an interview later.” Katie ignored her sister’s glare. I can correct her after we get her out of here.

  “Will you be canceling the show?” Razel didn’t budge.

  Katie suppressed her growing anger. She hated having people in her personal space. After a lifetime of living in public, she craved time alone without the imposition of another person. This hotel room was her private sanctuary, at least for the next few nights.

  Razel’s questions trailed off as if the meaning of the word silent had finally dawned on her.