Ray grimaced. “We also have to pay attention to gaps in our awareness. I didn’t catch it earlier, but I have a gap of missing time between leaving your room and getting to the elevator. We probably ran into him in the hall.”
“What about sending him a message?” Aggi asked. “I mean, it’s what people do with a letter, isn’t it? Answer it?”
“A private note would be meaningless. It would have to be public,” Ray said. “Sent out on a broad spectrum.”
Ben didn’t say anything, the muscles in his jaw working. She could understand his growliness. The idea of him being hurt made her want to lock him up someplace safe, too. But she had never been passive, and wasn’t about to start now. And if he can’t understand that then it doesn’t matter how combustible we are in bed. There won’t ever be anything more between us.
He was watching her with sad eyes. “There’s a third option.”
Chapter 22
“What’s the third option?” Katie asked, her voice quiet.
As if she’s disappointed that she can’t sacrifice herself on the chance of catching the Director. Ben hoped she wouldn’t assume the worst about his protest. His reluctance had nothing to do with gender, experience, or skills. The unsub was likely monitoring the situation closely. He might even be listening now.
“Can you put on some music?” he asked.
“What?” Aggi snapped.
“Please.” Ben held his breath.
Katie eyed them suspiciously before picking up her phone. Catchy drums and men singing in a foreign language filled the room from hidden speakers.
Comprehension glinted in Ray’s eyes. He casually lifted the camera, and scanned over the room. “Clear.”
“Give me your phones.” Ben identified the discreet wireless speakers in the room. “He could have hacked the microphones, allowing him to listen in.”
Aggi yanked open the drawer in the television stand, and threw her phone into it. “Oh my God, that is a terrifying level of creepy.”
Ben added his and Katie’s. Ray tossed in his phone and his tablet. Aggi grabbed a couch cushion, and wedged it on top of the devices before closing the drawer.
If he can still hear us, then he’s only toying with us. Ben doubted it. People tended to overestimate occulata powers. The abilities might be supernatural, but they had limitations.
“Are you going to tell us?” Despite the hushed tone, Katie’s voice held a sharp edge.
“We know he’s watching you closely. It’s part of his obsession.” Ben chose his words carefully, forcing himself to speak as an investigator advising a civilian rather than a man seeking to protect his lover. “He likes the feeling of control. We knew he intimidated his targets with the letters. Now we know he also interacts with them, trusting in his abilities to remain undetected.”
“What could he get out of conversations that only he remembers?” Aggi asked.
“Information,” Ray answered. “He’s testing the target’s reactions, and planning the eventual kidnapping. You stood up to him which means he knows he can’t rely on you to be compliant.”
“When he realizes you recorded the conversation, it will go against his core beliefs. Namely, of him being in control at all times.” I need to make her understand how dangerous it is. “You won’t be able to trick him that way next time. He’s going to react badly.”
“He’s already planning to kill me.”
Ben wished he could erase the bitterness in her voice. “The point is, he made a mistake. The more we can make him react to our actions, the more mistakes he’ll make. He wants us to play along with his script, so we aren’t going to let him dictate our actions. We’re going to start by demonstrating your independence.”
“I like that plan. How?” Katie’s arms relaxed from their crossed position, a sign she was open to listening again.
“He’s not happy about you and Ben knocking boots.” Ray picked up the evidence bag with the letter. “Sordid jealousies . . . petty flesh . . . contrast those terms with the spiritual and artistic ones he uses to describe his connection to you.”
Katie’s hand crept to rub at her throat. “He doesn’t . . . I mean, does he . . .”
“There’s no sign of sexual assault on his earlier targets,” Ben reassured her.
“Okay.” Her hand lowered. “So why would he care who I sleep with?”
“Because he wants to possess you. He sees you as a prize. By transforming you, he wins.” Ray phrased it more harshly than Ben would have preferred.
“It’s also his chance to be remembered,” Aggi added.
Her words caught Ben and his partner by surprise. Katie smiled, and hastily hid it behind her hand.
Aggi stood up, hands on her hips and broadcasting attitude. “What? Because I have blond hair and boobs, I must be stupid? I’ve spent my life chasing other people’s attention. I’ve fought for every second in the spotlight. If you’re not in front of the audience, it’s like you never existed. That’s what he really wants, for the world to remember him.”
“The article he mentioned, I talked about writing a song for my mother, to keep her memory alive.” Katie lifted her gaze to meet his. “Do you think that’s what he wants? For me to write him a song so he’ll be remembered?”
As much as Ben wanted to believe the Director’s goal might not include Katie dying, the dress and bracelet suggested otherwise.
“It’s a plausible theory. It could explain the shift in M.O.” Ray seemed pleased at the idea.
“We’re not following his plan,” Ben reminded them. “What would you two normally do on a down day?”
“Shopping. See the local sights. Prepare for the next venue.” Katie sighed. “There’s always tons of work to do.”
Aggi bit her lip, but didn’t speak. Ben left it alone. They had enough things to worry about. “The dress gives us an idea of what image he wants for you.”
Ray pursed his lips. “It’s a young, clean style, evoking innocence, like Cinderella or Alice in Wonderland. What if you bought something completely opposite to his vision?”
Katie’s lips quirked in a twisted smile. “Like leathers from a fetish store?”
The vision of Katie in a corset and leather pants flared into Ben’s mind. His mouth went dry, and he shifted to ease the sudden tightness in his pants. This is worse than when I was a teenager. A grown man should have more control over his body. And yet, he could barely resist telling the other two to get lost, so he could drag Katie back into the bedroom.
“That could be fun.” Aggi brightened.
“We’ve been talking for a while. We don’t want to push the unsub into acting drastically, or finding another way to eavesdrop.” Ray glanced at the closed drawer.
“All right. We’ll finish up later.” Ben gave everyone back their phone. His had a missed call from Delacroix.
“I can take Katie-duty for the day,” Ray offered with a wicked grin. “And you can handle night duty.”
Ben scowled at him.
“Before you decide to ruin the mood, remember that a wise man doesn’t annoy the man who’s about to help his girlfriend pick out fetish-wear.”
A brief laugh burst out of Katie, and his irritation faded. His partner’s irreverence might be hard to take sometimes, but if it broke Katie’s despair, Ben would happily serve as the butt of the joke.
“I’ll grab my wig and sunglasses.” Aggi grinned. “Wouldn’t want any of the paparazzi to feed into Trevor’s rumors.”
“I don’t know.” Ray winked. “Think of how it would screw up his worldview if he thought you were doing the kinky stuff, just not with him.”
Katie shot an indulgent look in Ben’s direction as Ray and Aggi left the suite. She walked to him, and went up on her toes, tilting her head in a request for a kiss. One he eagerly complied
with.
The taste of her lips created a perfect universe with only the two of them. Nothing existed except the connection of their mouths and the butterfly caress of her fingertips on his chest.
He rested his forehead against hers. “Be careful.”
“I will.” Another wicked grin curved her lips. “Make sure you get some rest because I don’t intend to let you sleep tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He reclaimed her lips for one last kiss. And then another.
“Hey, no fair delaying our shopping fun for tonsil hockey.” Ray’s shout interrupted before Ben could take a third kiss.
“Keep her safe.” There was no one else that Ben would have trusted other than himself. Ray might pretend to be a flippant fool, but he never compromised on anything critical.
A silent nod sealed the promise. Then Ray escorted Katie from the suite, delightedly sharing the merits of rubber versus leather.
Ben countered the urge to follow them. His partner and Katie were both right. He’d been functionally on guard for over twenty-four hours. He needed rest, or he wouldn’t be able to protect Katie when it counted. Ray would escort her on the shopping trip, but Ben intended to be the only one guarding her at night.
First things first. He dialed Delacroix’s number. His boss probably wanted to chew him out for how he’d handled Orlund, but Ben hadn’t been exaggerating earlier. If his career died in order to keep Katie safe, it wasn’t even a close call.
“Investigator Morgan, is this latest disaster an example of cooperating with the FBI, or have you been watching too many rogue cop movies?” Delacroix asked gruffly instead of a greeting.
“I’m doing my job. I can’t say the same for Special Agent Orlund,” Ben replied candidly.
“He’s filing formal complaints against you. Obstruction of a federal investigation, improper behavior with the subject of an investigation. The charges are serious. They could end up sticking no matter what happens to the girl.”
“I know.”
If Ben succeeded in protecting Katie, then Orlund would take the credit. If they failed, then Ben didn’t care what happened to him.
“He’s laying blamework to cover his ass, and that pisses me off. I’ve got your back, and I’ll make sure that the FBI stays off it. Do me a favor. Try not to make things harder than they already are.”
“Got it, boss.” Ben was relieved. Fighting Delacroix as well as Orlund would have taken resources he could ill spare.
“Adler’s been keeping me informed. These spectres are news to me. Damn scary ability. Worse than the bloody sirens who can change your mind with a touch. How the hell are we supposed to deal with a prisoner who we’ll forget we have in custody?”
“You might ask Lucy for suggestions.” Not that they’d be necessary in this case. Ben wasn’t gunning for the Director, but if the need arose, he would place a bullet to guarantee the man never harmed another living soul.
Chapter 23
Katie stared at the faceless dummy decked in an array of strategically placed leather straps, and tapped her lips. “You know, this could work on stage with a leotard underneath.”
Aggi tilted her head to one side. “I think you’re right. It looks like it would be comfortable to move around in.”
“Get the red one. It would pop against your skin tone.” Ray pointed at the dummy dressed in fire engine red straps. “And those two mid-thigh straps take the whole outfit to a new level, like little garter belts.”
“Perfect.” Aggi signaled the discreetly hovering clerk. “Two, please, in the red if you have them. Are they from a catalogue, or is this custom work by a local designer?”
Katie hid a smile. The brightly lit shop was full of pops of color, double- and single-entendre puns, and gadgets to make even the most experienced shopper blush. Reaching out to check the fastenings on a blue silk corset, Katie remembered her mother promising a visit to the Nashville shop. That way you’ll never be pressured into doing something you don’t want to with someone because that person got you close to an orgasm once. She dropped her hand. Would we have bonded, or would I have been horribly embarrassed to be there with my mother? It was hard to say. She and her mother had been close, but they hadn’t hit the teenage rebellion stage before she died.
Today, the lights and windows made her feel exposed. Her breath quickened as she looked around, wondering if her eyes were skipping over her stalker. We want him to see what I’m doing here. The reminder didn’t help.
“What’s on your mind?” Ray asked quietly.
He’d been invaluable once they left the hotel. His quips and sarcastic observations made her and Aggi laugh, letting them forget the deadly game being played. But he also noticed when either of them were getting overwhelmed.
“I keep wondering if he’s watching us.” Katie crossed her arms, shivering. Saying the words out loud made the possibility more real.
“If he is, let’s put his panties in a proper twist.” Ray escorted her to a rainbow display of lingerie. “Pick out something naughty for tonight.”
Ray was possibly the only man whose behavior didn’t get weird around a lingerie display. Usually men didn’t handle feminine underwear well. Either they looked awkwardly at ceilings and floors, or they leered skeevily. Ray seemed completely comfortable as he held up a silky violet nightgown with long lace insets.
She rejected the nightgown. Too long, and lace made her skin itch. “I’m guessing this isn’t your first time.”
“Shopping or bodyguarding? Or is this your sneaky way of asking if Ben sleeps around on assignment?” Ray lifted a pink teddy then put it back. “Wrong shade for you.”
“I wasn’t . . .” She didn’t know how to finish the sentence. The idea of Ben with other women stole some of the enjoyment from the excursion.
“I told you, he lives and breathes the job. I’ve never seen him venture into the dating arena. At all.” Ray directed her attention to a sheer black robe tied with tiny pairs of blue ribbons instead of buttons. “On the clock, off the clock, neither seemed to make much difference to him. For the last three years, he has been very serious, and big-picture-oriented. Which means I am eternally grateful he’s taking a risk on you.”
“Glad I could be of service,” Katie said dryly. He’s right about the robe. And I’ve got a bra and panties to match the ribbons.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not happy you’re being targeted by a psychopath who wants to play dress up. But you’re exactly the type of woman that Ben needed to fall in love with. I’m glad you both have a chance at happiness for a little while. Though if he isn’t ecstatic about seeing you in this, I’ll request a new partner because I can’t work with a robot. I’ve seen too many movies about the end of humanity at the hands of artificial intelligence.”
“Oooh, are you getting this one?” Aggi bounced toward them, swinging a plain brown shopping bag. “It’s gorgeous.”
“I think it’s the winner.” Katie glanced around the shop again. “What should we do next to ruin the Director’s vision? Should I get a prominent tattoo?”
“Actually, I had a surprise for you.” Aggi bit her lip. “I know you miss your studio when we’re on the road. So I booked time at Lioness Recording Studios. I even shipped some of your instruments from home. I have them in my suite.”
“You did that? For me?” Katie’s fingers itched to get into the studio. Fiddling around on the guitar in her suite wasn’t nearly as satisfying as creating a multi-layered mix. She’d resigned herself to waiting until she could get back home. Her house had a full professional studio built to her exact preferences and specifications.
“It was super hard, but I managed.” Aggi took the sheer robe. “Here. I’ll pay for this, and arrange to have your instruments delivered.”
“Thanks.” Katie’s phone rang as her sister bounced back to th
e cash register. “Hello?”
“You ungrateful little brat. I should have left you to starve on the street with your mother.”
“I don’t want to talk with you, Bernice.” Katie sighed, checking the unfamiliar number.
“You’ll find the time, or you’re going to regret it. Since you won’t give me money, I will be delivering a very interesting video to the tabloids.”
“What video?” Katie asked before she could stop herself.
“From that party last year.” Bernice sounded smug.
Katie closed her eyes. She didn’t have to ask which party. Aggi had been drunk, and flirted with another celebrity, one with a possessive and vindictive girlfriend.
“You’re lying. There’s no footage.”
“I took it on my phone,” Bernice snapped. “I wanted some insurance in case you decided to cause trouble between my baby and me.”
Ray was frowning. Katie waved to signal the call wasn’t from the Director.
Anger sharpened her reply. “I don’t believe you.”
“Check your phone,” Bernice ordered.
A photo arrived, filling the screen with a picture of Aggi and the celebrity making out.
You cold-hearted bitch. “You wouldn’t do this to her.”
“I’ve got three minutes of pure gold, and if you don’t want it all over the internet, you’ll pay in the next two hours. Forty thousand in my account.”
“Bernice, we don’t have that much money lying around.” Katie didn’t waste time wondering whether or not the woman would follow through on her threats. She was perfectly capable of executing this short-sighted attack.
“Just pay the money,” Bernice hissed. “If you hadn’t cut me off, then I wouldn’t be doing this.”
“What’s going on?” Aggi asked from behind them.
Deadly Potential Page 15