“A lot of radio stations are effectively controlled by computers these days.” Ben’s calm statement seemed ludicrously obvious once pointed out.
“They’re probably not hard to hack either.” She frowned. “The same with the downloads. They could be click farms or robot accounts. There might not be many people who actually like the song.”
“The real question is, what does our unsub gain?” Ray’s question fell into the awkward silence with a distinct thud.
“He can’t think I’d come running to him with open arms, could he?” Katie swallowed as the bile rose up her throat. “He’s a killer.”
“There are all those women who write to serial killers in prison,” Aggi pointed out.
“It was a test.” Ben shut down the tangent discussion. “If he wants you to write a song, he’ll have to distribute it. He’s testing the system. Remember, he can’t network because everyone would forget. But he can manipulate digital systems to get the same effect.”
“It makes sense. He probably does most of his interactions online, where his abilities wouldn’t affect those around him. From there, he could easily drift into hacking.” Ray rubbed at his chin with his finger. “We should check online communities when we get back to Special Investigations. It might be a way to locate other spectres.”
When we get back. Katie swallowed at the reminder.
“What’s the plan?” Aggi asked.
“We have to talk to Orlund. I think we should consider his suggestion,” Ray said.
Silence fell as the other three looked at one another in confusion.
“We should set a trap,” he explained softly. “With you as the lure. Someplace where we can track him using the crowd.”
“She is not going to be bait,” Ben shouted.
Katie flinched, stepping back from the raw force of his anger.
Aggi added her volume-enhanced objection. “You can add in my vote as a hell, no!”
Ray didn’t seem fazed. “It makes sense. We know he’s off balance, and seeking control. We know he’s searching for an opportunity to kidnap her. And we know his pressure points: performing in public, and your relationship with Ben. If we can stage a performance, and control access, we have a chance at trapping him. But we will need proper legal backup and support, which means working with Orlund.”
“No.” Ben’s flat denial could have doubled as a brick wall with a sign saying No Entry Here.
His certainty suddenly irked Katie. “Hold on. Isn’t this my decision?”
Ben arms dropped from their crossed position. “You can’t be seriously considering it?”
“It’s not like there are other options,” Katie shouted back. “I won’t do it if innocent people are at risk.”
“The Director has gone out of his way to avoid collateral damage in the past. And while he arranged Bernice’s accident, she was also a direct threat to his plans.” Ray turned compassionate eyes toward her sister. “Sorry.”
Aggi slowly shook her disheveled blond curls. “Maybe I’m still numb, but I’m finding it a lot easier to remember all the awful things she did than to retrieve the slivers of good times buried in our past.”
“Can you guarantee he won’t hurt someone else to get to me?” Katie’s throat hurt from pushing the words past her dry tongue.
Ben turned away, his head lowered.
“No one could guarantee that,” Ray said sadly. “But I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought innocent people could get hurt—oof.”
Ben had spun around, and grabbed Ray’s shirt, yanking him off balance. “If she gets hurt—” he growled.
“Then I will assume my life is forfeit.” Ray gently removed his partner’s hands, and grimaced at the wrinkles. “Silk is not meant to be manhandled. This is supposed to be a civilized conversation about possibilities. Perhaps you should take a walk on the beach to calm down.”
A rush of air burst from between Ben’s lips. “I’m sorry.”
A hint of steel appeared behind Ray’s casual joviality. “The walk isn’t a suggestion.”
Katie kept her hands firmly on the counter, and her lips sealed as Ben grudgingly agreed. Being the focal point of his concern might be flattering, but Ben’s reactions weren’t healthy. Ray had assured her that Ben wasn’t typically violent, but she couldn’t deny the evidence of her eyes. Am I going to find myself on the other end of him grabbing my shirt, and growling at me? He’d always treated her with care and consideration, aside from his tendency to make decisions for her.
The look in Ben’s eyes made it even harder to restrain herself. For a fraction of a second, his expression shifted to sheer agony, emotional pain creasing the lines around his mouth and eyes. It vanished quickly, replaced by the professional mask from their first meeting. Katie saw the hints behind the façade, and knew the request added another layer of torture.
He walked stiffly out the double doors on the ocean side of the house, closing them carefully behind him.
Aggi scowled. “I can’t believe—”
“Give us a minute. Please.” Katie held her sister’s gaze.
Eventually, Aggi reluctantly nodded, and returned upstairs.
Ray escorted Katie to the couch in the seating area. She sat down gratefully, bracing her head in her hands with her elbows resting on her knees. Ray settled beside her.
“Why the change in heart?” she asked.
“From the tone of his letter, the Director is moving from an organized to a disorganized killer. As an organized killer, he is predictable and calculating. He has an end in mind, and he doesn’t want to be caught.” Ray watched her closely.
Probably waiting to see if I collapse. “And if he’s disorganized?”
“Then he becomes unpredictable. He could decide any sacrifice is worth it, or that your death is more important than his ritual. He won’t care about getting caught. His goal will be to inflict the maximum amount of damage.”
“And it’s impossible to completely eliminate opportunities.” Katie understood the implication. Celebrities dealt with stalkers on a regular basis, and the most dangerous ones were the ones who didn’t care if they were caught.
“As I said, our best chance is if we force his hand by offering him what he thinks is a perfect opportunity. He didn’t react to the fetish store the way we expected, so we should try something different. The image he wants is polished, so let’s go genuine and unplugged. If we do it before he completely devolves, we’ll have a better chance at catching him.” He leaned forward. “I also believe it’s our best chance to keep you safe, but it will be the hardest on you and Ben.”
Choreography only looked effortless and spontaneous. Planning allowed the illusion. She took a deep breath. “All right. Let’s do it.”
“Before we share your decision, and I’m condemned to being stuffed in my partner’s trunk alongside my luggage, I need to know the truth. Are you really okay with this, or is this coming from a desire to be finished with this mess?”
I’d rather risk my own death than see Ben die protecting me. Katie’s heart wouldn’t survive another funeral for someone she loved. Her throat tightened again.
“What is it?” Ray asked, frowning.
Love. The word seemed impossible. If someone else had claimed to be in love after less than five days, she would assumed they meant lust or infatuation. Her emotions were much deeper, making it impossible to avoid. She stood trapped between opposing sides of the same emotion, heartbreak and hope. “If . . . if the worst happens, make sure he’s okay.”
“Trust me, I’m planning to ensure both of you get through this, and I’m expecting a touching speech at the wedding about my pivotal role in bringing you together.”
She laughed at his absurd sincerity.
He grinned at her. “A heartfelt acknowledgment of myself
as the embodiment of a modern Cupid will do. Nothing ostentatious. I’m far too modest for such things.”
She choked on slightly hysterical laughter. Ray’s steady hands supported her. His teasing dispersed the ominous tension.
“You could name your first-born after me, but that seems excessive.” He kept talking as the giggles increased. “My mother claims I was named for sunshine. I’ve always thought of myself as a light-bringer, someone to brighten any situation. It’s your choice, of course. Either way, I’ll be happy with gratitude expressed frequently, and in a materially rewarding fashion.”
The relief from amusement vanished as doubt and fear crept back in, Ray ceased his patter.
He cleared his throat. “Love like yours is too rare for the universe to waste it on tragedy. Now come and protect me from your sister and boyfriend when we tell them you’ve agreed to the plan.”
Chapter 38
This is a horrible idea. Ben scowled as he surveyed the crowd mingling among the booths of the Twin Horseshoes Ranch Family Fun Fair. Squealing children ran between the games, followed by their slower-paced parents. Young couples strolled, oblivious to anyone but each other. Hundreds of people moving chaotically, and any one of them could be the Director.
At the same time, their very numbers made it harder for the Director to go unnoticed. Anything which disrupted the crowd’s ebb and flow would be investigated. Lucy had shattered records creating an algorithm to track crowd movements. High-flying drones circled above the fairgrounds. If their monitors picked up any variation, the team would be alerted.
“Check in, all positions.”
Orlund’s voice crackled on the radio bud lodged in Ben’s ear. The FBI agent’s glee at the plan would have earned Orlund a new black eye if they’d been in the same room.
The various undercover agents reported no sign of the unsub or an unexplained disturbance. Beside him, Katie nodded to Angela, a middle-aged woman wearing a bright green Family Fun Since 1985! T-shirt.
“Thanks again for squeezing us in.”
After you made such a generous donation to our school district, it was the least we could do.” Angela smiled.
Katie opened up her guitar case. “I can’t guarantee how much money I’ll raise by busking, but I can put smiles on people’s faces. Anything I collect will be donated to the schools.”
“We appreciate anything you can do. Sunday is always quieter anyway, so don’t worry.”
A young woman in an identical green T-shirt hurried through the crowd. “Where are the extra bottles of ketchup and mustard? The cook tent is almost out.”
Angela hesitated, clearly torn between wanting to stay, and needing to go.
“I’ll be fine here.” Katie smiled broadly, hooking her guitar strap over her shoulders, and settling onto a stool.
As the older woman disappeared into the crowd, Ben spoke quietly into the microphone hidden in his collar. “Going live.”
“All set,” Ray replied cheerfully, sounding much more obnoxious through the earpiece than he did in person. He was pretending to do interviews for a local news station, lingering near the entrance to the fair. Disguised by a low-slung baseball cap, Aggi operated the camera. The images from it and the drones went directly to Agent Orlund, hidden in a nearby van marked with the station’s logo.
They’d chosen this fair for its unique entrance. The Twin Horseshoes private ranch could only be entered through a single wrought iron gate. It corralled everyone through a ten foot gap. One way in, one way out. Which meant the Director would have to pass Ray’s checkpoint.
“Cameras are all online. We’re getting good video for the facial recognition software,” Orlund reported over the radio.
Katie strummed her guitar. No amplification, only her beautiful voice backed by the mellow chords. People took note, drifting closer.
The plan could be worse. It had taken a lot of walking before he could examine it objectively. A public performance would lure the unsub in. Despite his instinctive reaction to the idea of Katie being in danger, Ben agreed with Ray’s analysis of the Director. The longer they waited, the more dangerous he would be.
Ben snapped a picture of Katie using her phone. She looked gorgeous in her silky fitted dark blue shirt, skin-tight jeans, and his leather jacket. He sent a copy to himself before posting it on Aggi’s social media.
He’d insisted on an additional precaution. Five different proximity transmitters were hidden on Katie’s person. Three from the FBI, and two bought from a local shop for special needs families. If any of the transmitters shut down, or moved more than six feet from the master unit in his pocket, an alarm would sound. Logic dictated it should be impossible for the unsub to snatch her away, but Ben’s hindbrain wasn’t convinced. It wanted to protect his woman the old fashioned way, by smashing anyone threatening her. As long as Katie remained exposed, he would be on edge.
She sang, smiling, and engaging with the gathering audience. Ben snapped more pictures as she coaxed two little girls from the audience to join her in singing the latest Disney hit. The kids danced on either side, belting out the chorus with more enthusiasm than talent. They seemed delighted to become part of the performance, and Katie’s infectious grin spread through the crowd.
After nearly an hour of song, she announced a twenty minute break. The crowd dispersed to other pleasures.
Ben activated his radio. “Any sign?”
“Nothing so far,” Ray reported.
More negative reports trickled in. Ben handed a condensation-slick bottle of water to Katie.
“I’m raising more money than I expected.” Katie gestured at the red felt lining of her guitar case, nearly hidden by the crumpled bills and coins tossed inside. “When my mind is on the music, I’m even enjoying myself. I can create memories for the people listening, whether it’s those kids singing, or the couple who were dancing together.”
Ben had noticed them, too. A man and a woman in their seventies swaying together as the sunlight gleamed off their gray hair. It made him wonder. Would Katie’s hair turn gray, or soft white? Or maybe she would dye it to maintain its scarlet glory? He imagined her playing for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He clung to the vision, determined to give her an opportunity to make it real. “And when your mind isn’t on the music?”
“That’s when I’m terrified.” She took a long swallow from the bottle. “But not as badly as I was before. I’m bringing him to me.”
He scanned the crowd again, searching for irregular eddies of movement.
“Is there any word?” she asked.
“Nothing yet. No suspicious activity spotted by the drones. No pings on the video.”
“Okay.”
Ben hated watching her suppress her anxiety. Her nerves showed in the little gestures, the way she rubbed the water bottle as if it could release a djinn to solve everything with a wish.
“Why don’t we take a walk around?” The words spilled out of his mouth in a rush.
Katie blinked in surprise. “Shouldn’t we stay here?”
Probably. After over a decade of stake-outs, he’d learned waiting and familiarity were a dangerous combination. “We don’t want him to suspect a trap. It’s best to act normally.”
“Right.” She bit her lip, the earlier smiles banished beyond recall.
He wanted to coax them back. “Say the word, and I will shut this whole thing down.”
She shook her head slowly, her back stiffening. “No. I can do this. It’s his turn to be hunted. I won’t let him stop us from enjoying ourselves.”
She emptied the money from her guitar case, and laid the instrument carefully inside. “I almost didn’t bring this one with me, even though it’s been by my side since I was a kid.”
Ben recognized the case. Including the storage co
mpartment the Director used to hide the diamond bracelet.
“I was scared he would take over the memories that I love about this guitar. It was my first. I saved for weeks until I had enough cash. My mother took me to the store, and told me to find one that spoke to me.” Her fingers ran over the honey-gold worn wood.
“What happened?” Ben tried not to feel jealous of an inanimate object.
“I picked out the flashiest guitar in the place. Bright varnish, an intricate inlay through the neck, and gold-plated tuning pegs. I grabbed it, and brought it to the register, feeling very proud and grown up. Then Mom started to laugh.” Lost in the memory, Katie’s lips curved upward. “She said I’d done what a lot of people do. I’d mistaken catching my attention for a real connection.”
Ben moved to stand behind her, letting her lean back, and rest her head on his shoulder. His arm crept around her waist. She laid her arm over his, lightly stroking the skin along the back of his wrist.
“She played that blinged-out guitar, and I heard the sour undertones from the first note. The guitar’s body hadn’t been made properly. It would have to be completely rebuilt to fix it.” Katie closed the lid, and sealed the case. “We located this one tucked in the back. Someone had tried to grind off the fret markers with an industrial sander. But even with the damage, the sound resonated. Mom told me I’d learned to recognize what I needed instead of getting caught up in hype.”
He pressed a soft kiss against her temple. “Sounds like a good lesson.”
“And here’s another one.” She turned in his arms to face him. “I realized if I didn’t play it today, then he won. I can’t let fear make my decisions.”
He ached to kiss her, but children’s giggles reminded him of the fair’s family-friendly policy. If he let himself touch her lips, he wouldn’t stay below a G rating.
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