Criminal Behavior--A Thrilling FBI Romance Page 8

  Someone creeping onto her property twenty-five years after her mother’s death to scatter crimson magnolia petals along her walkway was a deeper kind of stalking. Not to mention the attack upon her person and the distorted murmur of her name, which had come back to haunt her in her sleep.

  Addie had awakened in the middle of the night to that same electronic voice, only to realize she’d been dreaming. Unnerved by the nightmare, she’d gone all through the house, making sure nothing was amiss. The security system had still been activated, the doors locked tight, and yet Addie had had the strangest notion that someone had been in her house. Not possible, of course. She was a light sleeper. Even without the blare of an alarm, she would have awakened at the first sounds of an intruder. But that nagging feeling had kept her awake for the rest of the night, and now she struggled with heavy eyelids as the sun beat down through the windshield.

  Taking another sip of the iced coffee, she idly tracked the pedestrian traffic as she rolled down the passenger window to get a cross breeze. Then she checked the rearview mirror as she adjusted her sunglasses. She felt confident she hadn’t been followed. She knew how to spot and evade a tail. Still, recent events had left her edgy and overcautious. She kept her eyes peeled for a vehicle that made a second pass around the block or a tourist who lingered too long in front of a shop window.

  A few minutes later, she spotted a familiar figure as he came around the corner on foot. He had his phone to his ear, walking briskly but not so fast as to attract attention. When he drew even with her car, she said through the open window, “Keep walking.”

  Ethan’s hesitation was almost infinitesimal before he continued up the block and turned at the next intersection. Once she made sure he wasn’t being followed, she got out of the car, locked the door and headed up the street behind him. He had already disappeared by the time she made the corner. She slowed her steps as if she were out for a morning stroll along the downtown streets.

  A wrought iron gate across a narrow alleyway clanged in the breeze. Addie turned at the sound, and Ethan said from the shadows, “I’m in here.”

  His voice was deep, a little husky—perhaps from his own sleepless night—and as mysterious as the gloom in which he hid. Addie could just make out his silhouette. Tall, lean, head slightly bowed as he observed her.

  Watch your back, Addie. Maybe something darker rides along with him.

  She suppressed another shiver as she glanced both ways down the street, telling herself she was still being cautious. She was just making sure no one had followed them, but her reaction to that voice, his nearness, the sight of him waiting for her in the shadows provoked an unexpected reaction. For a moment, ten years melted away and she felt hopelessly smitten and dangerously naive. At twenty-two, she hadn’t stood a chance against Ethan Barrow’s brooding intensity, but she was a decade older and, surely to goodness, wiser. She knew how to protect herself from men like Ethan and, more important, from her own weaknesses.

  “Addie?”

  “Give me a minute.”

  She wiped her hands down the sides of her jeans as she surveyed the traffic. It annoyed her that the mere sight of him could threaten her poise. That the sound of his voice could still catch her off guard. She found herself bombarded with images that were best left in the past. The way he’d looked at her, kissed her, the slow trace of his hands along her quivering body.

  “What is it?” he demanded with soft urgency. “Were you followed?”

  Addie beat back the images. “I don’t think so,” she said briskly. “But better safe than sorry.” She took off her sunglasses as she stepped through the gate. After the glare of the sun, the deep shade of the alley momentarily blinded her.

  Ethan straightened from the wall and came toward her. “Are you all right? What happened to your face?”

  Her hand flew to her forehead. She’d forgotten about the bandage since changing it that morning after her shower. She was bruised, too, but the wounds were superficial. “There was an incident at my house last night. It’s not important. I’m fine.”

  “What kind of incident?”

  “We can talk about it later. That’s not why I’m here.”

  “Then why are you here?” He searched her features. Her vision was still clouded, but for some reason, she had no trouble at all focusing on his eyes. They were dark and full of concern. “How did you know where to find me, anyway?”

  “You aren’t that hard to figure out.” Her defensiveness made her sound petty, and she winced. She hated that tone. “Naomi Quinlan was killed at the next intersection, and she lived only a few blocks north of here. She would have walked this way to and from her home the night she died. I knew you’d come by sooner or later. I arrived early and waited.”

  “What makes you think I haven’t already been by here?”

  “Oh, I’m sure you have. Any number of times. And you’ll keep coming back until you’re satisfied you haven’t missed something.”

  “That explains how you found me, but you still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

  She turned back into the sunlight. “I don’t know, Ethan. I’ve been asking myself that same question for the better part of an hour. A part of me thinks that maybe I can keep you from doing something stupid, and another part of me thinks...” She trailed off. “I don’t know what I think.”

  “Let me give it a go. You’re here for the same reason I came back to Charleston.” He leaned back against the building, seemingly relaxed, but Addie knew better. He was as anxious as she was about this meeting. “As much as you want to discount the possibility that I could be right, you can’t. It’s starting to eat at you. You’re wondering if the person who murdered your mother could still be out there, and you can’t stand the thought that the perpetrator has gotten away with it all these years. Maybe he’s long gone or maybe he’s still in the city. You’re asking yourself, what if he kills again and you do nothing to stop him?”

  His assessment was a little too spot-on, and that also annoyed her. “Are you profiling me?”

  “You aren’t that hard to figure out.” Something close to tenderness took the sting out of his taunt. “Come away from the gate,” he said. “It’s better if we don’t attract curious eyes.” When she didn’t budge, he pushed off the wall. “Addie.”

  “I heard you. I don’t think we can be seen from the street.”

  Ethan was silent for a moment. “You’re not afraid to be alone with me, are you?” His voice was steady, his tone nonjudgmental, but beneath his neutrality, something vulnerable lurked. An unsettling fusion of dread and need.

  “If I were afraid, would I have met you last night? Would I have come looking for you this morning?”

  His gaze burned into hers. “Maybe not. But sometime during the past ten years, the thought must have crossed your mind—like father, like son.”

  “I think you’re capable of a lot of things, Ethan, but murder isn’t one of them.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “Don’t thank me.” She folded her arms. “I still don’t trust you.”

  “And yet here you are.”

  She shook her head. “I must be out of my mind.”

  “Or maybe deep down, you realize that all I’ve ever wanted is the truth.”

  “You just didn’t care who you took down in the process.”

  “I never meant to hurt you, Addie. I hope you know that.”

  She hardened her resolve against his regret. “What I know is that you have a history of deception, so I’ll be watching you carefully. I’ll take everything you tell me with a grain of salt. But you are right about one thing—I’m curious about that third DNA sample and the possibility of a donor match.”

  He nodded, his gaze going back to the cut on her forehead. “We can talk about Naomi Quinlan on the way to her house, but I’m not going anywhere until you tell me how you got hurt. D
on’t say it’s not important. It is.”

  Addie’s first inclination was to remind him that she wasn’t his business, but all this blatant hostility was unproductive and it went against her nature. She didn’t like clinging to her grudges. Her grandmother would be appalled at her comportment. Be the better person, Addie. Life’s too short. Don’t let anger and bitterness steal your joy.

  Only her grandmother’s memory could prod her into a truce with Ethan Barrow. She would let go of the bitterness, but her guard would remain up, Addie decided. Forgiving was one thing, forgetting quite another. “Someone came into my backyard last night. He was waiting for me when I got home. I gave chase and he ambushed me.”

  “You went after him alone?”

  “I was armed and I wanted to frighten him enough so that he wouldn’t be tempted to come back and do it again.”

  “Do what again?”

  She paused. “He scattered crimson magnolia petals on my walkway.”

  She could sense Ethan’s heightened tension even though his expression remained neutral. “When was this?”

  “Right after I left you. I found a trail from the garage to my back door. And then I spotted him—or someone—hiding in the shadows near the fence. I figure he’d waited there to witness my reaction. I pursued him through a couple of yards into a gutted house. I let down my guard, and he hit me with a board so that he could get away.” She touched the bandage again. “It’s not serious. Barely more than a scratch. My ego took a worse beating. I should never have let him get the drop on me. I’m not usually so careless.”

  “Did you call it in?”

  “I called Matt Lepear. He came over, and we both searched the property and the surrounding area, but the suspect was long gone. It’s like I told you yesterday. All the publicity surrounding the anniversary is bringing out the crazies.”

  Ethan wasn’t buying her explanation. “This wasn’t just a prank. You were assaulted.”

  “I’ll be more careful in the future.”

  Now it was his turn to glance both ways down the street. “We both need to be more careful. I appreciate that you came here looking for me this morning, but it’s probably not a good idea for us to be seen together.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  His gaze whipped back to hers. “I also had a run-in last night. Gwen Holloway was waiting for me when I got back to my hotel.”

  “The Gwen Holloway. What did she want?”

  “That’s a good question. Gwen says one thing but often means another. She says my trip to Charleston has her concerned and, apparently, others are worried as well. According to Gwen, powerful people are keeping tabs on me, one of them possibly my stepfather.”

  Addie looked at him in alarm. “Why would your stepfather spy on you?”

  Ethan shrugged. “To protect his image. He holds an important position in the DOJ. Maybe he’s afraid I’ll step out of line and embarrass him the way I did ten years ago.”

  “Seems a bit extreme. Could he have another motive?”

  “Unlikely. He wasn’t around for the Twilight Killer case or for my father’s incarceration. They knew each other, but Richard didn’t come into the picture until later. I’d be more inclined to think that Gwen is somehow manipulating him to try to control me.”

  Addie gave him a look. “That sounds a little paranoid, even for you.”

  “I know how it sounds. I also know Gwen Holloway has a lot to lose if that third DNA sample pans out. Her whole career was built on my father’s downfall. Respect and reputation mean everything to her. Which brings me to another problem. Why didn’t you tell me you’ve been accepted into her program?”

  “I didn’t think it mattered. And why is it a problem?”

  “She’s threatening to cut you loose if I don’t drop my investigation.”

  “She said that?” Addie muttered an expletive that drew an amused glance from Ethan. “Sorry for the language, but the idea that she would even try something like that just pisses me off. I’ll tell her to her face what she can do with her program.”

  Ethan’s eyes glinted. “As much as I would pay to see that confrontation, don’t give her the ammunition. And don’t throw away an important opportunity for pride’s sake. You can learn to manipulate her.”

  “How?”

  “There are two kinds of people she routinely drops from her program. Those who can’t cut it and those who set out to prove they’re smarter than she is. You’re smart, but you’re also clever. You can make her look good without showing her up. She’ll respect that.”

  “How do you know so much about Gwen Holloway?” Addie asked.

  “She’s pushed my buttons a few too many times. I’ve learned from my mistakes. If you can keep your cool, she’s not that hard to figure out, either.”

  “Good to know.” Addie slipped her sunglasses back on. “Should we go take a look at the crime scene? Maybe I’ll remember something about that night that we can use.”

  He looked uneasy. “I know I brought all this to your doorstep, but you don’t have to get involved. Things didn’t go well for either of us last time, and now you have more to lose.”

  “Things went south because you lied to me,” Addie said. “You didn’t even tell me your real name until I was in too deep. Do you have any idea how much that hurt? How humiliating it was to find out who you really are and what you really wanted from me?”

  “Addie—”

  “Do you seriously think a career is the worst thing a person can lose?”

  “Addie.”

  “Stop saying my name.”

  “I don’t know what else to say. I should have been straight with you from the start. But before I could come clean, I was in too deep, too. I fell for you and then I didn’t want you to know the truth.”

  She looked at the sidewalk, the traffic, anywhere but at him. Anger blossomed, but she pressed it back down. Ten years was a long time to carry the weight of a broken heart. She was fine now. She’d been fine for a very long time. Best to let go of all that negative energy. It would only trip her up. She’d come here to find Ethan of her own accord. No one had twisted her arm. Either she was going to help him get at the truth or she wasn’t. No need to keep punishing him for something that was over and done with. Neither of them could change the past.

  “Let’s just get on with this,” she said. “What happened, happened. We’re both adults. Let’s put it behind us and move on.”

  “You mean that?”

  “I do. But there’s something you need to know. It’s true I’m curious about that third DNA sample and the possibility of a donor match, and you’ve raised valid concerns about the hit-and-run that took Naomi Quinlan’s life. It does seem a little too convenient. I also don’t like being threatened by Gwen Holloway or anyone else, and I’m starting to wonder if she had something to do with what happened at my house last night.” Addie held up her hand when Ethan tried to interrupt. “Having said all that, I still think my mother’s killer is exactly where he belongs. I still think justice was served twenty-five years ago. But on the slight chance I could be wrong...well, that’s why I’m here. That’s the only reason I’m here.”

  * * *

  ADDIE WAS QUIET as they walked along the tree-lined street, and Ethan didn’t try to initiate conversation. She appeared deep in thought, and he didn’t want to annoy her. She seemed to have a short fuse these days. He could understand that, and he’d gladly give her a pass. Considering everything that had gone down between them, her willingness to put the past behind them was a gracious olive branch.

  Addie’s interest in the case encouraged him—two pairs of eyes were always better than one when searching for the truth—but he still worried about the consequences of her involvement. Gwen Holloway could cause a lot of trouble for both of them, and Ethan knew only too well that she could be vindictive. She’d already gone to the d
eputy chief with her concerns, putting Addie in the crosshairs. But Gwen may have underestimated her opponent. Addie was no pushover. She’d made it clear she wouldn’t allow anyone to intimidate or manipulate her, and that included Ethan. He respected that. He admired her willingness to fight back. As for him, he would never try to deceive her again. He’d learned his lesson ten years ago. From now on, total honesty. That was the only way their new alliance would work.

  He decided it was time to break the awkward silence. “Must be getting close to ninety out here. It’s too early to be this hot. Not much of a breeze, either.”

  Addie gave him a sidelong glance. “Maybe you’re too used to sitting in an air-conditioned office. You ought to try walking a beat.”

  “Detectives don’t walk beats, either.”

  “No, but we canvass,” she said. “And before I made detective, I walked my share of foot patrols. You get used to the heat.”

  She certainly looked cool and relaxed in a white tank, jeans and sockless sneakers. She’d pulled her hair back in a ponytail, and he could see a faint sheen of lip gloss when the sun hit her just right. She smelled good, too, like fresh air and flowers, a clean scent that emanated from her skin and hair when she moved in close. Even off duty and dressed so casually, she exuded confidence and control. She walked along the street, head up, eyes alert, ready to take on the world. He had no doubt she was carrying. The cross-body bag was less conspicuous than a holster and would also contain her keys and cell phone. Ethan was likewise armed, the weapon tucked up under his shirt in the back.

  He glanced over his shoulder as they made the next corner. It was still early. The shops hadn’t yet opened, and few people were stirring. The sparse traffic would make it easy to spot the black Charger or any other suspicious vehicle.

  “Relax,” Addie said. “We’re not being followed. We would have spotted a tail by now.”

  “Weren’t you the one who just said better safe than sorry?”