The Prey Read online

Twenty advance copies had been sent to her, but she had only brought five to Malibu, in case she wanted to send them to someone. She’d given one to Adam . . .

  There were three on her shelf.

  She stared at them, her heart beating fast. Three left. There should have been four.

  “Rowan—” Quinn began.

  “He’s been here.” Her voice was barely audible.

  “Who?”

  “The killer. He’s been here. Right here.” She pointed to the shelf of books. “He has the last book. He could kill anytime.”

  Three more days.

  He stood at the window and looked out into the blackness. It was three in the morning and very, very dark here on the coast. He hated it. Hated the ocean, hated the cold, foggy mornings, hated the salt air. How she ran on the wet beach every damn morning in the soggy air was beyond his understanding, but she’d always been odd. His opposite.

  Except for one thing. She came up with exquisite ways to murder.

  In Crime of Jeopardy, Rowan’s counterpart, Dara Young, investigates the murder of a prostitute in Dallas that is linked to an unsolved series of murders in Chicago. The victims are mutilated and vital organs removed with precision.

  He’d been studying basic surgical procedures in anticipation, but he read the good parts—the details about each murder—three times to get it just right. Exactly as Rowan envisioned.

  Turning from the window, he crossed the spacious, sparsely furnished living room and finally went upstairs to bed. He pulled a book off his nightstand and caressed the cover. Crime of Jeopardy. It wouldn’t be in bookstores for another three days, but he had taken this copy out from under Rowan’s cocky little nose weeks ago. Weeks. Before Doreen Rodriguez took her last breath. Before he’d finished planning each payback, before he planned what he would do to Rowan.

  But he knew now, and it would be good. Very, very good.

  But first, Jeopardy. Dallas or Chicago. Chicago or Dallas. Hmmm. He was a little nervous about going back to Texas, but the challenge thrilled him as well.

  Chicago, Dallas. Dallas, Chicago. It made no difference to him. Some stupid whore was going to die and lose her innards, one way or the other.

  He lay back on the bed dressed in nothing and pulled the warm comforter over him. He had some serious planning to do.

  He was running out of money. He couldn’t very well take out the whore when he didn’t have the plane fare to get to Dallas. Robbery really wasn’t his thing, but every few months he hit a couple stores and pulled in enough money to get around. The trick was to pick businesses with women behind the counter. They’d fork over the money quick and easy and he’d be out in less than five minutes. He’d only had to kill once.

  Tomorrow he’d take care of his finances, then finalize his plans for the whore.

  How much did they know? Obviously enough to keep Rowan under lock and key.

  There were several Feds watching Rowan. A pair outside her house in a so-called nondescript sedan, and they rotated every twelve hours. That agent she was friendly with. And the bodyguard’s brother. He was a little worrisome. Elusive, harder than the bodyguard he killed. More like a seasoned Fed, an undercover cop.

  He wouldn’t underestimate the brother. No, that might be a mistake. But he had time. One whore in the Midwest, and then Rowan was his.

  He smiled as he drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER

  15

  It was after hours when John went to the morgue.

  He’d asked his aunt to stay with Tess, then spoke to the chief of police, Michael’s old boss, to arrange the viewing.

  John barely registered the cold temperature of the basement as the assistant coroner led him down the hall and into one of the many body storage rooms. He unlocked drawer B-4, second row from the bottom, but didn’t open it.

  “I’ll give you a few minutes,” the assistant said, then crossed the room to give John privacy.

  John stared at the drawer.

  Michael. Michael was in drawer B-4.

  John reached down, clasped the handle tightly, and closed his eyes. How can you be dead? How can you be gone?

  They hadn’t always had an easy relationship, even in childhood. They weren’t much more than a year apart in age, rivals in both sports and women. But they’d always been friends, even when they sparred. John went Army, Delta Force, and Mickey became a cop. Both had their father’s strong sense of justice; both had their mother’s compassion for victims. When their dad died of a heart attack at the age of fifty, they’d bonded to take care of their mother and sister. And when their mom died the following year, they remained close. Started their business. Watched out for Tess.

  Sure, they’d had disagreements. Jessica was a major one. John had never trusted her, but Michael was convinced she’d change. A few other big fights, here and there. But when they fought, they always made up. Like partners in a good marriage, they didn’t go to bed angry.

  Until last night.

  A hollow sob escaped his throat and John squatted next to the box. The last time he’d spoken to Michael was in anger. He’d outmaneuvered him, and Michael knew it. John always won because he played the game better. He knew which buttons to push and he pressed them just right to get the reaction he wanted.

  And when Agent Peterson saw Michael lose his temper, he’d agreed that Michael needed a night off. Perfect timing. Timing John had set up. Now Michael was dead. And he couldn’t tell his brother he’d been wrong.

  John slid open the drawer, cold air rushing out to slap him in the face. The familiar chemical smell mixed with death assaulted his senses. He’d seen plenty of dead bodies before. In the morgue, in the battlefield, in the jungles.

  But none had been his brother’s.

  The three dark holes in Michael’s chest stood out against the blue-white pallor of his bloodless skin. His body seemed smaller as it lay there on the steel tray. Michael’s dark hair was damp from the icy cold. It was too long, but he’d never liked the short military cuts John preferred. Michael, who’d been so full of life and laughter, always liking a good joke, now lifeless.

  John didn’t realize he was crying until a tear fell onto Michael’s neck. He put his hand over his eyes, squeezing them shut, holding back the hot sting of emotion. His breath came deep, in hitches. His heart beat painfully in his chest.

  “Michael, I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I will find your killer. I will have your vengeance. I promise. I won’t let you down again.”

  John watched her sleep.

  She was curled into the reading chair in her den. By all appearances, Rowan hadn’t left the room since yesterday. She looked vulnerable. Her long hair hung over her face and she rested her head on her arms, which were folded on the armrest. Her feet were tucked under her. Not at all comfortable. Even in the dim light coming from the hall, she seemed too pale. He wondered if she’d eaten, then asked himself if he cared.

  He couldn’t care. Not now.

  John glanced at his watch. Five-thirty. He hadn’t slept more than an hour, and at four had given up on sleep completely. He couldn’t get the vision of Michael lying cold and dead out of his mind. Yet somehow, he felt calmer. He had a purpose, a goal: revenge.

  He’d relieved Peterson minutes ago and brewed a pot of coffee. Collins had called and told him Peter O’Brien, Rowan’s brother in Boston, couldn’t have committed any of the murders. He had a pretty good alibi—daily Mass. John had sensed that O’Brien wasn’t involved, especially after hearing he was being watched by the Feds, but he had still insisted that the assistant director look into him and anyone he could think of who might have a motive for going after Rowan in such a sick and sadistic manner.

  Collins was checking into the records of the MacIntosh murders and would be faxing over all newspaper articles, photos, everything that might be of use, to the FBI headquarters.

  John wished there were another way, but hours of tossing and turning, pacing and sitting, left him with the only pos
sible conclusion: Someone Rowan knew well had killed Michael, and that someone had been in Rowan’s life twenty-three years ago.

  Rowan needed to look at the reports and hope something popped so they could get this bastard. Peterson had agreed to bring in Adam Williams to look at photos as well. John was too distraught to feel guilty, though a pang of remorse hit him. The poor kid wasn’t going to be comfortable at headquarters looking at crime scene photos, but John could think of no other way. Adam was the only one who’d for sure seen the killer. He was their best hope of identifying him.

  John cleared his throat quietly, not wanting to startle Rowan, but she jumped up, gun in hand. He hadn’t noticed she was sleeping with it.

  “John.” Her voice was thick and groggy. She slowly sank back down into the chair to steady herself.

  “I made coffee.”

  She nodded. “Thanks.” She coughed to clear her throat. “Where’s Quinn?”

  “I relieved him.”

  Her eyebrow went up as she stared at him. “I-I thought—”

  “I’m on the case until we catch my brother’s killer.” His voice sounded harsh, but his emotions were raw and close to the surface.

  “I—uh, I guess a run is out.”

  “You want to run, we run.” He stared at her, careful to keep his face blank.

  “I need a minute,” she finally said.

  “I’ll be in the kitchen.” As soon as he closed the den door, he breathed regular again. He hadn’t realized he’d been so tense talking to Rowan. He hated seeing her so scared, defeated, hollow-eyed. But he couldn’t think about her, couldn’t care about her, and sure as hell couldn’t worry about her.

  He would protect her life. Nothing more. Nothing less.

  Because if it weren’t for her and his damn hormones and his stupid fight with Michael, his brother would still be alive. He’d accused Michael of letting his emotions cloud his judgment, but he had done exactly the same thing. Not only did he think he was the only one who could get Rowan to spill the truth, he had wanted not only her honesty, but her body.

  Rowan watched John leave and stifled a cry. She brought her hands to her mouth in a vain attempt to trap the sound. She didn’t know how she was going to get through the day, but she needed to get a grip on herself.

  How could she forgive herself? How could John forgive her?

  She went up to her bedroom and splashed water on her face. She stared at the ghostlike reflection in the mirror. Was that her? Her pale blue eyes were grayer than usual, dull and lifeless. Her skin had a sallow appearance, her hair was stringy, her breath awful. She brushed her teeth twice, washed her face with soap, and brushed her hair before pulling it back.

  She really didn’t want to run, but somehow it seemed important to hold up in front of John. If she broke down, he would have one more thing to worry about. She didn’t want him to be concerned about her. She was a big girl; she’d been living with pain and guilt most of her life. One more murder wasn’t going to break her. She’d simply add it to the chamber in her heart that held the memories of everyone she’d inadvertently had a hand in killing.

  Michael was in good company.

  She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a couple deep breaths. It was foolish to run, she knew; she hadn’t eaten since Friday night. But maybe it would help numb the pain.

  John looked forward to the run. He needed it. Anything to compete with the pain in his heart. Three laps would be a start. Four might fight the pain. Five might drown it out.

  But it would be foolish to get that exhausted. If they were being watched, it would be a good time for the killer to attack.

  John peered out the kitchen window, but all he saw was the wall of the house next to Rowan’s and about eighty feet of the sandy, concrete-reinforced cliff between them.

  He was on his third cup of coffee and he’d forced down a piece of toast. It tasted like paper and left a lump in his stomach but was doing its job of soaking up the caffeine. He was beginning to feel half-human.

  Rowan came into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She looked better than twenty minutes ago, but her face was still pale. Her little dark glasses covered her eyes. But she seemed ready. Rigid. Cold. Expressionless.

  A worrisome thought flitted across his mind. Rowan was not as cold as he’d believed when he first met her. It was an act to cover up her feelings, just like the glasses she wore covered her eyes. Maybe all this was getting to her.

  Dammit, he couldn’t care. He had a job to do: catch Michael’s killer and keep Rowan out of the crossfire. He didn’t have the energy to worry about her feelings.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  On the wet sand, he pushed her pace. He maintained his protective spot two strides behind, but he breathed down her neck, urging her to move faster, harder. How could he purge the pain at this slow pace? He needed the cold air to replace the hot grief, the sting of salt in his lungs.

  So he pressed her. When she wanted to stop after two laps, he wouldn’t let her. He wasn’t even winded. He knew she could handle three or more laps. They’d run many times, and Rowan was in fabulous shape. Did she think he couldn’t handle it? Did she think he was going to break down? Not him, not now.

  They were almost back to the stairs of her house. Rowan was slowing. “Come on, run!” he shouted in her ear like a drill sergeant.

  She stumbled and fell to her knees. He swerved and leaped over her, but made contact with her body and tumbled himself.

  He quickly stood in a crouch and surveyed the scene, gun out. Trap, was his first thought. The murderer planted something on the beach to trip them up. Was he waiting to pounce?

  He saw nothing but quiet homes set far from the beach. He heard nothing but the roar of the ocean, the breeze, the squawk of gulls searching for fish. No glint of a sniper rifle, no trace of a trap.

  Then why did the hair stand up on the back of his neck?

  “It’s clear, but we should get back,” John said.

  Rowan was on all fours, panting heavily. He put his hand out for her, but she didn’t take it.

  “What the fuck?” he said. “We need to get going. You’re a sitting duck out here.”

  “Let. Him.” She sank down into the sand, her head buried in her arms.

  “What are you talking about?” He reached down and used his strength to haul her to her feet. She’d lost her glasses in the fall, and her eyes swam with tears. She staggered, unable to get her footing, and fell against him, pushing him back at the same time.

  “Let me go,” she whispered, trying to free her arm.

  She had little strength. He easily held on to her. But he let her go. She fell back into the sand, her legs like noodles. “Just leave me. He’ll come. You can watch from my deck and when he comes, kill him. There’s a sniper rifle in my closet.”

  What in the world was she talking about? Using herself as bait? If Rowan died, he’d lose someone else. He couldn’t, wouldn’t let her die.

  He stared at her face, red from exertion and half covered with sand from her fall. She wasn’t looking at him, but at the ocean, tears spilling from her eyes. Her breath was still coming out ragged, her cheeks hollow.

  He didn’t want to think about her pain. He didn’t want to be reminded of what he’d been doing when Michael died. How he’d manipulated his brother, sending him to his death.

  How he had loved being wrapped in Rowan’s arms, holding her, being in her.

  This was neither the time nor the place for a relationship, or even just sex. But Rowan had no one. He wouldn’t let her offer herself up to the murderer like a sacrificial lamb.

  He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the house. When she didn’t so much as protest to being cradled like a baby, he knew she was not herself.

  He hadn’t given any thought as to how she felt about Michael’s murder. It slowly dawned on him that she was as agonized as he. But Michael wasn’t her brother, her best friend. He’d only been her bodyguard.

 
; Still, in her mind, she was responsible for whomever the bastard killed. John should have made that connection sooner, but he’d been so wrapped up in getting her to tell him the truth, and then in grieving over Michael.

  Rowan was in pain, too.

  He put her on the couch, but she wouldn’t look at him, just lay on her back staring at the ceiling. He watched her work to control her emotions, to bring down the shield she’d erected so well.

  She was exhausted from his pushing her on the run, on top of little sleep. Had she eaten? He doubted it. He hadn’t been able to eat yesterday. He’d only had a couple of sips of soup, and only because he’d forced Tess to eat something.

  He left her and went to the kitchen to pour himself more coffee. What was he going to do? He could barely keep himself together; how was he going to keep Rowan together?

  Focus. Dammit, he could focus. All those months—years—tracking Pomera and his operatives. After Denny died, infiltrating the drug gang and slowly, painstakingly, taking the dealers down one by one. Focus. Perseverance. Patience.

  He would do it. For Michael.

  Which meant he needed Rowan and whatever information was trapped in her brain, information she didn’t know was important. And he wouldn’t be able to get anything out of her if she made herself sick from guilt.

  Food was nothing more than fuel—a good thing, because John couldn’t cook. He toasted some wheat bread and made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He assumed Rowan liked peanut butter and jelly because it was in the house. He poured her coffee and brought it out to the living room.

  She wasn’t there.

  “Shit.” He went to the den and sure enough she stood in the corner, looking out the front windows through partially opened venetian blinds.

  “He’s been watching me.”

  She spoke without turning around, her voice soft, gravelly.

  “How do you know?”

  “At first, a feeling. I didn’t realize it before, but every so often I’d feel prickly. A tingling in my spine, but I didn’t notice anyone paying undue attention to me.” She shook her head, looked down at her feet. “He’s been here, John. In my house.”