Crush

them. That’s why they haven’t told the media. They’re afraid they don’t know what they’re dealing with.

His eyes were drawn again to the words “FBI Profiler.” A federal case. As it should be. John Wayne Mayfield deserves nationwide coverage. But there’s no fun in spoon feeding them the story. They have to realize themselves what they have here. Once enough pressure’s applied, it’ll reach a point where they can’t contain it anymore. Then the newspapers and TV would find out. Everyone would know. It would blow up into a huge story.

A broad smile spread Mayfield’s lips.

He looked back at the screen, fingered the mouse. Time to turn up the heat. And he had just the thing to get their attention. Something that would drive them nuts.

NINETEEN

Vail and Dixon pulled into Mountain Crest’s small gravel lot beside Robby’s Murano. His brake lights were still glowing.

Vail had the door open before Dixon brought the Ford to a stop. “Hey, come out for a sec. I want you to meet someone.”

Vail jumped out of the car and into Robby’s arms. He gave her a big embrace, then seemed to notice Dixon standing there and released his grip.

“Oh—this is Roxxann Dixon,” Vail said. “We’re working together on the task force.”

Robby straightened up, then reached out to shake. “Robby Hernandez.”

“Good to meet you.”

“So . . .” Robby said. “How was your day?”

Vail and Dixon shared a look before Dixon said, “Let’s just say it was . . . productive and leave it at that.”

“Uh huh.” Robby squinted and shifted his gaze from Dixon to Vail, then decided to heed Dixon’s advice.

Dixon backed away. “You two have a great evening. Pick you up tomorrow? Eight-thirty?”

“Sure,” Vail said. “See you in the morning.”

Dixon got in her car and drove off.

Vail tilted her head at Robby the way a mother looks at a son expecting an explanation.

“What?”

“You found her attractive,” she said. “I can tell.”

“Well, yeah. She is. Is that up for debate?”

Vail slapped him in the arm. “Wrong answer.”

“I’m just saying. It is what it is. I didn’t say I was attracted to her. I said she was attractive.”

“Is there a difference?” Vail asked.

“Yeah. But to set the record straight, yes, I was attracted to her. I’m a man, she’s a beautiful woman. But you’re more beautiful. Besides, you’ve got my heart.”

She reached out and grabbed his groin. “That’s not all I’ve got.”

Robby raised his eyebrows, then guiltily glanced around the parking lot, which was now bathed in fading light. He said, “I think I should take this inside.”

AND THAT’S EXACTLY what he did. Afterwards, Vail rolled off him and stared at the ceiling. “That makes up for what turned out to be a tough day.”

“You have to learn to play well with others,” Robby said.

“How did you know what happened?”

He gave her a look that said, Come on. “Give me some credit. I think I know you pretty well, Karen.”

She yawned. “You know what, I don’t even care anymore. About today. I’m hungry . . . starved. But I’m so . . . I feel so rested. I don’t want to move.”

Robby got off the bed and drew the curtains. It was now ink black outside, the sun having set and the woods filtering whatever stray light might be emanating from the moon. “Let’s order room service,” Vail said, her speech groggy.

“Good one,” Robby said as he slipped on his pants. “How about I go out, get something, and bring it back?”

“Sounds good to me,” she mumbled. “Wake me when you get back . . .”

VAIL WAS ASLEEP, dreaming of yodeling sommeliers, the oak barrel scent of raspberry-nosed Pinot Noir, the weight of Robby lying atop her, the heat of the Day Spa sauna . . . hot . . .

Sweating . . .

So hot . . .

And the stench of gasoline. Gasoline?

Nose stings, hard to breath, smoke—

Vail woke from her stupor, lifted her head, and saw nothing. Blackness like a velvet coffin enveloped her. Cocoonlike in its confinement, thick. She felt around—she was on the bed. Asleep. Robby—he went for food.

Felt her fanny pack on the night table, with the Glock’s prominent bulge.

Can’t see. Cough! What’s the layout of the room? She couldn’t remember—but just then, something blasted through the small window, a fireball, flames—feeding on the once-delicate frilly curtains, conflagrating upwards toward the ceiling. Covering the walls.

Vail snatched the fanny pack and tossed the strap over her head. Wrapped a robe around herself and stumbled off the bed. Ran for the door—grabbed the knob and—fuck! Hotter than hot. Found a piece of clothing, wrapped it around her hand and tried to turn it. Locked? Jammed? She slammed against it with her shoulder. It rattled but didn’t budge. The door opens from the inside—it’d have to be pushed open from the outside.

She turned toward the window—only way out—but a wall of flames stared back. Angry, ferocious fire lunged at her.

The smoke, so thick. Get down, crawl—she fell to her knees, more because of her inability to breathe than a memory of what to do in the case of fires, which was suddenly plucked from some deep reach of consciousness.

She started toward the bathroom, but the air . . . so thick with particulates she tasted it on her tongue. Go, go, toward the bathroom. Window? Can’t remember . . .

Get out of here!

Made it to the bathroom, reached up—doorknob hot, burning hot—can’t open it. Hot doorknob means fire inside the room.

Turned back toward the front door, need a chair, smash through it . . .

But as she crawled along the floor, her chest felt heavy, tight—no air.

Robby! she screamed in her mind. Jonathan . . .

No, keep going. Cover mouth, keep going . . .

As she fought the intense heat, flames all around her, crackling, black smoke—the room door burst open. She couldn’t lift her head but two arms grabbed her and yanked her hard, and she felt herself being lifted into the air and thrown against a body. Robby . . . thank God . . .

She was bouncing up and down, helpless, a rag doll bobbing about on Robby’s back as he ran away from the burning building, the adjacent hedges now lit up like a bonfire.

coughing—

hair in her face—

and an explosion behind her—a fireball rose up into the sky, wood shards slamming into her back and above her, to the side, all around, and—

Robby, move faster!

He kept going, the smoke still thick, and she kept bouncing around as he ran into the graveled parking lot. Eyes burning. Tearing. Can’t see—