Watch Them Die

last night. He lived alone in that garage apartment, and worked at a lock and key store. That must have come in handy when he and Richard Kidd broke into several of their victims’ homes.”

Ben frowned at her. “But why would they switch identities?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe part of some game. They were into playing games, manipulating people.”

“I don’t understand how Richard Kidd could be employed at the community college—and here at the video store—under the name Seth Stroud. What about his Social Security number, his paychecks, his bank account?”

Hannah sighed. “I don’t know, maybe he’s independently wealthy, and doesn’t need the money. We know he used his friend’s Social Security number. Maybe he gave his paychecks to the real Seth—for the use of his name. I said it before. This killer must own some pretty expensive, sophisticated equipment to have put together that Goodbar video. Hell, those glasses Seth—or rather, Richard— wears are designer, at least a cool thousand. He dresses pretty nicely for a part-time teacher’s assistant and video-store clerk.”

Shaking his head, Ben folded his arms. “I still don’t understand why they switched identities.”

Hannah shrugged. “Well, maybe it wasn’t a total switch. When we met the real Seth Stroud, we put him on the spot. My guess is he only lied that one time about who he was—when we came knocking on his door. Maybe Richard Kidd borrowed Seth’s name and identity for certain things—and certain reasons.”

“Well, what reasons?” Ben pressed.

“I don’t know, dammit!” Hannah said, exasperated. “I’m trying to make sense of this too, same as you.”

“Mom, you said dammit!” Guy called from the next room.

Hannah let out a weak laugh. “Um, sorry, honey!” she called back. She gazed at Ben. “I keep thinking of something you said a couple of days ago. You said this killer ended up with more than he bargained for when he started stalking me. He got in over his head, killing a couple of private detectives. Things are closing in on him. He had to cut all his ties and move on. I certainly know how that feels. He’s kind of like me in that sense.” She shook her head. “It’s weird to find I have something in common with a serial killer. Anyway, maybe that’s why he killed his friend. He must have—”

A sudden pounding on the store’s glass door cut her off.

“Mom!” Guy yelled.

Hannah and Ben hurried out of the break room. She ran to Guy and hugged him. Glancing over at the video store door, she saw the cab driver. “It’s okay, honey,” she assured Guy, with a skittish laugh. “It’s just our cab driver. He thought we’d forgotten about him.”

Ben was signaling to the driver, holding up two fingers. “Two more minutes!” he yelled to the man on the other side of the glass.

The driver waved back at him, then ambled back his taxi.

Guy had left a pile of videos on the floor. Hannah started returning them to the shelf. Ben crouched down to help. “So—you think Richard—um, took care of his friend; then he went to the garage apartment with enough evidence so it would appear the late Seth Stroud was—alone—responsible for these— unfortunate incidents?”

She gave a cautious glance at Guy, who wasn’t picking up on any of their conversation.

“Can we watch this one tonight?” he whispered, handing her a copy of Aladdin.

“Not tonight, sweetie.” She nodded at Ben. “Yes. I think he got into that apartment after you.”

“But if he was so hot on covering his tracks and moving on, why did he give himself away to you with the Vertigo tape? He must have known you’d figure it out.”

“I think he wanted me to figure it out,” Hannah said, frowning. “He wants me to know he’s still around. My guess is—he’s not finished with me.”

“All the more reason I should stay with you today,” Ben said, straightening up.

Hannah shook her head. “No, Ben. It would just prolong everything. You said so yourself. There are too many unanswered questions. I can’t afford to stick around and find those answers. But you can.”

Frowning, Ben pulled the piece of scrap paper out of his pocket and glanced at it. “1313 East Republican,” he said. “That’s only a few blocks from here, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Why don’t you two guys step outside so I can set the alarm again? C’mon, Guy.”

As they walked to the door, Ben whispered to her. “I’ll stick around and watch you go. If someone starts following the cab, I’ll call from a pay phone and leave a message for you at home. Check your answering machine when you swing by to pick up your bags.”

Hannah nodded. “Thanks, Ben.”

He and Guy ducked outside. Hannah locked the door, ran back and set the alarm, then quickly retraced her steps to the door again. Once outside, she locked the door behind her.

Ben had already taken his duffel bag out of the taxi, and Guy sat in the back, waiting. Ben stood in the light, drizzling rain, holding the taxi door open for her. She stopped for a moment and stared at his handsome, chiseled face, still bruised, shiny with raindrops. He smiled sadly at her. “When you get where you’re going, don’t forget to call me at the Best Western. Okay?”

She nodded and took hold of his arm. “Thanks, Ben,” she whispered. “Thanks for everything.”

“I’m never going to see you again, am I?” he asked.

Her heart ached. Hannah threw her arms around him.

Ben kissed her on the lips. She clung to him fiercely, but then forced herself to break away. “Take care,” she said, her voice cracking. She jumped into the backseat of the cab.

Ben closed the door.

Hannah pulled Guy closer to her. She glanced through the rain-beaded window to see Ben’s face again, but the taxi pulled away. She didn’t get a last look at him.

“Why are you crying, Mom?” Guy asked.

Hannah had hoped he wouldn’t notice. They’d been driving for five blocks, and he hadn’t uttered a word. She didn’t want to tell him that they wouldn’t be seeing Ben again. If Guy knew, he’d be crying too.

“I’m just feeling sad, honey,” Hannah said, wiping her eyes. “Some people cry when they’re about to go on a trip. I’m one of them. I’ll be okay in a little while.”

As the taxi approached her street, Hannah glanced out the rear window. She didn’t notice anyone following them. Then again, she didn’t know what type of car to look for.

The cab turned down her block. Hannah let out a gasp. “Um, keep going, please,” she said to the driver.

A police car was parked in front of her apartment building.

“Isn’t this your address?” the cabby asked.

“Yes, but keep driving, please,” Hannah said.

As they passed her building, Hannah saw one cop step out of the squad car while his partner remained behind the wheel. Hannah glanced over her shoulder to watch the policeman step toward the front door.

“Turn left up ahead, please,” she told the driver. Hannah had him take another left, then pull into the parking lot of a condominium behind her building. Fishing her keys and some money from her purse, she gave the driver twenty dollars. “Keep the meter running, please,” she said. “We’ll be back down. I promise it won’t take as long as the last time.”

“Fine with me,” he replied. “It’s your money, lady.”

Hannah took Guy’s hand, and they walked up some steps to a little walkway at the side of the condominium. “Now, honey, for the next few minutes, I need you to be quiet and do exactly what I say, all right?”

“’Kay,” he said, holding out his free hand to catch the light raindrops.

Hannah opened a swinging gate in the fence that divided the properties; then she and Guy stepped up to the back door of her building.

Inside the dark stairwell, they climbed up the cement stairs. Guy was stomping. “You have to be very quiet, honey,” Hannah whispered, squeezing his hand. “We don’t want anyone to hear us.”

“’Kay,” he said, slowly taking each step on his tiptoes.

“All right,” Hannah whispered. She hoisted him up in her arms. He was close to forty pounds, and the stairs