“Me either.” Weston’s gaze dropped to her mouth. “Avery…”
She leaned forward, her hand coming up to cup his jaw. Her thumb skimmed his lower lip and the touch sent a wave of heat through him. The desire in her eyes matched his own, and Weston was powerless to resist it. He closed the distance between them, and his heart rate skyrocketed as their mouths met.
Everything around them faded away, and Weston lost himself in the kiss. There was nothing but Avery. Her kindness, her bravery, her faith. Everything she was touched him and made him ache for more.
When the kiss ended, they were both breathless. Weston pulled Avery into his arms, and she rested her head on his chest. His heart was still beating a mile a minute. No doubt she could hear it. As his emotions settled, Weston braced himself for a pang of misgiving, the familiar sense of betrayal that had haunted his forward momentum with Avery. But it never came. Instead, a feeling of rightness settled over him. He didn’t know what the future would bring, but Weston was grateful for this small moment.
Footsteps pounded over the hardwood seconds before Savannah came rushing into the living room. Her hair was mussed and her eyes wide. She had a cell phone in one hand.
Avery sprang from the couch. “What is it? Is it Henry?”
“No, it’s one of my friends. Her dog was running around the yard and the back door is open. The neighbor said he’s tried knocking several times, but Rachel won’t come to the door. She’s missing.”
It took twenty minutes to drive across town to Rachel Long’s house. Red and blue turret lights flashed from different patrol cars, casting patterns on the asphalt. The cold air stung Avery’s lungs, and she kept an arm wrapped around Savannah’s waist. Her sister’s expression was pinched with worry.
Beside them, Weston walked protectively. Less than an hour ago, they’d been sharing a passionate kiss. Now they were at a crime scene. The twisting events served as a stark reminder for Avery to tread lightly. She didn’t regret sharing the truth with Weston about her feelings, nor was she upset he’d shared his. But the conversation confirmed what she already knew. Her heart was in trouble of being broken.
Beyond the cordoned-off area, reporters shouted questions. Avery spotted a familiar face. Greg Kilbourne from the Texas Tribute. He was pushing against the barrier. “Chief, is Rachel the latest victim of the serial killer? Did the killer leave a note for you like he did with the other women?”
Avery froze, midstep. She glanced at Weston. “How did he find out about the notes?”
Weston’s jaw tightened. “Mike?”
“Take Savannah up to the house. I’ll be right there.” She pressed her lips together and waved at a nearby officer to let Greg approach. The reporter rushed up, his tie flapping in the breeze of his own making. Avery didn’t let him get in a question. “How do you know about the notes?”
Greg adjusted his dark-framed glasses. “I can’t reveal my sources, Chief. Are you confirming the notes are real?”
“I’m not confirming anything.”
“They singled you out specifically.” He glanced at the notepad in his hand. “Avery, the game begins with a King’s pawn opening.”
She stiffened. A selected number of people knew about the notes. And only one person benefited from cozying up to a reporter. Mike Steel. By feeding Greg information, he created a relationship that could be used later to cast doubt on his own guilt in the court of opinion. Avery cleared her throat. “Let’s make a deal.”
Greg lifted a bushy eyebrow and a gleam came into his eye. “I’m listening.”
“I’ll give you an exclusive one-on-one interview when this case is closed. You’ll have access to inside information, and no question will be off-limits. In exchange, I want your word that you won’t publish anything until I give my say so. Starting with the notes and their contents.”
The reporter was silent for a long moment. “And if I don’t agree?”
“I’ll have you arrested for interfering with a police investigation. You’ll get out of jail eventually, but do you really want to waste time in front of a judge?” She gestured to the other reporters. “Especially if it means one of them will get the scoop.”
His gaze narrowed. “Fine. But I want some information now. I need something to keep my editor happy.”
She pondered the offer. The dean wanted to put the university in a better light. This could kill two birds with one stone. “Meet me in my office tomorrow morning at ten a.m. You can interview me and the dean.”
“Done.”
She sent up a silent prayer that making a deal with the reporter was the right thing before waving to the officer standing nearby. Greg went behind the yellow line while Avery followed the walkway around the side of the house.
Savannah was leaning against the brick, one hand pressed to her stomach. The other held a small, white dog. Avery rushed to her sister’s side. “Are you okay?”
“Just nauseous.” Savannah’s chin trembled and she swallowed hard. “Rachel’s dog was running around the yard and the back door was open, just like the neighbor said. I overheard Grady say…it looks like the scene at Marianne Jenkins’s house.”
She squeezed Savannah’s arm. Avery had never met Rachel, but she knew her sister and the other woman were close. They worked together at the crisis center. “Is Rachel single?”
“Yes. Divorced actually. It became final last year. That’s why the neighbor called me. Rachel told him months ago that I was her emergency contact. Her parents are both dead, and she doesn’t have children.”
“Does she have any connection to Harrison University?”
Savannah nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “She’s attending part-time. She’s one semester away from completing her bachelor’s degree.”
Avery bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. Her sister’s grief was heartbreaking. “I’ll have an officer take you home.”
“No. Not yet.” Savannah closed
