"So I was taken off the case,obviously." Bitterness edged his voice. "But I know that guy."He stared across the room, past people laughing and talking and dancing, hiseyes so intense she shivered. "I've studied him, talked to his family. Iknow that bastard better than anyone does. But I didn't know he'd killedagain."
He looked back down at her."I'm so, so sorry, Marli."
"What are you sorry for?"The corners of her eyes tightened as she looked at him and her insides squeezedat how disturbed he seemed to be by what had happened to him, and how heclearly didn't want to admit it.
He shook his head."Marli." His voice was suddenly urgent and he settled his hands onher shoulders, holding her away from him so he could look into her eyes. Herbody tensed. "Sheldon Barnes doesn't stick around after he kills someone.He's done this before and always takes off. Travels across the country. It'snot likely he's still around here. And if he is, you can't be looking for him.He's a psychopath. He's dangerous."
"But--"
"Marli, you asked for my help.And here's my advice--let the police do their investigation."
She hated controlling, domineeringmen. At that moment, however, her body a quivery mass of stressed-out,stretched-thin nerves, she wanted to listen to this man, lean on him and lethim tell her to forget about trying to find a murderer.
She was terrified. Terrified forwhat Krista must have endured the last moments of her life. Terrified forherself. Afraid of life without her best friend. Afraid of finding the guy andwhat she would do then. More afraid of not finding him.
"You don't understand,"she whispered. She looked up at him, his sexy, gorgeous dark face full ofconcern, wavering in the tears that filled her eyes.
"What don't I understand?"
"I have to find him. Ijust have to."
He stared at her, their eyesconnecting in a way she'd never experienced, like a link between them joinedthem, drawing them closer.
"We'll...they'll findhim," he assured her urgently. "You have to believe it. But you can'tdo it yourself. You just can't."
"Fine." Disappointmentweighed her down, her body heavy as she slid off the stool and reached for herpurse. "Thanks for nothing."
He didn't even try to persuade herto stay. She looked at him for about three heartbeats, then leaned over andbrushed her mouth over his.
"'Bye, Trey."
A sound downstairs caught herattention. Marli could barely hear over the noise of the water filling the tubin her bathroom. It was probably nothing. Just her stupid nerves acting upagain.
But again she heard it, a grinding,grating noise coming from the lower level. Her heart stuttered to a stop, thenstarted pounding painfully hard in her chest. She turned off the water andlistened again for it. Her breath stuck in her lungs and she started slowly outof the bathroom toward the stairs, dressed in only her panties and a T-shirt.She heard it again.
"Jesus, no, no," shewhimpered to herself, frozen in place at the top of the stairs, holding thechrome banister. Her fingers clenched it as her eyes darted around. Call thepolice, call the police, her inner voice chanted, but she was so paralyzed withfear she couldn't even remember where her phone was.
The noise stopped. She could hardlyhear over the banging of her heart as she waited. A car engine roared outside,tires squealed, and then there was a pounding at her door. She jumped again,eyes in danger of popping out her sockets.
"Marli!" The voice outsidecalled to her, but it was familiar. It was her next door neighbor, Jeff.
Her legs shook as she stumbleddangerously down the stairs and over to her front door. She pulled open thenarrow blinds on the sidelight and peered out. Jeff stood there, his brows knittogether, his mouth turned down. He pounded again.
"Jeff! What is it? What are youdoing?"
He saw her face in the window."Are you okay? Jesus, Marli, some guy was trying to break in your frontdoor!"
Chapter4
Marli leaned her forehead againstthe cold glass and gulped. Her whole body was a quivering mass of jumpingnerves. With trembling hands, she unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door tolet Jeff in.
He grabbed her upper arms. "Areyou okay?" he demanded.
She nodded mutely, not sure if shecould speak. Her knees so weak she thought she might fall, she turned out ofJeff's grasp and staggered into her living room, then collapsed on the edge ofher couch.
Jeff followed her, after forcefullyshutting and locking the door behind him.
"You've got to call thecops." He went into the kitchen and grabbed the cordless handset from thebase, then handed it to her.
She took the phone, but did nothing.She didn't even look at Jeff, but closed her eyes.
"Marli. Call the police."
She looked at the phone and, with acurse, Jeff snatched it from her limp hand and dialed 911. She vaguely heardhim report the attempted breakin through a fog of confused fear.
"Shit," he said withdisgust as he hung up. "They won't come until tomorrow. You're safe, theguy's gone, it's not an emergency. Jesus."
Marli shakily pushed her hair backfrom her face, aware she was wearing a T-shirt and panties. Not that Jeff wouldnotice. He was completely, openly gay. But he was a great friend and neighbor.
"Did you hear him?" sheasked, finally finding her voice. "How did you..."
"I was just getting home,"he said. "I guess he didn't notice me. I saw him at your door. I couldtell he was trying to break in, so I yelled at him and ran over here. He tookoff."
"Thank you, Jeff," shesaid in a choked voice. "Oh, my God."
"Who was it? Any idea?"
Trey's image flashed into her head.He could have followed her home from the bar. Sure, he'd said he was a cop, buthow did she know that for sure?
No. It didn't feel
