Annoyance flared. “What are you trying to say? He’s with the FBI. You must know he’s been overseeing the Lester case.”
Willis wagged his head firmly from side to side. “No, Darby, he hasn’t been involved with this case on any official level. He’s not with the FBI. In fact, according to every database we’ve checked, which, trust me, was more than a dozen, Aidan Tanner doesn’t even exist.”
“That’s crazy…impossible. Why would you say such a thing?” She wanted to shake him, tell him to stop lying to her, but she couldn’t. Because every neuron in her brain understood that this man was telling her the truth.
“The only hit I got on any search we initiated was from Interpol. Even they don’t know who he is, but a man matching his physical description rescued a political attaché in Brussels last year. According to the report, he came out of nowhere and saved the man from certain death amid a hail of bullets and an explosion that no one should have survived. Sound familiar?”
She knew he referred to the daring rescue Aidan had pulled off at the zoo the day before.
He waited a moment for her to respond, but she couldn’t. Her throat had closed and her stomach had clenched so tightly she could scarcely keep from grabbing her middle and doubling over with the pain.
“I don’t know who this man is, but he isn’t from any law enforcement agency we can find. He may or may not have killed Lester. Personally, I don’t give a shit. The bastard is dead. The taxpayers won’t have to foot the cost of his trial or his wait on death row. He’s certainly done nothing wrong that we can pin on him. If we risk questioning him, that’ll only give away what we know. The only reason I’m telling you this is because I’m worried about you. Why did this guy pick you? There are serial killers running around wreaking havoc all over the country. Why you? Why Lester? There has to be another connection besides Lester. Do you have any idea what it is?”
A shaky breath rushed into her lungs, an autonomic response for sure since she couldn’t even remember to breathe. “I…I don’t know,” she stammered. She didn’t know anything it seemed…except one thing.
She had to get out of here.
Had to…now.
“Thank you, Detective Willis.” She stood on shaky legs. “I have to go now.”
He took the envelope from her cold hands and stuffed the photographs back into it. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll keep that security detail watching your apartment for a few days more,” he added kindly.
She watched him walk to the door. He hesitated before exiting the break room. “Let me know if you need anything at all, Darby. I want to help you.”
He did. She knew he did.
But there was nothing he could do to help her.
Nothing anyone could do.
HIS COVER was blown.
That evening as Aidan drove Darby home, he knew with complete certainty that Detective Willis’s visit had been about him. He’d seen the man arrive and enter the preschool. He’d come to deliver the news about Lester’s death. No surprise to him or Darby. Galen’s doing, no doubt.
Willis had been checking into his background. O’Riley had called and warned him that NOPD had initiated a background search. Nothing Aidan hadn’t expected. In reality, he was surprised it hadn’t happened sooner. But Detective Willis had been too caught up in the manhunt for a child killer to worry about who or what Aidan was.
But now the cat was out of the bag.
Aidan had a decision to make.
Lie to her or tell her the truth.
Both options carried grave repercussions.
If he lied to her, she would know it and would send him away. If he told her the truth, Center would likely eliminate them both.
There had to be a way.
He knew O’Riley was already on to him. Again today, he had asked if Eve had told him anything more. When Aidan told him no, O’Riley had recognized that it was a lie.
Lester was dead. He had no more excuses for hanging around, to Darby’s way of thinking. O’Riley was suspicious already. The truth looked more and more like the best option, but it was a no-turning-back course of action. Once he’d told her, there would be no way to take back the knowledge that would get her killed if she reacted the wrong way.
It was the only chance he had.
He had to take it.
He followed a silent Darby to her apartment. Once inside, she greeted her cat in that sweet singsong voice, then rounded on him.
“I want to know who you really are,” she demanded, fury making her eyes glow with fire.
“All right.”
She looked startled, as if she’d expected a fight.
He sat down in one of the chair’s facing the sofa and waited for her to take a seat there. He needed the distance the small expanse of floor and the coffee table between them would provide.
“I came from this place you recall as Center.”
She trembled, but didn’t make a run for it as he’d feared she might do.
“The dreams you’ve experienced for so many years have a basis in truth.”
“Explain,” she ordered, unable to wait even a second for the full explanation.
“You and I are the same. We were created at Center. Genetically designed to be superior to other humans.”
This was when the denial kicked in. “That’s insane.” She bounded off the sofa and glared at him. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”
He opened his hands to her, revealing his unmarred palms. “Look closely, Darby.”
She leaned toward him, stared at the hands that had touched her intimately only this morning. But her distraction with the pleasure he’d wrought had kept her from noticing that not a single abrasion or cut remained from his rock-climbing adventure just yesterday.
“How did…” Her gaze collided with his and challenge gleamed there. “That proves nothing.”
“How do you suppose I know your every thought?” He smiled. “Well, almost your
