Good odds, obviously. Very good odds.
Eden shrieked as the large man thrust out his hand and grabbed her. He turned her around and held her firmly in place with one arm. The sharp tip of the knife grazed her throat.
"Shouldn't have done that," he growled. "I was trying to hide all quiet like a mouse."
"Drop your weapon!" Ben had his gun out and pointed at the friendly neighborhood serial killer currently pressed against Eden's back.
The sharp edge of the blade pushed closer against her skin. "I just came back to pick up a few things, not to have a showdown. You should have damn well left me alone."
Eden shot Ben a panicked look and then concentrated on not moving. "Please let go of me."
He dragged her roughly backward into the open archway leading to the living room. The curtains were drawn on the bay window, leaving them in shadows. "I need your help. I heard you talking. You're a psychic. That's how you sniffed me out."
Now that she was really close to him she could literally sniff him out. Considering how neat and tidy his house was, the man had obviously been away from deodorant or showers for several days. Her skin crawled and bile rose in her throat.
"How can I help you?" she managed.
"I'm possessed by a demon," he hissed into her ear. "And I want it out of me."
"A demon?" she repeated, trying to sound as if she believed him. "Is that what you think is making you kill people? The devil made you do it?"
She exchanged a fleeting look with Ben, who stood six feet in front of her. He'd be able to hear everything the freak was saying to her. The cop's expression was fierce but a distinct flicker of worry crossed his blue eyes. He was thinking what she was thinking. This guy was insane--even by serial killer standards.
"I can't concentrate." The killer shifted farther back with her. "Can't think with it in my head. I killed a homeless guy a couple weeks ago and the demon's been with me ever since."
"I'm warning you again," Ben snarled. "Let the woman go right now."
The guy tensed. "He's telling me to let you go."
"That's r-right," Eden said, her voice shaky. "Listen to the nice policeman. He wants to help you and so do I. Nobody has to get hurt here."
"No, not the cop, the demon. He wants me to let you go."
Okay. "Well, then listen to the nice d-demon. I can help you. I am psychic. Very powerful. That's me. I'll be able to talk to your demon and convince him to leave your body and go back to--to Hell . . . and then everything will be fine."
"You don't believe me. I can hear it in your voice."
Her stomach clenched with fear. "No, I do. I totally believe."
"The world is full of strange things and strange beings. They're among us. Walking around, eating, drinking, living side by side with humans. I couldn't see them before but now I can. They're everywhere. Do you see them, too?"
"Of course I do." It sounded like a lie. Mostly because it was. She could be this bastard's next murder victim. Her life might be crappy at the momen
t, but that didn't mean she wanted it to end. Her legs weakened, and if he hadn't been holding her tightly she would have fallen straight down to the beige-carpeted floor.
She gasped as the knife pressed closer.
"Maybe if I slit your throat the demon will leave," the killer growled into her ear. "He'll see that he doesn't have any power over me."
Eden met Ben's steady but worried gaze. He had his gun aimed at the serial killer's chest, but at the moment she was blocking the way.
"This is your last warning," Ben snapped. "I will shoot you."
Suddenly the killer let go of Eden and she spun around to see that he looked extremely upset.
"Shut up!" he yelled, and brought his hands up to his head. "I'm not listening to you, demon. I'll kill her."
His gaze tracked to where Eden stood, his eyes wide and crazed. He raised his knife and lunged at her.