That expressionless mask softened and his eyes lit up. His mouth curved. “You were right about Zahra. She really came through, didn’t she? Whether it pans out or not, she had a couple of really good ideas.”
“She did point out that Harlow knows cameras and photography better than anyone in the county. She’s really good, Sam, but if I went to her, that would be bringing another person into our circle,” Stella said a little reluctantly.
Sam had been so adamant about keeping the number who knew about her past very low so there was no way the killer would discover Stella’s true identity. She didn’t want others to know about her, but on the other hand, she didn’t want to be like her mother, going to any length to protect what she had and letting others die when she could possibly have saved them. She knew going to the police wouldn’t do any good at this point, but perhaps bringing Harlow in might help if she really was able to find something about the camera to widen her view.
Sam tapped a rhythm on his thigh, his dark eyes drifting moodily over her face and then taking in her thin racerback tee that she’d worn to bed. It was old and ratty but it was soft and comforting and she’d needed it when she knew she was going to have a nightmare. The cotton was damp from her sweat and clung to her skin, revealing more than it covered.
“Don’t like that you have to go through this, Stella, but your friends are women and we know the killer’s a man. These women have been your friends for over five years, some a little longer, and they’re all loyal to you. I can’t imagine any of them selling you out to the media, especially Harlow. If we bring her in, I want to be with you. They’re your friends, so it’s your call, but I want to be there.”
She lifted an eyebrow. Her nerves were beginning to settle. Just talking to Sam did that for her. “Why?”
“I scare people, sweetheart. Haven’t you noticed? I don’t have to say anything, I can just sit next to you instead of a few seats down and they’ll get the message.”
Stella frowned, trying to analyze his tone. His voice had a velvet quality to it, almost as if it brushed over her skin. At the same time there was a note of menace, something very sinister and frightening, when he never raised his voice at all. He spoke low, but his instructions were always carried out. She’d noticed if he talked to a drunk causing a problem, the drunk listened immediately, no matter how far gone they appeared to be.
“What message, Sam?” She looked directly into his eyes, challenging him. Daring him to tell her. She wasn’t afraid of him. She would never be afraid of him.
“Not to fuck with you. They do and they’ll have to answer to me. That’s something they aren’t ever going to want to do.”
His honesty sent a little frisson of heat curling down her spine. She lifted her chin at him. “Did you know that Raine is required to do a background check on anyone she hangs around with?”
He folded his arms across his chest, looking more relaxed than ever. “Doesn’t surprise me.”
“She’s done one on everyone with the exception of you. Said she didn’t want to raise any flags in case you had enemies that might have alerts on your file. She also said she didn’t want you paying her a visit in the middle of the night. Is there a possibility of that if she had alerted an enemy? Or if any of the people who find out about me do rat me out?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation.
Stella’s restless fingers gripped the sheet. “I don’t want that for you, Sam. You said so yourself, you put in your time. If something goes wrong, I’m a big girl, I can handle it. We can handle it without you going back to that place, whatever it is or was. We both came here because the Eastern Sierras offer something beautiful and unique, something we couldn’t find anywhere else. It’s my place of peace, of happiness. I think it’s yours as well. We started over here and we’ve got something good. Nothing can take that away, not even this serial killer.” She sent him a small smile. “You get me?”
His answering smile was slow in coming. “Woman, you’re about as good as it gets. A gift. Write up your report and make your sketches. I’ll make your hot chocolate for you.” He stood up, took a step and stopped, turning back to her. For a moment he just stared at her with those dark, fathomless eyes.
“What?”
Sam shook his head. “Don’t want to lose you, woman. Not for any reason. If I lose my mind and fuck up, you hang in with me and let me know what I did and how to fix it.” He stood a moment longer and then turned his back on her and sauntered out of the room as only Sam could.