She turned, her narrowed eyes flashing jade fire. “Sorry for what?”
He sucked in a quick breath. “For sounding like a jerk. Large parts of the investigation, of my job, are classified. I know you understand this, since Spencer is your brother. He can’t tell you all of his police business.”
She nodded. “I do understand. And you must understand that since I’m back here, today, willing to risk running into the suspect who knocked me out earlier, I mean business, too. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to split this pageant wide open.”
“It’s at the risk of your life, if we’re dealing with the same killer.”
Her eyes shimmered and he caught a wave of grief as it pulsed off her. “I don’t expect this story to come without a price.”
“Nothing worthwhile ever does. But is it worth it for a story?” His phone buzzed and he checked the text. His supervisor. “I have to take this. Will you wait for me, let me take you to dinner? We can talk this over and come up with an actionable plan that will suit both of us.” And keep her safe.
Bella’s wariness couldn’t be more evident in the way she eyed him as if he were her worst enemy. “Fine. But it’s dessert, not dinner. At the local diner downtown. The one with the hitching post out front. Do you know it?”
He nodded, held up his index finger. “Right. Do not leave until I do.” He took the call. “St. Clair.”
“What’s going on? I’ve got MVPD reports in front of me that an assailant attacked one of the pageant contestants?” His boss, in Phoenix, didn’t sound pleased.
“Yes. I’m on it. With the victim now.”
“Who is she? And you shouldn’t be with her, Holden—she needs to be in protective custody until we catch this killer.”
He turned his back to Bella, searching for a modicum of privacy. “Agreed. She’s a reporter on undercover assignment, entered the pageant for her story on another topic entirely.”
“That makes this even more dangerous, Holden.”
“Or it’ll bring it to a close sooner.” He looked over his shoulder and saw that Bella was talking to someone on her phone, using earbuds. “I will make sure she’s safe, boss. Her brother is the only other civilian, besides the statewide pageant director, who knows my identity. Spencer Colton and I served in the army together. I can’t convince her to quit, and if being knocked out and almost abducted didn’t do it, we’re better off having her on our side.” His gut churned at the memory of his ex and how he’d been duped by her journalistic goals. At least Bella was up-front about why she was here, and unapologetic about her career goals.
“I completely trust your judgment. It’s just that we’ve got a very intelligent killer this time, Holden. He’s willing to use different methods as long as he gets his victim.”
Holden didn’t have to be reminded that a killer who didn’t stick to their own protocol, who kept changing things up, was the most dangerous and hardest to catch. A vision of Bella, bloody and inert, forced its way through his logic and he had to fight to stay present, in the reality that she was safe and he’d keep her that way.
“All the more reason for me to keep a close eye on Ms. Colton.”
“What is she investigating, by the way?” His supervisor’s question was tinged with impatience edged with curiosity.
“Pageant methods, possibly their influence over young women at critical ages, how the methods can encourage eating disorders.”
His supervisor let out a low whistle. “That’s a tall order from just one competition.”
“Not for this reporter.” It was natural to defend Bella and her work.
Another red flag. He was too close to making this case personal. Or had it been personal from the moment he’d realized the killer’s number-one target was his buddy’s sister?
* * *
Bella agreed to allow Holden to inspect her car for any intruders and explosives, and only after he was certain she was safely locked inside, the engine running, did he get in his vehicle. He followed her to the rustic Western diner that was off the town’s tourist path, a place she often came to work on her laptop when the Gabber’s offices were too busy or she needed to be out of her house. Bella prided herself on her independence, to a fault. It surprised her that she found comfort in knowing Holden was behind her, that if the attacker jumped out from in back of one of the many parked cars around the diner, Holden would be there.
The attack, remembered or not, must have shook her more than she realized. Vulnerability choked her ability to think as clearly as she needed for this job.
Once inside they sat at a booth in a far corner of the restaurant, able to see patrons arrive without unnecessarily exposing themselves.
“Are you sure you just want dessert? I’m starving and plan to have a full meal.” Holden was courteous in the way she’d seen other LEAs behave, including her brother. Holden seemed to see her as part of his case, although his demeanor toward her had an icy frosting to it she couldn’t put her finger on. Yet.
Her stomach grumbled and she let go of her stub
bornness. “You’re right. I could use a decent meal. It’s been a long day.” Her admission came easily. It was the first time since earlier today that she’d been hungry. The events over the last several hours had doused her appetite.
“You’re probably coming off the adrenaline rush of surviving the assault. It’s your body’s natural reaction to what you went through.”