Holden’s reply melded with Spencer’s and he watched Bella’s eyes widen for an instant before she regained her composure.
“Well, at least you two agree. Here I thought going after Selina Barnes Colton’s backstory was going to give me an extra juicy piece to work on, next to my exposé.”
“Both stories could get you hurt or worse, Bella. At least wait until we identify the killer.” Spencer was on a roll. “What’s so wrong with staying put at the Mustang Valley Gabber? You’ve built up a good readership and you like it, don’t you?”
“I want more. I can do more. I’m going for a bigger job. If it were Jarvis looking to do something besides his ranch work would you be giving him such a hard time?”
Sensing a standoff between the two, Holden cleared his throat. “I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m sweating bullets out here. Why don’t we go inside?”
“You two go. I’ve got to get back to work. Let me get the curtain out of my car.” Spencer stalked off and Bella shot Holden a questioning glance.
“Curtain?”
“Yeah. I asked him to bring me something to block the view through your bathroom window.”
“The one with the camera.” He saw her shudder. “You really think it’s the killer, don’t you?”
Integrity warred with the need to protect her from all harm, psychological as well as physical. Her vulnerability was guarded with her defensive posture, but he knew the softest parts of her, the treasure that the killer wanted to wipe off the face of the earth.
Bella’s safety was paramount. She deserved nothing less than the truth.
“I’m positive it’s the killer.”
* * *
They thought they were smart, holing up at her house. The cops weren’t going to make the job easier but the challenges were often the most exciting parts of the lifestyle of a professional killer. The only thing more fun was watching the girls die.
They were stupid, stupid girls for entering a beauty contest. The redheads rarely got as much attention as the blondes. Didn’t Mommy always say that? She’d never been paid any attention by Daddy, who ran out when Mommy had a two-year-old to raise. The memories of lurid fights were still there, no matter how young the brain had been.
Mommy needed someone to help her die and that’s where the best lessons were learned. Bella Colton would join the rest of the redheads that had died with love and affection, all because of what Mommy taught as she lay on her deathbed, unable to be cured of the awful disease that took her.
Soon, Bella, soon. I’m coming to save you from this awful life. Your death will be so, so peaceful. After I get you all to myself.
Chapter 17
“I’m craving a steak.” Bella eyed the menu, her only protection between her and Holden. His aura wrapped around her as he sat across the Formica table on the opposite booth bench, his legs too close to hers.
“Get whatever you want.” He’d already perused the menu then shut it without much prevarication.
“Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to take advantage of the government tab.”
“It’s not on the FBI—it’s on me.”
That made it sound like a date, except Holden wasn’t playing the part. She’d angered him when she’d pushed to get out of the house late this afternoon, and she didn’t blame him for being annoyed with her. If it were her guarding him, she wouldn’t want him to leave a building that was surrounded by MVPD officers and wired with extra security systems that Spencer had Jarvis install today.
“I’m sorry, Holden. I know why you wanted to stay at my house, but after you told me that I’m definitely a target, that you know it’s a killer, I couldn’t stay there one more minute. The killer’s been to my house, my home.” She picked her menu up again. “At least he didn’t get inside the house.”
“No, there’s no indication that he did.” Holden looked at her with his dark, dark eyes and she wished they were back in her bedroom. Instead they were out of Mustang Valley and having a late dinner at an upscale shopping strip several miles away, hoping to get a mental break from the weight of the case.
“Thanks for coming here.”
“Is it a place you go often?” He looked around at the southwestern-chic surroundings, the soft lighting even in the early afternoon, the linen tablecloth. She sucked in a breath when his gaze landed back where she craved it. On her.
“No, not really. I mean, I like it here, but I’ve only recently started to earn enough to come here whenever I want to.”
“You seem very successful for a reporter. I’m told it’s a brutal business.”
Again with the allusion to his ex. She wished Holden had never met that woman. “All writing is difficult to make a living at. It’s the way it is. But I hold my own, and if I can manage to get the kind of job I want, I’ll be doing very well.”