His day had gone to the shitter because of toilet paper? He’d never live this down.
“Well, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, andI’m sorry to say your life will never be the same.”
****
Cleo couldn’t breathe. Her body feltlike lead, her feet frozen in place.
She didn’t want to look at the crime scene, butshe also couldn’t look away. Now her nightmares would be rooted in reality. The murderer had found her, and she was going to be next on his kill list.
Her mind whirledwith thoughts, her life flashing through her mind like a person on their deathbed. What had she accomplished? What dreams had she seen through to fulfillment? She was only twenty-four. Cleo hadn’t achieved anything of significance in her life, and now it was over. It wasn’t fair. She was going to die because of toilet paper.
“I won’t say anything. I promise.” She was desperate, begging, and didn’t care how pathetic she appeared.If there was something she could do to prolong her life, she was going to do it.
“I’ve heard that before.Usually right before I pull the trigger.”
She dared to sneak another peek at the murderer. He was the scariest man she’d ever seen. His face was covered in tattoos, his eyes dark and empty. And damn he was huge. He could break her in two with no effort at all. She was completely at his mercy.
“I’ll do anything you ask.Please. Please. Please,” she chanted.
“Stop talking. I need to think.”
Was he considering letting her live? Atiny ray of hope brightened inside her. He’d let that other woman go free, so why not her?
“Give me your identification.”
“My purse is in the locker downstairs.”
He groaned, an angry sound that sent a shiver up her spine.
“Name.”
“Cleo Bennet.”
“We’re going for a ride. If you open that pretty little mouth of yours, you won’t make it out of the building alive. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.”
“Push your cart down to your locker. Don’t make eye contact with anyone. Don’t do anything stupid.”
He opened the doorfirst, looking both ways down the hall before motioning her to get out. She held her breath, grabbing her cart like a zombie. She didn’t feel like herself. Maybe she’d wake up and discover this was all a nightmare.
Cleo wondered if she’d get a chance to escape. Maybe they’d come across other guests or a manager and the killer would slip up or get nervous. Who was she kidding? She doubted this guy was afraid of anything, and she knew he was capable of murdering her in the grisliest way imaginable.
He took position behind her, prodding her when he seemed to consider her pace too slow. Her nerves were completely on edge. She swore she’d shatter into a thousand pieces at any moment. Once in the elevator alone with him, she pushed the basement button and stood still, watching him through the reflection of the mirrored walls.
Was it stupid to notice his sex appeal? The man was a sociopath, probably some kind of serial killer.But his shoulders were broad, and she could tell his entire body was hard judging by what she saw through his unzipped jacket. He wore all black with gun holsters hidden under his lapels. His hair was black and roughly pushed back off his face. His lips…
He noticed her staring, and she immediately diverted her attention, her heart jolting.
“Eyes forward.”
She bit her bottom lip.Fortunately, the doors opened on the basement level, and she pushed her cleaning cart off the elevator. She continued on to the locker room. At this hour, there weren’t too many on shift, just some floaters.
When she got to her locker, she undid her lock and opened the door. He pushed her aside, immediately rummaging through her purse. He pulled out her wallet, dropping everything not of interest to him.
“Cleo Bennet,” he read.
“I already told you that. I wasn’t lying.”