Pity that the worst threats had been so close to home.
His fingers tapped over the keyboard as he considered all that he'd learned. He liked to get his thoughts down, to summarize his notes from the investigation and see where that led him.
Possibly seduced Jinx Donahue. Could be using charm in order to get close to his victims. If he seduced Jinx, then he may have used the same tactic on Heather Hartley. An agent needs to question those who knew her in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge. He hadn't been back there in years. There had been some talk from the folks there about putting up a headstone for his brother. What had been the fucking point of that? There was no body to dump in a grave. And no one to mourn around a headstone.
Jinx revealed details about Dawn to the perp. Number of tattoos. Potentially other intimate details. Killer is fixated on Dawn. Finishing Iceman's last kill?
His fingers stilled as he reread what he'd typed. Then his fingers began to tap once more.
Perp is linked to Iceman. Since the first victim we found here ties back to Baton Rouge, it's possible the man we're after knew Jason Frost.
And that made him wonder...wonder something that he had never thought before.
What if Jason Frost hadn't been working alone?
The killings had stopped when Jason went into the Mississippi River. But...that didn't mean there hadn't been an accomplice. And this perp that they were after now-perhaps he understood so much about Jason's crimes not because he'd read case files...but because he'd been there before, watching from the shadows. Helping?
A sudden, loud peal of music cut through the quiet suite. His gaze shot up. The sound was coming from Dawn's room. He surged to his feet and hurried inside just as Dawn grabbed for her phone. She'd turned on the bedside lamp and illumination spilled onto the bed.
"Jones?" One of her hands held the sheet to her chest. "Wait...you found him? Where is he?" Her eyes had flared wide. "You are amazing. Yes, thank you. Thank you." She hung up the phone. "Jones said one of his regulars just came by..."
He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "It's one a.m."
"Yes, and in restaurant land, that's closing time. Jones always stays after the kitchen closes down to tally the day's accounts." She grabbed for her clothes, dressing quickly. "He gave out a meal a few minutes ago and asked the guy if he'd seen Red. Turns out our missing witness is bunking down at a motel tonight, probably making good use of that hundred I gave him."
Tucker watched her in silence. "Where's the motel?"
"Just under the overpass. Hard to miss because it's the one with the big red roof."
He nodded. "I'll be able to find it."
Dawn froze. "Um, excuse me?"
"I want you to stay here."
Her jaw dropped.
Yeah, this wasn't going over well. He knew that even before her cheeks reddened.
"Tucker. I thought we were working together on this, I thought-"
"I'll call Anthony and get him to meet me at the scene. I want you to stay here and stay safe for the night."
She paced toward him with an angry stride. "We sleep together and now you're barking orders? I can handle myself."
"I don't doubt that."
"Then why-"
"Because this is my job. Keeping you safe. For tonight, you're staying here."
"Tucker, you can't-"
There was a knock at the door. "Just in time." Actually, the guy was right on time. He turned on his heel and marched for the door. Tucker glanced through the peephole and saw Bowen Murphy's stony visage staring back at him.
///
Bowen had texted him earlier and said when he'd be arriving. The fellow had a thing about being on time. Tucker opened the door.
Bowen cocked a brow. "Checking in before I crash. Just wanted you to know I was here-"
"There's been a change of plans. I need you to stay in this suite."
Bowen blinked. "Come again?"
"If you don't, she'll just try to leave."
Bowen's gaze took in Tucker's form, sliding over his still bare chest and noting his jogging pants. "She... Let me guess who that she is..."
Tucker backed away from the door.
"She is the woman who is currently feeling very pissed," Dawn muttered. She'd crossed her arms over her chest as she stood in the doorway to her room, and the glare on her face could have melted ice.
Bowen glanced between them. Then he nodded once and said to Tucker, "Bring me up to speed?"
"We just got a hit on a potential witness. I want to track the man down, but I need eyes on Dawn. Right now, she's the perp's next suspected target. She has to stay safe."