Even the Score(67)

I let out a heavy sigh. “I know. I’m gonna go to a hotel tonight.”

“The hell you are,” he said sternly as he started the car. He put his hand on the back of my seat and turned to check behind his car as he pulled out. “You’re coming to my house and that’s all there is to it.”

“No way! I’m not bringing this to your house with your kids.” I shook my head adamantly.

“I’ve got that covered.”

“How?”

“Dani, I’ve had security following you for a few weeks now. I’ll just quadruple it.”

“Wait. What? You have?” I fumbled.

“Yep.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

We pulled up to a stoplight, and he turned his face toward me. “What would you have said if I told you that I hired someone to watch you?”

I shrugged. “Probably that I didn’t need it.”

“Exactly. That’s why I didn’t tell you.” The light turned green, and he started driving again. “Dani, you are the single most stubborn person I’ve ever met. You’re so independent and so hell-bent on doing things your way all the time. For once, don’t argue, just take my help, okay?”

“Okay,” I conceded softly. I was too tired to fight and too scared to be alone.

“Really? Okay? That’s it?”

Closing my eyes, I took a big, shaky breath and let it out slowly, praying that I was making the right decision. “Yes, that’s it, but just until I can figure out a more permanent solution, or until he’s finally caught.”





CHAPTER 25

Andy

I knew when I was ahead, and I knew when to quit, so we rode in silence the rest of the way to Dani’s house. When we pulled up, I walked around slowly and opened her door. She didn’t move.

“Are you okay?”

She just shook her head, staring straight ahead.

“You don’t have to go in there if you don’t want to, ya know? You can direct me, and I can get you some clothes and whatever else you need.”

“No.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I need to do this.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Well, take your time. No one’s rushing you.”

After another minute she finally stood up in between the car and the door and smiled at me. It was a sad smile, unlike the perfect, sparkling grin Dani usually gave out that could bring a grown man to his knees. “Thanks, Andy. For everything,” she said in a somber, defeated tone.

“You’re welcome.”

She stepped out from the car, I closed the door, and we both turned to look up at the house. I wasn’t sure how many people Detective Larson had brought with him earlier, but most of them had already gone, leaving just Larson’s car.

We started to climb the stairs up to her door when Dani reached out and grabbed my hand. I paused and looked over at her. “You okay?”

“I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “Just don’t let go, okay?”

“You got it.” I squeezed her hand tight and patted the top of it with my other hand.

I followed her lead, slowly up the stairs and through the front door.

“Do you want me to go in there first?” I asked cautiously.

“No, that’s okay.” She shook her head quickly, pulling herself together a little bit as she walked slowly into the kitchen. Except for a few small piles of Roxy’s puke and a light white dusting of powder where they were hoping the spineless coward might have touched, everything looked pretty normal.

I’d only known Dani a few months, but I already knew that she was strong as hell and didn’t let a lot rattle her. This guy, though . . . he was inside her brain, moving slowly through it like a parasite trying to take over its host. She was fighting hard, but I could tell she was getting weaker, letting it consume her piece by piece.

I stood quietly as she walked through the kitchen slowly, her eyes darting all over the place. As she passed the island, where June said she’d found the note, she slid her finger through a thin layer of the white powder. Making her way to the other side, she froze and stared down at the floor where June had found Roxy lying. The urge to go over and wrap my arms around her shoulders was intense, but somehow I thought this control, this walking through her kitchen and taking it back, was cathartic for her.

A few minutes later, Detective Larson cleared his throat from behind us, and Dani, clearly lost in her own thoughts, spun to face him.

“Sorry. I know this is hard for you, and believe me, the last thing I want to do is rush you, but I want to get back to the office to get working on this, and I’d really like you guys to be out and the house secure when I leave.”