Identity Crisis(41)

The smile Dee offered made Kendra think knowing what to do with the equipment must be a shared trait of the Thorne brothers.

‘It was good, Dee, really good.’ Kendra shook her head and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. ‘Don’t you see? That’s the problem. I got involved where I shouldn’t have. I let my libido and my curiosity rule my brain and now look at the mess I’m in.’

Garrett was on his BlackBerry, sitting in front of his laptop when Ellis arrived. He’d felt better after Kendra had texted him, though he was pretty sure it was K. Ryde doing the texting. Still, she had at least answered. He’d polished off the last of the coffee Kendra had made and was trying to find out more about Razor Sharp, but was having no luck.

He hung up and tossed the device onto the table. Before Ellis got the door closed behind him, he asked, ‘How’s Kendra? Is she OK?’

‘She’s fine. I just left her with Dee, and Dee promised she won’t let her out of her sight. Now, you want to tell me what’s going on?’

Garrett pulled up the email and nodded Ellis to the computer. While his brother read, he paced the kitchen floor.

‘I just got it this morning,’ he said. ‘After Kendra stormed out.’

‘Is it the first time?’ Ellis asked.

‘Tess has gotten emails off and on from this guy for several years now. At least, I think it’s the same guy. He changes his name and email address periodically, but his name always has to do with something sharp, something dangerous. Knife Edge, Stiletto … I think he was Blade Bearer once. That sort of thing.’

‘Did you talk to Brewster about it?’ Ellis asked as he read.

‘That was him on the phone. No more helpful than I’d expected.’ Garrett settled in the chair next to Ellis. ‘I talked to the police right from the beginning, and, well, he’s the only one I felt I could trust with Tess details. As much as he can manage it, he has a no-pry policy. But the police couldn’t do anything. I mean, it’s just an email, isn’t it? And mostly they’ve just been irritating. This is the only one that’s ever felt really threatening. Thing is –’ Garrett ran a hand over his stubbled chin. ‘This one is the first I’ve received since the Golden Kiss Awards and …’

‘And the man now has a face to put with the name,’ Ellis finished for him.

Garrett nodded. ‘Kendra’s face, Ellis. It’s Kendra’s face. Damn it! None of this would have ever happened if Romancine hadn’t forced the issue. And then I … Well, I asked her to stay, or she wouldn’t have. I practically begged her, actually, when I found out who she was, and what she did for a living. I was desperate. Jesus, Ellis, I didn’t expect this. I never would have put her at risk.’

‘I know that,’ Ellis said.

‘I thought about just firing her. You know, just telling her I’m terminating our working relationship. But he’s seen her, hasn’t he?’ He nodded to the computer monitor.

‘Garrett, after last night’s award ceremony, millions of people have seen her, and you. For all we know he could be emailing from clear across the country, even across the world.’

‘But he knows she spent the night with me last night.’

‘Anyone watching the way you dragged her out of the awards could have guessed that easily enough,’ Ellis said.

‘I should have sent her home. I should never have taken advantage.’

‘You don’t know what would have happened if you’d sent her home, Garrett.’ Ellis pushed away from the table, found the coffee, and went about making a fresh pot. ‘Chances are if he knew she was here with you, he would have also known if she’d gone on home. And if he does live close, well, then who knows what he might have done. I mean, he saw you at the award ceremony with her. If he’s the jealous type that would have been enough to set him off.’

‘Damn it, Ellis, I don’t want anything to happen to her because of me.’

‘Do you have the other emails?’ Ellis asked.

Garrett nodded. ‘I saved them all in a separate file as they came in. Brewster said that was the thing to do, though I was doing that anyway. Even when the police said they couldn’t do anything, I kept on, just in case.’

‘Well, if the police can’t help, then what do you want to do?’ Ellis asked.

Garrett sat back in the chair and rotated his neck. ‘I want her here with me so I can keep her close.’ He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. ‘Can you give me the number of your security service? I want to hire someone to discreetly keep an eye on the place.’