“He was wearing a tux. His hair was shorter, parted to the left. He had rimless glasses and a goatee. Nothing else was different.”
“Do you remember seeing him anywhere else?” Harry asks.
“Nothing substantiated. I don’t think anyone’s been tailing me, and Rebecca never mentioned anyone tailing her either.”
We’re all quiet for a few seconds, I’m sure all thinking the same thing. The most important question of our jobs. Why? Was it because of her high profile? Maximum shock value? Or was it more personal? She’s like my sister…
A tech rushes in, eyes wide. He looks at me, almost afraid, before turning to Harry. “Sir, we found something.” He glances at me again. “You should all see this.”
We follow him out into the living room where three techs huddle around the now closed front door taking pictures and dusting for prints. They stop and part as we walk up, worry all over their faces. There’s a photo tacked onto the back of the door. It’s from today’s newspaper, the same one I was reading a lifetime ago. The first family of Galilee all smiling. Except for me. My face is burned off by a single drop of acid.
All eyes turn to me to gage my reaction, but I feel nothing. Not anger like Cam or terror like Harry. I’m just numb. Maybe I’m in shock. I’m not cold, which happens to people in shock. I’m more upset by the people watching me. I don’t like it. I walk back to the kitchen.
“Everyone back to work,” Cam barks behind me.
As I sit at the table, Harry and Cam walk in. “Can you please leave us?” Harry asks the techs. They bow their heads and do as he says. “You too, Cam.”
“Sir?”
“I need to talk to Det. Fallon alone.”
The always protective Cam straightens his back. “Sir?”
“You are needed upstairs, Detective. Go.”
Cam begrudgingly obeys, throwing me a sympatric look as he does. I’d still rather be in here getting my butt handed to me than up there with them. “I can’t believe I missed that,” I say. “It’s from today’s paper. It must be Rebecca’s. Maybe one of the neighbors saw him—”
“You’re going to have twenty-four hour police protection until we find this fucker,” Harry says forcefully. I’m surprised by his vehemence. He’s scared, probably more so than I am.
“No way.”
“This is not up for debate, Joanna. If I thought you’d stay there I’d put you in a safe house. You can’t stay at your apartment. It’s not secure.”
“I’ll probably be staying at Justin’s. It’s got a gate and a state-of-the-art security system. I don’t need babysitters following me around. I’m police. I can take care of myself.”
“The man who has killed about forty people and raped at least two has just threatened your life. I am not taking any chances, okay? If you don’t agree to the guards and fully comply, I’ll toss your ass into a cell at the station and watch you myself.”
This is where I would make a kinky comment if the last twenty-four hours had never happened. I can’t even think of one, let alone fight him on this. “Fine. I’ll do whatever you say.”
“And as of right now, you’re off the case.”
“I figured.”
He sighs and hangs his head. We don’t speak for a few seconds, and for the first time I’m uncomfortable in his presence. Part of me wants him to leave me alone, but the bigger part wants to fall into his arms and cling to him until it’s all over. I can’t even look at him, let alone touch him. I don’t deserve to, and I think he finally realizes it. “Do you need anything? I can call Dr. Newman.”
“I don’t need a shrink. I’m fine.”
“Of course you are. You’re always fine.” He pauses, trying to pull up the correct words. “This isn’t your fault, Jo.”
I can’t be in this house a moment longer. I stand and walk over to him, though I don’t meet his gaze. “Of course it is. It’s all my fault. All of it. Always. It’s all on me. You of all people should realize that. Bye, Harry.”
With my head hung I walk out of the kitchen, past the glancing techs, the shouting reporters with their cameras, to my car. Their swarming doesn’t stop me from pulling out and driving as fast as I can out of there, as most guilty do when they leave the scene of their crime. I’m no different.
CHAPTER TWELVE
BROKEN
A police cruiser follows me to Justin’s but waits outside the gate as I enter. I’m sure Harry’s ordered them to stay within ten feet of me at all times, but I shut the gate before they can get in. I need them to keep their distance for today. Justin and Lucy have more important things to worry about than me.