“And what do you think he’s going to do when he gets tired of playing?”
“He’s not anywhere close to getting tired of it.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve dealt with killers like this before.”
“Not like this.”
“Close enough. He’s just getting started. I’ve only just begun to give him the attention he’s obviously craving from me. He has compulsions, sick needs, to be satisfied. I can use those against him.”
“But he knows you, too, Kendra. A hell of a lot better than you know him. He knows where you live and work, and he can get to you whenever he wants to do it.”
Kendra started to point toward the hallway, but her mother cut her off.
“And don’t think that some FBI bodyguard can stop a high-powered rifle with a laser scope,” Diane said. “If this sicko has shown us anything, it’s that he’s capable of killing in any number of ways. The second you step out of this building, you’re vulnerable.” She sat down next to her and took her hand. “Too vulnerable.” She gently ran her fingers over Kendra’s cut and bruised arm. “To see you like this, baby. It just makes it more real. I could lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me. Trust me, the FBI is extremely motivated to keep me alive.”
“It may not be enough.”
“Then it’s enough that I’m motivated to keep myself alive. This killer’s chosen to make this case intensely personal. He’s reaching and trying to hurt me in any way he can. And he’s going to keep murdering people until he’s caught. Don’t you see? I have the best chance of stopping him.”
Her mother was silent. “I’m having trouble seeing that you have a better chance than all the manpower and resources of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It doesn’t compute, Kendra.”
“Yes, it does. In this particular case, it makes excellent sense. And I don’t have a problem turning my back on the FBI. But I do have a problem turning my back on whoever he may try to kill next.”
Her mother leaned back in her chair. “You know … In those months and years after you got your sight, your wild days, I was so afraid. You’d been given this amazing gift, and I thought it might be too much for you. You were so intent on absorbing every new experience, both good and bad, that I was afraid you might … self-destruct. I don’t think you realize how close you came.”
“I do realize.” Her hand covered Diane’s. “But it took me a while longer to realize how hard it must have been for you, Mom. I’m sorry for everything I put you through.”
“It was hard.” She paused, then said brusquely, “But we got through that, and I guess we’ll get through this, too.”
“We definitely will.”
“Particularly since I intend to move in here with you.”
Kendra’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I don’t trust that guard in the hall, but I trust myself. I think I should—”
“No, Mom,” Kendra said firmly. “That’s not going to happen.”
Her mother sighed. “I didn’t think you’d go for it, but I thought I’d try.” She added slyly, “Well, at least call Dean back so that I can see a safe future for you on the horizon.”
“Mom, you’re incorrigible.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “You remind me of Lynch. Pure manipulation.”
“Lynch is a very dangerous man. I’m not dangerous to you. I’m only a mother trying to pave your way to a better life. Will you do it?”
She made a face. “Yes, I’ll call Dean. But that’s all I’ll promise.”
“That’s enough … for now.” She grinned. “I couldn’t leave here without some vestige of victory.”
“And you have it.” Kendra added gravely, “But I do have some bad news.”
“What?”
Kendra sniffed the air. “You really can’t cook. You just burned the waffles.”
CHAPTER
5
AT NOON, KENDRA MET with the FBI team and three police officers who were visibly seething from the murder of their colleague. She had seen this kind of desperation in investigators before, usually reserved for killers of fellow officers and children. Unfortunately, such raw emotion occasionally led to sloppy police work and false arrests. She had assisted in more than one case in which her most valuable contribution had been clearing innocent suspects who had been targeted by overzealous detectives.
Once again, she recounted the events of the previous evening, making sure they took note of the observations of the killer she had made, even down to the type of shaver he used.