I’m Watching You

Chapter Eighteen

Wednesday, February 25,

8:00 a.m.

„Let’s get started,“ Spinnelli called from his position by the whiteboard. The side conversations ceased. There was a subdued energy in the room, Kristen thought. They finally, finally had a lead to follow, but they also had a new body in the morgue. Aaron Jenkins’s throat had been slit, his body left to freeze in the shadows of her backyard. The gang members must have driven by her house and seeing no cruiser in front, seized their opportunity. The threat was clear. Anyone helping the vigilante was fair game for gang retribution. And Kristen was still at the top of their list.

The conference room table was filled. The core team was there plus Julia, Todd Murphy from Spinnelli’s department, and Miles Westphalen, their staff psychologist. „What do we have, people? Abe?“

„A name to go with our bullet,“ Abe said. „Hank Worth. Problem is, he’s been dead for sixty years.“

Spinnelli’s marker squeaked as he wrote the name. „And?“

„Genny O’Reilly, his intended,“ Mia said. „She up and married someone else two months after he shipped out. I may have seen too many old movies, but that sounds like she fell for the old I-may-not-come-back-from-the-war line and found herself eating for two. If that’s the case, their child would be about sixty.“

Spinnelli considered it. „Sixty seems a bit old for our humble servant.“

„Many sixty-year-olds are quite fit,“ Westphalen said mildly.

Spinnelli smiled. „Point taken, Miles.“

„Well, whoever we’re dealing with,“ Jack said, „has to have above-average strength. How much did the heaviest victim weigh, Julia?“

Julia pulled out her notes. „Ramey weighed 220. Ross King, 251. The others were all lower. But I think he used a cart or gurney or something with wheels.“

„Why?“ Abe asked sharply.

„There were no signs of dragging the bodies. No scratches on their backs, no bruising at the ankles, wrists, or under the arms that would be consistent with grabbing and pulling with any force. There were marks from the rope he used to bind their wrists and ankles, but that looks very different from a grabbing bruise. If he used a gurney, he wouldn’t need that much strength. He’d just need to roll them.“

„But could a sixty-year-old even roll a man that big?“ Jack asked.

Mia held up her hand. „First, let us check the records to see if Genny O’Reilly had a child at all before we get carried away on his possible age. Then we’ll check marriage and birth records on her children’s children. Hank and Genny’s grandchildren would be anywhere from twenty to forty years old and that’s just the right age.“

„If this lead proves true,“ said Miles thoughtfully, „your killer would have had to know his biological father’s identity to get the bullet mold or at a minimum the Worth family’s maker’s mark. I’m wondering about the man Genny O’Reilly married. How would he react to having a child that wasn’t his? How would the child be treated? If there were other children born later, would the first child, the bastard child, be singled out? It could lead to feelings of resentment and anger.“ Westphalen shrugged. „Or it could mean nothing.“

„Get Genny O’Reilly’s records and find out,“ Spinnelli said. „What else do we have?“

Abe leaned forward. „The old man, Grayson James, said he and Hank Worth would go up to Worth’s father’s property and practice their shooting. Mia, do you remember the other day when you thought he might have a private target range?“

Mia’s eyes gleamed. „We can check property records for land owned by the Worths.“

Spinnelli’s marker squeaked as he wrote. „What else?“

„I’ve been working on identifying the chain he used to strangle Ramey,“ Jack said. „We made a cast of the ligature marks and I found a few men’s chains that are similar in size.“ He laid three chains on the table. „The one closest to the plaster cast is the middle one.“

„Dog tags,“ Spinnelli said. „I’ve seen men wear then-dog tags on a chain like this.“

Mia brought a chain from under her blouse. „Like this?“ A set of military ID tags hung from the end of the chain.

„My dad gave me his tags when I joined the force. Said his tags kept him alive in ‘Nam and hoped they’d keep me alive in uniform.“

„We already thought he could have been military, being a sharpshooter,“ Abe said, excitement in his voice. „It makes sense.“

Spinnelli paced from the whiteboard to the table and back again. „Good, good. Track him down and if you run into any problems with military records, let me know. I’ll get the governor involved.“ He grimaced. „It’ll give him something to do so he’ll stop calling the mayor who’ll stop calling me. Anything else?“ No one said anything and Spinnelli pointed to Detective Murphy, who’d been sitting quietly. „Murphy, update us on Munoz’s gun.“

„We canvassed the pawnshops,“ Murphy said. He was a serious man with a rumpled suit. Kristen knew him to be a good cop. Methodical. „We found the gun late last night.“

„Any useful prints?“ Abe asked.

Murphy nodded. „Yeah, they were in the system. Street punk, goes by Boom-Boom. We’ve got out an APB. Hopefully we’ll find him and hopefully he saw something useful Monday night.“

Spinnelli capped his markers. „And I’ll get Aaron Jenkins’s juvie record unsealed. Now that he’s dead, there shouldn’t be a problem.“

Mia stood up. „Records opens at nine and I want to be first in line. You ready, Abe?“

Abe pulled on his coat and Kristen had to look away before her mouth started watering. They’d done nothing sexual the night before and somehow that made her wish they had. First they’d dealt with CSU, then the Medical Examiner’s Office as they’d picked up Jenkins’s body. Then when everyone had gone, Abe kissed her good night, a long, liquid, yearning kiss after which he patted her behind and sent her off to bed. He’d bedded down on the sofa, just as he’d promised, leaving her heart thundering and her mind wondering what would have happened had she asked him to tuck her into bed. He’d checked on her several times during the night and each time she’d been so tempted to ask him to stay. But she didn’t, and when sleep finally came, her dreams were full of hot images that still had her nerves humming.

„I’m driving, Mitchell, so I can pick lunch.“ He stopped by Kristen’s chair and bent down to murmur in her ear, „Don’t go anywhere by yourself. Not even to Owen’s. Please.“

Her heart clenched at the tender worry in his eyes. „I promise. I’ll stay here all day.“

Abe straightened. „Maybe not all day,“ he said cryptically.

„Abe,“ Spinnelli said soberly, „I heard about what happened to your dad last night. Until we can get something concrete on Conti, be careful, all of you.“

Wednesday, February 25,

10:00 A.M.

„All those?“ Abe asked, eyeing the stack of huge volumes. „We’ll be here for days.“

The clerk, whose name was Tina, shot him a sympathetic look. „The marriage licenses from the forties aren’t computerized yet,“ she said. „But it isn’t as bad as it looks. What’s the name and the date?“

„Genny O’Reilly,“ Mia answered, looking over the woman’s shoulder. „She got married sometime in the fall of 1943.“

Tina slid index cards in the volume to mark the pages. „It will be between these cards. If you look yourselves I can find those property listings you were looking for.“

„We’ll look for Genny,“ said Mia. „You can help us find land owned by a man named Worth. We don’t know exactly where it was, just that it was north of the city.“

Tina bit her lip. „You have a first name, maybe?“

Abe shook his head. „Our source just called him Mr. Worth. His son’s name was Hank, if that helps. Maybe Hank was a junior.“

Tina shrugged. „I’ll do my best. Happy hunting, Detectives.“

When she’d gone, Mia slumped into a chair. „We have to stop all these late parties.“

Abe opened the big book. „What’d the surgeon say when you left your date early?“

„He was a bore. I was ready for any excuse for him to take me home.“ She cocked a brow. „And you? Once the infantry marched away last night, how was your evening?“

Long. He thought of Kristen now, of the way she’d looked last night. She’d been at her kitchen door, locking it as the last person left, prudently setting the alarm. She’d turned and just that fast the very air was charged, practically sizzling as they’d stood at opposite ends of her kitchen, staring. Then she’d simply walked into his arms as if she’d been doing so all her life. He’d kissed her. And kissed her. And God help him, he’d kissed her some more, until she was trembling and so was he, his hands clamped on her hips, wrestling with his best intentions. In the end he hadn’t dragged her against him as he’d so longed to do. He’d gently pushed her away, then turned her toward her bedroom with just a „good night.“ If she’d even hinted she wanted him to join her, he would have. He would have scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed and helped her have another… watershed moment.

But she hadn’t hinted. She’d walked away, stopping once to look back and the look in her eyes was worth more than ten watershed moments. It was trust mingled with heated want, and the combination triggered something inside him so profound… So he’d let her walk away and listened to her get ready for bed, his body still clenched and aching. She hadn’t slept until after three A.M. He knew because he’d checked on her, quietly, every half hour. He wanted to think he was checking because he’d been worried. She’d been shaken at finding Jenkins’s body in her backyard, at the implicit threat. He wanted to think that, but he knew he was hoping that she’d change her mind and ask him to stay. She’d wanted to. He could see it in her eyes. But she hadn’t and in the end she’d curled up and slept like an angel.

While he felt like anything but. He wanted her with a fierceness that left him breathless. He’d thought about it a great deal as he’d lain awake, staring at the blue-striped wallpaper from her uncomfortable sofa. She was a beautiful woman, no question of that, but he’d met other beautiful women in his life. Kristen had something more, something deeper – integrity, courage, kindness, a tender heart that she hid so well. A heart she was just now allowing to be seen. A heart that he wanted for his own.

In only a week she’d stolen his.

He looked over to find Mia studying him intently, understanding in her round blue eyes. She was an attractive woman as well, but he didn’t want her. He wanted Kristen.

„I could tell you to be careful with her, but I think you know that,“ Mia said soberly.

Abe frowned. „Why? What do you know?“

Mia lifted a shoulder. „I’ve suspected for a long time that there was more to Kristen’s dedication than simple zeal for justice. I went as far as to check once, to see if she’d filed a complaint. I have a very close friend who counsels women for these things. I thought maybe Dana could help Kristen. But there was no complaint here in Chicago.“

„I wanted to check,“ Abe admitted.

„But you want her to tell you herself. Be patient, Abe. She’s been alone for a long time. It takes some time to get used to having someone to lean on.“

Abe heard something in Mia’s voice, a yearning of her own. „Who do you lean on?“

One side of her mouth curved, a sad little half smile. „Me.“ She blew out an exaggerated sigh. „Even tomboys can dream of Prince Charming. Unfortunately, all I ever get is frogs.“ The half smile became a rueful grimace and she pulled the big book closer. „Well, let’s get to it. How many Genny O’Reillys could have been married in 1943?“

Wednesday, February 25,

10:00 a.m.

Hunting the judge was proving easier than he’d anticipated. Funny how having a little insider information made all the difference in the world. Before, he’d planned to catch the judge getting into or out of his chauffeur-driven Lincoln with its bullet-resistant glass. It would have been difficult to say the least. He might have been caught.

But now… He smiled, thinking of the miracle of the little electronic gadget he’d found in Trevor Skinner’s pocket. It was a cell phone, a date book, a phone book, and so much more. Apparently Skinner left little to chance and even less to the jury. There was enough dirt on every defense attorney and judge in the city to keep him busy for weeks and weeks. He was almost sorry he’d gone public. But he wasn’t sorry. The criminals and the scum who defended them were shaking in their boots, afraid to leave their homes alone, looking over their shoulders like their victims did every day. Thanks to Zoe Richardson’s tabloid-style reporting he knew the man with William Carson had been his bodyguard and that the prominent defense attorneys in town were fighting over the best hired guns to keep them safe.

But safety was an illusion, born in the mind. If a man was made paranoid enough, he’d be afraid even in the most secure place. And that was his goal. To make every man in the fishbowl afraid.

He fingered the card in his pocket. Judge Edmund Hillman. He’d tried Leah’s case. Thanks to Skinner’s BlackBerry, he knew that the Honorable Edmund Hillman had a mistress. He and Rosemary Quincy had been together for going on three years and met every Wednesday evening at a little hotel in Rosemont where the Honorable Judge Hillman was anything but. According to Skinner’s notes, this was the only time Hillman drove alone.

He’d get to the hotel early, before Hillman was due. He’d wait and watch and then he’d make his move. Then it would be his turn to bang the gavel.

Wednesday, February 25,

11:30 A.M.

Kristen hung up the phone carefully, resisting the urge to slam it down as Ronette Smith had just done. Ronette was fine, thank you very much, and her family was fine, and her life was fine, no thanks to the U.S. justice system. And me, Kristen thought, rubbing her forehead. Ronette had been very clear on that fact.

As had most of the names on her list. Kristen looked at the list objectively. She’d managed to get in touch with over half. Three had lost jobs recently, which could be a traumatic event, but they didn’t sound like she expected a killer to sound.

And how does a vigilante killer of nine sound? Cold? Dispassionate? Insane?

She was considering the question when a shadow fell over her papers. She looked up, expecting to see Spinnelli or Abe but her eyes widened when she saw Milt Hendricks standing before her. John’s boss. Automatically she stood. „Mr. Hendricks.“

He glanced down at her papers on Abe’s desk, then back up to meet her gaze. „I won’t beat around the bush. I wanted to be sure you knew why I pulled you out of the courtroom.“

„Because the defense attorneys are afraid and you’re worried about grounds for appeal on every case I was trying,“ Kristen said, parroting John’s words.

Hendricks nodded. „That’s true. But I also wanted you out of the spotlight. Somehow this vigilante has picked you. I told John to be sure you knew this was for your safety, not a punishment. But under the circumstances, I wasn’t sure if he’d given you the entire message. This is temporary, Kristen. You’ve got the best conviction rate in the city. When this is over, I want you back at work. Although, from the looks of those papers, you’re still working.“

Kristen felt her face heat, but stood her ground. „I’m helping the police go through my old cases,“ she said. „We’re certain there’s a connection.“

Hendricks lifted a brow. „Did John tell you that you could?“

„He didn’t tell me that I couldn’t. Sir,“ she added belatedly and his lips twitched.

„I see. Well, I don’t see any issue with that. Just be careful.“ He sobered. „Stay safe. I’ve just lost one of my best prosecutors. I don’t want to lose another.“

Kristen paled. „John? Has something happened?“

„No, no. He’s physically well,“ Hendricks assured her. „He offered his resignation this morning. I accepted it.“

Kristen sat down and looked up at him. „I’m not sure what to say.“

„He compromised his position,“ Hendricks said simply, „and the integrity of the office. Hopefully, this will all be over soon and we can get back to work. Oh, I understand you needed information on the Jenkins boy’s juvenile record. Consider it done.“ With a tip of his head, Hendricks was gone, leaving Kristen staring after him.

„My mom would say if you let your mouth hang open long enough, birds will fly in.“

Kristen looked to her left where Aidan Reagan leaned against a nearby desk. She closed her mouth with a snap and he grinned. „You free for lunch?“ he asked.

„You’re asking me?“

„Yeah. Abe said you had a purchase to pick up today and I’m between Rachels.“

„Purchase? Oh,“ she remembered. „My gun. My three days are up.“ Then she frowned. „What do you mean ‘between Rachels’? Is she all right?“

„She’s fine. I’m just her shadow today because I’m on nights this week. I’ll drop her off and pick her up from school until this is all over. And don’t say you’re sorry,“ he warned. „It would make Dad really mad and he’d have to kick your ass.“

This tugged a rueful grin to her lips. „How is he?“

Aidan shrugged. „Sore. In a real pissy mood. I think he’s more upset that he didn’t hurt them worse. Blow to his pride and all. But he’ll heal.“

Kristen studied him carefully. „You change your mind about me or something?“

Aidan’s cheeks darkened, just like Abe’s did when he was embarrassed. „I’m sorry I was rude when we first met. Look, I heard about the Blade graffiti on your house. Abe said you were thinking about a dog. I know a guy who trains dogs for the K-9 unit. You interested?“

Touched, Kristen grabbed her coat. „Let’s go.“

Wednesday, February 25,

12:00 p.m.

„Any success?“ Tina the clerk asked.

Mia rolled her eyes. „Yes, but of course she was at the very end of the listings.“

„That’s the way it always is,“ Tina agreed.

„Genevieve O’Reilly,“ Abe read from his note pad. „Married Colin Barnett on September 15, 1943, in the parish of Sacred Heart by Father Thomas Reed.“

Tina gave a satisfied nod. „Good. You could check the census to see if they had any children, but if they were members of their parish, the church would have a record of births.“

„What about you?“ Mia asked. „Any progress on our land search?“

Tina handed them a piece of paper. „I remembered Hank was short for Henry, and that’s where I found it. Henry Worth. On his death it passed to a Paul Worth. It’s all I could find. I hope it’s enough.“

Mia scanned the page, then looked up, a gleam in her eyes. „It’s plenty. Let’s call Spinnelli. We’ll need full tactical gear, just in case he’s there.“

Abe grabbed his coat. „I hope he is,“ he said grimly. „I want a piece of him first.“

Wednesday, February 25,

1:30 p.m.

„You should have told me you were allergic to dogs,“ Aidan said, his voice full of laughter as he helped her out to his car.

„Oh, that hurts.“ Gone was the satisfaction she’d felt as she test-fired her new gun back at Givens’s target range. It disappeared once they’d reached their next destination – a kennel full of impeccably trained guard dogs. The first step inside had her sniffling. Five minutes later she was sneezing so hard she would have fallen over if Aidan hadn’t held her up, chuckling all the time. „This really isn’t funny, you know,“ she grumbled.

„Why the hell did you go into a kennel if you knew you had such severe allergies?“

Kristen leaned against his car to catch her breath. „I didn’t know. I haven’t been around that many dogs. Once a Seeing Eye dog came into the diner and I sneezed, but I’d hoped it was just that one dog.“ She wiped her watering eyes and got into the car. Unlike his brother, Aidan went for the smooth sleekness of a Camaro rather than the massive strength of Abe’s SUV. She sniffled and shivered as he started the engine and the heater belched out ice-cold air. „I guess I won’t be getting a guard dog after all.“

Aidan’s lips curved. „I guess you won’t But I don’t imagine Abe will mind filling the role.“

Her cheeks heated despite the cold air from the alleged heater. „Abe is very kind.“

Aidan glanced over his shoulder before pulling out of the parking space. „I’m going to have to give him some pointers then, if all he can conjure is ‘kind.’“ Her face must have reflected her horror because he laughed. „I’m teasing, Kristen. Number one, whatever is between you and Abe is your own business. Number two, he’d kick my ass.“

„That seems to be a common theme in your family,“ Kristen commented.

„Hell, we’re a family of boys.“

„You have two sisters,“ Kristen pointed out.

„They have three brothers,“ Aidan corrected. „It’s different.“

„I stand corrected,“ she said dryly and he chuckled.

„Now you think I’m some Neanderthal whose knuckles scrape the ground.“

Kristen pretended to study his unscraped knuckles. „No, I’d say you’ve advanced to the moderately stooped-over phase of evolution.“ She caught her breath as he made an erratic turn. „What the – “ She looked over her shoulder, then back at Aidan who was checking his rearview mirror with a satisfied expression. „Reporters?“

„One bleached-blonde bitch and her camera-toting toady. No longer tailing.“

„I really hate that woman,“ Kristen said wearily.

„I’d say the feeling is mutual.“

Kristen frowned. „But I’ve never done anything to her. Why me?“

„She has to feed off someone else’s misery and it might as well be yours.“

„Well, still,“ Kristen grumbled.

Aidan leaned over to adjust the heater. „Better?“

„It’s okay. I used to walk to school in weather colder than this.“

„In Kansas, right?“

Kristen blew out a breath. „What didn’t Abe tell you?“

Aidan just grinned wickedly and Kristen rolled her eyes. „For God’s sake,“ she muttered, knowing her face was well past ruby red. Perhaps volcano violet. And for what? A lit-tie petting, that’s all they’d done. And the promise of more, whenever she chose. She got to set the rules this time. It was enchanting. Enticing. Liberating.

„You’ll have to get used to the teasing,“ he said. „It comes with the family.“

Kristen felt a longing so strong, it was like a fist grabbing her heart. What a family to have. She felt a spear of jealousy for Debra, who’d obviously melded so effortlessly with the Reagans. „Tell me about Debra,“ she blurted and Aidan blinked, obviously taken aback.

„Debra?“

„Yeah, you know. The one I sound like. Your former sister-in-law?“

He suddenly began paying a great deal of attention to the road. „No need to get testy, Counselor. You want lunch or what? I’m starving.“

Well, that was a smooth change of subject, she thought. It would appear Aidan wasn’t comfortable discussing Debra. Or maybe he just isn’t comfortable discussing Debra around me. „Sure. We’re not too far from the diner where I normally eat.“ She gave him directions to Owen’s, then sat back to try to think of something else to talk about.

„She was Abe’s life,“ Aidan said abruptly. Kristen turned in her seat, studying his profile. His jaw was clenched hard and his knuckles were white where he clutched the steering wheel. „I thought he’d die when she was shot. I know he wanted to.“

There was a curious lack of emotion in Aidan’s voice that was more meaningful than if he’d broken down. „I’m sorry,“ she said. „I shouldn’t have asked.“

„It’s all right. I suppose you have a right to know.“ He shrugged a powerful shoulder. „I’d been on the force a few years when it happened. I thought I’d seen it all.“ He shook his head and his throat worked as he tried to swallow. „But seeing her so lifeless, for so long…“ He cleared his throat. „But I think burying the baby was the hardest part of all.“

Poleaxed, Kristen’s throat closed. „Baby?“ she managed.

Aidan shot her a quick look. „Debra was eight months pregnant when she was shot. The baby didn’t live. I thought you knew.“

She shook her head and stared out the window, barely seeing the sign for Owen’s diner when Aidan stopped the car. „No, Abe never mentioned a child.“

„Don’t let it bother you. He hasn’t mentioned the baby since the funeral, to any of us. Even to Mom and Dad. I guess it was his way of coping. But he loves kids. You only have to look at how he is around Sean’s kids. I know he wants a family of his own.“

Kristen pursed her lips to keep them from trembling. Aidan thought she was upset because Abe might not want kids. How ironic. His child was taken from him while she… How very ironic. „Was it a boy or a girl?“ she asked, unable to keep the question inside.

Aidan hesitated. „A little boy. Abe named him Kyle after Dad.“

„Poor Abe,“ Kristen murmured. „To lose it all in one day.“ And how will he feel when he learns the real truth about me? she wondered. She didn’t really want to know.

Aidan shut off the ignition and the car was quiet. „For what it’s worth,“ he said, „I haven’t seen him so happy in years than he’s been in the last week. You put a light back in his eyes.“ Again he cleared his throat. „We’re all grateful for that.“

„Thank you.“ She forced a smile and gestured at Owen’s diner. „Let’s have lunch.“ On leaden feet she moved, then frowned when she tugged on the door and it didn’t open. She peered inside where the lights were on, but every cracked vinyl seat was empty.

„The sign says they’re closed,“ Aidan said.

„They’re never closed in the middle of the day.“ Her heart started to beat harder as the possibilities struck home. „Oh, no. I should have warned him.“ She ran next door to the barber shop and stuck her head inside. „Mr. Poore, what’s happened to Owen?“

Mr. Poore looked up from the hair he was trimming, his craggy old face pained. „He’s at the hospital with Vincent, Kristen.“

„Why? What happened?“ she demanded and Mr. Poore slowly approached, wiping his hands on his white coat.

„Some thugs, they beat up Vincent in the alley behind the diner when he went to take out the trash. This used to be such a nice neighborhood. Now…“ He held his hands up in defeat. „It’s bad, Kristen. Real bad.“

„No.“ She sagged and felt Aidan’s arm go around her shoulders.

„Yes,“ Mr. Poore said soberly. „Owen, he went out to see what was the matter and they hit him, too, but not so bad. Me, I heard the yelling and called the cops and the men ran away.“ He shook his bald head. „Vincent, he didn’t look good. Not good at all. The paramedics came and took him to the hospital.“

„Do you know where they took him?“ Aidan asked. Steadily. The voice of a cop asking questions. It gave Kristen the strength to stand on her own feet.

„The cops said they were going to County.“

Aidan gave her a hard hug, pulling her upright. „Come on, Kristen. Let’s go.“

Wednesday, February 25,

2:15 P.M.

Aidan walked her into the hospital, standing silently behind her as she asked the closest nurse where she could find Vincent. He followed her to the elevator, punched the button for the surgical floor, still saying nothing. And when she walked out of the elevator and saw Owen sitting alone in the waiting room, Aidan stood to one side, watching.

She crossed the room to Owen’s side, taking the chair next to his. He looked old. Old and tired and suddenly frail. Guilt mixed with fury and fear and she wasn’t sure she could speak. „Are you hurt?“ she whispered and he shook his head.

„Vincent…“ Owen let the thought trail away, his throat working frantically. He looked away. „He never hurt anyone, never. He was the gentlest man I ever knew.“

Kristen grabbed his arm. „Was? Owen, talk to me.“ He didn’t budge and Kristen pulled his arm harder. „Dammit, Owen, tell me if he’s still alive.“

Owen turned and there were tears in his eyes. „His priest is in with him now.“

It was like a fist hit her square in the chest. „Oh, God.“

Silence hung between them, then Kristen heard the muted strain of Pachelbel’s Canon inside her purse. She pulled out her cell phone to find no number on the caller ID.

„Hey, lady.“ A woman reading Cosmo glared at her. „You’re not supposed to be using that here. Can’t you read the sign?“

Cold with dread, Kristen put the phone to her ear. „Mayhew.“

„You have any answers yet?“ It was a male, that was all she could tell.

Kristen trembled, but held herself steady. „Who is this?“

„Answer yes or no, Miss Mayhew,“ the voice said mockingly. „Do you have an answer?“

Owen was motioning to the Cosmo lady to be quiet. „No,“ Kristen said. „I don’t.“

„Well,“ the voice said, „hurry up. Next time we won’t go for old men and women. We’ll go for youth.“ And he hung up.

Youth. „Rachel.“ Terrified, Kristin looked at her watch. Rachel’s school was letting out in fifteen minutes. She’d be alone. Because Aidan came here with me. Her gaze shot to the wall where he’d last been standing, but he was gone. Frantically she searched, until she saw him at a phone by the nurses’ station. She ran to him. „Where is Rachel?“

Aidan calmly hung up the phone. „Sean has her. She’s all right, Kristen.“

Kristen felt her knees give out and Aidan grabbed her shoulders. „You’re sure?“ Her voice shook and she didn’t care. „He said next time they’d go for youth. I thought about Rachel and I – “ Her throat closed and her eyes filled and Aidan pulled her against him, patting her back while she shuddered and tried to hold back what felt like a flood of tears.

„You can cry if you want to,“ he murmured. „I have two sisters, you know.“

Kristen grabbed his sweatshirt and held on. „I thought they had three brothers,“ she said between her teeth and felt his chest move in a huff of silent laughter.

„It’s all in your perspective, honey. Now, from where I’m standing, you’ve had a bad week. If you want to cry, you’re entitled.“

She gritted her teeth. „I won’t cry.“

„Then you won’t be needing this.“ He pushed a tissue in her hand and she dabbed at her eyes as surreptitiously as possible.

She pulled back and drew a deep breath. „Thanks. When did you call Sean? You’ve been at my side all this time.“

„I called downstairs when you were talking to the nurse.“

„But I didn’t hear you say anything.“

Aidan held out his phone. „Instant messaged him. I IM’d Abe also, but he’s out of the service area. I was just on the nurses’ phone to Spinnelli, to let him know what had happened. He’s got a team working these threats, Kristen. They’ll catch whoever hurt Dad and your friend.“

„It’s Conti,“ she said grimly. „I know it.“

„So do I. But Abe’s right. Until we get hard evidence, knowing it means nothing.“

Kristen looked over her shoulder at Owen, sitting alone. „I need to go back to him.“

„I’ll wait for you over here. We can stay as long as you need to.“

She found a smile and tentatively touched his arm. „Thanks. I mean it.“

Aidan’s cheeks darkened. „It’s okay. Go to your friend.“

„Is the girl all right?“ Owen asked when she’d rejoined him.

„Yes.“ He slumped back in his chair, relieved.

„Good. She seemed like a nice little girl.“

„Owen, I’m sorry. I should have warned you and Vincent. I feel responsible for this.“

His lips tightened. „You’ve been threatened, too?“

„Sunday night a man broke into my house.“ Owen paled and grabbed her hand. „It’s okay,“ she said. „I’m fine. Abe scared him away. But the man said that if I didn’t turn over the vigilante, then everyone I cared about would die. I should have warned you. I’m sorry.“

„You could have been killed,“ he said thinly. „Dear God. Who else have they hurt?“

„They threatened my mother.“

Owen’s face registered surprise. „I assumed your parents were dead.“

„My mother’s got Alzheimer’s. She… she doesn’t know me anymore. I visit as often as I can, but my dad won’t let me move her here. They didn’t hurt her. Just a threat.“

„Who else, Kristen? Who else have they hurt?“

„Abe’s dad. They beat him, too, just like Vincent.“ Her lips trembled and she pursed them severely. „He was okay, though. Poor Vincent.“

Owen took her chin in his hand. „You didn’t cause this, Kristen.“ Kristen said nothing and he rolled his eyes. „You don’t need to be hanging around the hospital. I’ll call you when Vincent comes out of surgery. Go back to your young man. He’s waiting for you.“

Kristen looked at Aidan who stood leaning against the wall, quietly watching. „That’s not Abe. That’s his brother, Aidan. Abe asked him to keep an eye out for me today.“

Owen took a long, measuring look at Aidan before nodding his approval. „The family has accepted you then. Good. Vincent and I have often worried about you, having no family, always hanging around two old men like us.“

Kristen squeezed Owen’s hands. „Don’t be worrying about me. I’m not a minute out of anyone’s sight.“ She grimaced, just a little. „It’s starting to do a number on my nerves, never being alone. But it shouldn’t be much longer. Look, I know Aidan has to get to work, so I’m going to have him take me home now. I’ll ask him to get someone to see you home.“

Owen smiled paternally. „That’s not necessary. I’ll see myself home.“

Kristen sighed. „Please think about it, Owen. You could be in as much danger as Vincent.“ As one they looked at the doors to surgery, but they remained closed. „You’ll call me as soon as he’s out of surgery?“

„You have my word.“

Wednesday, February 25,

3:55 p.m.

Abe crouched behind the cruiser. „It doesn’t look like anyone’s home.“ They’d found the old Worth property and on it a small shack. A stovepipe came through the roof, but there was no smoke. They’d been watching for twenty minutes and had seen not a hint of movement.

„Let’s go in,“ Mia said evenly and Abe realized it was their first ‘going in’ together.

„I’ll go first,“ he said. „You take my back.“

„There’s less of me to be a target,“ Mia protested. „With Ray I always went first.“

Abe glanced down at her, mildly perturbed. „I’m not Ray.“

„Flip a damn coin, people,“ Jack said irritably from his position behind a second cruiser. „I’d love to have some daylight to search the place since I’m sure this humble abode doesn’t have any electricity.“

„He’s right,“ Abe said. „Watch my back. Please.“ Abe moved out from behind the cruiser, weapon drawn, conscious that a sniper might be hiding anywhere on the property. He was wearing full tactical gear, but there was vulnerability on any initial approach, this one more than others with its thick tree growth to provide cover to a shooter. He edged toward the front porch, gingerly testing the floorboards before putting his weight on the first step.

„Watch my back,“ Mia muttered behind him, but she did as he asked. Nimbly she followed him up the stairs and they each took position on either side of the wooden door.

„Police!“ Abe said loudly. „Open up.“

Dead silence. He tried the doorknob and it easily twisted.

„Unlocked,“ Mia murmured, following him in. „Nobody’s been here in a long time.“

„You’re right.“ He moved to the doorway and motioned Jack and the others to come. „We’re clear!“ he shouted, then turned back to survey the shack’s single-room interior. „He doesn’t live here, that’s for damn certain.“

„And there’s no cement floor like in the Polaroids, so he did his killing somewhere else.“ Mia opened a cabinet over a dry sink. „No running water, but here’s a few cans of beans and a bar of soap.“ She took out a bar of soap and held it up to the light. „My grandmother had soap like this. It’s an antique.“

„What’s an antique?“ Jack asked from the doorway.

„Everything.“ Mia blew out a frustrated sigh. „I was so sure we had something.“

„Patience isn’t one of her virtues, is it?“ Abe asked Jack.

Jack grinned. „Took you this long to figure that out? Hell of a detective you are.“

Grinning back, Abe walked around the interior perimeter of the shack. „Somebody was here recently,“ he said and held up a newspaper. „It’s dated December 28 of this past year.“

„And lookee here.“ Mia bent over, then straightened, holding a bullet in her gloved hand. „It’s clean as a whistle. Two intertwined W’s, just like the others. W for Worth.“

„Then it couldn’t have been here long.“ Jack nudged a chair with his toe. „The cobwebs have cobwebs.“

„He didn’t use this place as a resort.“ Abe opened the back door and looked at the grounds beyond. „You were right, Mia. He’s got himself a regular target range.“ He set out in the snow, still looking side to side, watching for any movement. He reached the makeshift moving target, a wire strung between two trees on which was suspended a piece of plywood the size of a door, covered with the familiar paper cutout of a man. Holes were clustered in the forehead and over the heart. Not a stray shot could be seen. „There’s a battery-operated clip to move the target, watertight. Four speeds.“

Mia walked around the target. „No bullets or footprints visible. Last time we had snow was a week ago, so he hasn’t been here since then.“

„Mia! Abe!“ Jack stood in the back doorway waving. „Come and see.“ He held two picture frames in his hand. „We found these in that box beside the cot.“

One was a family portrait – a father, a mother, and two sons. „Looks like early 1930’s by the clothing,“ Mia said. „Could be the Worths.“

„We’ll take the photos out of the frames back at the lab,“ Jack said. „Maybe there’s something written on the back. Look at this snapshot. It’s the oldest son, ten years or so later, in uniform, with a girl on his arm.“

„He’s Navy,“ Abe said. „Genny O’Reilly and Hank Worth just before he went to war?“

„Could be. I’m also wondering about the younger son. Mr. James didn’t mention him.“ Mia looked around. „You guys find anything else?“

The CSU man with the spotlight shook his head and switched off the light. „No. I’ve got the soap and the cans. We’ll print them back at the lab. We can set up some spotlights and try for some more prints on the walls and furniture, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.“

Mia puckered her lips thoughtfully. „It’s not a total waste. If that’s Genny, that is.“

Jack bagged the picture frames. „Let’s cross our ringers because we got nothin’ else.“

„Detective Reagan?“ A uniform appeared at the front door. „There’s a call on the radio for you. It’s Spinnelli. He says you need to call him when you’re done here. It’s important.“

Kristen. Abe’s heart dropped in his chest and he forced himself to take a canning breath. „Did he say important or urgent?“

„He said ‘important.’“

Kristen was all right, he thought. If she’d been in trouble, Spinnelli would have said „urgent.“ Abe looked at Mia. „Are we done here?“

She nodded. „Yeah. Let’s call Spinnelli.“

Wednesday, February 25,

6:15 p.m.

He’d been late and missed the judge going into the hotel. He glanced up at the wall of windows. But it wouldn’t matter. According to Skinner’s notes, Hillman never stayed the night.

He’d used the waiting time productively, rerunning through his mind the transcripts of the trial that should have guaranteed Leah her justice. But there had been no justice. The jury had done their job, returning a guilty verdict. But in a rarely seen move, Hillman rejected the verdict, citing a technicality. The monster that raped Leah walked out of the court a free man.

He hadn’t known Leah then. He’d met her after the trial, when she was just a shadow of the woman she’d been. He’d read the transcripts, felt the clawing anger of helplessness as he turned each page.

He wasn’t helpless now. Now, it would be Hillman who would be helpless.

He waited patiently until Hillman came strolling out, a distinctive spring to his step. Hillman stopped next to an old Dodge. A pathetic attempt at subterfuge that fooled no one. Especially me. He started the van and pulled up next to where Hillman had parked. His head ached, but he pushed the pain away and focused on his quarry.

He saw the alarm in Hillman’s eyes in the instant he stepped from the van, his revolver in plain view, its silencer gleaming in the parking lot lights. „Keep your hands where I can see them,“ he said evenly. Hillman reached for his pockets and he poked the gun in the judge’s gut, with much more force than necessary, but then again, he was angry both at the judge and the events of the day. „I said where I can see them. If I pull the trigger right now, you die. Right here in this parking lot next to a car you wouldn’t be caught dead driving if it weren’t so important to keep your wife from suspecting your affair.“

Hillman’s eyes widened. „If it’s money you want – “

„I’m no mugger, Judge Hillman.“ He slid the side door open and watched Hillman pale as his eyes registered recognition of what was to come. „Take off your coat.“ He nudged the gun deeper into Hillman’s gut when the judge just stood there. „Now, please.“

Hillman tugged at the buttons on his expensive wool coat with shaking hands. „You won’t get away with this,“ he said unevenly.

This made him smile. „I got away with Skinner. Of course it was a shame that Carson’s bodyguard had to die instead of Carson, but one must break a few eggs to make an omelette. So I will most likely get away with this. And even if I don’t, you’ll still die.“

Hillman went even more pale. „Oh, my God.“

„I sincerely hope you’re prepared to meet your Maker, Judge Hillman, because meet Him you shall. Climb in and have a seat“

Hillman looked around frantically, but of course there was no one around. It was as Hillman designed, week after week. A deserted parking lot where no one would see him meeting his mistress. „I’ll scream,“ Hillman promised, his voice cracking.

„No one will hear you and you’ll die just the same. Too bad you were so concerned with anonymity when meeting your Miss Quincy.“ He smiled cruelly. „Rather ironic, don’t you think?“ He shoved the gun harder. „If I squeeze the trigger, you’re dead.“

„If I go with you, I’m dead.“

He raised his brows. „But you’re a coward and you’ll hope up until the end that someone will come and save you. On the count of three, Judge Hillman. One, two – “

The judge pulled himself into the van as he’d known he would. With practiced efficiency, he reached to fasten the handcuffs that would trap Hillman on the floor of his van. He fastened a second wrist cuff, then moved to Hillman’s feet. Hillman kicked, sending an unexpected shudder of pain through his body.

„You’ll pay for that, Hillman,“ he vowed. „Just like you’ll pay for everything else.“

Hillman’s brow glistened. „But what have I done?“

He cut a piece of duct tape to cover Hillman’s mouth. „Leah Broderick.“

Hillman’s eyes registered no recognition and that made him even more coldly furious. „You don’t remember her, but you will. Before this is all over, you all will.“ He pressed the tape to Hillman’s mouth, making sure to cover his pencil-thin mustache. It would hurt when he yanked the tape later. Such a small thing, some might call it petty.

But it had just been that kind of day.

Wednesday, February 25,

6:30 p.m.

Abe heard the pounding as soon as he got out of his SUV. He parked on the street as Aidan’s Camaro filled Kristen’s driveway. Abe stopped at the cruiser, back in position at the curb, and Mclntyre rolled down the window.

„Anything new?“ Abe asked and Mclntyre shrugged.

„Nobody came close with any boxes. She had a visit from the man who lives two doors down, but she didn’t let him inside. Your brother brought her home from the hospital a few hours ago. I did check on her when the pounding started, but your brother said she’s all right, just working out some stress. I guess she’s got a right.“

Abe agreed. Spinnelli had told him about her friends, the men who ran the diner. He could only imagine what she was going through. „Thanks.“ Abe jogged up the driveway, slowing when he came to the carport. Behind the rental car was a pile of smashed cabinets and her ancient oven, turned on its side. Cautiously, he opened the kitchen door and saw Aidan pulling on her equally ancient refrigerator. Aidan caught his eye, breathing heavily.

„Damn thing doesn’t have casters,“ Aidan grumbled. „Weighs a fucking ton. Close the door. You’re going to give us pneumonia.“

Abe obeyed, then blinked as the pounding stilled. A layer of white dust covered the kitchen and everything in it, including Aidan and Kristen, who stood at the far wall with a hammer in her hand. He could see part of the old parlor through the major hole in the wall.

Kristen turned around, her pinned-up hair no longer red, but white. Streams of sweat streaked her face, red from exertion, and her breasts rose and fell under a thin tank top. Under a very thin tank top. And a sports bra. And very tight biker shorts. In the space of two heartbeats the very thin tank top revealed how glad she was to see him. With an effort he jerked his eyes from her clearly visible nipples back up to her face. Her eyes were clear, green, and hot. Slowly she lowered the hammer, holding it limply at her side.

Aidan cleared his throat. „I’ll be going to work now. Bye.“

Abe just looked at Aidan as he backed out the kitchen door, noticing Aidan carefully averting his eyes from Kristen’s very thin tank top. „See you. Call me if you need… anything.“ The last was uttered on a cough that Abe was quite certain muffled a laugh. The door closed behind Aidan and he and Kristen were alone in the wreck of her kitchen.

Abe wasn’t sure what to say. He opened his mouth, closed it, then gave up and let his eyes drop back to her breasts.

„What did you find?“ she asked, huskily.

Again he jerked his eyes back up to her face. „We found his target range, but he wasn’t there.“ She absorbed this in silence, not moving a muscle. Awkwardly he gestured to the mess. „What is this?“

He watched her lips tremble, then she firmly controlled them, pursing them hard. Without answering she turned back to the wall, raised her hammer and the pounding began again. For a minute he watched her, then shrugged out of his overcoat, his suit jacket. He let them fall to the floor since they were destined to be covered in white plaster dust wherever he put them. He took off his tie, then his shirt. A crowbar lay on the table and he picked it up and began pulling the drywall from the hole she’d already started.

For ten minutes they worked together without speaking.

She pounded and he cleared away the debris. Then she stopped and once again there was silence.

„Vincent’s in ICU,“ she whispered, and the hammer slid out of her hand to the floor. „Conti’s men beat him up.“

Abe blindly put the crowbar on the table behind him and reached for her. She came willingly, clenching her fists against his chest. He closed his arms around her and laid his cheek against the top of her head. „I know, honey. I’m so sorry.“

She pounded her fist against him, once. A restrained blow. „He had a stroke on the operating table. Aidan had just brought me home and Owen called me. The doctors say he probably won’t make it. Dammit to hell, Abe. Conti hurt him because of me.“ Her shoulders heaved, but she didn’t cry. „Vincent’s a good man. Gentle. He never hurt anyone.“

He rocked her gently and her fists opened and closed against his chest. „This isn’t your fault, Kristen. You know this.“

Again she pounded, harder this time. „And then I came inside and Aidan closed the door…“ Her tears were flowing now and he had no idea what to do, so he just held her. „And somebody knocked on the front door and I was afraid. Afraid to open my own damn door.“ She swallowed a sob, a horrible choking sound. „But it was just the man who does the neighborhood association. They signed a petition. All of them. They say I’m bad for the neighborhood. They want me to move. They want to throw me out of my own house.“

Her shoulders heaved again and Abe wanted to find the neighbors and throttle them all. „They can’t make you move, honey,“ he soothed. „We’ll take care of that later.“

„So I ripped up the petition and threw it in his face,“ she said, as if he hadn’t even spoken. „Then I told him to go to hell and take his association with him.“

He smiled against her plaster-covered hair. „Good for you,“ he murmured.

She pulled back, her face wet but her eyes clear. „Then I changed my clothes. I’ll wear whatever the hell I want to wear in my own damn house. And I got a hammer and put that hole in the wall.“ She looked around with a frown. „And then the cats ran and hid.“

He wiped her face with his thumb. „They’ll come out when they get hungry.“

„I know. Your brother asked me what I wanted him to do and I told him to get rid of the cabinets. And the appliances. They’re old and ugly.“

„They are.“ He felt for the pins in her hair and pulled them out one by one, freeing her curls. „But you’re beautiful.“

Her agitation seemed to dissipate before his eyes. „You really think so, don’t you?“

„I know so.“

She swallowed hard and his heart stuttered. „You make me feel beautiful.“ It was a husky whisper, as if she was afraid for anyone to hear. „And…“

He brushed her lips with his. „And desirable?“

Her eyes heated. „No one ever has before.“

„Their loss, my gain,“ he muttered, pulling her back against him and taking possession of her mouth the way he’d been thinking about since sending her to bed last night alone. Her hands flattened against his chest, her fingers raking through his hair, then moving back and forth, pleasuring him as he’d taught her to do. His hands moved down her back, itching to catch her from behind and pull her into him. To thrust against her. To feel her writhe against him. But his mind regained control at the last moment and his hands detoured to anchor at her hips. He groaned against her lips and pulled away. „I don’t want to push you.“

She was breathing as hard as he was. „You’re not.“ She stood on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against him. „You came to my room last night,“ she breathed into his mouth, then kissed him softly. „Why?“

His mouth went dry as dust. „I was checking on you.“

She shook her head, every movement grazing his lips with hers. „Try again.“

He closed his eyes and his fingers stretched, half-touching her round rear end. The tight biker shorts showed off every curve. „I was hoping you’d ask me to stay.“

„For what purpose?“ It was practically a purr and a shudder racked him from head to toe. Once again she’d taken the reins, and once again he’d be damned before he stole one inch of her advantage. If this was a tease, he’d bear it. It might kill him, but he’d bear it. He could tell she wanted him. Her nipples were pebbled hard against his chest, but until she was ready, until she asked him, he would control himself.

Even if it killed him. And it just might.

She nipped at his lips. „What would you have done if I’d asked you to stay?“

He swallowed again. „Kristen, I don’t think…“

„I dreamed about you all night,“ she murmured.

He opened his eyes and found himself drowning once again. „What did you dream?“

„I dreamed you put your hands on me and made me cry out.“

His hands covered her buttocks and kneaded gently. „Like this?“

„Exactly like that. Then you made love to me.“ Then she hesitated, looking away.

He caught her chin with one hand, leaving the other firmly grasping her butt. „Look at me. Please.“ He waited until she lifted her lashes, shy uncertainty in her eyes. „You dreamed I made love to you. And then?“

She took several rapid breaths. „And I pleased you.“

He felt as if he’d taken a physical blow. „Kristen… It’s not about whether you please me. Haven’t you figured that out by now? It’s how we please each other.“ He kissed her, a rich melding of mouths and hearts. „Did you like that?“

She nodded, so slightly. „Yes.“

He let go of her chin and covered her breast, heard her inhale sharply, felt her nipple grow rigid against his palm. „And you like this?“

She licked her lips, catching her lower lip between her teeth. „Yes.“

He brushed his knuckles against the juncture of her thighs and felt her shiver. „And the other night, you liked that?“

„You know I did.“

He took one of her hands from his neck and kissed her palm. „Then I promise you I’ll like the same things.“ He brought her hand lower until her fingertips trailed the length of his erection and he tensed. „See? I like it, too.“

Indecision clouded her eyes and once again he cursed whoever had hurt her in the past. Whoever had damaged her magnificent spirit. „But you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,“ he murmured and her mouth set in a determined line. It was as if he’d thrown down the gauntlet. „Kristen, I’m not daring you. We can stop right n – “

She pulled his head down for a kiss so hard he saw stars. „Don’t,“ she whispered fiercely. „Don’t treat me like spun glass. When you came into my room last night, what did you want from me? Be honest with me.“

As if he could lie. „I wanted to be inside you. I wanted to feel you come around me. I wanted to hear you cry out and beg me for more. I wanted all that more than I wanted to breathe. Is that honest enough for you?“

Her eyes filled with tears and she defiantly blinked them away. „Yes. Now tell me this. If things were normal… If I were normal – “

This time he cut off her words with a hard kiss. „Stop. There is nothing wrong with you.“

Her eyes flashed, impossibly, intensely green. „Then show me. Show me how it’s supposed to be. Because I’ve always wanted to know.“

For a moment they stood staring at each other and Abe realized a new gauntlet had been thrown down, by Kristen. She wanted to be romanced. Wooed. And he realized something else. He was scared to death. He drew in a lungful of air and slowly let it out. „Okay. How it’s supposed to be. Well, first I’d be dressed better. Suit and a tie, maybe.“

Her lips curved and her hands splayed wide against his bare chest. „I like you just like this. Then what?“

Her hands felt so incredibly good. „Then I’d ply you with a terrific meal.“

She raised a brow. „You can cook?“

He smiled down at her. „Of course. Can’t you?“

She scowled. „You’re supposed to be making me swoon, not insulting me.“

„Sorry. Then after dinner, I’d put on some soft music and pull you into my arms.“ He pulled her close and her hands slid up to his shoulders. „And I’d dance with you.“

„I don’t know how to dance,“ she admitted.

„Doesn’t matter.“ He brushed a kiss across her lips. „The dancing’s not important.“

„What is important?“ she asked breathlessly.

„Holding you. Touching you. Feeling your body against mine. Making you wish for just a little bit more.“ He moved with her, showing her how to follow his lead, letting his aroused body brush up against her lightly. She shuddered in his arms and he gritted his teeth against the sudden wave of lust.

„It’s working,“ she said thickly. „What happens next?“

„Patience, patience.“ He kissed her dusty forehead. „We haven’t finished our dance.“ But he slowed the motion until they were no more than swaying in place. He pressed kisses to her temple, her chin, the hollow of her throat. Heard her sigh. „Right about now I’d be wanting to feel you hard against me,“ he murmured. „I’d dance you backward until your back was against a wall and press against you.“ His brows lifted. „But you’ve knocked the wall down, so I can’t do that.“

She smiled at him, a siren’s smile that set his hot blood to boiling. „Improvise.“

He couldn’t wait any longer. He took her mouth in a kiss that was everything he’d wanted and she returned it with equal fervor. Her arms slid around his neck and she pressed against him with her whole body and he filled his hands with her round ass and hauled her up into him, thrusting the way he’d dreamed. And she arched, sweetening the contact until he groaned and sank to his knees, bringing her with him. In a fluid movement he pressed her to the floor, cradling her head in his hands.

He lifted his head, every nerve in his body screaming for release. „This is what I wanted.“ He settled himself between her thighs and thrust his hips and watched her eyes flash. „It’s what I wanted the first time I saw you.“

„It’s what I want now,“ she said. „Show me the rest, Abe. Please.“

Rearing up on his knees, he pulled off her tank top, taking her bra with it. She lifted her arms in accommodation and then she was bared to the waist, open to his gaze. „You’re beautiful, Kristen. But I knew you would be.“ He eased down to his elbows and looked his fill while she lay there, watching his every move. „When I got you like this, all hot and bothered, I’d tease you a little. Make you want a little more.“ He bent his head and gently licked her nipple and felt her jolt beneath him. He repeated the motion and she arched, offering him more. But he kept the caresses light, whispers only on her skin. Until she whimpered.

„Please.“

He was truly going to die. „Please, what?“

She arched again. „Dammit, Abe, you know.“

He ran his tongue under the fullness of her breast. Tasted the salt from her exertions. Purposed that she’d exert herself a hell of lot more before they were done. „Maybe I don’t,“ he murmured. „I was showing you what I’d do, and there you go, rewriting the rules.“

Her laugh was strangled, exasperated. „Abe.“

He decided to have mercy and gave her what she was too shy to ask for, taking her breast into his mouth and sucking, tonguing her nipple and sucking some more. She moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer and he lost it. He devoured, first one breast then the other, until she writhed beneath him.

„Oh, God,“ she gasped.

He lifted his head, panicked. „Please don’t say you want me to stop.“

She lifted her head from the floor, meeting his eyes. „If you stop, I’ll hurt you.“

His breath shuddered out in relief. He wasn’t sure what he would have done had she asked him to stop. He would have stopped of course, but… He kissed each wet breast then continued down her stomach, slowing the pace, planting kisses down to her navel.

She lifted her hips against him. „Abe, I may be new at this, but I think this is where we take off the rest of our clothes.“

He’d been sliding down her body and now paused, his shoulders between her thighs. „Then you should be glad you have a master like me around,“ he said lightly. „You are so impatient.“ He pressed his mouth between her legs and she cried out. „God, you’re already so wet,“ he muttered and looked up at her. She’d lifted herself on her elbows and now stared at him, her eyes heavy with need. „This is what I wanted last night,“ he said hoarsely. „Do you understand?“ Wordlessly she nodded and his heart threatened to push out of his chest. „Can I?“ And she nodded again. Unable to wait any longer he pulled her shorts, yanking in his haste, then dropped back down again, burying his mouth in her hot, wet heat. She fell back to the floor with another strangled moan, her arm covering her eyes, and he feasted. It had been so long and she tasted so good.

Raspy little staccato cries were coming from her mouth and he slowed down, drawing out her pleasure. „Do you like this?“ he asked.

„Yes.“ Her hips arched. „Please.“ Then a few glorious minutes later, she began to tense and her hands reached for him. He reached to grab one of her hands, his other still under her, lifting her to him. „Abe.“ It was a high, keening cry and he intensified the pressure until she unraveled, coming with a long, low moan. He kept kissing her inner thighs, soft, plucking kisses until her breathing evened out.

His own body straining for release, he lifted his head and knew he’d never, ever forget the way she looked. Glowing, radiant. Awed. Covered in plaster dust.

She met his eyes. „And then what would you do?“ she whispered.

He swallowed hard. „Then I’d ask you to help me with my belt, my zipper.“

She sat up, tugging him to his knees. „Then I would.“ And she did, pulling at his belt, each movement making her breasts jiggle before his hungry eyes. The tip of her tongue appeared as she concentrated, finally loosening the belt when he covered her hands with his, halting their quest.

„Wait.“ He pulled his wallet out of his pants and found a condom. Her eyes widened and it was like he could hear the wheels turning in her mind. Did he always carry one? Did he do this with all the women? On this point he could allay all her misgivings. „Kristen, the last time I made love was six years ago, before…“ He could see she understood. „I put the condom hi my wallet last Wednesday night when I got back to my apartment.“

„When you met me,“ she said softly.

„Again,“ he corrected, his voice husky. „Now, I would respectfully request you finish with my pants because I really, really want to be inside you.“ Her cheeks turned pink and she dipped her head, to focus on his waist. She accomplished the button of his pants with some difficulty, but he let her do it all. Gingerly, the zipper came down and she drew a deep breath. She pushed and tugged and his pants and boxers slid to his knees and when she drew another deep breath he realized he was holding his. Tentatively she stroked him and the breath he’d been holding came out as a guttural groan. „Oh, God. That feels so good.“

It must have encouraged her, because she closed her hand around him and squeezed and he knew he was truly going to die. „Stop.“ He grabbed her wrist. „I want to be inside you when I come.“ He kicked off his pants and managed the condom, his hands shaking in his haste. Then he crawled between her legs and kissed her mouth until he felt her melt again. „Don’t be afraid,“ he whispered, pushing her down to the floor.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide. „I’m not.“

But she was. He knew she was. He could only make her fear disappear by showing her how it would be. He pressed deep, shuddering as her muscles contracted around him, accepting him. She was hot and tight. And beautiful. And mine. „Kristen?“

Her face had tensed, but the fear was gone. „Don’t stop.“

„I won’t. I can’t.“ He pulled out, then thrust deep and she caught her breath. „When we got to this point, I might suggest you – “ He broke it off when she lifted her knees to hug his hips and he went deeper still. „Oh, God. Yes. Now move with me, Kristen.“ He set their bodies in rhythm. „Talk to me. Tell me what you feel.“

„It’s incredible.“ She cried out when he thrust and her hands reached to grab his shoulders. „I never knew…“

And somewhere he lost the thread of the conversation, his body taking control and he took, and took. In the distance he heard her muffled cry, felt her body contract around him, her pleasure catapulting him into his own. He gritted his teeth and thrust a final time.

Then there was peace. Panting, he rolled onto his side, still holding her, praying that now that it was over she wouldn’t feel guilty or retreat back into herself. That he wouldn’t accept. She was a most remarkable woman, although she would never admit it. He stopped just short of thinking she was the most remarkable woman, because in the stillness that followed completion, he knew he’d been a lucky man. He’d found two such women in his life. Debra was gone and he could never bring her back. But she of all people would want him to go on. And for the first time since holding his precious wife as she bled into a gutter, Abe allowed himself to imagine what the future would be like. To have a normal life again, with a wife to hold in the night and children with bouncy red curls. And it made him smile.

Kristen lay there, steeping in the kaleidoscope of sensations with which he’d gifted her, of all places on her kitchen floor. She pressed a lazy kiss to his hairy chest and settled her head back on his arm. Relief was a major emotion at the moment. He’d been pleased. More than pleased if she was any judge. Not that she was, but neither was she an idiot He’d practically had heart failure toward the end, so hard was his pulse. The way he’d lunged, his teeth bared. The way his body had bucked and shaken. The groan as he climaxed. He’d been pleased. And so had she. She’d come not once, but twice and it had been like nothing she ever could have anticipated.

I’m not frigid after all. The thought was so exhilarating that she laughed out loud.

Abe drew a rasping breath. „Now, if we ever got to the place where we actually made love, I would suggest you not laugh afterward.“ His tone was teasing and her heart rolled over in her chest „It’s very bad for my ego.“

She kissed the underside of his chin. „Your ego is safe. I’m happy. That’s all.“

He pulled her close in a hard hug. „That’s not all, Kristen. That’s everything.“

„You’re right.“ She lifted her head and looked down at their naked bodies. It was a sight she thought she would never see. Her naked with a man. That the man was Abe was… everything. She kissed his shoulder, then dropped her head back to rest on his arm. „Do you realize we’re naked on my kitchen floor with a squad car parked out on my curb?“

He scratched his nose. „Do you realize I’m about to sneeze from all this dust and I’m lying on a piece of dry-wall?“ he asked and she giggled. Giggled. She, Kristen Mayhew, formerly of frigid fame, was lying naked in a pile of plaster dust with a man who looked like Abe Reagan and giggling. He smiled and touched the tip of her nose. „You should laugh more often,“ he said. „And you’ve got plaster dust all over your nose.“

She stretched lazily, feeling better than wonderful. „A shower will fix that.“

„Hmm. The shower.“ There was laughter in his voice. „Do you want to know what I want to do in the shower?“