Past Sins. Debra Webb

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СКАЧАТЬ a killer,” he commented quietly.

      She leaned closer to him, making him catch his breath all over again. “Have you ever met a killer?”

      He shook his head with enough vigor to do internal damage.

      “Perhaps you’ve met several and simply didn’t know it.”

      His eyes widened, then he blinked twice as he appeared to comprehend that a response to her statement wasn’t necessary. “How do you usually, ah—” He cleared his throat. “You know, take care of the situation?”

      “Do you have a preferred method?”

      “Not at all. I just want it done.”

      “I understand.”

      He hunched his shoulders and let them fall in a shrug of uncertainty. “How long will it take?”

      “A few days. I’ll need time to assess the target and to select the best time and method for elimination.”

      Ned Soderbaum gulped.

      Keeping a close eye out for anyone else who might attempt to advance upon their position, she let him hang on to his papers a moment longer and pressed him for the crucial details she needed. “Mr. Soderbaum, before we can seal this deal, I will need the name of your source. I don’t accept clients without verifying their source.”

      He tried to hold her gaze but couldn’t handle the pressure, so he stared at a covered rack of postcards instead. “He’s not that difficult to find. He’s always in the chat rooms. I don’t know his real name, but his screen name is Phantom.”

      A new wave of shock went through her. “You’re certain about that?” The shock abruptly started to evolve, heading toward fury. This had to be a setup, wire or no wire. Her instincts moved to a higher state of alert in anticipation of coming complications. The necklace she wore felt hot against her skin.

      Her client nodded. “I’ve talked to him several times. He said you were the best. A perfect record of kills.”

      Olivia struggled to conceal her building anger. Allowing him to take note of her out-of-control emotions would be a mistake. “Once I’ve confirmed that information I’ll set things in motion.”

      “Excellent.” Soderbaum glanced around nervously. “Here.” He held out his papers. “This is the information you’ll need.”

      She accepted the folded pages. “You understand that once this assignment has been set in motion there is no backing out. You can’t change your mind.”

      He wet his lips. “Yes, I understand. I want this done as quickly as possible.”

      “All right.” Olivia unfolded the paper and studied the full head shot of her target. What her eyes saw made her sway, but she braced herself before her client could pick up on her stunned surprise. Focusing intently to ensure her hands didn’t shake, she shuffled to the next page where the target’s name, address and other stats were listed.

      The name and address matched the face but she couldn’t analyze that right now. Her movements deliberate, she refolded the pages and slid them into her jacket pocket.

      “I’ll post a personal ad in the Chicago Tribune when the assignment is completed. The ad will contain a number for you to call for the final instructions on depositing the remainder of the fee. If you fail to make the deposit, you’ll be my next target. There won’t be any place you can hide from me.”

      Doubt clouded his expression again. “Don’t worry, I’ll make the deposit, but how will I know it’s you?”

      She eased into the shadows. “You’ll know.”

      Olivia retreated behind the surveillance deck the police used. The route she chose was dark and she was pretty damn sure her client wouldn’t attempt to follow her.

      Thankfully he didn’t.

      When she reached the parking area, she remained out of sight until Soderbaum climbed into his vehicle and drove away.

      She got into her Audi and drove back to Hollywood.

      She needed some distance…some big-time perspective.

      After three long years of evading the past, it had come back to haunt her.

      Sheara, aka Goddess of Death, had been awakened by an old enemy. One she would not allow to betray her a second time. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Whatever his reason for intruding on her new life, she would stop him. Hell, he shouldn’t even know she was alive.

      Forcing her attention on the road, she made the journey back to her house on Mount Olympus in record time, despite her evasive route. She had fully anticipated a tail. If there had been one, she’d lost him.

      She parked behind Jeffrey’s car and went inside, locking the door and resetting the alarm.

      Jeffrey was asleep when she entered the bedroom. She didn’t need a crystal ball or a hidden camera to know he had waited up until his body could no longer deny its need for sleep. Even as frustrated as he must have been when she didn’t call to let him know how things were going, he’d likely waited up far longer than was reasonable because he cared. Something else she couldn’t bear to think about just now.

      She didn’t bother with a light, just tucked her loaded weapon beneath her pillow and stripped off her clothes before climbing into bed naked. The subtle scent of Jeffrey’s aftershave felt familiar and somehow comforting, as did the contrast of the cool sheets and his warm skin.

      She lay there, the minutes ticking slowly by, wondering how this could possibly be happening. Sleep was out of the question at this point. She had to be ready for anything. Why would he do this? The idea that jealousy might play a role made her furious all over again. How the hell was she supposed to handle this? She had no contacts…nothing.

      If she located the Phantom again he would be the one she would execute. Not an innocent target used to draw her back into the line of fire.

      Gritting her teeth was the only way to hold back the litany of raging expletives hovering at the back of her throat. He had no right to do this. She’d already given up far too much because of him. The urge to jerk the necklace loose and throw it as far as she could was a palpable thing…but some idiotic, vulnerable female part of her wouldn’t allow her to break that link.

      He had given it to her.

      A soft ring of the telephone shattered the silence. She reached for the bedside extension before the second ring could disturb Jeffrey.

      “Hello.” She kept her voice low, barely a whisper.

      Silence.

      “Hello.” Still nothing. She didn’t immediately hang up. Just listened. Someone was there—she could sense the presence—but he didn’t speak. He never did.

      Then came the click signaling the end of the call.

      Was the fact that the call had come only minutes after her return from meeting with Soderbaum significant? Possibly. She hung up the receiver. But this was not her first anonymous call. It was always the same. СКАЧАТЬ