After The Dark. Cynthia Eden

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

       CHAPTER FOUR

      “LET ME GET this straight.” Captain Roger Lewis steepled his fingers just beneath his chin. His dark eyes were sharp and hard as they swept over Blake. “You want me to do a full-scale manhunt because you believe I’ve got a potential serial killer on the loose in my town?”

      Beside Blake, Samantha stiffened. He saw her tense from the corner of his eye, but he kept his attention focused on the local police captain. After he’d talked to Tammy White, he’d known that he needed to bring the local authorities in right away.

      “Cameron Latham?” Lewis’s eyebrows rose. “That bastard is here?”

      Lewis was an older African American man, probably in his early sixties, but still fit and strong. Intelligence glittered in his gaze, and the guy hadn’t minced words when he brought Blake and Samantha into his small office.

      But the way he talked about Latham...the way the guy’s stare had just cut toward Samantha... Why do I feel as if I’m missing something here?

      Blake cleared his throat. “The Bureau tracked the call that the suspect made—the call came from here in the city. The man who used Cameron’s credit card is here,” Blake stated. He was in Fairhope and he was hunting. “You need to alert all of your patrols to be extra vigilant. This man is extremely dangerous. He’s killed before.” Kristy. “And I think he’ll kill again.” He exhaled. “Because Cameron Latham’s credit card was used in this city, we have to operate under the assumption that he may be present. I’m not saying a copycat isn’t at work, I’m saying we need to follow all precautions. Your men should receive an immediate description of Latham, and they need to step up their patrols in the area.” Four months ago, everyone had known about Latham, but people—even law enforcement officials—had short memories.

      Lewis’s gaze cut to Samantha. “Do you think it’s a copycat or is the bastard here?’

      She inclined her head toward him. “I think we’re dealing with an incredibly dangerous man. A man who wants to emulate Cameron Latham. But we can’t afford to overlook any possibility. It wouldn’t be safe to do that.”

      “Son of a bitch.” Lewis raked his hand over his face. “I’m in a small town for a reason. This shit isn’t supposed to happen here.” He rose. “I’ll alert my men. And if there is anything else I can do to help you, say the word.”

      It was always so much easier when the local authorities cooperated.

      Blake rose and offered the other man his hand. “I appreciate that.”

      Lewis had a strong shake. Very strong. “I trust Samantha’s judgment.”

      What?

      The captain inclined his head toward her. “You were her partner at the Bureau. She told me...you’re a good man.”

      No, he wasn’t. Not always.

      “It’s getting late,” Lewis continued. “Why don’t you take Sammie back home, and I’ll contact my officers?”

      Sammie?

      But Lewis wasn’t hanging around for his response. The captain had already left the office. Blake glanced at Samantha, frowning.

      “You’re lucky,” she murmured, her gaze on Lewis’s back. “This small town happens to have the best damn police captain in the state. You can count on him to help you out.”

      Good to know. “You’re close to him?”

      A faint smile curved her lips. “He’s the only father I’ve had since I was thirteen. So, yeah, we’re close.”

      Surprise rocked through him. Samantha and her secrets...she always kept him guessing. One day, though, he’d learn all there was to know about her.

      “Let’s get out of here,” she murmured. She rose and headed for the door. “I can’t shake the feeling that he’s out there, watching.”

      Blake caught her hand. I did this. I brought him here. “Samantha...he’s not going to get to you.”

      She turned toward him, her body brushing against his. “That’s the thing. I’d rather he come after me. And not pick some other woman like Kristy. I can fight back. I was a trained agent. I don’t want anyone else being the victim.” Her eyes gleamed up at him. “I don’t want anyone suffering because he’s trying to get to me.”

      * * *

      IT HAD BEEN one crazy day.

      Tammy White locked the door to Connoisseur’s Delight and stepped into the small alley behind the building. Her car was parked in the garage down the street, about forty yards away. The sun was starting to set, snaking across the sky and turning it a deep red.

      The FBI agent had made her nervous. He’d stayed at the store, asking all sorts of questions. And then things had finally clicked for her.

      Cameron Latham. Oh, Jesus, she hadn’t even recognized the guy’s name at first. She heard dozens of names every single day. They didn’t stick out for her. So when the caller had placed the order, she hadn’t given a second thought to his name.

      Until the intense agent and the dark-haired lady had shown up. They’d pushed with their questions, and she’d finally made the connection.

      The Sorority Slasher. Cameron Latham. He’d been such a big deal in the news months ago, but the guy had seemingly vanished from the face of the earth. She’d forgotten all about him.

      I won’t be forgetting now.

      Her steps quickened as she headed toward the garage. She couldn’t wait to tell her roommate, Jemi, about everything that had happened. Her friend was going to flip. Maybe they should call the news. Or one of those tabloids. Those reporters liked these kinds of stories, right?

      “Did she like the champagne?”

      The question came from the shadows just inside of the parking garage. Tammy opened her mouth to scream, but a man lunged toward her. He slapped one hand over her mouth even as the other yanked her close to him.

      He was handsome. That thought flashed through her mind as the fluorescent light shone down on them. His face was handsome. His hair was stylish. He had perfect teeth as he smiled at her.

      He didn’t look evil, but...

      He is.

      Tammy struggled against him, but his grip was tight. Punishing.

      “I hope she liked the gift. I was just so happy to find her that I needed her to understand I was here.”

      He was yanking her toward a gleaming luxury sedan. A big, fancy car.

      “But then I got to thinking...”

      She kicked him hard, and his grip slackened on her. Tammy took that opportunity, and she jerked out of his grip. She lunged forward—

      But he yanked her back. He spun her around, and his СКАЧАТЬ