Protective Confinement. Cassie Miles

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      “I want to take you to an FBI safe house.”

      “Is this one of those protected witness programs? Where you give up your identity?” She shook her head, sending ripples through her black hair. “That’s unacceptable.”

      “It’s the only way to be sure you’re safe.”

      “I can’t pick up and leave. I have responsibilities.”

      Denial was one thing. This attitude was insanity. “We’re dealing with a serial killer. Make no mistake, Cara. He’ll come after you again.”

      Her forehead pinched together in a frown. “But there must be another way. I don’t want to be at a safe house. I want my life back. I don’t want to be alone….”

      “You’re not alone.” Dash sat on the edge of the bed. His hand rested on her shoulder. “I’m here.”

      Protective Confinement

      Cassie Miles

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Thanks to my daughter, Kersten, for her help on all things

       anthropological. And, as always, to Rick.

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      For Cassie Miles the best part about writing a story set in Eagle County near the Vail ski area is the ready-made excuse to head into the mountains for research. Though the winter snows are great for skiing, her favorite season is fall when the aspens turn gold.

      The rest of the time Cassie lives in Denver where she takes urban hikes around Cheesman Park, reads a ton and critiques often.

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Cara Messinger—A 32-year-old, half Navajo archaeology professor who is the only surviving victim of a serial killer.

      Dash Adams—After a privileged upbringing, he chose to become an FBI special agent. His current assignment is to investigate the serial murders and protect his witness.

      The Judge—Legendary serial killer from the San Francisco area who is now active in Mesa Verde.

      Russell Graff—An archaeology grad student who is obsessed with Cara, his former professor.

      Flynn O’Conner—FBI special agent in charge of the Mesa Verde safe house.

      Jonas Treadwell—A psychiatrist specializing in criminal psychology. He works with the FBI to profile the killer.

      William Graff—The wealthy, powerful father of Russell Graff is determined to thwart the investigation.

      George Petty—Archaeology professor supervising the dig site near Mesa Verde, where Russell worked.

      Alexander Sterling—Renowned forensic anthropologist who unlocks the secrets of the bones.

      Joanne Jones—Archaeology student having a dig-site romance with Russell Graff.

      Yazzie—Cara’s big, fat, yellow-striped tomcat.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter One

      Cara Messinger hated coming home to an empty house. Especially after dark.

      At 11:22 on a Thursday night, she parked at the curb in her quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Santa Fe and glanced toward her house. Two front windows stared back as if mocking her hesitation. Shadows from the windswept shrubs and piñon pines skittered across the white stucco walls like a thousand spiders gone wild.

      She wasn’t usually so nervous. Cara thought of herself as being responsible, strong and resourceful. A bit of an overachiever. At age thirty-two, she’d been an archaeology professor for three years. She’d supervised digs and published academic papers. Other people respected her. Young women wanted to be her. Why was she crouched behind the wheel of her car, afraid to go into her own house?

      It had to be the e-mails. For the past two months, she’d been receiving weird e-mails from someone who called himself the Judge. He was watching her, stalking her.

      “Well, watch this,” she muttered as she shoved open her car door.

      The night brought a chill to the thin air of the high desert even though it was springtime. She shivered as she gathered her briefcase and books from the back seat. When she slammed the car door, the sound echoed. From somewhere down the block, a dog howled.

      Her keys jingled in her hand as she hurried up the sidewalk, and her sense of apprehension grew stronger. She was not alone in the night. Someone else was here. Something else. She felt a heavy jolt against her ankle and staggered backward. Her books fell on the concrete porch.

      Two unblinking yellow eyes stared up at her. “Yazzie.”

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