“Okay. You’ll tell me how it goes?”

“It’s just a phone call.”

“But one thing leads to another. I really like him, Kendra.”

“And so do I. But I’m not going to report back to you all the time.”

“Oh, very well.” She was clearly disappointed. “I’ll accept occasional—”

“Mom.”

“Good-bye, Kendra. You take care of yourself.” She hung up.

Kendra was shaking her head as she got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. It hadn’t gone as badly as it might have. She’d been able to avoid telling Diane about the events of yesterday by throwing in Lynch’s action as a distraction. And her mother was so focused on Dean that she’d allowed Kendra to get away before she bombarded her with many questions.

But there was no doubt she’d have to call Dean right away and put her mother’s mind at ease. She’d made her a promise, and she’d keep it.

She stripped down and turned on the shower.

Just as soon as she checked to see if Griffin knew yet how Myatt had gotten into her condo.

*   *   *

AGENT DONALD NELSON WAS sitting at Olivia’s kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee when Kendra walked into the room thirty minutes later. He was staring at Olivia in bemusement, and she was obviously exerting her not inconsiderable charisma.

“Hi,” Kendra said. “Is there enough coffee for me, Olivia? I just talked to Mom, and I need bolstering.”

Agent Nelson jumped to his feet. “Let me get you one, ma’am. I was just—”

“Sit down. Finish your coffee.” She moved to the cabinet and got a cup from the shelf. “If Olivia managed to lure you away from the hall and that stern sense of duty, then you must have really needed it.”

“I’m finished.” He turned to Olivia. “You’ve been very kind, ma’am.”

She smiled brilliantly. “My pleasure, Don. Anytime.”

“Thank you.” He turned and left the kitchen. The next moment, the front door closed behind him.

“Naughty,” Kendra murmured as she poured her coffee. “You dazzled the poor lad.”

“You heard him.” She grinned mischievously. “I was just being kind.” She shrugged. “You slept late. I was bored. I needed company.”

“And you wanted to see if you could lure him away from hard-and-fast duty.”

“He was closer to you in here.” She sipped her coffee. “And I’ve never seduced an FBI man before. I wondered if all that training and indoctrination made a difference in how they responded. Not that I actually wanted to go to bed with him. I was just exploring the preliminary steps.”

“To see if you could do it.”

She nodded. “You know that some men are uncomfortable and repelled by interaction with a blind woman and others are fascinated and drawn. I’ve been working on turning the odds totally in my favor.”

“He was dazzled,” Kendra repeated. She sat down and lifted her cup to her lips. “Why not? You’re gorgeous and full of life and—”

“Blind,” Olivia said. “But as I said, I’m making headway on all fronts.” She changed the subject. “Your mother was difficult?”

“No more than usual. She’s concerned. She wants me safe, with a big, strong man to take care of me.” She made a face. “Ridiculous when you consider how independent my mother is.”

“She’s a good woman and superintelligent. I’ve admired her all my life.”

“So have I.” She took a swallow of coffee. “And that’s why I let her still try to manipulate me on occasion. It’s all for love.”

Olivia nodded. “And that’s a damn good reason. You can’t fault—”

Kendra’s cell phone rang, and she glanced at the ID. “Griffin.”

She accessed the call. “I didn’t expect you to get back to me this early. It’s only a little after nine. I hope that means good news. Do we have a lineup for me to look at?”

“We’re working on it. But it shouldn’t be too long. But we do know how he got into your condo.”

“I’m not sure that qualifies as good news,” she said warily. “How did he do it?”

“He has a key.”

“A serial killer has a key to my condo. I can’t tell you how wonderful that makes me feel.”

“Take it up with your building’s management office. It turns out it’s probably the least secure place in your entire building. It’s fronted by a sliding glass door with a flimsy-as-hell lock. There’s no one there after six, and he was probably able to pop the lock with a screwdriver. Your key is missing from the peg board in the back room.”

“Their security cameras?”

“Disabled. No disks.”

“Great. I’d already decided to have my lock changed. I think I’ll forget to give the management office my new key.”

“Probably not a bad idea, at least for a while. Just a minute. Agent Reade is here.” She heard him cover the phone to speak to the agent, and there was a moment of silence. Then he said to Kendra, “She’s almost finished with coordinating the photos. Listen, do you want to come in around two and take a look at some photo lineups off the tips we’ve been getting? We’ve put together a few dozen pics from people who think they recognize the police sketch. I’ve glanced at some of them, and most aren’t even in the ballpark. A few might be promising though.”

“I’ll take promising. See you at two.” She hung up and told Olivia, “He used the key I gave to the management office. So simple.”

Simply deadly. A careless mistake, and she was left open and vulnerable to Myatt.

“It shouldn’t have been that easy for him,” Olivia said.

“No, but often crimes would never be committed except for a single error from someone who has nothing to do with the target themselves.” She grimaced. “We all depend on our precious conveniences. I gave a key to the condo superintendent, so he can let in a plumber or deliver packages. Didn’t you do the same thing?”

“Yes. After all, he’s bonded. I trusted that they’d keep it secure.”

“And so did I. But then no one expects a raid on a condo office by a serial killer. It’s outside the box. I don’t know how long he’s been planning his access to get to me. The security cameras … and then the actual intrusion.” She shivered. “And I wasn’t even the target. He could have attacked me anytime before all this started. But that isn’t what he wanted. He wanted me to know how clever he could be. He wanted me to admire him. And he wanted me to know how vulnerable I am.”

“You stay here,” Olivia said firmly. “No arguments.”

“And how do I know that he hasn’t scoped out your place, too? He’s studied me, and he has to know you’re my friend. He wouldn’t leave the possibility I’d turn to you out of his equations.” She got to her feet. “I’ll have Griffin check out the security cameras in this area, too. But I’m not going to expose you any more than I have to.” She leaned over and gave Olivia a kiss on the cheek. “I’ve got to get going. Thanks for the port in the storm. I’ll be in touch.”

“You’d better be. I want you back here, Kendra.”

Kendra smiled over her shoulder as she reached the door. “You just want to practice your wiles on my poor bodyguard. I have to save him from himself … and you.”

*   *   *

KENDRA HESITATED AS SHE LEFT OLIVIA’S CONDO. She’d been planning on going back to her condo to have a look around and see if Myatt had left any more calling cards that were more subtle than that shocking message on the wall. But she’d made Mom a promise, and she couldn’t put it off any longer. It was only a phone call, and she could make it while she was walking back to her own condo.

She quickly dialed Dean Halley. “Hi. Kendra Michaels.”

“At last,” he said. “I was actually expecting you to call. I thought that Diane had a glint in her eye this morning when I saw her. Did she attack with all flags flying?”

“She just reminded me what a great guy you are and what an idiot I was not to let you come into my life.”

“All true,” he said solemnly. “But I had no idea that I stood quite that high in her books. I admit I’m flattered.”

“Don’t be too flattered. Your main attraction in her eyes is the security factor. She thinks I’d be safe with you.”