“And…you broke into Madison’s house in pursuit of this killer?” Michelle demanded, confused.

Kyle shook his head, smiling ruefully. “As I said, this killer is preying on young, beautiful women. I couldn’t get in touch with Madison last night, and then…when I couldn’t reach her this morning, either…” He lifted his hands helplessly, then took a long swig of his beer, staring at Madison again. “Her lock was easy to pick, but she has a good alarm system. I’d told Jimmy Gates down in homicide that I was going in, but…well, I almost got myself arrested anyway, and I’m wondering right now just how ridiculous I’m going to look on the news.”

“I didn’t answer my phone, so you broke into my house?” Madison said incredulously.

“Madison, you shouldn’t be so snippy!” Sheila advised her.

“Sheila, I’m not! I’m just surprised.”

“Thank God you’ve got a stepbrother who cares so much! If someone in my family couldn’t reach me, they probably wouldn’t worry for a week!”

Kyle arched a brow to Madison, obviously enjoying the fact that her friends thought she was the one in the wrong.

“Sheila, you’re always going off for days at a time,” Madison reminded her.

“Well, you still shouldn’t be angry!” Sheila said.

“Are you angry?” Hector demanded, grinning at Madison. He looked amused, out to cause trouble.

Everyone was staring at her. She stared at Kyle, gritting her teeth. “Of course not. I told you—I’m not angry, I’m surprised.”

“Surprised! I’m scared. A serial killer, preying on young women!” Sheila said, and shivered.

“A little fear can be healthy, I’m certain,” Jaime said.

“Do you agree, Kyle?” Michelle asked in her soft singsong. “Is it smart for women to be afraid?”

“A little fear can be very healthy. The police weren’t exactly trying to keep the killings quiet, at first, but they didn’t want to cause a panic, either. But as of this afternoon, it’s been officially decided that it’s time to cause a bit of a panic. From comments made to friends by the victims, we’re certain that the killer is a charming young man who is seducing his victims into believing they’re in for the love affair of a lifetime. He’s most probably very good-looking, blends in with a crowd, appears entirely respectable. Not in the least the image of a crazed killer. So, Sheila, you should be concerned. It would be wise for you to be very careful.”

“You know,” Hector murmured, “if you’re curious about the news…Well, it’s gotten late. Maybe they’ll have the eleven-o’clock news on at the bar.”

They stared at one another briefly, then rose in one body, moving to the bar. Kyle remained slightly in the background. As the news moved from the latest terrorism in the Mideast to local-interest stories, a police spokeswoman giving a press release appeared on the screen. She said that the police believed that they were investigating four murders that were the work of a single killer, and that young women needed to be seriously on the alert, especially women, and women living alone.

Listening, Madison found herself worrying about Jassy. She told herself that her sister was smart. Besides, she still thought Kyle might be the man her sister was seeing, and if so…

She was going to call Jassy. She had to make sure her sister knew what she was doing.

She blinked. The news was still centered on the killer. There was an interview with Jimmy Gates, who gave out the information that friends of the victims had told police that before each disappearance, the murdered young women had been looking forward to time away with a new romantic interest.

Then there was suddenly a shot of Kyle. He was in his suit, in front of Madison’s house. There were police cars everywhere. Kyle looked worn and very aggravated—but still handsome and appealing. He was shown talking with Jimmy as Jimmy arrived at the scene, then he spoke briefly with the press, recommending that women in the area be advised to use extreme caution in accepting any invitations. “Don’t go out with strangers. Period. Even if you think you know someone, double-date. Don’t go anywhere without a friend knowing your exact destination and who you’re with. Leave work in groups, shop with a girlfriend.”

“Should women be armed?” a pretty reporter asked anxiously.

“If a woman is going to be armed, she needs to know what she’s doing with a weapon, period. A gun is never a guarantee of safety. Bear in mind how many children have been killed with a family gun. To me, the best way to stay safe is to stay smart and cautious.”

“What about women living alone?” the same reporter queried.

Kyle had been solemn; now he suddenly smiled. One of those rare smiles of pure charm that sent hearts racing. “Well, if possible, move back home for a while,” he suggested.

“Good idea!” someone called.

“And if that’s not possible, the main thing here is to be smart, be careful and don’t make yourself vulnerable.”

There were more questions, coming faster and faster, like bullets themselves.

Kyle answered tersely, especially when he was asked why he was at the home of Madison Adair, daughter of the slain movie star, Lainie Adair, his onetime stepsister.

“In fact, sir, didn’t you just break into her house?”

“Were you arrested and handcuffed?”

Kyle fielded the questions well, ignoring what he chose to ignore and replying that—naturally—any man was concerned about the young women in his family under these circumstances. Yes, he admitted, he had been worried about his stepsister, but he had since been advised that Madison Adair was fine and away working on a fashion shoot.

Madison noticed that he didn’t say where.

When he excused himself and walked away from the interview, the camera focused on the pretty newswoman who had hit him with the most questions. She had done her homework well. She rehashed Lainie’s murder and “scandalous” life, then brought up Madison’s work, her resemblance to her mother and her occasional involvement with the police. By the time the newscast was finished, Madison wanted to sink into the floor.

At the same time, she felt like an absolute ingrate, certain that the news hadn’t managed to capture the entire event. Kyle had nearly been arrested for breaking into her house, all because he had been worried.

About her.

She looked back at Kyle, who shrugged irritably. “At least they missed the fact that I was nearly shot as an intruder before I had a chance to flash my ID.”

“Thanks for worrying,” she murmured. “And I’m sorry. I guess, under the circumstances, I should have called Jassy or Dad before taking off, as well as Darryl.” She sighed with weary exasperation. “That damned newswoman! She didn’t miss any of my life. We got to go through my mother’s death all over again.”

“Ah, child!” Michelle commiserated.

“They showed your house—right on television. Can’t you sue them for that or something?” Sheila asked.

“I don’t think so,” Madison murmured. “I don’t think it matters, anyway. Where I live has never been a big secret.”

Kyle was staring at her. He wasn’t pleased. From his look, she knew he was thinking that it probably hadn’t mattered before if her address was publicly known.

But it did now.

“Well,” Michelle said, “this killer will have to think twice now. With such a warning out, surely young women will be very careful.”

Kyle shook his head very slowly. “If only that were true. If only they all understood the point. This man is extremely clever—and charming. Most rational people feel that such violent murders must be the work of a madman. They’re sure they would recognize such a man, that he must look like a monster, when his real power lies in his ability to appear to be not just respectable, but secure. A protector of the innocent. Hopefully we’ll have alerted at least some of his possible victims, and maybe we’ll slow him down long enough to catch him.”