“So what you’re saying is if it’s Colby, there won’t be any evidence. With that kind of logic, it won’t be easy for you to convince the cops that he’s still out there.”

“If he’s out there, I won’t need to convince them. All I’d have to do is wait. As clever as he is, he won’t be able to help but show himself. It’s his nature. This may be only the first sign.”

They drove in silence while Kendra gazed out at the lights of Harbor Drive. Lynch finally said, “Look, I want you to stay at my place for a while.”

“I’ll bet you do.”

“Unfortunately, no lust involved. I won’t be there.”

“What?”

“I’m leaving for Luxembourg tonight.”

She tried to read his expression as they passed a streetlight. “You’re not kidding.”

“No, I wish I was. There’s a matter that needs finessing. I was hoping like hell it could wait, but things have come to a head.”

“This is getting to be a nasty habit of yours, bailing on me in the middle of an investigation.”

“I know.” His tone was suddenly savage. “Do you think I’m happy about it?”

“You’re the one who came on so strong, telling me what a great team we were.”

“We are, Kendra.” He was staring directly into her eyes. “In every way imaginable.”

She instinctively backed away from the intensity in that last sentence. “But you have important people to see and situations to handle,” she said flippantly. “No problem.”

“It is a problem, dammit.”

“Look, you don’t owe me anything.” She moistened her lips. “I didn’t mean to give you a guilt trip. I was just surprised. We both know that’s not what our relationship is about. I’m grateful that you’ve been there for me in the past. You’re one of the few people who doesn’t look at me like I’m crazy when I talk about Colby’s possibly being alive. That’s enough for me.”

“It’s not enough. I’d feel better if you stayed in my house while I was away.”

“We’ve been through this. And besides, I have a friend visiting from out of town.”

“She can stay over, too. Hell, invite Olivia, your mother, and anyone else you want. Make a party of it. There’s enough room for all of you. And you’re already familiar with the security system there.”

“I am. It’s like living in a vault.”

“A beautiful vault. There’s not a safer place in the world for you right now.”

It was beautiful, she remembered. And in those horrible weeks after she first suspected Colby was still alive, it was the only reason she could sleep at all. Lynch had built that fortress because of the multitude of enemies he’d made during his career. He had to be constantly on guard. It was the only place he could truly relax. She knew how that felt during her time there. His home’s perimeter motion sensors, security cameras, and retractable steel window shutters guarded her from any and all threats lurking in the outside world. But the longer she isolated herself from that world, the more frightening and daunting it became. It hadn’t taken long for her to realize that it couldn’t become a way of life for her.

“I can’t hide behind those walls right now, Lynch. I have to be out here.”

“Fine. Hide behind them when you sleep.”

“Not now.”

“When?”

“When and if I think it’s necessary. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m fairly in tune with my surroundings, even while I’m sleeping. No one’s getting near me without my knowing about it.”

He reached out and touched her cheek. “I’d feel a lot better if I knew you were there.”

She felt the familiar heat start to radiate beneath that touch. As usual, she was too aware of him. Lynch was fully capable of using that sexual chemistry between them to catch her off balance and try to get his own way. She moved her head to avoid his hand. “My primary focus isn’t to make you feel better while you’re traipsing across Europe.”

He let his hand drop away from her face and let out an exasperated breath. “Okay. I’ll e-mail you a custom app. The electronic locks in my place perform a key change every six seconds. The only way the app can unlock any of my doors is if you swipe your thumb across your phone’s fingerprint reader.”

“Ah. An upgrade. And foolproof, unless someone steals my phone and chops my thumb off.”

He grimaced. “Don’t even say that. Besides, it wouldn’t work. Without blood circulating through your fingers, there’s no way that—”

She interrupted him. “I was joking. My severed thumb is one thing I’d rather not contemplate. E-mail me the app. I doubt I’ll use it, but it’s nice of you to offer.”

“I’ve already installed it in your phone.”

She shook her head. “Damn. I knew you were going to say that.”

*   *   *

“JEEZ, KENDRA.” BETH STOOD UP from the sofa in Olivia’s condo. “Did you have to kill her?”

“You’ve acquired a dark and disturbing sense of humor in these past few months.” Kendra slid out of her jacket. “Sorry that I can’t laugh about this.”

“The story about Sheila Hunter’s murder just broke online,” Olivia said as she stepped out of the kitchen. “When we couldn’t reach your mobile, we figured you were there.”

“I was. It was horrible.”

Beth made a face. “I guess you’re right. Not at all funny. I was just so angry about the way she treated you that it’s hard for me not to be callous.”

“Was it … him?” Olivia asked.

“Don’t know yet. There were some similarities between this and Colby’s kills, but I can’t really come to any conclusions. If you ask the cops, they would say no.”

“But they brought you into the case anyway.”

“They did nothing of the sort. They’d rather I stay as far away from this as possible. Lynch took me there.”

Beth wore a puzzled expression. “So they expect you to sit on the sidelines and twiddle your thumbs while they conduct their investigation?”

“I don’t know if they expect it, but it sounds like what they’d prefer.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“If there’s a chance Colby is involved, I’m working this case. With or without the cooperation of the San Diego PD. Lynch had to leave town, so one of my few allies is out of the picture right now.” She looked at Beth. “You’ve already gotten more than you bargained for on this visit. I’m sorry. I wanted things to be different.”

“Why are you sorry? You’re feeling bad that you can’t take me to the zoo, Sea World, and Museum Row? Puleeze.”

“I wanted us to be able to spend time together.”

“Who says we won’t?” Beth shrugged. “It looks like you might need me on this.”

“What?”

“Well, you said you’re going rogue on this case. I’ve been studying rogue for a long time.”

“Going rogue? You make me sound like a vigilante.”

“That’s kinda what you are.” Beth tilted her head. “Isn’t it?”

“No, I mean…” Kendra turned to Olivia. “Help me out here.”

Olivia nodded. “Definite vigilante.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“It’s not an insult,” Beth said. “Just the opposite. But you shouldn’t be going it alone. You’re used to having backup from all those cops and FBI agents.”

Kendra’s lips twitched. “So you’re my backup now?”

“Hey, I’m bringing the muscle.”

“Whoa-whoa-whoa. Tracking a man like Colby is a chess game, not a boxing match.”

“Fine. You play chess, but it’s still good to have a friend in your corner.”

“You’re using boxing metaphors again.”

“I don’t know how to box. Maybe I should learn.”

“That didn’t seem to matter to the guy you put in the hospital this week.”

“Exactly. Proof that I’m an excellent person to have by your side.”

Kendra smiled at her. Beth was definitely different than the unsure young woman who had ventured back into the world only a few short months before. Different, yet the same. That determination had always been there, even when her grim situation offered little hope. “Your sister will kill me if she finds out I’ve pulled you into one of my investigations.”