He’d probably even realized that she would not be able to assess that last sentence until she was here alone, in her room.

Block it. She needed to rest, to plan, to sleep, so that she would be able to deal with the next few days. It was only a few hours before Beth would be pounding on her door.

Sleep.

She closed her eyes determinedly.

Pleasant dreams …

I don’t hear you, Colby.

*   *   *

“YOU LOOK LIKE HELL.” BETH GAZED AT HER appraisingly. “And it took forever for you to answer my buzzer downstairs. You okay?”

“I will be after I have a shower. I had a late night.” She stepped aside and let Beth into the condo. “Twenty minutes. Get yourself coffee and orange juice.”

“Those call logs paid off?”

“You might say that they did. But not in the way you might think.” She turned and headed for the bathroom. “I’ll tell you over coffee.”

She held her face under the warm spray, letting it wash away all the cobwebs.

Not cobwebs. Blood.

Pleasant dreams.

Don’t think of it. It may have been an uneasy sleep born of terror and nightmares but she’d take it. She couldn’t control her subconscious while she was sleeping, so she’d use it to fuel her determination while awake. Just don’t let the thought of Colby get in the way while she was wide-awake and searching for him.

Instead, think of what she was going to say to Beth and how she was to handle her response.

Lord, she was tired of trying to handle everything around her. As for what she was going to say, there was no question. The truth and nothing but the truth. Beth was no child and had suffered years of oppression. If she wanted to help, Kendra would never keep her in the dark.

Kendra knew the dangers of that darkness.

*   *   *

BETH GAVE A LOW WHISTLE. “DEAR GOD, Kendra, that sounds very, very weird. And downright scary.” She had listened quietly while Kendra had related the events after Beth had left her last night. She lifted her cup to her lips. “And fascinating. I’d love to meet your Sam Zackoff. I remember you told me he helped you and Eve get me out of that hospital, but I’ve never had a chance to thank him. And I never dreamed computers could be so interesting. Of course, I was in that hospital during the years when all those high-tech high jinks were being developed.”

“I could wish these particular high jinks were a little less fascinating,” Kendra said dryly. “It was a distinctly uneasy experience.”

“I can see how it would be.” Beth reached across the table and grasped Kendra’s hand. “Sorry. The concept just interested me. It must have been terrible for you. I can imagine how it would be to see a message from a monster seemingly appear out of nowhere in front of you.” She added gently, “But now you know that you were right, that Colby is still alive. I know that doesn’t bring you satisfaction, but it should bring you vindication.”

“Hollow victory.”

“It’s a step forward. I’m trying to be optimistic.” She finished her coffee. “Now, let’s go and see what’s on that houseboat.”

Kendra’s brows rose. “I believe I mentioned that I might have a little trouble getting permission.”

“You’ll get around it.”

“I’m going to go see Griffin at the FBI and see if I can get him to use his clout to get me inside.”

“See, I told you that you’d get around it.”

“And I’m not sure that I should take you along on an errand Colby is sending me on.”

“Why not?” Beth met her gaze. “Are you afraid Colby will connect me with you? Too late. If he’s spying on you through that computer, he probably knows who and what I am to you. Right?”

She nodded. “I’m afraid that’s true. But I can keep you under the radar.”

Beth shook her head. “It would only show Colby I’m important to you if you try to hide me.”

“So much for skating around the edges. I’m sorry, Beth.”

“I’m not. I’m beginning to dislike this Colby intensely.” Her lips thinned. “That computer nonsense was really creepy.”

“I would say the murders were a good deal more intimidating.”

“Yes, but you’re far more accustomed to violence and mayhem than I am. But he was trying to scare and manipulate you with that computer message. I don’t like manipulation. I was manipulated most of my adult life while I was penned up in that hospital. I hate for anyone to try to do that to you.”

Kendra could see how that would strike Beth. She would always remember those years and fight against their happening again. Even the karate lessons and physical training in self-defense were part of that battle for control of her life. “I’m with you. But that doesn’t mean I’ve changed my mind about trying to keep you as much out of this as possible.”

“I didn’t think it would. It’s your nature. I just wanted you to realize that it was useless to go overboard in that direction by hiding me in the cellar.”

Her lips twitched. “I have no cellar.”

She waved her hand. “See, total waste of time. So now that we’ve established that, do you have something for me to do that would prove useful?”

“You can check on the executive who is paying for the houseboat where Sheila Hunter was living.” She gave her the name. “And find out whatever you can from the people where she works.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

“The computer geek who might have been tapped by Colby while he was in prison. He’s important. You can help me locate him.”

“And may I go with you to the houseboat?”

She hesitated.

Beth shook her head. “No cellar, Kendra,” she reminded softly.

She sighed. “Okay.”

“Great.” Beth got to her feet. “So let’s see how we can go about manipulating that bastard, Colby.”

Kendra pushed back her chair. “Slow down. First, I have to see about manipulating Special Agent Griffin,” she said dryly. “And that’s not going to be easy.”

CHAPTER 7

“NO,” GRIFFIN SAID FLATLY. “I’M not going to interfere with local law enforcement. We have enough trouble maintaining harmonious relations.”

Kendra tried to hold on to her temper. She’d been trying to persuade him for the last ten minutes and gotten nowhere. “I’ve shown you that computer message from Colby. He killed Sheila Hunter, and he’s going to kill again.”

“And I’m sure that you’ll show that to the detective in charge, and he’ll add it to the evidence. It’s their case, not ours.” He shrugged. “And there’s no proof that message was from Colby. Copycat.”

“It’s not a copycat. He repeated the same words in that message he used to me when he was in prison.”

“Really? I’m sure there could be an explanation for that similarity. San Diego PD just has to find it.”

“Look, Griffin, I’m not going to disturb evidence. You know me better than that. Just let me go in and see what the bastard wants me to see.”

He just looked at her.

But he had an expression of sly satisfaction, and he hadn’t kicked her out of his office. Was he enjoying this? It was possible. Their relationship was often conflicted, and he’d never liked the fact that he couldn’t control her as he did his agents.

“I’m not going to beg you, Griffin. I’m sure you’d enjoy that, but it’s not going to happen.” She put her hands flat on his desk. “I’m just going to ask you what you want from me.”

“Why, I don’t know what you mean. We’re both professionals, and we’re merely having a difference of opinion.”

“What do you want?” she repeated.

He was silent, then nodded. “What any civilized professional requests to settle a dispute. Compromise. If I do you a favor, it’s only reasonable to expect a favor in return.”

“What kind of favor?” she asked warily.

He smiled. “I haven’t decided.”

“What?”

“I believe I’d like to tuck that favor away for a rainy day.”

“And let you hold it over my head for the foreseeable future?”