“Possibly. How is your security?”

“Very good. Is it perfect? Probably not.” She shook her head. “It’s not the only answer. I go to the hairdresser for hair trims every five weeks or so.”

“That’s not much scarier. He would have had to be watching you to know that was where he had to go to get what he wanted.”

I’m watching you.

“That goes without saying. But I don’t know how long he’s been watching me.”

“A minute is too long.” She grimaced. “This really spooked me, Kendra. I didn’t care about been thrown into jail myself, but I hated the idea that bastard was railroading you. I felt helpless. They wouldn’t even let me see you.”

“You couldn’t have done anything anyway.”

“Sure I could. I just had to think what to do. If you could spring me out of that jail when Bubba was out to get me, there wasn’t a question that I have to return the favor.”

“Colby isn’t Bubba.”

“But they’re both evil and want to manipulate the world to suit themselves.” She was pulling into a parking spot in front of Kendra’s condo. “And we can’t let them get away with it.” She opened her door. “But that’s not tonight. Tonight, you need to go to bed and get a good night’s sleep so that we can tackle Colby tomorrow. I’ll walk you to your door, then take off for my hotel.” She was walking toward the condo entrance. “Unless you’d like me to stay the night?”

“No. And I don’t need you to escort me to my door.” Though she found it very touching. “I would have let you bail me out if necessary, but I don’t need a bodyguard, Beth.”

“Sure you do.” She smiled as she watched Kendra key herself into the building. “I keep telling you. I’m your muscle.” She turned and headed back toward her car. “See you tomorrow…”

Kendra shook her head as she watched Beth get into her car and take off. Her relationship with Beth was getting increasingly complicated. Who was protecting whom?

And what difference did it make? It was a dangerous world they were living in right now, and it was only important to survive.

And make sure that Colby did not survive.

But Beth was right, she had to rest so that she would be ready to resume the battle tomorrow.

Shower. Maybe have a cup of tea. Try to go over what she’d seen on the houseboat and see if she would have a breakthrough. Then go to bed and try to get to sleep.

The gully.

Pleasant dreams.

If the nightmare came, it would come. She would not let him make her afraid.

*   *   *

SHE’D FINISHED THE SHOWER AND washing her hair and was making her tea when her cell phone rang.

Beth checking on her?

No, not Beth.

“Why are you calling, Lynch? Bored? I’m too tired right now to try to entertain you.”

“When did you ever make that attempt? And evidently you’re keeping yourself too busy to get bored,” he said grimly. “I’m surprised you still have your phone. That must mean that they thought better of tossing you into jail.”

“Ah, your spies are on the job again.” She dropped down in the chair and lifted her cup to her lips. “Or was it Griffin?”

“Both. I got a report that you were being questioned, and I called Griffin and made him fill me in. He wasn’t pleased, but he did enjoy the fact that you were up to your neck in trouble and I couldn’t do a thing about it.”

“That sounds like him. But even if you wanted to help, there was no way you could from Luxembourg.”

“Even if I wanted—” He drew a deep breath. “Of course, I’d want to—” He stopped. “Why didn’t you tell me that Colby contacted you?”

“You were flying to Europe. What could you have done anyway?”

“How the hell do I know? But you didn’t give me the option.”

“No one believed it was him anyway. Even Griffin said copycat.”

“But you believed it?”

“What difference does that make? Everyone knows I’m obsessed about Colby.”

“Stop being flippant. Was it him, Kendra?”

She was silent. “It was Colby, Lynch. I’d swear it.”

He muttered a curse. “Do you know? I was hoping you were wrong about him.”

“So was I. But hope doesn’t always carry the day. Anyway, thanks for not being completely skeptical like the rest of the world.”

“The rest of the world doesn’t know you the way I do.”

“If they did, they’d probably think I was even worse than my reputation. You’ve seen me at some very bad times, Lynch.”

“And a few magnificent ones.” He paused. “What’s all this DNA business?”

“Colby, backing me in a corner, trying to bring me down before he strikes the final blow.”

“Strikes the final blow,” he repeated. “That was very matter-of-fact.”

“Because it’s not going to happen. I’m not going to let Colby have his own way. He’s going down.” She added, “This conversation isn’t heading anywhere. You called to express your concern, and I appreciate it, but there’s nothing—”

“Express my concern? You’re damn right I’m concerned. I haven’t been here more than a day, and you’ve already been contacted by a serial killer who wants to make you the next victim on his hit list, then came close to being arrested.”

“And, of course, none of that would have happened if you’d been here watching my back?”

“Maybe not. I’m really good at watching your back.”

She was silent a moment. “Yes, you are. But we both know I can’t rely on you to do it. I have no right.”

“Rights can be negotiated.” He paused. “We can deal.”

“You sound like Griffin. He made me promise to return the favor if he got me permission to go into the houseboat.”

“He did? That’s dangerous. Griffin isn’t a man you want to owe.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“You have a choice with me,” he said quietly. “Take it. Take what I can give. You won’t be sorry.”

She felt a sudden rush of heat. She could almost see him, the lean strength, the power, the intensity. The words could be taken many ways but there was a note in his voice …

“Kendra?”

“What are you talking about?” she said brusquely. “We’ve been working together for months. I’ve accepted your help. It’s just that there have to be limits.”

“Do there? I don’t think that I agree. The idea of a limitless relationship appeals to me. It’s a disciplined world for you right now. You’ve forgotten how fascinating it can be to slip under the boundaries. That might be where the negotiating comes in.” He changed the subject. “Look, I’m working to wrap this situation here up quickly. There are a few sticky angles that I’m having to skim around, and I may be stuck for a day or two.”

“Why are you telling me? It’s your business to do as you please.”

“I’m telling you because if it wasn’t a possible hostage situation, I’d be on the next plane.”

“Hostage. You didn’t tell me that.”

“It could go either way. I may have to go in and do some fancy tap dancing. And if I do that, it will be incognito. I won’t even be able to take my own phone.” He was silent. “But I’ll shove it to someone else if things get more dicey for you. You’ve got to promise me that you’ll tell me right away.”

“I don’t intend to come running to you if—”

“Promise me.”

She knew that tone of voice. He wasn’t going to give up. “I’ll tell you if I don’t believe I can handle it.”

He muttered a curse. “And that’s almost less than nothing. Okay, remember that he’ll strike not only at you but the people close to you. If you don’t want to accept help for yourself, do you have the right to not bring in additional troops to save them?”

Beth. Olivia. Her mother.

Lynch was not called the Puppetmaster for nothing. He had found the one argument she couldn’t refute. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And isn’t it time that you moved into my place?”

“No, it is not. Drop it, Lynch.”

He didn’t push it. He knew that he’d already won a major battle. “Okay, but remember it’s an option.”

“How could I forget? Good night, Lynch.” She hung up.