“Why are you off balance?” Beth handed him his cup of coffee. “Selfish and rude, I noticed. But what’s the excuse again?”

“Ouch.” He took a sip of coffee. “I’m going to pay, aren’t I?”

“Probably not physically,” Beth said sweetly. “But we’ll see.”

Kendra’s gaze was on the computer Sam had thrown onto the chair. “Is that … mine?”

“No, it’s one of my computers I keep in the car. I left my primary computer at home. I was in a hurry.” He took a sip of coffee. “I brought your computer, but I left it locked in the trunk of my car. I didn’t want it close to me on the way down here. I’ll get it later. But maybe not bring it here to you.”

“Then why did you even bring it to San Diego?”

“Because I need to work on it. I haven’t—I know I promised you that I’d make it happen, but things aren’t going precisely the way I’d like.” He rubbed his eyes. “But I’ll get there, Kendra. Just give me a little time.”

“I’ll give you as long as you need. You know how grateful I am that you’re even trying to locate Colby. I have to find him, Sam.”

“I know you do.” He paused. “And he knows it, too.”

She went still. “What?”

“The bastard knows I’m trying to find him for you.” His lips twisted. “He called me your white knight.”

“Oh, my God.” She dropped down on the couch beside him. “You’ve seen him, talked to him?”

“Not exactly. He decided to invade my own territory. He probably thought that I’d pay more attention. He didn’t need to worry. He had my entire focus from the minute he came online.” He shrugged. “He used your computer again, but I got the audio version. It was pretty damn effective.”

“I can see it was.” She moistened her lips. “What did he say? What happened? Tell me everything.”

“I will.” He looked down at his coffee. “Though I don’t come out looking like a superhero. You deserve to know every word he said.” He briefly and concisely related that short, terrifying episode at his home. “That’s why I’m here. I wanted to tell you in person what that bastard was threatening you with.”

“Another death,” Beth said.

“As if I didn’t expect it,” Kendra said. “I knew he’d never stop.” She added grimly. “Not until I stopped him.”

“Or he stopped you,” Beth said. “So why issue this warning?”

“He wants me to worry, to be afraid, to wonder who’s next.” She looked at Sam. “And he sent the message through you. Why?”

He shrugged. “I had your computer?”

“No, he could have used another means.” She was thinking about it. “He called you my white knight. He knows our background. He issued a not-too-subtle threat.”

“He might have meant the death was to be Sam’s?” Beth said. “And it would be deliciously malicious to send him as a messenger of his own demise.”

“I’m glad you find it delicious,” Sam said. “Personally, I’m not high on the whole concept.” He set his cup on the coffee table. “And I’m not your white knight, Kendra. I’m just your friend, who is not the least bit brave about this whole mess.”

“You’re brave to be involved at all.”

Sam made a rude sound. “Look, I nearly wet my pants when that creep started playing his games with me.”

“Then stop, give me the computer, and I’ll give it to the FBI lab to work on.”

“And let that son of a bitch win? I had a long time to think on the drive down here. Colby might have sent me as his errand boy because he thought it would bother you to believe I was threatened.” He grimaced. “Or he could have thought I was getting too close to finding him and wanted to scare the shit out of me. Which he did. Maybe he wanted me to abandon you.”

“Either way I want you out of it.” She paused. “Do you believe he was actually there at your house?”

“He wanted me to think so, but now that I’ve had a longer time to think about it, probably not. He heard you call me the night he first invaded your system. As I recall, you said my first and last name. From there it was a fairly simple matter to learn a few things about me and find my address.”

“But he described your place to you,” Beth said.

“He described permanent features of my place. The wraparound porch, the hardwood floors in my bedroom and hallway … But nothing I brought to the house myself.” He picked up Beth’s iPad from the dinette table and typed something into the search box. In seconds, an online photo album appeared. He swiped his finger across the screen to show a succession of pictures of his home. “This is from a Bay area real-estate site. There are half a dozen other sites still out there with photos of my house when it was listed for sale last year. That’s how I found it. Albums like these are out there for almost any house that goes on the market, and sometimes they’re out there for years after they’re sold.”

Beth nodded approvingly at the photos. “Cool place.”

“Thanks.”

“So he was bluffing. It’s nothing to be comfortable about,” Kendra said. “Colby still knows who you are and where you live. And he knows you’re helping me track him down.”

Sam managed at smile. “I assure you, I’m not exactly comfortable, either.”

“So are we any closer to knowing where he actually is?”

“Not unless you’re willing to believe he’s fled to Antigua.”

“Antigua?”

“In the Caribbean. I traced it back to a relay center there. It primarily functions as a clearinghouse for financial transactions of questionable legality. Your friend Colby was content to use it as a means to scare the living shit out of me.”

“How would he know to do this?” Kendra asked wonderingly.

Sam shook his head. “It just confirms what I said before. He’s had some expert help, and it’s been fairly recently. I doubt he went into prison four years ago with the knowledge he would need to pull this off. The technology changes too quickly.”

“Antigua,” Kendra said. “Another dead end.”

“Not necessarily. I had to abandon my session in a bit of panic, so I didn’t get to try every way I could to track him.”

“There’s more you can do?” Kendra asked.

“Maybe.” Sam took a deep breath. “But I’d need to draw him out again.”

“No,” Kendra said sharply. “I can’t let you do it.”

“Don’t fight me too hard. I might give in and run for the hills. It’s not something I’d enjoy doing, but it’s the only way. I might be able to get a fix on his home location even if he routes through a couple of these relay centers.”

“And what if Colby finds out you’re doing it? I want you to stop right now.”

He shook his head. “Nah, can’t do it.”

“You certainly can do it.”

“Won’t do it. I never realized what a coward I was until I came up against Colby. I didn’t like the way that made me feel. I’m not going to feel like that again.” He smiled. “Or if I do, maybe I won’t show it as much. It bothered me that Colby knew I was scared. Presentation is everything, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.” She stared at him helplessly. “Look, drop it, Sam. It’s not worth it to me to have you in danger.”

“I’m touched.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “But though it’s an incredible surprise, I find it is worth it to me. Imagine that.” He got to his feet. “Now if you don’t mind, I’ll use your bathroom to take a shower and change, then I’ll go look for a place to rent for a week or so.”

“You’re staying in town?” Beth asked.

“Yeah, I like the idea of being close to Kendra. In case she needs me.” He grinned. “Or what’s more likely—if I need her.” His eyes were suddenly twinkling. “How about it? Kendra says you can be intimidating. Want to be my bodyguard?”

“No.” She studied him. “You’re not at all what I’ve been imagining since Kendra told me how you helped get the goods on those scumbags who held me at that mental hospital. I was thinking you’d be…”

“A white knight? We’ve already gone down that road. I’m just a fantastically talented computer genius who enjoys challenges.” He added, “And one who stayed on the sidelines while Kendra and Eve did all the real work of springing you from that place.” He grabbed his bag. “Hell, maybe I was scared then, too. I didn’t think so, but I’m having to take a second look at motivations.”