Kristen felt her stomach gurgle, a sure sign of stress. As always, she pulled into herself, growing still. It was one of the most valuable skills she possessed. She met Reagan’s gaze unflinchingly. „Of course there are. They participated in the investigation.“

Twin flags of dark color appeared just above Reagan’s clean-shaven cheekbones. „And for too long they’ve watched the guilty go free?“ he said, quoting the killer’s letter.

Kristen clenched her jaw, but kept her voice level. „You said that, not me. But it’s true. And now we know he has an inside track.“ A glance from the corner of her eye showed Mia watching the exchange with a puckered brow.

Reagan riffled through the pages impatiently. „Where are the lawyers, Kristen?“

„They’re on there. All defense attorneys and their staff.“

He dipped his head, an intimidating move she wasn’t entirely sure he did on purpose. „What about your office? What about the prosecutors?“ he asked, his voice falsely calm.

She let out a quiet breath. „You’re looking at her, Detective Reagan.“

„But you have assistants, right, Kristen?“ Mia asked neutrally. „Secretaries?“

Truthfully, she hadn’t considered that fact, but it was only fair and complete to add everyone to the list, especially now they knew he had an inside track of information. „I’ll revise the lists and send them over to your office after lunch.“ She shouldered her laptop case, readjusting the weight. „I’ll see you later.“

„Where are you going?“ Reagan demanded and irritation had her straightening.

„Motion hour is at nine.“ She leveled him a stare. „We all have jobs to do, Detective.“

He nodded stiffly and lifted the printout in the air. „Thank you. This would have taken us hours to complete.“ It was an olive branch and she accepted it with a civil nod.

„Days,“ Mia corrected. „We’ll get started interviewing the original victims later today.“

Kristen’s gut clenched. „So they get steamrolled by the system yet again.“ She looked at Mia. „I’d like to come along, especially for Ramey’s and King’s victims.“

Her expression sympathetic, Mia opened her mouth, but Reagan cut her off before she could utter a word.

„Why, Counselor?“ he asked, his tone one step from caustic. „Think we’ll bully one of them into confessing?“

Mia blew out a frustrated breath. „You’re outta line, Reagan. She – “

Kristen held up her hand. „No, Mia, it’s all right. I can understand Detective Reagan’s misperception under the circumstances.“ She looked up at him, challenging him to meet her eyes, waiting to speak until he did. „Let’s get a few things straight, Detective. I have a good working relationship with Spinnelli’s office. Anyone will tell you I’m fair and thorough. I don’t know if we’re dealing with a cop or a lawyer or just some nutcase with really good sources, but at this point none of us can afford to overlook any potential suspect. Even if it’s a cop. Especially if it’s a cop. Because I respect your badge and don’t want to see it tarnished by one bad apple who doesn’t represent any of you.“

He opened his mouth and this time she cut him off. „I’m not finished,“ she said, her voice still calm. If people only knew how hard she practiced to keep that calm voice even when her insides were shaking like Jell-O in an earthquake. „Based on my limited personal experience, I don’t believe you’d bully a rape victim who’s already been through hell, but based on the last few minutes, the jury’s still out on your sensitive side.“ He looked away, abashed, and she sighed. „I do know those people depended on me to get justice and nine out of ten of them blame me because I didn’t. I don’t want to feel like I owe them, but I do. So I want to go. Call me a masochist or a bleeding heart if you want, but don’t call me unfair, because that’s what you’ve done.“

„I’m sorry,“ he said quietly. He looked at her, his blue eyes piercing. „I was out of line.“

For just a moment, Kristen stared, his gaze almost as palpable as a physical touch. She swallowed and shook her head, whether to break the tug of his stare or to deny his words, she wasn’t sure. „It’s all right, Detective. I understand.“

Mia cleared her throat and Kristen started. She’d almost forgotten Mitchell was there. „We’ll call you when we’re ready to start talking to the victims, Kristen,“ she said dryly.

Kristen felt her cheeks heat For heaven’s sake. Caught staring like a brainless teenager. It was just that the man had the most intriguing eyes. And she was sure she’d seen them before. „Thank you,“ she said briskly. „I’ve got to go now or I’ll be late.“ She turned on her heel and had made it halfway to the Arboretum’s parking lot when she felt a hand on her shoulder. He didn’t need to say a word for her to know it was Reagan. Her shoulder tingled with awareness, even through the layers that separated his hand from her skin.

„Do you need a ride, Kristen?“ he asked and she shook her head.

„No,“ she said, mortified when her voice came out husky. Resolutely she kept her gaze forward. „I’ll take a cab. I’ll have a rental car delivered this morning, so I’ll be fine. I really need to go, Detective.“

His hand lifted and she made her way to the street without looking back. But even still, she could feel his eyes watching her all the way.

Thursday, February 19,

8:15 a.m.

„Well, isn’t that interesting,“ Zoe mused, sipping at a cup of black coffee.

Her cameraman yawned. „What?“

„Mayhew, walking up the courthouse steps. Get some film of her, okay?“

„Why?“ He frowned. „You’re not getting one of those stalking complexes are you?“

„Just do it. And get a close-up of her feet.“

„You’re creepy, lady,“ Scott groused, but did as he was told, his video camera following Kristen all the way up the stairs until she disappeared into the building.

Zoe took the camera from his hands. „Let’s take a good look.“ She rewound the tape and stared into the viewer. „See that? Look at those shoes.“

Scott reached for his own coffee. „I did. Nike high-tops. Didn’t match her suit.“

Zoe rolled her eyes. „No. Look at her shoes. They’re all covered in mud.“

Scott shrugged. „So? She went for a morning run.“

Zoe shook her head. „No, she doesn’t run. She does aerobics twice a week at her neighborhood Y.“ She looked up to find Scott’s unshaven face twisted in a disgusted grimace.

„You have been stalking her.“

Zoe blew out a breath. „Don’t be an idiot. Of course I’m not stalking her. I’m just acquainting myself with her usual routine. So I know when something’s up, like now. She went someplace this morning before motion hour.“ Her eyes narrowed, her mouth all but salivating. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. Good investigative reporting was instinct and persistence. And preparation. This morning all that preparation was about to pay off. „Something’s cooking with our devoted public servant.“ She turned to Scott with a satisfied smile. „We’re about to hit pay dirt.“

Thursday, February 19,

10:15 a.m.

John stood staring out the window, his back visibly tense. His hands gripped his upper arms and Kristen saw his knuckles grow whiter with each new detail she told him.

„I had a message on my voice mail from Detective Mitchell when I got out of motion hour,“ she finished. „They’d uncovered the bodies of three gang members. Everything was the same except the pelvic shot.“ Watching his reflection in the glass, she saw his mouth tighten. „They were on their way to the final scene, Ross King.“

„Do you know what time it is, Kristen?“ John said flatly.

He sounded like an annoyed father asking her if she was aware she’d missed curfew and that, in turn, annoyed her. „Yes, John. My watch is accurate to the second.“