„Do you need me to call an ambulance?“

Wouldn’t that look just great on the ten o’clock news? „No. Did you find them?“

He shook his head. „We’ll keep looking, but I think they took off on foot through the business park across the street.“ He straightened abruptly and Kristen knew without looking that Reagan had arrived. Seven and a half minutes. He must have run a few stop signs along the way. She couldn’t help but be grateful.

His face appeared in her window, anxious and worried. „Open the door, Kristen.“

She did, willing her hand not to shake, biting back the wince at the burning pain in her shoulder. He pulled open the door, frowning at the loud creak it made.

„They hit me on this side,“ she murmured. „I think they bent the frame.“

He crouched down, his face level with hers, his expression grim. „Your airbag deployed.“ He bit out the words, as if somehow that made it worse.

„That normally happens when you hit a telephone pole going forty.“ She lifted a brow, still in control. „I pepper-sprayed them, right in the eyes.“

His mouth curved, and she was suddenly so glad he was there. „Good for you.“

„They ran away.“ She pointed to a spread of bright lights and concrete. „Through the business park. I guess the car they used was stolen.“ They’d abandoned it, its front fender still hooked with hers. „They were Blades. They wanted to know who killed their brothers. When I said I didn’t know, they said it didn’t matter, that they’d keep me until he came for me.“

Reagan’s eyes searched her face. „They didn’t hurt you.“

She shook her head. „Just a little soreness in my shoulder and knee. A few ibuprofen and a hot bath and I’ll be fine in the morning. Please…“ Her voice started to wobble and she swallowed hard. „Please, just take me home.“

He offered his hand and let her pull herself out of the car. For a split second she teetered, held by his eyes, then it was out of her hands. She gave in to a need she couldn’t admit and leaned into him, into the hard strength of his body. She felt him stiffen, then a half beat later his arms were around her, pulling her in, holding her. She shuddered at the sensation of it, of feeling so utterly safe before allowing the sharp pain in her shoulder to intrude. She couldn’t hold back the small moan and his body tightened.

„You are hurt. You’re going to the ER.“

„No. Please.“ She dragged in a breath and pulled away, the brief respite over. He reached for her face, but she shook her head. „Not here. She’s here.“

His eyes took on an unholy light, and she saw no further explanation was necessary. „Where?“

Kristen gestured to a small unmarked minivan. „Her minion has us in his sights.“

„Her minion will turn over that goddamned tape,“ Reagan snarled. „Can you stand on your own for a minute?“

„Do I get to see you rough up Richardson?“ Kristen asked with a quirk of her lips, and as Reagan bared his teeth in response Kristen couldn’t help but think of him on the beach. Somehow, he looked a great deal more appealing right now than in her daydream.

„Only if she makes me mad.“

„Then I can stand on my own.“ She watched Reagan take the distance between her car and Richardson’s van in great, ground-eating strides. He threw open the sliding side door and blocked the camera’s shot with his big body. Richardson scrambled out, her hands on her hips, but Reagan didn’t move, and a minute later Kristen saw a black cassette in his hand.

Then he was back, helping Kristen up into his SUV.

„I need a statement, sir.“

Reagan drew a deep breath, visibly restraining himself before he turned to the hapless young uniform who had responded to her 9-1-1.

„Do you know who this is?“

The officer met her eyes over Reagan’s shoulder. „Yes, I do.“

„Then can you meet us at her house in half an hour? She’ll give you her statement then. And, Officer? Can you keep that viper from following us?“

The young man looked over at Richardson’s van with contempt. „It’ll be a pleasure, Detective. Miss Mayhew, are you sure you don’t need medical attention?“

She smiled down at him, relief sinking in. „I’m sure. But thank you.“

He walked away and Reagan looked up and Kristen’s heart caught in her throat at the raw caring she saw in his face. It was so difficult to resist. „My brother Sean’s wife is a pediatrician. You’re bigger than her normal patient, but I bet she’d make a house call.“

„No, but thank you, really. Please, just take me home.“

He slammed her door and swung up into the seat next to her, and for a long moment neither said anything. Then, very gently, „Why didn’t you call me before you left the office? I would have kept you safe.“

To her horror tears burned at her eyes. He saw them, but said nothing, just sat there waiting for her answer.

„Remember the new case I mentioned this morning?“ she finally answered unsteadily, but Reagan’s gaze never flickered.

„The sexual assault who didn’t want to testify but whose father was insisting?“

She nodded. „Yeah. That one. They came to see me this afternoon and the father said…“ Her voice broke and sucking in a panicked breath, she pushed the tears back. „For a minute I thought he wanted a different prosecutor, because of all the media attention his daughter would get right now. But he didn’t.“

Reagan pulled a pack of tissues from the console between their seats and offered it silently. She took the whole pack and clutched it in her hand. „He said that he hoped I lost because then the ‘humble servant’ would take care of the bastard that raped his daughter. Three days ago I was the prosecutor. Now I’m a surrogate gun for a vigilante.“ She released her hold on the poor pack of tissues and tried to restore it to its original shape. „I needed to be alone.“ She looked away from his eyes. „I’m sorry.“

He started the car. „You’re all right and that’s all that’s important now.“ He pulled away from the curb. „I’m going to sleep on your sofa.“

She understood he wasn’t making a request. She watched the mangled rental car disappear from her side mirror and for the first time let it sink in how truly close she’d come to serious harm.

They could have done anything. They could have… Would have…

It was like the lid lifting from Pandora’s box, releasing memories she’d kept locked away for so long. She shuddered. Hard.

„It folds out,“ she murmured, closed her eyes, and tried to dream about beaches and sun and waves. But once released, only one image filled her mind, replaying over and over like a horrific video of someone else’s life. But it wasn’t someone else’s. It was hers.

Friday, February 20,

7:30 p.m.

As Reagan’s vehicle drove away he let out an angry breath. She was safe now, but she might not have been. He’d almost stepped in, but then she’d taken care of the matter herself, spraying their eyes, making them run, tails between their legs like the curs they were.

She wasn’t hurt. But she could have been. Despicable worms. Forcing a woman off the road, planning God-knows-what.

He jumped at the sound of tapping at his window. A police officer stood outside.

„We’re trying to clear this area, sir. Could you please move along?“

He smiled. Just nice and easy, and no suspicions would be aroused. He nodded, saying nothing. He pulled the van away and slipped into traffic. He couldn’t be caught, not yet. He still had work to do. He wasn’t even close to emptying the fishbowl.