Page 320 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

“Gotta go. The detective wants to speak to me. Stay safe.”

The woman I saw on the train flashed into my vision. She had a heart tattoo on her cheek as well. Could the body be her? She’d been with her boyfriend or husband. Where was he?

I had to let Kain know about my encounter with her. Rushing back to the shop, I called Kain.

“Hi. Are you busy?”

“I always have time for you. Miss me or something?”

I smiled. “Yes, but that’s not why I’m calling. There’s been a murder a block from my shop.” I gave him details of what the witness had told me. “You’re friends with the detective. Is there any way you can show me her face? I think it was her on the train that day.”

“I’ll get it to you. Let me know when you leave work. I’ll pick you up.”

“You don’t have?—”

“There’s a psycho killing women. I’m picking you up. That’s non-negotiable, Eva,” he said firmly.

I went quiet at the demanding tone.

He probably sensed it and sighed. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. You’re important to me.”

Understanding, I said, “I’ll call you a few minutes before I close up.”

Fifteen

KAIN

This new murder was the seventh kill for Bleeding Heart. I knew he’d been studying the work of Victor Hawthorne and making it his own.

I’d never understand why there were people like them in this world. What had happened to murderers like them? I could only assume something awful had occurred and had rewired their brain into a twisted state.

I stared at the picture of the woman with the heart tattoo on her cheek.

Leaning against my Land Rover, I watched as Eva closed up the shop, turned, and smiled at me. She walked up to me, and I embraced her.

“How was your day?”

“Busy. But the murder spooked me. How was yours?”

“Busy thinking about you.”

She blushed, looking adorable. “You got the picture?”

Nodding, I opened the door for her to slide in.

When I settled into the driver’s seat, I showed her the image Sean had sent me. “This is for your eyes only.”

She glanced at the picture and gasped. “That’s her! She had glanced back toward the crying baby on the train.”

“Do you remember the man with her?”

“Short brown hair. I’d say mid-thirties.” She sat back in the seat, thinking. “Nothing about him stood out. He had his arm around her shoulder, so I assumed he was her boyfriend or husband.”

“He’s probably her kidnapper.”

She clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Do you have a few minutes? I’d like you to relay the details to Sean.”

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