Page 99 of The Murder Club

Bailey pressed herself deeper into the leather seat. “They’re doing a good job.”

Dom returned his gaze to the highway. “Or maybe there isn’t a separate stalker. It could be Logan who’s responsible for killing those people as well as harassing you. He’s obviously teamed up with Eric for his crime spree at the nursing home. What if Eric mentioned the Murder Club and the fact that you were also a member?”

Bailey considered the possibility. “Logan knows how to use a computer,” she conceded.

“And if he killed Gage and Kevin, he could have left behind the phones that were used to text you.”

She made a sound of frustration. When she was working with the Murder Club the group would sift through clues and throw out various possibilities, then poke holes in those theories before coming up with new hypotheses. It was like a puzzle and Bailey could instinctively sense when they’d managed to get a piece of it to fit. It wasn’t the same at all in real life. Nothing was fitting together. No matter how hard they tried.

“Again, why?” she demanded, her tone sharp. “All the deaths were being treated as accidental. Why risk unwanted questions by leaving the phones?”

“A sick fetish.” He paused. “Or maybe an attempt to frame you as the killer.”

Both theories were plausible. And yet . . .

“Or—” She abruptly clenched her hands into tight fists, trying to clear her tangled thoughts.

“Or what?”

She released a slow breath. “I don’t want to think it, but what if Logan is the killer as we suspect, but that Eric lied to us. What if Eric has known all along that Logan murdered Nellie and Gage? And perhaps Pauline and her grandson?”

Dom abruptly slowed the Land Rover, as if he needed to concentrate on what she was saying.

“Eric did admit he’s been following Logan around,” Dom murmured. “He could have witnessed the murders.”

“Yes.” Bailey didn’t have any trouble imagining Eric sneaking around, spying on Logan. He’d probably been doing it long before he suspected Logan was cheating him. More than likely from the moment the older man had come to him and asked him to help set up his online account. Eric had a tendency to fixate on anyone who showed him a bit of attention. Whether it was positive or negative. “And he could have planted the phones after Logan left. Plus, he’s been stealing from the residents. It’s possible he took the pearl necklace and decided to keep it for himself.”

“He’s also been spying on you,” Dom added, clearly warming to her theory. “He would know when you weren’t home so he could leave the necklace on your back porch.”

The memory of Eric slouched in his car as he secretly took pictures sent a wave of nausea through her. His behavior had been disgusting. And worse, she felt betrayed. She’d been nice to Eric when no one else would bother.

With an effort, Bailey dismissed her hurt feelings. Eric had proved that he couldn’t be trusted. The only question now was how far he would go.

“And he went to the hunting lodge to work on Ford . . .” Bailey’s words faltered as she recalled that Ford was yet another man lying and hiding secrets. It was like an epidemic in Pike. “To work on Thorpe Curry’s laptop. He could have downloaded the pictures of Kaden and Lia’s house onto his burner phone and then texted them to me.”

“It makes sense,” Dom readily agreed.

It did. Bailey heaved a harsh sigh. “I always felt sorry for Eric and I tried to be his friend, but he’s always wanted more.”

“Much more,” Dom added. “Including having you as a member of the Murder Club.”

“Yeah. He was kind of obsessed with having me join.” She dredged up the memory of Eric’s expression when she’d revealed she didn’t want to be a part of the group. “And extremely disappointed when I deleted my account.”

“It was a way to manipulate you into a relationship.”

Bailey pressed a hand against her churning stomach. “I suppose I should be relieved at the thought that Logan is the killer and Eric is the stalker.” She forced the words past her stiff lips. “Logan has no reason to kill me and I can’t believe Eric would ever hurt me. At least not physically.” She shivered. “But those text messages are just so creepy.”

“I wouldn’t be so certain about either of those assumptions,” Dom abruptly warned. “We’ve been asking a whole lot of uncomfortable questions. If the Donaldsons are hoping to pin the murders on you, it’s very likely they plan to make sure your lips are sealed. After all, you can’t defend yourself if you’re dead.” His voice was grim. “And we have no idea how far Eric will go in his warped fixation with you. He’s obviously trying to coerce you into continuing with his twisted game.” Dom paused, as if he’d been struck by a sudden thought. “Or maybe he’s hoping to frighten you into running to him for protection.”

“As if.” Bailey made a sound of revulsion. “First off I don’t need a man to protect me. And second I have—”

“Me,” Dom interrupted.

Bailey chuckled. “I was going to say a cousin who’s a sheriff, but I guess you’ll do.”

Dom flashed her a wicked smile. “I hope to do for a very long time.”

Bailey hoped so too.

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