Page 33 of The Grave Robber

Her cheeks flushed a bright pink. She was embarrassed, andthat made me even angrier. “Nothing ever happens. It’s not like I’m beingassaulted or anything.”

I wondered how she could be so sure. “Assault comes in manyforms.”

She hugged herself and shook her head, unable to evencontemplate such a violation.

“When you were upset at the gas pump, you said it wasbecause you got an alert that your house was on fire,” I said, changing thesubject.

“Yes, but it wasn’t. I get alerts all the time, and they areonly true about half the time.”

Because Meacham was toying with her. Sending her on wildgoose chase after wild goose chase. Wearing her down in preparation for herstaged suicide. “How is he getting more aggressive?”

“He’s been leaving death threats.”

“Death threats?” That was new. “What kind?”

“Notes. Sometimes, on a fogged window. Other times, inspilled sugar. Just wherever he can.”

“Your father didn’t say anything about that.”

“You spoke to my father?” When I nodded, she shrugged atimid shoulder. “I haven’t told him.”

“Why not?” I asked, appalled.

“I can’t put my dad through any more. This has taken overhis whole life. And with my mom’s death? I just can’t.”

“What do the notes say?”

She pulled her lower lip between her teeth, stalling. Shestalled some more when she said, “I can’t always read them.”

“Halle,” I warned.

Her shoulders deflated as she released a surrendering sigh.“At first, they were just numbers. They started right after my mom died. Thenumber twelve kept popping up. But a month later, it changed to an eleven. Thena ten. Then a nine.”

“A countdown.”

“Yes. Every month for the last year, he’s been countingdown. And now we’re at number two.” She leveled an accusing gaze on me. “Andyou’ve known since the first time you laid eyes on me.”

“Not the first time,” I said, slightly offended. “What makesyou think they’re death threats? They could mean anything.”

“Because the other note he leaves is pretty explicit. It’sjust one word.Payback.”

Ah. Now we were getting somewhere. “Halle, what happenedseventeen years ago? What changed your life so dramatically? And who wantspayback?”

She shook her head and looked away, tears shimmering in hereyes.

I leaned onto my elbows and put a hand over hers. “Halle, Iknow this is hard, but please trust me.”

“It’s not that. It’s not that I don’t trust you. You’veearned that and then some. But if I tell you what happened, what I did, youwon’t want to have sex with me anymore.”

I almost snorted. Clearly, she didn’t understand the male thoughtprocess.

But I needed to chill. I was pushing her too hard. I wantedher to bend. Not break.

The furball started whimpering at her feet. Halle picked herup, nuzzled her, then set her in the box she’d brought along with a dry towelfrom the bathroom. With a full belly, the furball settled immediately and wentto sleep.

Halle straightened and walked over to stand in front of me.“Is that a yes?”

“No,” I said, taking in every curve she had to offer. Shesmelled sweet, like jasmine. “It’s a hell yes.” I put a hand on her hip, theheat from her body soaking into my skin as she straddled me.

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