Page 60 of Be Very Quiet

She ran to where Ed was lying on the ground, twitching like a bass out of water. Christian pulled the leads out, forced his arms behind his back, and zip-tied them together.

“Thought you were going to get away with it, did you, Ed?” Christian mocked. “The Feds are on the way to arrest you.”

“Oh, man, no!” Ed wailed. “My wife is a stone-cold bitch. I only wanted a little companionship. You don’t have to turn me in to the FBI!”

Christian looked up at Audria. She shook her head, wincing again at the pain. “He’s not the guy.”

“Yeah, I was afraid of that.”

Sirens keened, and a police car, followed by an unmarked cruiser, screeched to a stop. Reese Reneau was out before the engine shut off.

“Audria, thank God. Are you okay?”

He wrapped his hands around her face, and she couldn’t help her gasp. His jaw tightened as he looked at the smear of blood on his palm. “I’m calling an ambulance. You’re going to the emergency room.”

“Reese, for goodness’ sake, I’m fine. It’s a scratch.”

Luca came over with Liliana. “Are you okay? You had us worried when we lost contact.”

“I’m fine, and that reminds me, I need to find the comm device.”

“Got it.” Christian held it up, along with the registration of the vehicle. “Edwin Beck.”

Ha, she got to keep her favorite gun since she’d been right that Smith wasn’t his name.

“Is it him? Did you catch the murderer?”

Liliana’s tone was so hopeful. Audria hated to crush her. “I’m afraid not. Ed here was simply a louse cheating on his wife.”

“She won’t let me touch her,” Ed wailed. “A man has needs!”

God, could he be more pathetic? Audria wondered if Mrs. Edwin Beck would bother to bail him out of jail.

She checked her watch. It wasn’t too late. She could go back on the street and try again to catch The Mortician. Before she could voice her thoughts, Detective Torres came over with his phone to his ear.

“Got it. Thanks.” Sighing, he said, “Officer Gilbert is missing, and there’s been another murder.”

Chapter Nineteen

Liliana had been duly impressed with the FBI Command Center. It was a mobile, state-of-the-art facility loaded with electronics that offered capabilities she never imagined existed. She’d only gotten a brief look at the equipment before they relegated her to a seat in the back of the vehicle. Apparently, they didn’t want to advertise their resources to an average citizen.

It fascinated her to witness firsthand what Luca did for a living. He’d told her that his company also had a similar vehicle they used for cases, but it was way more remarkable than this one, and its faculties were unmatched.

He had been in work mode, talking with the FBI agents and the Miami Beach police. Even in a room full of authorities, he stood out over all the others. He was a born leader. People listened to him and respected his opinions. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Watching Luca had helped calm Liliana’s nerves about Audria’s situation. Even though Audria was a highly trained professional, Liliana had encountered Ted Rader up close and personal and knew how ruthless he could be—and how dangerous. Eyes had been trained on Audria, and the police had fitted her with a wire, but she’d also worn a device that allowed her to keep in touch, specifically with Luca and Christian.

Sitting in the climate-controlled trailer, watching Audria put her life in danger, had been difficult, even though Luca assured her that Audria was well-trained. It should’ve been Liliana trying to draw out The Mortician since she was the one he was after.

Detective Torres had been so pissed when the man Kelli called Rolland stole Audria’s necklace, he’d sent two cops to arrest him. He was a beefy man, and he’d put up a fight, but they’d been able to subdue and cuff him.

When the man who said his name was Ed had picked Audria up, Liliana had studied the picture she’d snapped from the pen camera. He didn’t look at all familiar. She was sure she’d never met him before. He looked like a nondescript insurance salesman or advertising executive, not a cold-blooded killer. Then he’d started driving like a bat out of hell. They’d watched the dash cam on the unmarked police car until the crash. Thankfully, the officer hadn’t been injured, but Ed had gotten away with Audria. When Luca had tried to reach her, there’d been no response. She’d worn a tracking device, so they’d piled into Detective Torres’s car and followed with the lights and sirens activated. By the time they’d reached Audria, Christian had arrived, and Audria was safe.

Now, they were sitting in the emergency room as Audria was being checked out. She’d tried to refuse, but Luca and Reese had overruled her. They’d acquiesced to her wishes not to go by ambulance, and Christian had driven them.

Detective Torres and Reese had stayed behind to deal with the latest murder and keep tabs on the search for Officer Gilbert. Liliana prayed she was okay and not in the hands of The Mortician.

Audria came out and met them in the waiting room.

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