Page 10 of Deadly Designs

“Christian? I don’t know if you remember me, but wehad a . . . let’s call it a unique encounter about a week ago.”

“Aja Blue. Of course, I remember you.”

“Oh, well, good. That’s good.” There was a pause, andbefore he could fill the gap, she asked, “Are you still inSedona?”

“No. I’m back home.”

“Oh, you are? Where is that?”

“Indiana.”

“That’s pretty far from Arizona. I didn’t know youlived there.”

“We didn’t do much exchanging of information.” Onlybodily fluids, but he didn’t voice that part. “Aja Blue, are youbeing followed again?”

Her sigh was audible through the phone. “How did youknow?”

“By the tension in your voice. Tell me what’s goingon.”

Christian listened while she filled him in on the manwaiting outside her office, the exact one who had been in Sedonalast week.

“You’re sure it’s the same guy?”

“Yes, because of the hat. It has a unique purpleband.”

“Where are you right now?”

“In a Walmart parking lot.”

Christian glanced at his watch. “It will take me acouple of hours to get there.”

Her gasp was audible. “Wait, what? You’re cominghere?”

“Well, I can’t do much from seven hundred and fiftymiles away.” Yeah, he’d checked the distance. He’d done a lot ofreading up on her over the last week.

There was a pause, and then she said, “You would dropeverything to help me? Why? You don’t even know me.”

“It’s what I do. Besides, why did you call me if youdidn’t think I’d help?”

Somewhere, deep down, Christian hoped she would sayit was because she couldn’t quit thinking about him since theirchance encounter. That sure as hell was how he was feeling. She’dinvaded his thoughts, and when he slept, the visions of her hadbeen both naughty and explicit.

She sighed. “If I’m honest, I hoped for your help. Iwasn’t sure what to do, and then I saw your card. It was an omen. Iknew you would have the answer. I mean, Johnny Cash knows where Ilive and work.”

“Johnny Cash?”

“You’ve never heard of the country singer?”

Christian chuckled. “I know who Johnny Cash is. Didhe rise from the dead to haunt you?”

“Not funny. Wasn’t he called the Man in Black? It’swhat I nicknamed my stalker.”

“Gotcha. Don’t return home until I get there. Isthere somewhere safe you can go until I arrive?”

“I’ll head to my assistant’s apartment.”

“I’ll call when I land in Virginia.”

Chapter Three

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