Page 28 of Cold Threat

“Don’t you think I kept a watch out for that?” he said. “We weren’t followed. I’m sure of it.”

“But he has this address...” River’s eyes sought his. “You have to warn your parents. I mean it. They deserve to know.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to my dad. But I can tell you right now that he won’t be worried. He’s got a state-of-the-art security system as well as a small arsenal. In his line of work, he’s very careful to make sure he and my mother are safe.”

“Maybe we should go to a hotel.”

Tony put the card on the floor and took her other hand as well. “I really appreciate that you care about my parents, but if I suggest that, my father will have a fit. We’re safer here than anywhere else we could be.”

River sighed. “Oh, Tony. If anything happened to them because of me...”

“It won’t. Please, trust me. Everything will be okay.”

There was a knock at the door, and Tony stood. “Don’t say anything to my mom. I’ll talk to my dad after I call Arnie, okay?”

River nodded, but the look on her face hurt him. Her concern for his parents endeared her to him, but he felt strongly that the Strangler’s partner had a longer endgame. One he’d already mapped out. Going after them in Burlington wasn’t it. He was somewhere in St. Louis, and the attempt to complete what the Strangler had started would happen there. His ego wouldn’t allow him to share the stage with the Snowman. The Strangler’s protégé wanted all the glory for killing River Ryland to go to his master.

Tony went over and opened the door. His mother stood there with a tray.

“Here you go,” she said with a smile.

Tony took the tray from her hands. “Thanks, Mom,” he said. “We really appreciate it.”

“I’m so happy you’re here,” she said, her voice breaking a little. She cleared her throat, trying to cover her reaction. “Sorry. Bit of a frog in my throat today. Must be the weather.”

It wasn’t the weather. He’d already promised to come home more often, and he intended to keep his word. He’d been so focused on River that he’d pushed his mother aside. The idea that he’d caused her pain, even inadvertently, made him feel terrible. She was a wonderful mother and deserved better.

She turned quickly and walked away. He was certain she was trying to hide her tears. He didn’t say anything because the last thing River needed right now was to feel guilty because he hadn’t visited more often.

He brought the tray in and set it on his dad’s desk. Then he picked up River’s empty cup and filled it with hot coffee. His mother had added some small paper plates to the tray, so he put a couple of cookies on one, picked up a napkin, and set everything on the table where River sat.

“Thank you,” she said. “Your mother is ... Well, you’re very blessed. I hope you know that.”

Hearing River voice almost exactly what he’d been thinking should have surprised him, but it didn’t. More and more, they seemed to be able to read each other’s thoughts. It was comforting, if not a little disconcerting sometimes.

“I want to ask my dad to come in here,” Tony said. “We have to tell him about the card. Even though I truly believe we’re all safe, you’re right. He needs to know.”

River nodded and took a sip of her coffee before saying, “I was thinking. The Strangler’s protégé is so narcissistic that I don’t thinkhe’d want to hurt me here. This is the Snowman’s territory. He wouldn’t want to share the glory with someone else. He already stopped someone else from killing me. He wants the credit.”

Tony stared at her for a moment before saying, “I was just thinking the very same thing. I really wish you’d stop reading my mind. We know it can’t be completely trusted.”

Even though the situation wasn’t funny, River smiled. “I trust your mind.” She took another sip of coffee then said, “Have your parents asked about your symptoms?”

“The aphasia?” He shook his head. “No, and I haven’t brought it up. It’s gotten so much better. I rarely forget things now.” He cocked his head to the side. “I’m sorry. What was your name again?”

This time River laughed. “You really are a pill, you know that? You’re the only person in the world who could actually make me laugh right now.”

Tony sighed loudly. “It’s my burden to bear in life. Keeping you entertained.” He smiled at her. “Let’s finish these cookies, and then I’ll ask my dad to step in.” He looked up at the clock on the wall. “We only have a couple of hours before supper. Why don’t we put a pin in this after we talk to my father and I call Arnie? It will give us time to rest and unwind a bit.”

“I’d like that. Tomorrow we can start early.” She sighed. “Sure is convenient to have the chief of police in St. Louis as a friend. We’ve certainly given Arnie a workout lately. I hope he doesn’t get impatient with us.” She glanced toward the window, and he followed her gaze. The lights from outside the house made the snowflakes sparkle as they waltzed to music only they could hear. It would have been beautiful if it weren’t for the concern that the Snowman could strike tonight. Of course, just because it had been two years since the last murders, that didn’t mean it would happen again this winter. Maybe he was letting his fear and his father’s paranoia get the best of him?

“It will be all right,” he said softly. “Don’t worry.”

“It’s hard not to. I usually love snow. But tonight...”

“I know.”

Tony ate two of the cookies and then took his cell phone out of his pocket. A few minutes later his father knocked on the office door.

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