Page 9 of Cold Vengeance

He smiled, the corners of his gray-blue eyes crinkling. “Hard to explain. Kind of a cross between sighing and humming.”

“Humming? I don’t think I...”

He shook his head. “Not like humming a tune. You kept sayinghmmmmover and over.”

This made River laugh. “That makes more sense. I don’t see myself as thehummingtype.”

“Definitely not.” He appeared to study her for a moment before saying, “Something interesting?”

“Yes. I was reading April’s bio.” She quickly filled him in on what she’d discovered.

“Wow. I guess we know why she was so interested in solving crimes.”

“Sorry about the sighing and humming.”

“Not a problem,” Tony said. “While you were busy makingnoises, I called Arnie. Sent the fingerprints to him, but as we suspected, he wants the actual letter.”

“Why don’t you take it to him?” River said. “I’ve got quite a bit of work to do here.”

“I ... I don’t want to be gone that long,” Tony said. “A trip to pick up lunch is one thing, but...”

“It’s been almost a month since the Strangler’s little friend sent that Christmas card,” River said. “We haven’t heard a peep since then. Could you be overreacting?”

“He bugged our offices, River,” Tony said sternly. “We can’t just blow that off. He’s been in here.”

“Calm down,” she said. “I understand what you’re saying, but I’m tired of letting this guy control us, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I really am. But we have to keep our guard up until he’s behind bars.” Tony frowned at her. “He helped Baker kill all those women, and if he didn’t kill Jacki himself, he most surely murdered David.”

David Prescott was the man who just happened to be walking near the Salt River the night Baker shot Tony and threw River into the water. David called the police, and they arrived just in time to pull River out before she drowned. He testified at Baker’s trial and helped to put the serial killer behind bars. Then a few months ago, he disappeared. Law enforcement hadn’t been able to find him.

“I don’t want to sound like a grump,” Tony continued, “but I really don’t want you to leave this office again when I’m not here. Even to chase me down because you want to add something to your lunch order.”

“Tony, that’s ridiculous. It’s daytime. We’re surrounded by people. The building even has a security guard. With all the cameras, no one would try anything here.” She pointed her finger at him. “Besides, aren’t I safer with my phone? What if I needed to call for help?”

“It’s a good point. So from now on, don’t leave it in the car.”

“Great idea,” she said, her tone slightly sarcastic. “Why didn’t I think of that?” She leaned back in her chair and stared at him. “We’ve done everything we can to stay safe in this building. You need to trust that.”

“I’m not so sure,” he said slowly. “I still wonder if we should move out of here.”

“We talked about that and decided that this is the most secure place for us.” She waved her hand toward the cameras mounted on the ceiling. “Look, I’ve been worried about our safety, that’s true. But not here. Not in our office. Since installing the cameras, I feel we’re very well protected. Better than anywhere else we could go.”

He shook his head. “I know. Still, I’ll be glad when that slimeball is in prison—or dead.”

“Wow, where’s all the ‘love your enemy’ stuff you said you believed? And where is your faith? I lean on your strength, you know.”

Tony sighed loudly. “I do have faith, and don’t preach my own words back to me. I pray for this guy, River. But I’m tired of this. How long do you have to live under the Strangler’s influence?”

River just stared at him. It was a good question, and one that she couldn’t answer. Tony was usually so strong. But he was a human being too, and it was clear that he was getting weary from the pressure. At that moment, a Scripture popped into her head. She was pretty sure it wasn’t just her own thoughts. “Isn’t there something in Isaiah that says, ‘But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’?”

Tony stared at her for a moment, and the tightness in his face relaxed. “Yes. Yes, there is. Isaiah 40:31.” He sighed. “If anyone had told me a couple of months ago that you would be encouraging me with Scripture, I wouldn’t have believed it. But here you are. You’ve come a long way in a short time.”

“I told you that I read the Bible when I was younger, and my father quoted verses a lot. I heard it. I memorized it. But he used God’s Word as a weapon. Thanks to you, those Scriptures he parroted have finally come alive. I’ve learned the Bible is full of hope, faith ... and love. Now it’s powerful. Real. I’m seeing it in a whole new light.” Her voice caught as she choked out the next words. “And it’s because you just ... cared about me. Kept being an example of what Christians should be. I don’t know where I would be ... without you.”

He nodded and turned his head, but she’d seen his expression. It wasn’t one of just friendship. It was something more. Much, much more. River put on her headphones and tried to concentrate on April’s podcast ... but all she could think about was the man sitting at the other desk and how much he meant to her.

CHAPTER

---