Page 96 of The Hunted
“If you think there is more than one, is it safe to assume you no longer think Santino is behind the victims?” Amusement laced his tone. “Surely he can’t be responsible for all the bodies.”
“I just need him responsible for one,” she snapped. She had no clue where this hero worship came from.
Santino wouldn’t do what Martin had done for him. He wouldn’t lie to save Martin’s ass; if anything, he’d do whatever was necessary to survive. She couldn’t figure out why Martin couldn’t see it.
“Aww, poor Amra Bean,” he teased. “You can’t make him guilty because he doesn’t like you.” He stalked toward her. “You can come up with theories about his mind and behavior all you want, but that won’t make him a killer. I know this might be out of your wheelhouse, but you need evidence—proof that points to him as one of the three. So far, he’s had an alibi for every last vic.”
Yes, because Martin had been there to offer it up, or something mysteriously went missing.
Like the footage around Denise Miller’s home.
“He doesn’t even like you.” She pushed at Martin’s chest. “You are a means to an end for him, and yet, you lie for him. What do you hope to gain?”
She stared into his eyes, trying and failing to understand why Martin clung to Santino so desperately. He was guilty. She knew deep down in the depths of her soul that Santino had blood on his hands. It might not have been all of the VICs they recently discovered, considering there were too many inconsistencies, but at least one was his.
This latest VIC and the blonde they just identified proved they didn’t fit with the other victims. They had no ties to CSA cases like the others. They seemed random against the other VICs. Those two had to belong to a separate killer.
Maybe I can find a way to tie those two to Alvarez.
“He is not who you think he is. He’s not your friend. He’s bad news. Why am I the only one that can see it?” Amra let out a frustrated breath.
The fact that they’d all been working together for years and Amra was the only one who got bad vibes around Alvarez made her initially ignore her feelings about him. She thought she was overreacting because no one else seemed to react at all. But in recent years, she wasn’t sure what the shift was, maybe it was him not bothering to hide in front of her anymore or the amount of bodies that popped up after they went somewhere new; she couldn’t ignore it anymore.
“Amra Bean,” Martin made atskingsound. “How do you know I don’t know exactly who he is?” He smirked at her irritated grunt. “One of these days, you’re going to tell me exactly why he gets under your skin.” He wagged a finger in her direction. “And don’t lie and say that he doesn’t. I know he does.”
Martin closed the distance between them again. His gaze sized her up. “I’m sure it has something to do with him not giving you the attention you want. But I don’t think that’s actually what it is.”
“It’s not,” she grumbled. She wasn’t that vain or superficial.
Martin laughed. “Come on, Amra. A part of it is. You don’t think I see the way you hold your head a little higher when the men at the office fawn over you? Or the way you use your charm and beauty to get what you want from the local PD?” His voice was pissing her off.
“I bet your entire life you’ve had people desperate for your attention,” he paused and she knew the hit was coming but she could do nothing to block the blow, “except, of course, from the two people you’ve always wanted it from.”
Your real parentswent unsaid, but thanks to the intimacy they shared, he knew exactly how to deliver his blow in a way that would cut deep and linger. She hated him for it.
But not as much as you hate yourself.
“Foster care isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, especially for a kid who knew her parents didn’t want her.” Another blow that made Amra flinch.
“Santino regards you like gum on the bottom of his shoe. It makes your skin crawl because you have some twisted idea of who he really is but can’t reconcile it with the want you have for him,” Martin continued.
“Wasn’t aware you were the one with the psychology degree.” She tried to keep her voice even. She didn’t want to give Martin the satisfaction of knowing he hit his mark and knocked her off her axis. She needed to move away from this conversation and fast. He saw too much of her, because she had written him off as someone who didn’t pay attention past his own self-interest. She hadn’t been equipped to deal with the endless ammo she handed him.
“Nah, I just know you,” Martin’s voice lowered, “and I know you’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to prove his guilt.” She opened her mouth to respond, but he shook his head. “Question though, and this is between us girls. Does it kill you that he finally settled down with someone?”
Amra bristled under the question. It made it seem like she was some crazy ex with a vendetta and not an educated woman with degrees to back her up.
“Question for you, just between us girls,” she mocked, “you think he’ll use lube when he fucks you over?” He snorted. “I’m serious. Last I checked I get paid the big bucks to profile and I can list the ways Alvarez fits said profiles,” she grounded out.
“Why are you protecting him? He won’t do the same for you.” Her voice pitched louder than she wanted it to. She could feel the stares of whoever was left in the café.
Her shoulders dropped, and she let out a heavy sigh. This was an endless conversation she was tired of having. She couldn’t save someone who didn’t want to be saved. She knew that firsthand. If Martin was convinced Alvarez was God’s gift to the world, then so be it.
There was only one way to convince him that he was wrong. She needed proof, and she had to figure out how to get it.
“You know what…,” Amra started. A certain resolve fell over her. She already had a game plan formulating. The quicker she got out of here, the quicker she could find what she needed.
“You’re wrong about him.” She sighed. “I just hope it doesn’t get you hurt in the end.”
