Page 14 of Deadly Secrets
He ran fingers through his shorter locks. “No more undercover work until I nail our guy. I didn’t mind helping Cooper, but now I can’t get distracted. The Rev’s going down.”
At the end of the sidewalk, she stopped and faced him. “Why are you following me?”
“I’m walking you to your car.”
He shot her a smile, hoping that would keep her from suspecting his true intentions.
It didn’t. “How gentlemanly of you, but that’s not necessary.”
“Come on, Brooke. Cut me some slack here.”
“About what?”
“Why won’t you consult for my team? Why won’t you help me on this case?”
She dropped her gaze to her shoes. Nice, solid, pumps. Very college professor-ish. One toe rose, the heel digging in as she kept her focus glued to her feet. “I’m not the best person for your team.”
His words from the night before boomeranged back at him. “Of course you are. You have the academic background and the real-world experience to help my team catch killers. Cooper Harris says he’s never found any consultant who understands his violent ritual cases as well as you do.”
In the sunlight, her turquoise eyes darkened as she met his gaze once more. “It’s not the cases, Roman.”
“Then what is it?”
Her lips parted to answer, but then she snapped her mouth shut and shook her head. “I’ll send you my analysis. That’s all I can do for now. Like I told you last night, my schedule is booked.”
She left him standing on the sidewalk and he tapped a fist against his forehead. He had to be insane, or at least a glutton for punishment. Why didn’t he go down his list and find the next most likely candidate to help him out?
Because I don’t want anyone else.
He had to find her hot button. The thing that would lure her in. Last night, it had been the deaths of those people. Her compassion for them. Maybe that was the key.
Skirting around a pair of girls who had suddenly appeared beside him, he ignored their hellos and coy smiles, running to catch up to Brooke one more time.
She’d found her rental car and unlocked the door. As she opened it, he grabbed it and held on. “Come with me,” he said. “There’s an older crime scene I want you to look at.”
“I told you, I’m not interested.”
“The last time The Reverend hit a group, he did it at a site close to the border, out in the desert. It’s a place illegals squat while waiting for relatives to get them or their fake papers to come through. He left dozens of sigils on boulders around their bodies. Come look at it with me. They’re still there—the sigils. The site hasn’t been disturbed; the few locals in that area believe the place carries a curse. They call itMalditoand won’t go near it.”
She sighed heavily, tossing her briefcase over to the passenger seat and looking out over the parking lot. “I’m leaving for L.A. this afternoon. I don’t have time to go out to the desert.”
“What’s in L.A.?”
“My home. My job.”
He knew that, but at least she hadn’t said boyfriend. “If I make you miss your flight, I’ll personally drive you to L.A.”
“Why is this so important to you?”
Unanswered questions.The fear in her eyes, or whatever it had been that he’d seen last night, bugged the shit out of him. That and the fact she’d mentioned the full moon killings were “new”.
“I have to stop this guy, Brooke. Now, before he kills again. I can’t let him win, and I have a very strong gut instinct that you’re the person who can help me get in his head and understand him in a way I haven’t yet. You can help me stop him from killing other innocent men, women, and children.” He watched the war going on behind her no-longer shielded eyes. “Please,” he added.
She kicked off her heels and opened the back passenger door, tossing them inside and grabbing a pair of bright red kicks. Slipping those on, she pulled out a gym bag. “I’ll go change and meet you at your car. What lot are you in?”
He tried to play it cool and suppress the smile that threatened to break free. “Two lots over. Same car as last night.”
“Give me five,” she said and walked toward the building.
