Page 13 of Enveloped By the Darkness

The chances of the same car taking the identical route weren’t that slim, but I still didn’t like it. When it came to covert games, I had played every one in the book and recognized a tail when I saw one. Ignoring my own vocalized response, I decided to trust my intuition and assume the worst. Someone was following me, although I didn’t know who, but there was a long list of potential candidates. It was possible someone had discovered my secrets and knew about the murders, possible that someone wanted revenge of their own. I had to be smart and play it safe—for Tiffany’s sake as much as my own.

Driving past the exit that would take me to Barrington, I headed west, eventually turning into a rest area. Killing my engine, I watched as the blue car pulled in behind me, parking far enough away so as not to attract attention, but it was too late—the unknown driver already had mine.

Looking harder into the reflection, I could just make out the outline of a woman. Probably in her forties, she looked tired as she glanced out of the window, making a show of her apparent indifference.

“Who are you?” I asked as I stared at the stranger. “What do you know and what do you want?”

I still had no way of knowing for sure that she was following me, but I’d already made up my mind. The woman in the blue car needed to be dealt with.

Chapter Six

D.S. Lucas

I’d been a police officer for more years than I wanted to remember. Too many years. Enough years to have learned to trust my instincts and watching Walker, my internal alarms were all sounding. I saw the way he looked at Noble, the possessive manner with which his arm snaked around her and as I walked by his car as they sat together, I acknowledged the dark gleam in his eyes.

It was the same glint I’d seen on the hours of video recordings he’d taken in her house, many of which included him. The same insidious glance that had haunted me and should have warned her.

Closing the distance to my car and settling in the front seat, I watched as she made her way inside. I knew what waited for her there—the building was a well-known local Chambers. Knowing she worked in public prosecutions had made it easy to track down her application and discover its location. So, she’d decided to start working again? That was good, but why was such a smart woman acquiescing to a man like Walker? Clearly, she didn’t need the money, and based on what she’d told me, she got her life back together after the abduction. What did he have over her that kept her coming back for more?

Returning to him, my gaze burned into the back of his head, my pulse quickening as he steered the car into the line of traffic between us. Responding, I started my engine, and followed, ensuring I stayed out of sight but could still keep an eye on my target. I tailed Walker for miles, determined to find out where he and Noble were basing themselves.

The police’s files on him were frustratingly limited. Before his run-in with Noble, he’d never been in trouble, let alone convicted. We had no history on him, no known addresses, and thanks to his escape before arrest, no DNA. Walker was like a ghost, a man who seemed to live on another celestial plane outside the law, but that didn’t put me off. His apparent perfect reputation before Pennsylvania Avenue only fueled my interest. I knew for a fact what he was capable of and still had the feeling if I delved deep enough, I’d uncover his proven track record in criminality.

We drove for miles, only pausing when he pulled into a secluded rest area.

“Just like the sort where a killer might take his victims.”

I’d been to enough brutal crime scenes to know I was right, though I still had nothing concrete on Walker, save for the recordings he’d taken in Noble’s house. Evidence that, sadly, wouldn’t be admissible unless she chose to press charges.

Crawling past his car, I found a spot up ahead to park, checking my rear-view mirror to ensure I didn’t lose him.

“Who are you really?” I muttered, reaching for my purse and fiddling inside until I found an old lipstick. I had no desire to paint my face but pretending to do so gave me the ideal reason to stare at the mirror a little longer. “I know what our files say, but I also know there’s more to the story.”

Angling the glass, I slid the lipstick into action before staring into the mirror once more. It took a second for my brain to decipher the black leather of the empty seat I was seeing. Walker was gone.Shit, he was gone!Heart racing, my gaze traveled around his car, unable to find him. Where the hell had he gone? I’d only looked away for a moment. Dropping the makeup, I reached for the door release. His car was still there, so he couldn’t have gone far. I just had to play it cool and track him down, had to—

My thoughts scattered as I registered someone blocking my exit, someone dressed in dark clothes who’d seemingly appeared from nowhere. I watched in horror as a hand came into view, one long finger tapping on my window. Pulling in a breath, I fought to compose myself. If this was Walker—and since the rest area was otherwise empty, who else could it be—then I had to stay calm. I couldn’t afford to give myself away. He didn’t know who I was. Walker had never met me—I’d never had the pleasure of interviewing the slimy bastard—so there was no reason to panic. Waiting until his hand drew away, I opened the door, forcing him to retreat a few paces. Whatever he wanted, I intended to meet him head-on.

“I’m sorry to bother you.” Throwing his hands into the air, he backed away with what some might have described a boyish grin.

“No problem.” Coercing my lips into a smile, I met his gray eyes. I’d seen them many times before in various scandalous scenes, but he had never seen me. “Can I help you?”

“Actually, I was going to see if I could help you,” he explained as his arms fell by his side. “I noticed you over here and thought you might be in trouble.” Glancing around theatrically, his gaze returned to me. “After all, a woman on her own in a lonely place like this…” He shrugged. “Might not be safe.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” My tone lowered though I hadn’t intended it to. The problem was I’d spent my entire career dealing with low lifes like Walker. I could see through his façade in a heartbeat. “How kind of you to offer, though.”

“No problem.” Lips curling, his hand rose to his face, pushing the strands of his dark tousled hair from his eyes. “I hate to think of a lady in distress.”

Was this guy having a laugh?

Comments like that made me wonder if he didn’t realize who I was, but I had to be rational. I knew he’d never laid eyes on me before. Walker was only feigning his interest, the same way he no doubt invented the character Noble had fallen for. Everything about him told me he was a professional at this, that he’d been playing women at the same game for years.

“Well, honestly if you don’t mind, I could use directions.”

I wasn’t much of an actress but had been taught plenty of ways to untangle myself from similar tricky situations. Technically, this wasn’t police business, but I could still draw on my experiences to help me.

“Really?” His brow rose, as if he hadn’t been expecting my reply.

“Please.” Taking a step toward him, I did my best to seem seductive rather than suspicious. Men like Walker saw women as sexual playthings, so this was my best shot at making him malleable. “I was looking for somewhere local to eat but haven’t seen anywhere since before the highway. Do you know the area?”

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