Page 48 of Built of Illusions

He opened the call. “Another one?”

“Yes. Two actually. The team in New Mexico thinks Ines Gomes who was killed back in November might be another victim of our asshole.”

The door closing behind him had Nico turning to find Josie had exited the hangar. As she saw his face, her laughter from the day faded away.

Shit. He’d hoped to somehow shield her from this, but that wasn’t possible. Or wise.

“Hey, Roman. Josie’s here too. I’m going to put you on speaker.” After he did, he moved to tuck Josie into his side. “Go ahead.”

Roman voice was softer when he spoke. “Hey Josie. Sorry to be the bearer of shit news. The team in New Mexico believe they’ve identified another victim from back in November.”

Josie closed her eyes briefly. “What’s her name?”

“Ines Gomes.”

Josie blinked away the tears. She looked up at Nico when no one spoke for a minute. “There’s more?”

Nico nodded as Roman spoke again. “Sadly, yes. I haven’t told Nico this part yet. We’ve got a call from Fresno. They found a high school music teacher in the school parking lot this morning.”

Nico squeezed Josie into his side as the tears slipped over. “What’s her name?”

“Irena Black.”

Both the letter I. As he thought through the combinations, Josie spoke. “The pattern fits. It’s probably Zenaida Marie or Maria. Were there souvenirs with both these women?”

Roman sighed thorough the phone. “There were. Irena had a Yosemite park flyer.”

“And Ines?”

There was a pause before Roman responded. “And Ines had a Santa Rosa pen.”

Nico tightened his arm around Josie. “Like the one on the car the other day.”

“The same.”

It was small consolation that their theory was correct when there was another dead woman. And the man was one step closer to setting his sights directly on Josie.

At least she was hundreds of miles away from California.

Aisling and Graham exited the hangar with smiles, but one look at Josie wrapped in his arms had those smiles dropping. “What happened?” Graham’s voice was harsh as he surveyed their surroundings for danger. Something Nico hadn’t even thought to do.

Roman spoke through the phone. “I’m going to head down to Fresno. I can handle it.”

Which meant he knew Nico wanted to stay.

Josie straightened in his arms and gave him a sad smile. “Go. It’s your job. Just be safe.”

“You sure?” His question was echoed by Roman.

Josie nodded. “I’m sure. I’m not going to interfere with your job. I’ll stay at the lake with everyone.”

Graham slapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll grab you the keys for the car. You can head to the airport. I’ll get Sam to come and pick us up. We’ll keep her safe.”

Aisling and Graham moved into the hangar while Roman told him he’d get him booked on the next flight. When he hung up, he wrapped himself around Josie again. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too. You have to stop this man. That’s eleven women he’s killed.” She looked up and cupped his face in her hands. “If anyone can stop him, it’s you. I don’t want him to kill anyone else because you’re here with me. Go, but promise me you’ll be safe.”

He leaned down and kissed her with all the emotion swirling through him. “You be safe, too. I can’t lose you, Josie.”

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