Dark Pursuit

Craig moved in behind her and put both hands on her shoulders.

Kaitlan turned to ice.

She caught herself, then forced her body into motion. You play your part, he’ ll play his.

Kaitlan turned off the tap and set the flowers on the cabinet. She turned around. Craig’s fingers slid toward her neck with intimacy, one thumb coming to rest at the base of her throat.

Her heart nearly stopped.

His head tilted, his eyes filling with suspicion. “You love me, don’t you?”

“I … of course.” Kaitlan’s pulse surged back to life, startling her veins with heat.

His hands pressed against her skin. Dizziness swirled in Kaitlan’s head.

“Then why did you lie to me?” Craig’s voice lowered.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play with me, Kaitlan. You told me you were at work when I called. You weren’t.”

At any other time, with any other guy she would have stood up for herself, given it right back to him. And just what were you doing checking up on me? Now she trembled like a trapped bird.

“Oh?” She forced a little smile. “How’d you know that?”

He slapped her.

Kaitlan’s head ricocheted back. Her left cheek blazed with the sting of a hundred fire ants. She stared at Craig, mouth open, shock glazing her brain. He’d never hit her before. Had never come anywhere close. Her hand floated up to her face, tears biting her eyes.

“Don’t”—his forefinger jabbed at her, stiff and full of fury—“ever lie to me. Understand?”

Her head bobbed up and down. One tear slipped out of her eye.

He saw it, and the anger on his face unraveled. “Come on now.” His voice gentled. “Stop crying.”

Kaitlan gulped. Her hand pressed harder against her cheek.

Craig rested his weight on one leg, a hand on his hip. His breathing came unevenly. “Tell me why you lied.”

He hit me, he hit me! was all Kaitlan could think. Where had this come from?

Yeah, like she should be surprised. He’d killed a woman, hadn’t he? What was hitting his girlfriend compared to that?

But it wasn’t supposed to be like this. Her grandfather said they were supposed to play their parts …

Craig pulled her hand away from her burning cheek. “I asked you a question.”

“I …” She swallowed. “Two of my clients canceled at the last minute. And I was feeling sick. I didn’t want you to worry about me, so I just …”

“You just decided to lie.”

“Yes.” Her voice squeaked. “I’m sorry.”

“Because you thought I wouldn’t find out?”

“I don’t know. I guess I really didn’t think.”

They surveyed each other.

“No. Apparently you didn’t.”

Kaitlan’s breathing shallowed. Was he going to hit her again?

Craig stepped back. “Time to go. We’re going to be late, thanks to you. Do you think you can pull it together? My father will expect us to be in a party mood.”

She nodded.

He studied her with half-closed eyes. “The redness will be gone by the time we get there.”

The words sounded so casual, as if he’d commented on the weather. But their meaning hit Kaitlan in the gut. The dead woman’s body was gone, the mark on her cheek would be gone. All was right in Craig Barlow’s world. As long as he kept her under control.

If she said a word against him …

“Get your purse.” Craig turned away. “And don’t forget your present for Hallie.”

Present. Kaitlan’s mind flashed white. Oh, no. Had she forgotten to buy Craig’s sister a birthday gift?

Hallie wouldn’t care if Kaitlan didn’t show up with a gift. She’d wave her hand in the air and say, “Hey, no worries. Bring me chocolate tomorrow, I’m happy.” But Chief Barlow was hardly Kaitlan’s greatest ally. He wouldn’t like it.

“You told me you bought her a bracelet.” Craig’s tone sharpened. “Is it even wrapped?”

“Oh. I … yeah. It’s in my bedroom. On the dresser.”

Had it been there the whole time? While that dead woman lay on her bed?

“Well, go get it. Hurry up!”

She hustled into the bedroom, telling herself to think nothing, nothing at all. Not about the sight she’d seen here just hours earlier. Or the sounds that would have filled these walls. Muffled screams, Craig’s grunts as he cinched a striped cloth around the woman’s neck …

What that must feel like—to have the life choked out of you. To struggle for that last breath.

A whimper escaped Kaitlan’s throat.

She spied the small wrapped box, complete with white ribbon. She grabbed it and returned to the kitchen.

Craig tilted his head. “Kaitlan, don’t look so frightened.”

She dropped the gift into her purse. Pushed the terror down her throat, down, down to her toes. “I’m ready.”

As she slid into Craig’s car, Kaitlan wondered if she’d live to see morning.

twenty-three

Seven-thirty.

Outside his office window night drew a sullen, gray blanket over the shoulders of the hills.

Darell faced his computer, belly full of casserole and salad, and his mind fairly alert. Normally he’d be fading by this time of day. But he couldn’t afford to do that tonight. He had to stay awake until Kaitlan called.