She realized he was mad at her. She crossed her arms on her chest. “What did I do? Why are you upset with me?”
His dark eyes were troubled. He shook his head and touched her cheek, gently. Unwound her arms. Pulled her into his. “I’m not mad at you. We were both stupid to let her stay here. We should have let Baldwin haul her ass into the FBI. Now not only is she gone, but she’s hurt you, and stolen from you, and trashed our house.”
Sam merely nodded. “I hurt her, too. What did you do with that key, by the way?”
“The one to Matcliff’s safe? I have it right here.” He pulled the small silver key out of his pocket. “You think this is what she was after?”
“Maybe. What if the safe at Matcliff’s place isn’t the only thing it opens? What if there’s another lock that fits that key?”
He turned it over and over in his hand. “It’s entirely possible.”
“Maybe Doug Matcliff hasn’t given us the whole story. Not yet.”
“Maybe not. But we’re going in circles, and you need to get some rest. Come on. I’ll tuck you in.”
She was foggy and uncertain, and so tired. Her neck was throbbing, as were her knuckles. Her stomach felt raw where Kaylie had landed the final punch. A few hours of sleep might be just the trick. She took two ibuprofen tablets, then broke an Ambien into pieces, popped one in her mouth and let him put her to bed.
Xander made her get under the covers and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He started to leave and she asked, “Where are you going? You need sleep, too.”
“Thought I’d mess around on the computer for a while, see if I can relax.”
In other words, he was going to keep watch. The man was a machine.
“Xander?”
He came back and sat on the edge of the bed. She reached up and pushed his hair off his forehead gently.
“We have to find them,” she said. “We have to find Kaylie and Rachel.”
“I know. I’m going to do a little snooping, see if I can’t turn up a few leads of our own. Sleep a bit, okay?”
“Only if you promise you will, too.”
“Cross my heart.” He kissed her again, then shut off the light, whistled for Thor and pulled the door.
She tossed and turned for a few minutes, waiting for the edge of sleep to come, to soften her mind, her worry. Five minutes later she was still staring at the ceiling. She got out of bed, went to the window of her bedroom and looked out through the blinds. The night seemed very dark, and she heard a rumble of thunder. She touched the bandage on her neck.
Kaylie Rousch was out there. So was Rachel Stevens, and a violent, remorseless killer. She felt eyes on her, and pulled the cord on the blinds. Breathed deep, and lay back down.
It was all going to break tomorrow. She could feel it.
Chapter
45
THERE IS A storm coming. The wind is picking up, the moon blotted out by the thickening clouds. There is the tiniest hint of coolness in the breeze, and the sudden change in temperature makes me shiver.
I stand on an anonymous Georgetown corner, waiting for the cop who pulled up with a screech in front of Dr. Owens’s house twenty minutes ago to drive away. When another patrol car arrives and it is clear this one has settled in for the night, I know there is no return to the succor of her living room and lemon cake, warm arms and motherly embraces. I start up N Street, the heels of her boots clicking on the pavement. I had half hoped she wouldn’t have called the cops, that she would recognize the desperation of a lost little girl.
Oh, well. The woman can fight. She’d nearly had me; it was pure luck I was able to take her down. She doesn’t stand a chance with Adrian, though.
I have given her what she needs, her and that brute of a boyfriend. If she’s as smart as Doug said, and he has half a brain, they’ll figure it out.
The rain begins to fall, a soft spatter, making steam rise off the still-hot streets. I draw the cardigan closer. I like her clothes; they are soft, expensive and smell good. Like money and happiness. I know she has had a hard time over the past few years, but this is a woman who has only used her brain to survive until now, not her body, not her soul. Despite her frenzied rally, she is soft, like her clothes. And comfortable. Too comfortable.
All I want is a head start. If I can find my daughter, and eliminate the unholy alliance that tore me from her, I will do so. It ends now. No more hiding in the forest, pretending the world is all right.
I will save Rachel, or die trying.
Chapter
46
Capitol Hill
Near the Longworth Office Building