Gina looked up from the desk. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He got in here without any sign of forced entry. He can do it again.”
“I know. Do you think I haven’t thought about that? Nothing like a serial killer to make you feel vulnerable.” She made a face. “I’m calling Kendra’s security guy right away. I laughed at her when she had her place buttoned down, but now I think it’s a good idea. Well, really I thought it was a good idea for her, just not for me,” she amended. “Kendra deals with killers and I deal with bill collectors. But now I believe I’d feel more secure with new locks, steel-reinforced doorframe, maybe a few motion sensors to send reports to my phone when there’s a breach…”
“We can make that happen,” Kendra said. “We’ll call him from my place. He owes me a favor. I bet he can do it today.”
Metcalf pointed to the door. “Only after the Evidence Response Team gives it the once-over.”
Kendra nodded. “Well, then, you’d better have them do the door first. We’ll be one flight up if you need anything.” She turned to Olivia. “Come on, let’s go. I don’t know about you, but I need a drink.”
*
“DRINK THIS.” KENDRA HANDED Olivia her martini and took her own vodka and tonic to the couch and pulled out her phone. “I’ll catch up with you as soon as I call to arrange for your security. I’m scared to death you’ll get stubborn and want to chance sleeping at your own place even if you have trouble getting it monster-proofed.”
“No worries,” Olivia said. “All I have to do is remind myself of the moment when I stood there in my office with your murderer staring at me, trying to decide if it was necessary to kill me.” She took a sip of her martini. “You know he has to have had a thought like that, Kendra.”
“Yes.” That had been the most chilling vision that Olivia’s story had brought to mind. Because Kendra could relate to standing there in darkness, sure that someone was there, every instinct screaming, but having to tell herself there was no proof. It was the stuff of madness and nightmares. And she knew that the feeling of being helpless before a threat like that was the worst part of the experience. “But if he’d moved, you might have heard him and been able to defend yourself. You wouldn’t have let him have it all his own way.”
She smiled. “Your confidence in me is amazing.”
“You’re amazing,” she said lightly. “Now hush while I finish making this phone call.”
“You’d better be quick.” She drained her glass. “I’m going to have another drink. You didn’t make this one strong enough.”
Thirty minutes later after much coaxing and a significant bribe, Kendra hung up with the promise of a crew that would show up no later than nine that night to make the security changes. “Done.” She got to her feet and headed for the kitchen. “Now I’m going to put a frozen lasagna into the oven for dinner. You need something in your stomach after those last three martinis I saw you downing.”
“Whatever,” Olivia said. “I’m feeling no pain, but our Zachary is still with me.” She stood up and followed Kendra to the kitchen. “That message keeps playing over and over in my head.”
“Mine, too.” Kendra pulled out the casserole and took it out of the box. “Zachary. We didn’t know his name was Zachary before today. So at least we learned something new.” She put the lasagna on the rack and turned on the oven. “Though I’m fairly confident that isn’t his real name. He’s very clever, I can’t see him giving anything away.” She turned from the oven. “I guess we’ll find out eventually, and Zachary is as good a name as any to call him until we’re sure.” She added, “And maybe the ERT will find something in your condo that will give us even more of a lead. No one is perfect.”
She smiled crookedly. “And he’ll rue the day when he tried to use the amazing Olivia Moore?”
“Why not?”
“No reason. I agree with you, but I believe you’re trying to put a positive spin on a very bad experience. I appreciate the effort, but I’m over the first trauma. So cut off the alcohol and make me some coffee. I might have to think clearly when your buddies at the FBI want to take a statement.”
“Good idea,” Kendra said ruefully. “I wasn’t trying to get you drunk, that phone call lasted longer than I thought it would.” She put dark magic blend into the automatic coffee maker. “I wanted to take the edge off, not blur it completely.”
“Well, I did,” Olivia said. “I almost fell apart when I first heard that message. I was ashamed of being such a coward. I’m sorry, Kendra, you didn’t need me to behave like that when you must have been as scared as I was.”
“Sorry?” She came around the bar and took Olivia in her arms. “You were awesome. I’m the one who should be sorry to involve you. I am sorry.” She cleared her throat. “You didn’t ask for any of this. I almost got you killed.” She took a step back. “Please, believe me. I had no idea that bastard even knew who I was, much less had some kind of fixation on me. I certainly didn’t have any idea my friends would be targeted. I still can’t believe it’s true.”
“I think you’d better start assuming that he meant every word he said,” Olivia said dryly. “And if I was targeted, it was only in a minor way … for him. You’re the one who is getting his attention. So please don’t get all emotional and weepy on me. You’re going to embarrass me.”
“Heaven forbid,” Kendra said unevenly. “Am I allowed to say Zachary chose very well? He probably researched and found out how much I care about you and how scared I’d be if anything happened to you.”
“Yeah, you can say that. Because it’s all past tense now. I’m going to have steel doors and motion sensors and I’ll be on my guard. He made a mistake, didn’t he?”
“A big mistake,” Kendra said fiercely. “He won’t be able to touch you again.”
“Right.” She turned and started toward the couch. “Then get me my coffee, and we’ll sit and relax and wait for the lasagna to cook. If I remember correctly, it takes about forty-five minutes. By that time, with luck, I’ll no longer be blurred and you’ll no longer be stressed.”
“You have a better chance than I do,” Kendra said. “Forgive me, Olivia.”
“Forgive? We don’t use that word between us.” She took the coffee cup Kendra was handing her and curled up on the couch. “It wasn’t your fault that Zachary knew what good taste you had in friends. Now get your coffee and come and sit beside me. I’m hoping we’ll have a little time to ourselves before Metcalf comes running up from my condo. He and Gina let me off easy, but they’re going to want a statement with details, aren’t they?”
“Absolutely. It’s their job and Griffin is going to be a hard-ass over every single aspect of this case. But they’re lucky it’s you they’re interviewing. You’re trained to observe details no one else might.”
She shook her head. “Not like you.”
“Still very, very good.” She sat down with her own cup of coffee. “And just the questions might trigger a memory or two.”