“But you know I’d get my answers and no price for me to pay. So don’t try to squeeze me, Griffin.”
“I’ve already agreed to terms.” He paused. “But only because I believe it’s best for Kendra. Honestly. I even tried to tell her that she should accept any help anyone wants to give her.”
“She must have really appreciated that advice,” he said sarcastically. “Do you even know her?”
“Yes, but this time I had to say it,” Griffin said soberly. “I like her, Lynch. She’s a pain in my ass, but I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
And that scared Lynch more than anything he’d heard since the conversation had begun. “Nothing’s going to happen to her,” he said roughly. “I won’t let it. And I’ll make sure you don’t let it happen. Now tell me what I need to know.”
8:40 A.M.
“They did a good job.” Kendra gazed critically at the motion sensor the security company had attached to the frame of Olivia’s painting. “Hardly noticeable, but it works with every movement.”
“Providing it doesn’t drive me crazy,” Olivia said as she felt her watch that was monitoring the movement. “But I think I can live with it.” Then she grinned. “Play on words. Get it?”
“Oh, I get it,” Kendra said. “But I’m not amused. That’s what all this security gear is all about. Make certain that you use it.”
“I will.” She went over to the desk. “In fact, I feel like burrowing down here and not coming out until you get this guy.” She sat down in the chair. “But that’s not going to happen. I won’t let him do that to me. Screw him. I’m going to keep on living my life exactly as I have in the past.”
“Well, maybe not exactly,” Kendra said. She’d known that would be Olivia’s reaction, but it still scared her. “I’ve arranged to have one of Griffin’s agents maintain surveillance on you while you’re not in the condo, but it still might be smart to rein in a little. Look before you leap.”
“Now that’s a truly ridiculous statement when addressed to me.” Her smile faded. “Hey, I realize that you’re really freaked out about all this. You’re blaming yourself and I can feel you hovering, but back off, Kendra. It’s my life, and it’s Zachary who invaded it. You’ve done everything you can to keep me safe. Anything else is up to me.”
“Bullshit.” She sighed. “Okay, okay. I’ll try to restrain myself or at least try a more subtle approach.”
“Subtle?” Olivia repeated warily. “I don’t like the sound of that. Totally out of character.”
“Maybe I’m trying to change.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Give me a break,” she said quietly. “You’re my friend and I love you. Work with me.”
“We’ll see,” Olivia said as she turned on her computer. “It might be amusing to see you trying to be subtle.”
“I’m glad you think that this situation has any entertainment value.” She turned to leave. “Want to have dinner with me at my place tonight?”
“Again? So you can keep your eye on me?” She grimaced. “Be real. Once you get pulled into all that high-powered FBI stuff today, there’s no way that you’ll be home before midnight. Get out of here.”
“Rude. Very rude.” She headed for the door. “If you need anything, if something’s not right, call Metcalf. I put his number on your speed dial, and I’ve told him to expect it. Then call me.”
“Kendra.”
“Not subtle enough?” She opened the door. “Guess you’re right. But I feel better about it. I promise we’ll find a middle ground.” She closed the door behind her and drew a deep breath. Olivia clearly thought she was overreacting, but how could you overreact to something this frightening?
But she couldn’t push too hard or Olivia would rebel and that would be counterproductive. And a middle ground that would satisfy both Kendra and Olivia? Where the hell was she going to find that?
Don’t think about it right now.
Instead, concentrate on what was waiting for her at the FBI office this morning. Oh, and check in with Jessie about anything she might have learned from her military contacts since yesterday. She could phone her while she was in her car driving to the FBI office.
But she didn’t start her car when she got into the driver’s seat. She sat there, frozen, because something had suddenly occurred to her. By hiring Jessie Mercado to dig out information about Zachary, she had placed a bullseye squarely on her forehead. It had not immediately struck her because Jessie was tough and smart and thoroughly capable. But for all those same reasons Zachary might regard her as a threat to be eliminated. And if his research was at its usual high standard, he would also know Jessie was Kendra’s friend, another reason to make her a target.
Take her off the case.
It was her immediate impulse, but Jessie would never accept that as an option. Besides, the harm had probably been done now. But what she could do was to tell Jessie exactly what had happened and warn her. Then hope that Jessie would back out on her own.
Not likely.
She quickly punched in Jessie’s number. Jessie answered in two rings but her tone was rueful. “Come on, Kendra. I know you want this guy, but I’m not a miracle worker. Give me a chance.”
“I take it you haven’t come up with anything?” Kendra asked.
“Nothing very helpful, I’m afraid. At least not yet. But I did hear back from my source, and he says there was no single member of the armed forces who was stationed in these places during the time span of these murders.”
Kendra’s heart sank. “Of course not. It would have been too easy. Are you sure?”
“I trust my source. It doesn’t mean that he wasn’t doing something else connected with the bases, like maybe a contractor. It’ll take a lot more digging to see if that’s the case. You’re probably better off cross-checking names through the IRS or the Postal Service.”
“Yeah, we already have requests in for that.” Kendra was sure Jessie could hear the disappointment in her voice. “Thanks for checking, Jessie. I appreciate it.”
“Hey, I haven’t given up yet. This is only the opening play. I’ll think about it and see what else I can come up with. I don’t like to lose.”
And because she didn’t like to lose, Jessie would be continually in danger, Kendra thought. It was time she let her know what to expect. “Neither does this maniac we’re dealing with, Jessie. He’s beginning to strike close to home.” She quickly related everything that had occurred since she had received Olivia’s call yesterday. “It scared me, Jessie.”
“It should have scared you,” Jessie said soberly. “You’d be nuts if it hadn’t. And that poor Olivia must be a basket case, blind and not able to even see that creep in the same room with her.”
“Well, not exactly a basket case.” Kendra had forgotten Jessie had never met Olivia and didn’t realize how strong she was. “But naturally she was terribly upset. She’s trying to work her way through it.”