“Shh.” He pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go get Zachary. Okay?”
“Okay.” Her hand tightened on his as she took a deep breath. “But don’t think it’s all going to be your way, Lynch. You just stay out of my spotlight, do you hear me?”
“I hear you.” He pulled her toward the door. “Maybe we’ll talk about it…”
*
KENDRA PUSHED OPEN THE main door of her complex and then shook her head at the sight of Lynch’s Ferrari idling on the street. He had left her at Olivia’s condo after breakfast to go down and get his car.
“Get in,” he called out to her through the open passenger-side door. “What are you waiting for?”
“Principally, for you to grow up.” She shook her head and climbed in. “You’re still driving this ridiculous car?”
“I wondered how long it would take you to disparage my ride. It took you all of four seconds.”
“I must be slipping.”
“FYI, this car comes in handy when you need to get someplace in a hurry.”
“But perhaps not quite as handy when you’re trying to remain somewhat inconspicuous while on the trail of a psychopathic killer.”
He flashed his patented high-wattage smile. “Remember, I do have a boring car at home for when the occasion demands it.”
“The occasion has demanded it quite a bit in the last couple of years, but I still haven’t seen you driving it.”
“Maybe someday. Buckle up. There’s coffee for you in the cup holder, just the way you like it. I picked it up at the deli. You didn’t seem to want to wait for a second cup at Olivia’s.”
No, she had been too on edge about this decision Lynch had talked her into and that she knew she’d probably regret.
Lynch gunned the engine and headed north toward the freeway.
Kendra picked up the cup and took a swig. She did want that coffee. It was hot and good and just the way she liked it as Lynch had said. But then he always knew what pleased her, which was one of his most dangerous qualities. “Thanks for the coffee. And the ride. If you hadn’t left so quickly, I would have told you we should take my car. We’re not going straight to the FBI office. I guess I can give you directions to the—”
“I know where we’re going.”
“Oh. I didn’t know you were on the task force email.”
“I wasn’t, but I will be from now on. I had a talk with Griffin last night.”
Kendra slowly turned to face him. “What kind of talk?”
He slanted a grin at her. “I stressed that you were a precious resource that needed to be protected.”
“Protected? You really said that?”
“I just pushed the buttons that needed to be pushed.”
“Or pulled the strings that needed to be pulled. That’s more like it, isn’t it, Puppetmaster?”
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not crazy about that name.”
“Too bad. It’s the price you pay for having such an unsavory reputation.”
“Unsavory? That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?”
“You forget that I’ve spoken to your colleagues.”
“True.”
Kendra smiled. “The Puppetmaster” was a name given to Lynch for his uncanny ability to manipulate people and events to his own ends. He generally employed subtle psychological approaches, but when those failed, she knew he wasn’t above more brutal methods to get what he needed. “Why in the hell did you tell Griffin that I needed to be protected?”
“I wanted in on this case, and I needed to give him a reason to include me.”
“You couldn’t have just said, ‘please’?”
“No. Surely you jest? After my last phone conversation with him where blackmail and intimidation were the rules of the day, it would have been ludicrous. At least I allowed him the courtesy of consenting to what I was going to do anyway. The guy isn’t terribly fond of me. We didn’t even get along when I worked for him.”
“So I’ve heard. But you’ve sure helped him out enough since then.”
“On a freelance basis. Usually at the behest of someone else higher up in the chain. I had to give him a compelling reason to include me in this investigation and your safety and well-being fit the bill.” He shrugged. “You’re a valuable resource to him. He has a strong reason to see that you’re protected. Since Zachary is fixated on you, it became clear that some protection is needed. Griffin saves on manpower if I’m here volunteering for the job.”
“Did you think to ask how I felt about this?”
“Of course. And then I thought better of the idea. Wiser to tell you this after everything had been arranged.”
Kendra’s first instinct was to resist his plan, to pull back. But when she responded, it was with a simple “Fine.”
“What?”
“Yeah, fine.”
“Could it be that I’ve finally worn you down?”
She took another large swallow of coffee. “I’m used to working these cases pretty much on my own, but this one has gotten complicated in a hurry. Three murders have become twenty-six, in five different cities. And now we have four investigators in town, trying not to trip over each other.”
“And you figured, what’s one more nuisance thrown into the mix?”
She smiled. “Something like that. You made it pretty plain you weren’t giving me a choice. I’m saving my objections for the big fights.”
“I guess I should be grateful.” His smile faded. “I don’t believe I am. You’re much too subdued. It’s not like you. I knew you were upset. I didn’t realize it was this bad.”
“I was scared about Olivia,” she said simply. “He made me feel vulnerable. It’s going to take a little while for me to get over it.” She made a face. “But don’t get comfortable. I will get over it, Lynch.”
“Yeah, I know.” He was silent a moment. “That son of a bitch.”
She nodded. “And he’s damn good at it. With almost every victim it involved making them feel helpless and without power. I told you he was a monster; once you read the case histories you’ll see what I mean.”
“I’ll read them,” he said grimly. “I’m going to know everything there is to know about our Zachary.”
“My Zachary,” she said. “I told you to stay out of my spotlight. No focus on you. I meant it, Lynch. If he made me feel less than I am, it’s only another reason why I have to be the one to confront him.”
“I said we’d talk about it.”
“We’re talking about it. Back off.”
He was silent. “I’ll see. I didn’t realize exactly what he did to you. That would be worse for you than almost anything. I think I’m going to have to slit his throat.”
“Back off.”