Because if they didn’t catch him, Ivy knew he’d just be killing someone else again soon.
“And I want a patrol car sent to Cameron Wilde’s house, right now,” Bennett gritted out as the officer near him nodded briskly. “Bring him in to the station. I’ll be having a nice chat with him, too.”
“Bennett—” Ivy began.
He whirled toward her. He took two steps and his hands caught her shoulders. “It could have been you in that body bag.”
She shook her head.
“He called you. He lured you here. He’s baiting us. Playing a game that I won’t let him win.” His breath sawed out as his eyes glittered down at her. “I won’t let you be his victim. I can’t.” His hold tightened on her. “I need you too much.”
That was good, right? He needed her. He—
“So I’m sorry, Ivy, but this has to be done. You matter too much. I can’t risk you.” He dropped his hands and stepped back.
Oh, no. She got a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Bennett?” Just what was he doing?
Bennett sighed. “Officer Jansen, please place Ivy DuLane in protective custody.”
“What?” Had she just misheard? Because she was already freaking out over Shelly, so maybe—
“You’re going to have a guard, twenty-four seven, until this bastard is caught.” Bennett’s hands clenched at his sides. “You’re not going in a body bag, understand? I won’t let that happen. I’ve seen first-hand what sick freaks like him do to their prey. How they get off on the pain. That’s not happening to you. It can’t.” His voice sounded ragged as he whirled away from her.
Seriously—that was it? “Bennett?” Chill bumps rose on her arms.
“Um, Ms. DuLane?” A female officer was at her side. Must be Officer Jansen. She hadn’t even realized the woman was there until Bennett had said the lady’s name. “You’ll need to come with me now.”
Bennett had already paced several feet away. He was on his phone, barking orders. Probably demanding that APB and putting out a search for Cameron.
“Can he do that?” Ivy asked. “Can he just put me in protective custody?”
“Uh, ma’am, it’s for your safety.”
The ME’s van was pulling away. Shelly didn’t have any chance of safety. She shouldn’t have died. If the killer was truly playing a game…then why won’t he just come after me? Why was he bringing her friends and her brother into this nightmare?
“Life can change so fast,” Ivy murmured. “Two days ago, my biggest worry was whether or not I’d get enough new clients this year for my business.”
Now…
Now she had to worry about staying alive. Worry about protecting those close to her.
If he wants me, then he needs to focus on me. And leave them the hell alone.
“Ma’am,” Officer Jansen’s voice hardened. “You need to come with me now.”
Ivy nodded. Yes, she did. And she also needed to figure out what the hell she could do next.
***
Police Chief Berney Quarrel stalked into Bennett’s office and shut the door behind him with a soft click. “Tell me…please tell me that I didn’t see Senator DuLane’s son in my interrogation room.”
Bennett put down his phone. “You saw him.”
The chief winced. “You really thinking that man is our killer? That he brutally stabbed his own girlfriend and then just hung around at that party, waiting for her body to be found?”
I think Hugh DuLane has plenty of secrets.
“You think that man is harassing his own sister? Trying to kill her?”
“No, shit, I don’t.” Because Bennett thought the man they were after had driven away in a Porsche. “I saw Hugh when he realized Shelly Estes was dead.” The guy had been destroyed. And Bennett didn’t think that reaction had been faked. “He’s just one of the killer’s pawns. Hell, the guy is in interrogation because I think he saw the bastard. I think the guy walked right up to Hugh and took his phone, and DuLane didn’t even realize what was happening.”
The chief grunted. “Well, that makes things easier. At least I won’t have to deal with the nightmare of arresting a DuLane.”
Even with the scandals that had been attached to their family, Bennett knew the name still carried power. Power and too much wealth.
“Would it matter?” Bennett asked him grimly. “Say Hugh was our killer. Would his last name stop you from arresting the guy?” Because the senator hadn’t been arrested when he’d committed murder. Back then, the cops had just let him walk.
The chief’s face hardened. “You must not know me well, son. Because you shouldn’t have to ask that question.” His coal black eyes narrowed. “Money and power don’t mean shit to me if you’re guilty.”
Good. Bennett nodded. “My apologies, sir.”
The chief grunted. “You think I don’t know about what went down here before? I heard all about your aunt.”
That wasn’t what Bennett had expected to hear right then.
“That shit won’t go down under my command. Count on it.”
Bennett’s respect for the man notched up even more.