Page 108 of I'm Watching You

His words tempted. She wanted to give herself to Zack and love him like she once had. ‘Forgiveness leads to terrible things.’

‘I’m not your father, Lindsay. We’re not like your parents.’

Lindsay shook her head. ‘I saw my mother return to him too many times. Each time he hurt her. I can’t do it.’

‘Lindsay, we can work through this.’

Her chest tightened and her breathing felt labored. ‘I’ve got to get out of here.’

‘You don’t have a car and you have nowhere to go. Your apartment isn’t safe. The Guardian knows where you live.’

She couldn’t stay here. This place reminded her of what she wanted most and what she’d never have again – a family. ‘I work the hotline tonight at Mental Health Services. It’s not my regular night but they always can use the help. I’ll be in a lockdown facility with security guards.’

‘Lindsay, stay with my folks.’ He enunciated each word carefully.

‘I need to work.’

‘You need to worry about yourself. The world can survive a night without you working.’

Lindsay felt anxious. ‘I don’t know how to be still.’

Zack laid his hand on her shoulder. ‘For your own well-being, figure it out. You need the night off.’

The front door opened and Warwick appeared. He glanced between the two and then said, ‘I just got a call from Ayden. We need to head back to the office.’

Lindsay looked at Warwick. ‘Can I snag a ride back? I’ve got to get my car.’

Warwick lifted a brow. ‘Sure.’

Zack glared at him. ‘She’s staying put. End of story. Call the office and tell them to get someone else.’

‘But …’

‘No,’ Zack said. ‘It’s too dangerous now.’

They left Lindsay standing in the front drive, looking as if she could kill.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Wednesday, July 9, 3:00P.M.

When Zack arrived at headquarters, the rest of the homicide division was in the conference room. Ricker, Warwick, Vega, and Ayden had the television on and were watching Kendall Shaw’s latest report.

According to my contacts on the scene, the killer is mutilating his victims by cutting off their left hands and delivering the hands to Lindsay O’Neil. Police won’t confirm these reports but …

Shaw’s report continued.

Zack turned away, disgusted. ‘Jesus, that woman is determined to blow our case.’

‘How did she find out about the hands?’ Ayden asked. His words were laced with restrained fury.

A headache pounded behind Zack’s eyes. ‘Shaw arrived at Lindsay’s just after I did. She might have caught a glimpse of the hand on the sidewalk before I covered it. And I saw her talking to the maintenance man.’

Grim faced, Ayden sat across from Zack. Vega sat down on Zack’s right and Warwick on his left. Ricker took a seat next to Ayden.

‘So what do we have?’ Ayden said. ‘And tell me we have something. Two murders in three days and the chief and county manager are breathing down my neck. Ricker, you lead off.’

‘I’ve been through Turner’s phone records,’ C.C. said. ‘All his calls pan out except one. The questionable call was placed at oneA.M.Monday morning to Turner’s cell. The call came from a prepaid phone purchased at a local store. I’m trying to trace the phone to the store. Once I have the store, I’ll start sifting through register receipts and if we’re lucky surveillance cameras.’

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