Page 56 of Chilled

“Good.” Nick walked to the whiteboard on the wall and studied the timeline.

“What did you find out from Jason Conlin?” Paul asked.

“He’s a bully, but I’m not sure he committed the crimes,” Nick said. “He had a connection to Dr. Drummond and possibly to Dr. Gomez. Robin Rutledge confirmed she’d dated him, but we don’t have a connection between him and the biolab lady or the real estate agent—unless they’ve had computer problems lately. Paul, will you check with The Computer Store records to see if any of our victims have been there recently?”

“Yes, sir.” Paul settled in a chair, opened his laptop and brought up The Computer Store’s website.

“Could be a chance meeting in a bar.” Melissa swiveled her chair toward the center of the room.

“Maybe.” Nick tapped his finger to the whiteboard. “Dr. Drummond disappeared on Wednesday night. Gomez on Friday night, Carmichael on Sunday. A pattern of every other night up to that point.”

“Until Stinson disappeared on Monday night.” Brenna moved to stand beside Nick at the board.

The warmth of her body next to him derailed his concentration for a moment, and he forced himself to move past it and onto the task at hand. “He missed last night, and my bet is we’re due another kidnapping.”

“And if we go in order of the news articles,” Melissa said from her perch on the conference table, “that would put the college student at the top of the list.”

Nick shook his head. Robin Rutledge had been scared when he’d talked to her. Imagine if she’d known the rest of the story and that she was prime for the next target on the killer’s list.

“I know, I know.” Paul stood. “Increase surveillance on her. Melissa and I can pull the first shift tonight.”

“Good. She works at Riverton Bistro until 2:00 am.” Nick glanced down at Brenna. If he didn’t go back to the hotel room tonight, he wouldn’t be tempted to take Brenna back in his arms and make love to her. “I’ll take over from midnight until dawn.”

“And you’ll sleep when?” Melissa asked.

He jammed his finger against the board. “When we apprehend the killer.”

“I feel a caffeine attack coming on.” Melissa hopped off the table. “Coffee, anyone?”

“I’m with you,” Paul said. “Make mine a double. It’s going to be a long night.”

Melissa and Paul exited the war room, leaving Nick and Brenna alone. All Nick could think about was pulling her into his arms and kissing her until the morning.

“I’m coming with you,” Brenna said.

“No, you’re not.” With the thoughts he had bumping around inside of his head, he didn’t need her any closer than she already was. “You need sleep.”

“I’ll catch a nap before I go to my sister’s home for dinner. I don’t need much sleep.” The dark circles beneath her eyes belied her words.

Nick wanted to tuck her into bed and kiss her to sleep—and a lot of other non-sleep-related things. “You’ll sleep all night.”

Her brows rose. “In the hotel room, without a guard?”

Nick frowned, and his lips pressed into a tight line. He couldn’t leave her alone, and it wouldn’t be fair to Paul and Melissa to keep watch over her after pulling a late shift. “You’ll come with me.”

“Right.” She turned away, a slight smile playing with the corners of her mouth.

Melissa entered the room, balancing a steaming cup of coffee in one hand. “Filled it too full.” She blew at the steam and sipped. “Mmmm, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

Paul entered carrying two cups.

The aroma of coffee filled the air, warming the room and tempting Nick. “Special Agent Jensen and I will take the midnight to dawn shift.”

“Sounds good.” Setting one of the coffee cups on the table, Paul sipped at the other.

Brenna glanced at her watch, her lips twisting into a frown. “I need to make an appearance at my sister’s house for a quick dinner.” She looked up at him. “Really, I don’t need you to come with me. I’ll be at her house the entire time. I can give you the address and everything.”

“I’m coming,” he said, his voice brooking no argument. “And don’t worry, your mother won’t bother me. I’ll just pretend she’s my mother.”

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