Page 27 of Once a Killer

“Might not be a bad idea to set one up,” she said. “Since whoever’s after you seems to be escalating.”

He nodded slowly. “Good idea.” He stood up and hurried to his desk in the living room. Rooted around in a drawer until he found a small box. Brought it and a tool box into the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, he’d installed a camera aimed at the door and programmed it to send signals to his phone via wifi.

“Pretty slick,” she said, leaning against a wall as she watched him install the camera.” She frowned. “Should have had you do this immediately.”

“Haven’t had a ding since you showed up,” he said.

“Well, it’s there now. We’ll see if anyone tries to get in.” She hurried into the living room and sat on the couch with her computer. Found an email from Mel in her account.

She scanned it quickly, then opened the attachments. “Hey, Jameson?” she called. “C’mere for a minute.”

He came in and she nodded to the place beside her. “Have a seat. See what Mel found.”

He wasn’t touching her, but he sat close enough that his body heat warmed her. His woodsy, outdoorsy scent surrounded her. She’d slide away if she could, but she was already pressed against the arm of the couch.

She took a deep breath and immediately regretted it. She’d inhaled him, and now that was all she could focus on. Fumbling with her computer, she finally managed to open it to Mel’s email.

“The SUV was rented,” she said, clearing her throat when she sounded all smoky and seductive. “The guy’s name is Jeff Wilson.” She turned the computer so he could see the signature.

Jameson shook his head. “Don’t know anyone by that name.”

“It’s almost certainly an alias,” she said. She opened another attachment and pulled up the photo that the surveillance camera at the counter had taken. “Here’s what he looks like. Anyone you know?”

He frowned as he examined the photo, and she scrutinized it with him. It was a clear picture of a young-ish man, maybe thirty or thirty-five, with short dark hair and dark eyes. Clean shaven. Nothing out of the ordinary about his features. The kind of guy who’d blend into the background. The kind no one would notice.

“Recognize him?” she asked, pretty sure he wouldn’t.

After staring at the photo for a long time, he shook his head slowly. “No, don’t recognize him. But that guy,” he tapped at the face on the computer screen, “he could be anyone. He’s the kind of guy you’d pass on the street every day and not look at. Bland. Boring. Nondescript.”

“You’re right,” she said. She’d thought the same thing. “The perfect guy to hire to take someone out. No one would be able to give a good description of him.

“Mel is going to search databases for him. If anyone can figure out who he is, Mel will do it. Might take a little time, though.”

“I wasn’t expecting instant results,” he said, staring at the face on the computer screen. “This is more than I’ve gotten up to now. So this is great.” He jumped up from the couch and moved away quickly, and Bree wondered if sitting so close beside her was making him as jumpy as it was making her.

“I’m gonna do some work in my room,” he said as he grabbed his computer. “Had a little breakthrough at work today, and I want to get it all down before we go back to the lab tomorrow. That okay with you?”

She tilted her head to frown at him. “Why wouldn’t it be? I’m not ahouseguest. I’m working for you.”

He shuffled his feet and appeared uncomfortable. Had he noticed the tension when they were sitting together on the couch? “Thought you might have more questions for me, or something.”

“I think I’ve been intrusive enough for one day,” she said, shooing him toward his room. “Go get your work done so you can spy on me while I look for that SUV in the middle of the night.”

He reared back at her words, and she rolled her eyes at him. “Kidding, Ford. Jeez. You need to learn how to take a joke.”

He stared at her for a long moment, then smiled slightly. “Does the fact that you can joke about it mean I’m forgiven?”

“I’m pretty sure you won’t do it again, so yeah.”

He kept his gaze on her long enough that she shifted on the couch. Tension quivered between them again, just as it had on the couch. Then he turned and disappeared into his room, closing the door behind him.

She kept her gaze on the door for a moment but heard nothing from his room. After responding to Mel’s email, reporting that Jameson hadn’t recognized the guy who’d rented the SUV, she closed her computer and stood up. Went into her bedroom and got ready for bed. She’d be up most of the night, and she needed to sleep while she could.

Chapter 10

Bree woke up at three in the morning, a little later than she’d intended. Sliding out of bed, she threw on a pair of lounge pants and didn’t bother to change the over-sized tee shirt she’d worn to bed. No one would see her, and she might as well be comfortable.

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