Page 32 of Until Presley

I close my eyes and feel Ham press a sour rope into my hand. I open it and take a bite before walking toward the house. Part of me worries this woman is dead because I didn’t talk to them, but I know that’s not true. This can’t have anything to do with me.

This time, when we sit down around the coffee table, I’m prepared and ready. I wait to see what they are going to say before I offer any information. My father was upset I spoke to the police without counsel, but I know they don’t think I’m involved.

“How are you doing, Presley?” Special Agent Brownley asks me, and I shrug.

“I’m still dealing with the reality that several women I knew—and my best friend—are all dead.”

“We did some digging and found the police report and restraining order regarding your attack. You don’t need to explain.”

I look at Ham, who I just told a few nights ago how I got the scar. I’m lucky she had no clue the femoral artery is on the inside of the leg, or I’d be dead. That had been her intent. I didn’t tell Ham I know who instigated the attack. My parents have no clue what happened. I kept it to myself.

“Like we said, there was another victim. She was found in a canal in Miami. Just like the others were found in waterways too. And like the others, she was injected with tetrodotoxin.”

“Puffer fish poisoning?” I stand up and pace over to the sliding glass doors that look out at the pool. The reality of the situation isn’t lost on me. If anything, this is more serious than they know. I turn back around. “You know that only a handful of marine biologists would remove tetrodotoxin from a puffer fish. You have to kill the fish in order to extract the toxin. It’sagainst everything we believe in. Everything I believe in. Plus, that biologist would have to know how to centrifuge.” I pause, trying to think if anyone I know would do this.

“We know. That’s why we came to you. Do you know anyone that could do that?”

“A marine biologist that isn’t just that but a chemist too.” I shake my head. “I honestly can’t think of anyone right now.” I think of what Leah went through. The poison is so dangerous; there are no countermeasures for it.

“Was it a lethal dose? Is that what killed them?” Ham asks as he stands up and moves to my side. I lean into his body, scared.

“We think that’s how he gets them under his control. Leah had the highest amount in her system. She died within moments of the injection. She still had undigested food in her system from what you claimed she ate on Saturday night. Her friend from that night said she went to the restroom and never returned. He thought she just decided to leave on her own.”

“Wait.” I push away from Ham and shake my head. If I hadn’t left her, she could still be alive. “I don’t understand. I thought you were inferring I was a target, but I was there too. I could have been poisoned too.”

“No. She disappeared about an hour after you left.” Harkness stands up and faces us. “I’m with the BAU. We think the guy responsible is obsessed with you.”

My body locks up, and I can feel the panic rising again. “No.” I shake my head as fear sets in. “That’s not possible. I’ve never done anything to attract anyone this dangerous. Wouldn’t I notice a stranger following me?”

“We don’t think this is a stranger. Think about it carefully. He’s going to be in his forties or fifties. He is overly kind to you, almost to the point of familiar. He’ll probably be highly educated.”

“Do you know how many men that describes? My father could be on that list. No, it isn’t a marine biologist. Not at all.” I turn away from them, not wanting to listen anymore.

“Please look at this photo and try to deny this,” Harkness says, and Ham gasps. I turn back to look and can’t believe what I’m looking at.

“I don’t know her.” I turn away again to face the pool. Trying to get the image out of my mind.

“No, you don’t. She’s not from around here. She’s from Seattle. She was here on vacation at Disney when she was kidnapped. There is only one reason for him to kill her.”

“No. I didn’t do this. I don’t know anyone that crazy.” I wave my hand toward the picture of the woman who could be my twin. The resemblance is so striking I can’t get it out of my mind.

“Presley, please understand we aren’t blaming you for this. We need your help. We have to leave the Keys for a bit and will be back in a few weeks. If you need us, we’ll leave you our cards.”

I hear them talking quietly to Ham as I stand there wanting to deny what I just heard and saw. I try to shake the images from my mind. Someone is killing people who hurt me or look like me. What could I have done to attract such a sick individual?

Ham wraps his arms around me, and I lean into his embrace. He leans down and kisses my neck. I turn and try to use his body to forget everything I just learned, and he lets me.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

PRESLEY

Ispin and check myself out in the mirror again. My body is slimmer than it was a month ago. The stress of learning that I’m not only the target of a serial killer but that my best friend’s death might be my fault has made it hard to eat.

The pale pink, almost shell-colored skirt contrasts against my darker, tanned skin. I spend every day working hard or out in the sunshine. Even with the cooler November air, I’m still out in it as much as I can. I’ve been focused on work, Ham, and school. Tonight, Ham is taking me out to dinner on our first real, official date.

I teased him that we went from working together to sleeping together without really dating. It was only a joke. I love how our relationship has progressed. Tomorrow, he gets to meet my second favorite male, Griff. My little brother is flying in to spend two weeks with us.

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