leap from gambling addiction to murder.

"Like I said, just jumpy. I'll check back in soon."

She hung up. As she holstered her phone, she replayed his words, looking for an indication of guilt. And

found none. He had seemed the Dave she had always known.

Which meant exactly nothing, considering the turn of events.

Or everything, if she was wrong.

A d.a.m.n big if.

She could call in the cavalry, order a half-dozen officers to the scene. But if she was wrong, the captain

would have her badge.

Dave had no idea they were onto him, which meant Jane was in no immediate danger. The last thing she wanted to do was alarm him. Force him to do something drastic. Or desperate. In fact, he probably believed he had gotten away with it. The final piece of the puzzle, the one that would ensure Ian's conviction, had been found today.

If anything, he was feeling buoyed. Confident.

Deep breath, Killian. Keep it together. Travel time would be thirty minutes, minimum. Chances were

good that Mac would beat her there. He wouldn't act until she arrived-if Jane wasn't in immediate danger.

She grabbed her jacket and darted for the door. Kitty stood when she saw her. "Captain's free now,"

she said. "He asked me to-"

"Not now," Stacy answered. "I'll catch up with him later-"

"Now, Killian." Her captain stepped out of his office, expression grim.

She glanced at her watch, heart tripping in her chest. "But there's something...it's an emergency. My

sister-"

"Yes," he said, cutting her off, "your sister." Two men appeared in the doorway behind him. "Killian, this is Williams and Cooper. Internal Affairs. They'd like to have a word with you."

SIXTY-SIX Thursday, November 13, 2003 6:30 p.m.

Jane watched Dave pace. He muttered to himself and every so often stopped and dragged his hands through his hair. His agita-tion bordered on desperate. She had overheard his conversation with Stacy, even though he had stepped into the hall and closed the bedroom door. He had managed to sound sane. He had hung up and, without a word to her, begun pacing.

Why? Because he knew he had revealed himself to her? Because he sensed time was running out? She could have screamed; Stacy would have heard her. But she would have forced his hand. And she believed she could reason with him.

She prayed she didn't live to regret her decision.

"Dave?" she said softly. He stopped and looked at her. She pat-ed the side of the bed. "You look upset."

"I'm fine. Worried about you."

She forced a smile. "Don't be. Come sit by me. I think we need to talk."

He did as she asked, expression wary "Why did you tell Stacy I was sleeping?"

"Because you need your rest."

"We've been friends most of our lives, you can talk to me." She tried to infuse her tone with a mix of reproach and understanding. "Tell me the truth, Dave." "I think you already know the truth. Because I screwed up. Knowing about the evidence." He flexed his fingers. "You weren't asleep when Stacy called me."

She decided on honesty. "No, I wasn't."

"All this and something so stupid-" He looked her in the eyes. "I feel really bad about this, Jane."

Sudden anger took her breath. She worked to keep a hold of it, but some crept into her tone, anyway.

"Feel bad that you planned it all? Or that you gave yourself away?"

"I love you, Jane. You have to believe me. I would never hurt you."

"No? What do you call what you've done to me? You think Ian's being arrested didn't hurt? What about

the death of people I cared about? The loss of my child?"

She fought for control with limited success. "You think that day at the lake didn't hurt? All these years I thought you were my friend. I trusted you. Now I learn you're the one."

He made a move to stand; she stopped him. "Did you overhear us planning to skip school? To go to the

lake? Did you follow us? When you saw me there, did you decide you wanted to punish me? My screams were payment for rejecting you?"

He looked hurt, then angry. "This is what I get? For being your friend? Your champion and defender?"

"Shouldn't you say, my creator? After all, my life started after the accident. Your words, Dave."

Angry color flooded his cheeks. "You were supposed to be mine. Your money was supposed to be mine. Who was always there for you? Me." He jumped to his feet, dragging her up with him. "Me!" he repeated, voice rising. "Not Ian!"

He shook her so hard her teeth rattled. Her anger gave way to fear. She moved her gaze frantically over the room. From the kitchen came Ranger's frantic barking. If she could get to him, release him from his kennel...or get to the front door and the street.

There were people out at this time of night...snake, his patrons. If she made the window and screamed, would one of them respond?

"You turned your back on me. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"I didn't know," she managed. "If I'd known-"

"Bulls.h.i.t!" he shouted. "Lying b.i.t.c.h! You rejected me."

"I didn't. I'm sorry." Her voice trembled. "Please, forgive me. I love you, Dave."

Tears filled his eyes. He released her; she stumbled backward, hitting the night table. The lamp went

over, shooting crazy shadows on the wall.

"Forgive me for laying a hand on you." He reached out, begging. "I would never hurt you. How could I?

It's just... It's too much-"

He brought his hands to his face. She saw they shook. "I can't...go on this way. These men...I owe

them...a lot of money. I borrowed against it, but now...the police they-"

She inched backward, groping for something to use as a weapon. She found the toppled lamp and grasped it. One chance, she acknowledged, that's all she would have.

"They know about it. I'm trapped. It's all coming apart. But we could go away together. You and me.

Dave and Jane for all eternity."

"That's d.i.c.k and Jane!" she shouted, swinging with as much force as she could muster. Dave looked up a split second before the lamp connected with the side of his head.

It did with a sickening crack. Blood spurted. His expression registered a kind of shocked disbelief. He

stared at her, mouth working, blood running down the side of his face.

But he didn 't go down.

With a cry, Jane dropped the lamp, turned and dashed toward the front door.

She heard him behind her. Gaining. She hesitated, thinking of Ranger. If she could get to his kennel,

free-

The front buzzer sounded. Sobbing, Jane lunged for the speaker box, hit the call b.u.t.ton. "Help!" she cried into the speaker. "Help me!"

"Jane! It's Mac. Buzz me in."

Sobbing with relief, she did, then made a grab for the door. She found the dead bolt and twisted it open.

As she reached for the k.n.o.b, something went around her neck, dragging her backward. A cord, she realized, her hands going to it. It was wet, sticky.

With blood. The cord from the lamp. Dave's blood.

Dave was alternately cursing and begging her for forgiveness. He tightened the cord, cutting off her breath. She clawed at it, flailed at him with her fists. Kicked out. All to no avail.

From outside came what sounded like thunder. The pressure built in her head, until she thought it might explode; her vision began to dim.

The door burst open; Mac charged through, gun drawn. "Let her go, Nash! Now!"

A sound pa.s.sed Dave's lips. Surprise. Or disbelief. His grip on her loosened. Jane fought her way free and fell to her knees, gasping for air.