"So he did."

"Yeah. So he did." The last sentence was so soft, she almost didn't catch it.

"But he had to have seen kids your age doing that almost every day in his line of work. Why would he react that way with you?"

Dominic shook his head. "I have no idea. I think I just happened to be his breaking point, the one he had to make a difference with. So I went to the police academy, but moved on to the FBI. I found out that my background, my years of living on the streets when Dad's drinking raged out of control, my drug knowledge, all of that made me a really good undercover cop."

Serena gazed at him, saw the determination in his eyes and the goodness lurking underneath. "I'm glad you're the one working this case."

His gaze snagged hers and he offered her a slow smile. "I am too." Then the smile disappeared. "I'm sorry that it took a serial killer to bring you back into my life." His hand reached out to grasp her fingers. "But I have to say, I'm glad you're in it."

Senses and pulse all aflutter at his words and the look in his eyes, Serena pulled in a steadying breath as she searched for the right response.

Her phone buzzed, causing her mind to blank. His lips pulled up at the corners and he let her hand go. "You need to answer that."

"Probably." Still, she didn't move to do so.

The phone buzzed again.

He smiled wider and the dimple in his right cheek flashed at her. "Go ahead. I'll wait."

Serena snagged the phone from her pocket. "h.e.l.lo?" She couldn't help the small twinge of irritation that made her voice sharper than usual.

"Serena? This is Colton."

"Colton? What's up?"

"Just wanted to let you know that the man you shot is waking up. I'm on the way to the hospital now. If he has anything interesting to say, I'll give you a holler."

"I'll meet you there."

Dominic's eyes rose to meet hers. He'd finished his salad and downed the last of his tea. She hung up and he asked, "What is it?"

"He's waking up."

"The guy you shot."

"Yes." She rose and placed a twenty on the table. "I could catch a cab."

"I'll take you." Dominic stood with her and added another bill to the table. She was grateful he didn't try to insist on buying her dinner. This wasn't a date. Yet.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"I'm sorry to be so much trouble."

He took her hand. "You're no trouble, trust me."

And she did. Trust him.

Without another word, he led her back to his car. She glanced at the clock on her phone.

8:02.

It had been a long day and didn't look like it was going to end anytime soon.

Wishing she'd snagged a coffee for the drive, she forced her mind to focus on what lay ahead. She was finally going to get to confront the man who'd broken into her home, terrorized her, and ended up on the floor with a bullet in him.

A bullet she'd delivered.

She gulped back her fear and glanced at the man beside her. Thank G.o.d that he was with her. She hated to admit it, but he made her feel safe. Safer. And that made her frown. She'd always been very independent, mostly relying on herself-and G.o.d-to get her through the tough times.

But this was turning into one of the toughest things she'd ever come up against, and having Dominic in her corner felt good.

Her phone vibrated. She glanced at the caller ID, forced her mind to switch gears, and answered it.

"Camille's back and said she desperately needed to see you." Mrs. Lamb, the director of Covenant House, spoke softly, her words causing Serena to bite her lip.

"She was supposed to let me know if she wanted to meet in the park."

"She said she didn't want to be out in the open. Afraid of her father. They had another fight."

"How is she? Appearance-wise?"

"Scared, underweight, fidgety, and looking over her shoulder."

Serena frowned. "Have you seen her father anywhere on the premises?"

"No. I haven't noticed him and no one has come asking about her."

Dominic looked at her and raised his brow, silently asking if everything was all right. She mouthed, "Camille."

He nodded.

To Mrs. Lamb, Serena said, "All right. Keep an eye out for the man. I'm in a tough spot right now and I don't think I can get there tonight. Did she say she'll stay there?"

"Yes, she's too upset to go home and asked if she could stay tonight. I'll tell her you'll talk to her in the morning if you don't get a chance to call tonight."

"All right. Thank you."

Serena ended the call and laid her head back on the headrest, exhaustion nearly overwhelming her. She felt Dominic's hand on her arm and looked over at him. The concern on his face stirred something deep within her.

"I feel like I'm being pulled in a hundred different directions," she said.

He gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "I'm here for you. You don't have to do this on your own."

His words wrapped around her and lifted the weight from her chest, replacing it with a warmth that held more than just grat.i.tude. "I know." She smiled at him, her throat tightening with emotion. "That means . . . a lot."

At the hospital, Dominic pulled into a spot reserved for the police. Several other cruisers were parked, lights flashing. "I wonder what's going on?" he asked aloud.

They climbed out and Serena led the way, anxious to see the man and grill him with a few questions.

Like what he was after in her house.

As they rushed toward the door, they were stopped by a uniformed officer. "You can't come in here right now."

Dominic flashed his badge. "What's all the commotion?"

"A missing kid. We've got the hospital on lockdown."

"We need to get up to the fourth floor."

The officer's radio crackled. He listened, then said, "Ten-four." He looked at them. "Found the kid. Go on up."

As they headed for the elevator, a mental picture of the package Jillian sent shot through her mind and she wondered how her intruder would know about that. "Hey, slow down a bit, will you? I just about ran a little old lady down."

She turned to see Dominic rushing to keep up with her and slowed. "Sorry, I guess I'm so used to dodging people in this place that I forget others don't have the art form down."

He laughed and stepped up beside her. Serena found the elevator and pressed the b.u.t.ton.

"I hope he's able to answer a few questions," she muttered, and tapped her foot impatiently.

"Did Colton say whether they'd managed to ID him yet?"

"Not yet."

The elevator doors slid open and Serena waited for the people to unload. A young mother with two toddlers took her time ushering them into the hall. A slim figure in a baseball cap and ripped jeans brushed past her, nearly knocking her off balance.

Serena grumbled under her breath at the rudeness of some people and thought about taking the stairs when the elevator was finally empty. She rushed inside and jammed her finger on the b.u.t.ton that would take them to floor number four.

When the doors opened once again, Serena hurried off the elevator to rush to the nurses' station-and found it empty. "That's odd."

Dominic looked around. "The place is deserted."

Serena rounded the desk and started pulling charts until she found the one she was looking for. "John Doe. Room 423."

Together, she and Dominic headed down the hall. Heart thumping, she found the room on the opposite side and came to a halt. "I think we found where everyone is." Nurses and security hovered outside the room. Looking inside, she saw one head she recognized.

"Colton?"

The detective turned, his expression fierce. "He's dead."

22.

THURSDAY, 8:22 P.M.

All the air left her lungs.

Dominic's voice rumbled in her left ear. "What?"

She pushed past everyone to stare down at the man with a small hole in his forehead. To match the one that had entered above his left ear. The one that she'd put there defending herself. The one in his forehead said murder.

His empty eyes stared back.

When her gaze landed on the small gift box sitting on his lap, his hands neatly folded around it, she gaped. "Dominic? Do you see this?"

"I see it." He looked at Colton. "What have you done so far?"

"CSU is on the way." Colton rubbed his chin and studied Dominic. "Looks like this case and yours are connected in a big way. If you want to take the lead, I'll step back."

Dominic nodded. "I would appreciate it."

Colton planted his hands on his hips, ready to take direction. Serena admired the man who was so confident in himself. He knew how to lead but was willing to follow when the situation called for it.

"All right," Dominic said, "we need everyone to clear the room." He looked at the nearest nurse. "Do you mind calling security? I'll need video from every camera with an angle on this room along with hospital entrances, elevators, and parking lots. I want to know what this guy was driving."

Serena saw the woman's hands still held a fine tremor, but she nodded and made her way back to the nurses' station.

Next Dominic addressed Colton. "Where's the cop a.s.signed to guard the room?"

"Haven't seen him. Been too busy to look for him."

Dominic nodded to another officer. "See if you can track him down." He then looked at Serena. Shaking his head, he rubbed his chin. "This is going to throw Debbie's a.n.a.lysis off the chart."

The profiler.

"Why?"

"Because this isn't the serial killer's MO. I mean, it is, but he's never killed a male before." He paused. "Other than Howard. But we know why he killed Howard."

"Because of what he knew," Colton muttered.

"So," Dominic pinched the bridge of his nose, "he had to get rid of this guy too." He blew out a breath. "I need to call Katie and Hunter. And Debbie. Excuse me for a few minutes." He looked at Colton. "Let me know when security gets here."

Dominic got back on the phone, discussing the new killing with Debbie. Serena stared at the man on the bed. Who was he? Why had he been in her house? Why did the serial killer want him dead?

Questions swirled, but no answers followed. She just knew that somehow she was suddenly very connected to a killer and it scared her spitless.

"He's only been dead for a short time," she said.

"I just checked on him about forty-five minutes ago," a soft voice said from the door. "He buzzed the nurses' desk saying he wanted more water but was too weak to get it." Serena and Colton turned to find the same nurse who'd called security standing there. The woman took a deep breath. "I'm Hannah Grant. I am . . . was his nurse."