"No way," Colton snorted. "I have no use for politics. This is my job. Serena's a great girl, she doesn't deserve this."

"I'll be glad to do whatever you need," Hunter volunteered. "Alexia won't have a problem with that, considering what she just went through a few weeks ago."

Colton said, "I can help."

Katie tightened her lips and Dominic raised his brow at her. She rolled her eyes. "All right, I can donate a few hours. I mean, it's not like I have a life or anything."

"Thank you." Dominic didn't worry about Katie. She had a wicked wit and spoke mostly in sarcastic phrases, but she was professional and would do the job to the best of her ability.

Even if it meant taking a bullet for someone.

"All right, folks, let's catch us a killer before he strikes again." Dominic turned and walked back into the hall.

Serena paced from one end to the other, head bowed, deep in thought. She startled as Dominic stepped in front of her, grasped her upper arms, and pulled her to a stop.

She let him, looked into his eyes, and said, "Okay, we're targets, no doubt about it."

Dominic tapped his chin. "I agree-to a point. Or he's being really smart and just wants us to think we're targets."

She frowned. "That doesn't make sense. What does that gain him?"

"I have no idea. It's just a thought."

She considered that. "If we're targets, and I think we've established that, what kind of police protection can we expect?"

Dominic grimaced. "I was just discussing this with some of the team and here's the deal. About you, not me. The sheriff could put a protective detail on you for the short term, but I hate to break it to you, no one has the manpower or the money for a long-term deal."

"I see. So I'm pretty much on my own."

Shivers rippled through her when he reached over to grasp her fingers. "Hey, no way you're on your own. I told you I was just discussing this. Whatever the sheriff can't cover . . . well . . . let's just say I've got friends." He snorted. "And trust me, after that 'gift' left on my property, I've asked a few to watch my back for me."

Serena bit her lip. "That's good to know." She firmed her jaw. "Maybe it's nothing. Maybe he's just taunting us, telling us that we can't catch him. Like this is all part of his stupid game."

Dominic's brows pulled together at the bridge of his nose. "Maybe." His expression said he didn't think so.

"So why is he picking on us? Why is he making this so personal?"

"What if it just happened to be you and me? What if it's not us per se? What if we're now targets because we're the ones who're working Leslie's case?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, maybe he was watching to see who found her. Watching to see who responded to the call. And it happened to be you on the time clock."

Serena wrinkled her nose. "So I'm just lucky. Is that what you're saying?"

"Maybe. Who knows? It's just a theory and probably not even a good one."

"Well, until we have a better one, I'd say let's work with that one."

"Then again, the note pretty much makes it clear that this guy thinks you belong to him."

Serena shivered. "I know."

Even Dominic's warm hand covering hers couldn't chase the chill of terror invading her.

Serena's house was lovely. The killer stood in the den and looked right . . . then left. Where to start? Golden green eyes peered around the edge of the recliner, causing the killer to jump. Heart pounding, a little laugh escaped. "h.e.l.lo, kitty. Not much of an attack cat, are you?"

The dog, Yoda, sniffed the gloved hand and decided she'd found a new best friend. Serena should have chosen her pets more wisely. But then she had no reason to.

The instructions had been clear.

Get the information before getting rid of Serena.

But that had been much harder to do than originally thought. The woman didn't scare easily. And with her schedule so wacky, getting inside and feeling comfortable that Serena wouldn't be coming home anytime soon was impossible.

The killer sighed and ran a gloved hand over the mantel, looking at the pictures of the perfect family.

Resentment swelled.

The perfect family didn't exist. At least not the one that- "Stop it."

Saying the words aloud derailed those unpleasant thoughts.

"Get back to it. Find the package and get out."

But before the search could begin, the front door slammed and the alarm blared.

23.

THURSDAY, 10:45 P.M.

Serena stood at the sink in the morgue and watched John Doe's blood swirl down the drain. The clank of Dorie's cleaning cart pa.s.sing her door registered at the edge of her thoughts. She'd texted Camille an hour ago, but she still hadn't heard from the girl.

Worry niggled at her.

Why wouldn't the girl text her back? Was her phone dead? Serena had paid the bill for two months' worth of time, so an unpaid bill wasn't an issue. Plus, the phone rang four times before going to voice mail. If it had been turned off or had a dead battery, it would go straight to voice mail.

The phone was on and working.

But was it in Camille's possession?

She glanced at the clock. There was something to be said for being too wound up to think about going home and sleeping. At least she could take the day off tomorrow. Have a long weekend. Take the boat out on the lake.

Quit stalling, she ordered herself.

She needed to call her parents. Her father was going to flip. Her mother would probably cry and beg Serena to move home so she could live behind their gated security walls.

It was tempting.

No, she couldn't call yet. She needed to be stronger, prepare herself more for their reaction.

Then again, there was a serial killer out there with a bead on Serena-and maybe those she loved.

She had to push past her own silly issues and call.

After peeling the blue gloves off and trashing them in the red biohazard bin, she grabbed her cell phone from her pocket and hit the speed dial.

Serena's father answered on the third ring. "Serena, love, so glad to hear from you. It's been awhile."

She grimaced at his tone. Gentle enough, but with subtle undertones of disapproval. "How's Mom?"

"Wondering when she's going to get to spend some time with her daughter."

Right.

"Dad, I have something I need to tell you."

A pause. Then a cautious, "All right."

Serena lifted a brow. He sounded awfully calm. "I need you to be aware that I may . . ." How in the world did she put this? Just say it. "I may have a serial killer targeting me."

Another pause. Then, "What! I don't think I heard you right because I thought you said you had a serial killer targeting you, but that can't possibly be what you said."

There he was. The dad she knew and loved. She almost smiled.

Before she could respond, he said, "Are you talking about the one that's all over the news? The one killing these young women?"

"Yes."

"Okay, hold on a minute while I try to breathe." She heard him take a deep breath. "Explain yourself, please."

She filled him in, starting with the first 9-1-1 call to finding Leslie in the park to the latest death of the man who had broken into her house.

For a moment, her father didn't say a word. Then, "Pack your bags. I want you here where we have a state-of-the-art security system. I'll hire a bodyguard."

"Dad, you can't afford a bodyguard," she reminded him softly.

He went silent. "I'll take out loans, I'll mortgage the house. Whatever it takes. I want you safe."

Her father was running for the senate seat. What most people weren't aware of-yet-was due to a few bad investments over the last couple of years, her father was now about to lose everything.

"I have a friend, an FBI agent, who is working to keep me safe. I'm not moving in with you and Mom because if I do, it may draw his attention to you. And I absolutely won't do that."

"Serena-"

"Dad, don't you understand? I simply can't do that. Please take precautions to protect yourself and Mom. I'm doing the same."

For a moment he didn't speak. Then he said, "I have friends in high places. I'll see what I can do about having someone on your house and at work 24/7."

This was exactly why she hadn't wanted to call him. He would take over, think he could control everything. She clamped down on her tongue and tried to understand the situation from his point of view. He was worried. Had every right to be worried.

She asked, "How's the financial situation?"

He sighed. "We're hanging in there. I've taken on a couple of extra cases, putting in some long hours, some weekends, but we're doing all right."

"And the donations for the campaign?"

"That's the good news. Those are rolling in pretty steady."

Relief swept over her. "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"Just concentrate on staying out of this killer's path." He paused again. "I've had a hard time watching you grow up, Ser, but I suppose I have to admit . . . you are grown. I want to demand that you get yourself over here and stop playing around, but after the humbling experience of borrowing money from my daughter-"

"That was a gift, Dad."

"Borrowing money from my daughter, I've lost a little of my arrogant att.i.tude."

"Good," she smiled into the phone, "you needed to."

"Humph. If it wasn't for your mother . . . so anyway, I'm not going to make any demands or make you feel guilty for not locking yourself away here at the house." His voice lowered. "But please, please, be careful and listen to your FBI friend. Do exactly what he tells you to do when it comes to security. If something happened to you . . ."

Wow. Did she hear tears in his voice?

"I promise, Dad. I love you."

"Love you too, darling."

After she hung up, the conversation swirled through her brain. Her father, the know-it-all, arrogant criminal lawyer who'd faced death threats and turned down bribes, had been brought to tears over her safety. She wasn't quite sure what to think. She knew her dad loved her, she'd never really doubted that, but . . . well, wow. This was a side she'd never seen before.

One that would take a little more processing than she could handle right now.

Her phone buzzed and she glanced at the ID. Dominic.

"h.e.l.lo?"

"Are you ready to go home?" his deep voice rumbled in her ear.

"Almost. Where are you?"

"Turn around."

She did. Dominic stood at the opposite end of the room, the phone pressed against his ear. She hung up. "You're silly."