The Darkness of Evil (Karen Vail #7)(89)

Vail set her fork down. “This is why we need to protect you.”

“No.”

“We’d move you to a safe house, guarded by the Marshals Service. They do this every day, Jas. Your case doesn’t present anything new or different for them.”

“Do they protect witnesses from serial killers?”

Vail sat back. “No.”

“Have they ever protected a victim from a serial killer?”

“Their specialty is witness protection.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Well,” Vail said, “not to my knowledge, but—”

“I’m not a witness who’s waiting to testify. My father isn’t your ordinary criminal, some mafia thug who pulls out a submachine gun or sets off a bomb. So this is different on just about every level.” She turned to Robby. “You’re a federal agent. Tell me what you think I should do.”

Robby glanced at Vail in mid-chew, a flick of the eyes to tell her she had better bail him out.

“I don’t think we should put Robby in the middle of this.”

“What exactly does that mean?” Jasmine asked as the waiter brought the lamb and naan and set them by the edge of the small table.

Robby swallowed. “It means that I think you should listen to Karen. No one understands the criminal mind better than she does. No one understands a serial killer’s mind better than she does. So if she tells you that staying in a safe house guarded by US Marshals is the way to go, that’s what you should do.”

Jasmine looked at him a long moment.

Robby broke her gaze and started dishing out the lamb. “This smells great.”

“You’re just saying that,” Jasmine said. “Because you have to. I can tell.”

“If I had a witness like you and it was my case,” Robby said, “that’s the advice I’d give her.”

“And if it were you? Or Karen?”

“Different. And irrelevant. We’re trained law enforcement officers.”

Jasmine did not say anything further about it—nor did Vail.

And if she was not going to accept protection, that meant Vail needed to put the tracker in Jasmine’s purse at some point fairly soon—without her noticing. I should’ve given it to Robby, then asked her to go to the bathroom with me.

Vail thought of slipping it to him under the table, but if Jasmine—whose powers of observation were sharp in her heightened state—happened to notice her secretly passing something to him, she would become suspicious. And if she discovered it was a device meant to report on her location, she might never talk to Vail again—even if the tracker was meant for her benefit.

Vail thought about lovingly taking Robby’s hand and placing the microchip in his palm. But it was small and if he was not expecting it and dropped it … Shit.

Robby checked his watch. “Almost lost track of time.”

“Yeah,” Vail said, “I know. The night’s flying by. But that was yummy. Great picks, Jas.” She folded her napkin and set it on the table. “I’ve gotta use the little girl’s room.” Maybe if she sees me go, she’ll think of following. If I can get back to the table before she does …

But Jasmine did not bite. She stayed at the table, chatting away with Robby.

When Vail returned, Robby had already signed the credit card bill. Jesus, that was fast. Panic crept into her chest; her heart rate increased and she cursed herself for not thinking it through better. Then again, she had a concussion. She had to cut herself some slack. Since when?

“Thanks for dinner,” Jasmine said. “And thanks for your help, Karen. And for caring. I know you mean well. I just think I’m better equipped to handle this than you give me credit for.”

“I get it. I’ll back off. I’ve said what needed to be said. I just … I came face-to-face with your father today and honestly, if it was you instead of me, you wouldn’t be here to talk about it.” She looked deep into Jasmine’s eyes and let the comment penetrate.

Jasmine twisted her lips and gathered up her jacket and purse. “Obviously, I hope you’re wrong about that.”

“Here,” Robby said, “let me help you on with your jacket.”

Vail reached out and Jasmine instinctively handed her the purse as Robby held out the coat and Jasmine slipped her right arm into the sleeve. But Robby had squeezed the material in his fist and her hand got stuck.

“Oh, hang on. Sorry. I—” He shook the material and then guided her fingers into the opening. “There you go.”

She shrugged it into position and buttoned it as they walked to the exit. They hugged and Jasmine promised to reply when Vail texted or called her.

As she got into a cab, Robby turned to Vail. “Did you do it?”

“I did. Thank you—that was quick thinking. I didn’t plan it out very well.”

“It’s okay. I saved the day.”

Vail stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss. “Yes, you did.”





47


Marcks sat in the dark sedan, wanting to turn on the radio but preferring not to risk running the battery down on a frigid evening. He did not know how much life it had left and the fewer people he had contact with, the better: even a tow truck driver responding to a jump-start call could identify him.