A Profiler's Case for Seduction(32)
Her features brightened and she released a sigh of relief. “I just want you to understand that my decision not to have a physical relationship with you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me.”
This time he did step toward her and stroked a hand down the side of her face in reassurance. “I get it, Dora, and I’m okay with it.”
Minutes later as he stepped out of her house he drew in a deep breath of the night air, hoping to chase away the scent of her that lingered in his head.
He liked her intelligence, her laughter and her ability to keep him outside his own head. But he’d like to have it all—not just those things, but her passion and her desire, as well.
Still, if he couldn’t have it all, he’d take what she was willing to give because he couldn’t imagine his time here in Vengeance without her as a part of it.
What he wondered more than anything was, what had happened in her past that made her so wary of allowing herself any physical pleasure? What had her ex-husbands done to her that had made her so afraid of love?
Chapter 7
It was just after ten the next morning when Mark and Richard headed out to the north side of town where Troy Young lived. At the briefing that morning Mark had told the other agents about Andrew Peterson and the possible affair with Melinda, but everyone seemed to believe that Troy was their man. By the time the briefing was finished he feared that the information about Andrew Peterson and Melinda had been lost in the shuffle.
“I feel like nobody was listening to me today,” Mark said as he rolled down the passenger window of the car to allow in some of the cool, fresh air. “You’re the only one who has taken my theory about Melinda halfway seriously.”
“You know why nobody was paying attention to your information today,” Richard said. “We now have two strikes against Troy Young. If we can figure out if he ties into David Reed, then we’ve got somebody who is three for three in the motive department, and that makes Troy our most viable suspect.”
Mark heaved a deep sigh and focused out the side window. The day before, Joseph Garcia had discovered that Troy Young had written and emailed Senator Merris, the communications filled with vicious words and threats.
Apparently Troy Young’s father had worked for billionaire, and Melinda’s ex-husband, Gabe Dawson’s oil company and had been one of the many men laid off when Senator Merris had embezzled from the company and run it into the ground. Troy’s father had committed suicide after his layoff and Troy had blamed the senator for his father’s death.
Just three days before the murders, Troy had fired off yet another email, damning the senator and promising that one day he’d pay the piper for his crimes.
Those communications to the senator, coupled with Troy’s hatred of Sheriff Burris, had the whole team buzzing with the scent of a solve in their noses.
All they needed to do was tie Troy to David Reed and then they could probably build a case that would lead to an arrest. Had Mark been that wrong in his theory about Melinda? Certainly, he’d been wrong before in his career, but this one felt different. His instincts were still screaming even though a potential viable suspect had emerged.
“Are you going to pursue the Andrew Peterson angle anyway?” Richard asked.
Mark shrugged. “I think it’s something that needs to be done. I think it’s something I have to do. Even if we make Troy Young as the murderer, that doesn’t answer the questions about Melinda’s kidnapping. I’m just not ready to let Melinda Grayson off the hook yet. I need to know where this piece fits into the puzzle. If nothing else, he needs to be checked out concerning the kidnapping. Maybe he had something to do with it because she threatened to tell his wife about their affair.”
“That’s the first actual potential motive that’s come to the surface concerning the kidnapping. It would definitely be nice to come up with a solve of both of the crimes at the same time. You need help you let me know,” Richard said.
Mark shot him a quick grin. “You going rogue with me?”
Richard laughed and then sobered. “Even if we get the killer behind bars, we still don’t have any answers as to Melinda’s kidnapping. Your theory of a spurned or scared lover at least makes sense.”
“But, once the killer is arrested, we’ll be pulled out of here and back to Dallas. The kidnapping investigation might or might not continue with the local law enforcement, depending on the new sheriff,” Mark replied. “And I hate to leave unfinished business behind, even if it is deemed not our business anymore.”