Hearts Divided (Cedar Cove #5.5)(40)

Jake groaned out loud. “Has the entire world seen that picture?”

“Probably all of Seattle, at least,” Gray said, clearly amused.

“Well, hell.” He paused. “Yeah, it’s the same woman. I just had lunch with her and she told me she’s felt someone watching her, off and on, since a day or so after the picture was in the paper.”

“The timing’s pretty suspicious. Anything else happen to her? Any threatening letters or a dead rat left on her doorstep?”

“No. And I don’t want her to know about the letter and the blown-apart sewer rat I got. I’d like you to talk to her, though.”

“All right. Tell her to come to the station this afternoon.”

“I’d rather take her myself and meet you somewhere outside your office. She’s teaching a class right now, but we could be there by two-thirty.”

“All right. Meet me at Rosa’s Downtown at two-thirty. And you’re buying my coffee and doughnuts. You still owe me twenty bucks from the last poker game.”

“You got it.”

For the next hour, Jake returned messages and caught up on business calls, sitting under the walnut tree. He stood up and waited inside the doorway when Chloe dismissed class. As she collected her books and purse, he assessed the students leaving through the exit at the top of the tiered seats. None of them did anything to rouse his suspicions; they all appeared to be typical college freshmen. Students still crowded the aisle leading to the exit above when Chloe joined him.

“I called the Seattle P.D. and made arrangements for you to talk to Gray Stewart.”

“Is he the officer handling harassment reports?”

“Not exactly.” Jake took her briefcase. “Gray and I went to high school together. After we graduated, I enlisted in the Marine Corps and he joined the Seattle P.D. He’s a detective now.”

“I see.”

“I’m parked this way.” He pointed toward the visitors’ lot.

“My car’s in the faculty lot in the opposite direction.” Chloe reached for her briefcase. “Thanks for all your help, Jake.”

He shook his head. “I’ll drive you downtown. We’ll come back and pick up your car when you’re finished talking with Gray.”

“I can’t let you do that,” she protested. “I’m sure you must have a dozen ways to spend your afternoon that would be more fun than waiting for me in a police station.”

“Nope, not a thing.” He took her arm and turned her toward the lot where he’d left his car. “Besides, Gray’s meeting us at Rosa’s Downtown, a restaurant near his office. I told him I’d come with you.”

“I feel guilty for taking up so much of your day,” Chloe said as she walked beside him toward his car.

“I’m sure we can think of a way for you to repay me,” he drawled.

His voice was blatantly suggestive. Chloe glanced over and caught him watching her.

“Really? And what might that be?” Her voice was cool.

Jake laughed. “Nothing gets past you, does it? All I meant was that you can let me take you to dinner. Preferably soon.”

“Hmm.” She was very sure that wasn’t what he’d meant.

“Not that I won’t be happy to cooperate if you have something friendlier in mind,” he said.

“I’ll let you know when I do,” she murmured.

“You do that. Here we are.” Jake touched the button on his key chain, and the brake lights flashed on a black Porsche.

He opened the passenger door and Chloe slid into the seat, fastening her seat belt. He rounded the hood of the car and stowed her briefcase before he got in.

Chloe ran her hand over the soft leather upholstery and eyed the panel of gauges on the dashboard. “Nice car.”

“Thanks. I like it.” The engine turned over with a throaty growl when he twisted the ignition key. He shifted into gear and backed out of the parking space.

“Did I mention I drive a Volvo?” she asked mildly.

“No.” He looked at her and smiled. “But if you’re wondering how fast I drive, I never race on city streets or the freeway.”

“Good to know.”

He watched the black Porsche’s taillights blink red when the car slowed at the exit before pulling out into traffic.

He no longer wondered whether the connection between Morrissey and the lady professor was important. He wasn’t positive just how deep the lady’s feelings went, but he’d observed Jake Morrissey with other women. This one was different.

Excellent.

It was time to set in motion the next phase of his plan. Just as Morrissey had been responsible for the death of his son, so would he be responsible for the death of Chloe Abbott. Morrissey Demolition’s current job site was located southeast of downtown Seattle in a rural area. The small building holding Jake’s powder magazine was padlocked and enclosed inside chain-link fencing, along with the huge earth-moving equipment used by the highway contractor.

He knew exactly how to bypass the alarm, enter the building and get to the powder magazine that held the company’s supply of dy***ite. All the equipment required was a small bolt cutter and wire cutters. He didn’t need to steal more than one stick of dy***ite and a detonator cap for the justice and revenge he craved.