Desperate Girls (Wolfe Security #1)(76)

“I got another one this morning,” Brynn said.

“Where?”

“Her house,” Erik said darkly.

“Did you share this with the marshals?”

He nodded.

“Back to this pen pal,” Brynn said. “Tell me her name again? And do we know her address?”

“It’s Ann or Anne-with-an-e Johnson—not sure of the spelling. And Dewitt claims he doesn’t remember where she lives.”

“He’s lying,” Erik said.

“I’m inclined to agree, but what am I gonna do? It’s not like I can sweat this guy down. He’s in Los Angeles.”

“I’ll talk to someone.”

Someone meaning the marshals in Los Angeles? Or did he have a bodyguard friend out there? Whatever he meant, Lindsey didn’t want to know about it.

“However she spells her name, it’s extremely common, which doesn’t help us,” Lindsey said. “There are hundreds in Texas alone. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

“Why Texas?” Brynn asked.

“It seems logical because she probably delivered those notes to you and Jennifer Ballard. But you’re right, she could live somewhere else, such as Oklahoma or Louisiana.”

“Run the name against owners of a black Honda,” Erik said. “That should narrow it down.”

“We’re working on that,” Lindsey said. “The task force is doing everything possible to find this woman, because we think she’ll lead us to Corby.”

Brynn looked at Erik, then Lindsey. “We should let you get back to work.” They stood, and Lindsey did, too. Brynn started for the door, but Erik stopped her and turned around.

“One more thing,” he said to Lindsey. “If this necklace thing wasn’t McGowan, then you’ve got a cop out there who knows the man he framed for murder is out of prison. He’s bound to be getting nervous, and he’s not going to like it if he hears you’re digging into this.”

“I’m aware,” Lindsey said.

Erik pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it over. “If you’re worried about anything, call us. Day or night, we’ll get somebody on it.”

She laughed. “You’re saying I need protection? I’m a cop, for Christ’s sake.”

Erik nodded. “I’m saying be careful.”





ERIK SHOWED up at Brynn’s on Sunday night and found Hayes stationed in the lobby as part of her expanded security detail.

“She up there?” Erik asked him.

“In the fitness center, yeah.”

Erik took the elevator to the top floor. The lights were on in the gym, but all the treadmills were empty. Erik recognized the tall, dark shadow standing beside the pool with his back to the windows. Tactically, it was a crap position, but he had a perfect view of the water.

Erik slipped through the glass door and stood in the darkness. The pool lights were on, and Brynn’s body was a long silhouette gliding through the turquoise glow.

Erik walked up and clamped a hand on Trent’s shoulder, making him jump.

“Shit, man! I didn’t hear you come out.”

“I noticed.”

Trent shook his head, cursing.

“How’s the shift going?” Erik asked.

“It’s almost over.” He checked his watch. “Only an hour.”

“I got this. You can take off.”

Trent glanced at the pool, looking hesitant. “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

Another look at his watch. “Skyler’s down in the control room,” Trent said. “Are you here in the morning? Liam told me to report to the hospital to help cover Ross.”

“Hayes and I are driving Brynn to work,” Erik said. “I think she wants to stop by the hospital after, so I’ll probably see you there.”

“Okay, later, then.”

Erik watched him leave, then lowered himself onto the end of a lounge chair near the side of the pool. He tipped his head back to look at the half-moon peeking through the clouds, and for the first time in hours, he felt his shoulders relax. A warm breeze swept over him, and he heard the distant hum of traffic at street level.

His gaze settled on Brynn. She did a quick flip turn and shot through the water, breaking the surface with a smooth stroke. Erik watched her, transfixed.

Watching Brynn was becoming an obsession, and it worried him. He liked watching her in court, arguing from the lectern. He liked watching her on the treadmill. On her sofa. In her kitchen. He liked watching her in bed underneath him, her head tilted back and her skin fever-hot as she came apart.

Maybe he was torturing himself being here, but he couldn’t not. The threat was escalating, and he wouldn’t put her safety in anyone else’s hands.

She caught his eye as she reached for the edge of the pool. She stopped to look at him, and the water swirled around her.

“Hi,” she said, panting. She wore her plain black Speedo, which shouldn’t have looked sexy, but it did.

“Pretty late for a swim.”

“Long day. I needed to burn off some frustration.” She pushed up on the concrete, hitching herself onto the side of the pool. She reached up to squeeze water from her ponytail. “Trent said you were off tonight.”