ask this—do you know where your brother was an hour ago?”
He hated the suspicion he saw on her face. “I knew someone would be asking me that question.” He hadn’t expected it to be her. He’d brought her here to help his brother, not join the accusers. “The answer is no. I haven’t seen him or spoken to him. But then again, there are a lot of people I haven’t seen today either. You’re only asking about Clint because they’ve put it in your head that he’s involved in those women’s deaths.”
“No, I’m asking because the only photo he bothered was the one of Jessica Nelson. Why would anyone else be interested in it?”
He gave a resigned sigh. Bryce was tired of the constant questioning of his brother’s motives, but she did have a point. “I don’t know. But Clint would have no reason to threaten you. You came to town to help him.”
“I also came here to profile a serial killer. Is it possible he’s worried I’ll uncover him in the process?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s not. He didn’t do this,” he said, motioning toward the horrific photos of murdered women. “He couldn’t have.”
“Why are you so certain your brother didn’t do this? It has to be more than family loyalty. You have to at least entertain the possibility. I can spout off countless instances where offenders were arrested for horrific crimes and their family members insisted they couldn’t be responsible.” She turned and rubbed her neck. “What is it about those we love that makes us doubt their culpability?”
He heard the weariness in her voice and wondered if she was thinking about Danny and the traffic accident. Had she known about his drug usage, or had she been as oblivious as she seemed to believe he was?
But her question had merit, and if he wanted her help, he needed to explain what must seem like crazy loyalty to his brother. “I’ve seen evil, Lucy. I’ve faced it down eye to eye.” He shuddered at the memory of the men who’d attacked the embassy and their disregard for anyone’s life. “There’s a coldness in their eyes. I don’t see that in my brother. I’m not saying he’s perfect. He’s messed up royally, I’ll admit that, but he’s no killer. He doesn’t have it in him.”
She looked like she was about to challenge him again, then she just sat down.
He took the seat beside her. “What are you thinking?”
“That someone wants me to leave town, but it’s not the same person who abducted me yesterday or who killed all those women.”
He had to agree with her assessment. Whoever heard of a cold-blooded killer breaking into a house only to send a threatening message? A killer was going to kill until someone stopped him.
But someone was determined to frighten her into leaving town.
If it wasn’t the killer then who was it? And why?
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