about how common that made him seem. Luke still hadn’t figured out how the man got his number. The man calling himself Ravishing Rob—someone who captivated and then decapitated—had done his research. Efforts to trace the call were futile. He’d used a burn phone. Rob was thorough. He also knew how to play the media.
Reporters had their uses. In this case, they might’ve issued Julie a death warrant. “You said earlier you didn’t get a good look at him. Any idea as to general information like height? Build? Race?”
She shook her head. “I was so horrified. The whole thing shocked me. One minute I was planning to meet a client, like usual, and then I thought the worst-case scenario was that I’d walked into a robbery in progress. The next thing I know, I’m staring at a person whose throat had been slit. I’ll never forget her eyes, pleading.” She shivered again and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Luke had to grip the pencil tighter to stop himself from wiping them away. He didn’t like seeing her cry. He’d seen those tears enough for a lifetime. If it didn’t mean saving her life, he’d stop questioning. “When did you find the note?”
“This evening. I’d just gotten home from spending the day at the police station answering questions.”
“What time?” he pressed. She might not have gotten a good look at Rob. Rob didn’t know that. The reason he’d given himself the nickname Ravishing Rob churned in Luke’s thoughts as he sat next to her. Rob had said he charmed his way into his victims’ homes or cars before taking them hostage, torturing them and then beheading them with surgical precision. The bastard would never get the chance with Julie, no matter how much swagger he thought he had.
“I’m not sure. All I wanted to do when I first got home was take a shower and get out of those clothes I’d been wearing. I ate dinner alone, a bowl of soup. I decided to slip out and check the mail...and that’s when I saw it.”
He already knew she’d showered. The smell of her pineapple-and-coconut shampoo filled his senses when he breathed. That she’d eaten alone soothed a part of him it shouldn’t. He scooted back and scribbled approximate times on his notepad. “Did you see any cars?”
She shrugged noncommittally, leaning into him for support. The vulnerability in her amber eyes ripped right through him. Damned if the past didn’t come flooding back all at once, reminding him of old times they’d shared and the feelings he missed.
He had to remind himself their history wasn’t the reason she was leaning on him now. She was scared.
“I’m not sure. You know how this street is. There’s always someone parked out there. I didn’t pay attention.” She tapped her hand on her knee.
“I need you to think.”
“I said I didn’t know,” she barked in the way she did when her nerves got the best of her.
Everything about her body language said she’d just frozen up on him. Fear could paralyze victims. Once the shock wore off, she’d forget. As it was, he had very little to go on. Anything she could give him might paint a more detailed picture, save her life. The profiler had said Rob probably kept something from each of his victims and liked to hunt. A saw was his favorite weapon, but he used guns when necessary to kill them before cutting their throats. He was also a perfectionist. Rob was most likely educated, a collector, and he had weapons. “Dammit, Julie. This is important.”
“Don’t you have anything from the scene you can use to figure out who it is? Hair sample? DNA?”
“Doubt it. The house is being combed, but I’m not expecting the crew to find anything. This guy’s careful, meticulous. Even though you interrupted him, he had the presence of mind to ensure he didn’t leave a witness.” He didn’t tell her the guy normally cut off the heads of his “projects,” as he called them. Or about the half-open carton of orange juice they’d found sitting on the counter. Since Rob wasn’t able to bleach his victim this time, maybe he’d left behind a print. Doubtful, but Luke hadn’t given up hope completely. “A rookie was first on the scene. That doesn’t help. I just came from there. If there was evidence, which I doubt, it’s most likely gone.” He stabbed his fingers through his hair. “Can you think of anything else? Anything different. Doesn’t have to be about what you saw. Could be anything about the visit.”
Julie’s gaze widened. “I was supposed to meet with her on Thursday. She changed our appointment last minute.”
“Did you mention that to the police?”
“No. I didn’t think about it until just now.”
Bingo. New information. “Did she say why she moved the appointment?”
“No. She sent me a text asking if I could come a day early. Said something came up last minute and she needed to leave town right away.”
“How long did you have the original appointment on your calendar?” This guy watched his “projects” carefully. Hacked into their computers. Studied their movements. He knew them as intimately as he could without ever having met them face-to-face. At least in this case, he wasn’t monitoring her phone.
“Weeks.”
Must’ve been the change in schedule. Damn, if Julie had just kept the original appointment she’d be in the clear. This guy didn’t like an audience. He was most likely planning a way to finish his interrupted work...on Julie. Then again, any crazy with internet access could be targeting her right now. Luke glanced around. “How safe’s the neighborhood?”
“I had an alarm installed after you left...”
He’d noticed the keypad earlier. “I think it’s best if you stay with a friend for a while.”
“I’ve already thought about that. I have someone coming over later to stay the night.”
“Who?” He told himself the only reason he’d asked was to make sure it was someone who would have her back if the killer decided to strike. Not that Luke planned on being far away.
“A friend.”
He said a quick prayer it was a female. The thought of another man sleeping in his bed shot a lightning bolt of anger down his spine. “Does this friend have a name?”
“Alice.”
Relief he had no right to own washed over him. Alice hated him. But she was a helluva lot better than Herb, the dentist. “What time is she coming over?”
“She works until...” Julie checked her watch. Her hand shook. “Actually, she should be getting off soon. I’ll give her a call.”
Before he could debate his actions, he covered her hand with his. A current he refused to acknowledge pulsed up his arm. He didn’t want to offer to stay in a place that brought back so many painful memories. He couldn’t count how many times they’d made love on this very couch before he shipped off. Or how cold the leather was against his skin when he slept there every night after his return. “I doubt anything will happen tonight. He’ll want time to regroup. I’ll be right out front as precaution.”
“All night?”
“Yes. I have an officer stationed out back, too.” Luke was almost certain she wanted to poke his eyes out for ever having to look at him again. She still looked damn sexy. Her robe opened just
