on the lighted units across the way were drawn, shielding their inhabitants from the night.
Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe one of them had been sitting in his car. Listening to the ending of a song. Or to one of the popular sports discussion shows. Finishing a conversation on their cell phone.
There were a dozen legitimate reasons for someone to be sitting in their car.
Jenna almost dropped the phone when it shrilled, vibrating in her hand. She lifted it, holding it out in front of her as she waited for the number to appear on the caller ID display.
It wasn’t one she recognized, but that didn’t mean anything. Maybe someone from work who’d heard about what had happened was checking on her. Or maybe the dispatcher had decided to pass her call on to the police after all.
When the phone rang a second time, she punched the talk button, bringing the receiver to her ear. “Hello?”
“Should I be expecting a visit from the cops?”
There was no doubt in her mind who was on the line. The same deep voice. The same nearly unidentifiable accent.
“Any minute now.”
“You don’t lie worth a damn, Dr. Kincaid. I would think that someone with your training would be much better at that.”
“I’m not lying.”
He laughed, sounding genuinely amused. That should probably have unnerved her as much as seeing him sitting outside her building had. It made her angry instead.
“What do you want from me?” she demanded.
“Absolutely nothing, I assure you. Not one thing.”
“Then why are you out there?”
“Out where?”
He wasn’t going to admit what they both knew. He had parked across from her apartment so he could watch her.
“I’m sorry you thought I was sympathetic to him.” If placating the man would put an end to this nonsense, Jenna was more than willing to do that. “Nothing could be further from the truth. He’s vicious and sadistic, and believe me, I want him caught as much as anybody in this town.”
“It’s good to hear we’re in agreement.”
“Look, I’ve said I’m sorry for the way I came across. I don’t know what else you want me to say—”
“I told you. I don’t want a thing from you, Dr. Kincaid.”
“Then why are you outside my apartment? Why did you wait for me to come out of the office last night? What kind of game are you playing?”
“I’m not your concern, Dr. Kincaid. Believe me, I don’t intend you any harm.”
“Then stop stalking me.”
“Legally, what I’m doing—”
“Don’t talk to me about ‘legally.’ You followed me. You’re outside my apartment. You’re calling me. If that isn’t stalking—” She stopped the tirade because she knew she was giving him what he wanted. Control. “Just go away and leave me the hell alone.”
The catch in her voice on the last word made her furious. The day she let this bastard make her cry—
“Did you read those papers, Dr. Kincaid?”
He must have been parked out there when she’d arrived this afternoon, the newspapers under her arm. She had been so focused on getting inside and devouring them that she’d never thought to check out the parking lot. Of course, that wasn’t part of her normal homecoming routine. It would be from now on.
“I read them,” she answered.
“Then you know what I told you yesterday is true.”
About how well she fit the profile? “I don’t think—”
“Good,” he interrupted. “Don’t think. Just close your blinds, lock your doors and stay inside.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that if I were a woman in this town who looked so much like the rest of them, that’s what I’d do. It’s what other women all over this town are doing right now. I’m suggesting you join them.”
Jenna tried to come up with a response, but she couldn’t find words to express how his advice made her feel. Angry, of course. Yet fearful, too. And furious with herself that with a few words he could make her feel that way.
“Leave me alone.” Her voice was soft, but she allowed the emotion she felt into her tone, something she rarely did.
“I know you won’t believe me, but that really would be your worst nightmare. You do exactly what I tell you, and I promise nothing is going to happen to you.”
Jenna opened her mouth to respond, but the click on the other end of the line told her it was too late. He’d had the last word, just as he’d intended.
Frozen in shock by what had just transpired, she realized she was standing with the phone still pressed against her ear and her mouth open. She closed it, swallowing her fury, and lowered the phone. She pushed the off button as she took a deep breath, trying to think.
She wasn’t going back through 911. And she for damn sure wasn’t going to talk to the Mountain Brook police again. She was going straight to the task force instead and demand that she be allowed to meet with one of the detectives working the case.
At the very least, Sean Murphy had some kind of fixation with the killer. And at the worst…
She’d get the restraining order the dispatcher had mentioned. Something that would keep him off the grounds of her apartment complex and away from her office as well.
Paul knew a lot of people in this town. He would help her figure out whom she should call. Then, if this bastard pulled this same stunt tomorrow night—
The police would deal with him, and she wouldn’t have to. Never again.
And right now, that’s really all she wanted.
Five
“I saw the segment you did for Channel 47 on holiday depression. I confess that it struck a little too close to home. Especially the part about feeling let down that things don’t live up to your expectations.”
Despite Paul’s undoubtedly kind intentions in insisting she take yesterday afternoon off, it had made today a scheduling nightmare. And when Sheila had asked her this morning, Jenna had reluctantly given the okay for a new patient to be added to the end of her already full appointment calendar.
After less than five minutes spent with John Nolan, she was wishing she’d put him off until another day. Nothing he’d told her so far seemed to warrant the urgency he’d expressed when he’d called the office.
He
