“I found out that Kylie was romantically involved with Keith.” Well, Gabrielle had found that out.
He couldn’t see her now. Cooper’s body tensed.
“The guy tried to get at you by taking away the one person who mattered,” Cooper said.
Mercer’s daughter.
“He couldn’t get her, so maybe he decided to attack other agents by going after the people they valued.” It was a theory that he was just developing, but so far, the pieces fit.
“That idea only plays,” Mercer said slowly, “if we can link Melanie to an EOD agent.”
“Sydney can find a link.” If anyone could, it would be here. Sydney Sloan Ortez was in charge of information retrieval for the EOD. When it came to computers, no one was better. She could dig into any person’s life with her machines. Could, and had.
“I’ll get her started,” Mercer promised. “In the meantime, you keep tracking this rogue. He knows our agents, he knows us, but I’ll be damned if he’s going to get away with these attacks on my watch.”
Mercer hung up. Cooper pushed the phone into his back pocket. Gabrielle had slipped into the alley, and she’d never glanced back to see if anyone was watching her.
She should learn to pay attention to what—who—was behind her.
He’d sure gotten the drop on her easily enough in that apartment. If he had been the killer, she would have died.
His back teeth ground together as he stalked toward the alley. He’d had no idea that his neighbor was so drawn to danger.
Just like me. But he knew why he liked the thrill that came from danger. That burst of adrenaline made him feel alive.
What drew Gabrielle into the darkness?
* * *
THE FIRE ESCAPE led all the way up the side of the building. Gabrielle studied that fire escape, considering the options. It would sure be easy enough for the killer to slide through a window in the victim’s apartment then flee down the fire escape.
Was that why the front door was locked? Did you get out this way?
She slipped deeper into the alley. The voices were muted here. Her shoe brushed over a discarded aluminum can. The acrid odor of rotten garbage was strong in that alley.
Gabrielle glanced to the left. A green garbage container sat to the side. The alley snaked away a bit then opened to another street.
Since there were no lights in that area, it would have been easy enough for the killer to hide down there.
“You’re in the wrong place.”
The whisper drifted to her. When the words sank in, Gabrielle froze.
“You shouldn’t be here, all alone...”
She whirled around. That voice was coming from the shadows near the garbage container. “Who’s there? Show yourself!”
Laughter. Low and chilling. “Not yet...not yet...”
Goose bumps rose on her arms.
“Gabrielle!”
That was Cooper. A shout had never sounded more wonderful.
Before she could call out to him, something—someone—grabbed her and shoved her into the brick wall of the alley. Her head hit the bricks, hard, and her body slumped.
“Not yet...” That whisper told her once more.