Hot Target

Katie crossed her arms in front of her body. “Just tell us what you came to tell us.”

“Malone was at a junior college before UT,” he said. “His major was…get this…forensic science. And backtracking, we now know the letters started right after he was picked up on the roster, right before he arrived, which deflected attention from him.”

Katie’s eyes went wide. “So he knew how to write those letters and not get caught.”

“That’s right,” Noah said. “And he had some emotional issues in high school. His dad was an alcoholic, hit his mom. Malone was competitive, started fights. Apparently, baseball got him straight. He was the leader of the team, the star player and that seemed to settle him down. Or so everyone thought. He fixated on Luke for reasons I am not sure we will ever understand.” He sat on the arm of the couch. “Oh, and I know how he got into the house and cleared the security feed.”

“How?” Luke and Katie asked at the same moment.

“Jessica,” he said. “Josh saw her at one of the games acting funny. Apparently, she went to all the games. Somehow Malone met her and used her to get to you. He’s been dating her. Using her. Whatever you want to call it. She’s at his house now.”

“That low-life bastard,” Luke said. “That sorry, low-life bastard.” He was visibly seething. “That’s it. I’ve had enough.” He charged forward, heading toward the door.

“Where are you going, Luke?” Katie demanded, running after him, trying to grab his arm despite a gaping robe and whipped cream all over her.

“Luke,” Noah called, in pursuit, as well. They followed him to the kitchen and then to the hallway. “Hold up, man. I’m putting together evidence. The police will handle this when the time is right.”

“The time is right,” Luke said. “Call them. Tell them to meet me there.”

“Luke!” Katie cried, this time getting a grip on his arm. “At least let me get dressed. Let me come with you.”

He pried her fingers from his arm. “This is between me and Malone, Katie. I’m doing this myself.”

“This is between Malone and the police,” Noah corrected.

“Right,” Luke said, reaching the front door. “Me, Malone and the police. Call them.” He yanked open the door and exited.

Katie cast Noah a desperate look. “Please! Go after him. I’ll meet you there.” She started for the stairs as Noah headed toward the door, her stomach twisting in knots, instincts in play. She stopped. “Noah!” He turned back to her. “Do what Luke said. Call the police.” She didn’t wait for a response. She darted up the stairs. She had another one of those gut feelings her father had said to never ignore. This wasn’t going to end well.

13

LUKE WAS already driving before he realized he didn’t have Malone’s address, but a call to a team assistant proved effective. He pulled in to the driveway of the stucco, beachside house and barely had the truck in Park before he was out the door.

He’d thought about beating Malone’s ass as soon as he’d gotten into the truck, but he’d calmed down enough since then to realize that wasn’t going to do anything but hurt his career. And Malone had already done enough of that. But he owed it to Maria to get Jessica out of Malone’s place before the police and the press arrived. As disappointed as he was in Jessica’s role in all this, she was a kid, manipulated by a creep.

He took the short set of stairs in a flying leap and rang the doorbell over and over. Then he started pounding on the door until it flew open. Malone stood there in no shirt, bare feet and jeans. “What are you doing here, Winter?”

“I know everything. The letters. The planted drugs. Everything, you son of a bitch. And you know what? It’s between you and me—I want Jessica out of here.” Her car wasn’t in the driveway, but Noah had said she was here, and Luke believed him.

Malone made a wacko motion at the side of his head and whistled. “You are truly going off the deep end. Losing it big-time, Luke.”

“Jessica!” Luke yelled, and then refocused on Malone. “I want her out of this. It’s between you and me, let’s leave it that way.”

“Luke?”

“Jessica,” he called. “It’s time to go home. Get your things.”

Malone tried to shut the door. Luke caught it with his hand and foot. “She’s leaving,” he said. “You’re a pathetic man. Using a kid like this.” He raised his voice. “Come on, Jessica! You’re going home.”

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Malone said. “Get lost, Luke. Inject your steroids or whatever you need to do to get through the day.”

“Let me by, Carl!” Jessica said. “Let me by. Luke…I’m sorry, Luke. I…I… Let me pass, Carl!”

Luke and Malone glared at each other. “Let her go, Malone.” Malone looked as if he was going to refuse, but suddenly jerked back and opened the door.