I'm Watching You (39 page)

„He was a bore. I was ready for any excuse for him to take me home.“ She cocked a brow. „And you? Once the infantry marched away last night, how was your evening?“

Long
. He thought of Kristen now, of the way she’d looked last night. She’d been at her kitchen door, locking it as the last person left, prudently setting the alarm. She’d turned and just that fast the very air was charged, practically sizzling as they’d stood at opposite ends of her kitchen, staring. Then she’d simply walked into his arms as if she’d been doing so all her life. He’d kissed her. And kissed her. And God help him, he’d kissed her some more, until she was trembling and so was he, his hands clamped on her hips, wrestling with his best intentions. In the end he hadn’t dragged her against him as he’d so longed to do. He’d gently pushed her away, then turned her toward her bedroom with just a „good night.“ If she’d even hinted she wanted him to join her, he would have. He would have scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed and helped her have another… watershed moment.

But she hadn’t hinted. She’d walked away, stopping once to look back and the look in her eyes was worth more than ten watershed moments. It was trust mingled with heated want, and the combination triggered something inside him so profound… So he’d let her walk away and listened to her get ready for bed, his body still clenched and aching. She hadn’t slept until after three A.M. He knew because he’d checked on her, quietly, every half hour. He wanted to think he was checking because he’d been worried. She’d been shaken at finding Jenkins’s body in her backyard, at the implicit threat. He wanted to think that, but he knew he was hoping that she’d change her mind and ask him to stay. She’d wanted to. He could see it in her eyes. But she hadn’t and in the end she’d curled up and slept like an angel.

While he felt like anything but. He wanted her with a fierceness that left him breathless. He’d thought about it a great deal as he’d lain awake, staring at the blue-striped wallpaper from her uncomfortable sofa. She was a beautiful woman, no question of that, but he’d met other beautiful women in his life. Kristen had something more, something deeper – integrity, courage, kindness, a tender heart that she hid so well. A heart she was just now allowing to be seen. A heart that he wanted for his own.

In only a week she’d stolen his.

He looked over to find Mia studying him intently, understanding in her round blue eyes. She was an attractive woman as well, but he didn’t want her. He wanted Kristen.

„I could tell you to be careful with her, but I think you know that,“ Mia said soberly.

Abe frowned. „Why? What do you know?“

Mia lifted a shoulder. „I’ve suspected for a long time that there was more to Kristen’s dedication than simple zeal for justice. I went as far as to check once, to see if she’d filed a complaint. I have a very close friend who counsels women for these things. I thought maybe Dana could help Kristen. But there was no complaint here in Chicago.“

„I wanted to check,“ Abe admitted.

„But you want her to tell you herself. Be patient, Abe. She’s been alone for a long time. It takes some time to get used to having someone to lean on.“

Abe heard something in Mia’s voice, a yearning of her own. „Who do you lean on?“

One side of her mouth curved, a sad little half smile. „Me.“ She blew out an exaggerated sigh. „Even tomboys can dream of Prince Charming. Unfortunately, all I ever get is frogs.“ The half smile became a rueful grimace and she pulled the big book closer. „Well, let’s get to it. How many Genny O’Reillys could have been married in 1943?“

Wednesday, February 25,

10:00 a.m.

Hunting the judge was proving easier than he’d anticipated. Funny how having a little insider information made all the difference in the world. Before, he’d planned to catch the judge getting into or out of his chauffeur-driven Lincoln with its bullet-resistant glass. It would have been difficult to say the least. He might have been caught.

But now… He smiled, thinking of the miracle of the little electronic gadget he’d found in Trevor Skinner’s pocket. It was a cell phone, a date book, a phone book, and so much more. Apparently Skinner left little to chance and even less to the jury. There was enough dirt on every defense attorney and judge in the city to keep him busy for weeks and weeks. He was almost sorry he’d gone public. But he wasn’t sorry. The criminals and the scum who defended them were shaking in their boots, afraid to leave their homes alone, looking over their shoulders like their victims did every day. Thanks to Zoe Richardson’s tabloid-style reporting he knew the man with William Carson had been his bodyguard and that the prominent defense attorneys in town were fighting over the best hired guns to keep them safe.

But safety was an illusion, born in the mind. If a man was made paranoid enough, he’d be afraid even in the most secure place. And that was his goal. To make every man in the fishbowl afraid.

He fingered the card in his pocket. Judge Edmund Hillman. He’d tried Leah’s case. Thanks to Skinner’s BlackBerry, he knew that the Honorable Edmund Hillman had a mistress. He and Rosemary Quincy had been together for going on three years and met every Wednesday evening at a little hotel in Rosemont where the
Honorable
Judge Hillman was anything but. According to Skinner’s notes, this was the only time Hillman drove alone.

He’d get to the hotel early, before Hillman was due. He’d wait and watch and then he’d make his move. Then it would be
his
turn to bang the gavel.

Wednesday, February 25,

11:30 A.M.

Kristen hung up the phone carefully, resisting the urge to slam it down as Ronette Smith had just done. Ronette was
fine
, thank you very much, and her family
was fine
, and her life
was fine
, no
thanks
to the U.S. justice system.
And me
, Kristen thought, rubbing her forehead. Ronette had been very clear on that fact.

As had most of the names on her list. Kristen looked at the list objectively. She’d managed to get in touch with over half. Three had lost jobs recently, which could be a traumatic event, but they didn’t sound like she expected a killer to sound.

And how does a vigilante killer of nine sound? Cold? Dispassionate? Insane?

She was considering the question when a shadow fell over her papers. She looked up, expecting to see Spinnelli or Abe but her eyes widened when she saw Milt Hendricks standing before her. John’s boss. Automatically she stood. „Mr. Hendricks.“

He glanced down at her papers on Abe’s desk, then back up to meet her gaze. „I won’t beat around the bush. I wanted to be sure you knew why I pulled you out of the courtroom.“

„Because the defense attorneys are afraid and you’re worried about grounds for appeal on every case I was trying,“ Kristen said, parroting John’s words.

Hendricks nodded. „That’s true. But I also wanted you out of the spotlight. Somehow this vigilante has picked you. I told John to be sure you knew this was for your safety, not a punishment. But under the circumstances, I wasn’t sure if he’d given you the entire message. This is temporary, Kristen. You’ve got the best conviction rate in the city. When this is over, I want you back at work. Although, from the looks of those papers, you’re still working.“

Kristen felt her face heat, but stood her ground. „I’m helping the police go through my old cases,“ she said. „We’re certain there’s a connection.“

Hendricks lifted a brow. „Did John tell you that you could?“

„He didn’t tell me that I couldn’t. Sir,“ she added belatedly and his lips twitched.

„I see. Well, I don’t see any issue with that. Just be careful.“ He sobered. „Stay safe. I’ve just lost one of my best prosecutors. I don’t want to lose another.“

Kristen paled. „John? Has something happened?“

„No, no. He’s physically well,“ Hendricks assured her. „He offered his resignation this morning. I accepted it.“

Kristen sat down and looked up at him. „I’m not sure what to say.“

„He compromised his position,“ Hendricks said simply, „and the integrity of the office. Hopefully, this will all be over soon and we can get back to work. Oh, I understand you needed information on the Jenkins boy’s juvenile record. Consider it done.“ With a tip of his head, Hendricks was gone, leaving Kristen staring after him.

„My mom would say if you let your mouth hang open long enough, birds will fly in.“

Kristen looked to her left where Aidan Reagan leaned against a nearby desk. She closed her mouth with a snap and he grinned. „You free for lunch?“ he asked.

„You’re asking me?“

„Yeah. Abe said you had a purchase to pick up today and I’m between Rachels.“

„Purchase? Oh,“ she remembered. „My gun. My three days are up.“ Then she frowned. „What do you mean ‘between Rachels’? Is she all right?“

„She’s fine. I’m just her shadow today because I’m on nights this week. I’ll drop her off and pick her up from school until this is all over. And don’t say you’re sorry,“ he warned. „It would make Dad really mad and he’d have to kick your ass.“

This tugged a rueful grin to her lips. „How is he?“

Aidan shrugged. „Sore. In a real pissy mood. I think he’s more upset that he didn’t hurt them worse. Blow to his pride and all. But he’ll heal.“

Kristen studied him carefully. „You change your mind about me or something?“

Aidan’s cheeks darkened, just like Abe’s did when he was embarrassed. „I’m sorry I was rude when we first met. Look, I heard about the Blade graffiti on your house. Abe said you were thinking about a dog. I know a guy who trains dogs for the K-9 unit. You interested?“

Touched, Kristen grabbed her coat. „Let’s go.“

Wednesday, February 25,

12:00 p.m.

„Any success?“ Tina the clerk asked.

Mia rolled her eyes. „Yes, but of course she was at the very end of the listings.“

„That’s the way it always is,“ Tina agreed.

„Genevieve O’Reilly,“ Abe read from his note pad. „Married Colin Barnett on September 15, 1943, in the parish of Sacred Heart by Father Thomas Reed.“

Tina gave a satisfied nod. „Good. You could check the census to see if they had any children, but if they were members of their parish, the church would have a record of births.“

„What about you?“ Mia asked. „Any progress on our land search?“

Tina handed them a piece of paper. „I remembered Hank was short for Henry, and that’s where I found it. Henry Worth. On his death it passed to a Paul Worth. It’s all I could find. I hope it’s enough.“

Mia scanned the page, then looked up, a gleam in her eyes. „It’s plenty. Let’s call Spinnelli. We’ll need full tactical gear, just in case he’s there.“

Abe grabbed his coat. „I hope he is,“ he said grimly. „I want a piece of him first.“

Wednesday, February 25,

1:30 p.m.

„You should have told me you were allergic to dogs,“ Aidan said, his voice full of laughter as he helped her out to his car.

„Oh, that hurts.“ Gone was the satisfaction she’d felt as she test-fired her new gun back at Givens’s target range. It disappeared once they’d reached their next destination – a kennel full of impeccably trained guard dogs. The first step inside had her sniffling. Five minutes later she was sneezing so hard she would have fallen over if Aidan hadn’t held her up, chuckling all the time. „This really isn’t funny, you know,“ she grumbled.

„Why the hell did you go into a kennel if you knew you had such severe allergies?“

Kristen leaned against his car to catch her breath. „I didn’t know. I haven’t been around that many dogs. Once a Seeing Eye dog came into the diner and I sneezed, but I’d hoped it was just that one dog.“ She wiped her watering eyes and got into the car. Unlike his brother, Aidan went for the smooth sleekness of a Camaro rather than the massive strength of Abe’s SUV. She sniffled and shivered as he started the engine and the heater belched out ice-cold air. „I guess I won’t be getting a guard dog after all.“

Aidan’s lips curved. „I guess you won’t But I don’t imagine Abe will mind filling the role.“

Her cheeks heated despite the cold air from the alleged heater. „Abe is very kind.“

Aidan glanced over his shoulder before pulling out of the parking space. „I’m going to have to give him some pointers then, if all he can conjure is ‘kind.’“ Her face must have reflected her horror because he laughed. „I’m teasing, Kristen. Number one, whatever is between you and Abe is your own business. Number two, he’d kick my ass.“

„That seems to be a common theme in your family,“ Kristen commented.

„Hell, we’re a family of boys.“

„You have two sisters,“ Kristen pointed out.

„They have three brothers,“ Aidan corrected. „It’s different.“

„I stand corrected,“ she said dryly and he chuckled.

„Now you think I’m some Neanderthal whose knuckles scrape the ground.“

Kristen pretended to study his unscraped knuckles. „No, I’d say you’ve advanced to the moderately stooped-over phase of evolution.“ She caught her breath as he made an erratic turn. „What the – “ She looked over her shoulder, then back at Aidan who was checking his rearview mirror with a satisfied expression. „Reporters?“

„One bleached-blonde bitch and her camera-toting toady. No longer tailing.“

„I really hate that woman,“ Kristen said wearily.

„I’d say the feeling is mutual.“

Kristen frowned. „But I’ve never done anything to her. Why me?“

„She has to feed off someone else’s misery and it might as well be yours.“

„Well, still,“ Kristen grumbled.

Aidan leaned over to adjust the heater. „Better?“

„It’s okay. I used to walk to school in weather colder than this.“

„In Kansas, right?“

Kristen blew out a breath. „What didn’t Abe tell you?“