Twisted Hunger (28 page)

It was probably just all the craziness with those hoodlums, on top of no sleep, and the pressure of leading a double life, and Luke and the damn hairpins. She knew she had to resolve something before every nerve in her body exploded.

Could Diane have been right about Luke? Could she have a wild fling with him and come out ahead? It was a scary idea, but even if she lost herself in him, it would only be temporary. Any day now he would have to return to his classroom in North Carolina. She could get her hair mussed, her body tuned up and balanced, and still be independent.

What was she thinking? For a moment there, she forgot that Luke could be a spy rather than a horny but otherwise innocent teacher. Too bad she hadn’t been able to throw that possibility out to Diane while she was advising her to enjoy what he had to offer.

She had to know for sure before she could make an intelligent decision. Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, she got up, got dressed and headed for the all-night diner a few blocks away. Using the pay phone there, she placed a call to the number Brevowski had given her and punched in the digits that would request an immediate meeting.

Forty-five minutes later, she was getting into Brevowski’s car.

“What have you got?” he asked even before she had closed the door.

Ellery heard Diane’s words in her head.
It has more to do with mental attitude than physical power.
“I’m asking the questions this time. Where were you tonight?”

She had clearly surprised him. “I had an appointment. Why?”

“I was almost killed.” She was satisfied that he looked appropriately worried. “You assured me that you would be close by if I needed help. Was that a lie?”

“No, of course not. Tonight was an exception. What happened?”

She told him about the near attack and how Diane had saved them. “I wondered if she was working for you, as my bodyguard or something.”

He frowned and shook his head. “No, but she could be working for someone else. You should steer clear of her from now on, just in case. What I’m more worried about is who those boys were working for.”

Ellery’s eyes widened. “You mean you don’t think they were just punks out looking for trouble?”

“Let’s just say I have my doubts about it being a coincidence.”

Ellery’s aggressive posture vanished. She had never considered that possibility. “Why would anyone want to hurt me? I haven’t found out any important secrets.”

“Maybe you have and don’t realize it.”

“I’ve told you everything I’ve seen or heard. Which reminds me, did you check on the license plate and phone number?” When he hesitated to answer, she objected. “I have a right to know if I uncover something important. As you just suggested, someone may try to hurt me because they think I know more than I really do.”

“I don’t know yet how important it is, but it’s definitely curious. The plate in Jones’ trunk was one that had been reported stolen earlier this month.”

She needed a moment to comprehend what that meant. Regardless of her belief that Jones was innocent of any wrongdoing, concealed possession of a recently stolen license plate was highly suspicious. “What about the Los Angeles phone number?”

“It belongs to someone named Henry Levitt. Do you know who that is?”

“No. It doesn’t sound familiar.”

“Hmmm. It did to me, as though I’d heard it before, but I can’t place where yet. There was no answer when I called, so I had someone down there check on the address. A neighbor said Levitt left town but didn’t tell anyone where he was going… said he was very secretive about it. I’ll be following up further, but if you come across the name or the phone number again, let me know.”

“Okay. There was another reason I called you.” She tried to make her voice sound casual. “Did you have any luck checking on Lucas Madigan?”

“The man you went out with last night?”

She felt her cheeks heat up when she realized he may have witnessed her indiscretion. How could she have forgotten that someone was watching her every move?

“As far as I could tell, he’s a professor at the University of North Carolina, out here on vacation. He’s a California native, by the way. His parents still live in Pasadena.”

“Yes, he told me that last night.”

“At any rate, once I verified that much, I didn’t bother to follow you last night.”

“You didn’t?”

He shook his head. “It looked like you were safe enough, and you
are
permitted to have a private life, despite our agreement. I just have to keep reminding you to be cautious.”

She had the fleeting impression that he was lying to keep from embarrassing her, but she decided to accept his word since it was more comfortable than thinking he had seen her behaving like a slut. “So you don’t think Luke is a spy of any kind?”

“Not as a professional. If he’s an amateur, like you, it’s not so easy for me to uncover. You’d have a better chance of figuring that out just by spending time with him. If he’s an amateur sleuth, he’s sure to slip up on his own, particularly if the two of you start… getting close. Look for him to ask too many specific questions about your work or Jones, possibly at inappropriate times. The more casual he tries to be about it, the more you should suspect him of having a hidden agenda.”

Ellery reflected on the various conversations they’d had so far. “Other than his request for general information for a colleague of his, I don’t think he’s asked me a single specific question about the senator or my job.”

“Then you probably have nothing to fear from him. But stay alert, just in case. Remember what I’ve said from the beginning—trust no one.”

Ellery groaned. “It’s really not necessary to repeat that phrase every time we have a conversation. My memory is fully functional.”

By the time she returned to her apartment, she felt more relaxed about some things and more nervous about others.

His confirming that Luke was not a professional failed to give her any sense of relief, since the question still remained of whether he was an amateur like herself, but recruited by the other side… whoever they were. As she had told Brevowski, however, Luke hadn’t asked a single question that would lead her to believe he wanted inside information. Everything he said and did made it crystal clear what he wanted from her.

And yet he was very bright. He might realize that he’d have to earn her trust before asking any important questions. And what better way to earn a woman’s trust than by convincing her that he was crazy about her? If that was the case, then she was back to the point of keeping him close because that would be better than having “them” send someone else she would never suspect.

She got into bed, determined to get a few hours of sleep before going to work, but the little voice in her head kept repeating the same question.

What are you going to do about Luke?

She wasn’t at all positive she could spend time with him and not get stupid again. He and Diane had both suggested that she was afraid of him, and she could no longer deny it. Or rather, she was willing to admit that she was afraid of the effect he had on her.

Aren’t you the girl who believes in confronting your fears?

By confronting her fears of earthquakes, darkness and enclosed spaces, she had found ways to cope with them. Surely she could do as much with one man.

She got back out of bed and looked up the number for Conley’s Motel.

* * *

“H’lo?” Luke answered groggily.

“Oh no. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Go back to sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Ellery? Wait. Don’t hang up.”

“But you were asleep.”

“I was dreaming of you. This is better.”

“That was very sweet. Maybe we should have all our conversations when you’re asleep.”

“If you’re suggesting that we spend some time sleeping together, I’m perfectly willing to share my bed.”

“Aah, that’s more like it. You must be waking up.”

“Enough to wonder why you’re calling me at,” he glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “Geez, princess, it’s two a.m.”

“Yes, I realize that now, and I’m sorry enough to ignore the objectionable title. As to why I called, well, I guess I was hoping you could help me with that. What with you being so smart and all.”

He was quiet for a moment. “I’ve got to admit, I have no idea what you want me to say, but I’m pretty sure there’s at least one answer that would make you hang up, so I think I’ll abstain until I have more information.”

“Why are you here?”

Luke pulled himself upright in bed and jogged his brain up to a more alert level. He should have been prepared for the question but he wasn’t, so he hedged. “Geographically or metaphysically?”

“Start with geographically. What are you doing here in Sacramento?”

“Do you want an honest answer?”

“Your decision, of course, but know that your answer may determine whether or not we see each other again.”

“In that case, be prepared for complete honesty. I came out to California because I thought my parents needed my help. The problems didn’t turn out to be as bad as I imagined, but since I was already here, I decided this was as good a place as any for this year’s vacation.”

“You told me your parents live in Pasadena. That doesn’t explain why you’re in Sacramento.”

“They do, and you’re right. I’m stalling. Because if I tell you the whole truth, I’m afraid you’re going to hang up and not call back again.”

“Then you have nothing to lose, because if you don’t tell me the truth, I’m gone anyway.”

“Okay. I’m hanging around Sacramento because I’m thirty-six years old and, for the first time in my life, I looked in a woman’s eyes,
your
eyes, and knew that if you were by my side, I’d never need to make love to another woman again.” He waited for a response, but he heard nothing. “I know that sounds corny, but I haven’t had any practice saying that kind of thing to a woman.”

“No. It wasn’t corny. It was… sweet. But you should know that I… I don’t feel the same way about you, nor am I interested in a long-term relationship with any man. If I agree to a real date with you tomorrow, er, tonight, you have to promise not to say anything like that again.”

Luke wasn’t bothered by her denial. Her physical response to him had said otherwise. And he was pretty sure she wasn’t in the habit of calling men she was indifferent about in the middle of the night because she couldn’t sleep. She just needed some time for her mind to catch up with her body. He grinned and crossed his fingers. “Anything you say, princess.”

Chapter 15

Henry Levitt was abruptly awakened by a heavy pressure on his stomach and mouth. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dim light coming in through the open window of his brother’s guest room.

“This will go much easier if you just relax,” whispered the blonde woman sitting on his stomach. Her latex-gloved hand remained clamped over his mouth. “Do you know who I am?”

Henry might not have recognized her if they’d passed on the street, but he recognized the pink designer suit she was wearing and, given the circumstances, he had no doubt this was Stewart’s killer. Not a woman, but a man in drag. He shook his head in denial anyway.

“How strange,” the man replied in a husky voice. “I purposely wore the same outfit I had on the last time you saw me. And you certainly didn’t have any trouble describing me to the police artist.”

Henry’s eyes widened with terrified comprehension. He knew he was staring death in the face. The only question was which mutilation this maniac would do first, carve out his eyes or slash his throat. He tried to draw in a deep breath, but he simply wasn’t strong enough to make his diaphragm work against the man’s weight.

“I’ll get off if you promise not to move or make a sound. If you do anything to wake up your family, I guarantee they will all be dead before I leave here. If you do as I say, they’ll never know I was here, so I won’t have to hurt them, and you will be given a gift that will allow you to die with a little dignity. Agreed?”

As Henry was already getting dizzy from lack of oxygen, he nodded his agreement.

“Very good,” he whispered with a charming smile then moved off the bed. His freed captive gasped sharply. “Careful now,” he warned. “No noise. Do you have a pen and piece of paper in here?”