I ran my gloved hands around the steering wheel as I turned the car and headed back into town. An idea popped into my head. What if “Darby” killed someone else?

“Who?” Possibilities danced tantalizingly through the air. My fingers tapped impatiently. Was this a crazy notion?

The cops would say that two murders in two nights demonstrated a rapid escalation—but being arrested for a murder could be a trigger? Right? And the bonus would be the backlash directed at the police department for not keeping Darby O’Roarke locked up in the first place.

How could you let such a monster back out onto the streets?

I grinned. I liked that idea.

They might blame Darby for some of the other murders too, assuming they were smart enough to link them.

I rolled my eyes.

The thought of cops being even vaguely intelligent was a stretch. I’d killed my first asshole over a decade ago when she’d thought abusing me was an option. The police hadn’t come close to finding me in all the years since.

Who needed to die tonight? A random student? Nah. People at the university would be on edge. Some sucker in a bar? What day was it even? I checked my cell. Wednesday…

An image flashed into my mind and I smiled.

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Chapter Fourteen

“Where are we going?” asked Darby.

They’d been driving for what seemed like forever. Back through the city’s downtown, going in circles for a while before doubling back on themselves and then east, parallel to the Tanana River along Richardson Highway. Now they’d taken a road heading north, driving uphill until they were deep in the woods near Chena Lakes.

She’d kept quiet for most of the ride. She was still numb from the events of the day, smarting from the reaction of Jacqui and her advisor, and the possible demise of her career. They were people she’d assumed would at least listen to her side of the story without condemning her out of hand. Her boss had always been focused on the work, but she hadn’t expected him to abandon her quite so fast, not after his outward solicitude after she was kidnapped last year.

And Jacqui was supposed to be her friend. Would everyone Darby worked with think the same way? Would all her so-called friends shun her in the future?

“Haley rented us some accommodation so no one can tie it to you. It’s private and secluded and will be a safe haven until this thing is sorted out. No one is going to track us down.”

Darby shifted uncomfortably. How long was this situation going to last? It was impossible to predict. “I’m causing you all a lot of trouble.”

“It’s no trouble.”

She found herself pushing the point. “Dragging you up here away from your work. Haley paying for a lawyer and now this place? It’s definitely trouble.”

“You didn’t drag me anywhere. Nothing could have kept me away. I’m worried about you.” He pressed his lips together as if he wanted to say more then changed his mind. “And Haley has more money than she knows what to do with and loves you probably more than she loves Quentin.” His grip tightened on the wheel. “The three of you shared experiences that bonded you for life. Even if she had to sell her house, she would do everything she could to help you.”