“So why even do this last movie? Why not walk away now?”

“I wish I could. But I don’t like to back out of things I’ve committed to.” She rolled back over and stared at the ceiling. “This role is not glamourous. Frankly, I’m surprised they wanted me for it. It’s hardcore drama, nothing I’ve done before. When I read for it, I didn’t think it went particularly well, but they wanted me.” She turned her head toward Harper. “I play a stressed-out cop who drinks too much. She’s having an affair with a defense attorney—married guy—who ends up defending a guy she arrested for murder. Her partner’s in love with her. She’s in love with her bottle of bourbon.” She sighed. “And it has a tragic ending.”

“The cop dies?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re hoping Danielle Stevens dies as well.”

Dani nodded and closed her eyes with a sigh. She felt Harper move, heard the click, sensed the room darkening from the lamp being turned off. She kept her eyes closed. She was safe. Harper Jeremiah, a cop she’d met only yesterday, was keeping her safe.

Harper settled back down again, and Dani knew, if she moved a foot or more, she’d be touching her. In the darkness, her lips turned up in a smile. She knew Harper would be like this. From the moment she saw her photo—looked into the dark eyes as they stared back at her—she knew Harper Jeremiah was the one who would protect her.

“Are you going to tell me about the rape? About what Detective Springer found?” she murmured quietly, her eyes still closed. She could tell Harper was hesitating, could almost see the indecision in her eyes…then a quiet sigh and the rustling of covers.

“We’ll talk tomorrow. Okay?”

“But it was him? For sure?”

“Yeah…it was him.”

Of course it was. “Okay. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She finally opened her eyes, turning toward Harper. “Good night,” she whispered.

“Good night, Dani.”

Chapter Sixteen

Harper stared in disbelief at the doll…the dull, drab eyes seeming to stare right back at her. How in the hell had he found them? She looked past the doll, out to the parking lot, expecting to see their tires slashed, but the patrol car she driven looked intact as did Reid’s Toyota.

“Harper? What is it?”

She turned, finding Dani coming to the door. She stepped aside, pointing down to the mat.

“Oh, Jesus…not again.” Dani looked at her. “How did he find us?”

“I don’t know.” She closed the door on the doll, forgetting what she was going out for in the first place. “Is Reid up yet?”

“I’m in here,” he called from the kitchen. “What’s up?”

“A goddamn doll is sitting on your mat outside.”

Reid paused in mid-drink. “One of those dolls? You’re kidding.”

“So not kidding.”