“He wants us to go in.” There was little traffic as she took the ramp onto the freeway. A car or two ahead of her, another coming up from behind, that was it. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What’ll we do?”

“I’m going to call Reid. Have him meet us somewhere. Let him take this damn doll out of here,” she said as she glanced over her shoulder, seeing those lifeless eyes staring at her.

“So he quit following us, right?”

“Looks that way.” She glanced at her phone, finding Reid’s number. It rang a four times before his sleepy voice sounded in her ears.

“Do you know what time it is?”

“I do. Get up. I need you.” She heard covers rustling.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need you to meet us somewhere. Now, Reid.”

“Jesus, Harper, what’s going on? I thought you were at a safe house.”

“There’s an IHOP off Mockingbird Lane. Meet us there.”

“Okay, okay. I’m up.”

“Thanks.” She put her phone in her lap, then looked over at Dani. “You okay?”

“Are you?”

“I don’t think I’ve processed it yet. He was in the house with us. A house with deadbolts that lock from the inside.” She shook her head. “If he’d wanted, he could have killed us tonight.”

“I’m sorry, Harper.”

“It’s not your fault, Dani. I’m the one who’s supposed to keep you safe,” she said, her voice shaky. “And I’m sleeping as if nothing is going on.”

“We were supposedly at a safe place. We had two cops sitting on the street in front of the house. Why wouldn’t we go to sleep?”

Harper glanced at her. “What is he doing? Is he just fucking with us?”

“It’s a game,” Dani said. “Since the beginning, that’s how I always felt, like he was playing a game with me.”

“Yeah. A game that he’s definitely winning.”

* * *

Dani was too nervous to enjoy the coffee, but she took a sip anyway. Harper sat beside her in the booth. Her eyes were glued to the door and she had yet to pick up her cup. As if feeling her watching, Harper glanced over at her.

“You okay?”

It was the third time Harper had asked that question, and Dani wasn’t sure how to answer. It was her fault, of course, that she’d brought this guy to Dallas with her. And yes, it was her fault that an innocent woman had been raped. Now Harper was on the run as well. Her fault too. Harper’s expression softened as their eyes met.

“You have guilt written all over your face,” Harper said quietly. “For no reason. You’re as much a victim as anything.”

“But I brought him here.”