Kill for Me

“When first I come in, I thought you were a doctor.” Luke’s mother tugged at the scrubs Susa

“My clothes were messed up. One of the nurses loaned me these until I can get some more clothes.”

Mrs. Papadopoulos grasped her enormous purse in both hands. “Where is your suitcase? I will get your clothes and bring them here. You stay here with Daniel.”

“I don’t have any more clothes. I, um, didn’t bring any with me.”

“You came all the way from New York City and brought not one stitch of clothing?” The woman lifted her brows and Susa

“I came today on an impulse.”

“An impulse.” She shook her head. “Complicated. So you did not plan to stay?”

“No. I’ll go home…” Susa

Mrs. Papadopoulos stood up. “Well, you ca

“Mrs. Papadopoulos, you don’t have to-” A fierce look had Susa

“I know.” Mrs. Papadopoulos stared down at her and Susa

Susa

Mrs. Papadopoulos shrugged. “Already I have forgotten her.” Then she smiled kindly. “You didn’t have to save her.”

Susa

But Jane Doe had paid dearly for what she had not done all those years ago. “Yes, I did. I really did.”

“Then yes, I do,” Mrs. Papadopoulos said, so gently that new tears sprang to Susa

The need to do a good deed Susa

Susa

Susa

Ridgefield House, Friday, February 2, 8:00 p.m.

“They’re ready,” Rocky said.

Looking up from the perso

At least Chili had come through. Finally. The sca

The business would be protected. And tonight there was money to be made.

Bobby looked over the five young women standing in a row. Two were brand new pretties from the river place and they were clean again, dressed and presentable. The other three were old hands. Every one had her eyes downcast. Every one trembled, two of them shaking so hard their dangling earrings swayed. Good. Fear was good.

The outcome of tonight’s business venture was a foregone conclusion in Bobby’s mind. Haynes liked blondes with that healthy, ta

“No.” The blonde shrank away while the other four slumped in relief. “Please.”

Bobby smiled pleasantly. “Rocky, what is Ashley’s home address?”

“Her family lives at 721 Snowbird Drive, Panama City, Florida,” Rocky replied instantly. “Her mother died two years ago and her father works the night shift. Now that she’s ‘run away,’ her father’s hired a sitter to stay with her brother while he’s at work. Her brother sometimes sneaks out at night to hang at the-”

“That’s good enough,” Bobby said when the blonde began to cry. “I know everything about your family, Ashley. One misstep, one dissatisfied client, and someone in your house will die. Painfully. You’re the one who wanted adventure and now you have it. So stop crying. My clients want smiles. Rocky, get them out of here. I have work to do.”

Bobby reopened the perso

Information was power. Bobby liked power. The incoming number had an Atlanta area code. “Yes?”

“You said to call if anything happened at the hospital. I have information.”

It took Bobby a few moments to place the voice. Oh, yes. Je

“Well, go ahead. I don’t have all day.”

“Two patients were airlifted from Dutton. Special Agent Daniel Vartanian was one.”

Bobby abruptly straightened. That Vartanian had been shot had been on the police sca

“She’s a Jane Doe, sixteen or seventeen. She was critical but survived surgery.”

Bobby slowly stood, the swirling, bubbling fury within becoming flat dread. “And?”

“She’s stable. They’re keeping her secret, with a guard posted at her door, 24/7.”

Bobby drew a very deep breath. Rocky had been very clear that all the girls left behind were dead. So either this girl was a modern-day Lazarus, or Rocky had lied. Either way, Rocky had made a serious miscalculation. “I see.”

“There’s more. Two others came in by ambulance, a man and a woman. Bailey Crighton was one. She’s the woman who’s been missing for a week.”

“I know who she is.” Granville, you asshole. Rocky, you idiot. “And the man?”

“Some army chaplain. Beasley. No, Beardsley. That’s it. They’re both in stable condition. That’s all I know.” The nurse hesitated. “So now we’re even, right?”

Now there were three people to neutralize and one lone nurse would not be sufficient, but the nurse would still be a valuable asset. “No, I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way. I want the girl dead. Poison her, smother her, I don’t care. I do not want her to wake up. Do you understand?”

“But… No. I won’t do that.”

That’s what they all said, initially. Some had to be pushed harder than others, but in the end the outcome was the same. Every one did as they were told. “Yes, you will.”