This day couldn't be over fast enough to suit Dan. The security company had fortified his house. At some point, he would need someone to come in and make the drywall repairs. No hurry on that one. Right now, the last thing he wanted was any more strangers in his home. Thankfully, Jess's apartment had been clear. No bugs, no cameras.

His mother had called twice. Dealing with a surveillance detail unsettled her. She couldn't see why Dan wouldn't come home and stay with them. After all he was the chief of police and they were his parents. They needed him.

He could just imagine how that suggestion would go over with Jess. Not that his mother had mentioned Jess. His mother pretended Jess was not living in his house. Eventually she would come to terms with the idea that Jess, if he could persuade her to agree, was going to be his wife.

Or she wouldn't. The decision would be his mother's loss.

As for protecting his parents, the worst move he could make would be to put the danger closer to them. Jess was right about that part. Spears had targeted her and anyone in or near his path to that objective was in danger.

Dan's jaw tightened. He had sent the b.a.s.t.a.r.d a message via the same number he'd used to text Dan about the cemetery delivery. If Spears had received the promise, he didn't bother replying.

I'm sending you to h.e.l.l. Soon.

He hoped Spears comprehended that, unlike him, Dan was not playing.

The intercom buzzed. "Chief, Supervisory Special Agent Gant is on line one."

"Thanks, Sheila." It was about time. Dan took the call. "I hope you have something at least resembling good news for me."

"I'm afraid not, Dan."

Dan closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm listening."

"Our one lead on the Net has disappeared again. We were closing in on a location near you and now the link is gone. We're picking up nothing at all. No talk about Jess. No talk about Spears. Nothing."

"How close did you get before the link vanished?"

"Too close, Dan. Within a ninety mile radius. Whoever was using that link is practically your neighbor. Since we have two confirmed sightings of Spears in the past two weeks right there in Birmingham, I'm concerned that he's the one who used that link."

Dread hardened like a rock in his gut. Fear for Jess filled his chest, but so did anger. "Just keep trying to find him, Gant. I know you have other cases, but we need to know you're on this."

"We're not pus.h.i.+ng this one aside, Dan. You have my word on that. We're doing all we can to find Rory Stinnett and Spears. We don't want him or his friends claiming any more victims. If it makes you feel any better, we're getting help from several other agencies, like Interpol. We have to get this guy before he disappears for good."

"I'll pa.s.s that along to the citizens of Birmingham. Four people have died in as many days. His friends are popping up all over the place down here and he's orchestrating the gathering." The mounting frustration and worry forced Dan out of his chair.

G.o.d Almighty. How the h.e.l.l was he going to stop this?

"I feel you, Dan. This is a bad situation. To be honest with you, I've never seen anything like it. Spears has started something we may not be able to stop any time soon. All we can do is react. The ball is in his court and he's keeping it there. Judging by what's happened the past few days, he's hyper focused on Jess. We're hoping that will be his downfall."

As long as he didn't take Jess with him, that worked for Dan.

"I appreciate your people doing what they can." There was no point in giving Gant a hard time. The one thing Dan knew with complete certainty was that it would take all of them working in concert to stop this son of a b.i.t.c.h.

"If anything changes," Gant a.s.sured him, "you'll be the first to know. I have people focused on finding Spears twenty-four/seven."

Dan thanked him and dropped the phone into its cradle. He paced to the window and stared out at the commuters rus.h.i.+ng to get home. Spears could be out there, watching them run in circles and laughing at them.

A rap on the door was followed by, "Dan, you have a few minutes?"

He flinched, then faced Harold Black and gave him the expected welcoming smile. "Come in. Have a seat."

"That was quite an ordeal at your house this afternoon." Harold settled into one of the chairs in front of Dan's desk. "Has your security system provider been able to get things straightened out?"

"That's what they tell me." Dan wasn't so sure he would feel truly secure any time soon. More importantly, he wouldn't feel Jess was as safe as she should be even with him. He'd insisted she move to his place to facilitate her safety and this was how things turned out. Her safety had only been further compromised. At least she wasn't fighting him so hard on being extra careful. She'd actually been cooperative with her surveillance detail. Whatever the reason, he was thankful.

"I'm confident you're mindful of what a thorough job our crime scene unit does. Our forensic techs and detectives are some of the best in the nation. When they're called in to a.s.sist with a search such as what took place at your home today, they leave no stone unturned." He put a hand to his chest. "I, for one, feel good knowing I can count on them not to leave anything behind."

"Where're you headed with this, Harold?" They were both far too busy to be having this kind of conversation. Dan was well aware of the topnotch work the crime scene unit did. He'd handed out plenty of awards in his four years as chief of police.

Harold placed a clear evidence bag on Dan's desk. "One of the techs found this in the grill on your patio."

Dan reached across his desk and picked up the bag. "What is it?"

"A wedding band."

"This," he frowned, inspecting it more closely, "was in my grill?" He'd grilled steaks earlier this week.

Harold nodded. "There's an inscription, Dan."

Dan stared at the ring. Obviously it was a man's. He turned it and started to read the inscription.

"To Ted with all my love," Harold recited.

"This is Ted Allen's wedding band?"

Harold nodded. "When he first went missing we asked for all sorts of ways to identify him. Birthmarks, scars, jewelry. His wife gave a description of the ring."

This was like the phone, except far worse. "So, you think because you found this in my grill-which stays outside on the patio, accessible to anyone who decides to walk into my yard-that I put it there in hopes of destroying evidence?"

"I didn't say that, Dan."

He tossed the bagged ring back across his desk. "Didn't you? I grilled steaks Tuesday evening. Jess and my parents can confirm that for you. I haven't been near that grill since. I don't see any signs the ring has been exposed to a heat source which tells me that someone placed it there after Tuesday evening."

"I know," Harold began, "and you know this is a set up. But my hands are tied, Dan." The department's ranking division chief shook his head. "I have no choice but to pursue any leads that come available to me. Ted Allen is one of our own. A veteran cop in this department. I cannot ignore anything at all that might help us learn what's come of him."

Outrage rendered Dan momentarily unequipped to hold his tongue. "I can tell you what's come of him, in case you haven't figured it out by now. He's dead, Harold. Either that or he's involved in an elaborate plan to fake his death and to pin it on me."

"Please." Harold held up his hands. "I don't want to hear a statement like that from you again. We're going to pretend you didn't say what you just said. This is no longer just between you and me. This," he nodded to that d.a.m.ned ring, "is part of the official investigation and if Allen is dead, that makes it a homicide investigation. Don't go losing your temper and saying things you don't mean and can't possibly know."

This was ridiculous. "You want to hold a press conference? I'll tell the citizens of Birmingham the same thing. I had nothing to do with his disappearance and you know it."

Harold visibly braced. "Chief Harris has access to your home."

Now he'd gone too far. "We're not going there. We've talked about this before. Jess is not involved in his disappearance either. You know that as well." He was done here. "Anything else you want to talk about?"

"You need to listen to me carefully, Dan."

He couldn't place what had changed in his old friend's demeanor but something definitely had. Whether it was the somber expression on his face or the troubled tone in his voice, this was no longer a casual or friendly conversation between lifelong buddies.

"The mayor has been after you to get rid of Harris from day one," Harold held up a hand to stop him when Dan would have argued, "he's keeping close tabs on what's happening. Every time somebody dies at Spears's hand, Pratt chalks that up as one more loss of life related to Harris being in this department. He's keeping score and he's going to use the final tally to be rid of you and Harris. Whether it's Spears setting you up or someone else, you need to pay attention to what I'm saying to you."

The reality of his words clicked for Dan then. "Pratt has called you to his office."

Betrayal always stung, but Dan wasn't surprised. Mayor Joseph Pratt didn't like it when his wishes were ignored and Dan had been ignoring him since Jess returned to Birmingham.

"I'm not the only one he called, Dan." Harold heaved a big breath. "Trust me when I say this is going to get ugly."

Dan nodded his understanding. "You have to protect your position. I wouldn't expect you to do otherwise."

"I'm too close to retirement not to. My wife and I are depending on that retirement." He heaved a big breath. "As much as it pains me to say it, I have an obligation to protect our future. Surely you must understand?"

"I do." What kind of person would he be if he didn't? "I want you to do your job, Harold. I have nothing to hide. Jess has nothing to hide."

"We wouldn't be having this conversation if I thought otherwise. You know me better than that." Worry furrowed Harold's face, deepening the lines that several decades in law enforcement had earned him. "I believe with all that makes me a cop that you're being framed-more importantly, I believe it with all my heart. We've been friends a very long time. I don't want to see this end the way I fear it's going to unless drastic measures are taken."

Dan gave his head a shake. "I told you I don't have anything to hide. What is it you're getting at?"

"Tomorrow morning around ten o'clock I'm going to ask you for permission to conduct an even more thorough search of your home."

Indignation lashed through Dan again but this time he kept it contained.

"If you refuse, a warrant will be issued."

"Why the h.e.l.l would I refuse?" Now he was just plain p.i.s.sed off and d.a.m.ned well offended.

"I'm not suggesting you would refuse," Harold urged. "I'm only explaining what's going to happen. This is out of my hands now, Dan. The search will take place." Harold rose from his chair.

"Why wait until tomorrow? Do it now." Dan shot to his feet. "I'll make the call myself." He reached for the phone, exasperation making it difficult to stay rational.

Harold reached across the desk and placed his hand over Dan's. "Listen to me," he added emphasis to each word. "Tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock. Do whatever you need to do tonight. Are we clear?"

His words penetrated the layers of denial that had protected Dan until now. "Crystal."

"Good."

Their gazes held for a moment longer before Harold took the incriminating evidence and walked out.

Dan surveyed the office he had worked so hard to achieve. As if he had nothing else to worry about, the thought of how disappointed his mother would be if this all went to h.e.l.l made him laugh. If? What was he thinking?

He braced his hands on the window ledge, the laughter dying in his throat. It was already going to h.e.l.l. Spears had set the course and every piece was falling into place.

Dan grabbed his cell and walked out of his office, maybe for the last time. He was taking Jess home.

That was one thing Spears would never be able to do.

20.

Parkridge Drive, Homewood, 10:00 p.m.

Lori sat on the floor with reports spread all around her. Chet crossed the room, a cold beer in each hand. He pa.s.sed one to her and sat down beside her. "Found anything new?"

She shook her head then took a long draw from the beer. "Not one thing." She turned to Chet. "You checked everywhere, right?"

It wasn't bad enough that they were both banging their heads against the wall on this homicide case, now there was the added worry that Spears might be watching every move they made right here in their own home. After what happened at Burnett's, they had a right to be worried. "Everywhere I know to check."

He had searched the whole house, top to bottom. No hidden cameras, no listening devices.

She sighed. "That's a relief." Yet there was little relief in her expression as she turned back to the reports. "I wish I could say the same about this case."

"Let's go over it again," Chet suggested.

"According to their known a.s.sociates," Lori rubbed at her neck as if an ache had started there, "the Vance sisters have fallen off the grid. The feds say they haven't left the country. Their parents haven't heard from them. But then, they rarely do."

"They're laying low somewhere," Chet suggested. He reached up and ma.s.saged her shoulders and neck. "Waiting for further instructions, maybe."

Lori reached for his hand and held onto it. "I don't ever want us to be that way. I call my mom and sister every day. I want it to be like that with our kids even when they're grown and sick of hearing from us."

Chet smiled. Why couldn't he have found this woman first? "We'll never be like those people. I promise." He would gladly promise her the world. He loved her that much. He prayed the tests the new doctor would conduct before proceeding with the reversal of his vasectomy turned out the right way. He wanted to have babies with Lori.

Sisters and brothers for Chester.

They just had to get through this thing with Spears. In spite of everything the b.a.s.t.a.r.d was throwing at them, Lori didn't look scared. Worried, for sure, but not afraid. Chet was glad. After what she'd gone through with that Reed guy it was a miracle she could deal with being a part of this investigation. She was brave and strong. He admired her so much.

"Jess still isn't herself." Lori turned to face him. "She's too distracted. She's the strongest woman I know. But this is breaking her down."

As much as he hated to admit it, Chet had noticed the same thing. "She's definitely not herself."

"You were right." Lori took another swallow of her beer. "She is pus.h.i.+ng us away."

"Did you talk to her?"

Lori shook her head. "I will. I didn't want to add to her stress today."

Chet hated the toll this insanity was taking on his boss and on Lori. He would like nothing more than to be the one to put a bullet right between Eric Spears's eyes. Though he'd understand if the chief insisted on that privilege.

"You think these two chicks are just thrill killers doing whatever Ellis tells them to do?" Lori picked up the photos from her pile of reports. "Or do you think they're working directly for Spears?"

He mulled over her question for a second or two. "I think Ellis is the one interacting with Spears. He and Spears seem" Chet shrugged "I don't know, cut from the same cloth. That whole arrogant att.i.tude combined with enough money not to care what anyone else thinks."

"Ellis may be one of those guys who gets off just watching." Lori shuddered. "Speaking of watching, I'm going to try and reach William Upshaw tomorrow. He's bound to know something."

"Upshaw? That's the brother of the murdered girl up in Boston?" Lori and Hayes had been working that lead. Chet wasn't as familiar as maybe he should be with that cold case.