25.

9911 Conroy Road, Sat.u.r.day, August 28, 2:10 p.m.

Jess poured the second bag of popcorn into the big plastic bowl.

"I've got the Pepsis," Dan said as he kneed the fridge door closed.

"You don't have to drink Pepsi just because I am," Jess reminded him.

He kissed her cheek and grinned. "I want to. I plan on sharing the entire experience."

Jess laughed. "Do you plan to wear the empathy belly, too?"

"Maybe not quite that much sharing." He reached for her tummy. "But I'll be happy to rub yours. And your back and shoulders. Legs. Wherever you need attention."

"I plan to hold you to that, mister." She'd heard her sister complain about all sorts of pregnancy aches and pains. "You know we have to tell Lil tomorrow." She absolutely could not put that conversation off any longer. "She's invited us to lunch."

"We'll tell my folks, too." He plopped down on the sofa and grabbed the remote. "They've invited us to dinner tomorrow night."

Jess bit back a groan as she trudged barefoot over to join him on the sofa. "Can't we do that later? Like next year?"

"Be nice. My mother will be over the moon."

Jess poked her hand in the bowl of warm popcorn. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"She'll want to know when the wedding will be."

Jess scoffed. "She does not get to plan anything about our future. Are we on the same page with that, Burnett?"

"We're on the same page." He grabbed a handful of popcorn. "This is about us and our son."

"Daughter," she countered. No boys. She would be totally lost and Katherine would use that as an excuse to plow her way into Jess's business. She could hear her now: I raised Dan and look how well he turned out.

"The insurance adjustor is coming on Monday," Dan said. "According to the fire marshal, the house is a total loss."

Jess turned to him. "You heard from the fire marshal?"

He nodded. "Arson. There'll be an investigation but we all know who's responsible."

Jess wished her throat didn't feel so tight. "What about Black? Is he backing off?" Corlew was out on bail. She felt terrible about his arrest. Her efforts to help Dan had further complicated things, it seemed. She had told Dan what Corlew learned. Dan didn't trust him and was nowhere near ready to throw Black under the bus. Jess was past ready.

"He can't back off. He's in charge of the investigation. He has to prove I didn't burn my own house down to destroy evidence."

"I cannot believe he would even suggest such a thing!" She wanted to shake Dan.

"He has to do this by the book, Jess. Just because we're friends doesn't mean he can cut me any slack."

"Right." Jess shoved more popcorn into her mouth to prevent saying something she would regret.

"Manning called while you were in the shower."

"You're just telling me this now?" She'd taken a shower at least two hours ago. If he started protecting her from phone calls, she was really going to give him what for. "Any news on Rory Stinnett?" Jess held her breath, prayed they had found her safe and sound.

Dan shook his head. "Nothing on Stinnett. Manning called about Richard Ellis. He tried to leave the country this morning. They caught him."

"That's good news! Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"He was in holding less than an hour when he attacked another prisoner and was killed."

Anything he might have been able to tell them about Spears was lost. Dammit. "They should've put him in a cell by himself."

"True."

Jess shuddered each time the double suicide of the Vance sisters replayed in her head. Dan had done the next of kin notification. Jess was grateful. Lori was still blaming herself for being distracted when she was supposed to be watching Jess. Whatever anyone else thought, Jess wasn't buying the idea that Black's arrival had been coincidence.

Was there anyone besides Dan and her team and maybe Corlew that she could trust?

How could Spears reach into the department like that? Or maybe Dan was right and she was being paranoid.

Another shudder quaked through Jess at the thought of the vial of blood Selma had marked her with. It was supposedly Spears's blood. Whoever it belonged to, it was at the lab now.

Selma's cell phone held several other videos. One of Templeton and Burgess at a club before their murder. Ellis had been captured seated at one of the tables in the background. Jess a.s.sumed that was the reason she hadn't received a video prior to those murders as she had with the others.

There were two videos of Jess and dozens of photos. The sisters had been following her well before the first victims were found. That was probably the part that bugged Jess the most.

How many other freaks out there were doing the same thing?

"The game's about to start." Dan adjusted the volume on the television he'd insisted on buying for her apartment. It was a guy TV. Big, with all the bells and whistles. Jess didn't really mind. It made him happy. She wouldn't complain about it as long as he didn't complain about her homework case board.

Dan's arm went around her and he pulled her close. "Thank you for agreeing to watch the first game of the season with me."

"Just don't expect me to watch them all."

He laughed. "We'll be too busy building our new house and picking out nursery colors."

And obstetricians and maternity clothes.

The popcorn suddenly turned into a ma.s.sive lump in her stomach.

The alarm sang out, warning that someone was coming up the outside stairs that led to her door.

Dan shot to his feet and went to the monitor. He winced. "It's your landlord." He glanced at Jess. "He's carrying a package."

Jess set the popcorn on the coffee table and hopped up. She straightened her t-s.h.i.+rt and made her way to the door. She ran her tongue over her teeth. d.a.m.ned husks.

The bell rang and she opened the door. "George! Come in."

Dan was right. He was carrying a package. A large white one wrapped with a pink bow.

"I don't want to disturb you," he said with a glance toward Dan, "I know it's almost game time."

"You're not disturbing us. Have a seat. You're welcome to watch the game with us." It was the least she could do for a lonely old man.

"Thank you." He settled on the sofa next to Dan the big white box in his lap.

"Would you like a Pepsi, George?"

"No, thank you. I have to watch my sugar intake."

"Water?"

He nodded. "Please."

Jess grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and joined the two men on the sofa. "What's in the box?"

"Oh." George set the water on the table and offered the box to Jess. "This is for you. Your friend dropped it off."

Fear clamped like a vise around her chest. She instinctively drew away from the package. "My friend?"

"What did this friend look like?" Dan was on his feet reaching for the package. "When was it delivered?"

George frowned, holding onto the box like a kid who didn't want anyone else to play with his toy. "She was tall with red hair." He looked from Dan to Jess and back. "She was here just a few minutes ago. I was watering my flowers. She said she didn't want to interrupt your afternoon."

"She?" Jess told herself to breathe.

George nodded then adjusted his gla.s.ses. "The coroner lady who drives the nice car. A Lexus, I believe. I've seen her here before." He seemed to lean closer to Jess as he peered up at Dan again. "She was very nice."

Jess slumped with relief. "Sylvia Baron."

"That's the one." George smiled. "I think she was in a bit of a hurry."

Dan ran a hand over his face. Jess was relatively certain he'd been as terrified as she was. Good grief they were both going to have heart attacks!

"You want to open it?" George offered the box to her again. "There's a card."

"Yes, thank you." Jess accepted the box. She removed the small envelope tucked beneath the bow. Harris was scrawled across the front. Definitely Sylvia. Jess pulled the card from the envelope. One word was written there.

Truce?

Jess batted back silly tears. She was so emotional lately. So this was Sylvia's way of apologizing? Jess owed her an apology as well. Hers and Cook's love lives were really none of Jess's business as long as it didn't interfere with work.

Suddenly aware that both men were watching her and waiting, Jess removed the bow then tore off the paper. The box opened easily, no taped sides, thank goodness. Inside was a black leather Coach Bleeker bag just like the one she'd lost to the fire.

Unable to help herself, she gasped. "Oh my gos.h.!.+" Jess had bought that bag for her fortieth birthday otherwise she would never have spent so much money. "What was she thinking buying me a gift like this?"

"That you're friends," Dan offered.

Jess smiled up at him. "Guess so." She gave George a hug. "Thanks for delivering my gift."

He looked anywhere but at her, his cheeks flaming with embarra.s.sment. "I heard about the fire on the news." He glanced up at Dan. "I'm really sorry about your house." He turned back to Jess then. "But I'm glad you're back home."

Jess blinked back more foolish tears. She grabbed the bowl of popcorn and thrust it at her landlord. "You boys enjoy the popcorn. I'm going to organize my new bag."

She didn't give Dan time to complain though he did manage to send a frown and a frustrated gaze her way.

By the time Alabama made a touchdown, he'd forget all about dear old George perched on the sofa next to him.

Jess reached for her phone to send a pic to Lori. There was a text message from a number not in her contact list. Her heart dropped into her stomach as she opened the message.

The picture of a young woman, long dark hair, tall and slender filled the screen. Not Rory Stinnett. Someone new, but exactly the Player's type.

Spears had taken another victim. Jess opened her mouth to call to Dan but another text notification appeared. She tapped the screen.

We're waiting for you.

Don't miss the next thrilling installment of the Faces of Evil. VILE is coming! Read on for an excerpt!

VILE.

For the vile person will speak villainy, and his heart will work iniquity...

~Isaiah 32:6

1.

Sixth Avenue Flower & Gifts Birmingham, Alabama Monday, August 30, 10:30 a.m.

Ellen Gentry was mad as h.e.l.l. She had worked at this floral shop for five years and not once had she called in sick. If her name was on the schedule, she was here-unless, of course, she was in the hospital or the morgue.