'I came by to see if you were all right,' Scarlett said, then arched one black brow. 'Seeing as how you hadn't returned my phone calls.'

He bit back a wince. What could he say? I ignored your messages because I was busy figuring out which threats would make me the least suspicious to you? He didn't think so. 'I'm sorry if I worried you. I'm fine, as you can see. Just busy earning a living.'

Scarlett scanned his office, her gaze lingering on the wall covered with the framed newspaper headlines his grandfather had collected over a lifetime. For a moment he thought she'd comment on the front page of the Malaya, but then she turned to face him and he frowned. The calm he'd seen when she'd arrived was gone. Now her expression was purposefully blank.

'Earning a living by digging up news,' she said quietly.

The sudden change in her demeanor rubbed him the wrong way. 'We are a newspaper, Detective,' he said sharply. 'You've seen that I'm still unharmed, so if there's nothing else?'

The flash of temper in her dark eyes irrationally soothed his irritation. 'You promised me a list of those who'd made threats against you. I expected it hours ago.' She turned her attention to Gayle. 'I assume you're Mr O'Bannion's office manager. He told my partner and me that you keep a list of all the threats to his life made by those unhappy with your newspaper's content. Since he is obviously too busy, can you print me a copy?'

The slight stiffening of Gayle's spine was the only sign that Scarlett's knowledge of the threat list had surprised her. 'I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Detective . . . ?'

'This is Detective Bishop,' Marcus supplied. 'Scarlett Bishop.'

'Homicide,' Scarlett added curtly.

'Detective, this is Gayle Ennis. She manages my office.'

Gayle's eyes widened as Scarlett's name registered. 'You investigated Mikhail's murder,' she said, her voice suddenly rough.

Scarlett's expression changed again, gentling. 'Yes, ma'am,' she said respectfully. 'You knew him?'

Gayle nodded, her throat working as she tried to swallow. 'I was his nanny.'

Startled, Scarlett's mouth opened, then closed. She let out a quiet breath. 'I'm so sorry for your loss,' she murmured. 'I'm working the murder of the young woman who died this morning. She has a family too, and they deserve to know what happened to her. Getting the list would be a major help to my investigation, and every second counts.'

Gayle glanced at Marcus uncertainly.

'I'll take care of this, Gayle.' He squeezed Gayle's shoulder, then crossed his office to where Scarlett still stood in the doorway. He had to fight the urge to lean in closer and sniff her hair. She smelled like wildflowers, just as she had when she'd sat by his hospital bed nine months ago. 'Did you watch the videos?' he asked softly.

She met his eyes. 'Yes. Many times.'

'And you still think you need the list?'

Understanding flickered in her eyes. 'If you're asking if I still think you were the target, the answer is probably no. But I owe it to Tala and to you to be sure.'

She'd scored major points with both Stone and Gayle with that answer. And with me, he grudgingly admitted. Shit.

'All right. If you feel you really need to check it out, I'll get it to you ASAP. Now if there's nothing else, Stone will show you out.'

Stone no longer scowled, his anger having dissipated a little when Scarlett spoke to Gayle with such care. 'Detective? This way, please.'

Scarlett's feet didn't move, her eyes locking with Marcus's. 'I can wait right here while the list is printed,' she said firmly. 'I have a few more things to discuss with you.'

Marcus's eyes narrowed. 'What things?'

'The dog, for one. I may have a lead on identifying the dog and its owner. Since the photos I printed from the video files were rather dark and grainy, I'd like you to accompany me to see if you can identify it from a group of photos in my lead's collection. You're the only one who's seen the dog live and in the flesh,' she added. 'Again, every second counts, so if you can spare the time this morning, I'd appreciate it.'

To spend more time with her or not to spend more time with her? Duh. Marcus had already mentally checked his calendar, but he glanced at his cell phone for show. 'I can spare a few hours. Gayle, please clear my-'

'If we get the exclusive,' Stone interrupted.

Scarlett looked over her shoulder at Stone, exasperated. 'Do you mind?'

Stone shrugged. 'His time is worth money. Exclusives equal money. Besides, showing that there was a dog and that its owners are evil can only support Marcus's story. He ran a risk calling you last night. People will assume he was in that alley with an underage girl for nefarious reasons, no matter what we posted this morning. Any chance we can get to reinforce the truth is a good deal for my brother.'

Her brows knit as she considered it. 'Fine. You can have the exclusive, but you have to clear it with me before you print it. Just until we catch Tala's killer,' she added quickly when Stone started to protest. 'I don't want you publishing anything that will tip off the killer and mess up my case.'

'Agreed,' Stone said, as if Marcus weren't even standing there.

'What are the other things?' Marcus wanted her attention off Stone and back on himself.

Scarlett leaned to the left so that she could see Gayle, who still stood next to Marcus's desk. 'What makes you so certain that Leslie McCord is no longer a threat to Mr O'Bannion?'

Marcus glared down at her. 'That has nothing to do with your case.'

She looked up at him, unrepentant. 'I didn't ask you. I asked Ms Ennis.'

'Don't answer her, Gayle,' Stone warned, the thug-scaring scowl reclaiming his face. 'She deliberately eavesdropped on you two. Make her get a goddamn warrant.'

'She doesn't need one,' Gayle said wearily. 'She could find it online in a minute. Leslie McCord is dead. She took a bottle of sleeping pills, so the issue was closed. There was no point in burdening you with it.' She slid past them and around Stone. 'I'll be at my desk.'

'Satisfied, Detective Bishop?' Marcus asked sarcastically.

Scarlett entered his office without asking, taking the chair that Gayle had vacated. 'I will be when I get that list.'

Cincinnati, Ohio

Tuesday 4 August, 9.50 A.M.

Ken focused on maintaining his heart rate. The other women Anders had kept at his house had escaped. Three assets gone in less than twelve hours.

Demetrius sank back into the wingback chair, giving Ken a stunned look.

Things had gone from sugar to shit in a big-time hurry. If Miriam hasn't killed Reuben, Ken thought viciously, he'll wish she had when I'm done with him.

With an effort, he kept his voice calm. 'What do you mean, both women are gone?' he asked Burton over the speaker phone on his desk.

Demetrius didn't have as good a hold on his own temper. 'Your men were right outside when the tracker alert was activated!' he shouted. 'How fucking hard is it to round up two fucking women?'

A moment of tense, defensive silence on Burton's end. 'I sent the men in as soon as I got the call from Sean. They had to break down a basement door and several interior doors to get in. Anders had armored his house with security doors and windows. They ended up having to shoot their way in. Anders was very well armed.'

'Injuries?' Ken asked.

'One of my men took a bullet in the leg. Through and through. Will probably need stitches. Decker said he can do the stitches if we need him to. He was a medic in Iraq.'

'Mr Decker seems to be multi-talented,' Ken murmured, his calm now icy. If there had been gunfire, someone would have heard it and called 911. 'What about Anders? I want him and his family unharmed.'

'So that we can harm them,' Demetrius growled.

'Chip Anders is wounded, but only superficially,' Burton said, then blew out a breath. 'Not that you'd know it by listening to him. He's whining like a stuck pig. His wife has a mark on her face. Decker slapped her after she bit him.'

Ken glared at Demetrius when his lips twitched. 'And the daughter?' Ken asked Burton. Because Miss Anders would likely be the best leverage against her father. 'Did you mark her?'

'Not on her face, but she was slapped as well,' Burton said, grimly satisfied. 'Her ass might be a little red for a few hours. Her fingernails are hard and sharp. She took off the top layer of my face, the bitch. We subdued them, restrained them, gagged them thank God then put them in the van, handcuffed to the doors and to each other.'

'What about the authorities?'

'I sent one of the men up ahead to watch for any approaching vehicles. Our guns were silenced, but Anders's weren't. Decker and I searched for the two women whose trackers were cut. We combed the woods behind Anders's house. There was no sign of them. Best we can tell, there was a vehicle waiting. It's been so dry, we won't get any decent prints.'

'A vehicle waiting?' Ken frowned. 'Who orchestrated their release?'

'None of the three Anderses would cop to it. Even before we gagged them.'

'Then bring them to me,' Ken said quietly. 'They will tell me.'

'We're about twenty minutes out. We're taking the long way, just in case we were followed.'

'Why would you think that?' Demetrius asked.

'I didn't see anyone. Decker thought he did, but he admitted he might have imagined it. Still, better safe than sorry. Where exactly do you want them? Your house?'

'Yes. Bring them down into the basement. Did you get their computers?'

'Of course. Computers, cell phones, tablets. Wallets and car keys, too. There is a wall safe, but Anders wouldn't divulge the combination, and we couldn't stay there long enough for me to figure it out on my own.'

'The combination will be just one more thing for me to convince Anders to tell me,' Ken said, then disconnected.

'How old is the daughter?' Demetrius asked abruptly.

'Twenty. Goes to Brown.' Ken kept track of his customers. 'Why?'

'Because I have a buyer who'd be very interested in a pretty young Ivy League hellcat.'

Ken hadn't considered that. 'How much?'

'Fifty. Or more. Depends on how pretty she is. I might even get another auction going.'

'Let's wait and see. Perhaps the threat alone will be enough to get one of them talking.'

'Who do you think let the two women go?' Demetrius asked.

'My money's on the daughter. The wife is a piece of work.'

Demetrius rose. 'I'll attend to O'Bannion. Save one of the Anderses for me.'

Twelve.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Tuesday 4 August, 10.15 A.M.

Marcus found his eyes locked on Scarlett's ass as she sauntered past him as if she owned the place. He didn't want to let go of the breath he held, still filled with the scent of her hair. Which was simple foolishness. He should be angry. He should be furious.

Just like Stone is . . . right now. Shit. Marcus registered the change in his brother's breathing almost too late. Shifting, he put himself directly in Stone's path and firmly held his brother's gaze. And tried not to panic.

Because Stone was no longer looking back at him. Instead, Marcus saw nothing but rage and pain. And fear. Not now. Not in front of Scarlett. Please, Stone. Don't do this now.

'Stone?' he said under his breath, hoping that Scarlett could not hear.

Stone's eyes flickered wildly, his big chest heaving.

Dammit. I should have anticipated this. Why didn't I anticipate this?

Because he'd been too busy gawking at Scarlett Bishop's ass, that was why. And now there would be hell to pay unless he could calm his brother down fast.

Cops and blatant disrespect were a very bad combo in Stone's world. And coupled with the emotional upheaval he'd been through so far . . . Scarlett had no way of knowing that cops in general were one of the triggers that set him off. But the way she'd practically skipped away from him, dismissing him as if he weren't standing right there? That was the absolute worst thing she could have done.

Now standing with clenched fists, his face hardened with fury, nostrils flaring, Stone resembled a bull preparing to charge. Marcus could easily see his brother throwing Scarlett Bishop over one shoulder and bodily removing her from the office.

Marcus pressed his palm to Stone's chest. 'Easy,' he murmured. 'Take it easy.'

Stone's teeth clenched. 'She has no right to be here. Make her go.'

From the corner of his eye, Marcus could see Scarlett turning in the chair, her expression detached, yet curious. As if Stone were an animal in the zoo. The notion made him angry, but he kept his temper in check. All Stone needed to go nuclear was seeing Marcus upset.