The store, which was called May Flowers, was just opening when they arrived the next morning. A middle-aged woman with gray hair pulled back in a tight bun paused in the act of unlocking the door to regard Cameron with interest. “I know your face from somewhere.”
“I don’t think we’ve met,” he said. Laurie sensed he was keeping his voice deliberately noncommittal.
“I know who you are.” She nodded in satisfaction. “My sister lives in Stillwater. I’ve seen your picture in the local newspaper. You’re Mayor Delaney.” She waved a hand, shooing them inside while she set planters on the sidewalk outside.
On the opposite side of the street, Moreton’s office on the second floor was now a burned out shell, and the lower floor had also been vacated. Warning signs had been placed on the sidewalk while a clean-up crew was at work. “I hope her sister voted for you. If not, we’re in trouble,” Laurie murmured out of the corner of her mouth.
“Have a little faith in my personal charm.” If Cameron saw the blush his words prompted, he didn’t mention it. They hadn’t spoken of the kiss this morning, but it seemed to be there between them, burning up extra oxygen each time they looked at each other.
The woman came back inside. “I’m May King. What can I do for you?”
Laurie stepped forward. “I’m Detective Bryan of the San Diego Police Department. I’m hoping you can help me with an investigation.”
May looked her up and down. Her expression was not approving. “You’re a long way from home.”
“Detective Bryan is assisting the Stillwater police.”
“If that’s the case, why isn’t Sheriff Becker with you?” May put her hands on her hips, her stance becoming ever so slightly belligerent.
Laurie cast a glance in Cameron’s direction in an appeal for help. May King had clearly taken an aversion to her at first sight, and she didn’t want to jeopardize their chances of finding information by pushing the woman too far. And why was she asking about Sheriff Becker? This was Park County, not West County. It wasn’t Becker’s jurisdiction. Something didn’t feel right about her questions.
“Mrs. King.” May turned her attention back to Cameron, her expression relaxing. “Perhaps we didn’t explain ourselves properly. Detective Bryan is helping out the Stillwater Police Department. As you know, matters in the city of Stillwater come under my jurisdiction. This has nothing to do with the sheriff’s department. I’d appreciate it if you could assist Detective Bryan.” Laurie felt a pang of annoyance at the way he could turn on the charm so easily, but there was no doubt it worked. Although May made a slight huffing noise, she nodded.
Laurie smiled at the other woman. “Thank you. I’m interested in the heart-shaped arrangement of roses in the window—”
“Yes, it’s one of my most popular designs, especially around Valentine’s. Does it really need three police officers in two days to ask me the same question?”
“Three officers?”
May rolled her eyes impatiently. “There was the one who came in yesterday morning. The one in the suit with the official-looking badge. Asked lots of questions about the dark red roses I make up for a special customer.”
“Can you remember that police officer’s name, Mrs. King?” Cameron prompted gently.
“Morley, maybe? Morgan?” She flapped a hand. “Mor-something.”
Moreton. Laurie felt her mouth go dry. “And the second officer?”
May laughed. “Not five minutes after the first officer had gone, didn’t Sheriff Becker walk right on in here?”
Even though he was standing a foot away from her, Laurie could feel the tension in Cameron’s body. “What did Sheriff Becker want?”
“He said he was working with the other officer on a case and wanted to check his colleague had asked me all the right questions. I got the feeling the sheriff was training the other guy, or something like that. Sheriff Becker is such a joker, always making me laugh. He was talking about how people from out of state don’t get us Wyomingites. He asked if the other officer took away any paperwork about the special customer who orders the dark red roses.”
“And did he?” Laurie asked. It was a long shot. Moreton had no paperwork on his body, and anything that might have been in that office would be long gone in the fire.
“No, I don’t keep any. It’s a private arrangement between me and one of my best customers. And that’s what I told Sheriff Becker in case he was worried.”
“How do you know Sheriff Becker so well, Mrs. King?” Cameron asked the question before Laurie could. “This isn’t his county.”
She knew they were thinking the same things: there was a flower store on the main street in Stillwater, and surely one or two others closer to Becker’s home. Why would he need to come all this way if he wanted to buy flowers? What was his connection to this particular florist? And why had the sheriff of West County been following in the tracks of an FBI agent yesterday? An agent who had not revealed his presence here to the local police? Of course, it was possible he knew about the murders and was investigating the flowers, just as they were. But why, oh why, would Grant Becker be worried about Moreton taking away any of May’s paperwork?
“Because he’s the one.” May’s eyes crinkled into a conspiratorial smile. “Sheriff Becker is the special customer who orders the dark red heart arrangement. Regular as clockwork, near enough. She sure is a lucky lady whoever she is.”
* * *
They didn’t talk until Cameron pulled into a rest stop. By some unspoken agreement, they exited the car, bought cans of soda from a vending machine and went to sit at an isolated picnic bench.
Laurie spoke first. “This is why the West County Sheriff’s Department didn’t know about me.”
“Pardon?” Cameron seemed lost in his own thoughts.
“The other time I worked undercover with the FBI, the local police knew all about it. Even though they weren’t involved in the operation, they were aware of a federal presence in their jurisdiction. It makes sense to have no overlap of authority, no possibility of the undercover agent being picked up for a crime and to keep communication open. This time Grant Becker wasn’t told I was here undercover. He doesn’t know who I am because Moreton knew it was him.”
Cameron rubbed a hand across his eyes. “Grant? My God, he used to play in our yard when we were kids. We go on a fishing trip together every summer. Okay, he has been more Vincente’s friend than mine in recent years, but he knew Carla. He liked her...” His voice trailed away.
Laurie waited, sensing there was more. Overhead, clear blue skies teased them, inviting them to explore the perfection of the surrounding countryside instead of remaining locked in their own private nightmare.
“Looking back, maybe there was something.” When Cameron lifted the can to his lips, his hand shook slightly.
“Between Grant and Carla?” Laurie prompted gently.
“Not on her part.” He shook his head emphatically. “When Carla first came to Stillwater, she came to my office and submitted her plans for my lake house. That first night, I took her out to dinner at Dino’s, and Grant was there. She told me later—months later—he had asked her out, that very first night.”
“Even though she was with you?”
He nodded. “It was the first and only time I ever got a sense Grant might not be the stand-up guy I always thought he was. From then on, although she never said much, I got the feeling Carla was wary around Grant. Like she didn’t want to be alone with him. I thought it was because she suspected he had feelings for her and she didn’t want to hurt him or let it damage our friendship.”
“She never said anything more?”
“Do you think I’d have let it go if I thought there was a chance she was in any danger from him?” Laurie could see his pain in the lines of tension in his face and body. He had just discovered the man he thought was his friend could have killed the woman he loved. Acting on impulse, she reached out and clasped his hand. For an instant, he looked like he didn’t know how to react, like he didn’t know what to do with the unexpected physical contact between them. He stared down at the contrast between her slender fingers and his larger, stronger hand. She was sure he was going to pull away. So sure, she almost moved and did it first. Then he returned her grip. The movement was hard, strong and grateful. It signaled a shift in their relationship, but Laurie didn’t have time to examine it or her feelings about it. “So what are you saying? Grant became so obsessed with Carla, he started killing women who looked like her?”
“That’s how it seems. Carla’s death was always the one that didn’t fit. The other women are missing, so presumably he killed them and had time to dispose of their bodies. Carla’s death was made to look like an accident.” She took a breath. “I hate to hurt you by speculating like this, but what if—knowing you would be away from home—he seized the opportunity to get her alone on her boat that night? When he came on to her and she refused, he killed her, panicked and made it look like an accident. Carla was too close to Grant. She couldn’t just go missing like the others. He couldn’t risk the possibility you would remember he’d asked her out. Or maybe he’d tried other things, things Carla hadn’t told you about for the sake of your friendship. Grant had no idea what you knew.”
“But he still couldn’t stop killing, even after she was dead. Only weeks after he killed Carla, he was setting his sights on Deanna Milligan. At least we now know why the local police haven’t investigated the disappearances of these women too closely. When the county sheriff is a serial killer, I guess the clues get overlooked.” Cameron grimaced. “I wonder how Moreton made the connection.”
“His specialty was using technology to look for patterns in crimes. If anyone could have found this link, it would have been Moreton. And he was tenacious. Maybe he didn’t know for sure it was Grant, but I think he had an idea.” Laurie frowned, a sudden thought occurring to her. “How did Grant find out about Moreton? He must have discovered Moreton was on to him, but how did he know?”
They both fell quiet for a minute or two, pondering the matter. It was Cameron who broke the silence. “He knew about Moreton because of you, Laurie.”
Laurie felt her brows draw together in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Cameron ran a hand through his hair, his agitation apparent in the gesture. “Don’t you see? When I took you to Dino’s, we recreated that first night with Carla.”
Laurie could feel her jaw drop in what was almost a caricature of surprise. She thought back to that night, saw Grant’s light eyes assessing her with a smile. “Dear Lord, for a serial killer that must have been a heaven-sent fantasy. Grant is going to get to kill Carla all over again.”
“Now I think of it, Grant and Vincente left Dino’s right after they spoke to us. They didn’t stay to eat.”
“Did he have time to get to Cody, get the flowers and get back again?” Laurie did a quick mental calculation. “If he rang ahead and May King was prepared to open up her shop at night for her ‘special customer,’ then I think he could just about do it. You and I stayed late at Dino’s that night. We were there long after everyone else had gone.”
“If Grant hadn’t been able to place the flowers in your cabin that night, I’m willing to bet they’d have been left there sometime the next day.”
“I still don’t see how any of this led Grant to Moreton.”
“Think about it. You weren’t just any girl. You were his sweetest, darkest fantasy come back to life. He wasn’t going to let you out of his sight from then on.”
Laurie’s heart sank. “So you think he followed me the next day when I drove to Cody?”
Cameron nodded. “You didn’t even know Moreton was onto him at that point, but Grant would have made the connection as soon as he saw you go into that office over the street from May Flowers. He knew right away he was in big trouble.”
“I led Moreton’s killer straight to him.” Laurie swallowed hard.
It was Cameron’s turn to clasp her hand. “Laurie, I’ve spent the last year thinking I killed Carla. Torturing myself with ‘what-ifs.’ What if I’d stayed home that night? What if I’d insisted she came with me? It doesn’t do any good. Only one person is to blame for this. The person who killed Carla and those other girls. The same person who killed Moreton.”
“Grant Becker.” She nodded. “Although I still don’t understand why he didn’t kill me when he had the chance. He had me at his mercy in the cabin. Moreton was dead. I’m sure he was on his way into the bedroom, then he just turned around and left.”
“Something must have interrupted him.”
Laurie frowned, forcing herself to concentrate. “You came along a few minutes later,” she recalled. “Did you get straight out of your car when you arrived?”
Cameron looked a little self-conscious. “No, I had some thinking to do. I sat behind the wheel for a few minutes.”
“My cabin was closest to the parking lot. I suppose it’s possible he was coming toward the bedroom, heard you pull up, went to the window and saw your car with you sitting in it. He must have gotten out through the back window just before you came in. That’s why the frame was damaged. He’s a big man to fit through such a small space.”
She glanced down as Cameron crushed his soda can in his free hand. He barely seemed to notice the action. “My God, Laurie, do you realize how close you came?”
She nodded, feeling the blood slowly drain from her face. “But we still have no evidence for any of this.”
“Except for May King’s testimony. At least she can testify that he is the person who buys the flowers.”
Realization hit them both at the same time, and they were on their feet together, running toward the car side by side. As Cameron gunned the engine into life, Laurie fumbled for her phone. With fingers that were numb with impatience, she found the listing for May Flowers.
Cameron glanced her way, a question in his eyes. She shook her head. “No answer.”
* * *
“We could still be wrong.” Laurie’s voice was fretful as the car ate up the miles on the return journey to Cody. “He’s your friend, and we could be accusing him of the most horrible crimes, all based on hunches and with no good reason to support them.”
“We’ll know the answer for sure by what we find when we get to Cody.”
They saw the plume of smoke before they reached the town, and heard the sirens as they reached the outskirts. When Cameron tried to turn onto Sheridan Avenue, the road was blocked by emergency vehicles. He pulled over and, climbing out of the car, they joined the little crowd of curiously silent onlookers. From where they stood, the view of the street was clear. The little store called May Flowers was burning, the fire having taken a strong grip on the wood-framed building. While firefighters dealt with the blaze, a body was being carried out.
“Dear Lord, tell me that’s not May.” The woman next to Cameron raised a shaking hand to her lips.
“Has to be.” Her companion placed an arm about her shoulders, his face equally ashen. “She only had help on the weekends.”
“Is she alive?” Someone called out to one of the police officers. He shook his head, his expression somber, before walking back toward the burning building.
“What the hell is going on in this town? It was the empty office across the street last night, now a flower shop?”
Cameron caught Laurie’s eye and jerked his head toward the car. She nodded and they moved away. Once they were back in the car and on the road out of town, Cameron risked a glance at Laurie’s profile. She was gazing out the window, her features tense.
“We weren’t wrong.” He spoke gently.
“No.” She turned to face him. “So what do we do now?”
“He’ll come for you, Laurie. We have to get you somewhere safe.”
Her lip curled slightly. “I’m not scared of him.”
“While I...admire—” Had he almost said love? Slip of the tongue. “—the spirit that makes you say that, at the moment Grant has the law on his side. He could pull you over on an imaginary offense anytime he chooses. If he does that, he has you in his power. We have nothing except a wild story. Let’s go somewhere so we can buy ourselves a little thinking time. Okay?”
“Where did you have in mind?”
“I have a cabin up in the woods, off the Stillwater Trail. It belonged to my uncle. It’s a bit run-down. I keep meaning to sell it, but never get around to doing anything about it. It’s completely isolated, and the best thing about it is that Grant doesn’t know about it.” He let go of the steering wheel with his right hand and let it rest lightly on her knee. He didn’t pause to examine how right the action felt. Ever since she’d touched his hand back at the rest stop, something had altered between them. Something that made touching okay. “It’s the best I can do.”
Her long lashes swept down as she looked at his hand. When she lifted them to his face, her eyes were like twin blue headlamps. “Thank you.” There was a world of meaning behind those words. It told him she wished they could have started out differently, that she regretted the mistrust that had been the basis for their relationship...and that there was much more she wanted to say.
“Damn.” He glanced in the rearview mirror. “We have company. And it’s not good news.”
Laurie swiveled around in her seat, her face blanching as she caught sight of the patrol car that was gaining on them. “Is it him?”
“Could be.” When he’d said Grant could pull her over and get her in his power anytime he chose, he hadn’t expected it to be this fast.
“Can we outrun him?” Her voice wasn’t hopeful.
“And give him a reason to arrest us, even shoot at us?” He looked in the mirror again. “We are still in Park County. If we were in West County, he could arrest you on a jumped-up charge and put you in a cell. Here, although he can still arrest you, he’d have to hand you over to the Park County Sheriff’s Department. I’m going to pin my hopes on him not wanting the explanations that will go along with that. Can you get my cell phone out of my pocket?”
Laurie looked startled, but, as he raised his hip off the seat, she reached into his back pocket and withdrew his cell phone. “Who do you want to call?”
“My brother Bryce. Can you get him for me?”
“You sound way too calm for this situation,” Laurie grumbled, as she scrolled through his contacts.
“I want to look Grant in the eye and let him know I’m on to him, shake him up a bit. You need to do the same. Tell him who you are. Make sure you tell him your captain knows your whereabouts.” He took the phone from her in time to hear Bryce’s voice demanding to know where the hell he had been.
“You said you’d come down here and speak to Vincente about this problem with the routes. He’s still being a royal pain in the butt about it.”
“I got sidetracked. Listen, this is important. Call me back in five minutes, okay? Don’t let me down.”
Bryce must have picked up on the urgency in his voice, because he immediately stopped bellyaching about Vincente. “Hey, what’s going on? Anything I need to know about?”
“I’ll let you know. Just call me.”
He ended the call. The patrol car was right behind them now, and Cameron noted with relief there were two figures in the vehicle. Even a desperate murderer was unlikely to try anything in front of a witness. He was going to pin his hopes on that right now.
“Ready?” He gave Laurie a reassuring smile.
“As I’ll ever be.” She made an attempt to return the smile, but the expression didn’t quite work.
Slowing down, Cameron pulled to the side of the road. He was out of the car before Laurie could leave her seat, closing his door and making his way toward the sheriff’s vehicle. He was right. Grant’s muscle-bound frame was unmistakable in the driver’s seat. As Cameron got closer, he recognized Becker’s deputy, Glen Harvey, in the passenger seat. Some of the tightness around his heart eased. Harvey was a decent guy—honest, trustworthy and dedicated to his job. The sort of thing I’d have said about Grant Becker twenty-four hours ago.
“Cam.” Exiting his own vehicle, Grant came toward him with a smile. Glen Harvey stayed where he was, merely tilting his hat in Cameron’s direction. “Where have you been hiding yourself these days?”
Despite the smile, when Cameron looked into Grant Becker’s eyes he knew it was all true. There was something behind that genial expression. It was raw and dangerous, reminding Cameron of a wild animal in a trap. There was fear and desperation, but there was a darker edge to Grant’s feelings. You are enjoying this. The fleeting thought was gone as fast as it came. And you know I know. That exchange of glances lasted no more than a second, but it told Cameron everything he needed to know. He wasn’t looking into the eyes of his best friend. He was staring down a ruthless killer.
Before Cameron could answer, both men turned at the sound of Laurie’s boots crunching on the asphalt surface as she made her way toward them. Her trim figure in tight-fitting blue jeans and white blouse would catch any man’s eye. Cameron heard Grant’s indrawn breath as, brushing an errant lock of long, chestnut hair out of her face, Laurie smiled. She had the same effect on Cameron, but he managed to contain his reaction. We both want her...but for very different reasons.
Laurie held up her phone. “My captain has agreed to let me stay a few more days.” She turned the full force of her smile on Grant, ignoring the faint look of surprise on his face. “We weren’t formally introduced the other night. Detective Carter-Bryan, San Diego Police.”
If Laurie’s use of Carla’s surname affected him, Grant gave no sign of it. His gaze went from Laurie to Cameron, a frown descending over his handsome features. “I don’t understand.”
“I was here on vacation, but, by some bizarre coincidence, a crime was committed in the vacation village where I’m staying. I’ve offered to stay and assist with the inquiry.”
The frown deepened. Did Cameron sense a hint of panic behind it? “Why haven’t I been informed about this?”
Laurie looked at Cameron, managing to achieve a hint of delicious confusion in her expression. “Have I done something wrong? I was sure I followed all the correct protocols.”
“You did.” Playing his own part, he went for a reassuring tone. Turning to Grant, he explained. “The crime Laurie is talking about took place at the Paradise Creek vacation village. That falls within the Stillwater Police Department’s area.”
Throughout his time as mayor, Cameron had never had to make that sort of statement. The Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department had always worked so closely together that there had been no need for reminders about their different functions and areas of authority. This was the first time he had needed to point out that Grant was responsible for the law enforcement services within West County, while the city limits of Stillwater itself came under the control of Chief Wilkinson.
If there was a fleeting look of anger in the depths of Grant’s eyes, it was quickly gone. “Even so, I’d have expected to be kept informed about something serious happening in Stillwater.”
“Because it is so serious, I’ve been kind of busy this last twenty-four hours,” Cameron said, drily. “I’ve also been trying to avoid any word of a problem during peak tourist season getting out and causing a panic.” Just then, his phone rang. “Excuse me.” He took the call, listening intently. “Yes, okay. No, I’m just with Detective Carter-Bryan in Park County. Probably ten minutes from the county line. Sheriff Becker is here. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Developments?” Laurie asked, when he hung up.
“Yes. We have to go.” Cameron waved a hand to Deputy Harvey. “We’ll speak soon.” He addressed the words to Grant, speaking slowly and deliberately. The sheriff gave a curt nod in return. They maintained eye contact, each man sending the same message to the other.
You can count on it.