Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [668]
The comparison didn’t sit well with her. What law enforcement official enjoyed thinking of herself as a hired killer? She had even lingered in the hotel lobby, considering a stop at the lounge. It wasn’t that long ago that exhaustion would never have won out over her urge for Scotch. There used to be nothing better than two or three Scotches to ease the challenges of her profession.
However, as soon as she walked into her hotel room she flipped open her cell phone. She no longer bothered to check for messages. She knew Gwen wouldn’t call. Instead, she simply dialed and was surprised when Gwen answered on the third ring.
“Gwen, are you okay?” Maggie asked.
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Well, excuse me, but I haven’t been able to ask you that because you haven’t bothered to return any of my phone calls. I’ve been worried sick about you.”
Silence. Maggie berated herself. Here she finally gets in touch with her friend and does the exact thing Gwen wanted to avoid by not returning her calls.
“I’m sorry, Gwen. I’ve just been really worried.”
“I think Racine may be trying to figure out whether or not to arrest me.”
“Arrest you? What in the world for?”
“You haven’t talked to her today?”
“Early this morning,” Maggie said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “What’s going on?”
“It’s complicated.” Gwen sounded so tired.
“Tell me anyway.”
Maggie listened without interrupting as Gwen told her about Rubin Nash and how she suspected that he might be the D.C. killer, but wasn’t sure. She told her about the notes, a map, some earrings, even a cell phone that the killer had left for her, always at her office building. That was why she believed it had to be one of her patients, someone who could come and go and not be noticed. Gwen even admitted that when Racine called in Maggie to profile the case, Gwen thought she might be able to guide Maggie to the killer without endangering anyone close to her.
Maggie listened and wished she was there offering something more, something warmer than an “okay” or “go on.” Gwen stopped and Maggie thought she was finished until Gwen said so softly she could barely hear her, “I should have told you. I should have told you from the very beginning.”
“You thought you were doing the right thing,” Maggie told her. “How many times have I done that?”
“But you’ve never gotten anyone killed in the process.”
“That’s not true. How could you forget Albert Stucky?” Maggie still cringed at the sound of his name. Stucky had been pure evil. He had played a deadly game of cat and mouse with her that included killing women Maggie came in contact with. By the time he was finished, he had killed four women—four ordinary innocent women whose only mistake was meeting Maggie.
Gwen promised to call in the morning, thanking Maggie. She flipped her phone shut and set it onto the nightstand. It felt a little strange. Usually Gwen was the one comforting her, getting her out of hot water and calming her down. They had started out with Gwen as her mentor, her teacher, and went on to become best friends. This time Gwen had hoped Maggie could save her.
Maggie kicked off her shoes, took off her jacket and hung it on the back of the desk chair. She unbuckled her shoulder holster and laid it next to her cell phone. It was the only reason she continued to wear a jacket in the July heat. People talked differently to a woman with a gun