Tip toeing back to the door, I kept the gun in front of me. Slowly, I opened the door, ready to put a bullet in someone’s head. But no one greeted me on the other side.
What the hell is going on?
I stepped outside and looked both ways. No one was in the hall. Whoever had knocked at my door had fled.
Okay. What’s going on?
I glanced down and saw a small scrap of white paper. I reached down and grabbed it.
Haven,
Go home. You cannot stop this.
The Angel Maker.
Stunned, I gripped the gun harder as the note fell from my hand. My heart slammed against my ribs.
Fuck you. I’m not going anywhere.
In a hurry, I didn’t put on any pants and headed over to Alexander’s room, wondering if the Angel Maker had left him a message too. No piece of paper sat by his door.
Just me? Okay, buddy.
I aimed the gun, just in case he decided to pop up. Glancing around, I knocked on Alexander’s door, banging my fist against the wooden surface.
Alexander opened the door fast with a gun in his hand. He only wore black pajama pants. For one crazy moment, I glanced at that chiseled chest.
His voice took me out of the daze. “Haven?”
I looked up. “He left me a message.”
Alexander put the gun at his side. “Who?”
“The Angel Maker.” I hurried back over to my doorway, picked up the paper, and handed it to him. “He spoke to me by first name.”
Alexander frowned and read it. “He knows you?”
A shiver ran through me. “Maybe.”
“Then, he’s from Fullbrooke.”
“Most likely.”
“He also wanted you to know that the deputy wasn’t the right guy.” With the gun still in his hand, Alexander stormed down the hallway. “The inn will have camera footage. We’ll have to get it. I’m sure our Unsub will have his face covered, but it’s better than nothing.”
I hurried after him.
He paused at the top of the staircase and turned to me. “You should put on some pants first. I’ll wait.”
“Oh.” I widened my eyes. “I forgot I didn’t have any on.”
He gazed down at my legs. “I didn’t.”
Shaking my head, I rushed back to my room.
When I finally returned, I still had my gun.
Alexander stared at my pants as if they were off.
“Let’s go.” He went down the stairs.
I followed. “I can’t believe he came to my room.”
“Me either. You can’t stay in that room anymore.”
I sighed. “I thought that, but if he found this room, then he’ll find the other one.”
“Which is why you’ll be in my room.”
“What?” I stopped midway in the stairs. “I’m staying in your room?”
“Yes.” He continued down the stairs. “I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“I don’t know about that—”
“It’s either my room or you can go back to DC. That’s probably the only thing I agree about with the Angel Maker. You should leave.”
“Well, you both will be disappointed. I’m staying.”
“You are.” He hit the bottom of the staircase and turned to me. “And you’re staying in my room. We’ll make it work. I’ll be respectful and give you privacy. But I have to make sure you stay safe.”
He left the steps.
I followed.
Alexander looked over his shoulder. “You’re quiet.”
“I’m still wondering about this arrangement.”
He stopped. “I would put you in a new room and have the police guard it, but I don’t trust them now.”
“Me either.”
“You can’t stay with your mother. In fact, I should have an agent outside of her house just in case.”
Tension filled my chest. “Thank you.”
“I don’t want to use any more agents to guard you. We have people at the waitress Maddie’s house. We have some guarding the deputy’s place. And now your mother—”
“I understand. We’re keeping everyone busy.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “I hate that you’ll have to sleep on the couch.”
“Don’t worry.” He gave me a wicked smile. “I won’t be on the couch for long. You’ll need a cuddle every now and then.”
“You think that’s funny?”
“I do.” He walked off.
We arrived at the inn’s management office. It was in the middle of the night. The manager was passed out in his chair with his feet up on the desk.
Keeping his gun at his side, Alexander pounded on the door. The noise woke the man up.
When he spotted us, he jumped up from his chair. “Oh. . .hello. I’m sorry. How can I help you? Is the front desk—”
“We actually need your assistance.” Alexander stepped in the office.
The man glanced at Alexander’s gun and the one I held. “Excuse me, but who are you?”
“I left my badge upstairs, but I’m Agent King and this is Agent Barron.” He cleared his throat. “A possible suspect in a murder case came to Agent Barron’s door and left a message.”
“Here?” A red shade covered the poor man’s face. “W-when? Is this the. . .serial killer of the little girls?”
“We think so.” I pointed to the wall of screens. “Would the man’s appearance be on camera?”
“I-it should be. I’m Cory. Sorry.” Cory hurried over to the computer next to the wall, pressed some buttons, and then found the footage of a mysterious man. “Here we go. This must be him. I don’t. . .I don’t know who this could be.”
I walked close to the screen. A man with a black jacket walked inside the back of the inn. He had the hood on his head and gloves on his hands. He rushed up the staircase, stopped at my door, knocked on it several times, dropped the sheet of paper, and walked away.
“He knew where all the cameras were.” Alexander got to my side. “He was prepared. Who would know where the cameras are?”
Horrified, Cory shook his head in disbelief. “T-the staff. . .maybe the. . .maintenance. I’m not sure. Do you think we are all in danger?”
On the footage, the man snuck back out the inn, but this time through the front. No one said anything or stopped him. There was no reason too. It was a peaceful quiet evening, and he’d offered no problems.
I turned to Alexander. “What should we do?”
“Get the police involved.” He turned to the manager. “Do you have cameras in the parking lot?”
Cory nodded. “Yes, but it’s close to the inn.”
“See if you can get the car’s make and model. The license plate. Anything. I’ll send some agents down to go over the footage with you.”
“No problem, sir.” Cory went through a back door in his office
Alexander gestured for us to leave.
I can’t believe the Angel Maker came to my door. You asshole. You think you can scare me away? You can’t.
“What do we do now?” I asked.
“Let’s get your stuff from the room and move it into mine.”
I parted my lips, but no words came out.