Tears burned the backs of her eyelids. Each memory of her sister refueled her rage and anger.
Griff opened the door, and they entered the lobby, then made their way to the parlor. Thankfully it was deserted so they had the room to themselves.
She poured a glass of wine for herself, then offered Griff one from the buffet. He shook his head and chose coffee, then joined her in the seating area. The wine helped soothe her jangled nerves as she warmed herself by the fire.
Griff seated himself across from her in the big club chair. “Come on, Ginny. Who was that man?”
“I had a date,” she admitted.
He raised a brow. “You came for a story and now you’re dating? I don’t understand.”
He didn’t have to, but he obviously wasn’t going to let it go. Her plan to use him hadn’t worked at all. He was too damn smart.
“I told you that I received a tip from an abuse victim,” Ginny said. “She met the man online through one of those dating sites.”
Griff’s jaw tightened. “Let me guess. You joined that site hoping to meet that creep?”
Ginny ran her finger along the rim of her glass. “Like I said earlier, he disappeared. She’s terrified he’s looking for her.”
Griff cleared his throat. “Did you get a description of the man?”
Ginny shifted. “Medium build, sandy-blondish hair, dressed well. He likes nice restaurants and wine.”
Griff tensed. “The bartender gave a similar description of a man Joy was in there with once. He thought his name was Winston or William.”
Ginny paused with her glass halfway to her lips. “He said his name was Karl Cross. He became defensive when I asked about Joy, and he said the last woman he dated died suddenly.”
“I’ll ask Jacob and Liam to investigate him.”
Ginny traced a finger around the rim of her glass. “I told you I don’t want to talk to the cops. Whatever I share with you is confidential.”
Griff made a low sound of frustration in his throat. “For God’s sake, Ginny, I’m just trying to help. You have to get over this paranoia about the police.”
“That’s impossible when this woman’s attacker bought off a cop to find out where she was hiding, and he nearly killed her.”
Tension charged the air between them. “I’m sorry that happened, but I assure you my brothers are decent. They’ll do everything they can to track down this bastard and make him pay.”
Ginny leaned forward, desperate to believe him.
But his brothers would only get in her way.
* * *
GRIFF STUDIED GINNY for a moment. Although he sensed she’d told him multiple lies, if what she’d said about the cop accepting a bribe was true, he understood her distrust of the law. Arguing with her would only push her further away. He’d learn more by keeping her close and agreeing to work with her. “All right, I’ll keep your confidence,” he replied. “But trust works both ways. You aren’t allowed to print anything I tell you unless I clear it with Jacob first.”
Ginny pasted on her game face. “Of course.”
“Do you think the man you met tonight was the same one who attacked your source?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. But have your brother check him out. If he dated Joy, he might be the man you’re hunting.”
“What online dating site did you use?”
Ginny stretched out her legs. “Meet Your Mate.”
Seeing that man put his hands on Ginny bothered Griff more than he wanted to admit. He told himself his reaction was simple protective instincts that he’d feel for any woman, but something about the pained note in Ginny’s voice tore at his heartstrings on a more personal level.
“You’re playing with fire by trying to lure this predator,” he said huskily.
Ginny finished her wine and stood. “You’re not going to change my mind. So, remember our deal.”
He clenched his jaw as she walked away, removed his phone from his belt and punched Liam’s number to ask him to dig up everything he could on Karl Cross and that dating site. He’d also ask him to look at other cases involving strangulation and arson.
Like it or not, he didn’t intend to let Ginny use herself as bait and get herself killed.
Chapter Nine
Ginny watched Griff leave with a mixture of admiration and trepidation. He was a strong man. Could be dangerous. She’d seen that flare of temper in his eyes when he’d ordered Karl to release his grip on her. And he’d pinned her with a stare that made her feel uncomfortable.
Yet as much as she hesitated to trust him, she didn’t think he’d hurt her. At least not physically. His protective streak seemed to be for her, not in a possessive way, but in the chivalrous way she’d only seen in the movies.
Could it be real?
It didn’t matter. She was here for one reason and one reason only. To find the man who’d killed her sister. As soon as she reached her room, she’d call that real estate developer again. Maybe if she was persistent enough, he’d return her call.
Moving on autopilot, she scanned the main lobby of the inn as she approached the stairs. Not that she thought Karl Cross would have followed her here, but a woman could never be too careful. One lunatic in her life was enough.
Another reason to avoid men.
She’d just made a deal with one though. To share information, nothing more.
She mulled over the tidbit Griff had shared. The man Joy was with at the bar could have been Robert. If he’d gone by William or Winston, maybe she could find his profile on the dating site.
A light rain began to fall again, and fog formed on the picture windows in the front. For a moment, her vision blurred, and she thought she saw a man standing by the trees flanking the drive.
He wore a long dark trench coat and hat and seemed to be staring at her.
Robert?
Heart pounding, she slid her hand over her purse, then reached inside for her weapon. The wind kicked up, trees swaying outside. A tree branch snapped at the windowpane. Rain fell, fat drops splattering the glass.
She hurried to the front door but when she opened it, there was no one there.
Heaving a breath, she shut the door, turned and fled toward the stairs. Her foot slid on the slick wood, and she grabbed the rail to steady herself, then forced herself to slow down as she climbed to the second floor. If Robert was out there, he was gone. At least for the moment.
She glanced down the hall at the top of the stairs to make sure he hadn’t somehow gotten inside, then hurried toward her room. Hands trembling, she fumbled with her key, then jammed it in the lock and opened the door. The cloying scent of Robert’s aftershave still clung to the air. Or was it fresh?