coroner confirmed the victim had been killed that same night around the time the photos were taken.
There couldn’t be a mistake.
When they’d investigated further and confiscated William’s computer, the bizarre photos he’d taken of corpses in his care only confirmed what they all believed—he was the killer.
After that, hard evidence proved elusive.
They couldn’t have been handed a more perfect suspect. So when Nate didn’t look any further, it was because he’d been so sure they had the right man.
The fact that William’s had been sloppy was his own downfall—nothing else. Maybe Nate jumped on what evidence they had, focusing solely on Williams, but no way in hell was he going to let another killer walk, or watch another family destroy itself with anger and grief.
Helplessness, stunned disbelief, and all-consuming rage gripped him for years after his sister’s death and the subsequent joke of a court hearing. Long story short, Thea’s killer walked, resulting in his mother going to an early grave and his father into psychiatric care. Was it any wonder he’d become a hard-ass on the perpetrators of such crimes?
He wanted to explain all that to Sarah, to understand why she would say such things.
“Don’t go. Speak to me.” This time, his fingers found and tightened around warm flesh, surprising him. The dead were meant to be cold and insubstantial.
“Nate.”
The voice came from outside of himself this time. A voice no less urgent, but holding more warmth than the previous one in his head.
“Nate! Wake up!”
It was Kelly. Her voice cut through the fog of the dream and he followed it, surfacing like a man near drowned. Forcing his lids open, he blinked rapidly and gazed around at the familiar surroundings of his lounge for reassurance. Slowly, his breathing evened out and the deep, panicked draughts he’d been taking eased back into its normal rhythm. He focused on Kelly’s worried face and swallowed the last of the panic away. Thank God. It had just been a dream, no matter how real it seemed at the time.
“Are you okay?
She bent towards him, her blue eyes clouded with concern and his breathing hitched again. Belatedly, he realized he held her forearm in a death grip. He released her immediately and noted with horror the red finger marks he’d left on her skin.
“I’m fine,” he replied gruffly. “Just a bad dream. Sorry about grabbing you like that.”
She shrugged off his apology. “The Doc warned me you might have nightmares. You’ve been through a lot.” She paused and studied him, her eyes shrewd. He doubted her keen gaze had failed to note the fine sheen of sweat coating him like a second skin. “Dinner will be in ten minutes if you want to go and clean up first.”
He ran a hand over his jaw and grimaced, wincing at the rasp of overgrown beard. “Good idea.” He pushed himself out of the chair and uttered an involuntary hiss of pain. Immediately, Kelly came to his side, her hand under his arm to steady him. He’d spent so long trying to forget how appealing he found her he forgot just how strong she was. The equal to most men, she was an Amazon of a woman.
Once he stood upright, she held his gaze. “Don’t be too proud to ask for help, Nate. I’m here for whatever you need.”
With her last words, the blood went straight to his groin, and his mind cluttered with dirty thoughts. Before the crude remark escaped from the tip of his tongue, she whirled and marched back to the kitchen as if she could read his mind, her rear setting the loose material of the dress to sway enticingly. His eyes narrowed. If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear she’d done that on purpose.
Sweat bloomed fresh on his forehead, and with a groan, he spun and stalked in the opposite direction towards the bathroom.
Nate plugged the basin and filled it with warm water. Pulling out the razor and shaving cream from underneath the sink, he lathered up. His hand stilled upon sight of the
There couldn’t be a mistake.
When they’d investigated further and confiscated William’s computer, the bizarre photos he’d taken of corpses in his care only confirmed what they all believed—he was the killer.
After that, hard evidence proved elusive.
They couldn’t have been handed a more perfect suspect. So when Nate didn’t look any further, it was because he’d been so sure they had the right man.
The fact that William’s had been sloppy was his own downfall—nothing else. Maybe Nate jumped on what evidence they had, focusing solely on Williams, but no way in hell was he going to let another killer walk, or watch another family destroy itself with anger and grief.
Helplessness, stunned disbelief, and all-consuming rage gripped him for years after his sister’s death and the subsequent joke of a court hearing. Long story short, Thea’s killer walked, resulting in his mother going to an early grave and his father into psychiatric care. Was it any wonder he’d become a hard-ass on the perpetrators of such crimes?
He wanted to explain all that to Sarah, to understand why she would say such things.
“Don’t go. Speak to me.” This time, his fingers found and tightened around warm flesh, surprising him. The dead were meant to be cold and insubstantial.
“Nate.”
The voice came from outside of himself this time. A voice no less urgent, but holding more warmth than the previous one in his head.
“Nate! Wake up!”
It was Kelly. Her voice cut through the fog of the dream and he followed it, surfacing like a man near drowned. Forcing his lids open, he blinked rapidly and gazed around at the familiar surroundings of his lounge for reassurance. Slowly, his breathing evened out and the deep, panicked draughts he’d been taking eased back into its normal rhythm. He focused on Kelly’s worried face and swallowed the last of the panic away. Thank God. It had just been a dream, no matter how real it seemed at the time.
“Are you okay?
She bent towards him, her blue eyes clouded with concern and his breathing hitched again. Belatedly, he realized he held her forearm in a death grip. He released her immediately and noted with horror the red finger marks he’d left on her skin.
“I’m fine,” he replied gruffly. “Just a bad dream. Sorry about grabbing you like that.”
She shrugged off his apology. “The Doc warned me you might have nightmares. You’ve been through a lot.” She paused and studied him, her eyes shrewd. He doubted her keen gaze had failed to note the fine sheen of sweat coating him like a second skin. “Dinner will be in ten minutes if you want to go and clean up first.”
He ran a hand over his jaw and grimaced, wincing at the rasp of overgrown beard. “Good idea.” He pushed himself out of the chair and uttered an involuntary hiss of pain. Immediately, Kelly came to his side, her hand under his arm to steady him. He’d spent so long trying to forget how appealing he found her he forgot just how strong she was. The equal to most men, she was an Amazon of a woman.
Once he stood upright, she held his gaze. “Don’t be too proud to ask for help, Nate. I’m here for whatever you need.”
With her last words, the blood went straight to his groin, and his mind cluttered with dirty thoughts. Before the crude remark escaped from the tip of his tongue, she whirled and marched back to the kitchen as if she could read his mind, her rear setting the loose material of the dress to sway enticingly. His eyes narrowed. If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear she’d done that on purpose.
Sweat bloomed fresh on his forehead, and with a groan, he spun and stalked in the opposite direction towards the bathroom.
Nate plugged the basin and filled it with warm water. Pulling out the razor and shaving cream from underneath the sink, he lathered up. His hand stilled upon sight of the
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