Lisa Jackson's Bentz & Montoya Bundle: Hot Blooded, Cold Blooded, Shiver, Absolute Fear, Lost Souls, Malice, & an Exclusive Extended Excerpt From Devious by Lisa Jackson Page B

Stetson dripping.
    “Sam, here, wants to go on the air again without talking to the police about her own private nutcase.”
    A grin stretched across Rob’s weathered features. “Not so private. Seems like half the damned city was listening to her last night from the number of e-mails. I’m surprised the cops haven’t called you.” He laid a leathery hand on Sam’s shoulder.
    “I think they have more on their minds,” she said.
    “Okay, okay, enough of this.” Eleanor glanced at her watch. “I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
    “Always am.”
    Eleanor rolled her large eyes. “Yeah, and I’m Cleopatra. I mean it, Sam, don’t bait this guy. Who knows how dangerous he is. He could be hopped up on drugs, or have a hair trigger on his temper. Just, please” “—she spread her hands expressively—” “take it easy.”
    “I’m a psychologist, remember? I’m used to this kind of thing.”
    “Yeah, right,” Eleanor muttered under her breath as she bustled out of the room.
    “She’s right, kiddo.” Rob sat down. Tipped the brim of his hat back, pinned Sam with blue eyes that had seen it all. “Don’t do anything foolish, okay?”
    With mock severity, Sam said, “I’ll try my best, Cowboy Rob. Honest I will.” She said it lightheartedly, but the truth of the matter was that she intended to be very careful with the guy should he phone in again. If she got any hint that he was dangerous, she’d phone the police. Pronto.
    That night as she walked down the hallway, a cup of coffee in her hand, the offices seemed darker than usual. The shadows in the corners, deeper, the corridors more crooked than before. It was stupid, of course. The old building in the heart of the city hadn’t changed at all, but despite her bold words to Eleanor earlier, Sam was edgy. She’d gone home last night and nothing had happened. She’d thought she’d heard someone outside, but as she’d stepped onto her back porch, she’d seen nothing through the curtain of rain and only the whistle of the breeze and the clink of wind chimes had disturbed the night. Later, she’d spied the lone boat on the choppy waters, or at least thought she had. She’d shut her blinds and pushed him out of her mind. What was happening to make her so jumpy?
    It wasn’t as if she was alone, for God’s sake. Melaniewas manning the phones, Tiny was about, making sure that the equipment was working and that the preset programs for later in the night were ready to roll.
    Nothing was out of the ordinary.
    Except that someone out there—in the city—wants to scare the devil out of you.
    And it was working.
    Big time.
    She was tense, her stomach in knots as she closed the door to the soundproof booth, slid into her chair and settled behind the microphone.
    Eleanor and George had been right, she thought as the intro music played through the speakers mounted over her desk. The e-mail and calls the station had received in the last twenty-four hours had far surpassed any other similar span of time. The conversation last night between Dr. Sam and “John” had spurred interest in the program, and she could feel a new sense of electricity in the station, through the headset, in the voices of the callers as they phoned in.
    “Good evening, New Orleans and welcome…” She started out her show with her usual bit. Then, knowing she was dancing with the devil, said, “I thought we’d pick up tonight where we left off. Last night a caller phoned in, bringing up the subject of forgiveness, repentance and sin.” Sam’s fingers were a little shaky as she leaned into the mike. “I thought it was worth exploring tonight as well. I know a lot of you were listening, and I’d like to hear your interpretations of sin.” The first phone line was already blinking. Lines two and three lit up almost simultaneously. Once the program was over, Eleanor would probably kill her, tell her that she was inviting trouble, but though