Savage Alpha (Alpha 8) by Carole Mortimer Page B

attacks. Most especially on the record Charlie kept of people entering and leaving the theater.
    For now, though, Jonas was worried about Lily. She had been unusually quiet since receiving the telephone call that had rocked her world. She now sat tensely beside him, huddled down into her coat, somehow looking smaller, and vulnerable as hell.
    “We’re booking you into a hotel once the police have finished with their questions.” His tone brooked no argument.
    Lily didn’t give him one, but her eyes widened. “Why?”
    “A precaution.”
    She slumped back against her seat. “Because you do think this attack is connected to me.”
    Jonas never lied. He saw no point in it. He didn’t placate, or sugarcoat the truth either. Except in this case, he badly wanted to. Lily was stretched so tightly right now, the least little thing could cause her to break down again. She presented such a tough exterior to the world in general, and to Jonas and her brothers in particular, and she wouldn’t thank Jonas if anything he said or did was the cause of her losing that control again.
    “As I said, we won’t know that until we’ve spoken with the police,” he answered her truthfully. “But if these attacks are connected to your stalker, then his behavior is escalating at a rapid pace.” A worrying pace, as far as Jonas was concerned.

    “Whew, that was intense.” Lily grimaced as she and Jonas left the theater two hours later, having spent most of that time talking to the police. They certainly hadn’t been pleased on learning Lily had a stalker and hadn’t reported it. “I felt more like a suspect than a victim.”
    “That’s how you’re supposed to feel.” Jonas shrugged. “It’s part of the interrogation technique.”
    “It wasn’t exactly fair, when they wouldn’t tell us anything in return.”
    That wasn’t completely true. Jonas had indeed known one of the officers investigating, and although the other man wouldn’t tell him anything specific about the attacks, he had confided that the theater’s visitors’ book had suffered significant damage. Jonas had interpreted the word “damage” as meaning the pages for today had been ripped out. Which probably meant he was also right about the attacker having signed in earlier, before spray-painting Lily’s dressing room. It sounded as if he might have returned later to destroy the evidence, once he realized his signature would be in the book.
    Jonas was fast reaching the conclusion that Lily’s stalker and the person who had killed Charlie Driscoll and attacked Evan were one and the same.
    For the moment, Jonas was keeping that piece of information to himself. Lily was upset enough already. He didn’t need to confirm her worst fear.
    “Lily, what the hell is going on?” A young man rushed up to her as they turned the corner onto the main street. His eyes were slightly panicked, his face pale, blond hair tousled. “I got back early from my trip and wanted to surprise Evan, but the people outside the theater said the performance has been canceled, and there are policemen standing guard outside the front and back doors of the building. They aren’t letting anyone in or out, and Evan’s cell phone doesn’t seem to be working. What’s happened, Lily?” His voice rose hysterically.
    Jonas saw the dismay in Lily’s face, and guessed this must be Evan’s boyfriend, Todd. And he obviously had no idea the other man was currently in the hospital, fighting for his life.
    As for Evan’s cell phone… The police officer Jonas had spoken to had confided they had already ruled out the attack being a robbery, as both Charlie and Evan still had cash and credit cards in their wallets. But both men’s cell phones had been destroyed. In all probability by being stomped on with the heel of a shoe.
    “Oh God, Todd…” Lily groaned now, confirming this was indeed Evan’s boyfriend. “I thought Giles would have called you.”
    “Evan was going to call me earlier but