death. I—I didn’t really take it seriously. And I assumed that would be the last I’d hear from him. At least for another year.”
“Until you received the letter today.”
“Maybe it’s a coincidence?” Her question sounded weak to her own ears. “Granted, it could be from Beth’s father, but it’s not consistent with the cards I’ve received. Plus, he’s always handwritten his notes. This one is typed.”
“He threatened you in the recent card he mailed you. Why not up the ante? Why not come here and prove he’s serious? That doesn’t sound like coincidence to me. It sounds like cold-blooded intent—at the very least, intent to scare you. And he obviously succeeded.”
He read over the three cards she’d handed him, his face darkening with each one. He picked up a pen and small pad of paper he’d placed on the coffee table. “What’s his name and where does he live?”
“Lester Davenport. He lived in Charleston, last I heard.”
“That’s where you lived before moving to San Francisco?”
“Yes, but I also lived in Seattle for a while before finally deciding on San Francisco.”
“And he found you in Seattle, too,” he said, noting the Seattle address on one of the envelopes he held. “Do you know how?”
“No, but I’m a licensed professional who works with the public. I imagine it wouldn’t be too difficult to search for psychiatric practices on the web. After all, you found out where I lived, right?”
“I have access to public records that a normal person doesn’t. You need to make an official complaint,” he said.
Her chest went tight. “I—I don’t want to do that.”
“Why not? Even if he didn’t threaten you with the letter, the cards are sufficient. Right now they’re just written threats, but someone with a vendetta will often escalate their behavior with no warning whatsoever. There’s a real threat of actual harm, and you need to take that seriously.”
“I do. I admit the letter I received this morning scared me—I’m still scared—but we don’t know that Lester Davenport left it. Even if he did, it doesn’t mean he’ll really hurt me. I met him before Beth killed herself. He brought her to me because he wanted to get her help. I honestly think he’s just a father in mourning. Beth was his only daughter and before she committed suicide, her mother died of cancer. Lester lost everything he loved in a matter of months. He’s stuck in the grief process. People say things when they’re hurt and grieving that they don’t mean. That they’d never say otherwise. I think he simply needs to vent, and I don’t want to take legal action because he acted rashly and end up causing more problems for him.”
She sounded almost desperate to make him believe her. And she knew why. Knew she was making excuses for Lester because she was also making excuses for her own father, the same man who in his grief had told Nina it was her fault Rachel had died.
Simon watched her carefully, as if aware something in her past was driving her to defend Lester Davenport. Hell, he could have been a therapist himself given the way he was studying her.
Finally, he said, “You know it’s him, Nina.”
She shook her head. Then somewhat contradicted the gesture by saying, “Maybe. Part of me might suspect it’s him. But I can’t know it. And neither can you.”
He grunted. Stood abruptly, which dislodged Six and caused her to prance away. “Will you at least let me check it out? Have the letter processed for fingerprints? Make some inquiries. Unofficially?”
Unofficially. That she could handle. And like he’d said—they’d be working together. He might not be thrilled by that fact, but he obviously took his job seriously and would feel compelled to look into the situation whether she gave him her permission or not. She was a witness and a potential victim, that was all. Just another part of the job for him. He was attracted to her, but that wasn’t the same as caring about her. After all, he’d told her flat out that he didn’t even like her. She had to remember that. “That’s fine. Just keep it off the books.”
He nodded, and tucked his pad and pen into his inside jacket pocket.
She stood, as well. “Thank you again.”
He stared at her. Then to her surprise, he stepped closer, raised his hand and lightly gripped her chin. “Thank you for confiding in me. Despite the issues we have between us, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
She