attacker for us. Now, I’m sorry, but I don’t have more to add. I want to get to the hospital so unless you have more questions for me…” She directed her attention at Cedric, not Richardson.
“I’ll call you,” Cedric promised. “If I need to follow-up.”
“Thank you.” She was more than ready to leave.
But Richardson kept getting in her way. He smiled at her. “Just how did you arrive here, Chloe? I only see a motorcycle. I don’t see your typical—”
She lifted her bloody fingers—and the keys that Joel had given her while they were in the house. “I’ll be taking the motorcycle, but thank you for the kind offer of a ride.”
“I didn’t offer—” Richardson blustered as his cheeks went red.
Cedric was called away.
Richardson immediately sidled even closer to her. “You need to watch yourself.”
Curiosity compelled her to ask, “Are you threatening me?”
“No, I’m trying to give you advice. Ever since you came strolling in with Dr. Landry, I’ve been checking up on him. He’s bad news.”
“I find him to be delightful news.”
“No, you don’t. You find few things in life to be delightful. You’re not wired that way. If you’re with him, it’s because you’re working an agenda. Either you think you can use him or…” He searched her eyes. “Maybe you even think he’s the killer you’re after. I talked to his shrink from Dallas. Got the guy to give me his take on the dangerous doctor.”
She eased out a soft breath. “That sounds very much like something the shrink should not have revealed. Patient-client confidentiality and all. He’d better be careful or Dr. Jennings will find himself without a license.”
Oh, no.
“Got you.” Richardson grinned at her.
“You do?” Her voice was perfectly calm even as her heart raced. “I didn’t realize you were touching me.”
“I never told you the shrink’s name. You knew it already. That means you’ve been digging into Joel’s past, haven’t you?” The agent’s eyes gleamed. “You don’t trust him, not for a second. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer, am I right? So tell me…the real reason you didn’t go rushing to look for a suspect in the attack here today—it’s because you had a suspect in your sights, didn’t you? You thought Joel was the attacker. Did he get here before you? Or maybe—hell, was he the one who came up with the idea to come out here?” His words tumbled out, faster and faster. “Maybe he was doing some big theater piece in front of you. Acting like he was saving the woman when really, he was just finishing her off. You stayed with them because you wanted to make sure she lived. Because at your core, you’re not as crazy as some people say. You’re—”
“Crazy isn’t a clinical term. It’s highly overused. I get tired of reminding people about that. And if you must know, I keep my friends close because they matter to me. I am very protective of them. As far as Dr. Jennings is concerned, I knew his name because Joel told me his name.” The lie was smooth and easy. “And since Joel has saved Judith’s life, you can come to the hospital and ask her about the attacker yourself. I’m sure she’ll clear Joel.”
“Too late, Chloe. Too late. You screwed up. I saw it in your eyes. It was only there for a second, but you wished you could take the words back. As soon as you said the doctor’s name, you realized what you’d done.”
“You have no idea what I wish. Don’t delude yourself into thinking that you do.” She stepped around him. “I have places to go. Crimes to solve. You should try that sometime. You know, the crime solving part.”
“Joel Landry is dangerous!”
“Anyone can be dangerous. It’s all about the circumstances. How far an individual can be pushed…”
Before he or she breaks.
***
She rode away on the motorcycle as if she drove motorcycles every single day. Revved the engine and shot away like she was about to win some race.
But she’d shown her hand. She didn’t often make mistakes, he’d give Chloe Hastings that, but this time, she’d screwed up. And as he’d hoped and prayed, he’d been there to see it happen.
Paul Richardson put his phone to his ear. “Get Dr. Gordon Jennings on a plane. I want him here, as fast as possible.”
Chloe never did anything without a reason. Getting close to Joel on this case? Their sudden acquaintance meant the former surgeon had to be connected to the killings.