Don't Look (Pike, Wisconsin #1) - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,88

warned her when I gave her the keys that if she lost them, I’d have to have all the locks changed and that she would have to pay for the expenses. It’s not only going to be costly, but it’s a hassle I don’t need right now.”

“It could be revenge,” Kir agreed. Chelsea had struck him as the sort of vindictive person who’d take pleasure in causing Lynne problems. But her relationship with Nash had also proved she was willing to sacrifice her pride and morals to please a man. Maybe even to please a friend. “It could be she gave them to someone and didn’t want to admit who had them.”

Lynne twisted her hands together. “The killer?”

“It’s possible.”

There was a long silence as they considered the dangers of having the keys in the hands of a murderous monster. Then Lynne heaved a frustrated sigh. “Or maybe she just lost them.”

“Yep.”

“Going around in circles. Again,” Lynne muttered. Then she frowned. “I almost forgot. Chelsea did have an interesting theory.”

“What’s that?”

“She thinks Nash was killed because of his connection to the drugs that were stolen, not because he was a chosen victim.”

“Not bad,” Kir said. It was true that Nash didn’t really fit the profile of the other victims. “If the killer feared Nash might have information that could expose him, it would make sense to get him out of the way.”

Lynne narrowed her eyes. “You don’t believe it.”

“No.” He reached into his front pocket to remove the list that had supposedly come from his father. Then he moved to sit next to her on the sofa. “I went back over this,” he said.

“And?”

“And I don’t think it’s listing locations.” He pointed to the first initials. “There’s an S. H.”

“Sherry Higgins.”

His finger moved down. “R. D.”

“Randi Decker.”

He moved to the next line. “M. R.”

She nodded. “Madeline Randall.”

“N. C.”

“Nash Cordon.” Lynne shuddered, her face going from pale to a sickly gray as she reached to touch the next initials on the list. “D. R. L. G. I’m next.”

Kir stuffed the paper back in his pocket, swiveling on the sofa to grab Lynne’s hands. “You need to get out of town. At least until the killer is found.”

She was shaking her head before he ever finished speaking. “You know I can’t do that. I have a business. The sanctuary. My house.”

He’d already anticipated her arguments. “Your father could return to Pike to take care of things.”

“And where would I go?”

He cupped her cheek in his hand. “We could stay at my condo in Boston.”

He heard her breath catch, as if she’d been caught off guard by his offer. Why? Surely she understood he intended for them to be together? Whether it was here or somewhere else.

Before he could assure her that she was stuck with him, she was pulling away from his lingering touch.

“We can’t hide there forever.”

He stared down at her. Hiding away with this woman forever sounded like a perfectly reasonable life choice to him. “Why not?”

“Kir . . .” Her words trailed away as the sharp sound of sirens blasted through the air. Lynne jumped to her feet and raced to the window. “Now what?”

“Let’s find out.” Grimly Kir straightened and pulled on his leather coat. It was obvious he wasn’t going to convince her to leave Pike this minute. They might as well discover what had happened. Perhaps the sheriff had actually done her job and was on the way to arrest the killer.

His lips twisted into a humorless smile. It seemed unlikely.

Lynne bundled herself in her coat and boots, and they headed out of the clinic. He was relieved to notice that Bernadine was at her desk in the outer lobby and he could hear one of the interns in an exam room. He didn’t like the thought of anyone in the clinic being on their own. Not when there was a crazed killer stalking Lynne.

Together they climbed into his SUV and Kir followed the fading sound of sirens. Ten minutes later they pulled to a halt in front of a line of low, brick buildings. Most were empty, but it looked like one was used as a café and another had the name of the local real estate company painted on the window.

In the parking lot was not only the sheriff’s vehicle, but an ambulance and the news van.

Kir climbed out of the SUV with a frown. Surely the killer hadn’t struck again already? He stepped toward the official vehicles only to be distracted as Lynne headed