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Her hand tightened around the handle of her briefcase. “Did you know that Everett Thomas was born and raised in New Orleans?” Her question was poised for Douglas, but her gaze darted to Beau.
No surprise showed on Beau’s face. She’d come to realize that he had already done plenty of background work on the players in this drama. Interesting.
Something else that was scarily interesting? The details about Beau that Everett had just revealed. Details Avalon hadn’t known. What Jag? And Beau had been in a gang back then?
How had Everett known those facts? Were they even facts or had he been spouting BS?
“Of course, I knew,” Douglas fired even as her mind swirled.
Her question hadn’t been for him, though, not really.
Douglas jerked his head down in a nod. “I’ve long suspected Everett may have claimed other vics in New Orleans. He left the city when he was around eighteen. Maybe nineteen. Things aren’t one hundred percent clear. We do know he eventually moved to Atlanta. That’s where authorities eventually found Virginia Long’s body.”
“I lived in New Orleans for a very long time, too,” she said. “Since his conviction, Everett Thomas has refused most interview requests, including those from some very powerful hitters in the industry. But he agreed to see me. I found that quite odd.”
Douglas blinked.
“I could only conclude that Everett agreed because, for some reason, he wanted to see me.”
“You’re similar in appearance to his vics.” Douglas tugged on his tie. “Thought that was enough to whet his interest. He’d been away from his prey for a while and was jonesing to see someone like you again.”
A growl came from Beau. Predatory. Dangerous.
“Look, I don’t like it, either! The guy is a freak, okay?” A rough expulsion of air from Douglas. “But I think—I know—there are more vics. Avalon is great with the killers.”
No, I’m not.
“If she could get him to slip up and reveal info we could use to find more vics, then him drooling over her for a bit would be worth it.” Douglas grimaced. “Avalon, you knew the score before you walked through the prison doors. The bodyguard—boyfriend—whatever he is—he may not like things, but you knew the game even before you started to play.”
“Yes.” She had. “I wanted to know who’d caught him.” It certainly wasn’t every day that a civilian captured a dangerous serial killer. Except…Everett was the second killer who’d been gift wrapped. Her gaze did not stray to Beau as she told Douglas, “In our first meeting, I could tell the way Everett watched me that he was curious about me. He knew all about my past.” That had certainly just been confirmed. Everett had slipped up and revealed too much. I believe he even knew about the bookshelf that had been moved in front of my door. I could open my door, but I couldn’t move the bookshelf that blocked my path. I wasn’t strong enough. Everett had specifically referenced her not being strong enough to get out. Her heartbeat quickened. “I think he knew the man who set the fires in New Orleans when I was a teen.”
But Douglas was clearly not on board. “That’s a huge jump to make, Avalon. There’s no reason to believe that Everett might have a connection to the arsonist just because the man happened to live in the same city!”
She had plenty of reason to believe that jump.
“He knows that I saved Avalon.” Beau’s voice.
That deep, dark voice slid through her.
“My name was always kept out of the media because I was a minor back then. Hell, I didn’t even give my real full name to anyone at the hospital. I’ve always been good at lying.”
Douglas twisted his tie.
“He knows that I have scars from the fire. How the hell does he know that?”
Douglas didn’t have an answer.
Avalon had suspicions. She knew Beau had those same suspicions.
“The bastard knows all about me and about Avalon, and now,” Beau’s voice deepened even more, “I have to wonder if he came to my bar those times because he was watching me. He knew about my past. You heard the bastard. He was curious to see what the fire had made me. What I’d become.”
Douglas squinted at him. “So, just what are you? Because Avalon assured me that you were playing on the side of the good guys right now.”
Beau stared steadily back at him. “I’m always playing on Avalon’s side.”
“I want a list of every guard who has been given duty with Everett.” Avalon’s mind churned through possibilities. “We need to cross-reference those individuals with Slater Wade, the man who was killed outside of my home. There’s going to be a link, I know it.” Excitement and adrenaline pumped in her blood. “I think a guard is passing along info for Everett. We connect the dots, we find a phone record, we find an email…something, and we will have a real lead.” It was happening. She knew it. Finally.
Douglas opened his mouth. Closed it. “You’re not serious. You think a guard—here—is working with a convicted serial killer?”
