Read Online Die for Me: A Novel of the Valentine Killer by Cynthia Eden - Free Book Online

made sure I was safe last night.”
    Ross’s green gaze narrowed. “And just why was the cop there?”
    Dane didn’t like that suspicious tone. “Because she’s tied to my case, and someone needed to keep an eye on her,” he said, casting a disdainful glance Ross’s way. “Since you weren’t doing your job, Marshal, I thought I’d step in.”
    “I gave her a new identity,” Ross said through gritted teeth. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “A new name, a new home. I got her away from Boston.”
    “But you didn’t keep that identity secret, did you?” And that was why they had a dead body in the morgue. “Someone screwed up—either you or someone in your department—and the killer found her again.”
    Ross’s angry gaze slanted back to Katherine. Dane knew every cop in the area was straining to hear as Ross said, “Kat, I can haveyou out of this town within the hour. No one will follow you. You don’t have to worry about Valentine.”
    That would pretty much wreck Dane’s plans. Katherine was bait for Valentine, and if they were going to lure the guy in, then they needed her.
    Dane saw the captain heading toward them. The guy needed to move faster. Dane knew the last thing that Harley wanted was for the marshal to spirit Katherine away.
    Then Katherine said, voice firm, “I told you already, Ross. I’m
not
leaving.” Her shoulders were tense. “If I can stop more women from dying, then I’m doing it. I’ve got enough blood on my hands.”
    Hell yes.
Spine of steel.
Beneath skin of silk.
    Dane bared his teeth in a tiger’s smile for Ross. “Guess that means you’re out of your jurisdiction, then. If a witness doesn’t want protection from your department…”
    “Do you want her dead?” Ross snapped at him. “Are you so eager to close this case that you’d risk her life?”
    The bastard had just pushed too far.
Dane stepped forward.
    But then Katherine said, “It’s my life to risk.” She pointed toward the open interrogation room. “I suppose that’s my space? Excuse me, gentlemen.” She walked by them, her chin held high. “You can finish your little argument without me.”
    Mac smothered a laugh as he hurried over and followed her inside the room. He shut the door, sealing them both inside.
    Dane was going to join them, but first, hell yeah, he’d finish this “little argument.” He locked eyes with the marshal. “This isn’t a pissing contest.”
    Ross didn’t blink. “Good. ’Cause I don’t need to piss.”
    Dane almost smiled. Under other circumstances, he might like the guy. Maybe. “That woman can help me find the killer.”
    “That
woman
is living on nerves and fear. She can’t help you.”
    How could the guy not know her at all? Ross had been working with her for three years, but Dane felt like he knew Katherine so much better than the marshal did after just a day.
    “You’re just making her a target,” Ross continued, his voice roughening, “and I’m the one who’ll have to bury her body.” His lips twisted. “Because there’s no one else left. She’s already lost everyone else who cared about her. Valentine made sure she had no one.”
    Dane frowned. He hadn’t realized how truly alone Katherine was.
    “He isolated her. He used her. And, eventually,” Ross said, with a sad shake of his head, “he would have killed her.”
    Dane started to respond.
    “I’m afraid you’re wrong, Marshal,” a new voice said. It was a slightly nasal voice, one belonging to a thin man who’d followed Harley across the room. The guy was in his late twenties, with curly brown hair, and he wore a rumpled, dark gray suit.
    “Aw, hell, now the head case expert is here,” Ross muttered as he ran a rough hand through his close-cropped hair.
    The newcomer frowned at him. “Nice to see you again, too, Marshal.”
    “Captain.” Dane jerked his head in a nod, ready for the intro with this guy. But he already had a pretty good idea who’d just joined their little