Read Online My Deadly Valentine by Valerie Hansen - Free Book Online Page B

particular.”
    “Rachel doesn’t think so?”
    “No. She insists there was nothing valuable in the house, which leads me back to the vandalism motive.”
    Raking his fingers through his hair, Logan began to pace. “We haven’t gotten anything out of the notes I faxed to Chicago yet, except that my friend thinks they may actually have been written by a child.”
    Jace frowned. “What? Why?”
    “Something about the way the letters were made. He says he’ll be able to tell us more once he sees the originals and checks the pressure of the crayons on the paper. He insists that an adult would write differently, even if he were trying to emulate childish efforts.”
    “How odd. And interesting.” Jace paused, then added, “Hey. Wait a minute. If this guy is using a real kid to print the notes, what about the writing on the wall? Surely, he wouldn’t take a child into the store with him. It would pose an unnecessary risk.”
    “I agree. The first thing I want to do is get copies of those pictures of the wall that were taken this afternoon. I think you and I should head over to Rachel’s place, too, and help Harlan.”
    Jace smiled. “Help him? Don’t you mean see that he doesn’t mess up too badly?”
    “Something like that.” The pastor chuckled and reached for the doorknob. “Just let me tell Becky where we’re going.”
    “Hold it. Is it safe for us to leave the women alone?”
    That question brought more soft laughter. “My wife is a true country girl,” Logan said. “She’s not afraid of guns and knows how to properly handle them if need be. They’ll be as safe as if you and I were standing guard.”
    “If you say so. I haven’t been doing so well in that regard. It seems like the more I try to protect Rachel, the worse the situation gets.”
    “Only because this guy has been one step ahead of us. He can’t keep it up without stumbling. One of us will nail him.”
    “As long as it happens before he carries out the threats he’s been making,” Jace said soberly. “I’m really worried about Rachel.”
    “A lot of folks are praying for her.” He clapped Jace on the shoulder as he passed. “Wait for me. I’ll be right back as soon as I talk to Becky.”
    I think it’s going to take more than prayer, Jace told himself as the pastor went inside. I think it’s going to take every trick I know, and more. I just hope that’s enough. He grimaced. It had better be.

    The hours she spent away from Jace were the longest in Rachel’s memory. Drinking tea and nibbling cookies with Becky Malloy would have been a lot more pleasant if they had not discussed the threats in such depth. By the time the men returned to the house, Rachel was so emotionally and physically worn out she could barely keep her eyes open.
    One look at the concern on Jace’s face, however, awakened her fully. She jumped to her feet and went to meet him before he and Logan had come halfway across the living room. “What is it? What did you two find out?”
    “Not a whole lot,” Logan said. He bent and kissed his wife as Jace slipped an arm lightly around Rachel’s shoulders.
    Jace nodded. “He’s right. Harlan is bagging your clothes, what was left of them, to send to the lab in Little Rock, but it didn’t look promising to either of us.”
    “We’re right back where we started?”
    “Not entirely,” Jace said. “At least there was no threatening note found this time. Come and sit down. Pastor Logan has an idea.”
    Rachel let herself be guided to the sofa. Jace sat next to her while Becky took a matching chair and Logan paced in a confined oval in front of them.
    “It’s time we set a trap,” Logan said. “Jace and I have talked it over and…”
    Becky was quick to object. “Uh-uh. No way. This is not like the trouble I had with my family a few years back. This person is bent on either scaring poor Rachel to death or doing actual harm. There’s no way you two can dangle her out there like spinner bait in a bass