Read Online Twist by John Lutz - Free Book Online Page A

intimidating. Then something else happened. I noticed a man watching me, outside this place, from across the street. Later I saw him near my apartment. Since then, at least four times, the same man’s followed me home from work, on the subway, walking to my apartment. Sometimes I peek outside my apartment window and see him in the street. When I was eating lunch at a diner near where I work, I looked up and there he was staring through the window at me. It’s as if he wants me to know he’s stalking me.”
    Quinn and Jody exchanged a look. They knew that if this killer was stalking Carlie he would indeed want her to know about it. That was part of his power trip. Act One of the drama he was forcing on an unwilling victim so that eventually she’d be debilitated by fear.
    “If you were afraid, why didn’t you come in here and confide in us?” Jody asked.
    “That’s what I’m doing now. Since I’ve become convinced my imagination’s not working overtime.”
    “So he latched on to you here, where you had an obvious interest, then began stalking you?” Quinn asked.
    “I . . . well, I think so. Yes.”
    Then probably spent the last few weeks learning all he could about you. Making a predator’s study of you . “Describe him,” Quinn said, picking up a pen and moving a notepad over to where he could reach it.
    “That isn’t easy. He’s average looking. I think he has brown hair. Average height and weight.”
    “You think ?”
    “Yes. He was dressed in dark slacks and a blue short-sleeved shirt once, on the subway. One morning he had on jogging sweats and running shoes. He wears a beret or a beret-like hat, sometimes a ball cap, sometimes a slouch hat. As if I won’t recognize him in a different hat.”
    “But you do recognize him?”
    “Yes. No. Only in a chameleon-like way. If he gets close enough. And he usually does. Once, on a crowded sidewalk where I didn’t feel so scared, I turned around to face him. Then a pair of women passed between us. I took my eyes off him for just a few seconds and he disappeared. I tried but couldn’t find him. Finally I continued walking home, glanced back, and there he was again. It’s . . .” She bowed her head.
    “Take it easy, dear,” Quinn said in a soothing voice.
    “Chameleon like?” Jody asked.
    “Yes,” Carlie said. “It’s an odd thing. I think if he combed his hair differently, wore different clothes, I might not be able to positively identify him. He seems able to change his . . . persona. Honestly, it’s scaring the shit out of me.”
    “That’s what the bastard wants,” Jody said. She was riled up now. For some reason glaring at Quinn as if he’d done something terrible. “Can’t this guy be picked up for harassment? I’d argue the case.”
    Carlie looked at Jody.
    “She’s an attorney,” Quinn explained. He turned his attention to Jody. “You’ve already got the animal-rights case to keep you busy.”
    “I shouldn’t need a lawyer,” Carlie said. “You’d think the cops—” She looked at Quinn. “I know, you don’t agree with me about the NYPD.”
    “I take your complaint seriously,” he said. Even though you’d never be able to pick your stalker out of a lineup. He lifted up the phone and called Fedderman. “We’ll get you some protection, then I’m going to call somebody I know.”
    “The commissioner,” Jody said. Quinn wished she hadn’t.
    “ Police commissioner?” Carlie said, surprised.
    “They’re friends,” Jody said.
    “Don’t lie to her,” Quinn said. He swiveled in his chair, concentrating on his phone conversation.
    It wasn’t with Renz. Not yet, anyway.
    “Feds. Got an assignment for you.”
     
     
    While they waited for Fedderman to arrive, Quinn listened to Jody explain her law firm’s case for an animal rights organization. The courts had already found that there was a right to sue on the behalf of animals. It was done all the time to stop developments that threatened endangered species.