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As the bartender walked away, she flipped open the tiny vial of cyanide and tipped it into her drink. Capping the container, she dropped it into her pocket, glad she still wore her gloves. Although the leather was no barrier to the poison, the fragment of dust possibly left behind wouldn’t cause her a problem. She swirled her drink, watching the dust dissolve into a lethal mixture of instant death if consumed. The smell of cigarette breath wafted over her and goosebumps rose on her flesh. Dryer was right behind her. Had he seen her empty the bottle? Maybe not, she’d shielded her movements, but now it was game on. As he leaned on the bar, she twirled the glass in her fingers.
“You gonna drink that or play with it?” Dryer leaned on the bar grinning at her.
Knowing how to push his buttons, Beth shrugged. “I like to play.” She spun around in her seat and smiled at him. “Do you?”
“Are you propositioning a deputy?” Dryer looked her up and down slowly. “Maybe I should arrest you?”
Shrugging, Beth met his gaze. He was chomping at the bit. His next kill so close he was finding it hard to control himself. She caught the flash of triumph in his eyes, just like her own, and kept her voice low and sultry. “I’ll go quietly if you promise to use handcuffs.”
“Oh, you’re good.” Dryer looked around slowly and then set his gaze on her. “In the alleyway out back, give me five minutes to bring the cruiser around. I have a place close by.”
The time was now, Beth turned and knocked the glass from the bar, spilling it over Dryer’s knees. She gasped and stepped away as it smashed on the floor and looked at him. “Oh dear, now you’ll have to get out of those wet pants.”
“That’s the plan.” Dryer ignored the wet patches and stood. He looked at the barman. “Broken glass over here.”
Moments later the barman came around with a long-handled dustpan and broom and swept it up and then dumped it into the garbage. The evidence had been disposed of and now it was time for her to go. She slipped from the chair, pulled on her coat, and then ran a hand down Dryer’s back. In the next second, she’d deposited the tarot card into the back pocket of his Levi’s. “Catch you later, deputy.” She headed for the exit to the alleyway.
THIRTY-THREE
Believing her job was done, Beth intended to walk around front and catch a cab, a plan that came to an abrupt halt when she noticed Dryer heading her way. Pulling her hood low, she turned and ran in the opposite direction. Sleet lashed her face as she ran, and the wind pushed back her hood. Much more of a soaking and her disguise would be gone. She must get away from him and fled, jumping over rivers of dirty rainwater spilling across the sidewalk and overflowing the drains. It was imperative to avoid conflict and being seen interacting with Dryer aggressively in public. And if he took her in for questioning, the deputy would search her and everything would be lost. As she turned a corner, she reached inside her pocket and dropped the empty vial into a brown swirling mass of water heading for the drain. Evidence successfully disposed of, she picked up her pace and headed down the next alleyway in the hope of doubling back to catch a cab.
The next second, the roar of an engine and a screech of brakes came close as a cruiser came to a halt blocking her way. She looked left and right but no one was out in the freezing sleet at this time of night. The passenger door swung open and she stared at Dryer. Rain splattered his jacket and his cowboyhat was dripping water. The deluge had gathered alongside the curb and rushed past, gurgling and carrying leaves, twigs, and candy wrappers. Beth stumbled forward as if planning on getting inside the cruiser, tripped, and dropped to her knees. She reached under the vehicle and plucked off the tracker, dropping it into the flowing water, and then pretended to gather herself, pulled up her hood, and stared at him. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m heading home. It was nice meeting you.”
“Not so fast.” Dryer glared at her. “There’s still the matter of soliciting. You can pay my fine or see the judge in the morning. Your choice.”
Beth straightened, turned, and ran back down the alleyway. The heels were a problem and she kicked them off and kept going. Rain blasted her face and small shards of ice cut into her cheeks as she increased her speed. She rushed out of the end of the alleyway and turned right, hoping she’d make it back to the cab stand. It would be a long walk back to the hotel from here. Gasping for breath, she searched the dark sidewalk. Not a soul walked around at this time of night. It was as if someone had turned off life in town. The streets were so empty the only sound was the patter of sleet on her hood and the gurgle of water running along the gutter. The next moment, the cruiser came around the block, a searchlight illuminating the sidewalk as Dryer crept along looking for her. There was nowhere to hide and, alarmed, Beth dashed across the road. Dark storefronts pressed together as if seeking shelter, only broken by alleyways at the end of each block.
Unarmed against a serial killer carrying a weapon and a badge, she needed to keep moving. Standing and fighting him, even if he was slowly dying, wasn’t an option. She gritted her teeth, determined to outwit him. He wasn’t leaving the dry cruiser anytime soon, and she could use that to her advantage by dashing back and forth across the blacktop. He couldn’t turnhis vehicle fast enough to catch her. If she could make it back to the alleyway, she might just be able to jump into one of the cabs waiting outside the saloon and get away before he made it around the block again. She moved off again at a run, glad for all the times Styles had insisted she hit the gym with him and she’d worked out until she dropped with exhaustion. Her stamina had increased dramatically since she’d started their morning workouts.
Dryer was getting frustrated and as Beth dashed across the road behind his cruiser, he backed up suddenly. Fear gripped her and she dived for the sidewalk and rolled in the gutter. Dripping with water, she turned as he lurched forward and then spun the back of the cruiser toward her intent on mowing her down. Exhausted, with every muscle aching, she dragged herself up as he mounted the sidewalk, tires spinning in the water. He’d lost control and all he wanted to do was kill her. The bloodlust was fogging his brain now. He’d turned into the beast.
Throwing herself to one side, Beth crouched, waiting for his next move. The vehicle’s engine roared and the car jerked back, running up the curb to make the turn, heedless of hitting the streetlights in his efforts. Metal ground and screeched as the back wheels of the cruiser spun across the blacktop, sending up a great shower of muddy water. Beth sprung to her feet and as the vehicle reversed ran around the hood and dashed down the alleyway. Running until her lungs burst, she came out opposite the saloon, dashed across the road, and flung herself into a cab. “Oh, thank goodness. I’m so lost. I need to get back to my hotel.” She gave him the details.
“Sure.” The cab driver gave her only a cursory look and drove away at a sedate pace, wipers flashing back and forth.
Beth ducked down in the back seat as the deputy’s cruiser howled around the block and slowed, searching the sidewalk. Asthey headed for the other side of town, she relaxed. “Nice town you have here. Shame it’s raining.”
“You staying here long?” The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
“Just visiting my folks for their fiftieth wedding anniversary. The Doolies.” She smiled at him. “Do you know them?”
“Nope, but I did see their picture out front of the hotel.” He nodded wisely. “It will be an event.”
Beth had seen the poster as well. “It sure will.”
The cab stopped out front of the hotel. Beth paid in cash and stepped out just in time to see Styles walking along the sidewalk outside the hotel with Bear.Dammit!As the cab drove away, she turned and headed for the alleyway and ran toward the back entrance. She slipped inside, returned the coat, and after dropping the master room card on the table, headed for the door. Looking both ways, she sneaked out into the passageway and took the elevator to her floor. Falling inside her room, she headed straight for the bathroom and ran a hot bath. She stripped off, bundling her wet clothes into a large plastic bag. These would go into the incinerator the moment she returned to Rattlesnake Creek. The silicone, she stripped from her face, wrapped it in toilet paper, and piece by piece flushed it down the toilet.
She sank into the hot bath and washed her hair. Her knees were scraped, but her gloves had protected her hands. She sighed. Having ten pairs of thin leather gloves on hand was a definite advantage. She would need to order more items for her disguise kit soon. Luckily, as the FBI was fully aware she went undercover, there was never a question about her unusual purchases. Ten minutes later, she heard a knock on her door. She stiffened and waited. The next moment her phone buzzed and she dried one hand to grab it and, seeing it was Styles, accepted the call. She put it on speaker. “Yeah?”
“Sorry to bother you, but Bear went ballistic outside before, chasing shadows, I figure.” Styles cleared his throat. “Long story short, he’s sitting outside your door and won’t move. Do you mind opening your door so he can see you?”
Beth moaned. “I’m in the tub. Give me five.”
Hauling herself from the tub, she double-bagged her soiled clothes and pushed them into her bag, opened her clothes bag, and pulled out a robe. With this wrapped around her still damp body and her hair wrapped in a towel, she went to the door. “I guess you’d better come inside.” She looked at Bear. The dog was wet and raindrops clung to his whiskers. “What’s up with you?”
The dog sniffed her and then sat at her feet leaning against her leg. She looked at Styles. He wasn’t wet and had changed his clothes before coming to see her. “Has he done this before?”
“Only when he believes I’m in danger.” Styles glanced around the room. “I thought you were going straight to bed.”
