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“There’s no crime,” Raid said grimly. “You have to let him go.”
“That’s why we need you to make an official statement, Hannah,” Kellan told her. “We need you to step forward now and come and do a formal identification.”
“See . . . see him again?” Her heart raced. “I don’t think I can do that. He’s going to be mad.”
“What happens when he gets mad, Hannah?” Eli asked. “Is there a reason why you never told Jake what happened? Why you’ve only come forward now? You said he threatened you?”
She nodded. This part was going to be so much harder to talk about. Raid lifted her, settling her on his lap with his arms around her.
Lending her his strength.
It was exactly what she needed. She snuggled in and told them everything that had happened.
When she was finished, Kellan stood up and walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind him.
She gave Eli a surprised look.
“This case isn’t the worst we’ve ever worked. We’ve chased a serial killer, kidnappers, among other criminals. But still, this one . . . it feels like he’s always been five steps ahead of us. Women would start to lay complaints and then pull back, changing their minds. There would be no one to track, no pattern, no way of knowing where he would strike. And these physical threats seem to be something he does to silence his victims. But the question is . . . how did he get to his latest victim when he’s in jail?”
“Did he get someone else to threaten her?” Raid asked.
“That seems the only explanation. But no one has ever mentioned an accomplice.”
“I don’t know anyone it could be,” she said. “I never met his friends or work colleagues. That should have been another red flag. I was so stupid.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over this,” Eli told her as Kellan returned. “This guy is slick. He’s smart. He’s been hiding his tracks really well. We have been monitoring all the BDSM dating sites we can find, and we still can’t seem to pick his signature up. There’s no link to the money. And the witnesses all go quiet.”
“What about the real estate agents?” Raid asked. “They’ve seen him, right?”
“There’s not much they can testify to, other than showing him around the house,” Eli said.
“So all you’ve really got is . . . me?” she asked faintly.
Eli nodded. “We’ve tried to get the other women we believe were his victims to talk, but they’re even more close mouthed. Maybe you’d consider talking to her?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I could.” If anyone would understand what she’d been through, it was this other woman.
Was she strong enough for all of this, though?
“We can do an identification with photos,” Eli said. “But we will need a formal statement. However, it would be good if you’d be willing to come to Alabama to meet the other victim.”
She didn’t really want to leave Haven, though.
“Did anyone see the bruises after he attacked you?” Kellan asked.
“No, I don’t think so. But I, uh, I took photos,” she told him.
“Good,” Eli said. “That’s something, at least. We’ll speak to the real estate agent and get a positive identification from her if she remembers him. See if we can pick up any fingerprints from where he pretended to live, although I don’t hold out much hope of that.”
She couldn’t really breathe. Was she doing this? Going to go up against Steven when he’d warned her what would happen if she went to the police?
“Hannah won’t be going to Alabama unless it’s totally necessary,” Raid said firmly. “We can do a video call with the other victim.”
“The FBI will protect her.” Kellan frowned.
“Like you protected this other woman?” Raid asked. “Nope. We can protect her better here since you guys fell down on the job.”
Both agents frowned while she leaned against Raid. “Raid, I don’t think you’re supposed to criticize FBI agents.”
“Baby, if they think I’m leaving your protection to them, they’re fucking nuts.”
Even Jake was nodding, which surprised her. She thought he’d agree with Kellan and Eli.
“You think I should stay here, Jake?” she asked.
“I think we can protect you better here if this asshole sends someone to intimidate you.”
She shivered, remembering the feel of his hand around her throat. She didn’t understand who would be working with him. But someone had to be. However, whoever this person was, he didn’t seem as scary to her as Steven was. Maybe that was stupid of her, though.
“We’ll protect her identity as much as we possibly can,” Eli said.
“Right, but her name will come out eventually,” Raid said. “You know it and I know it. Here, I’ll be with her all the time. I’ll protect her.”
The two FBI agents looked at each other. To her surprise, it was Kellan who nodded. “I’d want to do the same if she was mine. We’ll sort everything out. This asshole needs to be stopped. This is a good thing you’re doing, Hannah. And brave.”
