“You think it’s Philip Latimer?”

“If it’s not him, it’s someone just like him.”

“She dated anyone else since him?”

“She says no.”

“Crazy neighbors? Odd coworkers? Stalkers come in all shapes and sizes.”

“I’d agree, if not for Deidre. She’s tied up in this.”

“She nailed the stalker, maybe?”

“I don’t know.”

Deke smoothed out Alex’s crumpled red tie and handed it to him. Then he pulled Alex’s gun from his waistband. “I hung onto this after they admitted you.”

“Thanks.” He fastened the cuffs of his shirt and, with Deke’s help, eased on his coat. He reached for his wallet, pocket change, and utility knife and slid it in his pockets. He opened his phone and typed in his passcode. The low battery light blinked. One more text from Leah. Maybe she’d scored a few hours of sleep last night.

I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM A FRIEND LAST NIGHT. SHE WAS WITH A MAN. THE MAN’S FACE ISN’T CLEAR BUT HE IS WEARING PHILIP’S RING. I’M FORWARDING THE PICTURE. ALSO FOUND A LISTENING DEVICE IN MY HOME. CALL ME.

Alex studied the picture Leah sent and showed it to Deke as he supplied the backstory.

“A listening device. Like the one found in Deidre’s town house. Someone was tracking them both?”

“I’d say so.”

“Why play cat and mouse?”

Anger churned as he thought about Leah alone and worried over the texted picture. “Control is part of the thrill, the addiction. He gets a kick out of playing games.”

“So who’s in the picture with the mystery man?”

“Her name is Gail. She works at the animal hospital with Leah.”

“And Leah can’t reach her.”

“Not as of the last message, which she sent twenty-two minutes ago.”

Deke handed Alex his badge. When Alex clipped it on his belt, Deke took his coat and held it up. Alex eased the arm of his injured side into the coat first and carefully followed with his second. Painful, but not as bad as the shirt.

“Want me to get a wheelchair?” Deke asked.

“Hell no.”

A nurse swiped back the curtain. She was tall and wore green scrubs and a scowl. She’d tried to convince him to take the pain meds earlier, and when he’d refused, she’d eyed him with suspicion. “I thought you would try to make a break for it.”

Alex braced for a fight. “I am.”

She shook her head, disapproval furrowing her brow. “I brought you these.” She held up a cup with two pills.

“No meds. I need to think.”

“They won’t make you woozy. Not much stronger than aspirin, but they’ll take the edge off better than anything over the counter.”

“You sure they won’t cloud my head?”

“Positive.”

Alex gratefully accepted the pills and tossed them in his mouth. He chased them back with a cup of water from the nurse.

“Try not to get banged up again, Agent Morgan.”

“Will do my best.”

He took a step forward and saw the waiting wheelchair. “I don’t need that.”

“If you want out, that’s your only ticket. I’ve met you halfway; now it’s your turn.”

“Fine.” He lowered himself into the chair and was oddly grateful to be sitting again. With the nurse pushing, Deke led the way. As Alex waited with her at the front entrance curbside, Deke got in his car and drove around front. It was a late-model black four-door that looked like it would move if Deke stomped on the accelerator.

Alex slid into the passenger side and very slowly buckled his seat belt.

“Where to, boss?”

“The vet hospital where Leah works.”

“Will do.”

Alex dialed the hospital and got a recorded message. Halfway into the recording the message stopped and he heard a breathless, “Nelson Animal Hospital.”

“This is Agent Alex Morgan. I’m looking for Leah Carson.”

“She’s in surgery right now. Can I take a message?” Papers shuffled in the background, as if she was searching for a pen.

“Who is this?”

“This is Gail.”

“Ms. Carson called me this morning about you.”

“Yeah, she looked a little freaked out when I poked my head into surgery a few minutes ago.”

“When will she be out of surgery?”

“In about two hours.”

“I’ll be there in two hours, and I’d also like to talk to you.”

“Does it have to do with that guy I went out with last night? I know Leah thinks it’s her ex-husband, but that’s just crazy. His name was Philip, and this guy’s name was Brian Lawrence.”

“Brian Lawrence.” Shit. That was the guy who ordered flowers for Leah.

“Is something wrong,” she asked.

“I’ll explain when I get there.”

“Yeah, sure.”

He hung up. “Leah and Gail are at the clinic.”

“Then why do you look angry?”

“Brian Lawrence. Gail went out with the same guy who sent Leah flowers.”

Frowning, Deke reached for a notebook and pen. “Are you sure about that name?”

“Yes.”

Deke’s expression darkened as he rounded a corner and slowed for a yellow light. “Remember what Dad used to say about coincidence?”

“Yeah. No such thing.”

“You hear about those hands and feet we found by the river?”

Alex shook his head. “Vaguely. Didn’t pay too close attention.”

“That guy’s name was Brian Lawrence.”

“Gail,” Leah said. She hadn’t been out of surgery five seconds before she went looking for the receptionist. “What’s the deal with texting me that picture last night?”

Gail yawned, not seeming the least concerned. “I didn’t text you a picture.”

Leah got her phone and showed it to Gail. “You did.”

She frowned as she studied the picture. “I don’t remember sending this to you. He was the one who suggested taking the picture.”

“But that’s you. The text came from your phone.”

“Yeah, so? What’s the big deal? We had a few drinks after we got back to my place. Maybe he sent it.” She reached for a patient form and tucked it back in its file. “Again, what’s the big deal?”

Leah moved closer to the counter. “Who’s the guy?”

Gail looked up, her face flushed with irritation. “I’m sorry if the text bothered you, but why do you care who I spend the evening with?” She dropped her voice a notch. “It’s none of your business.”

Leah might be stepping over the line, but she couldn’t let this go. “He looks like my ex-husband.”

Gail cocked her head, as if she expected a punch line. “Really?”

“Yes, really!”

She dropped her gaze and straightened a stack of invoices. “We ran into each other at a diner. It went from there.”

Leah could feel the earth shift under her as she struggled to keep her voice calm. “If he’s the guy I think he is, he’s pure evil.”

Shaking her head, Gail held up a hand. “He was very sweet and nice. I haven’t had such a good time in forever.”

Leah glanced one last time at the picture and then shut off the phone.

Gail leaned back in her chair, regarding Leah with a weary gaze. “You really think this guy is your ex-husband, and he came back from the dead to take me out?”

“I think he faked his death. I think he’s been waiting to return.” Even as she spoke the words, she understood how crazy she sounded.

“To do what?”

“Wreck my life and everyone I know.”

“That sounds pretty weird, don’t you think?”

“I don’t care if it sounds weird or not.” Hands fisted, she clung to control. “We need to assume that Philip is alive and be careful.”

Gail folded her arms over her chest. “You sound insane.”

She dragged a shaking hand over her hair. “I know. I know. But you have to trust me on this. Philip is a very charming man. He’s attractive, and he knows the right things to say to make a woman feel good.”

“I think you’re losing it. I think the death of your friend Deidre has really upset you, and you’re seeing trouble when there is none. Maybe it’s like one of those flashbacks, the kind soldiers get when a car backfires. They hear a loud noise and think someone is shooting at them.”