I'm Watching You by Karen Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

for another long minute. The last pick had yielded a prime target. Ross King deserved to die. There wasn’t a decent person that would disagree with that. He hadn’t died easily, or quickly. And in the end he’d begged so piteously. He’d often wondered, in the past, if he could beat a man who begged for mercy. He now knew he could.
    He’d done well that night, ridding the world of a parasite too dangerous to live with decent people. God would be pleased. The innocents were just a little safer today. So his decision was made. He’d choose all the dog-eared names first. There was still a random nature, the choice in the end was still God’s. When there were no more dog-eared names, he’d go on to the lesser crimes. And if he never made it that far, at least he’d go on to his reward knowing he’d gotten the biggest bang for his buck.
    He unfolded the little piece of paper and his smile turned grim. Oh, yes. I’m ready .
     

 
    Wednesday, February 18,
    11:35 p.m.
     
     
    „It’s good.“
    Abe chuckled. „You sound surprised.“
    „I am.“ Kristen studied the gyro in the strobing light of the passing streetlamps. They were just a few miles from her house, but she’d torn into the sandwich less than a minute after leaving the drive-thru saying she was hungrier than she’d thought. „What’s in it?“
    „Lamb, veal, onions, feta cheese, and yogurt. You’ve never had one? Really?“
    „Ethnic foods weren’t exactly a staple where I grew up.“
    „Where did you grow up?“
    She studied the sandwich for a long moment, so long he thought she wouldn’t answer. „Kansas,“ she said finally and he wondered what she’d left there that bothered her so much.
    He forced his voice to be light. „No kidding. I took you for East Coast.“
    „No.“ She looked out the window. „Turn left at this light.“
    He was quiet as she gave terse directions to her house. Bringing his SUV to a stop in her carport, he shifted in his seat so he could see her face. Her profile, really, as she sat resolutely looking forward, not looking at him. Not looking at her house. „I could take you to a hotel if you want,“ he said and she stiffened. „I’m serious, Kristen. No one would blame you if you didn’t want to sleep here tonight. I could do a walk-through while you pack a bag.“
    „No, I live here. I won’t be thrown out of my own house.“ She wrapped up the remains of her gyros and gathered her laptop from the floorboard. „I appreciate the gesture, but he doesn’t appear to want to do me harm. I have an alarm system and Spinnelli’s patrol will be driving by every hour. I’ll be fine. Besides, I have to feed my cats. But I would appreciate you giving the place the once-over.“ One side of her mouth quirked up and he admired her pluck. „The cats aren’t much in the way of protection.“
    He followed her to the side door and waited as she stepped inside and disabled the alarm. She turned on the light and he let his eyes wander around, taking in the goldenrod appliances, the garish foil wallpaper, the cabinets of chipped fiberboard. It appeared she hadn’t had insomnia enough times to have started renovations on this room. His gaze came back to where she stood, ramrod straight with her coat still on. Even in the dim light he could see her swallow hard. The need to protect again welled, but even after only a few hours he knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t welcome his touch, no matter how reassuring it was intended to be. So he made himself stay where he was, his hands in his pockets.
    „You want the lights on or off?“ she murmured.
    „I’ll turn them on as I go,“ he answered, wishing she’d agreed to go to a hotel. He didn’t know if she was in danger, but she was still clearly frightened and it unsettled him.
    He made his way through her house, flipping on the living room light, noting the blue-striped wallpaper. She had done a good job. His sister Annie was a professional decorator and she