Ruthless by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online

proposed.
    “Yes, I believe he’s here.” Jess thought of all the evils she had studied in the past. It never got easier, and she never ceased to be amazed by their relentlessness and their resourcefulness. “He’s always been here. Something just awakened that old urge, that’s all. He may have reached out because he doesn’t want to kill again. But there would have to be a very compelling reason he finds himself in this quandary.”
    “A .38 slug to the brain would take care of the problem.”
    Jess laughed, though the sound was a little weak and a lot dry. “It takes a certain level of courage to put a muzzle to your head and to pull the trigger to save someone else, Sergeant. The one thing I can guarantee you this very sick individual does not have is that kind of courage. Some of the most evil are the most self-absorbed and the biggest cowards when it comes to personal sacrifice. Their own self-value is far too overinflated to consider harming themselves.”
    “Even if he doesn’t want to keep killing, he wouldn’t end it that way?”
    “Probably not.”
    Harper pushed to his feet. “I’ll never get that.”
    Jess wished she could just spring up like that. She was feeling every day of her forty-two years tonight. Thankfully she didn’t have to shame herself since Harper offered his hand. “Don’t bother trying to get it, Sergeant. You’re one of the good guys. Self-sacrifice is in your DNA.”
    “I should get back before Lori comes home and wonders where I am.”
    Jess stopped him at the door. “Thanks, Chet.” She rarely used his first name, just didn’t feel right. At the moment, it felt exactly right. “It means a lot to me that you were willing to indulge my desperation.”
    He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
    The outside alarm sounded again. “Maybe Lori’s already looking for you.”
    Harper made a face. “Hope not. She won’t like that we’re keeping secrets from her.”
    Something else for Jess to feel guilty about. The less Lori knew the better. Jess didn’t want her dragged back into this any deeper than she already was by just being a part of Jess’s life.
    The monitor showed Dan approaching. Irritation niggled Jess. “My surveillance detail must have told him you were here. Dropping off a file I forgot,” Jess added with a hitch of her head toward the piles in the floor.
    One quick rap on the door later, she went through the paces, unlocking first one then the next lock. As she opened the door, it occurred to her that there could be a new development. Spears may have struck… or Lily could be in the hospital again. Renewed fear had Jess’s heart ramming against her sternum.
    She was definitely putting the wear and tear on the old ticker. Just one more thing to worry about. Her sister’s sudden health issues had been a major wake-up call about mortality for both of them.
    “Has there been a breakthrough in your investigation?” Dan asked, looking first at Jess then Harper.
    Jess made a frustrated sound and rolled her eyes.“Harper dropped by the file I left in his car, since he has to drive me everywhere I go.” She heaved a breath. “Thank you again, Sergeant.”
    “Any time, ma’am. I’ll see you in the morning.” He gave another nod to Dan. “Chief.”
    Still visibly unconvinced, Dan stepped aside. “G’night, Sergeant.”
    Jess headed back to her work. Dan’s relentless hovering was making her crazy. She’d thought she could deal with it, because she knew his compulsion came from the heart, but the last couple of days had been too much. But what really bugged her was the idea that he was immediately notified when a member of her own team stopped by.
    “Did you have dinner?”
    “Didn’t your spy tell you I ordered pizza?” Not that she’d been able to get more than a few bites down. The rest had gone into the fridge. She had no appetite.
    “What’re you talking about, Jess?”
    “Obviously the cop watching me called to tell you I had company.” She