that had shot through her. The way the man held himself, the way he stood, had reminded her of Damon. That, more than anything else, was why sheâd called the police that first time. Sheâd hoped they would catch him and prove her irrational fears were groundless. âHe never . . . did anything . . . other than stand there. But something about him made me uncomfortable.â
âAnd the other times you saw him?â Pierce asked.
âThe second time, he was closer, standing in my backyard by a storage shed. The next time, he was actually on my front porch when I turned into my driveway.â She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, remembering how shocked sheâd been to see him standing there, peeking in her front window.
Pierce leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees. âWhat did he do when he saw you? What did you do?â
âHe ran. I called the police. Iâd hoped theyâd find a fingerprint or something, figure out who he was and why he was so interested in my house.â
âOr you,â Casey said.
She nodded, swallowing hard. âOr me.â
âYesterday morning,â Casey said, âyou stepped outside to confront him.â
âYes.â
âAnd he ran?â
âYes.â
âAnd you chased him?â
She felt her face heating up, just like when Pierce had asked her the same thing. âWith hindsight, I know that was foolish. But at the time, honestly, I was just angry. This man kept watching my house, openly, like he didnât care if I saw him. I mean, itâs like he . . .ââshe shook her head, struggling to put her impressions into wordsââitâs like he wanted me to see him, like he was trying to scare me. I wanted to talk to him, to ask him why he was watching me, and make him stop.â
And prove to herself that the man who haunted her nightmares was really dead.
She clutched the arms of the chair. âYou know the rest. Pierce jumped in front of me when the man pulled a gun. I heard the gunshot, saw Pierce fall to the ground . . .â her voice trailed off. She tried not to let the horrible images from yesterday crowd into her mind again.
Casey folded his hands on his desk. âMrs. McKinley, Pierce told me you think the man you saw is your husband, that you think he faked his death.â
She straightened in her chair. âI thought the purpose of this meeting was to clarify Pierceâs involvement in a shooting, not mine. Iâve already spoken to the police about this.â
âWhy didnât you tell them about Damon?â Pierce asked.
âHow do you know I didnât?â
âI read your statement.â
Madison clamped her lips shut and crossed her arms.
Pierce sighed heavily. âWeâre trying to help you.â
She looked at Agent Casey. âThe idea that my dead husband is running around Savannah trying to scare me is ridiculous. I was overwrought yesterday. The shooter bore a resemblance to my husband, but heâs not my husband.â She looked back at Pierce. âMy husband is dead.â She rose from her seat, but Pierce quickly stood and moved to block her way.
âYouâre not the kind of woman to have hysterics, or imagine things. I donât buy for a second that youâve changed your mind. You believe the shooter was Damon.â His face softened as he reached out to gently sweep her bangs out of her eyes. âMads, talk to me. Let me help you.â
His use of her nickname in that low, intimate tone nearly made her knees buckle. But instead of stepping into his arms as her traitorous body wanted, she pushed past him, bracing herself against the tingle of awareness that shot through her when his chest brushed against hers.
This time he didnât try to stop her. She yanked the door open and stepped outside the office, only to stop short when she saw who was standing a few feet in front of