Free Bought by Jaymie Holland

and prayed that it would
work.
    A tiny measure of relief when through her as
an operator answered and asked what the nature of her emergency
was.
    “I know who the serial killer is, the one
killing women with red hair.” She felt herself hyperventilating.
“I’m in his apartment. I’m afraid he’s going to come back
soon.”
    “What is the address you’re at?”
    “I—I don’t know.” She looked around
frantically, like it would suddenly appear. She couldn’t think,
couldn’t remember what his address was even though she had driven
to it multiple times since meeting John. Then it came to her. “I’m
in an apartment at 555 Bal—”
    The phone was suddenly ripped from her hands.
She looked up to see John standing over her as he pressed the OFF button.
    “Don’t kill me.” She scrambled away from him
and her back hit a corner wall. “Please.”
    A concerned look overcame the grim expression
that he’d just had. He crouched in front of her. “I’m not the
serial killer, Roni.”
    She shook her head. “I saw all of the
pictures and the map on your wall. Women who look like me.” She
pressed herself farther back into the corner. “And you have a
picture of me. From before I even met you.”
    “I can explain all of that.” He held his
palms down, like telling her to calm down. “I’m FBI. It’s my job to
track down the killer. What you saw was my work.”
    “FBI?” She looked at him, her mind not able
to process what he was saying. “You said you’re in security.”
    “You could say I am.” He moved a little
closer and she tried to push herself back. He held his hands up to
tell her he didn’t have anything in them and that he wasn’t going
to hurt her. “I protect people and eliminate threats. Working in
security is my cover.”
    She shook her head trying to shake her
thoughts in line. “But you have a picture of me, taken before I
even met you.”
    “I can explain that, too.”
    “Was I an assignment or something?” Things
just weren’t computing. “I didn’t think someone in a law
enforcement career could spend twelve grand in a charity
auction.”
    “It depends,” he said. “As for me, I had an
inheritance about three months ago. It’s more than I can ever do
anything with, so I like to spend it on charitable causes.”
    “Why would you be working then?” She was
still having a hard time processing.
    “Because I like my work.” He sighed. “Come
out from there and trust me, Roni. If I was going to hurt you I
would have by now, don’t you think?”
    Her fear was starting to lessen. It was
true—if he was the killer she’d probably be dead right now and be a
picture on his wall.
    She flinched as he reached into his back
pocket and pulled something out.
    “Shhh.” He drew out a wallet. “I’m just going
to show you my credentials.”
    She watched as he opened the wallet and she
saw a badge and his picture along with his name.
    “Come on, honey.” He stood, pocketed his
wallet and held out his hand. “Let me explain everything. We’ll sit
down and I’ll get you a drink and we’ll talk.”
    Her legs trembled as she stood, using the
wall for support as she rose. When she was standing she still
didn’t want to go forward and didn’t want to take his hand.
    “Come on, honey.” He extended it further.
“It’s okay.”
    Her pulse was slowing and reason was starting
to come back to her. She trusted John. She knew in her heart that
he would never hurt her. Just seeing those pictures and that map
had shocked her. It never occurred to her that he could be in law
enforcement and be working on the case.
    She took a deep breath and reached for his
hand. When his hand grasped hers he drew her to him and enveloped
her in his embrace. At first she stiffened but then she relaxed and
pressed her face against his shirt and breathed in his comforting
scent.
    “I don’t blame you.” He rocked her a little
as he held her. “Those pictures are shocking and not just anyone
would