Free Play Dead by Meryl Sawyer Page B

took her arm and she was stunned at how reassuring it was to have him touch her. In a situation that seemed so unreal, this man was a lifeline.
    They sat on the sofa again. Hayley looked down at her hands and saw they were smudged with the charcoal powder from where she’d touched things as she came into the dark loft. She self-consciously rubbed them on her raincoat. It helped a little.
    He was studying her in that disturbing way of his. What was he thinking? His face was utterly expressionless. If he’d been a card shark, she wouldn’t have a clue if he held a winning or losing hand.
    “Wait a few days before you tell anyone you’re alive. Otherwise you’re exposed and the killer might try again. There’s a really talented FBI agent who’s working on your case. See what he and I can find out. The task force might also be able to solve this without putting you in danger.”
    “I’m not worried,” she fibbed. “I’m sure the police will provide protection of some sort.”
    “For how long? Not indefinitely. If this isn’t solved, you’ll be looking over your shoulder until he kills you.”
    He had a point, and she couldn’t deny it. Catching this maniac was essential for her safety. Even if she had protection, how could she live with someone dogging her every move? “All right. I’ll stay out of sight here for a few days.”
    “Not here. Not only is the place a mess, the cleaning lady is coming tomorrow. It’ll take a couple of days to clean up this mess.”
    “I’ll call my aunt—”
    “No way. I’m the only one who will know you’re alive and where you are or you won’t be safe.” He said this with such conviction that she couldn’t argue.
    “How will I pay for a hotel? Credit card activity can be traced, can’t it?”
    “You’ll stay at my father’s place. No one will think to look for you there.”
    “Good idea. If someone should be looking for me, I’m sure they’ll check friends and the hotel, not your father’s home.”
    He stood up and reached out a strong hand to help her rise. She took it, wondering if she’d made the right decision. She shuddered, fear rising inside her like a rogue wave about to engulf her.
    “Let’s get the things you absolutely need. Nothing more. We don’t want to tip off anyone by removing too much.”

CHAPTER SIX
    M AYBE BLOWING up Hayley’s car so close to an airport hadn’t been the most brilliant idea. Who knew it would activate the Joint Antiterrorism Task Force, which included the FBI and every other police agency on the planet, including Homeland Security? They were asking endless questions, looking at all kinds of records and poking into things that were absolutely none of their business.
    The good news was the arrogant pricks hadn’t discovered squat. They were convinced the car bombing was drug related and were currently pulling Surf’s Up’s records apart, examining every shipment, every business transaction.
    The best news was Hayley Fordham no longer walked the earth. A car bombing might have been overkill but it did the trick. She was dust. There hadn’t been enough to bury.
    The killer wasn’t worried that the forensic team would trace the bomb. The small device had been purchased in Mexico well before the killing. It had been tempting to use it immediately, but waiting and anticipating the murder had been more exciting.
    If the authorities did ID the bomb, they would blame one of the Mexican cartels because one of their men hadsold the bomb. Making contact with the sleazy Mexican had been a fluke. But fate was like that. It played into your hands, if you were intelligent enough to take advantage of the situation.
    A smart person went with the flow. A smart person didn’t panic at such an intense investigation. A smart person concentrated on what was important.
    Hayley Fordham was dead. That had been the goal. Mission accomplished.
     
    T HE FRAGRANT AROMA of coffee awoke Hayley on the morning following her return from Costa