CHAPTER FORTY-SIX. Jake raised her eyebrows

Jake raised her eyebrows. " So? "

Steven shook his head. " No. No way anyone fucked with our databases."

" Six years ago, man. You weren't even here then."

" Jake, I've been here almost four years, and I know the security on the servers. So unless this guy was some hacker geek, no way he gets in."

" And what if he was? "

Steven shoved his glasses back on his nose and leaned forward. " You think your guy hacked our system and deleted just one entry? What's the point? "

To Jake, it was so simple, so obvious. She couldn't understand why it didn't just jump out at Steven. " He deleted just one entry because just one pertained to him."

" What do you mean? "

Jake let out a deep breath, trying to hold on to her patience. " I think that whoever deleted the entries was directly involved in the case."

" That's crazy."

" Why? "

" It just so happens your perp is a hacker? No way."

" Okay. So the hacker is a close friend of the perp, " Jake said, her patience running thin. " It's fucking connected. It has to be."

Steven drummed his fingers on the keyboard, then finally nodded. " Okay. Tell me what you want."

Jake grinned. " Thanks, Stevie."

Steven blushed and began typing. " I hate it when you call me that."

" I know."

Nicole pulled into her driveway, pleased that the motion lights came on. She hit the remote to the garage, glancing in her rearview mirror once to make sure Rick was behind her.

She was so stunned at the sight, she very nearly hit the body hanging from the ceiling of her garage. She gasped, stifling the scream that threatened. Throwing the car into reverse, Nicole hit the gas, then slammed on the brakes again when she realized Rick had parked right behind her. Her heart was pounding and she still held the steering wheel in a death grip. God, I wish Jake was here.

" Stay there, " Rick yelled.

Nicole nodded, her eyes wild with fright.

Rick pulled his weapon and walked slowly into the garage, ignoring the body for a moment as he made sure the garage was empty. Nothing else looked disturbed. He pulled out his cell phone, dialing quickly.

Nicole slid her eyes to the naked woman hanging in her garage, feeling her heart tighten as she recognized the face.

" Lori, oh, no." Nicole's heart broke for the young girl, and she couldn't stop the tears that formed and fell. Lori had survived two suicide attempts, but Nicole could never quite reach her. When she'd skipped her session the other day, Nicole knew she'd lost her.

But not like this.

Rick opened her door, then saw the tears.

" You know her? "

Nicole nodded. " Lori Simmons. A current patient."

Rick nodded. " I called it in. Crime lab and ME will be here in a minute."

" Jake? "

" I'll call her next. Let's go inside, make sure everything's okay."

Nicole got out, looking quickly at Lori, then away. " Can't we get her down? "

" No. Not until the crime lab goes over everything."

It was suddenly... so real. Having someone tell you that four women were murdered and you are somehow the link is frightening, but still unbelievable. Why would she be the cause of someone going on a murder spree? But this... opening your garage door and seeing a body hanging, a body of a patient--Nicole could ignore it no longer. Her hands were trembling so badly she could hardly punch out the code on the alarm. She felt somewhat com-forted by Rick's presence, although she knew she was on the verge of becoming hysterical. She was trembling head to toe when they walked through the garage into her kitchen. There, on her break-fast table, sat a dozen roses. Unlike the wilted roses in her bed-room, these were fresh, fragrant.

" Don't touch anything, " Rick said.

Nicole nodded, standing quietly as tears ran down her cheeks.

" Shit, " Rick murmured. " Come on." He took Nicole's arm, wishing Jake were here. He wasn't good with crying women. " Bedroom. Pack a bag. Can you do that? "

Nicole nodded, following Rick into her bedroom. It was as they'd left it the other night, the wilted roses still visible.

" Pack casual clothes, " Rick said. " I doubt Jake will let you go back to your normal routine."

Nicole hardly cared. She wanted to run, run far away. She pulled jeans and sweaters out of her closet, then tossed a couple of sweatshirts onto her bed.

" Take it easy, Dr. Westbrook."

Nicole met his eyes. " Easy? Are you kidding me? "

He held his hands out. " Just... calm down. I'm going to call Detective McCoy."

Nicole took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves somewhat. " Okay. Good, " she murmured.

Jake had just unlocked her front door when her cell phone rang. She wanted to ignore it. She was late, and Cheyenne was letting her know it.

She slipped the phone off her waist as she walked to the back door. " McCoy, " she said, tucking the phone against her shoulder. She heard Cheyenne jump up, placing her front paws on the door. As soon as she unlocked the door, Cheyenne burst in, dancing excitedly around Jake.

" It's me. Got a... situation."

Jake stopped, her hand tightening on the phone. " Where's Nicole? "

" She's here."

" Here where? " Jake demanded.

" I'm at her house. There was a... hell, there was a fucking body hanging in her garage, Jake."

" Jesus Christ! " Jake hissed. " Okay, okay. I'm on my way. Have you called it in? "

" Yeah."

" Good." Jake moved through her duplex, grabbing a bottle of water from her fridge and motioning for Cheyenne to follow her. " How's she holding up? "

" Not good. The victim is a current patient."

Jake slammed the front door, quickly locking it and nearly running to her truck. " I'm on my way, Rick."

Cheyenne hopped into the back and perched her front feet on the console, looking importantly out the windshield as Jake backed up and sped away.

Rick slipped his phone into his front pocket, glancing at the pale face of Dr. Westbrook. " Jake will be here soon, " he said. His words were met with only a slight nod. " I'm going out to meet the crime lab. You'll be okay in here, right? "

" I'll be... fine."

Rick shrugged. " Just stay put. I'll come get you in a minute."

Nicole nodded, sinking onto her bed, jeans clutched in her hands protectively.

" Jesus Christ! "

Nicole's quiet street was transformed as blinking lights from squad cars and an ambulance broke up the night. Jake parked on the street, lowering the windows just a bit for Cheyenne. The night was cold and her breath frosted out around her as she hurried to the opened garage.

" Hold on there, " someone said to her.

She held up her badge. " Detective McCoy. This is my case."

" Sorry, ma'am. Chase is inside."

Jake stopped, watching as they lowered the woman. She stared, frowning. She recognized her. She'd seen her at Nicole's office the other week. Lori something or other.

" Got a name? "

" Lori Simmons."

Jake nodded. She walked into the house from the garage, seeing the flowers on the kitchen table. They were dusting for prints and she sidestepped them. " Was there a note? "

" Not this time."

" Okay. Where's Chase? "

" He went to check on the lady. He's having her pack some things."

Jake walked quickly through the house, stopping in the doorway to Nicole's bedroom. Nicole sat quietly on the bed, nodding occasionally as Rick tried to pack some clothes for her. Nicole sensed her presence, and blue eyes finally looked up, blue eyes that flooded with relief.

" Jake, good, you're here, " Rick said. He motioned to the silent woman sitting on the bed. " Getting a little worried."

Jake nodded, her eyes never leaving Nicole's. " Why don't you give us a minute, Ricky."

" Sure, sure. I'll go see if they found any prints."

Jake closed the door as soon as Rick left, then turned. Nicole was trembling and tears fell from her eyes.

" Come here, sweetheart, " Jake whispered.

That was all it took. Nicole flew into her arms, burying her face at Jake's neck. The tears she'd been holding back flowed freely, and she clung to Jake.

" Shhh, " Jake whispered.

" It's... it's Lori. Oh, Jake, it's all my fault, " she sobbed.

" No, it's not, " Jake said quietly.

" Yes, it is, " Nicole sobbed.

Jake just held her, rocking her slightly until her tears subsided. She forgot all about that line she was trying to back across. Nicole's tears simply tore at her heart, and Jake wanted nothing more than to take away her pain. She rubbed Nicole's back with gentle hands, letting the other woman have her cry.

Finally, Nicole took a deep breath and lifted her head, finding Jake's steady eyes. " I'm sorry."

" For what? Showing emotion? Don't ever be sorry for that."

Nicole rubbed her face, knowing she must look a sight. " It just hit me, I guess. It's real now."

" Yes. It's very real."

" He's invaded my home twice." Nicole straightened up, separating herself from Jake. " And Lori, God, poor Lori." Nicole paced across the room. " I have that same feeling I had with the stalker, you know? Where I didn't feel safe anywhere."

" You're safe with me. I promise that."

Nicole nodded. " I know. And that's why I wished you'd been here with me. The way you left this morning, I was afraid you were jumping ship."

Jake walked closer, taking Nicole by the hands. " I'm afraid... if we're too close, I'll lose my objectivity. I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you."

" Jake, I don't care what we have to do, but I want you around. I felt... exposed with Rick. With you, I feel like you're more concerned with my well-being than anything else."

" Exactly. And that's not always a good thing."

" It's a good thing for me."

Jake smiled, unable to argue with Nicole's logic. " Okay. Pack casual clothes. You won't be going back to the office until this is over."

" Jake, no way. I can't do that."

" You don't have a choice anymore. Tonight was a message, I think. You're next. And he'll have to go through me."

" I can't just close up my practice, " Nicole said.

" Find someone to cover. That's your only choice. We'll call Catherine tonight."

Nicole crossed her arms, knowing Jake was right. She finally nodded.

" Good. We're going to be just a little while. You want to take a shower or something? "

" Do I look that bad? "

" You look beautiful, " Jake whispered. Then she ducked her head. " But I thought it might make you feel better. We're going to be just a little while yet."

Nicole tried to smile. Her eyes felt puffy, red. No doubt her nose was, too. " I'll shower."

Their eyes held for a second longer, then Jake left, closing the door behind her. The kitchen was still crowded, and she found Rick leaning against the counter.

" What we got? "

" We got shit, just like always. Not a print one."

" What about the victim? "

" Dave's already taken her. Been dead two days, he thinks."

" Like the others."

" Yeah. The hanging was definitely postmortem. He says he'll do the post first thing in the morning."

" Why do you think this bastard can come and go like this and not leave one goddamn print or fiber? "

" I think it's like you said. He knows something about forensics."

" Yeah. And we still got shit." Jake pulled him aside. " Come by my place when we're done here. I've got some things I need to talk out with you."