A glove.
She fought to gasp in air. She could see nothing through the blur of blackness.
The door slammed shut behind her, cutting her off from the outside world.
She flailed behind her with her free hand and tore at a handful of hair. An expletive. Male. More pain as he increased the pressure on her arm.
Shut the hell up or you get hurt. He spat the words into the dark. Harsh, hoarse. Her lungs screamed for gulps of air. But each time she struggled to move, the pain tore at her shoulder.
Stay calm, Hannah. Stay calm. She forced herself to hold still.
The iron grip eased slightly, as if her attacker was testing. She could feel hot breath at her ear.
He swore and immediately let go of her mouth.
Hannah?
A thin beam from a flashlight cut through the dark. Slowly he turned her head and body round to face him, still pinning her arm behind her back. She blinked blindly against the sudden brightness as he looked down into her face.
Sweet Jesus. He let the light fall so she could see him. It caught the hard ice of his eyes.
She felt faint.
Rex? Her voice came out hoarse, barely audible.
What the hell do you think youre doing, McGuire? You could have gotten yourself hurt. He kept his voice a low whisper. His mouth was so close she felt his breath on her lips.
She wrenched free and lunged for the light switch. Light flooded the small apartment.
She whirled round to confront him. Damn you, Rex Logan! What in hell are you doing in Amy Barness apartment?
Lord, woman. He pushed past her, drew the blinds in a deft movement. Keep your voice down.
Uneasiness prickled up the nape of her neck. He looked lethal, dressed in black from head to foot. Dark stubble shadowed
his jaw. His hair was black gloss, and hed let it grow. It gave him a wild look. The only light thing about him was the glacial ice in his stare. A devil with Arctic eyes. The contrast was startling, unnerving. Almost inhuman.
You shouldnt be here, Hannah. His words were low, threatening.
Youre the one with no right to be here. Anger started to boil up, displacing her fear. She could feel the heat of color spilling back into her cheeks. Give me one good reason not to call the cops and have your sorry ass kicked behind bars, Rex Logan. She realized she was shaking.
You do that and you wont find out what really happened to Amy Barnes.
She was stunned into silence.
He took a step closer. Talk to me, Hannah. Tell me why youre in a dead womans apartment at night. He was unnerving her with his steady blue gaze. She was determined to hold it, not to look away and give him the upper hand.
What makes you think I believe anything happened to Amy?
I know you, Hannah. You dont let things lie. Never did. Thats why you were good. One of the best. Thats why youre here, tonight, isnt it? Youre looking for something.
She pushed the hair back from her face in an effort to clear her head. Rex stepped even closer. The air crackled between them. She edged backward, toward the phone. Blood drummed in her ears.
What has any of this got to do with you, Rex?
Im looking for answers. Like you. I dont believe Amys death was an accident.
Hannah took another step back toward the phone and reached behind her for the receiver.
He was on her in an instant, had her pinned up against the wall, her heart jackhammering against her rib cage. He reached and took the receiver from her hand. Placed it firmly back in the cradle. No cops.
She was afraid now. This man was no stranger to attack. He moved like a black jungle cat and had the same power. Hannah swallowed, her throat tight. She tried to speak. What do you want from me, Rex?
He held her, up against the wall, a brutally intimate embrace. He leaned in, placing his mouth between her fall of hair and her ear. More than youll ever know, McGuire. The hot whisper, painfully seductive, snaked through her. A serpent of unwanted desire.
He reached up, slowly took a handful of her hair, gently twisted it through gloved fingers and let it fall back onto her shoulder. It was an achingly intimate gesture. She began to tremble inside. Emotion pricked hot behind her eyes. Damn him. Damn this man from her past. He was pulling the threads of her life apart.
Come. He took her wrist, led her to a chair. She was powerless.
Sit.
He faced her, seated on the coffee table, his knees almost touching hers. You gate crashed my party, Hannah. You play by my rules now. That means no police.
II dont understand. Who are you, Rex? Whats going on?
I found something. Something that makes me think Amy Barnes got herself into trouble. It may have gotten her killed.
Confusion spiraled through her brain. You dont mean murder?
I think she was sticking her nose where it wasnt wanted.
Whatwhat did you find?
Again he sidestepped her question. But if you take this to the cops, youll get nowhere. No answers. The police are not going to help you. Trust me on this.
Trust? Shed trusted Rex Logan once before. She thought shed known this man. She looked at him now; he was a stranger. A dangerous one. And the cops were his Achilles heel. Why?