Part 21 (1/2)

She leaned forward.

”Two of the 'Nahatlatch women' have been identified as students at UBC. You may have seen the missing persons' posters for Susan Walker and Petra Wallace? The third victim hasn't been identified, so we aren't sure, but we suspect she may also match one of the university's missing person's reports. There have been quite a few reports as of late. Young women, good students, vanis.h.i.+ng without a clue. We're really worried that it may not be safe at UBC at the moment.”

”G.o.d, you and my sister both.”

”What?”

”Never mind.”

”I'm serious about this, Makedde. There may be a serial killer picking off female students on campus.”

She fell quiet.

”What evidence do you have that there is a serial killer here?” she eventually said. ”And who is 'we'?”

”Some members of the RCMP originally became concerned, and that's why they asked for Dr Harris's opinion. And Dr Harris and I both suspect that the problem may go beyond the three victims who have been found.”

”Well, you've got my attention now,” she said. ”You of all people should know how I'd react, so I hope you're not s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g with me, that's all I can say.”

”This isn't exactly something I would kid about, Mak.”

”I believe you on that score,” she said. ”Come on, let's get out of here. I want to hear more, but not here. I don't want to ruin this place for myself.”

Several hours and several drinks later, Makedde Vanderwall rose, naked, from the cool linen sheets of a bed on the third floor of the Renaissance Hotel.

She s.h.i.+vered then went out onto the balcony, leaving Andy to his fitful sleep and sticky skin.

Was this what she had come here for? A few too many drinks to drown her sorrows and some late-night encounter with this Australian detective who soon would fly away and be gone? No.

But that's what had happened.

A serial killer. Here. At UBC.

The cold air slapped her skin, and her nipples tensed to sharp points. Mak walked to the railing and looked over the edge. Wet streets spread out below in a fast-moving grid, the traffic flowing past in quick, illuminated blurs of headlights.

A noise.

The sound of feet, and she turned to see Andy shuffling towards her. He was rubbing his eyes, and squinting against the neon city lights.

”Mak?”

”I'm here,” she responded. ”I'm here.”

He stepped outside, and they stood together.

”I love you,” he said.

She didn't reply.

CHAPTER 31.

Andy woke up alone.

Erotic memories flooded his mind-Makedde seeing him to his hotel door, saying goodbye, and then a kiss, soft at first but growing firm and pa.s.sionate, her fingertips along the back of his neck, her body pressed up against his. Their mouths melting together, tongues eager, the chemistry still there, undeniable, irresistible. The rest was a blur; naked skin, bodies moving together, pleasure and sweat.

Now she was gone.

Was she okay?

All that was left was an address and a note.

I'd like to see you before you go.

Mak See you before you go? That bothered him. Did she think he didn't care about her? He'd ask her to come to Australia if he thought there was a chance she would actually say yes.

A newspaper was waiting just outside the door of his room. It looked like it had already been opened. When he read the headline, he knew why.

”NAHATLATCH MURDERS Female students found dead. UBC panic as RCMP clueless...”

Oh d.a.m.n. It's out.

Makedde would have seen it. At least he no longer had to worry about having told her about the case. Now everyone would know.

He looked at Susan Walker's face staring out from the page. She was a pretty girl. In the photo she was wearing a formal dress, with a gold locket around her neck and a small ring on her finger. She was posing with her fiance.

Before anything else, Andy decided to go straight to Makedde's house. Even if she wasn't there he thought she might like some flowers for a surprise.

He sat outside her house in his rental car, wondering what to write on the card. What would she be feeling? Would she be happy about last night? Would she be embarra.s.sed?

Then he saw the roses.

What the...?

Andy got out of his car and leaped up the porch steps to Makedde's door. There, on the doorstep, were a dozen long-stemmed red roses wrapped in cellophane.

He bent down and examined them closely, found a small card pinned to the wrap and had to slide the sharp pin out in order to open it.

Mak, Thinking of you...

Roy He felt a pang of jealousy.

Roy?