With a shiver, Cassie turned off the TV. She didnt want to be reminded of those murders. Even in her little hometown, the brutality of the killings had sent shock waves through the community, and people who had never locked their doors before were suddenly installing dead bolts and leaving porch lights on all night.
Cassie fit the profile of the killers victims. She was young, single and she lived alone. But she hadnt gotten caught up in the panic because Houston had seemed a long way off to her then. But now here she wasand another killer was apparently on the loose
A chill raced up her spine at the sound of yet another siren. Across the room, Mr. Bogart stirred restlessly in his bed, then rolled over and went right back to sleep. Sated from gourmet treats, he seemed none the worse for their earlier adventure.
Cassie couldnt say the same for herself. She still didnt know what had possessed her to attack that man in the alley excepteven though she was no dog personshed never been able to stand animals of any kind being mistreated. And when shed seen him kick Bogey like that, her reaction had been instinctive.
Pervert, she muttered. But what if the guy was worse than that? What if he was the one who had killed that poor woman tonight? Should she call the police?
And tell them what?
She hadnt gotten a good look at the mans face, nor did she know which direction hed fled after he left the alley. A call to the police would accomplish nothing more than to blow her cover. And Celestes.
And, anyway, he was probably just some homeless guy going through the Dumpsters.
Butwhat if he wasnt?
The sirens grew louder, and reluctantly, Cassie walked over and opened the French doors. Stepping outside, she glanced around. The secluded balcony overlooked a quiet tree-lined street. It reminded her of a Parisian boulevard shed once seen in a picture.
The small, exclusive hotel was only three stories, and in August, it operated at less than half capacity. When Celeste had made the reservations, shed had her choice of suites. Shed put Cassie on the third floor, at the far southeast corner where she not only had a view of the street, but also of the narrow alley that provided access to the service entry of the hotel.
The siren sounded as if it was only a block or two from the rear of the hotel, and as Cassie peered over the balcony into the shadows, she spotted someone moving about below her. A tall figure dressed in black
Casanova!
She instantly chided herself for letting her imagination get the better of her. Hadnt she just heard on the news that John Allen Stiles was still serving time in Huntsville?
But there were some who believed in his innocence. And another woman had been murdered just a few blocks from where Cassie stood. What if that police detective was right? What if the real Casanova was still out there somewhere? What if shed come face-to-face with him earlier?
Below, the figure moved out of the shadows and was caught for one brief moment in a glimmer of light from the street. As he turned his head toward the balcony, Cassie caught her breath.
She knew him.
CHAPTER TWO
JACK TRIED TO let himself into his apartment as quietly as he could, but before he could get inside the door across the hall opened, and his neighbor, Cher Maynard, popped her head out.
Ive been waiting for you, she said in that low, husky voice of hers. The woman could read a phone book and make it sound pornographic.
Jack winced, then plastered a smile on his face as he turned. Yeah? I figured youd given up on me by now.
Her gaze slipped over him. On you? Never.
He walked over and handed her a set of keys. Thanks for the use of your car, by the way. Youre a lifesaver.
I didnt exactly do it out of the goodness of my heart, now did I? We have a deal, remember? I scratch your backyou scratch mine. She stepped back and motioned with her head for him to join her in her apartment.
Jack hesitated, trying to buy himself some time. Are you sure? Its late. Maybe we should do this some other time
Oh no you dont. She curled a hand around his arm and yanked him inside the apartment, then slammed the door with her foot. Reaching behind her, she turned the dead bolt.
Look, Cher, its been a long day. Im wiped. If I could just crash for a few hours
Now, Jackie, dont you worry. Her smile worried him a great deal. Ill do all the work. All you have to do is relax and enjoy.
Easier said than done, Jack thought as he glanced warily around her apartment. The one-bedroom unit was a veritable treasure trove of garage sale and secondhand finds. The red silk pillows and beaded lamp shades were charming, eccentric and a little overpowering, not unlike the woman who lived there.
His gaze moved back to Cher. Theyd been neighbors for nearly two years, but her appearance still provoked a double take now and then. Her dark, glossy hair hung to her waist, and her eyes were heavily lined to resemble the seventies version of her famous namesake. She favored rhinestone-studded jeans, cropped tops and four-inch stilettos that put her just a smidgen over Jacks six feet.
Hed never been sure which had come first, the name or the look. Shed told him once after a few too many margaritas that her real name was Charlene. He couldnt exactly remember what hed told her that night.
She walked over now and ran a long, tapered nail down the front of his shirt. You might want to take that off. Things are apt to get a little messy before were through.
Its chilly in here, he said nervously. I think Ill leave it on if you dont mind.
She slanted him a look through her false lashes. Whats the matter, Jackie? Youre not getting cold feet, are you? Its not like we havent done this before.
She pushed him toward the old, flea market barbers chair that shed pulled up next to the kitchen sink. Have a seat and well get started. Are you sure you dont want to remove your shirt?
He sank into the chair and sighed. Lets just get this over with.
Just what every girl wants to hear. She whipped out a plastic cape and gave it a good snap.
Sowhat exactly are you planning to do? Jack eyed the bottles and mixing bowls on the counter beside the sink.
Cher tied the cape around him, then patted his shoulder. All you need to know is that youre in good hands.
Famous last words, he muttered.
No grumbling. We had a deal, remember? I lend you my car and in return, I get to practice on your hair until I graduate from beauty school.
Which couldnt come soon enough for Jack. Hed had four haircuts in a three-week span. At this rate, hed be bald by the time Cher got her diploma.
Look at you. Youre all knotted up. She began to massage his shoulders and the back of his neck. I bet all this tension has something to do with that murder in Montrose earlier tonight. When I heard about it on the news, I immediately thought of you and what you always say about Casanovathat hes still out there somewhere. Jackieyou dont think it was him tonight, do you?
I dont know, Jack admitted. He hadnt been able to get much from his contacts at HPD. For whatever reason, the brass was keeping a tight lid on the flow of information about the latest homicide. Which made Jack all the more suspicious. Were they trying to cover up a connection to Casanova?
Look at you. Youre all knotted up. She began to massage his shoulders and the back of his neck. I bet all this tension has something to do with that murder in Montrose earlier tonight. When I heard about it on the news, I immediately thought of you and what you always say about Casanovathat hes still out there somewhere. Jackieyou dont think it was him tonight, do you?
I dont know, Jack admitted. He hadnt been able to get much from his contacts at HPD. For whatever reason, the brass was keeping a tight lid on the flow of information about the latest homicide. Which made Jack all the more suspicious. Were they trying to cover up a connection to Casanova?
Cher shuddered. Lets talk about something else. It gives me the creeps just thinking about that monster roaming around out there. Her knuckles kneaded Jacks shoulders. So tell me about your day. Are you still following that actress around?
He frowned. Im not exactly following her around. She never leaves the hotel. Until tonight. Tonight, hed seen her up close and personal, and the meeting had left him oddly unsettled. Maybe it was because hed bought in to her Hollywood image, had begun to think of her as some celluloid goddess, and then seeing her in person had made him realize that she was a real flesh-and-blood woman. She could be hurt by what he was doing.
Chers fingers continued to work their magic, and he sighed as the tension finally began to seep away.
Hey, Jack?
The massage was so relaxing, hed almost drifted off. Yeah?
What else have you learned about Celeste Fortune?
You know I dont like to talk about my work. It had been a mistake to say anything to Cher about the assignment. He hadnt meant to, but shed overheard him on the phone with Max the other day, and since hed needed to borrow her car, he couldnt exactly tell her to kiss off when she started asking questions.
Besides, he also didnt want her to thinkand blab around the complexthat he was some freak who kept pictures of a relatively obscure actress in his apartment.
Come on. Dont be so coy. Chers hands moved back to his neck, and she deepened the massage. Just admit it, why dont you? You have a little crush on her.
Thats crazy.
No, whats crazy is that you think she wont be pissed when she finds out what youre doing. Besides, a woman like her is way out of your league, Jackie.
I realize that. But I dont have a crush on her, anyway. Boys get crushes. Men get
Obsessions? First Casanova and now Celeste Fortune. Anyone ever tell you youre a little on the neurotic side? Cher plowed a knuckle into a knot at the back of Jacks neck and he jumped.
Ouch! Anyone ever tell you youre a little on the sadistic side?
Oh, shut up and take it, she muttered. You deserve it.
What the hell did I do?
Youre a man.
So that was it. The latest Mr. Right had evidently turned out to be another dud. At least by Chers standards. Jack wondered what had been the matter with this one. The previous guy had parted his hair on the wrong side, and the one before that had preferred boxers instead of briefs. Or briefs instead of boxers. Jack couldnt keep up. The point was, Cher was picky when it came to romance.
But her love life was something shed have to sort out on her own. Jack had his own problems. Slumping down in the chair, he closed his eyes and thought about Celeste Fortune.
Just admit it, why dont you? You have a little crush on her.
Was he that obvious?
The stack of videos in his apartment had probably been the giveaway.
How could a woman as beautiful and glamorous as Celeste Fortune allow herself to get mixed up with a sleaze like Owen Fleming? The man was a typical Hollywood player, from what Jack had been able to find out. Hed married a rich wife, then proceeded to go through starlets like a pig at a feeding trough.
Jack thought about the way Celeste had come at him tonight, all fired up, blue eyes undoubtedly blazing behind those dark glasses. He had a feeling shed be a real pistol in bed, but it wasnt likely hed ever find that out. However, that didnt stop him from fantasizing, and he let himself conjure up all sorts of interesting scenarios as Cher worked on his hair.
An hour and a half later, she removed the cape and tossed it aside. All done. That wasnt so bad, was it?
Jack stretched. Guess not. I think I must have dozed off a few times. He put a hand to his hair. Feels short.
Hardly more than a trim.
Really? So what was all that smelly gunk you put on my head?
Oh, just a deep, penetrating conditioner.
A conditioner, huh? Well, it burned like hell. Let me see that mirror
When he reached for the hand mirror on the counter, Cher grabbed it and put it behind her back. You dont trust me?
I want to see for myself. When Jack reached for the mirror again, she took a step back.
Its late, she said in a rush. I think you should just sleep on it, and then when you wake up in the morning, youll be all refreshed and ready to face the world with your brand-newlook.
Jacks gaze narrowed. What do you mean, my new look? What the hell did you do?
Nothing. It may be a littleshorter than we talked about. Now dont freak, she hastened to add when he grabbed the mirror from her. Itll just take some getting used to, thats all.
Holysh
Oh, come on. Its not that bad.
Compared to what? Jack turned his head first one way, then the other. It was short all right. Short andblond. Bleached blond. What little hair he had left was now the color of straw. And it appeared to have roughly the same texture. Fix it, Cher. I cant walk around like this.
Cher assumed a wounded expression. Fix it? Why would you want to fix it? The color looks great on you.
Jack sighed. In other words, you cant.
We havent gotten to that part yet, she admitted sheepishly. But if you can get past the shock, I think youll like it. You might even thank me for it later. The color really does show off those gorgeous eyes of yours and those dreamy cheekbones. Not to mention your tan. If nothing else, itll make you stand out in a crowd.
In my line of work, thats hardly a plus. Jack glanced in the mirror again. Okay, maybe Cher was right. Maybe it wasnt that bad. Maybe it wasnt quite as short or as blond as hed first thought. And the color did set off his eyes
Do me a favor, she said. Just give it a day or two. If you still dont like it, you can come down to the beauty school and Ill have my instructor take a look at it
The phone interrupted her and Cher glanced at her watch. Oh, no. I had no idea it was so late.
Jacks brows shot up at her nervousness. Whats the matter? Got a hot date?
Uh, no. Thats probably just my mother calling.
At this hour?
She sometimes loses track of time. You know how it is with old people.
Jack had met Chers mother. The woman wasnt a day over fifty, and she had a body that wouldnt quit. Arent you going to answer it?
Shell call back. She always does. Cher grabbed his arm, pulled him from the chair, and began to hustle him toward the door.