Nowhere to Run (Stephanie Carovella) Read Online Free PDF Page A

back negative. The guy wasn’t in any of their databases. Gena said he either shoots blanks, is a first time offender, or he’s smart.”
    Stephanie snorted indelicately, shifting in her chair to tuck one foot underneath her. She turned to face Jesse. “He’s no first time offender, Jess. This I can guarantee. He’s definitely smart. My guess is that Angel wasn’t his first kill,” she said flatly.
    Jesse’s eyes reflected his shock. “You don’t know that,” he protested.
    Stephanie interrupted him. “You’ve seen the photos, Jesse. Hell, you were at the crime scene. This guy is practiced and methodical in every way. He came prepared. He knows what he’s doing and what’s more, he’s damn good at it. He doesn’t make mistakes. From what I’ve gathered, there’s no trace evidence. Nothing, at least, that would give us a suspect. That takes practice,” Stephanie said, shaking her head again.
    “This scares me. To me, it screams serial killer. I don’t think Angel was his first kill,” she whispered, her hardening gaze meeting Jesse’s. “And I’m certain she won’t be his last.”
    Jesse didn’t know how to respond to Stephanie. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Taking advantage of his silence, Stephanie said, “I’ve seen my fair share of crime scenes, and interviewed some sick bastards over the years, but this guy...he’s so...he’s so professional.”
    She collapsed back into the couch, limp with exhaustion, her thoughts turning back to Angel. “She must have been so terrified after the break-in,” she whispered.
    “She was. She took off to a retreat, refusing to let anyone know her whereabouts. She just didn’t know whom to trust anymore. Every time she got close to someone, this guy would pop up like a recurring nightmare.”
    “For her, it would have been,” Stephanie said sadly.
    Jesse lightly ran his fingers across her hand, smiling at her. “After she came back from the retreat she was different. She seemed stronger, and more at peace with herself. She was finally happy with life. She stopped working as a Dominatrix and set up her business. She enrolled into university, and began to let someone in enough to love her. She moved back into her own apartment and built it into her fortress. I guess she figured no one would be able to penetrate it. She was finally turning her life around.”
    “And then the break-in?” Stephanie guessed.
    Jesse took a long sip of his coffee. His voice was husky when he spoke. “He trashed her place. He ruined nearly every photo she owned. He wrote ‘whore’ and ‘slut, you’re next’ in red paint all over the house. He did a real number on her place. But Angel, she refused to leave.”
    He clenched his jaw, remembering the way Angel had stuck to her guns.
    “Damn it Jesse, I can’t let him do this to me anymore. I refuse to let him make my life a living hell. I’ve been through this before, and I swore I would never let a man do this to me again. If he wants to come and get me, then so be it. He can come. I’m not going to run anymore. And if I go down, it will be with a fight.” Angeline said, her green eyes narrowing with determination.”
    “Angel, this is serious. You read the writing on the wall. You could be next. It’s not safe here. He got in once and he can get in again,” he said, frustration creeping in his voice.
    “So let him come. Just let him come, Jesse. I’m not scared anymore. I’m sick and tired of this. Do you know how many times he’s threatened me? How many times I’ve run? I’m tired of it.”
    She let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m finally getting things together. I think Jase and I could really be something. Something really special, and if I keep running I’m going to scare him away. I don’t want to ruin this. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
    “Angel,” he pleaded.
    “No, Jesse. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not running this time.”
     
    ***
     
    “Jesse?”