Page 73 of Shattering Dawn
“That must have been when he planted the hypnotic suggestion and explained exactly what you were supposed to do,” Amelia said.
“But I don’t want to kill anyone. I just want to go home.”
“How did you get the key to my room tonight?” Gideon asked.
“There was a spare in the motel office. I saw it hanging there this afternoon. Tonight when I felt the compulsion come over me I used a credit card to break in to the office and take the key.”
“What about the knife?” Amelia asked. “Where did you get it?”
“I brought it with me from San Diego,” Katy whispered, stricken. “I remember buying it one night in a shopping mall. The same night I bought the veil and the flowers and the invitation.”
“How did you find Gideon here in Lucent Springs?” Amelia asked.
“That’s easy,” Gideon said. “She put a tracker on my car.”
Amelia stared at him. So did Katy.
“Seriously?” Amelia said. “You knew there was a tracker on your car?”
“I discovered it after the wedding invitation landed on my doorstep,” he said. “I left it in place. Figured my stalker would turn up in person sooner or later. I admit I didn’t expect you to follow me to Lucent Springs, though, Katy.”
Katy blinked. “Did you know who I was when I arrived here at the motel?”
“I wasn’t positive,” Gideon said. “Not until you made your move tonight. But, yeah, the timing made me suspicious. So did the self-help book.”
Katy grimaced. “When Life Gives You Lemons: Ten Steps to Moving On.I hoped it would help me recover from the trauma of the cult. Are you going to call the police now?”
“Not unless you’re having second thoughts about murdering me,” Gideon said.
“No, I swear it,” Katy said, clearly anguished.
“Gideon was just joking,” Amelia said quickly.
“Not entirely,” Gideon muttered.
She shot him a warning glare. He ignored it.
Katy started to cry. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to get my life back.”
“Of course,” Amelia said bracingly. “And that starts with breakfast. Don’t forget it’s free here at the Cactus Garden Motel.”
Chapter Forty-one
The interview withthe Lucent Springs police took place in Captain Richards’s office. It did not last long.
“Richards sure wants to wrap this up in a hurry, doesn’t he?” Amelia said as she and Gideon walked outside the small police station and headed for the SUV.
“Why not?” Gideon asked. “As far as he’s concerned the scene at the hotel was a classic drug deal gone bad. Mayfield, you, and I had the bad luck to stumble into it.”
“Very neat and tidy except that Falcon got away.” Amelia opened the passenger door of the SUV and climbed inside. “What do you think he’ll do?”
“I don’t know,” Gideon said. He settled behind the wheel. “If he was really involved in a traditional drug ring he would try to disappear.”
“We do know drugs are a factor in this mess.”
“But not the standard street shit.” Gideon started the engine and drove out onto the road. “That makes predictions tricky, but we’ve got one lead.”
“Irene. I’m really worried about her.”