Rarities Unlimited 04 - The Color of Death

closer to the slacks, liked the way it felt at that angle, and wiggled a little.
    His breathing changed. “Um, darling?”
    “What?”
    “Condoms are only good for one round, remember?”
    “The problem has never come up before.”
    “Well, it’s come up now, but good.”
    She smiled. “I noticed.”
    With a slow reluctance that almost ruined Sam’s good intentions, Kate lifted herself off him. “Okay.”
    “The last time you agreed with me, we ended up on the floor.”
    “With you on the bottom.”
    Sam got to his feet, winced, and said hopefully, “Bed?”
    “With you on the bottom?”
    “Any way you want me.” He grabbed a fistful of condoms from his slacks.
    “Mmm,” she said, opening his hand and stirring the small packages. “Let me count the ways. One, two, three, four…”
    “I offer rain checks.”
    “So do I.”
    He pulled her close, kissed her even closer. “It’s a deal.”

Chapter 47
    Scottsdale
    Friday
    9:00 P.M .
    A cell phone rang, interrupting Sam and Kate just as they were thinking about dragging themselves out of bed to make a late dinner.
    “It’s yours,” Kate said.
    “I’m trying to ignore it.”
    “Is it working?”
    Sam cursed and stalked into the living room where his cell phone was still attached to his belt, which was still attached to his slacks, which weren’t attached to him. When he recognized the number, his irritation vanished. He didn’t know what Lee Mandel’s godfather wanted to talk about, but he doubted it was good news. He punched the answer button.
    “Special Agent Groves.”
    “This is Gavin Greenfield. Sorry to bother you on a Friday night, but you told me to call if anyone questioned me about Kate or Natalie Cutter.”
    Sam’s gut clenched. So quick. Jesus, this killer is scary. “Yes. Who called?”
    “He didn’t leave a name.”
    “Tell me as much of the conversation as you remember. Word for word, if possible.”
    “I answered the phone,” Gavin said. “He told me he was following up on an interview with you.”
    “Did he use my name?”
    “Yes. He called you FBI Special Agent Sam Groves.”
    Sam frowned. Most civilians were happy with less than the full title. “Go on.”
    “I asked him who he was, just like you told me to.”
    “And?”
    “He didn’t tell me. He just asked me who Natalie Cutter was to me. I told him since he was in the FBI, he should ask you. Then I hung up. Did I do the right thing?”
    “Yes. Do you remember him representing himself to you as a member of the FBI?”
    Gavin hesitated. “No. When he said it was a follow up on your interview, I just assumed…” Then, anxiously, “He was FBI, wasn’t he?”
    I hope not, but I’m not betting Kate’s life on it. “Thank you, Mr. Greenfield. You did just right. If anyone else calls, please let me know immediately.”
    Sam hung up, held the cell phone in his fist, and grappled with the sickening feeling that the killer was two steps ahead of everyone.
    Especially Sam Groves.
    “What is it?” Kate asked.
    He looked at her standing in the doorway, naked and beautiful. Vulnerable. His gut clenched.
    “You mentioned rain checks,” he said.
    “You want one?”
    “No, but I’m asking for it anyway.”
    “It’s yours.” And so am I . But that was something Kate wasn’t ready to say aloud.
    Sam reached her in three long strides and pulled her into his arms. Instead of the passion and driving strength she’d come to expect from him, she found herself held gently, rocked against his chest.
    “I have to go back to the hotel and take care of some things,” he said, his voice as rough as his hands were tender. “I don’t want to. But if I spend the night here, they’ll yank me off the strike force.” He tipped her head back and looked into her eyes. “You understand?”
    She nodded.
    “I want you to put my cell phone number in your speed dial so that all you have to do is punch connect to get me,” he said. “Okay?”
    She nodded again.
    “Don’t let anyone in here except me, and only if I’m alone,” he said. “If I’m not alone, call 911 and take your gun off safety and don’t open the door. Okay?”
    “Sam…”
    “Promise me, love.”
    She gave up. “Okay.”
    “If anyone knocks or calls or does anything that makes you uneasy, dial me no matter what time it is.”
    “Sam, who just called?”
    He hesitated, not wanting to make her as uneasy as he was. Then he told himself he was a fool. She couldn’t protect herself if she