Jack was pacing but every now and then he would stop to look out the window.

He was prowling like a caged animal prepared for an attack. I bit my lip. I was aware we had cops stationed outside the apartment to protect me. But it wasn’t enough to keep me from feeling real fear that I was on borrowed time.

“Stop Jack.” I rose from the sofa and began to pace. I was worked up and edgy.

He turned to watch me.

All the pent-up energy I had been storing all day was about to explode and I didn’t know how to stop it.

“How did he know Jack? It just happened and he already knew.” I stopped to ask Jack, even when I knew there was no way he could answer.

“It was leaked.”

Leaked. The only people who had known what I had remembered were a handful of people. Surely there would be a way to track it. The thing that scared me most was it felt like he was closer to me than I had ever anticipated and that was thing that was freaking me out.

“You knew, Beth knew and I knew. That’s three people.”

He shook his head. “There is a whole team working on this case right now. All of them knew.”

I put my hands on my hips. “So what do I do now?”

Again I was look at him for answers, answers he didn’t have.

“I can’t stay here for the rest of my life, can I?” The hysteria was only moments away ready to pull me into a full blown panic attack.

He walked to me, taking my hands in his. “We’ll figure it out.”

My life hung in the balance. Whatever happened from here on out, would mean the difference between life and death.

“It’s been three years and we still don’t know who he is, what makes you think we can figure it out now?” I scoffed, unbelieving.

“Because we don’t have a choice.” His reply was grave and a reminder of what was at steak. My life.

As grave as the threat written on a note, left in his victim’s room. It had been brazen and a reminder of the details he knew.

To think he had probably snuck into the house while Alice’s parents had slept was enough to add to my hysteria. His parents were also being protected by the police. I think they were hoping he might return but I knew better. He would not make such a fundamental mistake. He hadn’t evaded cops for this long by making stupid mistakes.

“Besides we have something we didn’t have before.”

I frowned. “What?”

“Your memories.”

“But I couldn’t remember anything that would lead us to him. Unless I remember more we are no better off than before Jack.” There was no doubt in my mind, there was nothing in those heartbreaking memories that pointed to the identity of the killer.

“I know.” He released my hands to take hold of my arms. “But we have opened the door to your memories. Who knows what else you might get triggered into remembering.”

I could already watch his mind start to tick over as he released me and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I think we should try hypnotism.”

Hypnotism. It sounded like a stretch but at this point I wasn’t sure I had a choice. It was either do something or just wait until the serial killer found a way to get to me.

And if he already knew things that weren’t public knowledge I suspected that he had ways of keeping his ear close to the pulse of the case.

“It might be a way to gain access to more memories that might help figure out who he is.”

I frowned, watching him pace again.

“He is coming for you and if we don’t figure out who he is then…”

He didn’t want to say it but I knew what he was going to say. The sound of Alice’s last breath shivered through me, leaving me more fearful I would meet the same fate.

“You’ll never have peace Hadley. He’ll be in every person who crosses your path, you will be living in constant fear.”

I hadn’t had much of that for the last three years.

“Don’t you see. This is your chance to end this. We can stop him.”

I studied him, crossing my arms not convinced that anything in my memories would help catch him.

“Just tell me you’ll think about it.”

I exhaled. “Fine.” It wasn’t like I had much of a choice anyway.

He was making logical sense but it didn’t take into the account the effect remembering would have on me. What if we went through all of this and I didn’t remember anything else. I didn’t voice the thought. He seemed so much better when he had a plan instead of staring out the window trying to come up with a way to keep me safe.

“I need to go out.”

I swallowed, not wanting to be apart from him for even a short while. He was my security, my safety. When he wasn’t around I felt so exposed.

“I’m going to call Dallas to stay with you.”

When he caught my look he stopped what he was doing. “What?”

“He doesn’t like me,” I admitted, hating that it bugged me.

“Dallas doesn’t like anyone. Don’t take it personally. He has always been that way.”

I bit my lip. “He thinks you’re better off without me in your life.”

Could I really blame him? Probably not. From an outsider’s point of view it probably looked like some unhealthy dependency. Our parents had felt the same way about our closeness.

He simply shrugged. “He can have his opinion but I don’t live my life to make other people happy. He might not approve of my decisions but he is loyal and I trust him.” His eyes held mine. “I can’t leave you if I’m worrying about you.”

Studying him, I remained silent.

“What’s this about Hadley?” He walked to me.

“It’s nothing,” I assured him, not wanting to make things more difficult.

He studied me before reaching out to touch my cheek gently. His eyes softening.

“Why would you care what Dallas thinks anyway?”

I shrugged. I didn’t want to care but I did. “It’s just…” I struggled to put into words what I was feeling without coming across as needy. Emotionally needy. It was the last thing I wanted to feel but I couldn’t stop it.

He had already been upfront about what he could give and what he couldn’t. The lines he had drawn were blurring for me. It was my fault not his. For him it was physical, sex. For me it was more than that. So much more.

“Is this about you and I?” He got straight to the point.

I sighed but did not answer. I was too scared to rock the boat for fear he would leave again, like he had before.

“Whatever is happening between us, is our business Hadley. We don’t have to explain or justify it to anyone.”

“What about Beth?” I asked, before I could completely think it through.

Once it was out I immediately regretted even mentioning it.

“Beth was casual.” His voice tight. I could tell he didn’t like having to explain.

Was. Did that mean it was over? I couldn’t bring myself to ask but he seemed to be able to sense my thoughts.

“I have not been with her since that night she stayed over.”

I dropped my eyes from his. I hated how vulnerable I was to him.

“I’m not fucking anyone else Had.”

I swallowed before raising my gaze to his. It wasn’t a declaration of love but it was the best I was going to get from him.

With everything going on, did it really matter? For me it did. No matter how much time I had left.

He must have seen something in my expression that conveyed the need for reassurance because he pulled me to him gently and kissed me, brushing his mouth against his.

It was brief but my heart galloped in my chest. A physical reaction that was instant to him.

He brushed my cheek. “I won’t be long.”

I nodded, trying to keep my fear and insecurities to myself.