Dead By Morning by Beverly Barton Page B

locate them, and that’s a big if, we will question them together, as partners. If the copycat visited Browning, I don’t think he would have used his real name or given his current address, do you?”
    â€œNo, of course not, but the Powell Agency has a high success rate of tracking down people who do not want to be found.”
    â€œWe’re overlooking one other possibility—our copycat may not have visited Browning. He may not have ever been in contact with him.”
    â€œThen how could he possibly know so many details about Browning’s murders, details that were never released to the press?”
    â€œHe could be in law enforcement.”
    Maleah frowned.
    â€œOr he could have hired a PI or be a PI himself and found a way to dig up the info.”
    She shook her head. “I think Browning knows something.”
    â€œBrowning wants you to believe he knows something.”
    After finishing off one half of her sandwich, she washed it down with the tea and dumped the rest in the wastebasket by the desk. She wiped her hands off on the napkin and tossed it, too.
    â€œYou’re practically psychic when it comes to reading people.” Maleah might not be Derek’s biggest fan, but she respected his ability as a profiler and more recently as a detective. “Paint me a picture. In your opinion, does Browning have any personal connection to the copycat?”
    â€œI’m intuitive, yes. Psychic, no. I leave all that paranormal stuff to Dr. Meng and her protégés.”
    â€œI’m surprised Griff didn’t enlist Yvette or one of her protégés to interview Browning.” Maleah eyed the cake container.
    â€œI doubt Browning would have agreed to see anyone other than you. Griff knew the right person to send. Neither Griff nor I think it was a coincidence that the copycat chose to mimic the killer who murdered your former boyfriend. It’s as if he chose you for a specific reason.”
    â€œYeah, but the only problem is that we have no idea what that reason is.”
    â€œWe can make some educated guesses.”
    â€œSuch as?” she asked.
    â€œSuch as you’re the copycat’s ultimate target.” When her face paled, Derek quickly added, “Or you were chosen because you’re Nicole Powell’s best friend. Or because the copycat is using your connection to Browning as a red herring to send us off on a wild goose chase.”
    â€œWhat’s your intuition telling you?”
    â€œThe copycat and Browning have, at the very least, met and talked. I don’t know if Browning is pulling the strings and the copycat is a disciple or if the copycat used Browning’s knowledge for his own purposes.”
    â€œNeither Griff nor Nic were involved in Browning’s capture and arrest, nor was I. Why would he be targeting the Powell Agency?”
    â€œExcellent question. Griff has a theory, as does Nic. And I have several scenarios in mind, too, but we have absolutely nothing conclusive at this point.”
    â€œWe need information from that son of bitch and he knows it.” Maleah grabbed the cake container, flipped open the lid and eyed the cake hungrily. “He’s going to want to bargain with me, to see what he can get out of me in exchange for what he knows.”
    Derek slid the other cake container over in front of him, then removed the cellophane wrap from two plastic forks and handed one fork to Maleah. She eyed the fork as if it were a snake and then grunted and snatched the fork out of his hand. He sliced his fork through the moist cake, balanced a bite on the fork and lifted it into the air, saluting her with the delicious morsel. She watched while he put the bite into his mouth.
    â€œJust one piece of cake won’t hurt you,” he told her. “Think of the pleasure it’ll give you. There’s nothing quite like a sugar high to perk a girl up when she’s down.”
    â€œI don’t need