Guarding Raine Part 44

Trey gibed.

"Lucky I had so much of my own experience and natural ability that I

didn't need much help from you."

"Well, I'm going to be needing help from you,"

Mac said, turning serious.

"I'd like you to do some more nosing around into Winters's, Kla.s.sen's

and Jennings's backgrounds. And see what you can find out about aBrian Burnett, currently of L.A." formerly of Sacramento. He's been out of prison" -- he swiftly calculated " --about seven years. I want to know who he celled with in prison, and if he keeps in touch withanyone he met there. " "Where's Burnett come into this?"

asked Trey, writing the name down in a notebook. ~ "He was convicted of rape eleven years ago," answered Mac grimly.

"The victim was Raine Michaels."

Trey lifted his head to stare at Mac.

"Eleven years? She had to " A kid.

Yeah.

And this b.a.s.t.a.r.d got out after four lousy years.

" He knew Trey would guess there was nothing objective about Mac's

interest.

His friend had been right when he guessed this case had become personal.

Briefly Mac told him of what he'd learned from Simon Michaels. " I've

talked to the guy following Burnett.

He's done a pretty thorough job investigating him.

He knows what jobs he's had and where he's lived, and gave me a list of

names of the people Burnett sees after hours.

I'd like to do a little checking into those names, to see just what

kind of cruds he hangs out with.

" " What was Burnett doing the day Raine was run off the road?

" Mac frowned. " He was followed to work.

It couldn't have been him.

" " That's why you want to investigate his cronies," Trey guessed. "

You think he might have enlisted some help that day.

" " He could have been establishing an alibi for himself while Raine was almost killed.

Yeah, I think it's possible.

From the report I got from Michaels's investigator, Burnett didn't

exactly get rehabilitated in prison.

He's been in and out of sc.r.a.pes since he got out--nothing bad enough to get him sent back, but he's walking a fine line.

" " Why would he all of the sudden decide to reenter' her life this

way?

" Trey asked, frowning. " After all these years, what does he have to gain by terrorizing her?

" " Maybe he's been plotting revenge all along, to get even for the

time he spent in jail.

h.e.l.l, I don't know.

He could have seen an article in the paper, or something about her on

TV, and that set him off.

Who could figure how a sicko's mind works?

" " He definitely needs to be watched," Trey agreed. " Good thingMichaels has someone on him full-time." " Does the detective know about Burnett?" Mac nodded. " I'm sure Detective Ramirez will be paying him a visit soon.

But outside of the remote possibility that Burnett will break down and confess, I can't see what good it's going to do.

" They lapsed into silence for a moment. Then Trey leaned back in his

chair.

" I paid another visit to Greg Winters.

" Mac's gaze sharpened. " When was this?

" " Last night.

Remember I told you I'd approached him at his office and pretended an

interest in his services?

" " Yeah.

" " Well, I thought it would be interesting to follow that up with a

visit to his home.

There were some legitimate questions I had about some ideas he gave

me.

He was surprised to see me, but he invited me in.

And guess what I saw there?

" Mac raised his eyebrows quizzically. " Pictures, man.

Lots and lots of pictures, and all of them are of Raine Michaels.

" Something clenched in Mac's gut. " What kind of pictures?

" " Nothing personal--they'd all been cut out from newspapers and one

magazine spread.

He's even got them framed.