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even managed to print them out.” He motioned with his hands as if he were a magician. “Poof. They’re gone. Nobody’s ever seen them but me. And my assistant.”
    Nikki stared at him, doubt in her gaze. “I’ve never heard of any such thing. And I consider myself fairly proficient at computers.”
    “I don’t understand it either. I had a computer-tech guy check out my computers. He couldn’t figure it out either. But that’s why I haven’t bothered the security guys again. I have nothing to show them.”
    “Maybe you should hire a better tech guy.”
    “Elizabeth—that’s my assistant—says he’s one of the best.”
    “Why do you think they’re doing it?”
    “I’m not sure. That’s why I need you. To find out what’s going on. To find out who’s behind it and how serious it is.”
    “Why do you call it a game?”
    At least Nikki was listening to him, acting as if she believed him. Maybe he still could convince her to accept his job offer. He shrugged. “For lack of a better word. But I can tell you one thing—it’s not very fun.”
    “I think you’re overreacting.” She smiled at him—the fake one. “It really does sound like a prank. Send the stuff back, cancel your credit cards, and don’t use the internet to buy things anymore. Problem solved.”
    “Once would be a prank, but this keeps happening over and over. It’s been going on for months. Who knows what they’ll do next?”
    “I understand how this could be a problem, but I’m not getting why you need me specifically. There are plenty of other capable investigators who can help you. Especially one that focuses on cybercrimes.”
    “You’re good at what you do.” He knew that because he’d kept track of her over the years. Just in case she needed him.
    “I might be good, but you can afford the best. I have no idea why you think I’m the only one who can help you.” Nikki met his gaze. Her tone was serious when she spoke. “I don’t have time for this, Lucas. Tell me the truth now or leave.”
    He rubbed his eyes and then looked at her. The moment of truth had arrived. Should he tell her that his friends thought he was imagining the whole thing? That they thought he’d suffered some sort of breakdown. Nothing else seemed to be working. He might as well tell her the truth. “Because I need you to prove I’m not losing my mind.”

4
    Losing his mind.
    Nikki processed his words. Her gaze roved around her office, looking for a hidden camera. Was she the one being pranked? After all, she couldn’t have imagined Lucas McMann sitting in her office, let alone dropping that kind of bombshell. His announcement was just shocking enough to make her too curious for her own good. “Why would you think that?”
    “Because everyone thinks I’m…” He leaned forward, his voice anxious. “My friends think I’m imagining it, but they’re wrong. You have to believe me, Nikki. This is really happening to me. It’s not a figment of my imagination.”
    If his friends were right, it was more serious than an overactive imagination. “Why would your friends not believe you?”
    He sat quietly for a moment.
    She wasn’t sure if he would answer or if he was gathering his thoughts.
    Finally, he answered. “They think it’s some sort of delayed reaction to my wife’s murder.”
    In her shock and anger, she’d forgotten about that. It had happened more than a year before and been on every news station in the South for several weeks. A robbery gone wrong at a convenience store. The suspects had never been found or arrested. “I’m very sorry about your wife, Lucas.”
    He gave her a grim smile. “Thanks. They think I need to see a psychiatrist.”
    Things clicked into place. “Because you might have PTSD or something like that.” Now she was beginning to understand. Were his friends right?
    He nodded but said nothing.
    “I take it you don’t want to see one.”
    “I don’t need a doctor. I need this sick game to be