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“Hey, little lady, mind your step there.” The man’s arm rested on the frame of the open window and his teeth flashed in the dark interior. “I don’t want to fish you out of that ditch. It’s muddy and wet.”
Layla recognized the vehicle but not the man inside. She shrugged as nonchalantly as possible. “I’m not planning on falling into the ditch anytime soon, but thanks for your concern.”She turned to go, moving away at a fast pace, but the vehicle kept right alongside of her.
“You know it’s not safe for you to be walking these backroads at night?” The man hung out the window, smiling at her. “It’s my civic duty to take you home to your mom. Get in the vehicle.” He smiled. “If you’re worried, I might try and jump your bones, ride in the back. I know you girls figure that’s all us men are after.” He shook his head. “Not me. I’m one of the good guys. You know that, right?”
It was a long walk home and she did recognize him now. She could see him properly. Layla stared at the dark road ahead and then climbed into the back of the vehicle. “I live about half a mile along. The house is down a dirt road on the left. There’s a white mailbox at this end of the road.”
“Okay.” The vehicle drove off and the man hummed to tunes on the radio. “You know that old warehouse down the road aways?”
Frowning, Layla nodded. “Yeah, it’s been vacant for years.”
“I had a call from someone who said they’d seen my missing dog heading inside.” He smiled at her in the rearview mirror. “Mind if I take a look inside?”
Layla bit on her bottom lip. She guessed it was a reasonable request. He hadn’t needed to stop and offer her a ride. She’d remain in the vehicle and wait. “Sure. I’m guessing that’s why you came out this way.”
The vehicle swung into the driveway of the old warehouse, illuminating it in a halo of light. The once pristine concrete slab-built driveway had grass sprouting between its cracks. Gray neglected wooden panels on the sides of the old warehouse hung open to form gaps. Layla peered out of the window. The roof of rusted corrugated sheets flapped in the wind, rattling like the cars of a locomotive running over a bridge. Outside, brush had grown waist high, green tufts of new growth fighting for survivalbetween the dead brown vegetation. The old sliding door was open halfway, the metal wheels at the top of the door so rusted they’d never move again.
The man climbed out and whistled a few times and using his flashlight ducked inside. Moments later, he stuck his head out and beckoned her. Layla just stared at him.
“I can see him. He’s caught in some wire. He looks weak. I’ll need you to hold the flashlight so I can free him.” He turned and said something to the dog.
Reluctantly, Layla left her phone and backpack in the back seat and went to assist him. Inside she peered around, following the arc of his flashlight. She could see nothing. An icy chill shivered down her spine and she took a step backward. “Where’s the dog?”
“Just over there.” He held out the flashlight. “Here take this. In that corner. Can’t you see him?”
It was creepy inside the massive open space, with vines and spiders hanging down all over. Hesitantly she took a few steps inside, moving the flashlight around. “I can’t see him.”
Something whipped around her neck and tightened. She dropped the flashlight, clawing at her throat. She couldn’t breathe and the darkness was spinning around her. She tripped and fell face down on something soft, not a mattress, maybe an exercise rug. Air came back into her lungs for just a second as he flipped her over onto her back. The cord tightened again, and she clawed at her neck, trying to force her fingers under the tightening band. Darkness came again but she clung to the edge of consciousness.
“You’re not dying yet, little lady.” His breath was hot on her cheek, but his face was shadowed from the lights of the vehicle.
Layla tried to push him away and fight back, but each time he tightened the noose just enough to make the blackness come. The headlights caught his smile just as she blacked out again,waking as her clothes were torn from her body. She gathered all her strength and rolled away, but he thrust her hard on her back and punched her in the face.
“See what happens to silly girls who walk home alone in the dark at night? Look at me. Yeah, that’s right. I want my face reflected in your eyes.” He tightened the noose again. “You asked for this, didn’t you? What did you think would happen?”
Head throbbing, Layla tried to turn her face away. Pinned under him, there was no escape. She opened her mouth to take another breath and the noose tightened again.
“The thing is, this cord is like a light switch.” He grinned down at her. “I can turn your life on and off with it. One second, you think the ordeal is over and I release my grip and there you are again, gasping like a landed fish. Next second, your tongue comes out and your face goes blue.”
Arms heavy and weak from lack of oxygen, Layla closed her eyes. She couldn’t look into his self-satisfied face any longer. He was enjoying her pain and she just wanted it to be over.
“I said look at me.” He yanked her head to face him. “I’m your worst nightmare and you’re not gonna miss a thing.”
THIRTEEN
TUESDAY
Roaring Creek
Styles woke disorientated. A warm body curled against his back and hot breath brushed his neck, sending goosebumps over his flesh. He groaned inwardly and wiped a hand down his face. He recalled going to the saloon with Beth and the local sheriff to pass the time playing pool. He’d had a few drinks and then what had happened? Replaying the night in his mind swiftly, he couldn’t recall meeting anyone interesting enough to take back to the motel. His mind slid to Beth—nah, she wasn’t a one-night stand kind of gal. So who? He swallowed hard, trying to remember the faces of the people in the saloon but recalled only Beth, the sheriff, and a couple of deputies. He’d had nights at TJ’s Bar and Grill in Rattlesnake Creek when he’d stumbled home, a little worse for wear, but since Beth had arrived he’d walked the line. The director had meant him to be an example to her, and overindulging wasn’t part of the bargain, although she had been accepting drinks for wins at pool, and like every other darn thing, she was very good at pool.
A wet tongue licked his ear, followed by a blast of doggy breath. Relieved, Styles grinned. “Is that you, Bear? What are you doing on my bed?”
The dog barked and pounced on him, licking him all over. He gently pushed him away. “Okay, okay. I’ll need to shower and dress and then I’ll take you out for a walk. What’s the time?” He picked up his watch from the bedside table. It was five after six.
After taking a shower, Styles bundled up in warm clothes, and headed outside. He walked toward a wooded area out back of the motel. Icy wind cut into his cheeks and hurt his lungs with every breath. It was spring and the melt had come earlier than normal, but that meant nothing. Snow could come again just as easily as rain. He stared at the sky. A few clouds gathered on the horizon, but apart from that, it was clear and ice blue. The sapphire color would come as the sun rose higher and bring some much-needed warmth to the day. As Bear sniffed around the trees, the case battered against his mind. He needed to offer some idea of a potential suspect. The man’s image had been blasted all over the media, and apart from a few crank calls, nothing of interest had been reported. No one saw a man in a long coat wearing a cowboy hat because just about every man in town wore the same clothes. It was cold in the mountains and balaclavas were favored by many. Finding this guy was becoming a nightmare.
Nothing had come in after extensive searches for Cassidy Wilder. The local highways had been searched using teams of locals, and choppers. They’d found zip. He looked up as footsteps crunched on the gravel to see Beth running toward him, blonde hair flying. She often ran early in the morning and sometimes he went with her. She had stamina most women only dreamed of and he’d pushed her to the limit during their workout sessions. It was as if when she dug deep, she found another reservoir of energy that she could release in a frenzy.She’d knocked him on his butt a few times in the beginning and found it highly amusing, but now he noticed when the change came over her and lifted his game. He smiled as she came toward him. “Morning. Do you recall what time the restaurant here opens? I sure need a cup of strong coffee this morning. I can’t drink that powdered stuff they leave in the rooms.”
