“I have no idea what you mean.”It was good that he was inside the limo.If a shooter was out there, he would have made too big of a target.
A shooter?So now you’re worried about gunfire?Her hands twisted in her lap.The punishment killer hadn’t shot victims before, but, as she’d told Atlas, there were plenty of ways to punish someone.And killers evolved.The most dangerous onesalwaysevolved.
Everything was getting all twisted and confused.She needed to think through all of the events from the night.
She also needed her files.Her laptop.Her…
I need my mother’s diary.
“I will ask you one more time, sweets, but please don’t play games with me.We don’t have time for them right now.”A beat of silence.“What is inside that the cops can’t find?I can’t help you—I can’t protect you—if I don’t know what I am supposed to hide.”
Her breath sawed in and out.“My research is in there.My laptop.Files on the adult children of serial killers.Most of that is public information.But I just…some of that material I discovered on my own.Some of the individuals don’t even know who their parents were—are.”
“Well, that’s fun.Who doesn’t love to get the shocking news that mommy dearest or daddy dearest is a sadistic killer?”
“I didn’t tell them.I haven’t confronted anyone.Youare the first for me.”Though her friend Sloane was tracking others.
“Sorry, but the question has to be asked, how can you be so certainyouare right?What if you tell someone the wrong news about a serial killing parent?”
“I am thorough.”
“Oh, well, that clears it up.I mean, if you’rethoroughabout it.”He looked back over his shoulder at the house.“Tick tock.What can’t the cops find?We both know you have something you want hidden.You were far too desperate to get in that house.”
Yes, she had been desperate.Panicked.“A diary,” she whispered.
His head swiveled toward her.“Yours?”
“Yes.”No.She wasn’t supposed to lie to him.The lie had just slipped out.“It’s…personal information.”That was true.“Information that I don’t want others to see.”
“Where is the diary?”
“Underneath the loose board in the bedroom.The board two over from the nightstand.To the right.”Her breath came faster.“The cops will not search there.They won’t think to yank up a board, but…”But I’m worried.They wouldn’t look under the board unless there was a reason to search there.A reason as in, someone else had ripped up the board already.Someone—the intruder.
But in order for that to happen…
The intruder would have needed to be watching me very closely.
She swallowed.“That diary can’t reach the cops.”It would be disastrous.
“So you’ve been that naughty, hmm, Lily?”
Yes.“Atlas…”
“Your research and your diary.Those are the important items inside.Got it.Anything else?Anything else my nimble fingers should grab when I have the opportunity?”
Nothing that could jeopardize her.
But that diary…
If it fell into the wrong hands…
Her house of cards could come crashing down.“Just the diary.It’s what I need.”
“You saved my life.The least I can do is retrieve a book for you.”
She grabbed his hand and held on tightly.“But not until it’s safe.Not until we are sure it’s not a trap.”
“Ah, sweets, you’re saying I’m more valuable than a book?I am touched.”
