They had to get to Tanner.
“Fine, I’m coming. Leave the casket open. I can meet you at that address in fifteen minutes.”
“I don’t think so. I think the casket being closed gives you more incentive to move more quickly. How long do you think it takes for someone to suffocate in a casket? An hour? Thirty minutes? I bet you’d like to Google that, wouldn’t you, but you can’t because you’re going to leave your phone on video with me the whole time. If at any point I can’t see your hands or I think you’re trying to warn someone about what’s going on, your boyfriend dies.”
Bree got up, keeping the phone so Jeter could see what she was doing. She was going to need to get a car. She knew how to steal one, but doing it in a police department parking lot was not the best of circumstances. But what other choice did she have?
She was almost to the door when Whitaker’s voice called out.
“Bree, where you going?”
She grimaced and turned back to him, keeping the phone at an awkward angle where Jeter could still see everything.
“I, uh, just needed some fresh air. And thought I might grab a bite to eat or something. I’ll be back in just a few.”
“I think you ought to wait until Tanner gets back. I don’t think he would like for you to be wandering around by yourself even if Jeter is in the hospital.”
How was she going to get out of here without making this a huge deal? “Yeah. But I—”
“Or I can come with you,” Whitaker offered.
Damn it. She tightened her grip on the phone. “No I—”
“Hey, Whit, can I talk to you for a second?” Penelope walked up to them and placed a hand on Whitaker’s shoulder.
“Sure. But—”
“This can’t wait. It’s about one of the victims.”
Whitaker looked torn. “It’s not a good idea for Bree to be going outside on her own.”
Penelope studied Bree. “You still listening to your music?”
Bree touched her headphones. “Yeah. Helps me relax.” The woman had to have remembered her earlier comment about how music distracted her.
“Here’s the keys to my car. It’s parked right out front. Go do what you need to do. We’ll see you soon.”
Bree turned and walked away, leaving Penelope behind to calm the blustering Whitaker and hopefully figure it all out.
Bree prayed it was enough.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tanner watched from his definite disadvantage point as Jeter put the call on mute. He could see Bree’s face, taut with worry, as she got up and made her way toward the door.
“Do you have something to say, Deputy?” Jeter pulled the gag out of Tanner’s mouth.
“You’re not going to get away with this.”
Tanner wanted to say more. Wanted to say that Jeter was underestimating Bree once again. Wanted to say that she was smarter than he gave her credit for, and should learn his lesson since she’d bested him twice already.
But Tanner knew better than to interrupt his enemy when he was making a mistake.
“Actually, I think Iamgoing to get away with it. Don’t you see? Bethany is coming back to me. It didn’t take much.”
“She’s coming back to you because she has a kind heart and didn’t want to see me die.”
Jeter sighed. “She always did tend to lean toward being too soft. I tried to correct that in her. Would have succeeded if she hadn’t run away. But don’t worry, I’ll succeed now. I’m the one she was always meant to be with.”
