Page 72 of Knox

I grunted, unable to speak past the lump of red-hot anger that formed with his words. A killer was hunting Sloane. He was out there now, plotting, intending her harm.

I would not let that happen.

“It’s funny,” Nash said. “I’ve been out to that old station a half-dozen times these last couple of years, my deputies, too. All looking for an indication someone might be staying there. Wondering if a person looking to snatch women would choose that spot. I never saw a damn thing. Not a scrap of trash, excessive boot prints, or anything else to suggest someone spent more than a few minutes of rest there. Now, another woman is gone, there’s one in the crosshairs, and we’re circling back to that same damn spot.”

“If he’s there, it doesn’t mean he always was,” I said, hearing the distress in Nash’s tone. “You did everything right. You’ve gone above and beyond looking for these women. I know that. The whole island knows that. Don’t let yourself believe otherwise.”

He grunted, noncommittally.

“When we get there, we’ll collect the information we need and get out,” I said. “Then, we’ll pass it on so the feds can take it from there. Assuming there’s anything to report.” Odds were that this guy was living out of his van, not hiding out in the dilapidated ranger’s station. Especially after Nash and his deputies had looked there so often.

Still, we had to look to know.

I ended the call and found Sloane on the back patio, two mugs of coffee in hand, staring out at the inky blue sky over the sound. She handed me a mug when I joined her.

I filled her in on everything Nash had said, and she rested her back against the railing as she processed.

“Seven cases?” Sloane’s voice was barely a whisper. “Going back ten years?”

I nodded, watching the information sink in.

“That means...” She set down her coffee cup with shaking hands. “How many women? Seven in total? Three here and four others, or more? Seven before he came to Carolina Bay?”

I met her eyes without answer. “We’ll know more when the feds get here.”

Sloane’s face went pale. “And I got away from him. I’m the one who got away.”

“Yeah.” I pulled her close. “I think he’s hoping to finish what he started.”

She buried her face against my chest, and I felt her whole body trembling.

“I’ve got you,” I promised.

“Ten years, Knox. He’s been doing this for ten years and no one’s stopped him.”

“We’re going to stop him. The FBI, Nash, Archer, Colton, me, and you. He’s made mistakes. Left evidence. We’re closing in.”

“Or he’s getting bolder.”

I couldn’t argue with that. Because she was right. But sometimes bolder didn’t mean more dangerous, it meant more arrogant, and that led to mistakes.

“We don’t have to go tomorrow,” I said. “You and I can stay here where we’re safe and I can control the perimeter.”

She shook her stubborn head. “We’re just taking a hike. If it looks as if someone has been squatting in the old ranger’s station, the sheriff’s department will take it from there. If we see anyone, we’ll turn away and leave. Then we’ll report that too. I’ll be safe.” She took a slow, easy breath. “Any information we gather is helpful, right?”

“Yeah.” I set my mug aside and moved in close, dropping my forehead to hers. “I told Nash about the mechanic Archer and Colton spoke with, I’m sure they’ll get a description from him. We really don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.”

“And what if something goes wrong? What if he’s armed or violent?”

“Then you’ll protect me. Like you have been.”

I thought about it. Weighed the risks against her unfathomable need to face this thing head on. “You can’t leave my side. And if somehow things go sideways, you’ll leave me and make your priority getting back to the Jeep and the sheriff’s department. You won’t stop until you get there.”

She nodded.

I pulled back to look into her eyes. “It’s highly unlikely this guy is going to get the jump on three Marines and a sheriff, but I can’t take you along unless you promise you’ll leave us behind and go for help if that happens. You have to say it.”