Page 70 of Coordinates of Death

“I need to go back to sleep. Busy day tomorrow. Love you.” He clicked off the call without waiting for her reply.

And clearly avoiding her question. What had been his fault?

She’d have to probe him further . . . after she’d had more sleep.

Something told her that Ross Hunt also held secrets close to his chest.

Aurora plugged her phone back into its charger and set the device on her nightstand before crawling back into bed.

Still wide-awake, and even though she had decided not to earlier, she picked up her mother’s first page again. She just couldn’t help herself and continued to read.

Rory doesn’t love me anymore, and I don’t blame her. She went through deep heartache over what happened to Anna. Ross gave her a tongue-lashing, and I never stood up for her, even though it wasn’t her fault.

It was Ross’s.

What? Her father’s earlier words returned. And now her mother had confirmed it. “What did you do, Dad?”

Whatever it was, her father had kept it from her all these years. Aurora locked her hands into knots. He’d let her take the blame. Dad, I deserve the truth.

And she’d get it from him.

But right now, she required sleep in order to function in the morning. She finished reading the pages and stuffed them into her mother’s Bible, setting it back on the nightstand. She reached for the lamp switch as a text dinged on the phone.

Aurora brought her screen to life and read the message.

Did ya like my gift? More 2 come. First, the game continues . . . tomorrow.

Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of more to come. What else did SBK know about her? And more importantly . . .

Would he spill her secrets? Secrets she didn’t want anyone to know.

Anger flushed her cheeks, and she snatched her phone, cord and all. She tapped out a response.

How did you get this number?

Reply dots bounced on her screen.

Mic ain’t the only one that can hack.

She hesitated. Should she keep the conversation going? She keyed in another message.

My colleagues think you’re a copycat. Are you?

More dots.

Whatcha think?

She couldn’t help herself and answered the question.

SBK isn’t dead.

Aurora held her breath as new dots appeared, mocking her with each bounce on the screen.

Good guess. Tomorrow Dirk will see. Sweet dreams, Rory.

She drew in a ragged breath and tossed her phone back onto the nightstand. SBK knew Dirk’s name—and his stance on the latest killings.

Was the killer connected to their police force?