Page 83 of Coordinates of Death

You’ll know when the clock starts.

The killer had given Aurora the next clue—coordinates to Candace’s location.

The game was back on.

Could Aurora find Candace in time, or would she, too, pay the price?

Chapter Fifteen

Kordell entered Sweetwood Falls’s police station the next morning following a restless sleep with a continuing nightmare of a ghoulish figure standing behind Aurora with a knife poised at her neck. Her blood-curdling scream still echoed in Kordell’s head—even after two espressos. He pushed the dream from his mind and went to the lunchroom, finding Aurora pouring herself a coffee. “Morning, Rory.”

She turned and smiled. “Hey, Kord.”

He stopped midstep, his heart rate ratcheting up not because of the case but because of the beautiful woman from his childhood in front of him. I could get used to seeing that pretty face. Kordell swallowed the lump in his throat and approached. “How’s it going?”

“Been better. I need to get my locks changed.”

He stiffened. “What? Why?”

She shared how someone had broken in, stolen her childhood diary, and trained her smart parrot. Then she told him about her father’s betrayal. Her final explanation ended with a hitch in her voice.

Kordell brought her into an embrace. “I’m so sorry. Stupid question, but are you okay?”

“I’m resolved to find SBK, but as far as my father goes, I don’t know, Kord. I’m a Christian, and God commands us to forgive, but I’m struggling.” She snuggled into his hug.

Her closeness stirred something inside him—something not even his ex-girlfriend had stirred. A sense of home. Belonging. Companionship.

And he never wanted to leave.

Kordell rubbed her back. “I’m not an expert on God, but Preach is available if you need to talk.”

“Thanks.” She retreated, averting her gaze.

So much for his earlier sense of belonging. She obviously didn’t feel the same. “Rory, come and stay with us at the lodge. Your condo isn’t safe.”

“No. I will not be uprooted. I’ve already spoken to Garrett. He’s increasing the patrols around my condo complex. He’s sending Dirk to sweep my home for evidence and meet the locksmith.”

Heat flushed Kordell, turning his chilled bones to rage. “How dare SBK invade your privacy like this.”

“I refuse to let him win.” She passed him an evidence bag from her backpack. “These are the numbers Lady mimicked. They’re coordinates.”

“To where?”

She brought out her tablet and tapped on the screen. “To this wilderness area north of here. Right on the Alaskan-Yukon border. Again.” She enlarged the map and pointed.

“I guess we’re heading back to Alaska, then. When do—”

Aurora’s cell phone rang, stalling their conversation. “It’s the coroner.” She answered and hit the speakerphone icon. “Morning, Dr. Sharpe, I’m here with Kordell. What do you have?”

“Can you come to the morgue right away? You have to see this.”

“On our way. See you in ten.” Aurora clicked off and stowed her phone.

“That sounded ominous.”

“It did. We’ll take my cruiser. Let’s see what he found, and then we need to head to those coordinates.”

“Has the clock started?”