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Chapter Nineteen
He chuckled at the chaotic scene on television. He was alone at home, sucking on a beer and amusing himself with the media circus. They’d find Shannon soon enough. He’d made sure to leave her where it wasn’t too obvious but easily discovered. Just like with Leanne. After all, what was the fun of doing it if he couldn’t show off?
He laughed to see the young sheriff spinning his wheels, trying to cope with a situation far beyond anything he’d expected when he took the job.
He leaned back in his recliner, popped the lever, and put up his feet. He’d give them another day. Maybe two. Then he’d be after his next victim. He couldn’t move too slowly. He had to get to Dana Moretti before she dug too deeply into the past and found information better left buried. Or worse yet, found a thread somewhere that led to his current activities.
No, he needed to keep his focus and finish the job he left undone twenty-five years ago.
Chapter Twenty
He had finally decided to drive to the sheriff’s office and scope things out. He was always so visible people would think it strange if he didn’t show up. But by the time he got there, most of the crowd had left. Even the news vans were gone, probably chasing after the sheriff.
“Hey.” Wanda from Harry’s diner came jogging down the steps from the building. “I figured you’d show up down here sooner or later. Work or play, you never miss a chance to help out.”
“Glad to do whatever I can,” he smiled. “Terrible thing, you know. Just terrible.”
“That poor girl,” Wanda agreed, her voice filled with sadness. “I just hope we find her alive.”
He dropped his eyes to hide the salacious glee that gripped him. “Yes, so do I. So where is everyone?”
“Sent off by the deputies to search the areas around where they live. This is a big county. We don’t need everyone searching in the same place.”
“Have they finished looking close to her home?” He tried to make the question as casual as possible.
“Beats me. I heard Cole called in Search and Rescue, so maybe he’s got them covering that area. Gaylen took that writer woman out there, too, though I sure don’t know what anyone thinks she can do. She needs to get out of here.”
Oh, no, I have plans for her.
“Maybe so.”
Wanda pushed up the sleeves of her blouse. “Well, I’m heading back to the restaurant. Harry’s making extra coffee and setting up donuts and stuff to take out to the volunteers. See you later.”
He watched her go, trying to decide what his course of action should be. He looked at his watch. Best to go on home and monitor things from there. He didn’t want to do anything that would call unusual attention to him.
Still, he wished he could be there when the body was found.
Meanwhile, he could make a little more mischief.
****
As they approached their destination, Dana saw two SUVs from the sheriff’s department set up as roadblocks. A deputy recognizing Gaylen waved them on, and they bumped along on the shoulder for about a hundred yards.
Dana spotted Cole next to his vehicle. He was talking to a tall blonde in jeans and a black T-shirt with some kind of logo on it. Several more cars were parked on the shoulder and a large group stood silently waiting. Behind them in the field were two four-door cab trucks with Solize SAR painted on the doors. Next to them were three men wearing the same black T-shirts as the woman, all looking as if they were carved from granite, faces included.
Dana followed Gaylen to where the group was gathered, waiting for Cole to spot her. He looked up and motioned Gaylen over, then shifted his gaze to her.
“Hang on,” he mouthed.
She nodded and moved to the side. Shoving her hands in her pockets, she scanned the crowd and realized they weren’t your average volunteers. At least half of them were wearing Solize T-shirts, which made them regulars. The others were talking quietly among themselves while awaiting instructions.
Dana wandered toward a car parked away from the others. One look at the weeping woman inside and the man with his arm around her was enough to tell her they were Shannon’s parents. Another man sat in the back seat, leaning forward, obviously talking to them.
Dana’s heart pinched. She knew full well the terrible place these people were in. Like the Kellys and her parents. She prayed that Shannon would be found alive, but the sick feeling she had inside told her it was already too late.
A hand tapped her shoulder, and she turned to see Cole standing beside her.
“Tina Solize is the best there is at Search and Rescue, but we’re only surmising Shannon’s…Shannon will be found here. We divided the county into five sectors, but we’re starting here, closer to her home. This is where she was last seen. There are a lot of hiding places so we’re hoping to get lucky. We’ve got air support coming shortly. You say you’ve done this before?”
