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“Do not let anyone in but me.”
“But Cole, this isyourplace. No one’s going to come after me here.”
“Humor me, okay? I’ll call you as soon as I turn into the driveway.”
“Okay. Hurry.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
He could tell his victim had been fighting to get free while he was gone. Her wrists were raw and bloody where she’d been pulling against the ropes. Tears streaked her face. He leaned down and licked them off. He loved their tears. They were better than the sweetest candy.
She tried to pull her face away, but he clamped his hand around her jaw.
“Don’t do that, or I’ll have to punish you. Yes, I know you’re a good girl. That’s your appeal. That’s why I chose you. And why I’m going to enjoy it so much.”
And then he began the song in a high-pitched voice. “There was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead…”
Behind the tape, she screamed into the silence.
Chapter Thirty
“Nita called Grace’s husband to tell him she’d be bringing his wife home,” Gaylen said as Cole made his way to the front door. “She explained the situation to him.”
“Tell her thanks.”
“I also made more copies of the maps we used the other day when we searched for Shannon,” he went on. “Same sectors and all and handed them out to the deputies. But we’re starting close to her home.”
“Can you guys hold the fort for a few? I have a quick errand to run, but I won’t be gone long.”
“It must be urgent to pull you away now,” Scott commented.
“It is,” he growled. “Trust me.”
He floored it on the way to his place, and in the driveway, he called Dana from his cell. “It’s me. Look out the window. Then you can open the door.”
She was standing just inside, holding her hands together, but she couldn’t hide the trembling. He pulled her into his arms, and she folded into them, letting him wrap himself around her. Tremors racked her entire body. She was coming unglued, falling apart before his eyes, and he ached so badly for her. If only he could take all the pain for her himself.
After a while, he lifted her in his arms and carried her into the living room, sitting her down on the couch. “I think a shot of whiskey is called for again.”
When he brought it back to the living room, he set it on the side table, picked Dana up, and sat down with her in his lap. Then he held the glass to her lips.
“Drink. Not too fast, but get it all down.”
“A-are you trying to get me drunk?” She tried to force a grin.
“Darlin’, when I’m trying to get you drunk, you’ll know about it. Now, start sipping.”
It took a while, but she finally got most of it down. By the time she finished, she’d stopped shaking.
At last, she straightened up and looked at him. “I should have told you this before now.” She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “If I hadn’t waited this long, maybe you wouldn’t be out looking for Gaby Marquez. And maybe Leanne and Shannon wouldn’t be in the morgue.”
“I’m sure you had a good reason for holding back.”
“Only my own screwed up mind.” She let out a breath. “I’ve buried this deep inside me for so long, but it’s past time for me to do this. The monster’s loose again. And you need everything you can get to catch him.”
“Dana?” He tilted her face up to his and kissed her softly, gently. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. Understand that.”
She dropped her gaze to her lap. “I can’t look at you when I tell you this. Can you just…hold me?”
