by Rita Herron
And this time no one would stop him.
Micah hated the panic that flickered across Lenora’s face.
But how could he blame her? He’d listened to every horrific detail of what Robert Simpleton had done to her and knew her mind was traveling back to that painful place.
A place he’d vowed she’d never have to visit again.
But if Simpleton found her, he would take her back there or worse. Who knew what kind of torture his sick mind had invented while he’d been locked in a cell?
Lenora leaned against a display of bridal books, her face paling. “How did it happen?”
“A fire broke out in the prison. While officers were moving inmates from that wing to another, one of the prisoners jumped an officer, stole his gun, and Simpleton and two other men escaped.” Micah hesitated, wishing he had better news. “A statewide manhunt is underway, but at this point, we don’t know where Simpleton is.”
“He’ll come after me,” Lenora said in a matter-of-fact voice.
He wanted to argue that fact, but there was no use. She had lived with the man for three weeks—she knew his evil, sadistic side. Worse, they’d both heard him promise retribution for her testimony at the sentencing.
Simpleton was a cold-blooded murderer. Lenora was the only victim who’d survived.
The one who’d put him in jail.
He wouldn’t stop until he exacted his revenge.
Lenora gripped the edge of the table to steady herself. She could not fall apart in front of Micah.
He’d witnessed her weak side, seen her at her worst. But she’d worked too hard to overcome her fears and nightmares to allow herself to backtrack.
But how could she not?
Robert Simpleton was conniving, smart, a sociopath—and there was no doubt that he wanted revenge against her. It wasn’t if he would show up, but when.
She had to be prepared.
The self-defense classes she’d taken hopefully would help, although at the moment, every move and technique she’d been taught escaped her.
Because the old familiar panic was back, gnawing at her insides like a rabid animal.
“You should probably shut down the shop for a few days, or at least take off until we catch Simpleton,” Micah said. “Do you want me to drive you some place? Maybe to your mother’s?”
Lenora’s head was spinning, the instinct to run hitting her. “Not my mother’s,” she said. “I won’t do anything to put her in jeopardy.”
Micah’s dark brown eyes pierced her. “Is there a friend or other family member you can stay with? Some place Simpleton might not know about?”
“No.” Her withdrawal and depression after the abduction had cost her all of her former friends. She and Jenny were close now but on a working basis.
Even her relationship with her mother had become strained. Her mother wanted to protect her, wanted her to live at home with her. But Lenora had to regain her independence or she’d go insane.
Still, Simpleton wouldn’t know that. He was a monster who preyed on women. He’d use Jenny, even her mother to get to her.
“If he doesn’t already know about my bridal shop, it’ll be easy for him to find out,” Lenora said, forcing herself to think defensively. “If I can’t convince my mother and friend Jenny to go away, I want protection for them.”
“Done.” He removed his phone from his belt. “Why don’t you call them and explain while I talk to my superior.”
Lenora nodded, moving on rote. Jenny was a sweetheart and a great employee. She was also one of the only friends she’d made since her ordeal.
One who didn’t know about her past.
Lenora needed her privacy, needed someone who wouldn’t look at her with pity.
She clenched her hands into fists. God, she hated to dirty Jenny with the details now.
But if Robert Simpleton hurt Jenny or her mother, she’d never forgive herself.
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down, not surprised to see her mother’s number. She must have seen the news and would be terrified. She’d handle her, then her friend.
But she had to tell Jenny in person, convince her that Simpleton was dangerous.
Her hands itched to retrieve the gun she’d bought after the attack. She’d vowed never to be as vulnerable as she had been the night he’d taken her. Never to let down her guard.
When that monster came for her, she had to be ready. And if he tried to touch her, she’d blown his brains out.
Micah stepped outside the shop to make the phone call, carefully keeping an eye on the street and doorway in case Simpleton showed up. Odds were that the man already knew where Lenora lived and worked.
And that he’d come in disguise.
Photographs of him were plastered all over the news and papers. He’d have to alter his appearance.
The bridal shop sat on the corner of one street next to a florist and bakery that probably made it easier for Lenora’s clients and her to coordinate their events.
He punched in the number to contact his superior, Lieutenant Angus Roper, while visually assessing the area surrounding Lenora’s shop as the phone began to ring. Being on the corner meant no neighbors on one side, allowing access from the front, a side window, and the back.
A street separated the building from the next row of businesses which housed a beauty parlor, barber shop, tack shop and boot store. Midday, cars filled most of the spaces along the streets, and a dozen were parked in a lot beside the diner. People were going in and out of businesses, mothers strolling babies along the sidewalk, a florist delivery man loading the back of his van with flowers.
The phone buzzed twice while he walked to the corner then to the side and back. An alley ran along the back of the buildings with parking for employees, dumpsters, and loading docks for vendors.
His stomach knotted as he searched for security cameras and found none.
The phone buzzed again, then Lt. Roper’s throaty voice echoed back. “Where are you, Hardin?”
“Outside Lenora Lockhart’s Bridal Shop.”
“How’d she take the news?”
“As well as can be expected. She’s worried about her mother and coworker, afraid Simpleton will try to use one of them to get to her.”
“She’s probably right.”
“She’s going to warn them. If they can’t stay with a friend or leave town, I want to assign them protection in case Simpleton shows up.”
“Good idea. If he does, maybe we can catch him and put the bastard back in jail where he belongs.”
“Do we have any idea who helped him?”
“We might have a lead. We’ve been studying the visitor logs for the escaped inmates. Some hairdresser named Cissy Cornwell used to visit Simpleton. She might have been helping him.”
Micah glanced at the beauty parlor, wondering if she’d set up shop there to spy on Lenora. “Did she know him before he was locked up?”
“No, she met him when she visited her brother in the pen. They started writing, and she became his sole visitor.”
“Must have her own sadistic side to fall for a man who brutalized women the way Simpleton did.”
“There are a lot of nutcases out there.”
“I’ll check her out.” He copied down her address, hoping Cissy might give them information to help find Simpleton.
“We’re interviewing other inmates and the feds have Simpleton’s cellmate in interrogation. I’ll let you know what we learn.”
Micah hung up, images of Simpleton’s other victims flashing back. Then an image of Lenora the day he’d rescued her. Lenora, beaten and bruised, dehydrated, dirty, traumatized and covered in filth.
Locking Simpleton up had been one of the best days of his life.
This time, he might not bother with jail. He’d put the bastard in the ground.
&
nbsp; Lenora gritted her teeth as she answered her mother’s phone call. “Mom, I was getting ready to call you.”
“Then you know that monster escaped from prison. It’s been all over the news.” Terror streaked her mother’s shrill voice.
“Yes, Sgt. Hardin is here with me now.”
“Ask him how in the hell he let this happen.”
“Mother,” Lenora said, injecting a calmness to her voice when she felt like screaming at the situation herself. “It’s not his fault,” she said instead. “The police have a statewide manhunt underway now. They’ll find him.”
Her mother made a sarcastic sound. “But he never should have escaped. And what if he finds you?” She exhaled a shaky breath. “He threatened you in court. He’s probably on his way—”
“You don’t need to remind me.” Lenora’s voice took on a razor edge as painful memories assaulted her. She could feel the oppressive darkness closing around her. Smell the scent of his sweaty body. Sensed his breath on her neck.
“Pack your bags and stay with me until he’s caught,” her mother said. “I’ll hire a bodyguard for you.”
“No,” Lenora said emphatically. God help her. She appreciated the fact that her mother had taken care of her after she was released from the hospital, but her hovering and worrying and constant crying had only made things worse. Lenora found herself comforting her mother and trying to assure her that her captivity hadn’t been that bad, but it had been. And neither of them could change it.
Only therapy and time had helped her heal and quieted the nightmares.
“I appreciate your offer, Mom, but Sgt. Hardin is here now. I want you to stay with a friend, or maybe have Aunt Gladys stay with you until Simpleton is caught.”
A tense heartbeat passed. “You think he’ll come to me?”
“I don’t know, Mother, but we can’t take any chances. Will you do that for me?”
Her mother sighed. “Yes, but only if you promise that you have protection.” Her mother’s voice cracked. “I don’t want that psycho to hurt you again. You’re all I have left, Lenora.”
Emotions welled in Lenora’s throat. “I promise, Mom.”
“All right,” her mother said. “Please be careful, sweetheart.”
“You, too.” Lenora wiped at a tear as she ended the call.
Micah stepped back inside, his eyes searching hers. “Are you okay?”
A nervous laugh bubbled in her throat. “No. But I will be.”
His eyes twinkled with something akin to admiration. Or maybe she’d imagined it because a second later it was gone.
“I want to warn Jenny in person.”
His gaze met hers. “Does she know about Simpleton?”
She shook her head, wondering if that was censure in his eyes. “I hashed everything over enough in court and therapy. I wanted her to respect me, not look at me with pity or like I was too fragile to handle a business.”
“I respect you, Lenora,” Micah said softly. “It took guts to stand up to that psychopath and testify.”
Lenora’s heart fluttered. Micah had known her during the most difficult time of her life. She’d wondered what he thought about her, had even thought that if they’d met under different circumstances there could have been more between them.
But Robert Simpleton had ruined her future with any man.
“Thank you for saying that, Sergeant.”
“Micah.” He shifted as if he wanted to say something else then cleared his throat. “We may have a lead on a woman who visited Simpleton in prison.” He gestured toward the door. “If you want to lock up, I’ll drive you to see your friend and you can stay with her while I pay her a visit.”
“I can’t stay with Jenny. It would be too dangerous for her.”
“Then you’ll go with me. I’m not leaving you alone until he’s caught.”
Lenora moved on autopilot, straightening the store and closing up, well aware of Micah’s presence. His big body seemed to occupy all the air in the room, but not the way Robert Simpleton’s had. The very memory of the man’s filthy hands on her made nausea churn in her belly.
Micah’s masculine scent evoked a sense of safety as if he would protect her no matter what.
And those dark eyes of his stirred a longing that she’d never thought she’d feel again.
Micah’s chest pounded with the effort it took him not to pull Lenora up against him and comfort her. He knew every vile thing the man had done to her, had seen her brutalized body when he’d rescued her. And the images of the crime photos were forever imprinted in his brain.
He would not let Simpleton touch her again.
But an odd tingling had started in his body when she’d looked into his eyes. She looked vulnerable, but . . . tough. Determined to survive.
Just as she had at the trial. She had survived because she was strong and had used her wits with Simpleton.
She’d even tried to save the other two women who’d been held captive with her, had offered to trade her life for theirs.
Unfortunately, Simpleton had gotten off on her spunk and had punished her by making her watch him torture them.
Robert stuffed the cash Cissy had given him into his duffel bag, then searched her house for the secret stash she’d confessed she kept for emergencies. Five thousand. Not a lot, but enough for food and a cheap motel for the night. He needed to lay low, stay off the grid.
Keep hidden until he found the perfect place to take Lenora. He’d look for it tomorrow. Another house just like the one he’d grown up in.
But first things first.
His pattern was threes. Even the stupid cunt reporter Jamie Thornton had picked up on that. She’d dubbed him with that ridiculous name, the Trio Killer, which was pathetic compared to some of the famous serial killers in history.
At least she could have given him a respectable title like the Hunter or Casanova or the Heartbreaker.
Except he didn’t really break his victims’ hearts. He just drove a knife into them.
Laughter gurgled in his throat as he lifted the lid off the shoebox in Cissy’s closet and dug out the cash. Her vibrator lay inside as if it was a prized possession she had to take with her in case of a hasty escape.
Damn dildo was puny compared to him. Yes, Cissy had liked his giant cock. So had the other women.
Well, maybe some of them wouldn’t admit it, but all whores liked it rough. Hell, they’d deserved what he’d done to them. They’d screamed in pain when he rammed it inside them as if their delicate little chambers were too fragile to fuck him.
He’d shown them.
He was in control.
He tossed the shoebox and dildo back in the closet, grabbed the beer Cissy had stored in the frig for him and hurried out the back door. A second later, he was cruising down the road in the old pickup Cissy had bought for him. With a chaw of tobacco in his mouth, a cowboy hat and the jeans and shirt she’d bought for him, he looked like any other cowboy in Texas, not an escaped felon on the run.
Yes, little Cissy had been so helpful. She’d done everything he’d told her to do. Followed his orders to the T. Made sure she used cash to buy the truck so no one could trace him through it.
The temptation to press the accelerator hit him. He’d been penned up so damn long he wanted to roll down the window and feel the warm Texas air blowing in his face as he flew down the highway. He flipped on the radio to a good country station and began to belt along with Johnny Cash.
But a siren wailed in the distance, reminding him that he was a wanted man, and he slowed, then veered onto a side road. The cops couldn’t be everywhere. They’d be putting up roadblocks on major highways, checking airports, bus and train stations. But no way they had enough manpower to cover all the offbeat little roads that wove through the countryside.
He simply had to focus on not drawing attenti
on to himself.
And decide whom he was going to snatch first before he went after Lenora. It had to be someone she knew. Someone she wouldn’t want to suffer.
Someone she’d let him do anything he wanted to do to her in order to save them.
He had a list he’d compiled in prison. He tapped his fingers on the steering column to Walk the Line, laughing as he tried to decide which woman to take first.
Micah plugged Cissy Cornwell’s address into his phone to get directions while Lenora ducked into a back room and grabbed her purse. Once he had the address, he phoned the beauty parlor down the street on the off chance that Cissy was there.
A female answered. “Susie Jo’s Salon.”
“I’m looking for Cissy Cornwall. Is she working today?”
A hesitation. “No, she only worked here for a couple of weeks. Got her paycheck then disappeared on us.”
Just enough time to stalk Lenora and tell her boyfriend where she was. “You haven’t spoken to her this week?”
“No, and I tried her cell, but her phone was disconnected.”
Figured. “Okay, thanks.”
He ended the call just as Lenora returned. “I’m ready.”
“Why don’t I follow you home, then we can drop your car, and I’ll drive you to your friend’s.”
She nodded, her expression grim as she headed to the door. He stood by her side, eyeing the outside of the shop and the street as she locked the door, although he couldn’t help but notice her hands were trembling, and she almost dropped the keys twice.
“Sorry,” she said with a wary smile.
He couldn’t help himself. He gently touched her elbow, aching to do something to assuage her pain. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Lenora. You have good reason to be nervous. But I’m here, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Emotions flickered in her eyes as she looked up at him. “I won’t let him break me,” she said with a stubborn tilt to her chin.
Admiration for her made his chest squeeze. “I know, but you’re not alone. This time we know he’s coming. We’ll be ready.”