She rose and surprisingly gave him a warm smile. “Hello, Captain. I’m Agent Kutcher.”
Nick nodded and shook her hand. “Pleasure.”
“Don’t look so worried.” She pulled out the seat on the other side of Nick’s desk. “I’m just here to chat.”
“Chat?” Nick arched a brow as he sat across from her.
“Yes. I’m here to work with you.” She leaned forward, resting her hands on the edge of his desk. “It isn’t my goal to shove you off the case you’ve been handling. I want to hear what you know.”
It took him a moment to process what she said, despite the fact that he’d rarely come across an agent who acted like they were portrayed on television. Kutcher was even more friendly than others he’d worked with in his career.
Nick leaned back in his chair. “In that case, I should be upfront with you. My future stepdaughter was the first to be lured away by the woman in the red dress—if we’re actually only dealing with one person.”
The agent nodded. “And our suspect’s daughter was there at the time, too?”
“I see you’ve done your homework.”
Kutcher tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I like to know what I’m walking into. Do you—?”
Nick’s phone rang. “I apologize. Let me turn the ringer off.”
“Answer it. I can wait.”
He glanced at it in case it was something urgent.
It was Zoey. What if she had something that could clear Alex? He turned back to Kutcher. “I’m going to take this. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded and pulled out a laptop.
Nick accepted the call and closed his office door behind him. “Zoey? What’s going on?”
“Has Alex been arrested?”
“No. I’m putting that off as long as possible.”
“He’s going to be?” she exclaimed.
“Not if I can help it, but given the evidence—it doesn’t look good. We have to be realistic.”
She sighed on the other end. “You and I both know he didn’t kill that girl.”
“Right, but if that’s her blood on his clothes, the evidence won’t—”
“I know!” Zoey interrupted. “But he’s hardly the first person to be framed for murder. He’s innocent!”
“Yes, I know.” Nick grabbed two paper cups and poured coffee. “Do you have anything to help me prove that?”
“Like what?”
“Anything. If not, I need to get back to the case. I’m working on it right now, but can’t do anything while I’m on the phone.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. Just know that we’re all on Alex’s side, and we want to see him exonerated as much as you do. I’m going to do everything I can to see him free as soon as possible.”
“He was really found near one of the bodies? Covered in blood?”
Nick gritted his teeth. “Please tell me you didn’t hear that on the news.”
“No, he called me at the other station while waiting for his lawyer.”
Relief washed through him. “Okay, good. Make sure you keep that to yourself. I’m going to get back to work.”
“Thank you for everything, Nick.”
“Just glad I’m not getting thrown off the case by the feds.”
“You aren’t?”
“No. Sounds like they want my help. Which is why I need to get back in there and not leave her waiting.”
“Why didn’t you say so? Talk to you later.”
The call ended before he could reply. He put his phone on silent and brought in the two drinks.
Kutcher looked up and smiled as she accepted the coffee. “Thanks, you didn’t have to.”
“I appreciate you working with us instead of in spite of us.”
She sipped the drink. “And why wouldn’t I? You know the case more intimately than I do. Have a seat. We have a lot to discuss.”
“That we do.” Nick took his seat and hoped they’d be able to let Alex go before the forty-eight hours were up. Otherwise, they’d have to charge him.
Chapter 32
Alex shook out his cramping hand. He’d written out everything as Nick had instructed. His mind raced, trying to recall any detail he may have forgotten. Despite the hit to the head he’d taken, he was able to think clearly.
Weiss read the note, his expression not giving anything away.
Alex tugged on the collar of his borrowed sweatshirt. Yellow and too tight. Had the other precinct given it to him on purpose? Just to make him miserable?
His attorney slammed the paper on the table, making Alex jump. “That’s everything you can remember?”
He nodded. “Just wish I knew what happened while I was knocked out, although I have a pretty good idea.”
Weiss nodded. “Now it’s a matter of proving your story to be true. I’m going to send some officers to check footage in your neighborhood. Almost everyone has doorbell cameras—someone had to have caught something. Even if not the exact moment of attack, an image of the woman or her accomplice. You say it was around eleven last night?”
Alex thought about it, and it made his head pound. “I think. Maybe it was closer to midnight. I’m not really sure. I spoke to my daughter around ten, I think. Then it was a little while before I saw that psychopath and went out to confront her.”
Weiss made a note. “Okay. I’ll have them look at footage from about nine to one. Maybe a little longer. That gives us a good range.”
Alex rubbed his temples. “I appreciate it. My daughter also saw the woman outside her school yesterday afternoon. Maybe one of the neighbors got her on their cameras then.”
“I’ll make sure to let them know.” Weiss rose. “Need anything while I’m up?”
“Maybe some coffee.”
“Okay.” He rose and headed for the door.
“And something to eat. I’m starving.”
“Got it.” Weiss grabbed the knob. “And think about anything you may have forgotten. Any small detail could be what gets you out of here.”
Alex just nodded, even though he knew how this worked. The problem was, it was so hard to think with his head pounding. That’s where he hoped the caffeine would come in since he hadn’t yet had any. His headache was just as likely to be from that as from the hit to the head.
His attorney left, and Alex slumped down further into the chair. Any more, and he’d become one with it, and not in a cool zen way. He struggled to think of anything he might’ve forgotten. He’d gone over the details so many times, it was starting to feel more like a story than something he’d actually lived through. But his aches and pains were proof that wasn’t true.
What he wouldn’t do to go back in time and make some different decisions. But he couldn’t. All he could do was focus on getting himself out of the situation he’d gotten himself into. He pictured Zoey and the kids—they would be what gave him the strength to get through this and get out. This was all for them.
A few minutes later, Weiss returned with a cup and a wrapped sandwich. “Think of anything else?”
Alex shook his head, then gulped down the coffee, hoping it would make his head stop pounding.
“Keep thinking. I’m going to go back and talk with Nick and the federal agent.”
Alex froze in place. He set the cup down. “Federal agent?”
“Don’t worry, she’s one of the good ones. Wants to keep everyone local involved since you’ve been dealing with the red dress lady since the beginning.”
“Huh.” Alex nursed some more of the coffee. “Wait, where’d you get the sandwich? Not the fridge? If it belongs to someone, they’re going to be furious.”
“Nick gave it to me.”
Alex looked at it, guilt stinging. “He gave up his lunch?”
“Said you needed it more, that he could grab something somewhere.” Weiss gestured toward the food. “Eat. You’re going to need the energy.”
Alex frowned. “Thanks.”
“And keep thinking.” Weiss
left, slamming the door behind him.
Alex’s head continued aching despite having drunk most of the coffee already. It would take time to hit his system. Or the whack that caused the goose egg was going to leave pounding in its wake. He unwrapped the sandwich and practically inhaled it.
A few minutes later, he realized he was starting to feel better. He was less shaky, and his headache was possibly diminishing. It was hard to tell. If only Weiss or Nick would return with an update. Had someone caught the whole thing on their doorbell camera? Or at least enough to get Alex out of the questioning room and back onto the case. He’d take being sent home and told to rest. That actually sounded good.
But there was no way he’d actually get any rest until that woman was stopped. But even then, there was a whole network of people behind her—all over the world no less. He sighed just thinking about it. She was just one person, as Cal had been. They could keep sending people Alex’s way. They seemed to like this region, as it had always had an unusually high number of abductions going back as far as he could remember, starting with his sister when they were teenagers. But that had been random.
Or had it? The nut who’d taken her had gone to great lengths to get her. Picked her specifically and spent a great deal of time building trust before meeting her in person.
It gave Alex chills thinking about it, but it honestly wasn’t that far of a stretch from what Cal had done both with Zoey and Ariana. And that had been personal. But his sister’s case couldn’t have been. He’d only been a punk kid at the time, barely a teenager.
Or maybe that was when the Mercers had shown up on their radar. There was also the cult Macy had gotten dragged into when kidnapped—any one of them could’ve been involved with the kidnapping ring. From what Alex had heard, Macy hadn’t been the only abducted child in the compound.
He wanted to hit the table. Why weren’t the answers easier to find? The answer had to be just out of reach. Cal and that woman knew, but neither would give up that information.
Knock, knock.
Alex looked up, frowning. He had nothing new to tell anyone, nothing to help him get out of this room and actually do something useful.
Nick stepped inside. “How are you holding up?”
Alex glanced at the window, sure someone was on the other side watching. The question was, who? Not that it mattered. With as little as he had to help himself, he was going to be stuck there for the next two days.
Chapter 33
Ariana waved goodbye to the kids from the study group as they lined up for the late buses. She was heading to the main parking lot to meet Damon after his weekly meeting with the math teacher for the group. She looked around for his cherry-colored car to see if the top was down so she could wait in there.
Something red caught her eye, but it wasn’t the convertible.
It was a dress.
Her breath caught and she froze in place.
The woman was across the street again. This time, Ariana was alone. But she was at school. There were cameras and security officers. Today there were even police officers, if they were still there. Either way, the lady would be dumb to come onto the property.
Ariana was safe as long as she stayed where she was, or even better, went inside. But she didn’t want to run and hide. She wanted answers. Revenge. The woman had lured away Tinsley and left her hurt and scared in the ravine. She’d hurt Dad and set it up to make him look guilty of murder.
Anger pulsated through her body. Everything took on a red hue. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, staring at the woman who was responsible for so much harm—just standing there. Basically taunting Ari. If she went after the psychopath, she’d end up in no better shape than Dad had been. He could’ve fought her off, but she’d had the advantage.
Ari had to be smart about this. Her mind raced. She couldn’t go after the lady, but she did have one thing she could do.
Heart pounding and hands shaking, she pulled out the card Detective Garcia gave her. If Ari had been thinking ahead, she’d have already added the number into her contacts.
Too late for that. She pulled out her phone and unlocked the screen.
The woman stepped into the street.
Ariana’s stomach lurched. She nearly dropped the phone.
The lady lifted the skirt of her dress and picked up speed. She was crazy enough to come on school grounds! To go after Ariana right there, despite cameras and witnesses.
She stepped onto the nearest sidewalk. Stared right at Ariana. There was no question what she was doing.
Ariana tried to run, to scream. Her body wouldn’t cooperate. Nothing would move. Only her pulse, which raced so fast she was sure she’d puke. Hopefully on the woman. Her heart leaped into her throat as the woman stepped onto the grass. Actually on the school property.
Would she really be so brazen? Maybe she planned to kill Ariana before she got caught. That was the only thing that made any sense.
Her feet finally got the message to move. She stumbled, dropped the card. Regained her footing. Ran. Raced around to the back of the building. Glanced behind her.
The woman also ran.
Ari tried to scream, but her voice wouldn’t cooperate. Everything in front of her seemed to melt together. She gasped for air, her mouth dry. Her muscles turned to mush.
She was a good runner. And the woman was in a dress, maybe even heels.
Ari had the upper hand. She could get away. But her bag was weighing her down. If she wanted to escape, she had to lose it. But it had all of her important notes, her homework.
Her perfect grades depended on everything inside.
But none of it would matter if she ended up injured, or worse.
The woman was closing the distance between them. Soon, she’d be able to reach Ariana, to grab her.
Ariana changed her mind. Darted toward the trees. It was hardly a forest, but they provided a good cover. That was why kids went out there to get away from everything.
It was worth the risk. If she had to lose the bag, she’d do it, but not without trying to get away first.
She raced toward a group of trees. Leaped behind them. Ran for the next grouping. Her foot hit a rock sticking out from the ground. She flailed her arms. Tried to keep from crashing to the ground. Reached a tree with her hand. Regained her balance. Barely.
Her heart threatened to explode from her chest. She raced toward the next group of trees, huffing and puffing. Shaking. Barely able to keep herself together. Ready to puke.
Images flashed before her eyes. Being taken from her home as an eleven-year-old. Locked up. Scared for her life. Certain she’d never see her teen years.
But here she was, alive and well. Not far from learning to drive. With Damon as her boyfriend. Lots of friends.
Determination built within her. She’d overcome once before. She could do it again.
She would.
And that left her with two options. Run or fight. It was either that or nothing, and nothing wasn’t an option. She had all of about two seconds to make up her mind or have it made up for her.
Fingers pressed against her back for just a moment. The woman was close enough to reach her, but not grab on.
Ari dropped her arms and let the bag slide off. It crashed to the ground. She spun around.
The woman jolted, skidded to a stop. She hadn’t expected that.
Good.
Ariana balled her fists. “What do you want from me?”
She reached for Ari, who ducked away.
“Why won’t you leave my family alone?”
Her nostrils flared and she reached for Ari’s shoulder.
Ariana leaped back. “Answer me!”
The woman’s brows furrowed and her bright red lips formed a straight line. She lunged for Ari.
Ariana glanced at her bag, hating to leave it. But there was no other choice. What good was it if she didn’t get away? She spun around and ran again, this time faster without the extra weight.
“Stop!�
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Now she wanted to talk?
Ariana dug deep into herself and ran faster than she’d ever run in her life. Her muscles burned. She flashed back to other times she’d run from dangerous criminals. Her kidnapper. Damon’s dad. Now this lady.
She shoved the images from her mind. No time to focus on the past, not if she wanted a future.
Her head yanked back at a painful angle. She stumbled and halted, twisting to a stop. The lady pulled her close, yanking harder on Ari’s hair.
Ariana kicked and scratched the woman’s face. “Let go!”
The lady shoved her against a tree and pulled her hair with enough force to leave a bald patch.
Ari gasped and clawed at her some more, this time drawing blood. That was DNA. It was enough to get her into the system even if she got away with this.
The woman grabbed her arm and shoved it back, pinning her arm at a painful angle.
Ariana cried out and kicked. Kneed her. Threw her weight as hard as she could against her attacker.
The lady stumbled back and actually let go.
It took Ari a moment to realize she was out of the psycho’s grasp. She gave her another quick shove and ran, this time toward the school. If she was actually going to get help, she needed to head toward people, toward cameras and security officers. Why hadn’t she thought of this before running behind the school? Now she was all the way back here.
Just as she passed a clump of trees, a man in all black stepped out in front of her, blocking her from the school doors.
She turned quickly to avoid him, but he managed to slam her against a tree. Her head hit with a painful thud, giving her double vision. No, not double vision. The woman was now right next to him.
Ariana screamed at the top of her lungs. Someone would have to hear her with the various sports practices going on around the other side of the building. Plus, people were inside. Teachers always stayed late for meetings and helping students.
The man covered her mouth. She bit him as hard as she could, kicking and squirming. He let go, cursing and shaking his hand out. “She bit me!”
Ari ran straight for the building. Her hand slipped on the door handle, bending a nail and breaking it, but she managed to get inside and slam the door before they followed her. Gasping for air, she pulled loose hair from her eyes and looked around. She was down a hall she rarely used. In other words, she didn’t know any safe hiding place.
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