“Shit.” Mike clutched the back of a nearby chair, almost as if he was overcome with emotion. Then, with a visible effort, he was taking control of the situation. He pointed a finger at Blake. “I want you to start calling everyone she knows and ask them if they’ve heard from her. I’ll get my deputies working on a search of the town.”
Jaci moved toward Mike, dread lodged in the pit of her stomach.
She might not like Payton, but they were family. And she knew if something happened to the younger woman, her mother would be devastated.
“What can I do?” she asked.
Mike glanced in her direction. “Go to California.”
Jaci was shaking her head before he stopped speaking. “No way. I’m not leaving while Payton is missing.”
Mike held her gaze. “The search will be much easier if I don’t have to worry about you.”
“Concentrate on your search,” Rylan said, moving to place his arms around Jaci’s shoulders. “I’m taking Jaci to the airport.”
She sent him an impatient frown. “I can’t go today.”
His expression was grim. Ruthless.
“We’re going as soon as we pack a bag,” he said, his voice warning he wasn’t in the mood to debate the issue.
Not that she was intimidated. But before she could argue, Blake was surprisingly sending her a pleading glance.
“Jaci, if you’re in danger, please go.” He had to stop and clear his throat. “It’s what Payton would want.”
She had a brief, uncharitable thought that her spoiled sister would prefer that Jaci stay and be upset, even if it put her in danger, before she was shoving it away.
Now wasn’t the time for family drama.
And if it would help ease Mike’s stress so he could concentrate on tracking down the killer, what choice did she have?
“It seems I’m outnumbered.” She held Mike’s worried gaze. “You’ll let me know as soon as you find Payton?”
“Of course,” he said before giving a wave of his hand. “Go.”
Rylan didn’t give her the opportunity to protest as he grabbed her upper arm and practically dragged her out of the office.
Jaci stumbled behind him, her independent spirit currently willing to take a backseat to logic. Whoever was stalking her had altered his tactics, blatantly targeting local women. She wasn’t an expert in psychology, but she knew that any change in patterns usually meant the killer was spinning out of control.
Lost in her thoughts, Jaci was unprepared for the sight of the slender man who abruptly rushed around her Jeep.
“Jaci.” Nelson Bradley reached out his hand, only to have it sharply knocked aside as Rylan moved to stand between them.
“Back off,” Rylan growled.
“Rylan,” she protested, moving to stand at his side. She offered her friend a small smile. “Hello, Nelson.”
“I saw the ambulance and then noticed your vehicle in the lot,” he said, ignoring Rylan, who continued to glare at him. “I was worried something had happened to you.”
With a grimace she glanced toward the corner where she could see several locals gaping at them in open curiosity. Birdie was there, along with Andrew, and Sid’s uncle, Jarrod Walker.
She turned back to meet Nelson’s dark gaze. “I’m fine.”
“Good.” Nelson flashed his most charming smile. “Are you going to be home today? I need to pick up my photos. I’m opening a new show in Kansas City next week.”
Her lips parted to answer, only to have Rylan speak before she could say a word.
“Jaci’s going to be out of town.”
Nelson blinked, looking confused. Since Jaci’s return to Heron she rarely left the farm.
“For how long?” he asked.
Jaci grimaced. “I’m not sure.”
“But what about my photos?”
She considered the possibility of telling Rylan they had to postpone their trip, only to dismiss it. She had a feeling Rylan would toss her over his shoulder and carry her to California if necessary.
“I’ll leave the door to the garage unlocked,” she suggested. She didn’t worry about anyone bothering her crafts. Right now, they were the least of her concern. “After you get your photos you can lock it on your way out.”
“I’ll drop by later today.” Another charming smile. “Enjoy your trip.”
Nelson turned away, and Jaci’s attention was captured by Andrew, who waved at her from the sidewalk. She took a step toward him, but once again Rylan was hauling her to the Jeep.
Heaving a sigh, she yanked open the passenger door and climbed in.
“Do you have to be so rude?” she demanded as Rylan settled behind the steering wheel and turned the key.
“I don’t trust anyone today,” he told her, his gaze flicking from side to side before he was pulling out of the lot. Was he expecting someone to leap from the sidewalk and try to stop them?
Jaci gave a shake of her head. She felt jumpy. As if there were ants crawling beneath her skin.
“Both Nelson and Andrew are harmless,” she said, as much to reassure herself as to convince the man sitting rigidly beside her.
“You don’t know that,” he said, turning off the main street and onto the highway. “Andrew has had ready access to your property.”
She rolled her eyes. “And Nelson?” she prompted, wondering what he had against the photographer.
“He has pictures of the dead body that was floating in the field.” He shook his head in disgust. “That’s just sick.”
Jaci grimaced. She had to admit that Nelson’s art was too dark for her taste. But he clearly had an audience that appreciated his work.
Leaning back in her seat, she tried not to dwell on the thought of Payton being kidnapped by some lunatic.
Okay, she could be a bitch. And there’d been times when Jaci had wanted to pull out every strand of her perfect golden hair. But if she truly allowed herself to consider the thought her sister might be fighting for her life at this very moment—a shudder raced through her.
She was going to fall apart.
Instead she forced herself to concentrate on what she needed to do.
“I have to call my customers and tell them I’ll be gone for a few days,” she said, ticking off her to-do list out loud.
“Or a few weeks,” Rylan said.
She ignored his suggestion. She had to cling to the belief that Mike was going to find Payton and arrest the killer within a matter of hours. Not weeks.
“And I need to see if Andrew will come and fetch Riff and Raff.”
“There’s no need,” Rylan told her, slowing the Jeep as he glanced in the rearview mirror. Was he checking to see if they were being followed? “I’m sure my father will be happy to take them in.”
She sent him a frown. “You can’t dump two massive dogs on your father without asking him.”
“He loves those dogs,” Rylan said without hesitation, his gaze still locked on the rearview mirror as he turned onto the gravel road that led to her farm. “And they’ll offer him protection while we’re gone.”
Jaci glanced over her shoulder. Seeing no one behind them, she returned her attention to Rylan.
“I thought he was staying with your aunt.”
Rylan snorted. “They can’t be beneath the same roof without driving each other nuts.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel as they splashed through the narrow ditch where the road had been washed away. “He sent me a text saying he’ll be home for dinner. The monsters will be good company for him.”
She heaved a resigned sigh, accepting the inevitable. She would be leaving Riff and Raff with Elmer. Not only would it be easier than expecting Andrew to come and pick up the animals, but they were already comfortable with the older man.
“You’re very efficient,” she said in dry tones.
His gaze cut in her direction. “Is that another word for bossy?”
“Yes.”
He shrugged. “I’m a problem solver. It’s what I do.”
She didn’t argue. Rylan had been a natural-born leader from an early age. It didn’t surprise her at all that he’d gone into business for himself. Or that the business was a roaring success.
Still, she didn’t intend to puff up his already outrageous ego. So she followed her grandmother’s advice and kept her lips sealed shut. The older woman had been a big believer in the power of silence.
Rylan pulled the Jeep into her drive, grimacing as he glanced out the windshield, which was being peppered with tiny raindrops. The clouds had returned, ensuring their drive to the airport was going to be a wet one.
Jaci shrugged. Soon enough they would be in sunny California. A few more hours of drizzle weren’t going to matter.
Hopping out of the vehicle, Jaci dug in her purse for her keys and headed directly for the garage.
Rylan was swiftly behind her. “Where are you going?”
She sent him a small frown. “I need to unlock the garage for Nelson.”
His jaw tightened, his golden hair shimmering as it became coated with the fine mist falling from the clouds.
“I have a better idea,” he said in gruff tones. “Let’s get the pictures and pile them beside the road. That way he doesn’t have an excuse to come to the house.”
She sent him a shocked glance. “Those pictures are worth thousands and thousands of dollars.”
He shrugged. “They’re creepy.”
Hiding her smile at his lack of artistic appreciation, Jaci used the key to turn the lock and pushed open the door. Before she could step inside, Rylan was brushing past her, his gaze making a quick sweep of the shadowed space before he was allowing her to enter.
Not entirely annoyed that he was close by to offer protection, Jaci crossed toward the long table where she’d lined up the photographs after putting them in their frames.
She gently touched the edge of the closest photo, ensuring the enamel she’d brushed on the frames wasn’t still tacky. It’d been days since she’d coated them, but with the damp weather it could take forever to dry.
Once assured they were ready to go, she moved to grab a tarp from the corner and headed back toward the door.
“I’ll stack them on the floor,” she said. “It will make them easier for him to load into his car.”
Rylan’s lips tightened as he grudgingly grabbed the two largest photos and carried them across the room and laid them on the tarp.
“I don’t like him coming in here.”
“We’re going to be gone,” she pointed out, grabbing two of the photos and moving to add them to the pile. Then she pointed toward the corner of the room. “Besides, he’ll be on camera the whole time.”
“I still don’t like it,” he said.
She rolled her eyes, continuing to move the photos next to the door. It took less than ten minutes, and dusting her hands on her jeans, she sent a lingering glance around her workroom.
A part of her was excited at the thought of joining Rylan in his condo. She was sick and tired of the rain, and a few days on a sunny beach was just what she needed. Not to mention hot, sultry nights spent in Rylan’s arms.
What woman wouldn’t be thrilled?
But another part of her was already homesick. This place was a part of her soul.
It sounded melodramatic, but that’s how she felt.
As if sensing her growing reluctance to leave, Rylan urged her out the door.
“No more procrastinating,” he said, reaching up to brush her damp bangs off her forehead. “Pack your bag so we can get the hell out of here.”
She blew out a sigh of resignation. “Fine.”
She was turning to head toward the nearby house when there was a sharp pop. The sound echoed in the thick air, sending a covey of quail flapping from the bush at the edge of the garage.
Jaci jumped in shock, glancing toward the tree line across the road.
Had the land been rented out to hunters?
Clearly she needed to have Mike come out and have a word with them. There was no way they should be shooting this close to the road.
It wasn’t until she heard a low groan that she belatedly turned just in time to see Rylan tumble to the ground.
Stark horror blasted through her as she dropped to her knees and gently turned Rylan onto his back. Thick blood covered his face, revealing he’d been hit by the bullet.
“Rylan,” she choked out, her fingers pushing back his hair. She couldn’t see the wound, but with so much blood it had to be bad. Really, really bad. Her heart halted, her breath lodged in her throat, and she tried to think.
She needed help. An ambulance. Paramedics who could stop the bleeding. Yes. That was it.
Still on her knees, she scrambled for her purse, which she’d dropped. Turning it upside down, she shook out the contents, snatching at the phone before it could hit the muddy ground. Then dialing 9-1-1, she waited for the operator to answer.
An eternity seemed to pass.
“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”
“This is Jaci Patterson—” Jaci’s words abruptly cut off as the phone slipped from her nerveless fingers. Her gaze was trained on the man who appeared from behind the house, a rifle pointed directly at her head. “Oh my God,” she breathed.
She truly had been flustered. Her first thought should have been that they were being attacked by the serial killer. It was the most logical conclusion. Instead she’d randomly assumed it’d been a careless hunter.
Now she watched in horror as the man moved toward her, the rifle held with an efficient ease that warned he could kill her before she could blink.
It was the same man from the video. Or at least he was wearing the same hoodie with a mask pulled over his face.
This was the madman who had been stalking her for years.
Now she was about to discover what sick fantasies he’d been waiting to unleash.
The moment wasn’t perfect.
He’d hoped he would find her alone. That way he could slowly pull off his mask and watch as her terrified horror was replaced by profound relief.
But his hand had been forced.
Which meant he’d had to alter his plan on the fly. Never a good thing.
Moving cautiously forward, he glanced toward the man lying motionless on the ground. Pleasure filled his heart. He’d wanted to pound the bastard to a bloody pulp. Maybe even gut him with his hunting knife. But he wasn’t stupid. Rylan Cooper might have turned his back on law enforcement, but he still kept himself in good physical shape.
No doubt he liked to impress the women when he was strolling along the beach.
Arrogant bastard.
Whatever the reason, he wasn’t going to risk being injured. Not when he was so close to gaining his prize.
One bullet through Rylan’s head would solve all his problems. Even if it didn’t give him the satisfaction he’d been craving.
Holding the gun steady, he moved across the soppy ground, ignoring the drizzling rain as he savored Jaci’s terror. Soon she would lose her fear, but for now . . .
His cock hardened, the tang of terror in the air as sweet as any aphrodisiac.
Maybe he would leave his mask on until after he’d had her a time or two. He liked the thought of her tied to the ground, her screams filling the air as he exploded deep inside her.
After that he could be gentle. She would surely understand. Every man had needs. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t been satisfying the man who was currently lying in the mud, his life draining out of him.
She owed him.
His erection pressed painfully against the zipper of his jeans as he reached into the pocket of his sweatshirt and grabbed the syringe he’d prepared earlier in the day.
Then, stepping over Rylan’s body, he reached down to run a gloved hand over Jaci’s upturned face, anticipation licking through him like flames.
“Mine,” he whispered. Then with one swift movement he stabbed the needle into the side of her neck.
She made a muffled sou
nd of pain, jerking away from him as she tried to crab walk backward.
He let her go, enjoying her futile struggles.
Now that Rylan was dead, he had all the time in the world.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mike was vibrating with nervous energy as he finished his futile search of the parking lot behind the Baptist church. He’d already been inside to speak with Pastor Dave, who was in charge of the food bank. He said he’d arrived at ten a.m. and that he was certain he was the first car in the lot. Then he’d spoken to Carla Williams, who’d arrived at ten thirty. She was certain that Payton’s car had been in the lot, and had been surprised when she’d gone inside and discovered Payton wasn’t there.
The killer had had a thirty-minute window to grab her. Plenty of time. Especially when the entire Sheriff’s Department was busy searching for the missing Carol.
Mike cursed, knowing he’d been played. Again.
The bastard had deliberately kidnapped Carol and tied her up, knowing that Mike and his deputies would be so occupied with the search for his assistant they wouldn’t notice if he snatched Payton from a parking lot in broad daylight.
The question now was, why Payton?
Did it have something to do with Jaci? Or was it just another way for the killer to prove he was smarter than the rest of them?
Mike was standing beside Payton’s car when Blake walked out of the back of the church. The older man had been calling every acquaintance he could think of who might know where Payton could be. Mike knew it was a waste of time. Payton might be spoiled and self-absorbed, but she would never deliberately worry her parents. Not when Christopher had just been taken to rehab.
If she’d decided not to come home for lunch, she would have called.
“None of her friends have heard from her.” The older man halted next to Mike, his expression grim. “I don’t understand who would want to hurt her.”
“I’m working on that.” Mike glanced toward the nearby alley. It would have been a simple matter for someone to have parked behind the Dumpster and waited for Payton to arrive. Of course, that would mean that whoever was responsible knew Payton well enough to realize she would be working at the food bank that morning.
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