“I’m sorry.” Patrick tilted his head, his eyes seeming to implore Abby. “I should’ve told you.”
“You killed Theresa, didn’t you?” Abby said, her voice just above a whisper.
Patrick swung his head back and forth, almost too quickly, too erratically. “No, the police are looking for her killer right now. You’ve got to believe me.”
“And what about those emails?” Abby continued. “Did you fabricate those as a means of revenge?”
“I don’t know who sent those.”
“Do you admit that the two of us never had those conversations?” Her voice trembled as she asked the question.
Jaxon knew how much was on the line with his answer. He held his breath as he waited to see how Patrick would respond.
Patrick glanced at Jaxon and then Luke before finally turning back to Abby. “That’s right. We never had those conversations.”
Relief flooded through Jaxon. He’d known that was the truth, but it felt good to hear it confirmed.
“How did you find out Abby was here?” Jaxon asked, still trying to put the pieces together.
“Someone called and told me an article came out saying she’d been spotted in Fog Lake, and I knew this was my chance to talk to her.”
Jaxon was surprised that the Minnesota police didn’t have him in custody. However, they probably didn’t have enough evidence yet.
“And who was this person?” Luke narrowed his gaze as he waited for Patrick’s answer.
Patrick shrugged, almost as if he was annoyed. “I don’t know. I didn’t get his name.”
“So a random person just called you and told you that Abby was here in town?” Luke clarified, disbelief tinging his voice.
Patrick added. “That’s correct. As soon as I heard that, I knew I had to come find her.”
“How did you know she was here right now?” Luke continued, not easing up.
“When I got into town, I went into Hanky’s and started asking around. Someone said that there was a party over here and this is where she would most likely be.”
Jaxon wanted to be surprised, but, in a small town like this, Patrick could be telling the truth. Everybody knew everyone’s business here, especially this time of year when the tourists were mostly gone.
“I’m going to need to take you down to the station and ask you a few questions,” Luke said.
Patrick’s eyes widened with surprise. “What? I didn’t do anything wrong, though. Showing up here at your house isn’t a crime.”
“No, but we are looking for somebody who has been threatening Abby,” Luke said. “And now you end up in town? You just became our number one suspect.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Abby paced back and forth once they returned to Jaxon’s cabin. She couldn’t seem to stop herself as her thoughts raced through everything that had happened.
She couldn’t believe that Patrick had shown up in Fog Lake. What in the world had he been thinking? Did he still really hold out hope that the two of them could get back together? He’d lost his mind.
As Jaxon cleaned up some dishes in the kitchen, Abby could feel his gaze on her. He seemed just as disturbed by the fact that Patrick had shown up here as she did.
“Have you heard anything from Luke yet?” Abby stopped pacing long enough to ask the question—even though she knew the answer. She hadn’t heard Jaxon’s phone ring, and they’d been together since they left the party.
“No, not yet. I’m sure he’ll call if he learns something.”
“I just can’t get over the fact that Patrick came here,” she muttered.
“I think we’re all pretty shocked by that.”
She leaned against the wall. “Did he really think I was going to run back into his arms?”
“People who are a little crazy can convince themselves of anything.”
“I wish I had never met that man. All these problems didn’t start until I did.” That online dating website had been the worst idea ever.
“At least he admitted that those emails weren’t real.”
Her gaze latched on to Jaxon’s. “Do you believe me now?”
“I wanted to believe you from the start.” Jaxon turned the water off and turned to face her. “I just had to be smart.”
“I can understand that. I wished I had been smart from the moment I had met Patrick too.”
Jaxon dried his hands, left the dishes behind, and crossed the room to meet her. His hands went to Abby’s shoulders as he leaned down to meet her eyes. “Everything is going to be okay, Abby.”
“What about that missing woman—Marissa Wilcox? Has she been found?”
Jaxon frowned. “Not last that I heard.”
“The dogs were supposed to follow her scent.”
“They did—and they lost it. If she got into a car, they’d be more likely to lose her scent. It’s not a perfect science.”
“Maybe she’s still alive. I pray she is.”
“Me too. We can hope, right?”
Abby forced herself to nod. “Yes, we can.”
“Listen, why don’t you sit down? Maybe try to relax a little bit until we hear something.”
“There’s no way I can relax at this point. Even though this Will guy has been arrested, there’s another woman missing, there were footprints on your porch last night, and now Patrick is in town.”
Jaxon crossed his arms. “Do you think Patrick could be the Executioner?”
Surprise washed through her as she stared at Jaxon. “Do I think Patrick is guilty of murdering these women? I guess I couldn’t put it past him since I believe he murdered his wife as well. Do we know when he got into town?”
“I’m sure Luke is checking that out.”
“I would think I’d have recognized him when he followed me in the woods, though. I mean, the way he walked or moved or something.” She shrugged and shook her head, feeling like the answers should be coming more easily than they were.
“Maybe Patrick is good at what he does and he’s good at disguising some of those personality traits.”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I just don’t know what to think right now.”
Jaxon’s phone rang. He put it to his ear and muttered a few things into the mouthpiece. Finally, he ended the call and turned to Abby.
Abby could hardly breathe as she waited to hear what he had to say. “Well?”
“It looks like Patrick’s plane ticket was for earlier today. I don’t believe he was behind the other things that have been happening here in Fog Lake.”
She continued to hold her breath. “Why do I feel like there’s a but in there?”
“Luke didn’t have enough to hold Patrick on. He hasn’t committed any type of crime. Patrick said he was going to go stay at a hotel for tonight. Luke sent one of his deputies over there to check on him, but he was gone. So was his car.”
Abby’s head began to spin. “So they have no idea where Patrick is?”
Jaxon nodded, his lips pulling down at the edges. “That’s correct.”
Abby knew. If there was anywhere Patrick was going, it would be here to this cabin to find her.
Jaxon didn’t like how any of this was playing out. Patrick had the nerve to show up here in Fog Lake. Not only that, but the man had found Abby, going as far as to track her down at Boone’s place.
He knew there were no secrets in small towns, but it was a little too easy for bad guys to find them here.
As he continued to clean the kitchen at his cabin, he watched Abby from across the room. It was nearly eleven o’clock, and darkness had long since fallen outside. Abby seemed wide awake, however, as she sat on the couch with a blanket around her, staring at the fire.
She’d really fit in with his family tonight. That thought brought him a surprising amount of delight. More than it should.
If the two of them had met in different circumstances . . . would they have a chance?
That he even asked the question startled him. He wasn’t looking for rom
ance or love.
But was that what he’d found? What he’d stumbled into? It felt like a good possibility.
He’d never met anyone like Abby before. She was strong yet sweet. Colorful but subtle.
Kind of like her sugar cookies.
But she’d be leaving soon—when this mess was all over. And Jaxon still had to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. This would be the worst time to start a relationship.
It was best if he put these things out of his mind.
He checked his gun again. The bullets were in place.
Then he glanced out his window. If trouble showed up here again tonight, he was going to be ready.
Chapter Thirty
Things are not going according to my plan, and I was having to come up with an alternate one.
Take last night, for example. I had seen that woman in the car with the other man. Things had been going smoothly after I grabbed her.
Until they had stopped going smoothly.
And now I felt things raveling out of control.
I didn’t like it when things raveled out of my control. I prided myself in knowing exactly what I was doing. I could not let this continue.
I sat in my car and stared at the beautiful landscape around me.
These mountains had served me well since I had been here. But soon, I was going to have to leave.
It was a good thing I had thought of my backup plan. I knew exactly how I could get to Abby—and to Jaxon too.
I tried to whistle, but the sound didn’t come as easily as I’d wanted.
I tried again.
Finally, the melody escaped my lips. I never knew what that song was going to be. Today, it was the theme song from The A-Team.
A happy little ditty. My dad had taught me that whistling cured everything. The act made people sound confident, made people feel happy. He’d been correct. As long as I still had my whistle, I would be okay.
And I deeply appreciated the old motto from that TV show. I love it when a plan comes together.
Yes, I did love it when things worked in my favor.
Tomorrow. It was when everything would need to happen. Everything was in place.
And Abby Brennan had no idea what was coming for her.
The Executioner would do his job.
Chapter Thirty-One
When Jaxon awoke the next morning, he was surprised to see Abby sitting in a chair nearby, his laptop on her legs. She smiled apologetically and closed the screen as she looked at him.
“Hope I didn’t wake you,” she murmured, looking cozy beneath her blanket and with her hair tousled.
He sat up and raked a hand over his head. “You didn’t. I didn’t realize I was sleeping so hard.”
“You were out and needed some rest.”
“I guess I did.” He blinked, trying to wake up. “And here I thought you were awake because you were excited about the Hills, Hollows, and Hearts Festival.”
That got a small smile out of her, but it quickly disappeared. She held up his computer. “I actually wanted to look something up. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Of course not. Anything good on there?”
“I know this is going to sound strange, but I’m looking at some pictures of Patrick and Theresa and their families. I keep thinking that whoever is behind this has some connection with them. I just need to figure out what that connection is.”
“You don’t think the guy from the diner—Will Able—did it?” Jaxon asked.
“I want to believe that. I really do. But my gut tells me he isn’t our guy.”
Jaxon stood and went to sit on the oversized arm of Abby’s chair. “Has anything triggered a memory?”
“Not yet.”
Jaxon pointed to the screen, where Patrick stood with three other people. “Do you know who these people are?”
“My understanding is that this woman is Patrick’s aunt, this is his dad, and this is his best friend.”
“No mom?”
“I’m not sure what happened with her. She died when Patrick was a child, I think.”
“I take it you never talked to any of them?”
Abby drew in a breath before letting out a deep sigh. “About a month ago, I got a call from Patrick’s dad.”
Jaxon turned to her, unable to contain his surprise. It was yet another fact that Abby hadn’t shared. But he knew it would be challenging trying to recall everything at once. Certainly, Abby shared things as she remembered.
“Why would his dad call you?”
“It was out of the blue and a little strange. Patrick was the police’s number one suspect. I guess that Patrick’s dad had begun to suspect that his son might be guilty. He called me to let me know that he was sorry about what his son was putting me through.”
“Ouch. To not even have your father believing you must be tough.”
“Yes, it is.” She sounded like she spoke from experience. “My dad has distanced himself from me since all this happened.”
Jaxon squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry to hear about that. We all have our own issues, don’t we? We can present the perfect picture on social media, but that’s rarely the case when you look deeper.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“Did Patrick’s dad say anything else?”
“That it was a shame. I wasn’t really sure if he was calling to offer his condolences or to feel me out, to play the good cop and get information from me. Since I never met the man, it’s hard to say.”
“Were he and Patrick close?” Jaxon asked.
“It was just the two of them while Patrick was growing up. I think Patrick mentioned at one time that his dad had to retire from his job as a veterinarian because of some health conditions.”
Jaxon leaned back, trying to think everything through and not miss any angles. “I assume Patrick only called you in private so no one would question him?”
Abby raised one shoulder in a shrug. “For the most part. He had only certain times when he said he could talk. But there were a few times I heard some people in the background. I could tell he was trying to be careful what he said during those times. At the time, I thought he was just being private. But now, looking back, I can see the truth.”
As Abby said the words, she stiffened. Her eyes razored back and forth as if she was trying to recall a memory.
“What is it?” Jaxon asked.
“I know I’m going to sound scatterbrained, but I just had a flashback of some sort. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of this before.”
“What is it?” Jaxon leaned closer, anxious to hear what she had to say.
“There was one time when Patrick was talking to me. It was one of those occasions where I could hear things in the background. But there was a song playing.”
“What was it?”
“It was ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’”
“The same song the Executioner has been whistling when he pursues you?”
Abby’s wide eyes met his, and she nodded. “The exact same one.”
“So do you think Patrick might be our guy?”
“I have no idea, but maybe it’s something we need to explore more deeply.”
Luke showed up thirty minutes later with Jaxon’s truck.
“The windshield is fixed,” he said.
“Thanks,” Jaxon said, grateful for his brother’s help.
Luke’s gaze went to Abby, and he walked toward her. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the police in Minnesota are coming out to question you today. I wanted to let you know, to give you a heads up.”
“Why? How do you know that?” Abby asked.
“They contacted me. They saw the article in the paper about you, and they need to ask some questions about Theresa’s death.”
Abby swallowed hard. “I understand.”
If only she could remain underground for a while longer. But that was just wishful thinking.
“Do the police think she’s a suspect?” Jaxon
asked.
Luke shrugged. “I can’t answer that.”
She pressed her hands into her temples. “I don’t know how they could think I would be involved with this.”
“Someone else has obviously set it up so you can take the fall.”
She looked at Jaxon, a million unspoken conversations passing between them. There was so much that she wanted to say. Though she’d only known him and his family for a few days, they already felt like a safety net to her. Maybe she was foolish to think so, but it was the truth.
Luke shifted. “What was Patrick’s upbringing like, Abby? I’m trying to get inside his head.”
“I was just telling Jaxon this. It was just him and his dad. My impression is that he was spoiled and got what he wanted.”
“I did my own research,” Luke said. “Since his mom was found dead with another man, I have to wonder if he grew up in a home where women weren’t talked about with respect.”
Abby shivered. “I’d say that was a good possibility, especially knowing what I know now. When Patrick and I went scuba diving, our instructor was a woman. Patrick actually asked if we could have a man instead. I questioned him about it, and he seemed to realize what he’d said. He explained that he’d be more comfortable with a male, only because he was anxious about diving for the first time. Maybe I’m stupid, but I bought his explanation. I just thought he was nervous.”
“And Theresa’s family?” Luke continued. “I know he didn’t talk about Theresa, but what’s your read on them? I’m sure you’ve done research.”
Abby nodded. “I have. I think her family was the opposite of his. They were large and seemed close-knit. I think Patrick was probably attracted to that. I think he may have felt lonely as a child when his dad was working and without a mom or any siblings.”
A better, more complete profile came together in Jaxon’s mind. All the right elements were in place for Patrick to have developed a blatant disregard for women. Maybe he even thought of them as material possessions, ones he could use and abuse as he saw fit.
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