by Katie Reus
“This necklace was never recovered,” she continued. Just like all the other jewelry he’d taken. Maybe it wasn’t real, but after last night, she believed that it must be. Soon the Feds should tell them if the bracelet left on her SUV had been real. She was betting yes on that one too.
He tucked the plastic baggie into his pocket. “I’m calling Lincoln—”
“No,” she whispered. She did not want the sheriff down here. “I’ll give him this and he can come in after hours and search for whatever he thinks might be helpful, but I don’t want law enforcement at my shop. Please,” she whispered.
He paused, but nodded sharply even though it was clear he wanted to argue.
“I need to pick up Harper from school. I don’t want this garbage to taint her. I just… She lost her father, our dog, and then we moved here. I’m trying to give her a sense of normalcy.” Soon she’d have to sit Harper down and explain a little bit about what was going on, though she’d leave out most of the details.
“Black has got to be communicating with someone on the outside and using them to send these…things,” Lucas murmured.
Throat tight, she nodded. She agreed with him. She knew that serial killers often had fan clubs, which was disgusting. But there was a lot of evil in this world. Hell, if not someone from his fan club, it had to be someone who’d known about what he’d done. Someone who’d been involved. That thought made her stomach roil but she steeled herself. “I know.”
“Look, I know you want to wait, but you need to call Lincoln. The deputy watching your shop had a call out he had to take. A domestic issue. So no one is watching your shop now. And Linc will want to talk to Callie,” he said quietly. “Especially if she’s been working all day.”
Damn it. “You’re right. And…I think I might tell her to take the rest of the week off. I can manage without her and I’d feel better if she wasn’t here.” Even if she and Callie weren’t friends, but simply employee and employer, she could become a target.
“I’ll cover the front of the shop.”
In that moment she wanted to kiss him. Not in a romantic way, but she wanted to convey to him how grateful she was for his presence, for his strength. He’d stepped up in a way she never could have expected. And she wished she wasn’t so broken. That she could deal with a relationship, because he was exactly the sort of man she would choose.
“I can have my mom pick up Harper. You know she’d love to. And then I’ll man the front while you and Callie talk to Lincoln. He’ll be discreet and talk to you guys in the back. This won’t affect your business.”
Except she knew that it would. If anything, she’d probably get more business if word of this got out. Which was gross on so many levels. But people, even well-meaning people, were drawn to trauma. It was a weird glitch of human nature. She closed her eyes for a long moment. “I’ll call the school and let them know to expect your mom.”
“And I’ll call Lincoln right now.”
She locked up then, and called Adeline out to the front so she could tell her and Callie everything at the same time.
At this point she wasn’t sure if she should just close up her shop completely or what. She didn’t know what the right answer was. This person could be anyone, anywhere.
She needed to make a living, but she didn’t want to die because she’d made herself an easy target. At the same time, Adeline and Callie depended on her for their living as well.
There was no easy decision, she realized, dread settling low in her belly as she waited for Lincoln to arrive.
Chapter 13
“So I take it Serenity isn’t coming tonight?” Bianca asked from across the table. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a perfect plait.
Adeline looked up from her own quilt that she was currently stitching a new square onto. There were eight of them here tonight for quilting class, something she’d only taken up this year. Class was every Thursday night and they had between eight and twelve quilters attend on average.
“She’s not coming,” Adeline said simply.
“Is anyone else going to talk about what’s going on, then?” Bianca asked, looking around the group.
“Talk about what?” Adeline set her square down on the table, feeling her temper rise. She was protective of Serenity and wasn’t going to sit here and let people gossip about her.
“Mrs. Rose was murdered. It’s pretty clear from what Sheriff Jordan said that this person is targeting people who are friends with Serenity. How are we not talking about this?” She sounded exasperated.
“Not sure what you’re worried about, since you’re not her friend.” Adeline normally kept a cool head, but Bianca’s tone ramped up her anger.
Next to her, Chloe, another shop owner, snickered but quickly hid her face in her own quilt when Bianca shot her a glare.
Bianca narrowed her eyes at Adeline from across the table. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I don’t like talking about Serenity—my friend—while she’s not here. This group has never been about gossip and I don’t want to start now.” Most of the women who came to the class were local business owners or employees. They usually talked about tourism and ways to help promote each other. Mean-spirited gossip wouldn’t be tolerated.
Bianca lifted an eyebrow. “I’m not gossiping about her. I’m simply talking about what’s going on. You guys aren’t scared?”
Paisley, who owned a clothing boutique that sold gently used items, nodded. “I’m scared. I think everyone is. I still can’t believe Mrs. Rose was actually murdered.”
Adeline nodded in commiseration because it was true. It was hard to believe. They hadn’t had an actual murder in town in… She wasn’t even sure. Well before she’d moved here. And part of the reason Adeline had moved to Verona Bay had been to start over, to get a fresh start as she escaped her own violent past. The low crime rate and mild winters here had helped make her decision.
“Look, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Bianca said. “I’m just scared. There’s no other way to say it.”
Some of her temper eased. “That’s fair. I think we all are. But we also need to rally around Serenity, not ostracize her or make her feel like this is her fault.”
“Of course it’s not her fault,” Chloe said, giving Bianca a pointed look.
Bianca shifted in her seat. “I never said it was.”
Yeah well, she’d been heading in that direction, Adeline thought. But she held her tongue. Right now she didn’t trust herself not to say something she couldn’t take back.
By the time the night was winding down, Adeline had cooled down. Her mother had always told her that her temper would get her into trouble so it was something she worked on. Quilting—something she’d never imagined as an activity she would get into—calmed her on an epic level. Some people were now into coloring. Well, quilting did for her what coloring did for them, and she loved it. She’d never win any awards for it, but it soothed her.
“Are you about ready?” Bianca asked, setting her bag on the table.
Adeline had planned to leave with Chloe, but the shop owner had left with Paisley so now she was stuck with a woman she didn’t care for. “Yep.” She slid the last of her blocks into her bag.
“Look, I’m sorry about earlier,” Bianca said as they stepped outside, a chilly breeze skating over them.
Adeline shrugged as she locked the door behind them. Norah, the owner, let them lock up after themselves, something that would have been unheard of in a bigger town. After locking up, she scanned the parking lot. Just their two cars were left but she didn’t see anyone else. Still, she pulled out her pepper spray. “Your quilt is looking good,” she said, aiming for civility. Better than her own.
Bianca’s mouth tightened as she pulled out her key fob. “What is it about me that you don’t like?” she asked bluntly.
Surprised by the question, Adeline decided for neutrality. “I don’t not like you. I don’t have any particular feelings toward you.” She’d simply had eno
ugh of the Biancas of the world—the perfect, mean-girl types who more often than not put themselves before everyone else. She’d seen the way Bianca was with married men and it annoyed the hell out of her. There was just a certain type of woman who went after men who were taken, and Adeline didn’t understand that. So yeah, she judged her a bit.
“Whatever,” Bianca muttered, pressing the key fob to her car. “I have nothing against Serenity.”
“No, but you would like to get Lucas Jordan into bed.” It came out before she could stop herself.
Bianca paused as they reached the front of their two cars, which were unfortunately parked side by side. “So what if I do?”
“I just think it’s gross how you go after men who are taken.” Damn it, she hadn’t meant to get into any of this, but the words just poured out.
Bianca blinked in clear surprise. “Is that what you think about me?”
“I know what I see.” She pressed her own key fob and turned away from Bianca as she opened the driver’s side door.
At a sharp intake of breath she started to turn toward Bianca, then all the muscles in her body pulled taut as a shock of pain punched through her.
Wave after wave of pain rolled through her before darkness engulfed her.
* * *
Lincoln paused for only a moment at his next-door neighbor’s door, then knocked. He wasn’t sure what it was about Autumn Perez that had him twisted up inside, but whenever he was there he felt like a teenager. One who couldn’t string coherent sentences together in the face of the sexiest woman he’d ever met.
He could hear movement inside and knew she was home because she rarely left, anyway that he knew of. There was a little sound behind the door, then she opened it, but not fully. Which was pretty much par for the course when it came to Autumn. She had no problem keeping him at arm’s length.
“Hello, sheriff.” Her tone was perfectly polite as she stepped out onto the porch. Her thick, wavy dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail and she eyed him carefully with brown, amber-flecked eyes. “Is everything okay?”
“That remains to be seen. Did you see the notice we sent out about Mrs. Rose?”
She nodded, her expression still neutral. “Serenity called me too. It’s why I’m not at quilting class tonight. I decided to stay in just to be safe.”
He hadn’t even realized she was a part of the class, or that she was friends with Serenity, which reaffirmed exactly how much he knew about her: almost zero. But he wanted to know everything about the pretty woman with the mouthwatering curves and sharp eyes that seemed to see everything.
“I just wanted to check in and make sure you were taking precautions.”
She looked confused for a moment. “Are you going around to all of our neighbors?”
“Yes. I’m doing a walkthrough of the neighborhood.” He hadn’t intended to but now he would so he wouldn’t be a liar.
She seemed to relax at that and nodded, giving him a half-smile. That simple action had all his muscles pulling taut. “Thanks, sheriff.”
“You can call me Lincoln.” Something he’d told her more than once, but she insisted on referring to him as sheriff.
Her gaze flickered down to the sheriff insignia sewn onto the left breast of his work jacket. “Sure thing, sheriff.” She gave him a smirk as she stepped back inside but didn’t fully close the door on him. “You need anything else?”
“Nope. Just be careful,” he said as he turned away.
Maybe it was because he was so used to women falling at his feet that he was intrigued by her stand-offishness. No, there was something about her that simply drew him in. But it was clear she wasn’t interested. And considering that he was the sheriff, he would never abuse his power that way. Hell, he’d never abuse his power regardless, but he had to walk a fine line.
Some women saw the badge and tended to throw themselves at him, while others were turned off by it. There didn’t seem to be an in-between. It was part of the reason he didn’t date anyone in town. But if Autumn were to show even a flicker of interest, that would be a different story.
Shaking his head at his own foolishness, he headed down the sidewalk, intending to speak to each of his neighbors individually. It was a good idea anyway considering what had happened earlier at Serenity’s shop.
He’d spoken to her, her employees and sent off the necklace to the FBI for testing since they had a much bigger budget and had handled the Black serial killer case. He’d also sent out an alert to the entire town but not everyone would have received it yet. He cared about his people, and he took their security and safety seriously. They had petty crime here, but murder? There hadn’t been one since before he’d taken office. And if he could help it, there wouldn’t be another one. Which was why he’d reached out to the FBI so quickly.
As he reached the sixth house on the street, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Even though he was off duty, he was never officially off. Hell, especially now. Which was why he rarely drank alcohol. He never knew when he’d be called in.
When he saw Deputy Cole’s name on his caller ID he answered right away. “Yeah?”
“You’re going to want to get down to the parking lot of Norah’s Quilts. Adeline Rodriguez has been kidnapped.”
Chapter 14
Special Agent Amy Lin nodded once at the guard who unlocked the door for her. Michael Black wasn’t going anywhere but this was a maximum-security prison in north Florida and they took all security precautions seriously.
His chains jingled against the table as he shifted in the seat when he saw her. His hair was still a dark brown, but now peppered with gray and thinning. His once almost handsome, charming facade had been stripped away, and deep lines bracketed his eyes and mouth. His blue eyes seemed faded as well. At six feet one inch, he should have seemed larger, more intimidating. Instead, he was a sad little man.
She gave him a cool look and set her briefcase on the ground as she sat.
He held her gaze, his expression stony. “What are you doing here?”
“I would think you’d be happy to have a break from the monotony. You’ve gotta get bored in that cell all by yourself.” She casually leaned back in her seat as if she had all the time in the world. When he didn’t respond—not that she’d expected him to—she continued. “I’ve heard you aren’t even reading your letters anymore. And you have quite the fan club.” Sad, desperate men and women reached out to Black for… Hell, Amy wasn’t even sure why. Being sad and desperate was one thing. Reaching out to a psychotic serial killer? Nah.
He glanced away, his jaw tightening. “Whores. All of them.”
Well, he definitely hadn’t changed. Not that she’d thought he would. Black had always thought he was way smarter than he was. In reality, he was just another violent, misogynist asshole. He hated women and blamed his lot in life on his mother abandoning him. Boo freaking hoo.
Even if that hadn’t happened, Amy had no doubt he would have found another reason to hate the opposite sex. Because he was human garbage who loved to play the victim card. Poor little Michael Black, abandoned by his mother and raised by his rich, loving grandparents who’d sent him to the best schools and provided everything for him. He’d been mediocre, however. He’d had no drive, had average grades and hadn’t been able to hold a job—but he’d liked to hurt women. That, he’d been good at.
“You’re communicating with someone, however.” She tapped a crimson-painted fingernail on the metal table separating them.
His head whipped up as he finally looked her in the face, his eyes narrowing slightly. He’d lost a decent amount of weight in the last few years. She knew from the warden that he wasn’t eating as much. But he wasn’t starving himself so it didn’t warrant a feeding tube. Not that she cared. Let the man starve. Her only regret was that she hadn’t caught him sooner. Soon enough to save those girls, including Serenity’s twin.
God, if only they’d been a little quicker. But she banished the thought. She’d played the “what if” game in
her head far too many times. And she couldn’t change the past no matter how much she wanted to build a damn time machine and do just that.
“I’m not talking to anyone.” His tone was neutral.
She lifted an eyebrow. “Is that right?”
He simply stared at her, unmoving. She had nothing to offer him. Not when he was on death row. He’d fired his last attorney and had chosen not to appeal. Which was just as well, because it would fail, even if it would drag things out in court for years and waste everyone’s time and money.
When he didn’t say anything, she bent down and pulled out two little plastic baggies. Sheriff Jordan had couriered the last “gift” left for Serenity to a local FBI office and they’d made sure Amy got it. She wanted to see Black’s reaction to the actual jewelry.
Telling him was one thing, but showing him something he’d taken during his sick crimes was quite another.
His entire body language changed, his spine straightening as he stared at the jewelry in surprise. His dark blue eyes widened in true shock. “Where did you get that?”
“Present, left for Serenity Washington. You remember her.”
His eyes lit up with what she could only describe as manic glee before his expression turned very carefully neutral. He was good at that, hiding his emotions. Probably because he lacked basic human empathy. Even so, he never took his gaze off the jewelry. He wouldn’t even look at her, simply stared at the necklace and bracelet.
“Someone left those for Serenity?” He said her name as if he knew her on a personal level. But he didn’t, no matter what he thought. He only knew her as the young woman he’d taken, intending to torture and kill.
“Yes. And I guarantee you know who did it.” She wasn’t here to beat around the bush. She wanted answers.
He shifted slightly in his seat, finally flicking his gaze up to hers, though she could tell it strained him to do so. He liked seeing the jewelry. “Those must be fakes.”