The Reclusive Widow (The Widow Taker Book 3)
Page 23
“That was the start of Alan’s unraveling, which led him to making a mistake with Lily,” Ridge said, reaching over for her hand. “She was able to get away, but I’m not too clear on how Harrison was able to stab himself so many times and stay conscious long enough to do it with such precision.”
“Alan didn’t stab himself,” Agent Malone corrected before reaching into his suit jacket. He pulled out his cell phone, glanced at the display, and then slipped it back inside the interior pocket. “The body that Sheriff Hopkins discovered in one of the alleyways of the hospital belonged to a homeless man. After an autopsy, it turned out that the same knife that was used to stab you and Alan was also used on Mr. Eugene O’Malley. From the wad of cash found on Mr. O’Malley, we can only speculate that Alan paid off the man to stab him in specific locations that weren’t fatal. Once the deed was done, Alan then stabbed and killed Mr. O’Malley in the alleyway before eventually dragging himself to the emergency room doors.”
“Alan Harrison was methodical, calculating, and had absolutely no remorse,” Agent Roche said, though Lily finally realized that he wasn’t in awe of the man himself. Instead, the agent was fascinated by the mind of such a prolific serial killer. “The way he’d arranged things after he made the mistake with Rhonda was quite astounding, and he was able to insert himself on the inside of the investigation.”
“Who started the fire at my parents’ house?” Ridge asked, though an answer wasn’t really needed. “I’m guessing that Alan somehow got away from his protective detail for just enough time to set the fire and then make it back to his place before Teresa returned home or the remaining officer at the front door took notice of Alan’s absence.”
“That’s one of the questions that will remain unanswered, especially since the officer in question is dead.”
The moment of silence that followed was heavy on all their hearts. No matter how hard Lily tried, she hadn’t been able to get much sleep. The images from that day kept replaying in her head, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Ridge kept telling her that time would make the memories fade, but she wasn’t so sure about that.
They spoke for another thirty minutes before the men declared that they should get going, as they both had travel plans ahead of them. Lily and Ridge bid them goodbye, and she found that it was like saying goodbye to two old friends. It wasn’t like she really knew either of them all that well, but this type of experience tended to skew those lines.
“I can’t imagine dedicating my life to profiling serial killers or criminals who have no remorse,” Lily said as they both walked into the kitchen. The plastic sheet was still covering three-quarters of the cabinets, but Ridge’s parents were due back to the States in a couple of weeks. “It has to damage their psyche after studying that kind of evil.”
“Having someone to come home to who isn’t part of that life helps a great deal,” Ridge said as he stopped himself from preheating the oven. They’d both agreed to a homecooked meal, but she had a feeling that he was about to change his mind. “Speaking of having someone and a normal life for a change, how about we hit the pub tonight? A delicious cheeseburger and a game of pool sounds pretty damn good after being cooped up for so long, doesn’t it?”
“It does sound good,” Lily replied softly, looking forward to them doing things like normal couples. They had done their relationship backwards in a sense, not that she regretted any time that she had spent with him. She still hadn’t gone by her place, but that could wait. They were in no hurry, and she found that she really liked the pace that they’d subconsciously set. “It’s about time that I stop hiding, too. It’s time to reclaim my life.”
“Our life,” Ridge said, pulling her close and kissing her passionately. When he was done, they were both out of breath and left with a renewed sense of purpose. “We own our future, hazelnut. It’s up to us to make it an amazing one.”
~ The End ~
I hope you enjoyed reading The Widow Taker trilogy! If you’d like to read more about Townes Calvert from Safeguard Securities & Investigations, the complete six-book series is ready and waiting for you…
The Safeguard Series
Click HERE
Safeguard Security & Investigations (SSI) is owned and operated by Townes Calvert, a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant who returned home to the States a bit more damaged than he’d care to admit. Not that anyone could tell outside of a very select group of former active duty buddies. It had taken Townes quite a while to acclimate to civilian life and he’d kept himself busy in the interim working in treacherous situations with even more dangerous friends. The final result is a close-knit unit of highly trained former military men who have the experience to protect the innocent, investigate crimes on the gritty edge, and aid local law enforcement when justice has taken a back seat to political correctness. Follow along as Kennedy Layne conveys each of their gripping stories as they work together on investigations that lead them down perilous paths of passion, intrigue, and suspense…
Books by Kennedy Layne
The Widow Taker Trilogy
The Forgotten Widow
The Isolated Widow
The Reclusive Widow
Hex on Me Mysteries
If the Curse Fits
Cursing up the Wrong Tree
The Squeaky Ghost Gets the Curse
The Curse that Bites
Curse Me Under the Mistletoe
Gone Cursing
Paramour Bay Mysteries
Magical Blend
Bewitching Blend
Enchanting Blend
Haunting Blend
Charming Blend
Spellbinding Blend
Cryptic Blend
Broomstick Blend
Spirited Blend
Yuletide Blend
Baffling Blend
Phantom Blend
Batty Blend
Office Roulette Series
Means (Office Roulette, Book One)
Motive (Office Roulette, Book Two)
Opportunity (Office Roulette, Book Three)
Keys to Love Series
Unlocking Fear (Keys to Love, Book One)
Unlocking Secrets (Keys to Love, Book Two)
Unlocking Lies (Keys to Love, Book Three)
Unlocking Shadows (Keys to Love, Book Four)
Unlocking Darkness (Keys to Love, Book Five)
Surviving Ashes Series
Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, Book One)
Hidden Ashes (Surviving Ashes, Book Two)
Buried Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Three)
Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four)
Rising Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Five)
CSA Case Files Series
Captured Innocence (CSA Case Files 1)
Sinful Resurrection (CSA Case Files 2)
Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3)
Campaign of Desire (CSA Case Files 4)
Internal Temptation (CSA Case Files 5)
Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files 6)
Redeem My Heart (CSA Case Files 7)
A Mission of Love (CSA Case Files 8)
Red Starr Series
Starr’s Awakening(Red Starr, Book One)
Hearths of Fire (Red Starr, Book Two)
Targets Entangled (Red Starr, Book Three)
Igniting Passion (Red Starr, Book Four)
Untold Devotion (Red Starr, Book Five)
Fulfilling Promises (Red Starr, Book Six)
Fated Identity (Red Starr, Book Seven)
Red’s Salvation (Red Starr, Book Eight)
The Safeguard Series
Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One)
Faithful Addiction (The Safeguard Series, Book Two)
Distant Illusions (The Safeguard Series, Book Three)
Casual Impressions (The Safeguard Series, Book Four)
Honest Intentions (The Safeguard Series, Book Five)
Deadly Premonitions (The Safeguard Series, Book Six)
About the Author
First and foremost, I love life. I love that I’m a wife, mother, daughter, sister… and a writer.
I am one of the lucky women in this world who gets to do what makes them happy. As long as I have a cup of coffee (maybe two or three) and my laptop, the stories evolve themselves and I try to do them justice. I draw my inspiration from a retired Marine Master Sergeant that swept me off of my feet and has drawn me into a world that fulfills all of my deepest and darkest desires. Erotic romance, military men, intrigue, with a little bit of kinky chili pepper (his recipe), fill my head and there is nothing more satisfying than making the hero and heroine fulfill their destinies.
Thank you for having joined me on their journeys…
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