by Anna Blakely
Knowing the temptation would be too great for him to pass up, Eden closed her eyes again and concentrated on what she wanted him to see.
She pushed away the flashes still floating around in the back of her mind from the other victims’ memories, as well as the pure and utter fear she was feeling.
It was harder to fight against the dark colors and emotions swirling inside her from his touch, but Eden called upon every ounce of strength she had and forced herself to focus solely on the memory of Alex’s face.
As Eden lay there, helpless and bleeding, she cleared her mind of everything but the way Alex made her feel when they were together. She focused on things like, how even on the roughest of days, he could still make her laugh.
And though she hated giving this man even the tiniest part of her and Alex’s private moments together, Eden opened her mind to the pleasure she’d felt each and every time she and the sexy detective had made love.
Fire erupted along the entire right side of her face as Josiah backhanded her. Hard. The painful blow took her by complete surprise.
Her head whipped to the side as the pleasant images she’d brought to the forefront vanished in an instant. Eden lost the battle to remain strong and cried out as blood began to run down her chin from the fresh cut in her lip.
“You’re lying!” Josiah accused loudly.
It took Eden a second to clear the stars flashing before her eyes long enough to respond. Running her tongue over the swollen spot on her lip, she said, “No, Josiah. I’m not.”
He hit her again. And again. Between the painful blows and physical contact with him, Eden was precariously close to passing out.
“Stop. Lying!” Josiah’s meaty fist hit her once more before he got right in her face. “I know what you really feel, because I felt it, too. I learned to hold back, though. To force it all away. But you and the others…you didn’t. I know you felt the loneliness I did because I saw it here.” He poked the side of her head. “And I saw it in those other women, too.”
“Why…now?” Eden slurred, doing her best to stay conscious and keep him talking. “Your sister and parents…that was years ago. Why wait until now to start…liberating”—Eden spit out the sarcastic word— “other, gifted women?”
With the most sinister smirk she’d ever seen, Josiah leaned down and put the knife to Eden’s throat. With his lips positioned right next to her ear, he whispered, “Who says I just started?”
****
Chapter Fourteen
“Please tell me this will work.” Alex stared anxiously at the petite, blonde woman sitting in the chair across the table from him.
Upon her request, the lights in the room had been turned off and the small lamp from Sergeant Murphy’s desk had been brought in, instead. A blank pad of paper and a pencil were resting on the table, well within her reach, and everyone else in the room had positioned themselves on the opposite side to give her the space she apparently needed.
“It’ll work,” Dan assured him quietly from the seat beside his.
The woman opened one of her emerald eyes and gave Dan a look. “Not if the two of you don’t stop talking.”
“Sorry, Kat. Alex is just scared for Eden.” Dan glanced over at him. “We all are.”
“I understand.” She opened her other eye. “I promise, I’ll do everything I can to help you find her.”
Alex slowly filled his lungs to help tamper down the terror he felt. Eden was out there somewhere, and if this didn’t work…
“We’re going to find her, brother,” Garrett said with a confidence Alex didn’t share. “This is going to work. I can feel it.”
Looking to his right, Alex gave his partner a nod but kept silent. God, he hoped the man was right.
After realizing they had zero leads from the club, Dan had made one phone call and Katherine D’Antoni, or Kat, had dropped everything to fly here. Dan’s wife, Mia, had accompanied her, and was sitting on the other side of her husband with Dan’s hand held tightly in hers.
The scenario was so surreal, but with Zoe at the hospital fighting for her life and Eden missing and in the hands of a madman, Alex and the rest of his team were willing to try anything to help find the bastard responsible. Even Sergeant Murphy had joined them and was currently sitting in a chair at the far end of the table.
As Alex understood it, Kat could pick up on current events happening elsewhere and watch them as they unfolded in real time. The details shown in her mind’s eye would often lead to finding those needing to be found.
He just prayed this woman could find Eden before it was too late.
“Go ahead, Kat,” Mia told her friend softly. With a quick glance at Dan and then Alex, she added, “I think everyone’s ready, now.”
With the room darkened and silent, Kat closed her eyes and tried once more to focus. Alex had quickly brought her up to speed the minute she arrived, and now all they had to do was sit quietly and wait for her to work her magic.
It was one of the hardest things Alex had ever done.
He was a man of action. Both while in the Marines and then as a homicide detective, Alex’s first instinct was to pound the pavement until he found what he needed. In this case, what he needed was for Eden to be here with him. Safe and in his arms.
Within minutes, Kat was explaining what she could see while she scribbled on the paper in front of her. The whole thing looked like something out of a paranormal movie, but if it meant finding Eden, Alex was one hundred percent invested.
“I see a door. It’s under a stone archway, like an old root cellar that was built into the side of a small hill.” Kat continued drawing. “About twenty yards east of the hill is a pile of old wood and ash. I think it used to be a house, but it looks as though it burned down a long time ago.”
The pencil flew over the paper.
“To the west is another pile similar to that one only much larger. Like, maybe it used to be a barn or an outbuilding.”
Alex listened, taking meticulous notes as Kat spoke, but his faith in finding Eden was beginning to waver. The image she described could be anywhere.
“The area is completely secluded and surrounded by trees.”
She squeezed her eyes a little tighter, and though she didn’t verbally acknowledge it, Alex could tell she was concentrating even harder.
“There’s a small road to the south. It runs along the edge of a large lake.”
Garrett leaned over to him and whispered, “Could be Saganashkee Slough.”
Alex nodded, having thought the same thing. Saganashkee was a lake located about an hour southwest of the city. It made up almost the entire southern border of a large, wooded area that was home to a couple historical sites.
Like the structure Kat was describing, those were also made of stone. The idea that an abandoned root cellar could also be found there was definitely possible.
“The cellar door is small. Someone my height could probably fit through it easily, but you guys would definitely have to bend down before entering.” Kat added a few more details to the picture before she froze. “Wait! Someone’s there! It’s a man.”
Alex wrote down everything she was saying.
“He’s going into the cellar.”
Kat got quiet then as her mind’s eye watched something only she could see. A thousand-pound weight pressed against Alex’s chest, terrified of what was happening to Eden.
He wanted to scream. Actually, what he really wanted was to be out there, finding his woman and putting an end to Josiah Whateverthefuck. But since this was their best bet at finding either of them, he held his breath and waited.
Just when Alex thought he’d crawl out of his own skin with worry, the tiny blonde opened her eyes again. Blinking, she gave Dan a look. The other man got up and turned the lights back on.
Garrett stood. “I’m going to go pull up an aerial map for that section of the woods.”
“Good idea.” Alex nodded. “While you’re at it, run a search for any known cellars or oth
er man-made structures located there.” Facing Kat, he asked, “Did you see Eden?”
She nodded, her green eyes grim as they met his. “We have to hurry. She’s still alive, but I don’t know for how long.”
Thank God she’s alive.
“What exactly did you see, Kat?” Dan probed.
“She’s…” Pausing, Kat slid a glance to Alex.
Despite the bile churning in his gut, Alex did his best to reassure her. “It’s okay, Kat. The more details we know, the better chance we have of finding her. Just…tell us everything you saw."
With a nod, she continued on. “Eden was unconscious but breathing. Her wrists and ankles are in metal shackles, and she’s lying on what looks like an old, wooden table.”
Motherfucker. Alex’s hands curled into tight fists, and his teeth ground together to the point he was certain they’d shatter.
Dan put a hand to his shoulder. “She’s alive, Alex. Try to concentrate on that, yeah?”
His friend was right. Losing it now wasn’t going to do Eden any good. But, Jesus. Knowing the woman he loved was lying there like that, unable to even try to fight back…that shit was enough to bring down even the toughest of men.
Struggling to keep it together, Alex forced himself to say, “Okay, Good. That’s good information to have. What else?”
“There were pictures hanging up. I couldn’t make out all the details, but I’m pretty sure they’re of each of his victims.”
“What’s our next move?” Alex looked to his boss.
Linking his hands together, Murphy rested his elbows on the table. After a stretch of silence, the stoic man said, “I guess we wait to see what Caldwell finds out. If it turns out there are root cellars in Saganashkee like the one Mrs. D’Antoni saw, we’ll put boots on the ground and search every one we can find.”
“Great.” Alex shook his head. “More waiting.”
Finally losing some of his famous control, he stood abruptly, nearly knocking his chair over in the process.
Running a hand over his rough jaw, he began pacing the small room. “Eden’s running out of time.” With his hands resting low on his hips, he faced Murphy again. “Saganashkee is forty-five minutes away, Sarge. An hour with any amount of traffic. Once we do get there, we still have to figure out where the hell she is. Our guy has escalated beyond what we ever thought he would, and my gut is telling me we are running out of time. I want him, Sarge.”
Murphy shot to his feet. “You think I don’t? The bastard stabbed one of our own, Bennett. She crashed twice on the way to the hospital. Or have you forgotten about Zoe?”
The fuck? “Hell no, I haven’t forgotten about her. I want to bring justice to every single one of his victims, including Zoe. But I also haven’t forgotten that this whole sting operation was your idea. Hell, it was your idea to force Eden into working this case to begin with.”
Murphy got into Alex’s face. “You’re damn right it was. And because of her, we’re closer to catching this asshole than we’ve ever been before. You want to blame me for your girlfriend getting snatched, that’s fine. But I stand by my decision to go through with this, and I’d do it again if it means we catch this asshole.”
“Even if it means sacrificing Eden?”
Murphy’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t need to, though. The man’s silence was his answer.
Alex’s hands fisted at his side, He’d never come so close to punching out his boss as he did in that moment.
“I’m going to Saganashkee,” he told Murphy. “With or without the team.”
“And what if you don’t find her?” His boss challenged back. “Or worse, what if you do, and she’s already dead?”
Then my life will be over.
He couldn’t think about that now. “Eden’s still alive, but she won’t be if we keep standing around, arguing about our next move. I can’t take that chance. Not with her.”
Alex’s voice broke to the point he had to clear his throat before finishing his thought.
“I can’t explain it, but something in my gut is telling me that’s where she is, and if we don’t go now, we may never catch this guy.”
“I think he’s right, Boss.”
All eyes turned to the doorway where Garrett stood holding several pieces of paper.
“You find something?” Murphy motioned
Alex’s partner nodded. “Check this out.”
Garrett rushed to the table and quickly arranged the papers so they made a map of the land surrounding Saganashkee Slough.
“Kat said there was a body of water running along the south side of the woods she saw. That made me think of this area here.” He ran his index finger along the northern side of the lake. “I did a search and found records for three abandoned root cellars dating back to the late eighteen-hundreds. All three are located in this wooded section here.” Garrett made an invisible circle around the large portion of the trees surrounded by The Out & Back bike trail.
“That’s about, what…fifty acres?”
“Give or take.” His partner shrugged.
Alex exhaled a frustrated puff of air. “Eden doesn’t have that kind of time, man. An area that large would take us all night to search.”
The other man grinned. “Guess it’s a good thing I already know where all three cellars are located. There’s one here, here, and here.” He used a marker to put an ‘X’ on each spot.
“What’s there?” Dan pointed to what looked to be a large, open section sitting northeast of the tree line.
Garrett lifted a shoulder. “Just grass, as far as I know.”
Alex looked past his partner to Dan. “Why? What are you thinking?”
Dark eyes met his. “I’m thinking a helicopter would get us there a lot faster than your Jeep.”
“Hell yeah, it would,” Garrett nodded excitedly. He looked to Murphy. “How long would it take to procure a department chopper?”
Sergeant Murphy thought a moment. “Thirty minutes. Maybe a little more.”
Shit. Alex ran a hand over his already-mussed hair. “We could almost drive there in that time.”
He was trying like hell not to give up hope, but fuck. It was getting harder and harder with every second that passed.
“I can have us in the air in about ten,” Dan offered. When Alex gave him a look, the former Marine simply shrugged and said, “I know a guy.”
Despite the situation, Alex snorted. “Of course, you do.”
Raising a cocky eyebrow, Dan pulled out his phone and made the call.
After breaking land-speed records to get them there, Alex, Dan, Garrett, and Sergeant Murphy buckled themselves into an expensive-as-shit helicopter as it lifted off the ground.
Both Kat and Mia volunteered to hang back in case the guys needed something done at the station.
The second the chopper landed, Alex and the others jumped out and headed for the trees. The men had used the short ride to plan who would go to which cellars.
Garrett was the fastest runner of the four, so he offered to take the one farthest south, closest to the two-lane highway running parallel with the Saganashkee’s northern shore. Murphy headed for the cellar closest to their landing sight while Alex and Dan ran to find the hidden cellar believed to be farthest east.
According to Garrett’s map, the cellar they were in charge of searching was approximately a third of a mile from where they’d left the chopper.
Given that it was dark and they only had a small flashlight as their guide, it took some work and a lot of concentration to avoid tripping over roots or getting smacked in the face with leaves and limbs.
Ignoring the cold air moving in and out of his heaving chest, Alex prayed with every step he took. Not only did he pray they’d find the hidden structure, but that Eden would be in there. Alive and unharmed.
Seven minutes later, he got his answer.
“There it is.” Dan kept his voice at a low whisper.
Both men directed their lights t
o the small hill a few yards in front of them. Looking like something from one of those hobbit movies, Alex couldn’t help but be a little impressed that a structure built into the ground all those years ago was still standing.
Both he and Dan drew their weapons.
With a few hand movements and silent gestures, both Dan and Alex began to quietly approach the worn, wooden door. It had been over a decade since the two men had served together, but their training and teammate mentality was as fresh as if they were still active duty.
The first thing Alex noticed was the shiny, new padlock. Its top had been inserted into the metal clasp attached to the door’s frame. Whoever opened it last hadn’t secured it, which meant they were most likely still in there.
With his finger resting next to the trigger, he sent up one, final prayer before giving Dan the green light. Just as they’d been trained all those years ago, the two men opened the cellar door as quietly as they could and began making their way down the stone steps.
Eden’s strained voice traveled through the underground space and to Alex’s ears. His steps faltered when he heard it. The sound was echoed and muffled, but to him, it was as precious as if an angel had just spoken.
“I’m happy with my life, Josiah. I found someone who loves me just the way I am. Someone who supports my gift, rather than seeing it as something to be ashamed of. I no longer feel alone in this world. Read my mind, if you don’t believe me.”
She’s alive.
With a gentle touch to his shoulder, Dan checked to make sure he was okay. Giving his teammate a quick nod, Alex used his free hand to motion around the corner.
Eden was waiting for him there, and he’d be damned if he disappointed her.
The two men stopped again, the sound of flesh striking flesh sending Alex’s head snapping to attention.
He took a step forward, ready to charge in and end the bastard. Thankfully, Dan squeezed his arm to keep him from taking off and running into the unknown situation without a clear plan of action.
Keep it together, Bennett. Eden needs you.
As badly as he wanted to rush in and kill the bastard, Dan was right. He had to focus on this as a mission and ignore the tumultuous emotions burning inside his veins. If he let those rule his actions, he could very well cost Eden her life.
