“So? We've got a man there.”
“You know as well as I do there are no guarantees. Max is full of surprises. I want Grace here where I can protect her.”
Jake laughed. “Is that what you were doing when I got here today? Keeping her safe?”
“That's none of your business.”
“Natalie's been gone a long time, Tyler. I loved her, too. But you need to move on. Get over it. Grace seems like a woman who has her head on straight.” He grinned wickedly. “The rest isn't bad either.”
“Don't go there, Jake.”
Jake held up his hands. “I'm not planning to move in on your territory, but do yourself a favor and admit you're in love with her.”
He wasn't in love with her. He'd admit he felt something...but love? He doubted he'd ever love anyone again. He was too jaded. Yet, he did long to have what his dad and mom had. Their relationship had been solid and strong until the day she died.
Tyler had thought Natalie and he had that kind of relationship, until Max had destroyed that dream. That's why Tyler had to forget how Grace felt in his arms, how she tasted, how she moved when—
“I'm not admitting anything,” Tyler said. “We have a job to do.”
“Any leads?”
“Nothing in the hotels or motels angle. If he's still around, he's got to be holed up in a vacant house. I can't see Max camping in the woods. He's not the type.”
“You're right. My gut tells me he's close by. I just don't know the area good enough to scout him out. We need Grace's help.” He looked at his watch. “Damn it. Where is she? Did you send a guy to Harri's?”
“I asked Rob to fly in, but he's not here yet. I told him to take a cab. He's got the address. He'll call when he lands and I'll tell him to report back once he gets to Harri's place.”
Tyler paced to the kitchen and back bringing a bag of chips. He plopped in the chair and dropped the bag on the coffee table. “Damn. A bomb. How the hell did Max manage that?”
“Easy. We found some traces of C-4. He's no dummy. He rigged it to blow but used just enough to make it a small blast. But why did he target the old man?”
“Because he means so much to Grace. This whole thing is about retribution. He's getting even, but since he and Grace were once an item, he wants to make sure she suffers. No quick kill for her. It's all about power, control, and getting even.”
****
Grace went into her darkened house, leaving the door unlocked. She wanted no obstacles for Max. Her plan was simple. She'd wait for him in her bedroom. Max would expect her to be upset over Brad. He should remember that she became a tiger when backed against a wall. She'd defeated him once, and she'd do it again. When he came after her, she'd pull the gun from under her pillow and shoot him between the eyes.
Her plan had just one flaw. If she turned on the lights, Tyler would know she was home, but if she didn't, Max wouldn't.
Tyler would make her stay at his place or insist on staying here with her. If she didn't set herself up to lure Max in tonight, he'd strike out against someone else she loved. Tyler might think he could outsmart Max, but Grace couldn't take that chance. She picked up the phone and dialed Tyler's number.
“Grace, what took so long?” Tyler's voice told her he'd been concerned. “Where are you?”
“I'm...we're at Harri's. It took a while to convince her to leave Brad. I'm sorry if you were worried.”
“Damn right I was worried. I was ready to come to the hospital and drag you both out.”
“I said I was sorry. It couldn't be helped. She wanted to make sure he'd stay asleep through the night. She loves him.” She took a quick breath. “How's Tiffany?” She could picture Tyler's hand messing his hair in frustration.
“She's fine. I fed her and she ate every bite. Tomorrow we'll take her outside and let her get some strength back in her legs.”
A stabbing pain clutched her chest. She hoped she had the chance to do that, but tomorrow she might be dead. She prayed not, for she wanted so much more. If her plan worked, Max would die in her place. She had to remain confident. She could defeat him. “Thank you.”
“No problem. I'll swing by and pick you and Harri up in the morning. We can stop to see Brad. I know Harri will want to stay with him, but Jake and I need your help. We think Max is holed up in a vacant house. Can you think of any place he might be hiding?”
The cabin at Hannah Falls was the only vacant place on this side of the mountain. If he was staying close, that's where he'd be. Maybe he'd been there all along. She'd thought Adam had followed her and Tyler to Hannah Falls that day, but maybe it hadn't been him. Maybe it had been Max. “I can't think straight tonight. Right now all I want is a hot shower and bed.”
“Okay, babe. Get some rest. We'll talk in the morning. Can you put Harri on the phone for a minute?”
For a moment Grace panicked. “Um, Harri's in the shower right now.” She hated the lies. Hadn't she been upset with him for his deception? She'd held it against him, even though she was as guilty as he for keeping secrets and telling lies. But she was doing it to protect him. A pain twisted her heart. And he'd been doing it to protect her. If she lived through the night, she'd tell him the truth. That she loved him. That she wanted him in her life.
He paused for a second, then said, “Make sure everything is locked up before you go to bed.”
Grace breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He believed her. “I did that as soon as we got here.” She exaggerated a yawn.
“You and Harri get a good night's rest. Call if you see or hear anything suspicious. We're sending a man over to watch the house, but his plane hasn't landed yet. I think you'll be safe enough. I doubt Max knows where Harri lives.”
“I'm sure you're right. Goodbye, Tyler.” She might be saying goodbye forever. She'd might never hear his voice again, never see his face or feel his arms around her. A gnawing ache settled in her chest. After making love with Tyler, she knew without a doubt that she loved him with all her heart. The realization of all she might lose slapped her hard, making her throat tighten and her eyes smart with unwanted tears. She had to stop thinking about it. She couldn't afford to be caught up in these feelings. Not if she had any chance of stopping Max. She had to be strong, and confident, and ready.
She hung up and went into the bedroom to retrieve her gun. She turned on the bedside lamp and opened the drawer on the nightstand. Her heart rate doubled when she saw the gun was missing. In its place was the necklace Max had given her in her other lifetime.
“Is this what you're looking for?”
She didn't have to see him to know Max was behind her.
“We meet again, Gracie Jo.”
“Don't call me that.”
Her eyes frantically searched for a weapon, but there was nothing except the lamp. She slowly stretched her arm toward it.
“Don't even think about it,” Max said.
She straightened and turned to face her nemesis. He stood in front of the closet, holding her gun in his hand.
“What do you want, Max?” she asked.
He gave a short brittle laugh. “So you recognize me? What do you think of my new face?”
“It matches the ugliness inside you. What do you want?”
“I want a lot of things.” His eyes turned feral, his glance narrowing in on hers. “I want you to put on the necklace, Gracie Jo.”
“No.”
He pointed the gun at her.
“You won't shoot me. If you do, people will come running. You can't afford to take the chance. They're on to you, you know.” She took a step forward, trying to bluff him with a confidence she didn't trust.
“Ah, but I don't need to shoot you.” With his free hand, he flipped open a long lethal-looking knife. “Now put on the necklace like a good girl.”
Her chest threatened to explode with fear. She prayed it didn't show in her eyes. The last thing she wanted was for him to see he frightened her.
“I'll scream if you come one step closer.”
>
“This knife will be buried in your heart before the first sound escapes your throat.” His lips pulled upward in a grin that never reached his rat-like eyes. “I said, put the necklace on.”
Grace's hand fumbled in the drawer until she touched the cool stones. She closed her fingers around the necklace and threw it at him. She started to run, but he moved sideways, blocking her exit. She froze. He tossed the gun on the bed. Sweat trickled down her armpits, though her body chilled as if her blood had been iced. The knife kept her attention. She was afraid to look away. Afraid he'd carry through with his threat.
She glanced at the bed from the corner of her eye. The gun was close, but not quite close enough. She clutched her hands into fists, then opened the fingers slowly, willing the blood to warm them.
He picked up the necklace. “Come on, honey.” He held his open palm up, the heavy necklace draping over it. “You don't want it?” He shoved it in his pocket. “Probably for the best. It would just get in the way.” He nodded toward the gun. “I'm giving you a chance. Let's see who's the fastest.”
She read the insanity in his eyes. Her arms felt like lead, while her knees threatened to buckle. She lifted her chin a notch higher. “Like you gave my dog a chance?”
He rubbed the blunt side of the knife along his nose. “Ah, the dog. Most unfortunate. I've always liked dogs.”
Every muscle in her body screamed for her to lunge for the gun and blast his taunting face away. “You're a cruel bastard.”
His eyebrows raised in mock surprise. “Me? You call me cruel, when you disfigured me, then tried to destroy me with your testimony?”
His voice, no longer controlled, boomed through her tiny bedroom. “Do you know how much trouble you caused me? Do you even care?”
“Why should I care? Look what you did to me.”
“All I did was offer you a job where you could make a lot of money.”
“Offer? Hardly. You kidnapped me and forced me to—”
“The way I remember it, you came to me willingly. You liked what I had to offer. And you paid me back by destroying my looks. Just like I'm going to destroy yours. Maybe I won't kill you after all. Maybe I'll just carve you up so bad no man will ever look at you again.” He moved a step closer. “Before I do, do you want to go at it for old time's sake?”
If she could keep him talking, she might be able to get away. She inched her foot closer to the bed.
“You deserved what I did to you, Max. I thought you loved me, but you were only using me. What was I? A trophy?”
“I would have married you. But you left me. You betrayed me.”
“Only after you tried to make me one of your prostitutes. You disgust me. What excuse do you have for hurting Brad? He didn't do a damn thing to you.”
“Brad?” Max touched the tip of the knife to his chin. “Ah, the old man. Were you sleeping with him, too?”
How dare he? She wanted to feel his face cave against her bare hands. Wanted to hear bones crunch. Wanted to dig her fingers into his scrawny neck and choke the life from him. She raised her fists.
“Angry, are you? Hmmm. I've got the knife and you've got...a gun if you're clever enough to get it. Why don't you try? Don't you want to shoot me? Or are you afraid?” He waved the knife in front of his face. “Does this scare you? What if I carved your face a little bit? Just a small teaser of things to come? Once I've finished with you do you think that vet will still want to screw you?”
A thousand spiders crawled up her spine. What were the chances of her reaching the gun in time? If she dove for the bed and rolled, she'd be a moving target, but she had to try.
With a burst of confidence, she threw herself toward the bed and grabbed the gun. She rolled, holding it in two hands, her finger on the trigger, and met his feral eyes gleaming like the blade of steel resting against her throat.
Chapter Fourteen
Tyler snapped his fingers. “Adam. How did I forget about him? He's familiar with everything and everyone in Foxfire. If there's a vacant house, he'll know about it.” He grabbed the telephone book and began scanning the names.
“Will he help us?” Jake asked, leaning over Tyler's shoulder.
“Yeah.” Tyler found the number and dialed. Adam answered on the second ring.
“Adam. This is Tyler. Listen, I need your help. Are there any vacant houses in Foxfire?”
“You wanting to rent a place for your friend?” Adam sounded puzzled.
Since the sheriff knew Tyler worked for Jake, Tyler supposed by now that Adam knew, too. He might appear a bit dim-witted, but nothing transpired in Foxfire without his knowledge. Tyler's undercover days were over. Once Max was caught, Tyler could spend the rest of his life doing what he loved—taking care of animals and loving Grace. It was all within his reach. “No, I'm looking for a place someone might hole up if they didn't want to be found.”
Adam's voice lifted in boyish excitement. “You think that serial killer is hiding in Foxfire? I knew it! I've been trying to tell Brad, but he wouldn't listen. And look what happened to him. Are you going to make me a special deputy or something?”
Tyler grinned despite himself. “I would if I could, Adam, but I'm not a cop. However, you are the resident expert.”
“Do you want me to come down and we can brainstorm? I think I've got a map around here someplace.”
Tyler lifted his hand, thumb and forefinger joined in a circle of success. He grinned at Jake. “That would be a big help, Adam. See you in a bit.” He hung up.
“I wish it was still light outside. Even though Adam knows these hills, we'll probably give ourselves away tromping through unknown territory. We may have to wait until morning after all.”
Jake's phone rang. He put it to his ear and answered. A frown crossed his face. “You're sure?”
“Who is it?” Tyler asked.
Jake turned his back. “Okay. How much time can you buy?”
Another pause. Tyler could tell something big was coming down. Adrenalin flushed his veins, and his stomach tightened in anticipation, just as it always did when his target was in sight. Soon he'd have the satisfaction of avenging Natalie's death. Would he then be able to put aside his guilt and find love again? Did he have a chance with Grace? Did he really want to find out?
Jake hung up and faced Tyler. “You didn't tell me there was a serial killer operating here.”
“What does that have to do with catching Max?”
“They lifted some prints from Brad's house. They match with Max's.”
“So what? We knew Max did that.”
“And they checked Max's DNA to that found on the victims of the Knoxville Knifer. That matches, too.”
****
Adam backed his truck onto the road and headed for Tyler's house. He was flattered that Tyler called him. Most people thought of him as a backwoods hillbilly. Now he had a chance to show them he had a lot more brains than they gave him credit for. He saw a light on at Grace's house and thought about stopping to tell her the news. But that wouldn't do. He should tell Lainey first.
Even as the thought crossed his mind, he turned into Grace's drive. He could use the excuse that he wanted to find out if she had any news about Brad. He'd tell her about Tyler wanting his help, and then he could mention that he thought the killer might be holed up in that old cabin above the falls. Maybe he and Grace could go after the killer themselves. Wouldn't that be the cat's pajamas? They'd have their pictures taken and be on the front page of the newspaper, just like her and that attorney guy. Yessir, people would look up to him after that.
He parked the truck, jogged to her front door and knocked. He called out and knocked again, then walked around to the back when he didn't get a response. Funny, her lights were on. She should be inside. He put his hands on the window and peered inside. He didn't see or hear anything.
Harri had said Grace left with Tyler. Maybe she was still with him. He'd better just drive on down and forget about catching the killer by himself.
Dis
heartened, he walked back to his truck and opened the door. As he slipped behind the wheel, he noticed a light bobbing through the trees beside the path.
The only people who lived on this section of the mountain were Brad, Grace, Tyler and himself. Who could be walking through the woods this time of night?
A chill crept across his scalp, making it feel as if his hair stood on end beneath the ball cap. Maybe the Knoxville Knifer was out there. He couldn't take a chance on letting him get away. He couldn't waste time driving down to the clinic.
He quietly shut the truck door and started the engine. He had to get his rifle. And he'd call Tyler. But he'd be the first one to catch up with the perp. He liked that term. TV cops used it all the time.
Tonight he'd become a hero.
****
Tyler went down to the clinic to close up and turn off the lights. This time Jake accompanied him.
“So this is where you plan to spend your time from now on, huh?”
“Yes. And I think I can convince Dad to join me.”
Jake clapped him on the shoulder. “I hope so. You deserve a new start. Natalie would want that.”
“You're right. She would. You know I loved her with all my heart.”
“I know. She loved you back. But she's gone. Nothing can change that. All we can do is bring her killer to justice. Then I'll be able to sleep at night.”
“Me, too.”
“I don't think you'll get much sleep if Grace has anything to do with it,” Jake quipped.
“I sure hope not.”
They laughed. Jake tilted his head. “Is that a phone ringing?”
Tyler listened but didn't hear anything. “It might have been my cell. I left it upstairs.”
They climbed the stairs to the apartment and Tyler checked his phone. He had one message.
****
Adam knew the killer was headed for Hannah Falls, since the light kept moving in that direction. The secluded cabin would make a perfect hiding place. When Tyler asked if Adam knew a vacant house, he'd immediately thought of his family cabin, long-ago abandoned. He'd planned to show Tyler and his friend where it was, but now Adam would have to go on his own. He'd left a message on Tyler's answering machine, but catching this guy would be up to Adam.
Foxfire Page 16
