MANHUNT (Manhunt - a romantic suspense collection)

by Rita Herron

  At least she had survived. Although experience told him that some victims preferred death to the trauma of living a life after the hell they’d endured.

  What about Lenora? Was she still suffering? Had she managed to put her nightmares to rest and move on with her life?

  Sweat exploded on his brow as guilt assaulted him.

  If she had, he was about to destroy that sense of peace.

  Dammit to hell, the sadist and the other two prisoners who’d escaped the state pen should never have been allowed visitors or mail. Because they had to have had help from the outside to plan their escape.

  Of course, that help could have come from the inside. Other prisoners’ contacts, security officers, chow hall staff, even counselors could be bought with money or sympathy.

  For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why anyone would feel sorry for Robert Simpleton or the other two men because they’d committed heinous crimes against women.

  The FBI was investigating the prison employees and inmates now. Even the warden had fallen under intense scrutiny.

  Thankfully one of the prisoners Geoffrey Jones had been found. A Texas Ranger had beaten the feds to him and killed the bastard.

  He chuckled. Sometimes the feds and rangers fought over jurisdiction. But this time they’d welcomed the help. Dangerous prisoners on the loose tended to cause panic, and there had been four murders inside the prison in one month, meaning the FBI had their work cut out there.

  Ranches and farmland sprawled across the terrain, reminding him of his own spread outside Austin. Lenora would need a safe place to hide until they caught Simpleton.

  What would she think about going to his ranch with him?

  An image of Lenora in his home taunted him. Lenora in his kitchen sipping coffee and sharing breakfast with him. Lenora outside riding across his land…

  Jesus, he could not go there, could not start thinking about her in a personal way.

  His job was to protect her and find Simpleton, not get involved with her.

  Or fantasize about having her for himself.

  No, detective work and relationships didn’t mix.

  He’d make sure Lenora was safe until Simpleton was back in the pen—or dead—then he’d leave her in peace again so she could find the happiness Simpleton had stolen from her.

  LENORA ADJUSTED THE DISPLAY OF WEDDING VEILS HANGING BY THE floor length mirror, then moved on to straighten the shoe rack before rehanging the dresses Edie Nivens had spent the morning trying on.

  Finally the young bride-to-be had chosen a white strapless, sweetheart gown with lacy overlays. Lenora had taken her measurements for alterations and ordered shoes and the veil Edie had wanted.

  Edie had left happy, relaxed and chattering nonstop about her upcoming big day.

  A sliver of sadness threatened to destroy Lenora’s good mood, but she tamped it down. Her mother and everyone else who’d known her before the attack thought she was crazy for opening a bridal shop when her own nuptials had been called off so suddenly.

  When her heart had been broken.

  But she’d rebelled against sympathy and the pitying stares—she’d endured too much of that after her abduction and the trial where she’d had to bare her soul in public.

  So she’d chosen to dive into a career that would allow her to at least experience joy through others’ happiness.

  Just because she hadn’t found true love and her happily-ever-after and didn’t expect to, didn’t mean that she couldn’t enjoy helping others have that special day.

  Truth was, the bridal shop had been cathartic for her. Too long she’d lived in that dark world, undergoing therapy, reliving the nightmares as she relayed details of her ordeal to lawyers and counselors, and then reading about her experiences in the paper the following day.

  She had survived. But not without major scars, mostly invisible to others. The nightmares still tormented her at night. The demons and shadows still haunted her. The fear…threatened to immobilize her at the most unexpected times.

  But she refused to succumb to that fear and let it paralyze her. Focusing on the darkness would rob her sanity.

  And that would be a win for the sick bastard who’d hurt her.

  Her assistant, Jenny Beal, flipped the closed sign on the front store door, then turned to her with a smile. “Whew. What a busy day.”

  “June is the big month for weddings.” Which meant that brides-to-be had to order their dresses and start planning in the summer and fall. Rush jobs made everything more stressful and created unnecessary problems.

  “Go on home,” Lenora said. “I’ll stay and finish for the day.”

  Jenny beamed a smile. “Thanks, Lenora. My boyfriend said he had plans for us tonight.”

  Lenora’s heart fluttered. “You think he’s going to propose?”

  Jenny’s green eyes lit up. “I don’t know. I hope so!” She laughed, then practically bounced across the room in her excitement, her ponytail bobbing as she slung her purse over her shoulder and rushed out the back door.

  Lenora watched her leave with a mixture of emotions. Joy for the twenty-three year old filled her. Even though she was only twenty-eight herself, she felt old. Ancient.

  Hardened. Jaded.

  And…lonely.

  Had she ever been that naive and full of dreams?

  Yes…before Robert Simpleton.

  But he was locked away now and she was safe. That was all that mattered.

  Sighing, she walked over to the cash register, tallied up the money and receipts for the day, then removed the credit card slips and checks and put them in the safe in her office. Tomorrow she’d make a bank deposit, but tonight she had a date with a bubble bath.

  A noise sounded from the back, and she startled. Damn her nerves. It was probably just Jenny coming back for something. She was notorious for forgetting her keys.

  She headed to the double doors leading to the back, but a knock on the front door made her jump.

  Irritated with herself for being so jittery, she turned and walked to the front, then peered through the glass expecting to see Jenny.

  But her breath caught at the sight of a man on the front stoop.

  Not just any man. Sgt. Micah Hardin.

  Memories flooded her. The dark prison room, his deep voice calling to her, his warm hand clasping hers and pulling her out, his strong arms carrying her to safety and into the light.

  She’d had such a difficult time and hadn’t trusted anyone but him back then, so the prosecutor had asked him to stay throughout the trial. His soft reassurances as he’d supported her through her testimony had saved her.

  The familiar sting of tears, panic and fear seized her. She hadn’t seen the Texas Ranger in years.

  There was only one reason she could think of that he was here now.

  Robert Simpleton must be out of jail.

  And if he was, he was on his way to find her and kill her.

  MICAH’S GUT CLENCHED AT THE INSTANT FEAR THAT SNAPPED INTO Lenora’s eyes as she opened the door to her bridal shop.

  Had she already heard about the prison escape?

  Feminine scents suffused him as he stepped inside, the sight of dozens of bridal gowns, veils, shoes and accessories striking him as ironic. He’d heard Lenora had opened a wedding shop and thought it odd since her fiancé had dumped her before the trial.

  But an image of Lenora in the satin sheath hanging in front of the mirror to the right hit him, and his aching heart skipped a beat.

  “Micah,” she said in a throaty whisper. “You should have called.”

  “I wanted to see you in person.” And offer my services to protect you.

  She crossed her arms, her delicate jaw tightening just enough for him to see that she was nervous and trying to hide it. He’d noticed the same telltale signs at the trial.

  Then he’d managed to soothe her because Simpleton was in custody.

  Now…

  “What happened?” she asked, her eyes searching hi
s.

  He wanted to lie and tell her that he’d just been in the area and thought he’d drop by and check on her. But he couldn’t do that and protect her.

  “Three prisoners broke out of the state pen,” he said bluntly. “I’m afraid Robert Simpleton was one of them.”

  ROBERT SIMPLETON RIPPED OFF HIS PRISON UNIFORM IN THE bathroom, grinning as he looked down at the initials he’d carved on his upper arm.

  LL. Lenora Lockhart.

  A vision of blond loveliness that had fueled his wet dreams in prison for the last few years. He wanted to touch her, hold her, shove his dick down her throat and inside her.

  Make her pay for what she’d done to him.

  All this time he’d done without a woman because of that bitch.

  He yanked on the T-shirt and jeans his friend had stashed in the car for him, then pulled out the mustache and side burns kit and began creating his disguise.

  Lenora would remember the scraggly locks of hair that he once had, but she wouldn’t recognize the shaved and totally tattooed head that was now his signature. The snakes that crawled across his bald head wrapped around a skeleton’s bones.

  Twenty minutes later, he eyed his new look in the mirror with a grin and admired the artwork that adorned his entire body.

  Someone knocked on the door, then his friend’s voice called his name.

  “You about ready, Robert?”

  He chuckled to himself. Keeping in good with Cissy had been a smart move on his part. Cissy had always wanted him.

  He opened the door and hauled her inside. Her startled yelp turned to a sultry smile as he tore her shirt off, lowered his mouth and sucked her tits.

  “God, Robert, I’ve wanted you for so long,” she whispered.

  She smelled like sweat, cigarettes and booze, the latter two nearly making him gag. Lenora had smelled feminine, like lavender and sweetness, the way a woman should.

  At least she had when he’d first abducted her.

  Cissy ran her tongue across his jaw and anger sparked inside him. He didn’t want her.

  He wanted Lenora.

  But Cissy ripped down his zipper and shoved at his pants, then closed her hand around his dick, and he groaned. If he didn’t hurry, he was going to come all over her hand. He’d had enough hand jobs in prison.

  Breath heaving, he spun her around, pushed her up against the bathroom wall, shoved her skirt up and gripped her hips. She wore black panties that he ripped with one hand, then he thrust his bulging cock inside her.

  She groaned his name, clawing at the wall as he fucked her senseless. Their bodies slammed against each other, sweat sliding against sweat, his cock ramming harder and harder until he exploded inside her.

  His cum dripped down her legs as he pulled out.

  “I love you,” she whispered. “Now we can finally be together.”

  Disgust filled him at the sight of her. Instead, Lenora’s beautiful face flashed in his mind, taunting him.

  Cissy might have wanted him forever. But he had other plans for his future.

  A future that didn’t involve her.

  She twisted in his arms, smiling as she turned to face him, her tits red and swollen from his mouth, her eyes still glazed with passion.

  And the promise of more.

  But there would be no more for her. She’d served her purpose.

  He slid one hand down and retrieved the pocketknife she’d included in the duffel bag, flipped it open and slit her throat.

  Her gasp of pain and shock made his cock harden again, and he stroked himself as he watched the blood drain from her. Then he carefully carved the X between her breasts. He wanted to mark her as he had his other victims. Wanted the world to know that he was back.

  Satisfied, he dropped her lifeless body to the floor, yanked his pants back up, grabbed the duffel bag, and stuffed the toiletry kit inside.

  The clock was ticking, the minutes passing. The cops would be looking for him. They might warn Lenora he was coming.

  But he’d find a way to get her.

  To have her.

  And this time no one would stop him.

  CHAPTER TWO

  MICAH HATED THE PANIC THAT FLICKERED ACROSS LENORA’S FACE.

  But how could he blame her? He’d listened to every horrific detail of what Robert Simpleton had done to her and knew her mind was traveling back to that painful place.

  A place he’d vowed she’d never have to visit again.

  But if Simpleton found her, he would take her back there or worse. Who knew what kind of torture his sick mind had invented while he’d been locked in a cell?

  Lenora leaned against a display of bridal books, her face paling. “How did it happen?”

  “A fire broke out in the prison. While officers were moving inmates from that wing to another, one of the prisoners jumped an officer, stole his gun, and Simpleton and two other men escaped.” Micah hesitated, wishing he had better news. “A statewide manhunt is underway, but at this point we don’t know where Simpleton is.”

  “He’ll come after me,” Lenora said in a matter-of-fact voice.

  He wanted to argue that fact, but there was no use. She had lived with the man for three weeks—she knew his evil, sadistic side. Worse, they’d both heard him promise retribution for her testimony at the sentencing.

  Simpleton was a cold-blooded murderer. Lenora was the only victim who’d survived.

  The one who’d put him in jail.

  He wouldn’t stop until he exacted his revenge.

  LENORA GRIPPED THE EDGE OF THE TABLE TO STEADY HERSELF. SHE could not fall apart in front of Micah.

  He’d witnessed her weak side, seen her at her worst. But she’d worked too hard to overcome her fears and nightmares to allow herself to backtrack.

  But how could she not?

  Robert Simpleton was conniving, smart, a sociopath—and there was no doubt that he wanted revenge against her. It wasn’t if he would show up, but when.

  She had to be prepared.

  The self-defense classes she’d taken hopefully would help, although at the moment, every move and technique she’d been taught escaped her.

  Because the old familiar panic was back, gnawing at her insides like a rabid animal.

  “You should probably shut down the shop for a few days, or at least take off until we catch Simpleton,” Micah said. “Do you want me to drive you some place? Maybe to your mother’s?”

  Lenora’s head was spinning, the instinct to run hitting her. “Not my mother’s,” she said. “I won’t do anything to put her in jeopardy.”

  Micah’s dark brown eyes pierced her. “Is there a friend or other family member you can stay with? Some place Simpleton might not know about?”

  “No.” Her withdrawal and depression after the abduction had cost her all of her former friends. She and Jenny were close now, but on a working basis.

  Even her relationship with her mother had become strained. Her mother wanted to protect her, wanted her to live at home with her. But Lenora had to regain her independence or she’d go insane.

  Still Simpleton wouldn’t know that. He was a monster who preyed on women. He’d use Jenny, even her mother to get to her.

  “If he doesn’t already know about my bridal shop, it’ll be easy for him to find out,” Lenora said, forcing herself to think defensively. “If I can’t convince my mother and friend Jenny to go away, I want protection for them.”

  “Done.” He removed his phone from his belt. “Why don’t you call them and explain while I talk to my superior.”

  Lenora nodded, moving on rote. Jenny was a sweetheart and a great employee. She was also one of the only friends she’d made since her ordeal.

  One who didn’t know about her past.

  Lenora needed her privacy, needed someone who wouldn’t look at her with pity.

  She clenched her hands into fists. God, she hated to dirty Jenny with the details now.

  But if Robert Simpleton hurt Jenny or her mother, she’d never forgi
ve herself.

  Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down, not surprised to see her mother’s number. She must have seen the news and would be terrified. She’d handle her, then her friend.

  But she had to tell Jenny in person, convince her that Simpleton was dangerous.

  Her hands itched to retrieve the gun she’d bought after the attack. She’d vowed never to be as vulnerable as she had been the night he’d taken her. Never to let down her guard.

  When that monster came for her, she had to be ready. And if he tried to touch her, she’d blown his brains out.

  MICAH STEPPED OUTSIDE THE SHOP TO MAKE THE PHONE CALL, carefully keeping an eye on the street and doorway in case Simpleton showed up. Odds were that the man already knew where Lenora lived and worked.

  And that he’d come in disguise.

  Photographs of him were plastered all over the news and papers. He’d have to alter his appearance.

  The bridal shop sat on the corner of one street next to a florist and bakery that probably made it easier for Lenora’s clients and her to coordinate their events.

  He punched in the number to contact his superior, Lieutenant Angus Roper, while visually assessing the area surrounding Lenora’s shop as the phone began to ring. Being on the corner meant no neighbors on one side, allowing access from the front, a side window and the back.

  A street separated the building from the next row of businesses which housed a beauty parlor, barber shop, tack shop and boot store. Midday, cars filled most of the spaces along the streets, and a dozen were parked in a lot beside the diner. People were going in and out of businesses, mothers strolling babies along the sidewalk, a florist delivery man loading the back of his van with flowers.

  The phone buzzed twice while he walked to the corner then to the side and back. An alley ran along the back of the buildings with parking for employees, dumpsters, and loading docks for vendors.

  His stomach knotted as he searched for security cameras and found none.

  The phone buzzed again, then Lt. Roper’s throaty voice echoed back. “Where are you, Hardin?”