by Debra Webb
"Hey." Sarah's lips stretched wide without prompting.
"You wear it all the time?" Matilda looked at the leather necklace before meeting Sarah's gaze.
Sarah touched the medallion where it rested between her breasts. It fell just beneath the scooped neck of her one black dress. "I do."
"Good." Matilda tossed her cigarette to the ground, uncaring that anyone who saw her would consider the move sacrilegious.
"I went to your house yesterday." Sarah noted again the dark circles under the girl's eyes. Did she have trouble sleeping, too? Judging by the place she lived, probably.
"I know."
"Your mom told you?"
She shook her head, stared past Sarah. "I saw you there."
Sarah glanced back to see what she was looking at. Conner waited near Sarah's car. "Why did you hide from me?"
Matilda cut her eyes toward Conner again. "He was with you."
Sarah folded her arms. "Oh, yeah?"
Matilda nodded.
"You don't like him?"
She shrugged. "His family doesn't like me."
"They don't know you," Sarah argued. "There's a difference."
"I just came to make sure you were wearing the necklace." Matilda took a step back. "I gotta go."
"Matilda, wait. I need to ask you a question." Sarah held very still no matter that she wanted to advance that extra step yawning between them.
"I can't answer it."
Sarah inclined her head. "You don't know the question yet."
"Ask."
"When you say the devil has always been here and the cops can't catch him… are you talking about the devil or the person who killed Valerie and Alicia?" She purposely didn't mention Pope's name.
Matilda didn't answer, didn't move for a moment, then she said, "They're the same, aren't they."
Sarah's heart thudded hard. "Are they?"
Matilda didn't answer, just stared at Sarah.
"Do you know him?" Sarah's pulse jumped.
"Everyone knows him." Matilda backed up another step. "They just don't realize it yet. Like you."
"Then help me. You said he was rich."
She glanced past Sarah again.
"Just give me a name," Sarah urged. "If you think you know—"
"He's watching me." She suddenly advanced those two steps she'd retreated. She went nose-to-nose with Sarah. "He's watching you, too."
"You're saying it's Pope?"
Matilda shook her head, looked confused. "I don't know. Maybe I'm confusing all the talk and what I feel." She banged her hand against her chest. "But I can feel the evil the same as I can see you." She searched Sarah's eyes. "You feel it, don't you?"
"Yes." Sarah recognized the feeling for what it was. She'd sensed something here… someone here. "I feel it."
"Then find him. I keep dreaming about the ocean. I think it fuels him… makes him feel powerful. That's why he can't leave… he needs to be here." She looked past Sarah again, her eyes went wide. "I have to go—"
Sarah looked back at the parking lot's dispersing crowd. "I want to—" She turned back to Matilda.
She was gone.
Sarah's heart hammered. Matilda was scared as hell. She was definitely confused. But her instincts were humming.
Just as Sarah's were.
But she needed more than the ramblings, however heartfelt, of a teenager before casting suspicion on a man like Pope.
"You want to go have coffee?"
At the sound of Conner's voice, Sarah wheeled in that direction.
Irrationally, her frustration heightened. "I'm not in the mood for crowds."
"Who said anything about a crowd?" He searched her eyes, his saying all that needed to be said.
Sarah's attention shifted to the last of the people drifting aimlessly down the church steps.
The Popes climbed into their regal Infiniti. Jerri Lynn hugged Tamara, then dashed over to join her family.
Rachel Appleton, her husband, and two sons drifted into Sarah's line of sight.
Rachel turned and for one fleeting instant she looked directly at Sarah. That ache Sarah couldn't seem to banish swelled. She watched the family walk to the waiting car and settle in. The car drove away.
Sarah blinked, then blinked again, severing the painful bond. "Yes," she said to Conner. Determination and undeniable desperation bursting inside her. "We'll go to your place. We'll have coffee and then we'll have sex."
When she would have turned to her car, he snagged her elbow, drew her close. "We'll go to my place. Have coffee…" He put his face close to hers. "And we'll make love."
She pulled free of his hold and stalked to her car without looking back.
Didn't have to.
He would be right behind her.
He could call it whatever he wanted. Sarah would fortify herself with what Conner had to offer and then, by God, she would find that fucking killer.
For Valerie and Alicia and their families.
For Matilda.
They barely got inside the door of his house before she was tearing his clothes off.
Sarah couldn't explain it. Didn't try.
Thinking was out of the question right now.
She needed to feel.
Between their frantic kisses, he muttered, "Down, Angie."
The dog had reared up to greet her master.
She slinked off to the rug in front of the couch.
"Sorry," he muttered to Sarah.
She didn't care… dragged him toward the bedroom.
She hadn't been in there before but she knew the way.
The rest of his clothes hit the floor by the time they reached the bed.
He peeled off her dress, unsnapped her bra, and lifted her onto the bed. She couldn't get enough of his taste… of the feel of his skin. Her panties skimmed her legs, caught on her sneakers. She toed them off. Kicked free of the panties.
He burrowed between her legs and thrust into her.
She sighed.
Fear trickled past the other sensations as she realized a cold, hard fact. Here… now… with him… she felt right.
She felt safe.
As if sensing her tension, he kissed her, nuzzled her neck, then he began to move and the fear melted away.
Legs intertwined, bodies joined, she lost herself to the primal heat and motion.
To Conner.
Wednesday, March 4, 2:30 A.M.
The telephone clanged.
Sarah was dreaming… sweet, hot dreams.
Her lips parted, lifted.
Skilled hands moved over her skin. Seeking lips tugged at her nipple.
Conner…
Another long, loud clang.
The dream faded. The arms holding her released her. The hot, hard body spooning hers rolled away.
"Hello."
Her eyes drifted open at the rough, sexy sound of his voice.
Conner. She was with him… in his bed.
Sex. Hot. Frantic. Life-reaffirming.
She was safe. With him. Her stomach knotted with uncertainty. If she got in any deeper—
"What?"
Conner rose up, dropped his feet to the floor. "When?"
Sarah pushed the hair out of her eyes as she sat up. She studied his rigid profile. What the hell had happened now?
"I'll be right there." He placed the handset back into its cradle. Sat stone-still.
"What's wrong?" Adrenaline cleared the last of the sleep from her head.
As if her question had reanimated him, he jumped up, groped for his trousers. "It's Polly. She didn't come home."
"Wait." Sarah scooted off the bed, her pulse scrambling. "Where'd she go?"
"With the other kids to the auditorium."
Sarah pulled the dress over her head, yanked it down her hips. "And?" she demanded as she tugged on her shoes. Please, no… not Polly.
He stopped buttoning buttons. Stared at her. Terror in his dark eyes. "No one's seen her since."
CHAPTER 32
; Polly was cold.
So cold.
She tried to move. Couldn't. Her hands were stuck between her legs and taped to her feet. She tried to scoot on her butt and fell onto her side. Her head hit a rock. She cried. The tape burned her lips.
God, help me!
Her silent plea shuddered through her. Made her stomach ache. She'd puked before. Almost choked. Had to swallow it or strangle to death. She'd peed her pants.
God, oh God, where was she?
What happened?
She remembered going outside to talk to Matilda. She'd promised to meet Polly there. But she hadn't shown.
Was she here, too?
Polly's heart started that crazy pounding again. Felt like she was going to have a heart attack.
She wiggled, scooted, jerked until she got back up onto her butt. She couldn't see. Something was tied around her eyes.
Listen!
If Matilda was here and taped up like her, then she might make sounds Polly could hear.
The air echoed in Polly's ears. Like she was someplace deep under the ground. She was sitting on rocks. Hard. Bumpy. Not smooth or flat.
It was cold. She shivered. So cold.
She didn't hear anybody else. Just the water. Was she close to the ocean?
She tried to listen harder.
Her body started to shake again. She cried. Didn't mean to. Couldn't help it.
Kale! Please come get me! Mom!
They had to find her. They would be looking. She knew they would.
Her mom and her brothers wouldn't forget her. Her dad wouldn't let them.
Polly's shuddering body suddenly stilled. Her insides got real quiet. Like she couldn't think anymore. Just nothing. No feelings… no anything. Then her thoughts came at her all at once.
What had happened to her?
Where was she?
Who had done this?
Memories of going to the memorial service with her family flooded her brain.
Then she knew the answers to all her questions.
The devil had gotten her… just like he got Valerie and Alicia.
Matilda had warned her to be careful.
Polly was going to die…
She jerked. Tried to get her hands free. Tried to wiggle her feet free.
Help me.
Please, Jesus, help me.
Kale!
Her chest heaved. Mom! Jamison!
Find me. Please, please, find me.
CHAPTER 33
Youngstown High School gymnasium, 7:00 A.M.
As if the dire situation needed any help, the winter storm everyone but Sarah appeared to know about had dropped three inches of snow in the last four hours.
Sarah wished she could give Conner hope.
But in this case there was no precedence for hope.
No evidence that had led to a real suspect.
There was no genuine hope to offer.
Chief Willard called for silence. The assembled mob settled down.
"You have your search areas. Stay with your assigned groups. And for God's sake, be careful out there. We're all worried sick about Polly but we don't need anyone getting hurt and slowing down the search. Now let's get going."
Groups of citizens piled out the exit doors.
More than one bumped into Sarah as they rushed out of the gym. She tiptoed. Looked for Kale. She saw the top of his dark head as he exited with Deputy Brighton and several others whose faces she didn't recognize.
At some point this morning, maybe during that terrifying epiphany, she'd decided to call him Kale.
If she could just find him now…
She looked around again. No luck.
"Sarah."
Her attention shifted right. Jerald Pope approached her. She was surprised to see him here. Yeah, he was a lifelong resident but rich guys like him didn't usually get involved on this level. Tossing money around was one thing, but trudging around in the snow and cold was entirely another.
"I didn't see you in the crowd," she said by way of greeting.
He glanced around the gym. "It's a good showing of community support. Many of the people are from surrounding towns."
"Yeah." She glanced at the last of the teams filing out the doors. "I should get out there."
"If you haven't already been assigned to a group, you can go with us." Jerald gestured to where his wife waited with their group. "We'd love to have you join us."
Sarah started to say no… but since both his wife and daughter were in his group as well as the Harvey family and another she didn't recognize, she changed her mind. "Sure."
"You know the Harveys, of course," Jerald said as they walked toward the group. "Yeah."
"It was important to Jerri Lynn that we be a part of their group."
Sarah just bet it was.
Quick introductions were made and car assignments given. Sarah would be riding with Jerald and Lynda Pope and two of the people she didn't recognize.
She'd hoped to get some time with Barton Harvey since he'd obviously been avoiding her. The swelling in his cheek had diminished but the red had turned a less than attractive shade of blue. Maybe that was why he'd avoided her. He had to know she knew.
As they exited the gym, coat hoods went up and gloves went on. She decided to go for broke. "Mr. Harvey."
He paused. The others kept going. Everyone wanted to get started. Engines roared as vehicle after vehicle rushed from the snowy parking lot.
"I missed you at the inn. I had a question for you."
"We need to catch up with our assigned groups," he groused.
"Valerie Gerard worked for you last summer." Sarah watched his eyes. She had to word her question very carefully or risk giving away her source. "Was she having problems? I understand the two of you had some pretty intense discussions."
His pupils flared. "I've been over this with the chief. Ask him your question."
He turned away. What the hell? "Were the two of you involved?"
Barton Harvey halted. For three beats the snow fell around him and everything else seemed to stop.
Then he walked away, left her standing there without a response.
Whether he knew it or not, he'd just given Sarah his answer. He was definitely hiding something. Something intensely personal… to him.
She dashed to the waiting SUV. Mercedes. Black.
Sarah climbed into the back seat with the other two passengers. Loren and Carla somebody.
The ride to Beauchamp Road was silent. The Popes had been given that area since it was their home territory. Judging by the pricey coats the other two were wearing they were from the same exclusive neighborhood.
As they unloaded, Jerald suggested directions for dividing up the area. Loren whatever-his-name-was agreed. He and his wife headed south. In the distance Sarah could see another vehicle doing the same.
"Sarah," Jerald said, "the three of us will take the north end of our sector."
The shore. The water.
The ocean fuels him… makes him feel powerful.
"Jerald knows every cave in the area," Lynda explained.
Sarah's gaze settled on Jerald Pope. Rich. Powerful. Lived by the water. Had always lived here. Instinct nudged her. She glanced at his feet, at least a size ten. She had no plausible reason to consider him more of a suspect than anyone else. Other than the instincts of a kid.
"You're sure you're up to this?" he asked his wife.
She nodded. "I'll be fine." She glanced at Sarah. "I want to do my part."
Jerald led the way behind his home. The steps carved from the cliffs would have made going easier had they not been covered with a fresh blanket of snow.
Lynda's descent was closely monitored by her husband. Sarah's instincts hummed but she was torn. Part of her wanted to watch every move Pope made. But the other part of her, the part that wasn't so certain, kept dragging her attention back to his wife. Lynda looked physically fit. Why would she not be up to this?
As they reached the shore, Jerald
surveyed left then right. "If we split up, we can work faster. I'll take this side." He pointed left. "Sarah, why don't you and Lynda take that direction?"
"How far do we go?" Sarah didn't know the area well enough to comprehend the division of territory. Right now, focusing on the search was top priority. She could analyze the Popes an hour from now.
"About two miles." Jerald looked to Lynda. "To the Point. Sam Drake's team is taking the sector beyond that as well as the loop that circles the woods."
"We'll meet you back here," Lynda assured him.
Jerald glanced back once as he headed left.
Sarah had to restrain the need to run after him. Was letting him out of her sight a mistake? There was no legitimate reason to jump to conclusions.
"There are two caves on our side," Lynda explained as she ushered Sarah to the right. "The Point he mentioned is the parking area where those who live on the islands"—she indicated the four small islands that dotted the inlet—"leave their vehicles to travel by boat out to whichever one they own."
Sarah nodded, forced herself to focus. She had her flash-light in her bag. She was sure Lynda had one in her bag as well since the chief had gone over the list of items each team needed to ensure they carried.
The walk along the rocky shore was rough going. The snow had melted enough to be treacherous between the rocks since the temperature hovered around thirty-eight degrees. They were very lucky the storm hadn't brought colder air or search efforts would be exceedingly limited.
Sarah kept thinking how devastated Conner's family was. And of Polly's bubbly spirit. If she was out here—Sarah surveyed the foggy shoreline—she would be scared, possibly injured.
Polly would die… just like the others… if she wasn't found. Fast.
Sarah didn't want that to happen. An unfamiliar ache rose in her chest. She had to figure this out. Damned fast.
"The first cave is over here." Lynda pointed to the cliffs. "Access is limited to the first twenty or so feet." She glanced at Sarah. "It's pretty cramped in there."
"Do you want me to go first?" Lynda shook her head. "I can go first." As they reached the mouth of the cave, the icy water stood in their path. Only a few inches deep, but without boots that frigid cold was going to suck.
