Don't Look Back

by Lynette Eason

Jamie nodded. “All right. Mom, Dad, I’ll stay with Sam and call you immediately if there’s any change.”

  “We’ll be praying,” her mother said as she leaned over for one more hug. “Also, when Samantha has recovered, there’s something your father and I need to talk to you about.”

  Curiosity and dread hit her. “Something good or bad? Because I don’t think I can handle any more bad.”

  When tears filled her mother’s eyes, Jamie’s heart nearly stopped. “What is it, Mom?” Eyes beseeched her dad.

  The tall man shifted his lanky frame and cleared his throat. “It’s good, Jamie. It’s all good. It’ll be something happy to save for when Samantha’s ready, okay?”

  “Fine.” Something to look forward to. It must be a doozy, though, to induce happy tears in her mother at this tragic time.

  After her parents left to check on when they would be able to see Samantha, she turned to Dakota and whispered, “We have to stop him.”

  He tugged her into his arms. She went willingly, grateful for his strength to lean on if only for a few minutes. Then he set her back from him. “What do you need from your house?”

  She looked down at her bloody clothing. Sam’s blood. “Another change of clothes would be nice, since I didn’t pack enough. I wasn’t planning on … this.”

  “I’ll get Jessica to go in and get you some.”

  “She’ll need the alarm code.”

  “I’ll give it to her.”

  “And the bag in my bathroom. Tell her just to throw everything she sees on the counter into it.”

  “Got it.”

  Jamie watched him make the call while her mind churned. As soon as Samantha was awake, she’d be inundated with questions about what had happened at her house.

  Closing her eyes, she leaned against the wall and waited on Dakota to finish his conversation. God, I want to pray, but I don’t even know what to say. I know this isn’t of you. I don’t want to blame you. I stopped blaming you for all the bad stuff that happened to me a long time ago. I guess I’m just upset because I don’t understand. I don’t get how you could let this happen to Sam. But, she hauled in a breath, I refuse to doubt you. I will believe that you know best. I made that decision a long time ago. Your character hasn’t changed just because of this situation.

  “You’re doing it again.”

  Praying ceased and she jerked her eyes open to blink up at Dakota.

  “You’re praying, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I could tell.”

  “I’m still not sure I understand exactly what you mean.”

  “And I don’t know if I can explain it. But it’s like …” He waved a hand, “something happens on your face.”

  She shot him a perturbed look. “Okay.”

  “Ah, man, I’m just saying that while you looked disturbed and maybe almost angry when you were praying, you also had this relaxed, peaceful … um … countenance? I guess that’s the right word. It’s really odd. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  An idea of what he meant softened her. “I think I understand, but don’t ask me to explain it either. It’s just God, I guess.”

  “I prayed.”

  That stilled her. “You did?”

  “Yes.”

  “And?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think anyone would have accused me of changing physically during my prayer.”

  “That doesn’t mean God didn’t hear it.”

  “Hmm.”

  The double doors whooshed open and Connor stepped through. “They’re taking Sam up to ICU. A crime scene unit is going over my house and officers are interviewing neighbors. Hopefully someone will remember something that will give us a heads-up on this guy.”

  “Great. I’ll go with you. Do you have an officer on Sam’s room?”

  “She’ll be here shortly.”

  “Has Samantha woken up yet?” Jamie wanted to know.

  Eyes clouded as he nodded. “Yes.”

  “Does she know about the baby?”

  “Her first question.”

  “Did she say anything about what happened?”

  Connor clenched his jaw. “Not yet. The doctor didn’t want me pressing her.”

  Jamie paced away three steps, then back. “She’s a cop. She’s thinking about everything, processing it. She’ll tell you soon.”

  “I know.” He blew out a breath. “All right, let’s go see if she’s ready.”

  The trio made their way up to Samantha’s room. Jamie pushed the door open and had to bite her tongue on a gasp. Samantha looked awful. Pale and wan, bruised and battered.

  If only Jamie hadn’t stopped at the lab. They would have gotten there in time. Regret kicked her and she took in a shaky breath.

  Eyes closed, Samantha breathed deep, even breaths. Peaceful, narcotic-induced sleep. Questions would have to wait.

  A cot graced the opposite wall near the bathroom. “Connor, if you need to stay here, I can check into a hotel.”

  He just looked at her. She gave up. Not that she couldn’t be stubborn when the occasion called for it, but right now didn’t seem to be the time.

  Dakota handed her a cell phone. “I got this for you. An officer delivered it while you were sleeping on my arm.”

  Wide-eyed, she reached for it. Her fingers brushed his and she shivered at the contact. A good shiver. She was almost getting used to the feelings he induced in her. A fact that thrilled her and scared her all at the same time. “Thanks.”

  Connor’s phone rang and he snatched it up. “Wolfe here.”

  Jamie tucked the phone into her pocket and walked over to Samantha’s side as Connor talked. Then Dakota’s phone buzzed and the soft chatter filled her ears.

  Focused on her sister, she took in every detail. Her heart hurt.

  “Oh Sam, please get better fast. I need your constant nagging and overprotectiveness more than I ever thought I would.”

  “Thanks a lot, sis,” came the whispered response.

  For a moment, Jamie wasn’t sure she’d heard it, but a quick glance up confirmed Samantha’s eyes were open. “Hey, how are you feeling?”

  “Like I ran into a knife.”

  Jamie grimaced and Samantha squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Not your fault.”

  “He got you under your rib but missed almost everything vital – including your uterus.”

  “The baby’s still okay, right?”

  “Yeah. He’s fine.”

  “He?”

  “Uh-huh.” Jamie forced a grin. “Too many girls in our family. We need a little boy around to shake things up.”

  Samantha laughed, then gasped. “Please don’t make me laugh. It hurts. You don’t think things are exciting enough already?”

  Jamie grimaced. “I meant a different kind of excitement.”

  The guys quit talking and joined Jamie around the bed.

  The door opened and they all turned as one.

  The nurse narrowed her dark eyes on the lot of them. “What do you think you’re all doing in here? This is an ICU room.”

  Between badge flashes and explanations, she quieted her protests and left. But not without shooting them all a dark look and the promise of “I’ll be back.”

  “Don’t leave me here with Nurse Arnold,” Sam begged in a whisper.

  Jamie choked on a surprised laugh and the guys exchanged smirks. Then seriousness descended. “Sam, do you feel like talking about what happened?”

  Samantha grimaced and Connor stroked her hair, his fingers lingering on a bruised cheek. “You don’t have to right now if you don’t feel up to it.”

  “No, I need to. You need to get this guy.” She licked her lips and Jamie handed her the cup of water from the tray. Sam took a sip and said, “I was asleep on the couch. Something woke me up and he was standing there watching me.”

  A shudder.

  Connor’s muttering under his breath.

  Dakota’s hand on her shoulder.


  All of it registered through the roaring in her ears. Jamie knew exactly what Sam was talking about. She used to wake to the same nightmare.

  “I think the terror just froze me, so at first I just sat there. I wasn’t really sure what to do. I didn’t have my weapon, so I waited for him to make the first move.” A frown fluttered between her brows. “That seemed to throw him off.”

  “Why do you say that?” Connor leaned closer.

  “I’m not sure, just a gut feeling.” She sighed, shifted, and groaned.

  Connor said, “That’s enough.”

  “No,” she protested, “just give me a minute.”

  Jamie tried to calm her churning stomach. Dakota slipped an arm around her waist and she shot him a grateful look.

  Samantha continued. “Then I … I sensed something from him. Like he was getting ready to do something, so I threw the remote control at him. It hit him in the head, distracting him long enough for me to make a run for it.” She gave a weak humorless laugh, leaned back and closed her eyes. “Guess I didn’t run fast enough.”

  The door opened. The nurse who said she’d be back. “All right, you people really need to leave. Mrs. Wolfe can’t get her rest if you keep making her talk.”

  Dakota raised a hand. “I’m leaving.” To Connor, “I’ve got a couple more calls to make. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

  “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Dakota left and Jamie wilted onto the cot that had been set up for her.

  Sam whispered something. Jamie glanced at Connor. “What did she say?”

  He shook his head and leaned over Samantha. “Say that again.”

  Rousing herself, words slurring, she said, “He was going for my throat.”

  Jamie sucked in a breath.

  “But I kicked him and he got me in the stomach.”

  Then she was out. Asleep. Or passed out from the drugs, Jamie wasn’t quite sure.

  Lasering a look at Connor, the nurse left the room.

  “He’s escalating, Connor.”

  “I know.”

  “He’s not following his pattern. Going to kill Sam in her own home … that’s a message. He wasn’t interested in carrying out his sick fantasies with her, he wanted to …” She couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat.

  He hugged her close. “We’ll get him, Jamie, we’ll get him.”

  22

  Dakota and Connor arrived back at the house where the investigation was still going strong. Yellow crime scene tape bordered the property. Connor had called Jenna on the way over to tell her not to come home anytime soon.

  Despite being almost midnight, several neighbors stood at the edge of their lawns to gawk.

  Deciding exhaustion could be considered his new best friend, Dakota shoved it aside and climbed from the car. Surveying the scene, he asked Connor, “What do you think about insisting Jamie go to a safe house until this is all over?”

  Flashing badges, they ducked under the tape and made their way inside the house where Dakota figured Jake Hollister, lead CSU, would be processing the kitchen.

  Connor sighed. “We might have to. The only problem with that is, he’ll just wait us out. And possibly find another victim while he’s waiting for her to come out of hiding. She can’t stay in one forever. But we can ask George his opinion.”

  “If this keeps up, she’s going to have to do something, if only for a break from the constant stress. I don’t know how much more she can take without snapping.”

  “Jamie’s strong. Stronger than I think any of us realize.”

  “I know, but with her past … I just think we need to keep a really close eye on her.”

  Connor paused and studied Dakota. “We will.”

  “Right.” He looked at Jake. “What do you have for us, Jake?”

  Jake looked up. Compassion flickered as his gaze landed on Connor. “A lot of Samantha’s blood. A few hairs that I suspect will belong to people you know – or else be unidentifiable. Who knows, though? Maybe we’ll get lucky and get a hit on somebody in the system.” His look said he didn’t hold out much hope on that one. Standing, he nodded to the open kitchen door. “He got in through there.”

  Frowning, Connor strode to the opening. “Samantha didn’t have the door locked? I can’t believe that.”

  “Unless this guy’s got some lock picking skills, that door wasn’t locked. There’s no way for me to tell just by looking at the lock. Plus,” he motioned them on out into the garage, “that window there was wide open. No sign of forced entry.”

  “That’s impossible. There’s no way we would have left the window open. Not with everything going on.”

  Dakota blew out a breath. “And yet, Sam didn’t have the alarm set.”

  Connor went still. “No, she didn’t. Why not?”

  “Were you expecting Jenna?”

  “No. At least not unless she called Samantha to let her know she was coming home, and Sam didn’t say anything about expecting her.”

  “Call Jenna and see what she has to say.”

  Connor immediately got on his phone and placed the call.

  Dakota turned back to Jake but didn’t get a chance to ask his question before the vibration of his phone grabbed his attention. “Hello?”

  “Dakota, this is Jazz. I got a hit on that facial reconstruction. The girl named Karen.”

  “Who is she?”

  “I ran her through NCIC using different search parameters. Four years ago, she was here in Spartanburg from New Jersey visiting relatives when she and a cousin got in a fight. Sharlene Karen Fuller took off and was never heard from again.”

  A strikingly similar story to Jamie’s. Interesting.

  “Have you contacted the family?”

  “Working on it.”

  “All right, thanks, Jazz. Anything else on the other girls? Their last movements, the last people to talk to them, anything?”

  “Not much, but I can fill you in when you come in tomorrow.” “I’m not going to be able to make it to the office tomorrow. Can you send me an email summary? It’ll come straight to my phone.”

  “Sure, I can do that. Also, those handcuffs? We’re working on the online dealers, but so far nothing. And none of the field offices reported anyone buying cuffs in bulk.”

  “Yeah, I kind of figured that’s the way it would play out. You’re still a doll.”

  Dakota hung up the phone and turned to find Connor still in conversation with Jenna. His voice sounded normal enough, but the white-knuckled grip he had on the device didn’t look good.

  “It’s all right, Jenna. No, Sam’s going to be fine. I’ll talk to you later.”

  He lowered the phone, jaw clenched, breathing accelerated. “What?”

  Connor pinched his nose then said, “Jenna snuck out of the house two nights ago. Due to the odd hours Samantha and I keep, we don’t have the chime on the door activated.” Alarm systems allowed owners to choose whether or not a warning sounded when doors opened and closed. “But all of the windows of the house will set it off. The garage windows won’t.”

  “So, she slipped out the door and then the garage window?” “Yeah. Obviously not wiring the garage windows was a gross oversight on my part. First call tomorrow will remedy that.”

  “Let me guess, she didn’t shut it all the way on her return trip.”

  “Nope.”

  “I thought you guys were past all that sneaking out stuff.” Jenna had gone through a rough time last year. In an attempt to get her father’s attention, she’d excelled at rebellion, including sneaking out of the house on a regular basis. But they’d worked through their issues and had seemed to be doing great. Especially since Connor and Samantha’s wedding.

  “I did too. She said she’d explain when she saw me, so it looks like a father-daughter conversation is a priority on the to-do list.” He sighed. “Although I have to be honest and say I don’t think it would have mattered if the window had been locked and wired. He would have figured out anoth
er way in.” He paced two steps forward, three back. “All right, so we know how the guy got in here …”

  Jake nodded and slipped something else inside a plastic bag. Labeled it. Added it to his stash. “He took his weapon with him and went out the way he came in.” He pointed to the trail of blood that had dripped from the knife.

  An officer stepped into the kitchen. “Excuse me, Dakota, Connor, may I have a word?”

  “Sure.” Connor looked up. “You got something?”

  “Yeah, maybe. One of the neighbors reported seeing a guy running through the neighborhood. Another one said a blue Honda sat across from his house for about an hour. Thought it was a little strange because it was parked in front of a house that’s for sale and empty.”

  “Didn’t happen to get plates, did he?”

  “Nope, of course not.”

  Dakota tapped his lip. “Okay, we have more than we did five minutes ago. A blue Honda. Make?”

  The officer consulted his notes. “Um, thought it might be an Accord.”

  “What shade of blue?” Connor asked.

  “He said it was a light blue. A car passed by on the street as he was looking out his window. The headlights flashed on the Honda for a minute, and the guy said he got a pretty good look.”

  “But no plate.”

  “No, sorry.”

  “Did you guys check out the inside of the house?”

  “Absolutely. Empty. With no signs of any recent occupants.” He flipped his notepad closed. “I also called the realtor and got her on the phone. She said the last time she showed the house was a week and a half ago. Her background check came back clean. Same with the owners who were transferred to Canada three months ago. They’re clean too.”

  Connor nodded. “All right. Good job. We’ll just have to work with what we’ve got. It’s better than nothing.”

  Dakota’s phone rang. “Hello?”

  “Hi, it’s Jazz again.”

  “Shouldn’t you be headed home by now?”

  “Not if I want to keep up with everything. How’s Samantha?” He heard the subtle anger in her voice. “She’s hanging in there. Should be fine eventually.” If she didn’t lose the baby. But that wasn’t his news to share.

  “Oh good. When I heard …”

  “I know, Jazz, it’s shaken us all up.”