by Paris Hansen
“Why here? This isn’t his usual disposal site, right? Side of the road, back alley, that kind of thing is what he’s used to, so why here?” Sloane asked, her arms stretched out at her sides as she spun around.
She didn’t like how many differences there were between Tasha Simpson and the victims before her. It made her uneasy and uncertain, two things she hated feeling.
“The big difference here is she gave birth naturally. That takes time, or so I’ve heard. Which means he has to improvise. He has to wait it out so he doesn’t hurt the baby. We talked about him having somewhere to take the women now; maybe that’s somewhere closer to here than the city.”
“He disposed of Sabrina in an alley near her work. So, if he’s taking them somewhere near here, why drive her back to Oakland? Why not dispose of her somewhere closer to where he killed her?”
“Maybe he’d planned on taking Tasha back to where he grabbed her too, but circumstances changed when she went into labor. I doubt he’d want to lead us closer to his kill spot if he had a choice. He’s been smart about disposal spots so far, even with the women he attacked and left in their homes. They’ve been all over the place.”
“But all were near Hayward the first time around. We figured he must live around there; it was his comfort zone. Now we have a victim from Oakland and one from Danville. We need to figure out what these two have in common and what, if anything, they have in common with the others.”
Cade nodded. “We should head back and update everyone else, then see what we can come up with. We need a game plan on what to do next. I don’t think we’re going to get much from Dr. Miller, at least not right away. Hopefully, there will be something we can use in what he’s able to send to the lab.”
Sloane followed Cade to his rental, scanning the crowd gathered around the crime scene as she did. Their unsub was anything but typical, but on the off chance he was there watching them, she wanted to take in the faces of everyone standing around. None of them looked familiar, which meant they hadn’t been at the scene the day before. As she climbed into the car, she felt a weight settle on her shoulders. There was something she was missing, and it felt like it should be obvious.
If she was going to figure out what it was, Sloane would need to go back to the drawing board. Although she started the process the night before, it wasn’t enough. She needed to look at the big picture, but also at the little details. She needed to look at what the victims had in common, and if anything other than being pregnant, put them on the killer’s radar. And she needed to hurry before he either disappeared again or found another woman to violate and murder.
Neither option was acceptable, but Sloane worried that with each passing second, the unsub was quickly on his way to making one of them a reality.
Chapter Fifteen
For the first time in a long time, he felt like everything was finally going his way. The day before had been a rush he hadn’t expected. When he woke up feeling like a new chapter of his life was starting, he couldn’t help but smile. Maybe now he could finally take his shot. He’d been saving her for something better. Could it be ‘better’ was finally right around the corner?
He felt like he practically floated through the first part of his day, moving through his tasks at work without feeling like all of his responsibilities were weighing him down. It was a feeling he could get used to. One he hoped to share with the beautiful blonde he couldn’t get out of his head.
Now that he didn’t need her for other things, he had to figure out a way to gather up the courage to approach her. He was fairly certain she was single. There was never anyone around her except for her two roommates, both of whom were women. He guessed there was always a chance she could be a lesbian, but he didn’t think so. Not based on a conversation he’d overheard one day during lunch.
Speaking of, he needed to get going if he was going to make their standing lunch date. Well, her standing lunch date. He was just a lucky bystander who got to enjoy the warmth of her smile while she had lunch with her friends. Quickly, he grabbed his jacket and baseball hat from the break room and made his way downstairs and through the revolving door.
Once on the sidewalk, he took a left to walk down to the end of the block. Standing in front of the restaurant on the corner, he peered through the window and smiled. A month ago, he’d looked inside for the first time and saw her. He immediately knew she was special. It was love at first sight, but then a few days later, things changed. It was then he realized he might need her, which gave him the perfect excuse to watch her.
Every other day she had lunch in the very same restaurant at the very same time with a couple of her friends. Both of them worked in the same building he did while his dream woman worked somewhere nearby. That little tidbit he learned the first time he joined them for lunch. They always claimed the same booth right across from the big picture window.
Between them and the window were a few two-seater tables, and thankfully, one of them was usually open. He loved to sit at one of those tables, his back to her and her friends. It was the perfect seat, the very best of both worlds. He was close enough to enjoy their conversation while he watched her reflection in the window. It didn’t matter that she was slightly distorted, he could still see her beautiful smile.
Today he felt a bit bolder. He no longer needed her for the baby she carried inside of her, so he could risk her seeing his face. Instead of sitting with his back to her, he would face her table. When she smiled, he would smile. When she laughed, he’d laugh. Maybe they’d make eye contact, and she would see in his gaze how much he admired and respected her.
Nervous energy coursed through him as he opened the door to the restaurant and stepped inside. The place was near capacity thanks to the lunch rush. Despite the crowd, she and her friends were in their booth, and right across from her was his spot. In front of him were a few other people looking for seats. He tapped his foot against the patterned carpet, mentally berating them for taking so long. It wasn’t like there were a ton of options, but yet they acted like where they sat was the single most important decision of their day. For them, it probably wasn’t, but for him, if he missed out on being near her, it would ruin the great mood he’d woken up in.
When they made their way to a table in the opposite direction, he made a beeline for his spot so he could claim it with his jacket. Now that he was there, he didn’t want to be bothered to get in line to order his food. But he couldn’t very well sit there and stare at her without at least pretending to eat, and you couldn’t pretend to eat if you didn’t have any food.
Thankfully the line to get food wasn’t too long, and he was able to make it back to his table quicker than he thought. He didn’t want to miss any of the time he got to spend with her. Someday it would be just the two of them and he would be the one sharing the table with her and not her friends. His heart thudded harshly against his breastbone as it dawned on him that someday could be a hell of a lot closer than he ever dreamed possible.
Once he was sure everything was perfect at home, he would need to figure out how to make a move. He wasn’t the most skilled when it came to women, and the blonde was so far out of his league it was intimidating. Not that he planned on letting that stop him. It was time he lived the life he wanted. He’d still have responsibilities that took priority, but he would make room for her and her child. They could become one big happy family. He would be everything she didn’t know she needed and more.
Until then, he’d sit back and observe. He’d learn everything he could about her so he could better prepare himself for the day he could approach her. Doing his research had benefited him greatly so far; it could only continue to help. Maybe even give him a leg up. Women loved a man who listened, who was attentive to her needs.
As he wiped his mouth with his napkin, a smile spread across his face. Everything was falling into place. He had a plan for his future, for his family’s future. He had a woman he couldn’t wait to get to know better. The life he’d only been able t
o dream about for so long could finally become a reality.
Amber Newman didn’t know it yet, but the day she crossed his path was the beginning of something amazing. Soon, she’d understand. Soon, she’d know what it was like to be happy and loved and well taken care of. Soon, she’d know the loyalty of a good man.
Soon, he’d have everything he’d ever wanted, and he couldn’t wait.
Chapter Sixteen
“What’s the plan now? We’ve got two victims, two missing babies, and not a single suspect. We don’t even really have a plan of attack.”
Sloane felt pretty helpless before the words were out of her mouth, but afterward, she felt even worse. Sure, she’d been in town for less than 24 hours, but her being there hadn’t done a bit of good. If anything, she’d been more distracting than helpful. She needed to change that and actually do some good for the victims, but her hands were more or less tied. She didn’t have a lot of say in what they did, especially with Reid still wrapped up in some bullshit meeting.
Relaxing back into the passenger seat, she waited for Cade to start the car. She figured they’d make their way back to the office to meet with the rest of the team. Glancing over at him, Sloane watched him study his phone and guessed he must’ve gotten a text while they were looking at the body.
“How do you feel about doing a few interviews?” Cade asked as he met her gaze. “Reid’s had the team scheduling a bunch of them this morning. He sent me our list of people and their addresses. I hope you don’t mind being stuck with me for a bit longer.”
Sloane smiled. She didn’t mind being stuck with him at all. It was nice to finally have someone she was working with trust her when all she had was her gut. For a second, it felt like maybe they’d be able to make some headway in the case.
“Please tell me he gave us Maggie.”
“He did. And he also said it’s okay for you to conduct her interview, but just hers.”
She knew Reid could potentially get in trouble for giving her permission to talk to one of their key witnesses, but her ex was smart enough to risk it, knowing she’d have a better shot of getting Maggie to open up than Cade would. After her attack, even while the other woman was in a coma, Sloane spent most of her free time sitting with Maggie.
Reid thought it was because Sloane believed Maggie was crucial to their case, but that wasn’t the only reason. She felt guilty for not being able to save her and her daughter. Sloane felt like she was to blame for her attack. And then her asshole of a husband didn’t even bother to visit her, so Sloane felt like it was her responsibility to make sure Maggie knew she wasn’t alone.
What started as a relationship built on guilt and the case turned into a friendship they’d continued to cultivate over the years. They didn’t talk as much and they hadn’t seen each other in person since Sloane left San Francisco but seeing Maggie again would be like seeing an old friend. She just wished it was under different circumstances.
The drive from the state park to Maggie’s home in Berkeley was slow and frustrating thanks to rush hour traffic. The closer they got the more anxious Sloane became. She wiped her sweaty palms on her pants, then took a deep breath and held it until her lungs started to burn.
Having to drag Maggie through something she’d worked so hard to move past sucked. Sloane hoped the next time she talked to Maggie about what happened was when they introduced her to the daughter stolen from her that day. Making her remember the worst time of her life wasn’t part of the plan, but Sloane knew the woman would do anything she could to help them catch the man who hurt her and stole her daughter.
“Are you ready for this?” Cade asked as soon as he shut the car off.
For a moment, she wondered if she wasn’t doing a good enough job exuding the calm she was faking, but then realized he was just asking a simple question. When she met his gaze, he didn’t look concerned for her specifically, but more in general, given what they were about to do.
Sloane nodded, then opened the door and climbed out. Before they could even start up the walkway to Maggie’s house, the front door was opening, and Maggie was making her way onto her porch. Sloane took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. It did nothing to calm her nerves.
She watched Maggie as they approached. The other woman had known they were coming, yet anxiety flowed off her in waves. Sloane wondered if Cade could feel it. If he could feel how both of them were nearly vibrating with nervous anticipation as they made their way up the stairs.
“Sloane.”
That was all Maggie said before she threw her arms around Sloane and pulled her in for a hug. At first, Sloane stood there, unsure of what to do. She was there in a semi-professional manner despite no longer wearing a badge. Getting a hug from their witness seemed slightly inappropriate. But Sloane wasn’t going to stop her, and when she realized how much she needed the hug, she wrapped her arms around Maggie and returned the sentiment.
The moment lasted probably longer than was comfortable for Cade, but neither woman cared much. Finally, when they’d gotten their fill, Maggie stepped back and invited them into the house. Sloane glanced at Cade, who looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but didn’t say anything as they followed Maggie inside. She could only imagine what was running through his head. Coming from Quantico, he was probably used to more serious interviews, not ones involving hugs.
“Would you guys like something to drink? I’ve got water, coffee, tea, juice, beer.”
Sloane laughed. “As much as I’d love a beer right now, it’s not even noon, plus I’m working...sorta. Water would be nice, though.”
Maggie looked over at Cade, who also asked for water, then left them to find somewhere to sit in her living room. The space was decidedly different from the home Maggie previously shared with her ex-husband Dan. That house had been stuffy and uninviting. The first time Sloane walked in, she’d been afraid to sit anywhere, worried she might accidentally soil the white furniture. She never understood how they’d planned on bringing a baby into a nearly sterile environment. Sloane later learned the house was all Dan and had nothing of Maggie in it.
The new place screamed Maggie, with a riot of bright colors in the throw pillows on the furniture and the art on the walls. The furniture begged to be sat on, especially the plush gray couch Sloane claimed as soon as Maggie left the room. She sighed softly as the couch nearly swallowed her whole. For a moment, she contemplated asking Maggie where she got it. The sofa was way too big for her cabin, but who needed to walk around anyway.
She watched Cade as he sat down next to her. He’d given her a skeptical look when she sighed, but as he relaxed into the cushions, he bit his lip, trying to keep his own sigh contained. She stifled a giggle and the need to say, ‘I told you so’ and waited for Maggie to return.
After passing out the waters, Maggie took a seat in an overstuffed chair across from them. She held a mug in her hands, and for a long moment, she just stared at Sloane and Cade. Knowing it had to be difficult seeing them in her safe space, Sloane gave her time, waiting for the other woman to break the silence.
“It’s weird seeing you here, Sloane. I never thought we’d be here again.”
“I know.”
“He’s back, isn’t he?” Maggie asked as she looked up from her cup to meet Sloane’s gaze. “That’s why you’re here. Those women...he took them and their children.”
Sloane sighed. “I’m sorry, Maggie.”
“If he’s back, where’s my daughter?”
Sloane’s mouth opened, but no words came out. She wasn’t sure what to say. It would be easy to give Maggie a false sense of hope and tell her if they could find the guy, they’d find her daughter. But that wasn’t necessarily the case. If Addy was still alive, which was a big if, there was a chance she’d been sold off to the highest bidder a long time ago. She could be anywhere in the US or even beyond for all they knew. Telling Maggie anything else wouldn’t be fair to her.
“We don’t know where your daughter is, Mrs. Whitten, but we’re hope
ful he still has her.”
“You don’t have to lie to me, Agent...sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“Special Agent James Cade, ma’am, but you can just call me Cade.”
“Well, Cade, you can just call me Maggie. I’m too damn lazy to change my last name back, but I’m no longer Mrs. Whitten. Thank goodness,” she said, a harshness giving an edge to her voice. “Look, I know that the odds of finding my daughter are slim to none, but once upon a time, people told me the reason he stopped killing was that he got what he wanted. Whether or not that’s true, I don’t know. But if it is true and he’s back...well, then he no longer needs or wants my daughter. So, what did he do with her?”
“We’re going to find out, Maggie, I promise. I can’t say if it’ll be good news or bad, but I promise we’ll figure it out. That’s why I’m hopeful that when we find the man who attacked you, we’ll find your daughter. Either he’ll have her, or he’ll know where she is.”
Sloane sipped at her water as she watched the interaction between Maggie and Cade. It was apparent Cade had a lot of respect for Maggie and what she’d been through. When they’d first arrived, Maggie seemed a bit wary of the stranger, but now, she was nearly as comfortable with him as she was with Sloane. Maggie appreciated a straight shooter. She didn’t want someone to pussyfoot around her feelings just because they were afraid to hurt her. She’d already been hurt. Now she just wanted answers.
“We need your help, Maggie. We’re working on a theory that the unsub watches his victims before he ever approaches them. Did you ever feel like you were being watched or followed? Maybe it was just a feeling you had, or maybe you saw the same person in multiple places. You said yourself the unsub is one of those guys that just kind of blends in. Could he have blended in at the store you frequented or in your neighborhood? Maybe at the hospital?” Sloane asked carefully.
Maggie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Sloane noticed her hands gripping her mug tightly, her knuckles growing whiter with the pressure.
