Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Until it did.
Suddenly, he was pulled off of me and I’d scrambled to my knees to find Kane—who was supposed to be out of town—holding the man who’d been on top of me. My eyes had landed on the knife lying in the sand and I dove for it. In my drugged, angry, hysterical state, I’d known nothing but survival. And that meant I died or that man died. I started to stab him and I didn’t stop until Kane pulled me away. Over and over, I’d stabbed him.
I blink and shake myself, only to realize I’m squatting on the floor and to my shock, Jay is at eye level in front of me.
“Lilah?” he asks, concern in his voice and etched on his face.
“What are you doing?’ I demand.
“Trying to protect you. You lowered yourself down the wall, and just kind of slid. I halted the elevator to give you a minute. I mean, after what you just saw, I thought even you, Lilah, might need a minute. Are you okay?”
I’m shaken to realize I’ve just all but blacked out and dove deep into the brutal past. It had nothing to do with the man that was dismembered in this building tonight. Unless it does, I think. I’m going there for a reason. My mind problem solves and it’s trying to tell me something, but I have no idea what. And I owe Jay big time for sparing me what could have been an embarrassing public display of weakness. For now, though, the very idea sets me into action. I push to my feet and say, “Minute’s up. I need to talk to Rollins and get home to Purgatory.”
He pushes to his feet and studies me, hesitating as if he thinks I need another moment but in his best interest, he punches the button and restarts the car. But he’s not done with me, I am certain. And I’m apparently not done with the past, or it with me.
Chapter Fifteen
On the ride down to the lobby, I check my messages to find a text novel from Tic Tac:
The victim is married to a woman named Lindsay, but she seems to have a different address. I took it upon myself to call in a safety check. A uniform arrived and she didn’t answer the door. The neighbor said she’s in Europe for work. We’re trying to confirm her safety. Word is the two are separated. Also, FYI, I don’t think I told you but the cameras at the hotel across from the diner are not working. No-go on any of the cameras around the hotel producing much of anything.
Of course not, I think. This freak of a killer is bold and confident for a reason. He knows the areas where he roams.
I did get some footage from a convenience store from the night Kane was photographed, Tic Tac continues, I don’t see anything on it worth seeing but I’m sending it to you anyway. You might see something I missed. And before you say it—I’m already looking for connections to the case in all directions.
I text him back with: Check out a forensic tech named Noah James.
The elevator door opens, and I don’t have to look far for Rollins. He’s at the door, waiting to get in the car while I’m ready to exit. I shove my phone back in my purse and step into the lobby. He backs up and gives me room, then motions for me to join him, and we step away from the door and put a few feet of space between us, it, and anyone else, including Jay. One thing Jay gets is when to stand back, and more and more, he seems to understand when to step forward. That doesn’t mean he’s savage enough to survive this business.
He is not.
“The guy with the mask is nowhere to be found,” Rollins informs me. “We’re asking for camera footage where we can, but we have to be careful or we’re going to cause a city-wide panic. And holy fuck, I know we were guessing on what horror monster the next killer would mimic, but I was far more ready for the Candyman and a hook than a chainsaw.”
He’s not wrong, about the method of murder or the potential panic. “We need to lock this down. Don’t let the truth get out, or horror freaks will come out of the woodwork wearing masks, acting like fools, and muddying up our investigation.”
He scrubs his jaw and settles his hands on his hips. “I’m glad you agree because I was going to have to fight you on this one if you didn’t.”
“Bring it and some popcorn for the bystanders, because I like a good brawl.”
“I’m pretty sure we all know that, Lilah.”
“Obviously not your ME, because he and I are going to have a brawl. He ran away, I hear.”