Page 47 of Temptation
She had handcuffs around her wrists when she was loaded into the patrol car.
“You…threatened to kill me,” he said, circling back to that particular point.
Lily turned away. She headed back up the steps that led to the sheriff’s station. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“The perp is from this area. Or, if not from here, then he knows the place extremely well,” Sloane explained. “He picked a secluded spot for our burial. He already had the ground dug up before we arrived. He’d planned everything—that tells me he’s organized. Highly organized. He is familiar with the trails out here. He knew exactly where to go so that we would not be discovered and so that he would not be disturbed while he worked.”
Debra didn’t speak.
“Highly organized, intelligent, fit. I saw him, from the back, anyway. So I know he was about six-foot-two, and his shoulders were almost as wide as Preston’s.”
“You didn’t see his face,” Debra pointed out.
No, she hadn’t. And she’d explained that to Debra and the deputies before. Before as in, at the hospital. During the initial Q&A. Before Sloane had become a suspect.
“He knows about Preston’s past,” Sloane continued. “He knows that Preston was buried alive as a teen. That Preston escaped from the Last Breath Killer.”
Debra sighed. “Obviously. Look, you have not told me anything that a basic profiler wouldn’t know. Not exactly impressing me here.”
“We’re dealing with a copycat. Someone fixated on the crimes of the Last Breath Killer. Preston was the only victim to escape, so, of course, it would be a major win for this perp if he could take out Preston. Finish what was started by his idol.”
Debra shook her head. “And you don’t think it’s possible that the original Last Breath Killer is at work? The cops never found his body all those years ago. After Preston escaped, they searched and searched, but they never turned up his remains. Maybe he’s responsible. Maybe he came back to finish the job.”
“No, I don’t believe that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I found the Last Breath Killer’s body last month.” Though there had not been much of a body left. Just bones. “The FBI is aware of the discovery. They have the remains at Quantico.”
Debra’s jaw dropped.
“That bit of news has not been released to the public just yet. I’d appreciate it if you did not pass it along to anyone else.”
“And on that note…” Once more, Atlas pulled her toward the door. A distinct pull. Not a careful tug. “We’re out of here.”
She followed him, but glanced back at the sheriff. “I want to see our grave site.” Yes, just saying those words made chill bumps rise on her body. “I want full access to the whole investigation.”
“You are not working this case,” Debra told her. The star on her chest gleamed. Her holster rode low on her hips, and the keys at her waist jingled as she shifted her position.
“I can help!”
“I don’t trust you.” Her gaze was sharp. “Stay in town and do not interfere.”
Oh, that was just not going to happen. Staying in town? Yes. Not interfering? Nope. She planned to interfere plenty. Interfering was a way of life for her. She would be interfering at the very first opportunity.
Atlas stayed by her side as they walked through the police station. One young deputy stared at her with huge eyes. And fear. Plenty of fear. He was tall and thin, and his uniform shirt seemed a bit too loose on him as his Adam’s apple bobbed and his bleary eyes tracked her movements, almost as if he expected her to launch some kind of attack at any moment.
She’d been stared at that way before. The look usually meant that people had learned about her past. During Cody’s trial, so many people had looked at her that way. They’d thought that maybe Cody hadn’t acted alone. That Sloane had been involved. That she’d pushed him to kill her mother and stepdad.
Then, luckily, the truth about Cody had come out. The truth that he’d done the same thing before. Only Cody hadn’t been caught the first time. Not when he killed the other parents…and not when he killed their daughter, Mia. Cody had gotten away with those three murders.
Cody Crenshaw was handsome. Blond. He had a dimpled grin. Muscles for days and days. His family had been wealthy. His home a mansion in a small town plagued by too much poverty. His father had pretty much controlled the town. Owned the factory there. And his father had always made Cody’s trouble vanish.
Until…
Until me.
Atlas pushed open the door at the front of the station. Sloane stepped outside, and the wind swept over her cheeks. She almost collided with Lily because her friend was out there and hurrying toward her.
