“The best counselor in the city,” I reply, and turn on my heel, heading for my car. I do my best to shake off the lingering weakness I feel.
Everyone is spooked. I can sense it in the way they hold their bodies, hear it in their voices, and see it in their eyes. It started out as an animal attack, now it's two Jane Does torn apart like ragdolls, who looked so similar they could have passed for sisters.
I drive back into town, my mind numb, not really paying attention to where I’m going. I stop the car and look out the window to see that I’m at The Crescent Moon. I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting there when there’s a tap on the passenger window. My gaze connects with a set of brilliant blue eyes in the dark. Salena.
The door opens, and she slides into the seat and shuts the door. It traps her smell in the car, her beautiful scent surrounding me, smoothing down my frayed edges and calming my nerves. What is it about her that is just so alluring and comforting?
“Are you okay, detective?” Her voice is soft, almost a whisper.
I break eye contact and stare out the front window. “It’s been a long day.”
“I heard about the animal attack,” she says, laying her hand on my arm. “Did you want to come in and I will pour you a drink?”
“No.”
Even without looking at her, I can feel her hurt at my sharp tone.
“Okay. Is there anything I can do?” she asks.
“It wasn’t an animal attack.”
Her hand spasms on my arm, and I hear her intake of breath. I look over at her, I can see the shock in her eyes and the tightening of her mouth. She’s worried, and not just about the attacks, but about me.
How do I feel like I’ve known her my whole life, after only meeting her a week ago? I take a deep breath and force the thoughts out of my head, violently and mercilessly shoving them back.
“She looks just like you,” I breathe the words into the car.
Salena’s eyes widen. “Both of them?”
“Yes. With the threat you got, I think it’s the same person, or it could be two people. Both targeting you.”
“Me . . . ” she says, her voice trailing off.
“There’s no proof, but it's just my gut is telling me it's connected. With the message left for you at the bar, it seems like a stalker. But the girls, the way it's escalating, I think it's two different people. They seem to be targeting girls who look like you. Making them look like animal attacks or even using an animal. Either they are in on it together or they are working alone. I don’t know yet, but you need to keep an eye out and call me immediately if something happens or if you feel unsafe.”
I pull out my card and hand it to her. The slight brush of our fingertips sends a jolt through my hand and up my arm. Salena’s blue eyes drop to where our fingers are touching, and she seems transfixed. My heart thuds hard in my chest, and I slowly pull my hand away. Blinking, she looks back at me, a blush staining her snow white cheeks, her full red lips part on a soft inhale, and I want nothing more than to lean over and take her mouth. This . . . might be a problem.
Chapter Thirteen
Killer
It’spossiblehemighthave gotten a bit excited with his plans and killed the girl more quickly than he was supposed to. He just couldn’t help himself. Sometimes, he forgets just how fragile humans are.
Looking over at his other prizes, the collection of women he’s gathered from all over the state, his gaze is drawn to the one who hasn’t stopped crying since she woke this morning. The sound is doing his head in. Humans are so weak. They have too many emotions.
He hates emotion.
Salena wouldn’t cry, she would snarl and bite.
Crying is a weakness.
This one doesn’t haveherstrength, which is a pity.
She won’t fight.
He sighs heavily and walks toward where the three women are bound and gagged along the wall. They all look strikingly similar in appearance. All platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. No one would have Salena’s hair color, of course. Her hair color is unique. Her eyes switch between blue and green at any given moment. He has spent months watching her. Learning all about her.
He ignores the cries and whimpers from the others as he selects his next prize. Reaching for her chains, he undoes the lock and drags her by her hair over to the table.
