PROLOGUE
In the cold darkness, two silhouettes run into the forest holding hands—one adult and one child. They are dressed in nightgowns with bare feet, moving as fast as they can through the area. There is a spine-chilling quiet to the nighttime air, silence except for the sound of the two figures hurrying through brush. Their exhaled breaths swirl in the cool air, their footfalls making little sound as they race through the forest, slowing only where there are downed trees or heavy undergrowth.
When the woman and child eventually slow, their exhaustion is evident. Their bodies are weak, making it difficult to breathe.
“Mommy, I can’t run anymore,” whines the little girl with tears in her eyes.
“It’s just a bit farther. We have to keep going,” she says, hating to put her daughter through this, but knowing it is the only way.
The little girl, who is no more than seven years old with long brown hair, gives a little cry. “Okay…” She touches the silver bracelet that has a half-heart charm on it—her mother wears the other half on her wrist.
The woman drops to her knees. “It’s just a little bit farther, I promise. I’m right here with you. We need to make it to the Old Mill Road where Uncle Randall is waiting for us. Okay?”
The little girl nods. She shivers and glances around the dark area, as if imagining a monster in their midst.
Never in her mind did the woman believe her life would take this sharp turn. They had to act quickly to escape and that meant they didn’t have time to change or pack a bag. She prays that her brother Randall will be waiting for them. She has to continue to have faith that things will work out and they will finally be free.
The mother and daughter fight through the darkness and wooded area, falling frequently but picking themselves up each time. Suddenly, there is the sound of running footsteps behind them—crunching through the dead leaves and underbrush. The heaviness of the tread makes it clear it is a person and not an animal approaching them.
Breathing hard, the mother stops and pulls her daughter close as they duck down in a heavy thicket to hide from the danger. She watches and waits as her lungs burn from the cold.
The footsteps stop. Breathing a sigh of relief, she relaxes her body and prays they can continue soon.
Ten tense minutes of quiet pass.
The mother slowly stands up, still holding her daughter’s hand, and listens and waits. Their pursuer is no longer around. The surrounding area is quiet once again. She decides to proceed with caution at a slower pace, trying to make the least amount of noise possible.
The sharp brittle twigs cut their feet, but they advance in the darkness toward the back road. Even though it is cold, she feels her daughter’s sweaty little hand. It plagues her that she had to do something so drastic and prays they are going to be all right. She pushes on. There is a brightness ahead and she knowsit is Old Mill Road. They are close. A renewed energy floods through her body; she knows they are going to be okay.
“Honey, we’re almost there,” she whispers.
After she takes another several steps two strong hands grab her and she goes down hard. Her daughter tumbles just out of reach.
“Mommy.”
The woman feels a hard blow to her torso, but she keeps reaching for her daughter. Another stomp hits her again. She is still able to hold her daughter’s hand, but as hard as she tries to free herself, she can’t fight her attacker.
Her eyes close as everything dims to black. The last thing she remembers is clenching the hand of her little girl.
ONE
Monday 0630 hours
Katie Scott, followed closely by her black German shepherd, Cisco, ran up the driveway and paused at the front door to catch her breath after the long run.
John Blackburn was a close second.
“Okay, you win,” he said, breathing hard and slowing, stretching out his legs.
“I didn’t know it was a race.” She smiled, which was something she found herself doing a lot when she was around John.
They both worked at the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department and had recently started seeing each other. Katie was a detective heading up the cold-case unit along with her partner Sean McGaven. John was the forensic supervisor in the crime lab.
“I can’t believe you run like that every day.” John moved closer to Katie.
“Sure. Well, maybe noteveryday.”
“You know you could have been a Seal,” he laughed. John had been a Navy Seal for three tours before following his passion for forensics and joining the department.
