The drowning did make sense to her. The victim was truly helpless with her head held beneath the water, and he’d always liked frozen bodies.
She had the local police trying to track down where he’d acquired the dahlias that he’d placed around Huck’s cabin. This cat-and-mouse game he was playing had to end, but first, she needed to make sure that Kate and her girls found safety.
The sheriff had just left after taking Val’s statement, and the entire school had been alerted by the principal.
“Do we know how he got into the building?” Kate asked.
Laurel shook her head. “Not yet. The police are looking into it. They haven’t seen any evidence of broken windows or locks, so it’s entirely possible someone just left the door ajar.”
“It happens a lot,” Val said. “We feel pretty safe, and no one was really worried. To be honest, I wasn’t that scared when he first started talking to me.”
Laurel took a deep breath as Kate visibly shuddered, holding her daughter closer.
“It’s all right,” Laurel said. “This weather isn’t good for any of us. Walter’s in the Caribbean. Nester’s stuck in Seattle, but I’m sure he’ll be returning any day. So it’s on me. I want to send you all to this wonderful resort in North Carolina. I visited there during a case once, and I don’t know if you know this, but the weather in North Carolina is perfect this time of year.”
Val perked up, her face still pale and her eyes red from crying. “Did you say perfect . . . as in sunny?”
“Yes. The resort where I’m sending you is in an area where it’s in the midseventies right now on the ocean. You are going to love it.” Laurel forced a smile.
Kate gulped. “I can’t let you spend money like that.”
Laurel waved a hand in the air. “Kate, please. I’ve invested well through the years, and I haven’t had anything to spend money on. This is important. Abbott is after me and is going to target anybody close to me. I can’t let anything happen to you and the girls.”
“I don’t know,” Kate murmured.
The idea of being without Kate left Laurel with a sense of isolation she hadn’t experienced in a long time, but she hid that feeling from her only friend. “Really, you need to go.”
“What about school?” Val asked.
Laurel looked at her. “I’ll go speak to each one of your teachers and flash my badge if need be.”
Viv snorted, watching her younger sister. “I think that’s okay. A note from mom should do it. But I wouldn’t worry about it, considering a serial killer just talked to Val in the hallway tonight. I’m sure we could pretty much do anything we want for the next couple of weeks.”
“Good.” Laurel reached for her phone. “I have a travel agent I work with out of DC. I’m texting her now, and she will make the arrangements for you to leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
“It’s three hours later in DC right now.” Kate’s chin lowered.
Laurel immediately received a text back. “That’s okay. Janice never sleeps. She said she’ll have excellent arrangements to us within the hour.”
“Okay,” Kate said, relief crossing her face. “I guess we need to pack.” She looked around. “Laurel, thank you for coming over so quickly.”
Laurel studied the smooth leather sofa. “Happy to help. I’m staying the night.”
“Oh,” Kate said. “You don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do,” Laurel said grimly, her weapon at the ready in her purse. She didn’t believe Jason Abbott would make a move on Kate or the girls tonight, but she would never underestimate him again.
A knock sounded on the door, and they all jolted.
Laurel swung to her feet, grabbing her purse.
“Hey, it’s me,” Huck called out.
“Thank goodness.” Vida, the youngest, jumped up.
Laurel walked toward the door and opened it so Huck could come inside, several pizzas in hand.
“I brought pizza,” he said, his gaze dark but his smile wide. He shut the door.
