“Toothbrush,” I muttered to the empty room. After sliding the toothbrush into a plastic bag, I grabbed my toothpaste and deodorant. I hesitated, then packed the few makeup items I bothered using. I never wore much makeup. I typically wore only light foundation, concealer for the nights when I couldn’t get much sleep, when the nightmares became too much, and eyeliner if I really wanted to look nicer than normal.
After dropping several hair ties and my brush into the bag, I zipped it up. I shoved aside the clothes in my small rolling suitcase and settled the toiletry bag inside. I was about to zip up the suitcase when I grabbed the tennis shoes I rarely wore. I placed them inside a plastic bag to keep my clothing clean, thenclosed the suitcase. It was a tight fit, but I managed to get it completely zipped.
I pulled out my phone and checked the time. “Crap. I need to hurry!”
I bit my lip as I looked toward the fridge. I could only spare a few more minutes at most. Still, the thought of leaving food to spoil only to return later to a stinky, disgusting refrigerator settled it for me.
I left my suitcase by the front door and darted to the sink. Reaching into the cabinet underneath, I took a garbage bag from the box. I quickly went to the fridge and pulled out anything that would expire in the next couple of weeks. There wasn’t much to begin with, but by the time I was done, the inside of the refridgerator was pitifully empty.
Taking the handle of my suitcase in one hand and carrying the garbage bag in the other, I stepped outside, pausing to lock the door. As I was pulling the key from the lock, one of my neighbors opened their door.
“Hey, Parker.” She eyed my suitcase. “Are you going on vacation?”
Mabel was an older woman in her late fifties. She’d never had children and had recently divorced her abusive high school sweetheart. Mabel was learning to be independent for the first time in her life. I admired her making the decision, understanding how hard it must have been for her.
“Hey, Mabel. No, I’m going away for work.” I smiled at her, then hesitated a moment. I was used to doing everything on my own, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask for help every now and then. “Would you mind just keeping an eye on my apartment while I’m gone? I mean, there’s really nothing of value, but...”
She immediately waved away my hesitation. “Of course. That’s what neighbors are for, right? I’ll keep an eye outfor anything that doesn’t seem right. Are you expecting any packages?”
I shook my head. “Not that I can recall.”
“Well, if anything is dropped off, I’ll make sure to hold it for you, okay? Have a safe trip, Parker.”
“Thanks, Mabel!”
I pulled my suitcase behind me and headed outside to the dumpster. I held my breath as I opened the lid, then tossed the bag inside. After dropping the lid again, I pulled out my phone to check the time. I had run out of time. I needed to get to the airfield before I got left behind.
Chapter 4
Parker
It was still fairly chilly when we left Virginia, so arriving in the small town of Selene, Texas, was a bit of a surprise. I suppose I should have expected the change in temperature when I stepped off the plane, but having been raised in the North East and then staying there as an adult, I wasn’t used to April being quite so… warm.
There was little chatter amongst our group as we loaded into the two waiting vans. Only five of us made it onto the task force team, and I had a feeling that I was an unexpected last-minute add-on, if the expressions of two of the more senior agents were anything to go by. I did my best to ignore them. I wasn’t going to let anyone ruin this for me. They were all in my place at one time. If they didn’t push their way onto a case they were passionate about, then that was their problem, not mine.
Our luggage was shoved into the back of the vans, but I wasn’t the only one who held on to my satchel. No one wanted to risk having their laptops lost or damaged. The ride wasn’t long, but it was tedious. Just as it had been on the plane, I felt as if I were being watched, judged… criticized.
Monique jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow and leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Girl, stop letting these fools get to you. You have every right to be here just like we do.” She sat back and glanced at the other FBI agent who was riding in the van with us, then back to me. “Welcome to the team, Special Agent Parker.”
I felt the emphasis she’d put on my title, as I was certain the other agent had as well. It was a good reminder that we were equals in rank, even if I was the youngest and the least experienced. I was every bit as qualified as the rest of the team. I offered her a grateful smile.
The other agent gave a grudging smile at me when I glanced his way. That was fine. I understood how competitive our jobs could be when it came to advancement. I was not only the youngest, but I was also the newest team member. While each of our jobs was important, I wasn’t irreplaceable. There were a hundred others ready and eager to take my place.
But I had something that most of the others didn’t. While for most it was a job, a job they were even passionate about, for me, it was my whole goddamn life. I had a burning need inside me to see every single serial killer behind bars.
I spent every day of the last six years doing everything I could to be right where I was at that very moment. I lived and breathed school, studying, testing, even strengthening myself physically, just so I could make it into Quantico, and finally right here in this van on my way into a small town in the middle of nowhere, Texas, because that’s where a serial killer is hiding. I was going to find the fucker and put him behind bars.
We started leaving behind the long roads we’d been travelling down with the vast expanse of fields lined with fences. Cattle had been grazing, though I hadn’t really been paying much attention as my thoughts drifted towards the case I had been poring over since Monique had shoved the folder at me.There was a woman killer somewhere in the area, a murderer whose modus operandi too closely resembled my sister’s killer. My sister’s killer, who had suddenly vanished without a trace after Mariposa’s body was found displayed for all to see.
I squeezed my eyes closed and fisted my hands until my fingernails dug sharply into my palms. I let the pain wash over me for a moment, sinking into the abyss without conscious thought. With a gasp, I jerked my hands open and stared down at half-moon cuts in my flesh where small beads of crimson were welling up.
“Oh, shit,” Monique swore as she leaned over, alerted by my reaction. She reached for my hands, but I quickly closed my fists again, ignoring the sting as my nails dug back into the grooves.
“It’s fine.” I gave her a fake smile, willing myself not to tear up at my weakness. “I was just thinking about my sister. I’m okay, though. Are we there yet?” I asked, turning to look out the van window, seeing that we had entered the town.
We pulled up to the inn and all filed out of the vans, each of us grabbing our bags from the back of the ones we’d been riding in. I glanced around, admiring the pretty house that had been turned into the bed-and-breakfast that we were supposed to be staying at while in Texas. It looked so much better than a hotel. The large house was painted a cheerful blue with white trim. Baskets of flowers hung along the porch awning while large planters overflowing with flowers of different kinds and bright colors led up the walkway. It provided a cheerful explosion of color, making the inn inviting and homey.
Looking at the place, you would never be able to tell that this town and the entire surrounding area were under the threat of a monster.
