Like the structure Kat was describing, those were also made of stone. The idea that an abandoned root cellar could also be found there was definitely possible.
“The cellar door is small. Someone my height could probably fit through it easily, but you guys would definitely have to bend down before entering.” Kat added a few more details to the picture before she froze. “Wait! Someone’s there! It’s a man.”
Alex wrote down everything she was saying.
“He’s going into the cellar.”
Kat got quiet then as her mind’s eye watched something only she could see. A thousand-pound weight pressed against Alex’s chest, terrified of what was happening to Eden.
He wanted to scream. Actually, what he really wanted was to be out there, finding his woman and putting an end to Josiah Whateverthefuck. But since this was their best bet at finding either of them, he held his breath and waited.
Just when Alex thought he’d crawl out of his own skin with worry, the tiny blonde opened her eyes again. Blinking, she gave Dan a look. The other man got up and turned the lights back on.
Garrett stood. “I’m going to go pull up an aerial map for that section of the woods.”
“Good idea.” Alex nodded. “While you’re at it, run a search for any known cellars or other man-made structures located there.” Facing Kat, he asked, “Did you see Eden?”
She nodded, her green eyes grim as they met his. “We have to hurry. She’s still alive, but I don’t know for how long.”
Thank God she’s alive.
“What exactly did you see, Kat?” Dan probed.
“She’s…” Pausing, Kat slid a glance to Alex.
Despite the bile churning in his gut, Alex did his best to reassure her. “It’s okay, Kat. The more details we know, the better chance we have of finding her. Just…tell us everything you saw."
With a nod, she continued on. “Eden was unconscious but breathing. Her wrists and ankles are in metal shackles, and she’s lying on what looks like an old, wooden table.”
Motherfucker.Alex’s hands curled into tight fists, and his teeth ground together to the point he was certain they’d shatter.
Dan put a hand to his shoulder. “She’s alive, Alex. Try to concentrate on that, yeah?”
His friend was right. Losing it now wasn’t going to do Eden any good. But, Jesus. Knowing the woman he loved was lying there like that, unable to even try to fight back…that shit was enough to bring down even the toughest of men.
Struggling to keep it together, Alex forced himself to say, “Okay, Good. That’s good information to have. What else?”
“There were pictures hanging up. I couldn’t make out all the details, but I’m pretty sure they’re of each of his victims.”
“What’s our next move?” Alex looked to his boss.
Linking his hands together, Murphy rested his elbows on the table. After a stretch of silence, the stoic man said, “I guess we wait to see what Caldwell finds out. If it turns out thereareroot cellars in Saganashkee like the one Mrs. D’Antoni saw, we’ll put boots on the ground and search every one we can find.”
“Great.” Alex shook his head. “More waiting.”
Finally losing some of his famous control, he stood abruptly, nearly knocking his chair over in the process.
Running a hand over his rough jaw, he began pacing the small room. “Eden’s running out of time.” With his hands resting low on his hips, he faced Murphy again. “Saganashkee is forty-five minutes away, Sarge. An hour with any amount of traffic. Once we do get there, we still have to figure out where the hell she is. Our guy has escalated beyond what we ever thought he would, and my gut is telling me we are running out of time. I want him, Sarge.”
Murphy shot to his feet. “You think I don’t? The bastard stabbed one of our own, Bennett. She crashed twice on the way to the hospital. Or have you forgotten about Zoe?”
The fuck?“Hell no, I haven’t forgotten about her. I want to bring justice to every single one of his victims, including Zoe. But I also haven’t forgotten that this whole sting operation was your idea. Hell, it was your idea to force Eden into working this case to begin with.”
Murphy got into Alex’s face. “You’re damn right it was. And because of her, we’re closer to catching this asshole than we’ve ever been before. You want to blame me for your girlfriend getting snatched, that’s fine. But I stand by my decision to go through with this, and I’d do it again if it means we catch this asshole.”
“Even if it means sacrificing Eden?”
Murphy’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t need to, though. The man’s silence was his answer.
