That one... Yes,thatwas her most precious memory of all.
“Why are you smiling?” Hayes returned to the room. “You’re not supposed to be smiling!”
Like she gave a shit what he thought.
“I’m just thinking of all the ways my partner is going to make you suffer when he catches you.”
“Your partner is either dead on the floor where I left him, or in a hospital somewhere.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
Either way, it was nice to know the bastard had buttons she could push.
“Or...” Riley egged him on. “He knows exactly where we are, and he’s headed this way right now.”
God, how she wished that were true.
“No oneknows where we are.” Hayes got right up in her face. “Do you think I’ve gotten by all this time without being caught because I’m stupid?”
He glanced toward the foot of the bed. Placing his hand on the back of her thigh, he began a slow, sickening ascent.
The other victims...they were all sexually assaulted.
Closing her eyes, Riley tried to control the bolt of panic slamming into her as his fingers inched inward. Their repulsive tips feathering across the crotch of her panties.
Please, don’t.
Fresh tears fell, but she refused to say the words out loud. She wouldnotgive him satisfaction.
Distract him, Riley. Use his own ego against him.
It was like Eric was right there, telling her what she needed to do.
Maybe she was losing her mind. She’d heard fear could do that to a person. At this point, did it really matter?
“Tell me about your mother,” she blurted the request.
If this man was killing women who looked like her, there had to be a reason.
His hand didn’t just freeze. Hayes pulled it off her skin as if she were a snake trying to bite him.
“Why do you want to know about her?”
“She’s why we’re here, right?”
From this viewpoint, all she could see was his torso. But it was enough for her to know his breathing had picked up significantly.
Bingo.
“What did she do to you, Greg? She molest you? Let her boyfriends touch you?”
“No.” He stepped back, away from the bed. “I was never sexually abused.”
“Something else, then.” Think, Riley. “She beat you? Get pissed off when you’d wet the bed or something?”
Hayes began pacing the room. “I-I don’t want to talk about my mother.”
You’re getting warmer.“Come on Greg. Tell me what was so bad about your dear old mom that you’ve been killing her over and over again.”
