“He’s been seen traveling north on I-35, taking a direct line straight to you.”
I curse under my breath, trying to figure out what the next steps are.
“Fuck, I’ve been out of the game too long. I’ve already informed the park ranger and the sheriff here, so they’ve got their eyes open. What else do I need to do?” I can hear the panic in my voice, and I count to ten to try and calm down. The last thing I need right now is a full-blown panic attack.
“Well, I’ll be there in the morning. I’m at the airport right now, heading your way, and the rest of the team will be joining us in the next day or two, whenever they can get flights.”
“Fuck, the whole team? So we’re really going to try and catch him here?”
“It’s the only chance we’ve got, Oak. We know he’s coming for you, know where he’s heading. It’s the best chance we’ll ever get.”
“I know. Fuck, I know. But I can’t put the people here in danger. I can’t risk it, so we need to figure out a way to draw him out somewhere.”
“That’s all stuff we need to discuss with the team and the sheriff.”
I quickly realize I’m not in charge here. The natural instinct to step in and take control of things isn’t my job anymore, no matter how much I feel the responsibility of it all.
“Well, I live above Grind Time, so if I’m not downstairs when you get in, come find me.”
“Will do. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I hang up without a response, lost in the very real possibility that I’m bringing the devil to the doorstep of people I truly care about.
I have to protect the people of Bluebell Falls. I need to protect Willow, no matter what it takes.
“What the fuck?” Willow’s stunned voice shocks me, and I turn around to see her ashen face greeting me.
Chapter 23
Willow
Eavesdropping is bad. I know that. God, do I know that.
And yet, instead of just staying in bed when I felt him leave, I crept to the door to listen to his conversation.
What I didn’t expect to hear was that his old team is on the way here. The only reason they would be heading this way is if Tennison was.
I crack the door, trying to hear more of the conversation.
“What the fuck?” I whisper. Or I think I whisper it, but when Oakley looks up and sees me, his face drops.
“Will—”
“What is going on?” I can hear the terror in my voice, but I can’t even begin to calm myself down.
“Fuck,” he groans, pulling his light brown hair in frustration. “Sit, please,” he asks more calmly than I imagined he could right now.
I plop down on the couch, waiting for him to join me, but he starts pacing instead.
“You know the basics of Tennison, but things have changed.”
“Changed how?” I ask.
“He’s traveling, for one, and he’s never done that before. And he’s going after one person, specifically.”
My eyes widen, confused as to why his modus operandi seems to have changed so drastically. “Who?” I whisper, praying it’s not whom I think it is, praying that all of Oakley’s fears aren’t coming true.
He stops pacing long enough to give me a sad smile. “No,” I whisper. “No!”
