“The charm may have come off without her knowing it,” Skull said.
“If that’s the case, then she’d be waiting for me at the diner. Brutus, Skull, you guys go over to Leroy’s and see if she’s there. Let me know. Diablo, Eagle, and I will go to her house.”
The brothers revved their bikes and left in a plume of dust.
Chapter Forty
Ican’t move!What the hell’s going on?Hailey blinked several times, trying to clear her bleary eyes as she regained consciousness. Her nose tingled and she went to scratch it, but her wrist was secured to something. She craned her neck.I’m tied to the bedpost!She tried moving her other arm and legs, but they were secured tightly. Goose bumps pebbled her skin as she raised her head and saw that her clothes had been cut down the middle. Eyes bulging, she looked around the room.
Her mind was in a fog as she tried to remember the series of events that brought her to being tied spread-eagle on her bed. Then he walked in.
Dr. Daniels! That’s right. He came over and then he… struck me with a hard object. When he did it the second time, I blacked out. This doesn’t make sense. Why is he—
“I’m glad you finally came to. It’s no fun when the woman’s knocked out.”
“Why are you doing this, Dr. Daniels? I don’t understand.”
He came over and trailed the tip of the knife gently over her forehead, then down to the base of her throat. “I love the way fear is creeping into your eyes. You have no idea what I’m going to do to you. The unknown is your enemy, but it’s my best friend.” He leaned over and tried to kiss her, but she thrust her head against his face and he jerked back. Surprise replaced cockiness.
“Don’t touch me. Untie me and stop this right now!”
Taken aback, he stepped away, his wide gaze beginning to narrow.
I’m supposed to meet Goldie. When I’m not there, he’s going to freak. He’ll come here. I just know he will. I have to stall.
“You’ve caused me many sleepless nights, Hailey. I’d planned to take you a couple of months ago, but Goldie butted his low-life nose into your life and my plans had to go on hold. But now you and I have all the time in the world. I checked Goldie’s schedule at the tattoo place and he’s busy all night, so it’s just you and me.”
“Are you the one who’s been raping all the women? Did you murder Nadine?” She couldn’t stop the icy shivers strangling her nerves. When he smiled wide, she knew he was getting off on her fear.I have to try and calm down. Goldie will be here. I’m going to be fine. It’s all good. I can’t act afraid. But I am. I’m scared to death.She forced herself to think of the sun setting over the mountains.
“She pulled off my mask. I didn’t want to kill her, but I’ll let you in on a secret.” His dead eyes stared at her as he leaned down close to her ear. “When I slit her throat while she looked at me, I fuckinglovedit. And then I was hooked.” He bit down hard on her earlobe and she yelled out, but he wouldn’t let go. Afraid he was going to bite it off, she raised her head again and hit him in the jaw.
Whack!Her head turned from the force of his slap. Tears rolled down her stinging face as he leaned close once more, watching her intently. “Yes, we’re going to have a lot of fun,” he muttered under his breath.
Keep talking. Stall!“Everyone thought Dan Krutcher did the rapes.”
Sitting on the side of the bed, he smirked. “That was just luck. I was surprised at the ineptness of the police department, but then we’re in a small town. I can’t believe Dan killed the patients. He was supposed to care for them. They trusted him. When it occurred to me that someone might be killing the patients, I was horrified. The medical staff is there to care for, comfort, and prolong life, not destroy it.” He shook his head.
He’s fucking nuts!“Why do you hurt women?” she asked in a soft voice.
“I have a monster in me that needs to be fed. And you have been tempting me for a long time.” He ran his hands over her breasts and she bit her inner cheek hard.
“If you’re a real good girl, I’ll let you live.”
“No you won’t. You didn’t even try and conceal your face. You decided to kill me when you drove over to Main Street and hid in the bushes waiting for me.”
He laughed without mirth. “You got me. Such a smart, pretty one.” He trailed his fingers down her body and she closed her eyes, bracing for his touch in her most private parts.
“Keep your fucking eyes open, bitch. I want to see them. Now!”
Her eyelids flew open and the man she saw before her wasn’t the Dr. Daniels she knew—he was a menacing, evil man. His features had darkened, his eyebrows were narrowed, and his lips were tightly closed, forming a thin line. She arched her body and pulled on her ties in a vain attempt to get away from him. He stood and unzipped his pants, and she turned her head away.
Pop! Pop!The killer’s eyes bulged and his mouth gaped open. With the sound of her heartbeat thrashing in her ears, she screamed as red soaked Dr. Daniels’s T-shirt, then splattered over her. His face froze and he fell over, his head hitting the nightstand. She shut her watering eyes tight, flinching when fingers touched her wrists.
“Hailey, it’s okay. You’re safe.” Goldie’s voice filtered through her brain.
“Is that you, Goldie?”
“It’s me, babe.” He pulled her sore body to him and held her tight. The fear she’d been holding back broke through and tears flowed freely down her face.
