Page 58 of One Night Years Ago

“You’re so predictable, Natalie. I’m at the cliffs, but I’ll be gone before you get here. That’s where you’ll find her body, though.”

Natalie hung up the phone. She didn’t need to hear anything else from that creep.

Hunter turned right at the fork, heading away from town and towards the cliffs.

“Try not to kill us,” she said then added, “How long to get there?”

“You told him you’re in town. It would take you thirty minutes to get to the cliffs. We can make it in fifteen. Fourteen if you buckle your seat belt.”

“Make that ten. I don’t know how long we have.”

Hunter’s hand was white around the steering wheel. He struggled against the wind, which threatened to send them into the ditch.

“You really think it was him?”

She nodded, shivering. “You didn’t hear his voice. That wasn’t a prank caller. I think it’s him.”

Her phone rang again. This time, it was Rob.

“Tell me you have some good news, Rob,” Natalie said. She listened for a minute while Rob spoke. “Shit. No, I don’t want you to come here. You need to stay in town in case this is some kind of trick. Go to the school and try to figure out what happened.”

She punched the dashboard then looked at Hunter.

He was staring straight ahead, his eyes on the road. “What did Rob say? I take it another girl’s missing?” he asked, his voice a low growl.

“Not a girl, this time.” Tears filled her eyes. “It’s Emma.”

“Emma? Your friend? But she doesn’t—”

“She doesn’t fit his usual profile, I agree. I don’t think it’s about her this time. It’s about me. That’s why he called me. He knows what it would do to me to know he’s got her. I’m going to kill—”

“That’s what he wants, Natalie. Don’t play into his game.”

Natalie forced some breath into her lungs and exhaled slowly.

“You’re right, you’re right. But why is he calling? He sounded pleased with himself. He doesn’t want to hand himself in.”

“I’ve met men like him before,” Hunter said. “It’s all part of a game to him, and it’s not as much fun if you’re not there to see it.”

“How am I going to save Emma?”

The phone rang. Another unknown number.

“Pick it up,” Hunter said. “Make him think he’s gotten to you. Make him think you’re not in control. Let’s see if he makes a mistake.”

Natalie nodded once.

“You bastard,” she said.

The voice on the phone broke into a laugh. This time, the voice sounded deeper. “Ah, so you heard. Who figured it out? Was it good old Rob?”

“If you hurt a hair of Emma’s head, I will—”

“Tsk, tsk. Stop threatening me, Natalie. Just for that, I might cut off her ear.”

“No! Please don’t hurt her! Put her on the phone. I need to know she’s okay.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do. Ever. You and those other bitches, you do what I say when I say it. Am I clear?”