Page 39 of Coordinates of Death

In the summer, she had made me suffer the mosquitoes in the swamp. In the winter, she’d send me outside in the freezing temperatures. How she got away with it, I still can’t fathom. Why hadn’t my Sunday school teacher noticed my frostbitten fingers, bug bites, and bruises?

She knew how to get around questions they’d sent her way, somehow shifting the blame back to me. Finally, I’d had enough and beaten her at her own game. Turned the tides—so to speak.

I used her manipulative ways to end her life without me doing the deed.

And that was the best day of my life. Seeing her lifeless eyes staring at me from the rearview mirror. She had seen me just before she took her last breath, hiding in the back seat with my gas mask on. Watching. Waiting for her to die.

I had made sure of it, even waved goodbye.

That night, I had baked a cake and sang “Happy Birthday” to myself. Then ate the entire dessert.

Even after all her abuse, I still find solace in the wintertime. Aurora, you don’t know what you’re missing. Winter is the best season, especially in the north.

Aurora had almost caught me. I picked her lock, got in and out of her room, but missed that stupid loose floorboard to the right of her door. I managed to get away without a trace.

Like I always do.

However, the look on her pretty face when she came out of her room was priceless and worth the risk I’d taken skulking in the shadows. I had also checked in on the watcher, but he slept like a baby, sawing logs, and hadn’t heard me sneak in to leave him his present. I acted quickly to find out something from his past, but there’s more to be found on Watcher Kordell Greene and his infamous squad.

Your billionaire daddy can’t hide your past forever, Kord.

I will find out more about the watcher. And use it against him.

I don’t normally kill men, but you will be my second exception.

When the time is right.

Kordell’s phone rang three times before his foggy brain registered where he’d left the device when he went to bed—on the dresser by the door. He stopped midstep. Wait. I swear I left it on the nightstand. Wow, he must have been extremely tired last night. Then again, after the day they’d had, he wasn’t surprised. He took long strides and snatched the device, punching the answer icon without checking the caller ID. “Kordell here.” Ouch. He failed to subdue the annoyance in his voice.

“Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed, brother?”

Mic’s question blared in his sleepy mind.

“Sorry, Mic. Just getting up. Did you get my text?” He looked out the window.

The storm had subsided, but darkness still blanketed the region at the early hour. Was Aurora up yet? Had she slept well?

Surprisingly, he’d slept like a rock even after their horrifying day. He had texted Mic before he turned out his light to check if Staff Sergeant Hill had contacted her regarding investigating his station’s breach.

“Yes, I’m currently in contact with Hill to go over protocols. We have to do this correctly as we don’t want mistakes. If I find evidence, we need to be able to use it in a court of law.” She paused. “Dawson has also updated the team after reviewing the profile. Dad wants all boots on the ground, so the team is coming to you. He recalled the jet, and they’re flying out later today.”

Kordell raked his fingers through his long bangs. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. This guy has already killed a cop because of our interference.”

“But you know we work better together, and Dawson wants to reveal what he found in the profile in person. Dad agreed.”

“As soon as the media catches wind that the Canadian Watchers Squad has arrived in the Yukon, SBK may go berserk and kill more women.” Movement at the property’s edge caught Kordell’s attention.

A flash of white shimmered in the chalet’s floodlight.

Kordell turned off his light and studied where he’d seen movement.

But whatever had been there had vanished.

The figure in the pig mask entered his mind. Was SBK out there watching them? Another thought tumbled into his tired brain. His presence had already stirred the pot, so what would it matter now if his siblings arrived to help? Something told Kordell that the squad wouldn’t deter SBK. In fact, maybe that was what the killer needed to mess up.

“Kord, did I lose you?”

He turned and flipped the light back on. “Still here. Just thought I saw someone lurking outside. Did you find anything on Aurora’s team? I know Dad had you vetting them.”