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“Lie back, baby, rest now,” Dante whispered.

“Why don’t we go out into the hall a minute, Charlie? I want to catch you up on the progress of the investigation,” Gunner stated.

“Sure thing. Honey, Trevor and I will be right outside in the hallway. Dante will stay with you.”

She just stared at them as they left the room.

* * * *

“How the hell do you know that the person who killed Sylvia is the same one who went after Lori?” Charlie asked Gunner.

“Well, we weren’t sure at first, not until we figured out that the flowers left in Lori’s car with a note were the same flowers left at the crime scene where Sylvia’s body was found,” Gunner stated.

“We talked to the restaurant staff at Carl’s. One of the kitchen helpers saw Sylvia helping a large man into the passenger seat of her car. The worker said he appeared to be drunk,” Sheriff Morgan stated.

“That’s something Lori would do. She’s done it before for people she knows though. Do you think that Sylvia knew this guy?” Trevor asked.

“We’re going to have to question Lori,” Gunner whispered.

“No. Absolutely not. Not now, not when she’s on the verge of a panic attack. No way,” Trevor stated adamantly.

“Trevor, I understand how upset you are and worried about Lori, but she could have information that could help us solve this faster and get the one responsible off the streets,” Gunner replied.

“He’s right, Trevor. I guess if we’re going to do this, then you two should do it here in the hospital in case she needs medical assistance. God, this is going to really upset her. She liked Sylvia a lot,” Charlie added.

“You three can be in the room with her when we tell her about Sylvia and then ask her some questions,” the sheriff stated, and Trevor and Charlie nodded their heads.

“Hey, I called Sandman, and Big Jay in on this. With their connections we can maybe find out more about this Jerry Connor and his associates. Big Jay is already tailing Connor and Sandman is working on a warrant to tap his phones,” Gunner told Charlie.

“That’s great. I can’t believe these people are willing to kill over land. There’s plenty of land elsewhere, what’s so big about ours and Cantrells’?” Charlie asked.

“Could simply be its location. It’s not far from the city, yet it is still far enough out there to be considered country life. The town is booming fifteen minutes away and the views and the land are appealing. There are numerous natural springs and water supplies, wildlife, fishing, you name it. It’s prime land.”

“I guess it is. Gunner, we need to protect Lori and her family. We need to protect all the families living on that land.”

“We’ll do it. Don’t worry.”

Chapter 19

Lori lay next to Trevor who held her while she slept. As she opened her eyes, surprised by the total darkness she was in, a worried feeling consumed her. Then she felt Trevor’s arms tighten around her, and he adjusted his hips.

She tried to relax and absorb the warmth of his embrace and knowing that she was safe, but then her mind started thinking about everything. Flashes of different images swarmed her mind. Sylvia was dead. Raped, beaten, and murdered and it could have been her. If the sheriff hadn’t told Sylvia that he was waiting inside Carl’s for her, then perhaps it would have been Lori who was taken by the stranger. Surveillance cameras couldn’t catch the perpetrator’s face, but saw his act as he pretended drunkenness, or at least that is what the sheriff thought. Why would Sylvia give a complete stranger a ride home? Had she known him?

Lori released an uneasy sigh. As she closed her eyes, she thought about the flowers in her car and the card. They were from the man that killed Sylvia. The same man who kept bumping into her car, who ran her off the road and who came back to see if she were dead or at minimum badly injured.

Lori covered her chest with her hand as she clenched her eyes tight. She could see the headlights. She saw the smoke coming up from the right corner of her car where the tire blew out.

The fear, the anticipation as she waited, eyes closed, pretending unconsciousness made her shiver even now. The dark truck rumbled, slowly passed her. She ever so slightly opened her eyes. It was as if she wanted to know if he would kill her, shoot her, take her out, and finish her off. The tears rolled down her cheeks and there he was. She saw his face and gasped.

“Trevor, Trevor, wake up,” she said as Trevor placed his hand over her waist and slowly came awake.

“What is it, baby? Can’t sleep?” he asked as he sat up. He was bare-chested and she was only wearing a T-shirt. One of theirs.

“I saw him.”

“Saw who?” Trevor asked as he rubbed his eyes then reached over and caressed her hair from her face.

She locked gazes with Trevor.