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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

W ade opened the truck door for Emily and held out his hand to assist her. Once she was settled inside, he walked around the truck and slid into the driver’s seat. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to say, so he drove. He needed to find a way to protect her, but he wasn’t sure how to do that while he was off attempting to solve this case.

He could drive her as far from Pennsylvania as possible, and they could forget any of this ever happened. Unfortunately, he knew she would never agree to run away from trouble.

She faced her fears head on, and he had to do the same. His knuckles went white from his grip on the steering wheel.

“What’s going on?” She turned in her seat to face him.

“Williams is behind bars. They were able to connect him to your sister. One of Nora’s friends remembered him. A girl named Tori. She said he came by from time to time when he was coming through the area. She’d forgotten all about him when the cops interviewed her back then. He had a distinctive tattoo of the nickname Jingles written across his forearm. When she saw his picture she asked about the tattoo. They connected some more dots and he’s been arrested. It’s all circumstantial evidence, but when added to what they already had on him for the other cases, I expect it will stick.”

“Praise the Lord for that.” She frowned. “I do hope they can keep him locked away so he can’t hurt anyone else.”

He pushed a piece of hair out of her face and his fingers lingered on her jaw. “I don’t know how to keep you safe.”

“You’ve done a great job so far.”

“We can’t keep you surrounded by bodyguards for the rest of your life. Would you consider taking a vacation? Somewhere far away?”

“No. I’m not going to flee from him. This won’t be forever. Just until we catch him.”

“What if we don’t catch him?” He pounded the steering wheel with his palm. “Do you have any idea how many cases go unsolved?”

“I do.” A tear slid down her cheek and guilt gnawed at his insides.

He pulled the truck over and drew her to him. “I’m sorry.” He wanted to remind her he loved her but for her it would be too much too soon, and he’d scare her off. He had to take things slowly for her sake. Even if he wanted to rush things.

Her arms wound around him, and he drank in the intoxicating scent of honeysuckle. He had no idea if it was perfume or what, but she’d worn the same scent when they were young, and it drove him crazy.

“You’re going to get this guy,” Emily said. “I know it.”

“You’re far more confident than I am.”

“Did you check out Trooper Cunningham?”

“I did. He has an alibi for the times of the latest murders.”

“How firm is his alibi? Does it hold up for both the kidnapping times and the time of the murder?”

“I plan to keep digging. He was on duty during the kidnapping, but I’m wondering if there was any time when his whereabouts weren’t accounted for.”

“If it’s him, you’ll prove it.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

“I wish I had your faith.”

“What are those verses you quote to the kids? ‘Trust in the Lord with all thy heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths’?”

“That’s the one. Proverbs 3:5-7.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Easier to say than to do.”

“I know.”

Wade studied the crime-scene photos. Jamie’s engagement and wedding rings were missing from her left hand. A Fitbit with a rubber band was placed on her wrist. It had to have belonged to Moore. The monster improvised when he couldn’t get to Emily. He’d planned to bury Emily with Lorraine Moore’s charm bracelet, but when he was forced to change his plans and take Jamie instead, he’d had to go with the Fitbit since the charm bracelet was in police custody.

The killer was taunting him. There had to be a way to solve these murders before anyone else died. He rubbed his hands over his face. It seemed they had ten different leads sending them in ten different directions, but the one constant was the senator. He needed to meet with her or her chief of staff.

When he called her office, he received the run-around. He’d been expecting that. He stuck his head into Mac’s office. “You able to do me a favor?”

“Depends on the favor.”

“Get me face time with Senator Martin.”

“I’ll meet with her.”

“I’d like to do this myself.”

“Then we’ll both go. She’ll be offended if I’m not there.”

“Fine.” He shrugged. “We’ll both go.”

His lieutenant made a call, and a minute later he had a meeting scheduled.

“Tomorrow morning. Eight sharp.”

“Where?”

“The country club.”

“Where Jamie was married. How nice.”

“Didn’t think of that.”

“It’s fine. I’ll see you both there.”

“Sit down, Sergeant.” His bushy eyebrows furrowed. “Fill me in on what you have so far.”

Pete waited for the nurse to leave, then knocked on the older gentleman’s door. When he didn’t answer, he tried the door. It was locked. He returned to his car for his kit, then picked the lock and let himself in. He found old man, Crowley resting comfortably in his recliner with the television on. “Come on, Mr. Crowley, I’m here to pick you up. We’re going to go on a little vacation.”

Confusion clouded the older man’s vision, but he assisted him to a standing position and led him out to the car. Pete suggested the old man change the station and find something that suited him. He turned to a station playing baseball and listened intently for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep. He had to wake him to get him into the house.