Page 152 of Girl Between

She heard their voices and her blood chilled.

“Why did you take her? This wasn’t the plan.”

Dana instantly recognized the voice. It was Landry.

“I improvised,” answered Monroe.

“They’ll come for her.”

“Then we’ll have to work quickly, won’t we?”

The confirmation of Dr. Landry’s involvement was salt in the wound. Dana mentally chastised herself for not trusting her gut. Last year, she would’ve, but after Claire, her confidence was shaken and she no longer trusted herself; to her own demise it seemed.

Monroe’s laughter forced Dana back to the present. He leaned over her, his lips twitching with excitement. “Look who’s up.”

Dana struggled to no avail. It wasn’t her restraints, but the drug that had a forceful hold on her. Dr. Landry skulked into view and Dana did her best to show her disdain with a simmering glare in his direction.

“Feisty,” Monroe crooned. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

He began cutting away her clothing. First her pants, then her top. He paused to laugh. “I love the effort, but Voodoo won’t help you here,” Monroe said, referring to the protection cross still drawn on her chest.

Dana hadn’t the heart to wash it off after the wedding, which seemed foolish now, since it obviously hadn’t protected her from the grasps of a madman. If anything, it angered Monroe. Or maybe it was her necklace that made his face twist with rage.

“Neither will this,” he growled, yanking the protective talisman from her neck.

Dana watched him deposit it into his pocket and shuddered at the thought of it being added to his trophies.

“Just another stupid tourist buying into the Voodoo hoodoo of this sinful place,” Monroe muttered to himself. He moved faster, rougher now. “You’re no different,” he growled, cutting away the last of her clothing. “You’ll bleed and beg just like the rest of them.”

“H-how…” Her voice was a raspy sound she barely recognized. She swallowed and tried again. “How many?” she asked.

Monroe leaned over her, his eyes dancing with pleasure. “More than you’ll ever know.”

She was in. Dana could tell Monroe wanted to talk about them, his victims. If she could keep him talking, she could buy time. Either for the drugs to wear off or the police to show up.

“The Harvest Girls.”

“What about them?”

“Did you kill them too?”

“That hardly seems important at a time like this.”

“So, you didn’t then.”

He grinned. “I didn’t say that.”

Dana continued to bait him. “I think we already found them all. Your work is pretty impressive, but you’re no Samuel Little.”

“This isn’t a competition!” he yelled. “And I’m nothing like Little. I save people. My harvests provide to the deserving. One miserable waste of a life can save so many others. The real sin would be stopping my work.”

“Really? You torture and mutilate people. You murder them and sell their organs on the black market all so you can what? Build your kingdom in this abandoned building? The city’s going to demolish it. You know that, right?”

“Maybe,” he purred, getting right in her face. “But not before I finish with you.”

He held up a scalpel. The blade glinted in the light. Without warning he slashed it out of view. Dana’s reflex was to flinch, but her body was still beyond her control. When he brought the blade back to her face, it was painted crimson.Blood. Her blood.

It made her vision blurry as she tamped down on the rush of nausea that rolled over her like a tidal wave.