Page 99 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)

The task force's frantic movements should be worrying, but I can’t hide my amusement. They scurry around my city like mice in a maze, only following the breadcrumbs I’ve laid out for them.

A tingle of excitement washes over me as I think about what they’re about to discover. With my arousal sparked, I go back to work, feeding my hunger. Only another harvest will satiate me.

My heart pounds in my chest, I need to remain focused. I remind myself that I’ve composed an intricate web of deceit, planting seeds that will grow into the fruits of my labor. It’s time it be unveiled. For so long it’s been dormant. Hibernating. A forest of misdirection.

I stroke her cheek, frowning as she recoils from my touch.

“Soon,” I croon, more to myself than her, I realize. “Soon, it’ll all be over.”

The anticipation is intoxicating. I can already taste the victory, feel the inevitability of my success. The clock is ticking, and every second brings me closer to the climax of my grand scheme.