Page 29

CHAPTER 29

“Hello?”

“Is this Terrence Slade?” I asked.

“Yes ma’am. How can I help you?”

“You may not remember me. I’m Sloane Monroe, the detective?—”

“I remember you.”

His response was sharp and flat, but if what his ex-wife had said was true, it was understandable.

“I was reminiscing about some of my cases, and I decided to follow up to see how all the families were doing,” I said.

“Ours, not so good. Kris divorced me.”

“I’m sorry to hear it. Other than the divorce, everything’s going okay, I hope?”

“I’m fine, yeah. As far as how they’re doing, I wouldn’t know. I don’t talk to them much anymore. Have you spoken to Kris yet?”

“I haven’t. I was going to try her if I couldn’t get in touch with you.”

It was a lie, of course … but given Kris had gone to great lengths not to be found, it was warranted.

“Good luck finding her,” he said. “Once we split, Kris and Olivia disappeared from my life. It’s my own fault, I suppose.”

“Are you still in Jackson Hole?”

“Sure am. Just trying to put my life back together. I try to stay positive. I’m going to anger management classes, got a new job, trying to say productive, keep busy.”

“Keeping busy is a good idea. When I’m trying to take my mind off things, I find traveling to someplace new is a great way to refresh my attitude. Do you travel much?”

“Oh, gosh, no. Don’t have the money, first of all. Second, I’m more of a homebody these days.”

“So, you’re in Jackson Hole right now?”

“Yup. Same place, different me.”

He sure sounded convincing.

“Sounds like you’re doing all the right things,” I said. “I wish you all the best. Thanks for taking my call.”

“No problem. Hey, if you talk to Kris, will you tell her I’m doing better, maybe see if she’ll call me?”

“Sure will. Take care now.”

We hung up, and I sat there for a minute, assessing how I felt. The fact was, if he was in Jackson Hole, there was no way he was here now. Given Cade had once been the chief of police in Jackson Hole, I called one of his old coworkers, a mutual friend. I explained I was working a case and needed to verify if Terrence still lived in the area. He agreed to do a drive-by, and a short time later, he called me back, confirming he saw Terrence through the window of his house, sitting on the couch, watching television.

And we were back to square one.

I got up from the bed, tossed my food wrappers into the garbage can, and set my wineglass on the desk.

I stretched.

I paced.

Maddie chewed on her lip, leaning against the bathroom’s door frame, watching my every move.

I lay back down on the bed and placed the pillow over the top of my head, covering my eyes. “I just need a minute.”

“We’ll find him, Sloane. We’re so close.”

I wanted to catch this killer with an intensity that I’d never felt before. I wanted to crush this person who was taunting me, killing my friends, bringing my past back into play, making me question my entire career …

Then a realization struck.

Even though patience was not my strong suit, it was the only way I’d win this twisted game. A man like my nemesis would be anything but patient. He’d keep pushing and pushing until he’d pushed himself right into a corner.

And that’s where I’d get him.