Page 41 of The First Hunt (The Final Hunt)

HOLLY

H olly’s mind spun the entire drive back from Mike’s Storage Units, the suspicion that Clint had murdered his wife pushed aside by the lingering terror of nearly being caught by Jared snooping inside his unit.

If Jared had been the one stalking her that night at Albertson’s, had he then picked up that woman and killed her?

And how many others? She closed her eyes, envisioning the countless names that covered her upstairs wall. Is he the Bus Stop Killer?

When she got home, Holly’s answering machine light flashed. She’d deleted the two messages Andy had left her yesterday while she’d been at the library, so this had to be new. Holly pressed play, and a computerized female voice came through the speaker.

That was less than an hour ago. Hopefully, it was Andy saying he was on his way to the storage unit with a search warrant.

“Hey, Hol. It’s Laurie. Just wanted to check in and make sure you’re doing okay. You’re probably upstairs writing, ignoring my call. Anyway, call me back when you can and let me know you’re all right.”

Holly lifted the phone off the hook and dialed Andy. Once again, it went to his answering machine. Holly hung up and dialed the main number for Major Crimes.

“King County Major Crimes. How may I direct your call?”

“Hey, Tara. It’s Holly again. Has Andy come back from that crime scene yet? I really need to speak with him.”

“He did, but I’m afraid he just left. He was in a hurry to go conduct a search of some storage unit in Federal Way.”

Holly’s grip on the receiver loosened. Thank God. Andy will have a warrant out for Jared’s arrest as soon as he discovers the damage to Jared’s car.

“Did you want me to tell him anything when he gets back?” Tara asked.

“No, that’s okay. Thanks.” Holly was about to hang up but stopped short. Ever since leaving the storage unit, she couldn’t get the image of Jared as the Bus Stop Killer out of her mind. “Tara? Do you know what the crime scene was that Andy got called to this morning?”

“Well…” Tara’s breath blew into the line as if she’d pushed the mouthpiece closer to her lips.

“I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say this, but I’m sure Detective Harris wouldn’t mind me telling you.

Female remains were discovered last night along Highway 410.

They haven’t identified her, but it might be another Green River Killer victim. ”

Holly stiffened, picturing Jared picking up the woman who’d gone missing from Albertson’s after he’d stalked Holly to her car. “Do you know about how long ago she was killed?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t.”

After hanging up, questions whirled in Holly’s head like a tornado.

She marched to the living room and flicked on the wood-grained TV.

A rabbit ear antenna sat on top. She hoped it got enough of a signal for the local news stations.

She flipped through the channels until she found one.

An auburn-haired reporter sat behind a news desk wearing a somber expression.

brEAKING NEWS ran across the bottom of the screen in bold red letters.

“We come to you with breaking news this six o’clock hour.”

Holly folded her arms. Jared, what have you done?

“Family and friends of Rebecca Lopez, reported missing last week after disappearing after leaving a Tacoma Albertson’s, are celebrating her safe return home this afternoon.

” A smiling photo of the young woman appeared in the corner of the screen.

“The hairdresser apologized for skipping town without telling friends or relatives where she was going. Ms. Lopez stated she accepted a ride from a stranger, then took a ferry to stay with a friend on Whidbey Island. Ms. Lopez’s parents released a statement that they are relieved and happy to know their daughter is safe and sound. ”

Holly sank onto the couch, staring at Rebecca Lopez’s photo on the TV.

Jared hadn’t picked her up. Hadn’t killed her.

She’d been jumping to conclusions. She rubbed her temples.

Maybe Jared’s most recent attempt on her life was messing with her head.

Making her see patterns that weren’t really there.

She thought about her visit to the Tacoma Police Department earlier today. Was she also wrong about Clint killing his wife? Seeing a murder when there wasn’t one? Laurie’s words came back to her again.

Not everything is a mystery to be solved.

“While that news brings a sigh of relief, we now turn to a far more somber development. We’ve just learned that a young English teacher at a Tacoma high school has been found strangled to death in her home.

Police believe Bethany Valdez was killed in the late hours of last night.

” The reporter tilted her head toward the camera as a pretty brunette’s headshot appeared beside the newscaster on the screen.

Holly’s heart dropped into her stomach. It was the woman she’d seen leaving Clint’s house. She could hardly believe her eyes. Clint had been seeing John’s English teacher, and now she was dead.

“The Tacoma police department has not shared any details related to a suspect in her killing, however, we are told there were no apparent signs of a break in at the teacher’s home, which may suggest she knew her killer, who is still at large.

Detectives are asking that anyone with information related to her death to please contact the Tacoma Homicide Unit. ”

The newscaster’s words rang in Holly’s ears. Which may suggest she knew her killer.

She should call Amanda at Tacoma Homicide, tell her about seeing the teacher leaving Clint’s house the other morning. She recalled Amanda’s pager going off earlier. It could even be Amanda’s case.

But from what she’d learned today, Clint had likely already gotten away with one murder. Hell, he’d even passed a polygraph after Jared had brought him in as a Green River Killer suspect. Her mouth went dry. Could he be the notoriously prolific serial killer who’d evaded police all these years?

Once the police knocked on his door, Clint’s guard would go up. Dating his son’s teacher wasn’t a crime, but maybe Holly could get him to admit something before Clint knew anyone suspected him—especially if he had a couple of drinks in his system. Holly stood from the couch.

Andy was handling Jared, at least for now.

But she wasn’t going to just sit around in the meantime.

Holly lifted her fingers to her neck, remembering the ironclad grip of Jared’s hands around her throat as if it were yesterday.

How helpless she’d felt. How damn tired she was of men like this frightening her.

She reached the base of the stairs and looked toward Clint’s house.

After changing into jeans and a sweater, Holly quickly applied some makeup. She fluffed her bob with a comb while bending over to let her hair get some volume. When she stood, she hair-sprayed it into place.

When Holly returned downstairs, she gazed out the window at Clint’s house again. Daylight was starting to fade. She grabbed the opened bottle of wine that Clint had brought over the other night and headed for the door.

She might not be able to prove anything by going over to Clint’s, but she owed it to Diana, to Meg, and to all the others to at least try.