Page 103 of The Graveyard Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #11)

ONE HUNDRED TWO

Green Gardens Cemetery

Luck was on his side tonight. Carrie Ann had been too scared to hunt for bodies in No Man’s Land in the dark. Bodies they wouldn’t find because he’d hidden them well.

But stupid girl—didn’t she realize that staying back alone meant she was vulnerable?

Laughter bubbled in his throat as he trailed her little Honda onto the highway. Careful to stay far enough behind her so she wouldn’t realize he was on her tail, he whistled, letting her enjoy her last few minutes before she realized she was going to die.

It was so silent outside on the winding country road that it reminded him of the quiet before a storm. The fucking idiots in this town had no idea they were going to lose another member of their community tonight, that there would be one less young girl around.

That tomorrow he’d go about his business like he always did and no one would suspect him of anything.

They didn’t know about his hideout or his trophies yet.

Hopefully they never would.

He pulled the red scarf from the console and wrapped it around his gloved hand. Dammit, he wanted to feel the silk with his fingers but that would leave prints or DNA from his sweat and he couldn’t risk that.

Just as he’d planned, about four miles from the graveyard her rear tire had leaked to the point that her car began to rumble and was off balance. She slowed, fighting the steering until she reached a turn off to a side road around a bend. His breath quickened as she rolled to a stop.

He slowed and watched as she got out to assess the damage. He hoped she didn’t call her parents for help but had banked on the fact that if she did, she’d have to tell them where she’d been and what she was doing. Before she had the chance to pull her phone, he rolled to a stop behind her.

For a moment, she looked panicked then relief stretched across her face when she recognized him.

“Looks like you’ve got car trouble.” He glanced around the deserted area. “Let me give you a ride and get you home safely.”

She hesitated but finally nodded. “Thanks, I appreciate it. My folks will kill me if they wake up and I’m not home.” She grabbed her backpack and slid from her vehicle and locked the door.

He could barely contain his laughter as she settled in the front seat.

He was tempted to do her right here on the spot. But he headed down the side road she’d turned onto.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Down here a bit so I can turn around.”

She nodded, chewed on her bottom lip and fidgeted. But he had a feeling she wasn’t afraid of him. She was planning how she’d explain where her car was to her parents. Making up some story. Going to sneak in tonight and wait until the dope wore off and she wasn’t high.

Only she wouldn’t be there in the morning to tell her story because her story was about to end.