Page 110 of The Graveyard Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #11)

ONE HUNDRED NINE

Somewhere on the AT

He clenched the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip as he passed the graveyard. Dammit, dammit, dammit. He was tired and needed sleep.

But the cops were there again.

Blue lights swirled against the night sky and he spotted the ME’s vehicle. They must have found something. One of the girls’ bodies?

Sweat beaded on his skin. Panic robbed his breath. Which one had they uncovered?

The banging in the back had stopped for a minute. Carrie Ann must be exhausted. He should just put her out of her misery. But he wanted to make a point this time. Teach the young girl a lesson.

That the woods were dangerous. That girls were stupid to venture out there alone.

In an effort not to be seen, he cut his lights as he drove past the graveyard. By the time he made the turn off onto the main road, he punched them back on. The winding road wrapped around the mountain. He took a switchback on two wheels, then the banging started again.

What was he going to do? He couldn’t go back to the farm. Or the cemetery tonight.

He had to find a place and lay low. He could grab some sleep in the truck while she stayed locked in the back. But he couldn’t park in plain sight for fear someone would see him or hear her kicking the walls of the truck.

An idea struck him and he grinned and sped toward the one place he felt safe. Where no one suspected him of anything. Where he got respect.

Once the police left in the morning, he’d bury her with the others.