Page 54 of The Prey (The Hillers of Barratt County #6)

Gia started to keep herself up on her feet; she faltered. Her shoulder hurt, her arm was tingling. She felt like she was going to vomit. Judge Collins was demanding answers. Jason wasn’t giving them.

“What is this about?” Judge Collins demanded.

“He attacked me two years ago and choked me unconscious. I reported him to the city police—my reports just disappeared. As if they never existed.”

“Funny, I have heard of that happening to people I know around here before.” The judge came to her side.

She held out a hand to Gia. “Come on, you need to be seen at the ER. Your shoulder is probably not supposed to look like that. Come on, lean on me. Let’s get you downstairs.

I’m sure there is probably someone waiting on you somewhere nearby. ”

“Several someones, actually. I think he re-dislocated it.” And it really hurt. She was trying not to vomit all over the judge’s chambers. Her phone—she’d lost her phone somewhere when she’d been running from him. “I think my phone is still in the hallway.”

“You scared the life out of me. I found that corridor a week ago. I wasn’t sure it had ever been used. I wasn’t brave enough to look too deeply into the darkness.”

“My brother George showed me a few times. He’s a local history nut, especially if it involves this courthouse. Our ancestor was the first judge to sit the bench here. There are quite a few family legends about this building.”

“I’m sure they are.” Judge Collins looked at Jason. “You aren’t to move, or I will ensure that things go very badly for you. Do you understand me?”

Gia just looked at the man who had attacked her. And knew…

It wasn’t finished yet. Jason had a look in his eyes—madness. And desperation.