“He had others do the bloody work for him,” Aaron said. His hands were loose at his sides.
“Yes.” Noelle licked her lips. “If the earlier abductions all matched up with the senator’s ports, then Duncan probably knew the killer. He knew what he was doing.”
Of course, the senator wouldn’t have stopped the killer.
“I was looking at it all wrong.” Noelle kept pacing. “I thought the pictures we discovered at the senator’s place were trophies. Mementos to remind Duncan of the victims, but they weren’t.”
“So what the hell were they?” Aaron asked. His blue eyes were narrowed and his jaw was locked.
Noelle stopped pacing. “They were blackmail material. He knew the killer’s identity, and Duncan used those images to get the killer to do his dirty work.”
“Like an attack dog on a leash.” Thomas saw the situation perfectly now. “But if that’s true, then something in those photos should tell us our killer’s identity.”
Mercer nodded. “And that’s where Noelle comes in.” He advanced toward her. “You’re the one who can figure this one out. You’re the one who can put the pieces of this puzzle together and help us determine just who this sick bozo is before he has the chance to hurt anyone else.”
* * *
HE WAS STILL bleeding and he was getting weaker by the moment. The bullet was lodged in him. He had to get it out, but every time he tried to get a hold on the thing, he just made the wound bigger. Deeper.
The snowplows were out, clearing the little town of Camden. He was in the shadows because that was his custom. He’d spent most of his life hiding, one way or another.
When you had a monster inside, you had to be careful. If the world saw you for what you really were, they’d destroy you.
His father had told him that. His father had seen him for exactly what he was. His old man had hoped the military would change him. Focus him. And, in a way, it had.
Because in the navy, he’d met Lawrence Duncan.
He watched as a bundled woman made her way to the small pharmacy in town. Figured that place would open first.
He would’ve preferred to find a veterinarian or some kind of doc, but the pharmacy tech would have to do. There wasn’t anyone else who could help him, not now.
He made his way across the street. Saw the blood that dripped from him and splattered down in the snow. He should clean up his trail. But...
Too weak.
He pushed open the pharmacy door. The lights weren’t on. Power wasn’t back on in the town. He’d tried to use a phone before, but he hadn’t been able to connect. The storm had knocked all communication down.
“We’re not quite open yet!” A cheery voice called out. “Give me just a few minutes, and I’ll help you.”
He pulled his knife from its sheath. He walked down the narrow aisle. Saw the woman as she shrugged out of her coat. She was built like Noelle, long, slender, almost delicate lines. But her hair was a dark black, not a red.
“Be with you soon!” She said, not glancing back.
Her mistake.
He grabbed her and put the knife to her throat as he jerked her back against his chest. “You’ll be with me right now.” He had a ski mask over his face, so he twisted her around toward him, all the while keeping that knife right at her throat.
“Please...” she whispered.
He shook his head. “I’m not planning to kill you.” Not yet, anyway. “Because you’re going to help me, aren’t you?”
The knife cut into her neck.
And she nodded.
* * *
“JENNY...” NOELLE KEPT her voice low and gentle. She didn’t want to upset Jenny. The girl had already been through enough.