Never Run (May Moore Suspense Thriller 1)

"What, just set off into the dark?" Adams said. "On a random search?"

"A minute ago, you were suggesting a coffee break," Kerry argued. "This is the same thing. A  break. It might not pan out. But I think it will be worth following up."

"We're this close to making an arrest and you're going to leave in search of someone who is, most likely, making a wrong decision? I don't think we should do that," Adams said. "I think we should wait here, contact her, and be prepared to send backup if she needs it."

"If she has the killer in her sights, she doesn't have time to wait for backup. And you know it’s no use calling someone when they’re pursuing a suspect."

Kerry was angry now. Angry at herself for not having seriously thought of this possibility before now. She should have acknowledged that this suspect, though strong and aggressive, might not be the killer.

She should have put May on this from the start. And she should have listened to her sister's gut feeling. Instead, she’d steamrolled right over May, feeling desperate to prove that she, Kerry, had what it took.

"There is only one way to find out," she said to Adams. "Either you go there, or I go. Because if May is face to face with the killer, she might be in danger and she will sure as hell need help."

"I don't think it's worth it. But if you think it is, then we should both go," Adams said.

Kerry shook her head.

"We can't do that," she said. "Not with a suspect under questioning and a crowd outside. I want you to stay here and keep working with Boone. I'll handle this," she said.

Adams shook his head, clearly unhappy, but said, "Okay. I'll stay here, I guess. But I can manage things from here, and if you need it, I can send backup."

"Sounds like a plan," Kerry said.

Adams peered at her phone, seeming apologetic now.

"What are the coordinates to this farmhouse?"

Kerry thought hard. "You know, Adams, I don't think we should go by these coordinates alone."

She was now thinking ahead, in the killer's mind again, back in the zone she'd lost just a few minutes earlier.

"He knows the police are after him. He might not be at the farmhouse. She might be following him elsewhere by now."

"True." Adams's eyes widened.

"So I think we need to get FBI ops to put a trace on her phone. I want to know where May is, in real time. Because I've got a strong feeling she might be on the move."

Adams nodded, clearly impressed by her brainpower.

"Okay. I'll tell the team to locate her phone, and I'll coordinate operations from here."

"I'm going to head out immediately," Kerry said. "Get into communication as soon as you can with her live location."

She strode out, praying that if she was going to go head-to-head with the killer, she would win.

She got into the car, put the key into the ignition, and set off. As she raced out into the night, she hoped that between them, she and May could save the girls. And she hoped her sister wasn’t hurt, or in danger.

If she was, Kerry knew she would never forgive herself for what she’d said and done earlier.