The Seventh Victim (Texas Rangers 1)

Tonight while she’d been in the bar, in a matter of seconds, he’d punctured her back passenger-side tire and attached a cell phone jammer to the inside of her wheel well.

The battery in the jammer was good for several hours, so he knew she’d not be able to place calls from her car. The real unknown was the tire. He’d made the hole small, knowing she’d be on the road by nine thirty because she had an early Pilates class on Thursdays. The air would leak slowly at first and the damage wouldn’t be noticeable until much later. Of course, she could stay in the bar longer or choose a different, more populated route home. In either case, his plan would be ruined. But it was the risk, the idea that he could fail, that added a thrill to the chase. What was a hunt after all if there was no risk?

Right on schedule she sauntered out of the bar and got into her car.

By his reckoning, she’d be well outside Austin city limits when her tire went flat.

He turned up his radio listening to his favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song on the radio. He tapped his hand on the steering wheel in time to the music and started to whistle. This was going to be a good night. Yes, sir, a good night.

He was careful to stay a couple of car lengths behind her as she worked her way out of town. Several times she hit her brakes for no apparent reason. He worried that she suspected that something was wrong with her car, but each time rationalized away what she did not want to believe. He smiled when he saw her raise her phone to her ear. No cell phone service. She had a problem. A very big problem.

He followed her for fifteen minutes down I-35 and by the time she approached an exit, the tire started to noticeably wobble. She inched over to the side of the road and took the exit, finding herself on a deserted side road. Perfect.

He slowed, put on his blinker, and parked behind her. He waited a beat. Let the fear settle in deep. Then he walked up to her car and knocked on her window.

She jumped and dropped her lifeless phone in her lap as she cracked her window. “Hey!”

“You all right?”

“Yeah, great.” A tentative, nervous smile said otherwise. “I just need to call a tow truck. My car is acting funny.”

“You have a flat. Back right tire. I could see when I was driving. Must have picked up a nail.”

She dragged fingers through her blond hair. “Shit. I mean, thanks. This is just the last thing that I needed.” She punched the number for information, waited, and then frowned. “No cell service here.”

“Yeah, this stretch is known for that. Let me try my phone. Maybe we’ll get lucky.” We. He’d already established them as a team. We are in this together. He dialed 411 and pretended to hit SEND. The jammer should have blocked any call this close to the car, but he didn’t want to take the chance that his phone would work.

After a reasonable pause he said, “Sorry, no service. Let me walk back to my car. Sometimes just moving a little will help with the reception.”

She craned her neck toward his car. “Hey, thanks, I appreciate that.”

He walked back to his car and repeated the show. When he returned, he was shaking his head. “I drive this stretch of road all the time. About six months ago I had car trouble near here and couldn’t get a signal at all. Had to walk four miles to the first gas station.”

“Four miles. Are we that far from anywhere?” Fear hummed under the words.

“Maybe just three. Hang tight, let me try again. We’ll figure this out.” He’d been careful not to ask her to open her door or come to his car. A woman alone would have clenched up at the thought.

After another pause he came back. “Sorry. I’d offer you a ride, but I don’t want to come across as weird or scary.”

She smiled, her look almost apologetic. “Creeps out there ruin it for nice guys like you.”

“Why don’t I drive into town and see if I can find a gas station or a signal and send them your way?”

“Oh, God, that is so nice. I don’t know what to say.” She picked up her phone and dialed again. Again, no signal.

“By the way, I’m Dan,” he said. “That way if a tow truck stops you’ll know I sent them.”

She softened even more, and this time she unrolled her window and stuck out her hand. “I’m Pamela.”

He clasped her cool, soft fingers in his large, calloused hand. How simple would it be to yank her forward, grab her throat, and strangle her until she passed out? “Nice to meet you, Pamela.”

She smiled.

He released her hand. He wanted her to open the door. He wanted her to trust him just like the others had trusted him. “Be sure to keep your doors locked out here while I’m gone. All kinds of odd folks out here.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “How long do you think you’ll be gone?”

“If the gas station I have in mind is open, just twenty or thirty minutes.” He checked his watch. “But at this time of night it’s anyone’s guess. Don’t worry; if they are closed I’ll keep looking. I won’t leave you stranded, Pamela.”

She glanced down the deserted road, the worry lines in her brow deepening. “Would you mind if I tagged along with you, Dan?”

He kept his emotions in reserve. “I’m glad to take you, Pamela, but you don’t know me.” This was part of the game. Denying what they wanted made them want it all the more.

She offered him a sure and steady smile. “I know people, Dan, and you seem okay to me. I mean, if you were a creep, you’d have dragged me out of the window when I shook your hand.”

He took a step back and put his hands in his pockets. He understood what an innocent man should look like. “You’re the boss, Pamela.”

She rolled up her window, shut off the engine of her car, and grabbed her keys and purse. Without a second thought she opened her car door.

He grinned, trying not to let the adrenaline of the hunt make him twitch. He was getting good at this. Now that he was more skilled, he could take his time, and savor the hunt.

She locked her car and smiled. “After you, Dan.”

He moved toward his car, relishing the idea that she was following him to her death. He reached for his car door, opened it as she approached.

As she was about to get into the car, car headlights appeared around the bend. He tensed, ducking his head ever so slightly so the passing motorist wouldn’t be able to describe him if ever questioned.

But the motorist did not pass. Instead he pulled up behind his car and shone bright lights on him, Pamela, and their two cars.

The guy got out, but hovered by his car so that the headlights and the darkness obscured his face and body. “There a problem here?”

Dan cleared his throat. If he was clever, he could fool this one and still keep his prey. “Her car broke down. I’m giving her a ride to the station.”

“You try to call a truck?” the man said.

Pamela moved toward the light a step farther away from him. “No cell service out here.”

“Really? I’ve got bars. Let me give it a try.” The man dialed and seconds later he was on the phone with a gas station and ordering a tow truck. “Got a truck on the way,” he said cheerfully.

“Oh, that is wonderful,” Pamela said. She moved farther away from him. With each step he could feel her slipping away.

He thought about the gun in his glove box. He could kill them both now. But that would create a mess, and there was a tow truck driver on the way. He slammed the passenger-side door a bit harder than he’d intended. “Well, it sounds like you’re all set, Pamela.”

Pamela’s lips trembled as she met Dan’s gaze. “Hey, Dan, I truly appreciate your help. I would have freaked if you’d not been here. Life’s been kind of a mess lately and this was the last thing I needed.”

“It takes a village, doesn’t it, Dan?” the rescuer said.

“It sure does.” He moved to the driver’s side, now wanting nothing more than to be gone from this place.

Pamela opened her door and slid behind the wheel. She closed her door but didn’t lock i

t.

“Tow truck should be here any minute,” the rescuer said.

“Yeah,” Dan said.

“Want to stick around?”

He searched past the headlights, still not seeing more than a large silhouette. “Naw. Looks like you’ve got it covered.”

“I sure do, Dan. I sure do.”

For the first time a cold shiver inched up his spine, and he sensed this rescuer had an agenda. What the hell would a random stranger want from him? Certainly he hadn’t been followed, had he?

“I didn’t catch your name,” Dan said.

“No. I didn’t give it.” The rescuer’s phone beeped and he glanced at a text. “Looks like the cavalry is minutes away.”

“God, you two have been great,” Pamela said. Tears welled in her eyes and tumbled down her cheeks. “I’d have been so lost without you.”

“Yeah. Looks like.” Dan got behind the wheel of his car and fired up the engine, not sure if he was more frustrated, angry, or scared.

Chapter 17

Thursday, May 31, 7 AM

Beck got the call minutes after he arrived at the office. Another body had been found on the side of Interstate 35. A young woman. White dress. Strangled. Immediately, he placed a call to Lara. Her home phone rang once, twice, three times. With each ring, his heartbeat quickened. He dialed her cell.

“Yes?”

The sound of her groggy voice released the tension in his back. “I woke you. I’m sorry. But I needed to make sure you were okay.”

“Beck? What is going on? What time is it?” He imagined her pushing her blond hair out of her eyes as she swung her bare legs over the side of the bed.

“Seven o’clock.”

“I worked in the darkroom last night until three. I didn’t mean to sleep late. Why did you call?”

He hesitated, knowing he was breaking protocol. “I can’t go into detail, but there’s been another murder.”

A long, heavy silence drifted through the lines.