Page 38 of Chilled
With her bottom lip caught between her teeth, she lifted her gaze to his.
“Sorry, Brenna,” Melissa reached out and touched her arm.
“For what?” Brenna attempted a smile. “This is probably the biggest break we’ve had yet. Good job.” She leaned close to the screen. “Who are the others?”
Before she could answer, Chief Burkholder walked in. “I’m glad you all are here.”
“What’s wrong, Chief?” Brenna asked.
“Might be better to ask what’s right.” He sighed and held out another evidence bag. “Two things. You got another letter, Brenna.”
The letter was one, but not what had the chief worked up. “What else?” Nick asked.
“We had another woman go missing last night.”
Angry heat spread through his body like liquid silver, and Nick clenched his hand to keep from slamming a fist into the wall. “Damn.”
Brenna raced from the room and returned with gloves and a mask. “Let’s look at that letter.” She pulled on the gloves and mask and reached for the evidence bag.
Inside, the letter looked like the previous ones—innocuous and so normal anyone could have sent it from anywhere in the city. As she took the knife Paul proffered, a chill skittered down her spine. What horrible things would he say this time? With a deep breath, she glanced up at Nick.
“Want me to do it?”
“No.”I want you to hold me again. The only place she’d felt safe in the past forty-eight hours had been in Agent Nick Tarver’s arms. The unbidden thought jolted Brenna back to reality and the room full of expectant law enforcement personnel. She dug the knife into the end of the envelope and ripped it open.
Her hands trembling, Brenna removed the sheet and read.
Think you’re smart? But I know more. Won’t be long to number four.
Brenna’s face paled, and she shook her head. “He’s going to kill her if he hasn’t already.”
Nick’s gut clenched into a hard knot.
“Who was the latest missing person?” Melissa asked.
The chief walked to the whiteboard and lifted a marker. “Willa Stinson, a local chemist at the Biolab.”
“Damn.” Melissa shook her head, staring at the computer screen. “Look at this.”
She clicked the mouse, and Willa Stinson’s face appeared in the Riverton Women in the News column. “If you follow the dates of the articles, he’s moving in order of appearance. And there have been two more articles since Willa’s.”
“Oh my God.” Brenna sank into the seat beside Melissa. “Who’s next?”
She clicked the next article in the list, and a young woman’s face appeared. “Robin Rutledge, Senior at Riverton University, and all-around perfect student.”
“He’s going to kill a kid.” Paul’s mouth twisted into a snarl. “The bastard.”
“No, he’s not.” Nick banged his fist on the desk and the computer rocked. “We’re going to put twenty-four-hour protection on the girl and find the son of a bitch before he hurts anyone else.”
“I’ll assign a patrol to the girl.” Chief Burkholder hurried from the room.
“Paul, get out there and interview everyone in Ms. Stinson’s neighborhood. Note anything, even the most minute and trivial recollection. Ask them if they’ve seen anyone coming, going, lurking or casually strolling past the woman’s house in the last week. And find out where Victor Greeley went after he left the Rusty Nail last night.”
“Who’s he?” Paul asked.
“He’s one of the guys in Dr. Drummond’s files. We ran into him at the bar and grill around the corner.” Nick’s gaze sought Brenna’s.
Hers was intent, waiting. Did she think he’d tell the others all about the little scuffle? He broke eye contact, a little disappointed she didn’t trust him. “Melissa, work with the chief to warn Robin Rutledge. I don’t want to lose another woman to this psycho.”
