Page 45 of One Night Years Ago

“Jesse wants to keep it. I think we should sell it.”

“Not an easy decision,” she said lightly. She moved her hand away, and Stormy whined. Natalie started rubbing her nose again.

“You like the attention, don’t you, girl?”

“You look tired, Natalie. Why don’t we go to the barn? I can get you a glass of water.” She nodded and together they walked from the stable to the building next to it. He tried not to feel embarrassed. It was what it was. He handed her the glass of water.

“Thank you,” she said. Her fingers stroked his as he handed her the glass, as if eager for the connection.

“Tell me what you’re doing here, Natalie.”

She paced his living space.

“She was so young, Hunter.”

“Who is she? Is she going to be okay?”

“She’s Mrs. Robinson’s niece. She’s only in Sharp’s Cove for the summer. But she’s going to be okay. Physically, at least, she should be fine. He’s getting more violent, though. He didn’t just rape her. He beat her half to death. And bit her …” Her hand went subconsciously to her own chest. Hunter remembered her lawyer’s description of the injury. It was one of the many times during the trial when he’d felt like throwing up.

“I’m glad you came.”

“There’s something you need to know about, Hunter. Felicia … the girl, she said her attacker had a tattoo of a bird.”

He felt a cold sweat break over his face. They couldn’t be going over this again.

“It wasn’t me, Natalie,” he said, hating the way his voice broke.

“I know. I know. It happened last night while we were together.”

She cocked her head sideways as if willing him to go to the next logical conclusion.

“It wasn’t Jesse, either. He and Mom spent last night out of town on a church retreat. They were dropped off this morning.”

“You’re still more worried about your brother than about yourself.”

“Should I be worried about either of us? Neither of us did it, Natalie.”

“The tattoo worries me. Why would this man also have a bird tattoo? Did he read about it in the paper and get it done while you were in prison, to cover up his crimes? If so, that may be a way to find him. I’ve got Susan searching tattoo parlors all over the coast.”

Hunter nodded. He’d been thinking the same thing. Somebody wanted him back in prison. Why else would he have restrained his urges for twelve years, only to start raping and killing again as soon as Hunter was out of prison?”

Once again, she seemed to read his mind. “You think he might be after you, don’t you?”

“This victim survived. Have you asked her to identify the attacker?”

“She has selective amnesia. It’s not infrequent in cases of such strong trauma. I’m hoping her memory will come back, but right now it’s all terribly vague. She remembers a man and the bird tattoo. I’m going to try and get her to draw the tattoo tomorrow.”

“So why kill Lanie and leave this one alive?”

“I don’t think he meant to let her live. I’m thinking of what Lorraine Vasquez, our FBI contact, said to me over the phone. Once they’ve crossed the line and killed someone, it’s almost impossible for them to go back. I think he wanted to kill Felicia as well. But I think something happened that interrupted him, and we need to find out what that is.”

Her phone started ringing. She looked at the number then apologetically at him. “I’m sorry, this is the lab. I need to take this.”

“Bowmann,” she answered, her voice suddenly brisk and businesslike. Hunter sat down on his bed and watched her pace. “Tell me the bad news first.” She listened to the speaker. “Yes, of course, he would have known to wear a condom. How about you tell me the good news?”.

Natalie listened for a moment more. “Good. I don't care if it's thirteen years old. It's important. Put a rush on it.”

She thanked the caller and hung up.