Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
“Missing?” It was the last thing Erin had expected to hear.
“Noah said they’re not panicking yet, but she’s not answering her phone, and no one knows where she is.
The officer who took her to her hotel after she left the command center went back to check on her.
She’s not there, but all her stuff is still in the room.
They’re searching the hotel again now, just in case they missed her the first time around.
There are two restaurants inside as well as a bar and several restrooms. She wasn’t supposed to leave the premises.
Investigators planned on having her return to the command center tomorrow. ”
“Maybe she went to see her daughter,” Erin said. “Is her car still there?”
“I don’t know. Noah didn’t mention her car, but I’m sure they checked that right away. The daughter says she hasn’t seen or heard from her.”
“Maybe she got a cab or an Uber?”
“It’s possible, but where would she go?” Kaely sighed. “I just pray she’s all right.”
“I do too. I like her.”
“What’s your gut telling you?” Kaely asked. “You spent the most time with her. Do you think she left on her own? Or do you think it sounds suspicious?”
It was almost impossible for Erin to answer that question. She’d only spent a couple of hours with Pat. She told Kaely that.
Kaely frowned. “I’ve never known anyone who could read people as well as you can, Erin. Just give me your first impression.”
“I . . . I can’t see her running away,” Erin said slowly.
“I mean, she had a really bad experience with a stalker. It’s why she quit writing.
I’d think she’d stay in a location where she felt safe.
Like the hotel. She seemed really nervous but committed to helping with the investigation.
Based on the short time we had together, I don’t think she’d take off without telling anyone.
And she’d certainly contact her daughter if she was leaving the hotel.
I got the impression that they’re really close. ”
Kaely got up and took some cups out of the cabinet. She added water and tea bags and then put them in the microwave. “I think she’s in trouble,” she said.
“You sure you’re not being paranoid?” Erin asked.
“Maybe, but better safe than sorry.” Kaely hesitated for a moment, staring at Erin as if she was unsure about what to do next.
“Maybe the whole thing was just too much for her. She could be holed up in a different hotel somewhere.”
“I guess that’s a possibility,” Kaely said.
“But she would have taken all of her things. Plus, the police have been checking her credit cards. So far, there’s been no activity.
And from what you say, I don’t think she’d worry her daughter like this.
” Kaely shook her head. “I just don’t buy it.
” When the microwave dinged, she took out the cups and handed one to Erin.
“You’re the one who taught me about serial killers. If the first murder wasn’t the most important one, then maybe Pat was the reason behind his spree. His last murder. I certainly hope he hasn’t taken her.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Erin could hear the uncertainty in Kaely’s voice. “You need to do your profiling thing again.”
Kaely looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “My profiling thing?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Maybe when I get back from the store. I’ve got to pick up a few things. It’s not far away. You want to come with me?”
Erin shook her head. “I don’t want that reporter to see me in case he’s watching the house . . . Besides, I need to finish editing my book. I’ve got to get it done and turned into my publisher by the deadline.”
“I’m certain your publisher would show you some grace. I mean, people loved your first book so much.”
Erin grinned. “You might be right, but after what I put them through with Dark Matters, I probably shouldn’t push it.”
Kaely took a sip of her tea before saying, “With Patricia missing, I’m not sure I should leave you.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine. We’re not sure if Pat’s really in trouble and, as far as we know, all the other authors are okay.
I really don’t think anyone’s coming after me.
Besides, like I said, I don’t want that reporter to find out I’m here.
If that gets out to the public, the media and lots of lookie-loos could make life miserable for me, you, and Noah. ”
Kaely didn’t move. Just kept staring at her.
“Okay,” Erin said. “If I get my gun, will you feel better?”
She nodded. “Much.”
Erin sighed and got to her feet. It only took her a couple of minutes to go to the guest room, unlock her gun from its case, load it, and get back to the kitchen. She showed it to Kaely. “Okay?”
She smiled and nodded. “You know, now you have more than your gun protecting you. You have angels standing guard.”
Kaely’s words gave her chills. She wished she could actually see angels. How cool would that be?
“Could you do me a favor before you go?” Erin asked. “Would you take Chester out? I’d do it but . . .”
“I get it. If the reporter really is out there, he’ll see you,” Kaely said.
“Exactly.”
“I’d be happy to.” Kaely got Chester’s leash and called his name. The border collie loved going outside. Sometimes it was hard to get him back in.
Erin finished her tea while Kaely and Chester were in the front yard.
She really wanted nothing more than to go to bed, but Kaely planned to make supper, and Erin didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
Besides, she really did need to work on her edits.
She could do that while Kaely was gone and then wait until after they ate to tell Kaely she needed to get some sleep.
Hopefully there wouldn’t be any more weird dreams tonight.
“He did everything he needed to,” Kaely said once she let Chester off his leash.
Chester came over to Erin, wagging his tail, as if he was proud of doing his business on Kaely and Noah’s front yard. “Good boy,” she said, stroking his soft head.
Kaely went over and picked up her purse from the kitchen counter. “If there’s anything else I can do for you, just let me know, okay?”
“I can’t think of anything right now.” She sighed. “I know I’ve told you this before, but without you, these books would never have been written.”
Kaely grinned. “I know. I’m indispensable.”
“I think you mean indefensible, don’t you?”
Kaely laughed. “I take exception to that. Look, you keep the doors locked. Don’t let anyone in this house except me, understand?”
“So, if Noah comes home, I should refuse to open the door?”
Kaely sighed dramatically. “Yes, you can let Noah in. Although he has his own key.” She pointed her finger at Erin. “Like I said . . .”
Erin shook her head. “I promise to be good. I’m going to sit here at the table and edit. I won’t open the door. I won’t even move from this spot. And I’ll keep my gun close by.”
“Good. Set the alarm code after I leave.”
Erin frowned at her. “Well, I’d have to get up.”
“Very funny. Set it. I mean it.”
“Seriously? Don’t you think you’re overdoing it a bit? The door will be locked. I’m right here.”
Kaely, who was almost at the door, turned and looked at her. “Look, I realize I might be obsessing, but after what happened in Sanctuary, Patricia’s disappearance, and that reporter nosing around . . . I don’t know. Something feels . . . wrong. I just can’t put my finger on it.”
“You know, we talked about this. I mean, about Patricia possibly being the killer.”
“You just told me you couldn’t believe she was involved.”
“I know,” Erin said. “Frankly, I’m just trying to put the pieces together. So, let’s say it is her, which I seriously doubt. She hasn’t tried to hurt any of the authors involved in this thing. If she’s the killer, wouldn’t she be planning her next murder? Not backtracking to hurt me?”
“You could be right,” Kaely said. “I just don’t want to take any chances.”
Erin sighed loudly. “Would you just go? The grocery store will be closed by the time you finally leave.”
Kaely looked at her watch. “It’s a little after seven. They’re open until eleven. Even I’m not that slow. It’s nearby. I should be back in about thirty minutes.”
“Okay, I’m hungry, and I need to work. Now get out of here.”
Kaely smiled and rolled her eyes. “Yes, your majesty. I’ll hurry. Cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries okay for tonight?”
“Well, I was holding out for filet mignon, but I guess if that’s the best you can do.” She looked at Kaely through narrowed eyes. “We still have plenty of Mallomars, right?”
“Since you’re the only one eating them, I’m hopeful that four boxes will keep you for a while.”
“I guess so.”
Kaely shook her head and walked out the door.
Erin got up and reset the alarm. As she did, she heard Kaely get into her car and drive away.
Then she retrieved her laptop from the coffee table where she’d left it and began working.
She had doubts about this story. It wasn’t easy to come up with new ways to kill someone.
Especially with what had been going on with the Novel Killer.
She’d already changed things once because her killer too closely resembled the UNSUB in Dan Harper’s book.
Hopefully, what she had now would work. It was pretty inventive, but since giving her life to God, she wasn’t certain she was comfortable with it.
She stared at the words on the screen, wondering how to combine faith along with death.
She remembered an interview she’d read featuring Patricia Long years ago where she was asked a similar question by a reporter.
The reporter had asked how writing about serial killers could be seen as a positive contribution to society.
Patricia had answered that the kind of books she wrote brought together the battle of darkness against light.
Evil against good. “In the end, good wins,” she’d said.
Her detective, Blake Monroe, always brought the killer or killers to justice.
Funny, Erin had forgotten that until now.
It helped to ease her mind. Still, the mode of killing in this book .
. . It might be creative, but was it over the edge?
She wasn’t certain. Erin wanted to add a story of redemption to the book.
Would her publisher reject it? In the end, did it matter?
She’d refused to sign a three-book deal originally because she wasn’t certain she wanted to write more than Dark Matters.
If the publisher didn’t like this book, she could adjust it.
Give them what they wanted. Then if she continued to write, Brandon could find her another publisher.
One that would allow her to create the kind of stories she wanted to write now.
Stories that would give people hope. Make them think about God.
Maybe even call on Him the way she’d done this evening.
She’d just started looking over another chapter when her phone rang. Brandon. She sighed and answered the phone.
“I’m working, I’m working. I plan to make my deadline . . .”
“I’m not calling about that, Erin,” he said. “Although I’m relieved to hear it. I got a call today from Christine Dell’s attorney. They’re asking for quite a bit of money, and your publisher is willing to pay it.”
“That’s ridiculous, Brandon,” Erin said. “I told you I didn’t steal Dark Matters from her. And I certainly didn’t steal her idea for the one I’m working on now.”
“The attorney described your new book pretty closely. There were a few differences,” he said, sounding tired. “But it was close enough.” He quickly went over the description of the manuscript Erin was working on now. As he repeated what the attorney had said, Erin’s mouth dropped open.
When he finished, she said, “Did you share the plot with my publisher, Brandon?”
“No. I mean, I took this from the synopsis you sent them when we signed the contract.”
“Listen, Brandon,” Erin said. “Tell the publisher not to settle. Not to do anything until you hear from me. Do you understand?”
“I . . . I guess so, but I think we need to cut our losses . . .”
“We won’t have any losses,” Erin said. “Trust me. I’ll get back to you in the next couple of days, I promise. Just hold off.”
“Okay, but you’d better be right about this. If they think we’re holding back, they might . . .”
“They’re not going to do anything, Brandon. I guarantee it.”
After she disconnected the call, she stared at the words on her laptop and slowly started to smile.