Chapter 23
Knox
I straightened, and Sloane’s arms dropped to her sides.
My phone continued to ring as I helped her sit up straight, then smoothed her clothes and hair. “I hate whoever is calling.”
“Me too,” Sloane said. “But it could be important.”
I fished the infuriating device from my back pocket and scowled at Archer’s name on the screen. “This better be life or death,” I answered.
Archer’s laugh was knowing. “Bad timing?”
I glanced at Sloane’s flushed skin and tousled hair. “What do you need?”
“We got a lead on the VW bus. Thought you’d want to know.”
I stood taller, interest piqued. “What kind of lead?”
“Colton and I stopped at a local mechanic shop in Manteo, and the owner remembered working on a vehicle matching the description. Blue-and-white VW bus, older model, custom paint job.”
“Did he remember who owned it?”
“Guy paid cash, gave a name that turned out to be fake. But the mechanic remembered something the owner said. Apparently, he claimed to be camping. The mechanic thought he might be one of those people who travel around, living in their vans.”
Instinct itched in my gut. “Maybe.” But the old ranger station marked on Mom’s maps flashed into mind. “When was the VW at that garage?”
“A few months ago. The bus needed new brakes and some engine work. Mechanic said the guy was antsy. He paid extra to have the work prioritized. He said he couldn’t afford to miss work, but I’m wondering if the goal was to get it out of there as soon as possible.”
“Did he give a description of the guy?”
“Yep.” Colton answered, apparently on speaker with Archer. “Tall, dark hair. Kept his head down, didn’t make small talk.”
I met Sloane’s eyes. “Nice work.” I’d met a man who fit that description yesterday. Which reminded me— “I want to hike out to the old ranger station and look for signs anyone’s been staying there.”
“When?” Sloane and the guys asked in unison.
I glanced at the darkness beyond the kitchen windows. “Tomorrow morning.” I didn’t want to delay, but going out after dark wasn’t our best option.
“Sounds good,” Archer said. “Colton and I will go with you. Strength in numbers.”
“I’ll call Nash,” I said. “Make sure the sheriff’s in the loop.”
“You think he’ll offer backup?”
“Yeah.” Then I told them what we’d learned about the assailant and the FBI.
“Oh, shit,” Colton said. “We got that security upgraded just in time. I’ll call the company about the night vision and glass break sensors and see what we have to do to cut the wait time.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Tell Sloane we’ve got this.” Archer said. “We’ve got your back, and we’ve got her.”
“Yep.” I disconnected and pulled Sloane into my arms.
“What happened?” she asked.
I gave her the rundown as I pocketed my phone. “We’ll meet up at the trailhead in the morning and go in together. I’m not taking any chances with your safety.”
“Our safety,” Sloane corrected.
I helped her off the counter when she reached for my hand. “I have to call Nash and coordinate with him.”
“I’ll make coffee.”
I filled Nash in on Colton and Archer’s discovery, then listened patiently while he reminded me that I wasn’t a member of law enforcement. Neither were my friends. And Carolina Bay Sheriff’s Department did not condone vigilantism.
“Don’t go out there alone,” he added. “If you’re right, we have no idea if this guy is armed. I’ll have a deputy meet you at the access road. Could be nothing, but given that the FBI is involved, I want to use due diligence every step of the way where this case is concerned.”
“Agreed.”
“How’s Sloane doing?” he asked.
“She’s tough. She’s going to be okay.”
“Keep her close,” he warned. “I spoke to the state’s contact from the FBI about an hour ago.
They’ve only recently included the shells as part of this case.
They’re so common in the areas the women were taken that no one questioned the commonality until this year.
Now, they’ve connected seven cases going back a decade in four towns along the coast. The federal agent I spoke with earlier says they’re including my reports about Sloane’s attack and break-in with their files.
They plan to be in touch with her. Once they move in, I’ll be ordered to stand down.
In the meantime, I can’t risk spooking this guy.
Otherwise, I’d tell you to forget all of this, and I’d send a deputy to check out the ranger station.
I’m afraid he’d see uniforms coming a mile away, and he’s been in Carolina Bay long enough to recognize all my men.
I want him comfortable and overconfident when the feds arrive, so he thinks we’re all idiots and doesn’t try to get away.
I’d prefer him in cuffs when the feds arrive, but I’ll settle for knowing where he’s holed up. ”
I grunted, unable to speak past the lump of red-hot anger that formed with his words. A killer was hunting Sloane. He was out there now, plotting, intending her harm.
I would not let that happen.
“It’s funny,” Nash said. “I’ve been out to that old station a half-dozen times these last couple of years, my deputies, too.
All looking for an indication someone might be staying there.
Wondering if a person looking to snatch women would choose that spot.
I never saw a damn thing. Not a scrap of trash, excessive boot prints, or anything else to suggest someone spent more than a few minutes of rest there.
Now, another woman is gone, there’s one in the crosshairs, and we’re circling back to that same damn spot. ”
“If he’s there, it doesn’t mean he always was,” I said, hearing the distress in Nash’s tone. “You did everything right. You’ve gone above and beyond looking for these women. I know that. The whole island knows that. Don’t let yourself believe otherwise.”
He grunted, noncommittally.
“When we get there, we’ll collect the information we need and get out,” I said.
“Then, we’ll pass it on so the feds can take it from there.
Assuming there’s anything to report.” Odds were that this guy was living out of his van, not hiding out in the dilapidated ranger’s station.
Especially after Nash and his deputies had looked there so often.
Still, we had to look to know.
I ended the call and found Sloane on the back patio, two mugs of coffee in hand, staring out at the inky blue sky over the sound. She handed me a mug when I joined her.
I filled her in on everything Nash had said, and she rested her back against the railing as she processed.
“Seven cases?” Sloane’s voice was barely a whisper. “Going back ten years?”
I nodded, watching the information sink in.
“That means...” She set down her coffee cup with shaking hands. “How many women? Seven in total? Three here and four others, or more? Seven before he came to Carolina Bay?”
I met her eyes without answer. “We’ll know more when the feds get here.”
Sloane’s face went pale. “And I got away from him. I’m the one who got away.”
“Yeah.” I pulled her close. “I think he’s hoping to finish what he started.”
She buried her face against my chest, and I felt her whole body trembling.
“I’ve got you,” I promised.
“Ten years, Knox. He’s been doing this for ten years and no one’s stopped him.”
“We’re going to stop him. The FBI, Nash, Archer, Colton, me, and you. He’s made mistakes. Left evidence. We’re closing in.”
“Or he’s getting bolder.”
I couldn’t argue with that. Because she was right. But sometimes bolder didn’t mean more dangerous, it meant more arrogant, and that led to mistakes.
“We don’t have to go tomorrow,” I said. “You and I can stay here where we’re safe and I can control the perimeter.”
She shook her stubborn head. “We’re just taking a hike.
If it looks as if someone has been squatting in the old ranger’s station, the sheriff’s department will take it from there.
If we see anyone, we’ll turn away and leave.
Then we’ll report that too. I’ll be safe.
” She took a slow, easy breath. “Any information we gather is helpful, right?”
“Yeah.” I set my mug aside and moved in close, dropping my forehead to hers. “I told Nash about the mechanic Archer and Colton spoke with, I’m sure they’ll get a description from him. We really don’t have to do this.”
“I want to.”
“And what if something goes wrong? What if he’s armed or violent?”
“Then you’ll protect me. Like you have been.”
I thought about it. Weighed the risks against her unfathomable need to face this thing head on. “You can’t leave my side. And if somehow things go sideways, you’ll leave me and make your priority getting back to the Jeep and the sheriff’s department. You won’t stop until you get there.”
She nodded.
I pulled back to look into her eyes. “It’s highly unlikely this guy is going to get the jump on three Marines and a sheriff, but I can’t take you along unless you promise you’ll leave us behind and go for help if that happens. You have to say it.”
Sloane’s pretty features crumbled into a grimace. A long moment later, she agreed. “Promise.”
We watched the starry sky while our drinks grew tepid in the evening air, then went inside to lock up for the night. I did another security check while Sloane tested the windows and doors, making sure everything was locked and the new deadbolts were engaged.
Sloane approached and kissed my cheek. “I’m going to shower and change for bed.”
Her soft footfalls padded up the stairs.
I considered going with her, but something stopped me.
I wasn’t sure what that was. So, I paced and rechecked the window and door locks, then scanned the perimeter from every vantage.
Much of the nighttime beauty of the island could be attributed to the lack of light pollution.
The sky illuminated with endless stars and galaxies of light, but the earth was cloaked in darkness.
So when the world lit up like midday, it only took a moment to understand. Someone had triggered the new motion sensors. Apparently all of them.
“Knox?” Sloane’s voice carried from upstairs, tight with fear.