Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Irritation slid into anger. “Unless you have something of actual importance to tell me, we are ending this phone call.”
He sighed loudly. “I just want to help you.”
“Then say something that makes sense,” she snapped.
He remained quiet for several moments. “I had a dream about you last night. There were veils all around you. Nobody is who they seem, and you’re going to lose.” His voice dropped to a rhythmic and hypnotic tone now.
“Have you been ingesting drugs?” she asked.
He snorted. “No more than usual.”
Her mind clicked through possible scenarios. She had no doubt that Pastor John had her private number. It would be easy enough for Tim Kohnex to get into the church and find it. “I’m not falling for this mysterious act you have going on. If you believe you’re psychic, you probably need mental help. And if you’re on drugs, you require intervention, but this is tedious.” She needed to look at his background more closely. “Where are you right now?”
“Me?” The sound of a door opening came over the line and then the pounding of rain. “I’m at my cabin, out on my back deck, looking at the river. It’s a dark night, Agent Snow. There’s no moon.”
“Do you have anything else to add, Mr. Kohnex?”
“No. I just felt I should warn you. Be careful. You are stepping into pools of darkness that not even you can comprehend.”
She clicked off. Her hands shook, and she didn’t know why. She didn’t believe him. So she quickly pressed speed dial.
“Yo, boss,” Nester answered sleepily. “Dude, what time is it?” The sound of him fumbling with something came over the line. “Oh, crap. It’s, like, two in the morning. You okay?” He sounded more alert.
“Yes, I’m all right. I’m sorry to awaken you.”
“Who is it, Nester?” a female voice asked sleepily.
Nester coughed. “It’s my boss. Just a sec. What can I do for you, Agent Snow?”
She listened to the wind whip pinecones against the windows. “Tim Kohnex just called me, and I kept him on the phone long enough for a trace. Call DC and find me his current location as of right now, okay?”
“I’m on it, Laurel. I’ll call you as soon as I have something. Also, I’ll be back to work on Monday. I just need the weekend here.”
It sounded like he had a lady love in Seattle as well. “All right. Thanks, Nester.”
Laurel put her phone on the counter and watched the storm. She knew Kohnex was either mentally challenged or on drugs. Even so, she grabbed her phone and dialed Huck just to hear his voice. He didn’t answer. She ignored her momentary panic and walked back into the living room.
As she watched Rachel Raprenzi’s livestream, Huck walked out of the forest carrying a petite, dark-haired girl who was smiling widely at him.
Relief slid through Laurel’s veins. The kids weren’t harmed. Huck was safe.
Laurel watched as Huck smiled and said something to the girl, who grinned and waved at the camera. Relief relaxed Laurel’s muscles, one by one. The duo appeared perfectly healthy.
At least for now.
Chapter 35
She’d definitely gotten the best footage of the night. Rachel Raprenzi sloshed through the icy mud puddles to reach her vehicle, her heart absolutely singing. She was the only reporter to have hung out in the right spot for so many fucking freezing hours, and it had paid off.
Her cameraman, a solid guy named Roger, had perfectly captured the moment when Huck Rivers carried one of the rescued girls out of the woods, his faithful dog at his side.
Yeah, she’d pretty much accused him of being a serial killer, but the contrast between his dark hour and his hero moment would make for excellent copy. She wanted to do a little dance, but there were still emergency personnel around removing crime scene tape and putting away gear. It turned out the five girls had just gotten lost and had hunkered down in a makeshift shelter until Huck and the dog had found them.
Rachel had pressed close to get an interview, but Huck had told her “No comment.” She couldn’t decide whether he was friend or foe, but angry makeup sex had always been the best, so she held high hopes.
“Excellent footage. We streamed it live,” Roger said, jogging up to her side. He put his camera equipment safely in his van.
She high-fived him, uncaring of the rain drilling into them both. Since she was no longer on camera, she’d ditched the umbrella and now just wore a hood over her head. “I’m freezing. I may spend the next three hours in a hot shower.”
“So long as you are in the studio, first thing,” he said. “You’re actually a live witness to this. Do you want me to interview you?” The guy had been trying to get on camera for weeks.