The Hunted Girls by Jenna Kernan (best book club books for discussion txt) 📕

person to violence, might help her decide. In her heart, she feared the day of Arlo’s release.

“I’ll pass it on to him,” she said and lifted her phone to write an email to Arlo.

Linda Tolan left her home darkroom after eleven, holding the photo of the summer tanager that had nearly cost her life, taken much closer to home, thanks to her sister’s willingness to stop on their return journey. Failing at sleep, she’d turned to work, hoping that the next time she lay down in bed it wouldn’t be in a cold sweat as memories assaulted her like thrown bricks.

The photo of the cheerful, bright red songbird usually made her smile. But now, inexplicably, she found her hand trembling as the pain and confusion descended on her without warning.

“Flashback,” she said. Linda had never had one, but she recognized the chill lifting the hairs on her neck and the twisting of her stomach.

She carried the wet image to the kitchen, determined to hold it together. Her appointment on Monday with a psychologist would help her sort out her emotions.

The unfamiliar sound caused her to freeze. It was a clicking. She lifted her gaze from the image and saw a man standing in the hallway before her.

In his hand was a familiar pistol pointed at her. Her gaze flashed to his face.

He wore no sunglasses or hat now, but she recognized him instantly.

“No,” she whispered and dropped the photo, backing toward her darkroom.

“We didn’t finish our hunt, Linda.”

She reached for the knob, but her numb fingers fumbled. She couldn’t even feel them. Was she passing out?

“Come along, now, my little rabbit,” he said, keeping the pistol aimed at her chest.

She knew what awaited her if he took her alive.

Instinct and terror washed through her and she ran at him, clasping the gun as he fired. The searing pain in her shoulder dropped her to her knees.

He grabbed her hair and yanked, then punched her in the face. She was vaguely aware of being lifted and wrapped in something. Her head ached and her stomach rolled. She was going to be sick.

It was him. He’d come back and this time she knew they would never find her in time.

Fourteen

FRIDAY

Special Agent Coleman surprised Nadine and Demko at breakfast in the hotel. Her expression of urgency brought Nadine to her feet.

“Come with me,” she said.

They did, following her toward the waiting SUV.

Had another woman been captured?

“What’s happened?” asked Demko.

“Jacksonville police logged a 911 call last night, possible gunshots.” She held open the passenger door.

“Jacksonville?” said Demko.

Nadine knew before Coleman confirmed her suspicions. It was hard to hear past the buzzing in her ears.

“Police responded. Tolan’s sister reported being awakened by a single shot before midnight on Thursday and discovered her sister missing. There was blood in the bedroom hallway.”

“Linda Tolan,” said Nadine.

“Yes. She’s missing.”

“You didn’t give her protection?” said Demko, the accusation unmistakable.

Coleman looked away. “Deemed unnecessary.”

Nadine gasped. Was this her fault? “I should have recommended…”

“We could have had him,” said Demko simultaneously.

“Yes,” agreed Coleman.

The Jacksonville police had Linda Tolan’s boyfriend in custody. Agent Coleman headed north on Monday afternoon to interview him.

Nadine doubted he would be a suspect for long. As Friday afternoon inched along, she could not stop thinking about Linda Tolan. She was likely alive right now, naked and locked in an animal cage.

Again.

She’d provided a likely search area but was certain this monster would have moved to a new territory. She struggled to guess where.

The pressure to find Linda, and the knowledge that the task was just too much, squeezed the air from her lungs. She didn’t think the roadblocks or any other measures by law enforcement would stop him. Not this time. He was already back in the terrain where he felt safest.

Where?

Demko was out looking with highway patrol, sheriff’s office and local search and rescue. Nadine tried to picture where she would take Tolan. She rested her elbows on the desk and placed her hands over her eyes.

Think!

With her eyes closed she pictured Linda’s recapture from the details provided.

Where was he now?

Safer to bring her somewhere out of the area. But that would spoil his fun and the game he was playing with law enforcement.

Had the killer brought Linda all the way back here? Yes, she thought. Definitely. He would teach her a lesson. Teach all of them how clever he was, how effective.

He wouldn’t be denied his playthings. She could almost hear his thoughts.

No, not playthings, prey. My game is always in season. I have lots of hunting grounds and I know these jungles better than anyone. They can’t find her. They won’t. I’ll move deeper. Keep her long enough that she understands she’s mine to do with as I like. How long will I make her wait?

“He wants notoriety,” Nadine said. “That’s why the bodies were dumped on a busy trail. Bound to be discovered. Could have buried them. Left them in a remote place. But it’s a performance.”

“Dr. Finch? Who you talking to?”

Tina’s voice brought her head snapping up.

“Myself. Did they find Linda?”

“No.”

Nadine sagged.

“You have to eat.” Tina held a Greek yogurt. “And Special Agent Wynns is here to see you.”

Her admin was worried that she wasn’t eating enough and had already brought her a sesame bagel, an apple and a bran muffin. She now added the yogurt and plastic spoon to the lineup on Nadine’s desk.

Tina ushered in Special Agent Kirk Wynns, who was in charge of digital forensics. He had hazel eyes, a head of unmanageable red curls and a freckled complexion.

“Warrants were discharged for collection of the victims’ phone records. My team assembled their devices. We’ve dumped all their data and made personal topology for everything they’ve run in the last ninety days. All three victims showed commonality of certain apps.” He handed her a list, which she scanned, seeing the usual suspects that came with the phones and additional ones for weather, social media, travel, communication, banking, utilities. The list went on for two