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

“Nadine. So good to hear your voice. Did you have a pleasant afternoon?”

“I waited for you.”

“But not alone. That was a condition. And a body double.” The pause stretched. “Disappointing.”

“You weren’t going to show up in any case.”

“True. I’m not an urban hunter.”

“Then what was the point?”

“To let your handlers know it won’t work. It has to be you. Only you.”

“I want to speak to Jack.”

“I’m sure,” he said and chuckled. “Unfortunately, I’m not addressing your desires but mine. You disappointed me. Jack will be paying for that disappointment.”

“Don’t you hurt him.”

“Or what? You are in no position to rescue him. You were, earlier today. But you decided to bring an army. Was all that FBI or did you also have locals? I’ve never seen so many sheriff’s vehicles in Ocala before.”

“So you were there.”

“Of course.”

And yet, none of the agents had spotted him.

“Where?”

“Let’s just say when you are watching an eagle, you choose the second highest tree.”

“Because the eagle takes the highest?”

“Very good. Especially for someone who spends so little time out of doors.”

Was she supposed to keep him talking? There had been no time for instructions.

“Your fiancé is a strong man. I’ll give him that. But he won’t take much more. I don’t want us beginning on the wrong foot, so I’ll give you a last chance, Nadine. But you must come alone.”

“Where? When?”

“Tomorrow night. Eleven p.m. You’ll be in a kayak, alone on the St. Johns.”

“There are gators in those waters. They are active at night.”

“So stay in the kayak.”

“I’ve never even been in a kayak.”

“You have all morning to practice. Drift downriver from the marina where your mother worked. I’ll find you. I look forward to meeting you privately.”

That scenario gave her a chill that wrapped right around her neck to her jaw.

“I want Jack alive. No tricks.”

“One more chance, Nadine. And no more body doubles. If you don’t show, I’ll kill him and send you his heart.”

Nadine crawled into bed after midnight. The operation had moved to their field headquarters. After lengthy discussion, and over Demko’s objections, Nadine had agreed to go in person down the river, at night, in a kayak. She needed to practice kayaking in the dark.

The FBI had obtained three kayaks and Juliette and a Navy SEAL had taken her out to practice on a portion of the river temporarily closed to all boat traffic.

She had as much confidence in her ability to maneuver the watercraft as she did in her ability to walk on water. Chances were high that, despite the training, she’d likely flip over. She’d flipped it today and knew that once she went in the river, she was not climbing out onto a tippy, brightly colored, plastic log.

The FBI had decided that “alone” would mean she made the journey by herself. But there would be Navy SEALs in the water and snipers in the trees from DeLand to Blue Hole State Park.

Sore muscles and exhaustion did not help Nadine fall asleep. Demko’s objections and images of Jack Skogen undergoing torture kept flashing through her mind’s eye.

When Demko had seen her on the verge of tears, he had ordered her to bed, promising to take up the argument in the morning.

Nadine sat on the coverlet, flicked on the light on the nightstand and opened the velvet box. Then she went through her nightly ritual of slipping the engagement ring on her finger.

Tomorrow, before they left for the river, she’d voice her concerns to Clint about what their child might become. If he still wanted her after that, she’d keep his ring and marry him.

Something moved beneath the bed. Nadine yipped and scrabbled in the bedside drawer for the Mace. Now kneeling on the bed, she held the open container and prepared to scream for all she was worth when a furry arm darted out from beneath the coverlet and batted at her discarded socks, sending one skittering across the laminate flooring.

“Muffin! You nearly gave me a stroke.”

She put down the Mace and lifted the remaining sock. Then she crawled off the bed and dangled it just out of reach of the feline. Muffin’s paw appeared again, swiping at the moving target. Finally the cat darted out from beneath the bed.

Nadine lifted the cat and held her against her chest. She stroked the soft fur and cooed.

“How did you get in here?”

Muffin rubbed her head against Nadine’s neck and purred.

“You are a bad kitty, scaring me.”

She smiled, closing her eyes as she held the comforting ball of fluff. Suddenly she understood why Tina allowed this unmanageable feline to have the run of the place.

“You’re all right, Muffin,” she whispered and rocked back and forth. The cat draped over her chest and shoulder.

Nadine spun in a slow circle and froze.

Before her stood a man, dressed in black from his head to his feet with only his eyes showing. Black grease covered his face.

Adrenaline flooded her system, speeding her heart rate and lifting the hairs on her head.

“Nadine, I’ve so looked forward to our meeting,” he said, his voice low and holding the slightest foreign accent. He lifted some sort of straw to his lips and his cheeks puffed out.

Nadine’s lungs and feet seemed to have switched off and she found herself frozen, unable to run or scream as terror lashed at her vocal cords. She threw the cat as she dove, rolling over the bed. She landed on the opposite side on the floor. Something stabbed at her neck, burning like a hornet’s sting.

She lifted her hand, probing, and plucked out a dart. She stared at the thing. It had a red pom-pom on the end. But it was going blurry. She blinked, trying to focus.

Someone had stamped on the brakes in her body. Her heart rate slowed. Her eyelids drooped. She needed to scream and filled her lungs to do so when he was there beside her, gloved hand pressed to her mouth. She inhaled the acrid smell of sweat and grease. Her muscles turned to jelly and