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

“Or he wants us to think he’s heading north,” said Demko. “Coleman and Carter think he’s taking her out of the state.”

“We discussed that possibility,” Vea said.

“Did you locate the trucker in Lumberton?”

“Yeah. He’s useless. Took the money from some guy in a hoodie. Phone was off and he didn’t turn it on until he called you. Apparently, you’re the first one listed in her favorites.”

“The phone. Wynns has it. From what I understand, it was switched off the night Nadine was taken.”

“By him?”

“Likely. On again at Lumberton.”

“Prints?”

“You must be dreaming.”

“DNA?”

“Yes. But Wynns doesn’t think he used it. So we aren’t hopeful.”

“Did you find anything new on him?”

“Yes, thanks to you. Suspect is Lionel Decristofaro. Search of his residence uncovered hunting supplies, bow and arrows, traps and two uniforms.”

“The missing bellman?”

“Used his uniform. Coleman found the bellman in Orlando working off the books at another hotel. He’s also undocumented. Decristofaro threatened him, made him quit the day Finch arrived. Admitted to giving Decristofaro his uniform.”

“He’s okay?”

Vea nodded. “Second uniform is from the forest service, a ranger. We’re checking with them, but believe it is stolen.”

Demko thought of all the rangers he had spoken to, comparing them in his mind to Decristofaro. A guy at the scene when they recovered the remains of April Rupp came to mind.

“You don’t have him?”

“No. He’s still missing.”

“Background, priors?”

“No priors,” said Vea. “He listed his permanent residence as Miami. We’ve sent our people there. Carter likes him for our unsub.”

“He matches Nadine’s description. Slight build. Dark hair.”

“Yes. We’re hopeful that Skogen can provide more details. We have a photo of Decristofaro to show him.”

“When?”

“That’s up to the doctor.”

“Can I see him?”

“Of course,” said Vea.

They reached the protective detail at the door and Vea cleared them through, accompanying Demko and Tina to Skogen’s curtained enclosure, where they paused at the foot of the bed.

The man lying there was unrecognizable. The swollen purple skin of his face reminded Clint of the reaction after being stung by hornets. He looked more corpselike than many corpses Demko had seen.

That made him check the machines to see if the agent was breathing.

The apparatus blipped and beeped, showing oxygen levels, respiration, heart rate and blood pressure. Clint watched the line of Skogen’s heartbeat move across the green screen. Then he pinned his attention on Jack. An oxygen tube threaded over his pillow and fixed around his face. Tape held the intravenous line on the top of his bandaged right hand.

“Anything on the scene where he was recovered?” asked Demko.

“We’ve got crime techs there. They haven’t found anything to help us locate Nadine.”

“His clothing?” asked Demko.

“Boxers and bandages on his hands. They think it was strips from a T-shirt.”

“Nadine’s nightshirt?”

“Possibly. The strips were stuffed with green leaves.”

“What kind of leaves?”

Axel shook his head. “Our techs have them.”

“Got photos yet?” asked Demko.

Vea opened his device checking. “Yup. Already loaded.”

He pulled up the images and held the cell phone so all three of them could view the screen. Then Vea scrolled from one image to the next.

Demko checked each image, seeing evidence bags filled with elliptical green leaves and vegetative debris. Another showed soiled fabric strips. Vea slowly swiped from one image to the next.

“Stop,” Demko said. “Go back one.”

Tina moved closer and Vea retrieved the photo.

“Zoom in.”

Vea did, using his fingers to enlarge the image. Something flashed in the strips of dirt and rotting vegetation.

And then he recognized it. A chill rippled over him as Clint peered at the image of a familiar square-cut diamond set in a band of gold.

“Is that—” said Tina.

Vea interrupted. “It’s a ring. Recovered from Jack Skogen’s fifth finger, right hand.”

“That isn’t a ring,” said Tina. “It’s an engagement ring.”

“Nadine’s ring,” said Demko. “The one I gave her.”

Had she been wearing this when he took her?

Tina rested a fist on her hip and glared at Demko. “Why didn’t either of you tell me?”

Nadine settled into the passenger seat. Should she be grateful that he did not carry her in that dreaded plastic tub again? Perhaps her near drowning had taught him a lesson.

She knew that the highways had cameras. Could the FBI spot her at night in this seat? She didn’t know, but the glimmer of that possibility gave her hope.

Decristofaro stood blocking the open passenger door.

“The boat is in Crystal River?” She prayed he’d given her the correct information on the long shot that they found Jack and he could remember her message.

He nodded. “We’ll head out with the others tomorrow and then drop our nets, trawling south. That way we look just like the rest of them shrimpers up and down the coast.”

“And then Cuba?”

“From the Tortugas. Easy as frying catfish. You’ll love it there. The climate is like Florida and the people are nice, even to Americans. You’re so smart, you’ll have no trouble learning Spanish. We’ll be so happy there.” He bounced with excitement.

Nadine glanced at the door, checking to see what kind of lock she’d need to release before she rolled out of his truck.

Something pricked her neck.

She slapped her hand over the injury, her eyes flashing to him, in time to see him withdrawing a hypodermic needle.

“What was that?”

In answer he dropped the needle on the ground and lifted his opposite hand. Upon it was a realistic mask of a bald white man with a goatee.

He tugged the mask over her head. The odor of latex filled her nostrils, and she lifted her hands to tug the thing away. But her arms were leaden, refusing to lift more than a few inches from her lap.

“That’s for any surveillance cameras. Just two men driving south.”

Lionel reached across her, clipping the seat belt.

“Enjoy your rest because I’m certain you are not going to enjoy the shrimp boat.” He patted her knee. “I know you promised to be cooperative. But my experience with women shows that they are most compliant when unconscious, afraid for their lives or dead.”

Dr. Juliette Hartfield returned to Demko, standing