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

the Gulf,” said Vea. “We also got a call from the Tallahassee Sun Times. They fielded a call from someone claiming to be the Huntsman. He’s offering to release Nadine for the sum of two hundred thousand dollars.”

Thirty

Demko gaped. Whatever he’d expected, it wasn’t a ransom request. Nadine believed that this serial killer had intentionally lured her to Ocala with his initial victims and then systematically killed women in her outer circle. What had she said? It wasn’t a game of wits but a mating ritual. This didn’t fit.

“No.”

“No?” said Vea.

“He doesn’t want money. He wants time. It’s a diversion.”

“Well, unfortunately, we can’t make that gamble when he has one of our own.”

“He’s trying to distract you. Divide your resources.”

“You won’t mind if we negotiate for her safe release?” Vea’s tone and expression were both sarcastic.

“He’s not going to give her back. We have to take her.”

Vea stopped walking.

Demko faced him. “Are you sending a team to Crystal River?”

“Unknown. Director Carter and I are flying to Jacksonville.”

“Special Agent Wynns and Coleman?”

“Already in Key West.”

“What about Crystal River?” asked Demko.

“Tampa field office will cover it.”

“You said they were in Clearwater.”

“We’ll send a team north. Meanwhile, the Huntsman wants to make the exchange in Jacksonville.”

Demko shook his head. “He won’t show up.”

Vea rested his hands on his hips. “Listen, Detective, I know you care about Nadine. So how about you step aside and let us do our jobs.”

“He’s just buying time to take her where you can’t get her.”

“Cuba?”

“Yes.”

Axel shook his head and continued away. They watched Agent Vea disappear down the hallway.

Demko glanced to Tina.

“Can you get us to Crystal River?”

“I’m on it,” she said, drawing out her phone.

“Where’s Juliette?” he asked, realizing she wasn’t behind them.

“She’s coming.” Tina’s head was down as she worked her phone.

Juliette returned and the three reached the hospital main entrance.

“I booked a private charter here to Crystal River.” Tina studied her phone. “They can take three people. Flight takes seventy-five minutes. They’re waiting.”

They loaded back into Demko’s vehicle. In the rearview, Tina tapped away on her phone, now plugged into a jack in the backseat. Demko radioed to FHP and they reached the entrance to the private airfield twelve minutes later.

“You’re a wonder,” said Juliette to Tina.

Tina lowered her gaze and flushed. “Thanks. I’d never been in a plane before.”

“Never?” asked Juliette. “This is your first job, right?”

“Working for Sarasota was my first. Now I’m a private assistant.” Her chin went up and an expression of pride beamed, then flickered. “We have to find her.”

“Agreed.” Juliette reached over the seat and offered her hand to squeeze Tina’s. “You took a chance on Nadine. Gave up that other position?”

She nodded. “I’d follow her anywhere. We have to get her back.”

Juliette nodded. “Yes. We do.”

Their flight took them to Crystal River Airport, a small private airfield so near the river it seemed they were about to land on the water.

“I rented us a car,” said Tina as they clambered from the rickety aircraft. “Should be waiting.”

She motioned to the parking area and they hurried toward the vehicles in a light rain.

“I found out about those leaves in the bandages. They’re from a mangrove tree. Salt water,” said Juliette. “They only grow in salt water. She’s on the coast.”

“Why didn’t he kill Skogen?” asked Demko.

“Nadine arranged that,” said Tina.

“And what did she have to bargain for his life?” Juliette asked Tina.

“Her own.”

Demko blinked at her, knowing Tina was right.

“Her cooperation. She must have agreed to cooperate,” said Demko. “At least until she knew he was safe.”

Tina was back on her phone, a cylindrical charger now fastened to the port by a short magenta power cord.

He stopped at their rental.

“Minivan?” he said to Tina with all the disgust he could muster.

“It was that or a convertible.”

He sighed and hit the lock release. The side door slid open and Tina crawled into the back as Juliette took shotgun.

“You have any place special to check?” asked Juliette.

“Marinas,” said Clint.

“That’s a long list,” said Tina, tapping her phone.

“Then let’s get going.”

Decristofaro hustled Nadine onto the deck of a boat in darkness. She was groggy from the drugs he’d injected and barely able to walk.

“Who’s this?” asked the fisherman standing on the deck in bright orange trousers, held up over his T-shirt with wide suspenders.

“This is my wife.” He turned to her. “Nadine, this is my big brother, Leonard.”

“You didn’t say you were bringing a woman.”

“Relax. It’s fine,” said Lionel.

“He kidnapped me,” said Nadine, her words slurred.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing. I’ll bring her below deck. She gets seasick.”

“Give her a bucket,” Leonard shouted after them.

Nadine’s struggle was ineffective. Her muscles still would not cooperate, and Lionel overpowered her easily, carrying her below decks. The cramped compartment in the pointed prow of the boat had two sleeping platforms that came together in a point like a V. The red vinyl pads were cracked and stank of rotting fish and mold. Her stomach heaved.

“You keep quiet down here. If you don’t, I’ll have to kill Leonard. And that will be on you.” He pointed at her nose.

She had no doubt he would kill his brother.

“You could leave me behind. You could get away.”

“Oh, I plan to. And you and I are going to make that first baby right here.” He pointed at the vinyl pad. “Right now, I got to either convince Leonard you were kidding or shoot him full of tranquilizers. Then I need some ice. Have to cool you down first. I’ll be back.”

Ice? The door banged shut. She rolled to her side, trying to think past the sedative.

Why ice?

Men who used ice to cool a woman’s body were more comfortable having sex with the dead.

This time she shivered for a different reason.

The night sped toward dawn as Tina compiled a list and they began their search to the north, working southward. The sky turned steel gray as they checked with the harbormasters and spoke to the charter boat captains, asking if they’d seen anyone new here lately.

With