“Oh, God,” Mags said through the phone. “You left Len back at her apartment with her.”

My stomach sank, knowing Mallory had to be the reason she wasn’t answering. I’d seen the way she cared for Len and couldn’t imagine she would hurt her friend, but I didn’t know what mental instability could do to change that.

“I need to figure out where Mallory would take Len if she is not there,” I said.

“I’m on it,” she said firmly. She hung up without a goodbye, and everything inside me hoped I was wrong.

My foot dropped heavy on the gas pedal as I sped through the back roads to Briarport. The car wasn’t moving fast enough. Each second was one that Len may be in trouble.

It was easy to piece together the moment I came into town, Len’s interest in me sparked Mallory to kill again. She was jealous of the attention Len gave me. She’d become codependent on her, and it was the only thing keeping this town safe, stopping the killings.

It could’ve turned bad any moment. Any fight, any new person in Len’s life could’ve set it off. I was glad it was me. At least now, I had a chance to make things right, to get justice for all those victims.

I finally pulled up outside the apartment. The car was practically blocking the road, but I didn’t care. I left it running and sprinted to the back door.

There was a code, but I didn’t have time to call Mags to find it. Instead, I kicked in the door, and it flew open. My feet carried me up the stairs to Len’s apartment. The door was cracked open, and I heard Alonzo and Birdie inside.

The cats sat by the food bowl, which was completely empty. Len never left without feeding them, which meant she’d been gone for a while. The chance was slim, but I still quickly walked through the apartment to make sure she wasn’t injured somewhere.

Mallory had taken her, and I had no idea where.

As I realized everything I tried to avoid was happening all over again, I felt helpless. I’d been reckless, trying to work this case myself without back up. Now, Len was paying the price.

I would never forgive myself if something happened to her.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I quickly pulled it out to see Mag‘s name on the screen.

“Did you find her?” I asked.

“Not entirely, but I did track Mallory’s phone to a location just outside of town, near the water.

“The warehouse,” I guessed before Mags could say it, realizing it was the one place nearby with enough room for no one to notice if Mallory took her there.

“Should I send you the location again?” Mags asked.