“It’ll have to be quick. Her eyes are covered and protected from the sun, so she can’t see you.” Spencer offered her his arm and guided her across the dried, brittle terrain. She wanted to run but knew a root or rock was waiting to trip her up.

When they approached the rescue squad, she was struck by the strong scent of body odor and urine. She conjured memories of Casey and stripped away weight and skin tone. The young woman’s features drew inward, her hair lost its luster, and her eyes hollowed.

“Casey,” Spencer said. “This is Detective Poe.”

Casey reached out a hand. “Detective.”

Jordan took her hand in both of hers, feeling the torn fingernails gritty with dirt and grime. “You made it.”

“Yeah.” Casey’s voice sounded rusty, like a wheel that had not turned in too long. “Is he really dead?”

“Yes,” Jordan said. “Mr. Rawlings shot himself.”

“It doesn’t seem right that he would just die after what he did. It’s not fair.”

Thin fingers gripped Jordan’s hand tighter. The woman’s physical nightmare was over, but there remained months, if not years, of work to help her move past what had happened. “Let the doctors take care of you. I’ll visit you at the hospital as soon as I can.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

The paramedics counted to three, lifted the stretcher, and pushed it into the rescue squad’s back bay. She did not remember when they had loaded her up in one over a week ago. Her head pounded as her graying vision quickly narrowed.

Spencer laid his palm on Jordan’s shoulder. “She’s in good hands.”

“I know.”

“Let’s get back to my car. The officers are still going through the house and the outbuilding.”

“Why didn’t he kill her? Why leave her a phone, knowing we might find her? I don’t understand this man.”

“In time we might piece together his motives.”

Or they might not. Death had silenced Rawlings, and unless they found written notes or recordings, she would never be fully convinced that he was the killer.

Back in Spencer’s SUV, she relaxed against the seat, feeling energy escape her body. Finding Casey had kept her going. It had motivated her to get out of bed in the morning. Now, she had found the woman, alive, and the killer was dead.

So now what? Now how did she find a reason to face the darkness?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Saturday, April 24

10:30 p.m.