The detective had cut into the plastic. Air. Precious air had filled her lungs. She’d believed she had been saved. And then he had reappeared and moved so swiftly Detective Poe had not had time to react. He had raised a club and hit her hard on the back of the head. Triumph had glimmered in his gaze as he’d watched the detective go down hard on the floor.

In the distance police sirens wailed. She had prayed he would panic and run and leave her to the cops. But he had sliced up the remaining plastic and pressed the knife to her neck.

“I’ll kill you if you make a sound. Understood?”

Casey had nodded, knowing his was not an empty threat. He would have gutted her right here. “Yes.”

He had lifted her easily and tossed her over his shoulder and then scooped up the bag containing her clothes. Stunned, she had wrestled against her restraints but had been too weak to fight.

Now as she sat in her darkened cell, naked and cold, she drew in a deep breath and tried not to think about Detective Poe’s blood pooling around them both.

“I’m sorry.” Casey drew her feet up and hugged her knees close to her body. “I just wanted to live.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Thursday, April 15

7:30 a.m.

Spencer pulled up in front of a small ranch in an established neighborhood. An older yellow sedan with a few flower decals attached to the bumper sat in the driveway. The sedan must belong to the sister. From what Captain Lee had told him, Jordan had one sister, Avery Poe; no boyfriend; and no children.

Jordan’s keys felt heavy in his hands as he strode toward the front door, painted a deep orange. The color was unexpected, a little quirky considering Jordan Poe’s intensity. The peephole in the center and the heavy-duty lock and door hinges were practical security measures that fit her personality.

Drawing in a breath, he knew the day would never come when visits like this were anything less than excruciating. By rights, Captain Lee should have made the notification, but Spencer felt as if this was his responsibility. If he had been faster, Jordan would have been fine and Casey safe and sound. Rolling back his shoulders, he rang the bell.

Inside, footsteps hurried over what sounded like hardwood floors. Security chains scraped out of their holders and then a moment’s hesitation as someone must have thought twice and checked the peephole. He stood back, giving his viewer a good look at him.

The door opened to a woman who looked like a younger, shorter version of Jordan Poe. Her hair was lighter, streaked with blue strands, and it draped around her shoulders in a tangle of curls, but the eyes and nose were almost identical to Jordan’s.

“I’m Carter Spencer with the Texas Rangers.”