Kate nodded. She did know. She was beginning to get a very good picture into who Nick Sanders was and the more she learned, the more she started to wonder if he had indeed killed Wendy and Alvin Fuller in order to get his daughter back.

Ill let you finish getting ready for work, Mr. Kramer, she said. Thank you for your time.

Jack rushed to the door, doing his best to show courtesy by opening the door for her. Kate smiled and made her exit, walking back down the rickety old porch steps. Her mind was already in Richmond, ready to put Nick Sanders away and return to her normal life as soon as she could.

She got into her car and put the keys into the ignition. Before she could turn them, though, something started to churn in her heart. And with it, an inner voice that she had heard before, blaring almost like an alarm.

Wait. Hold on…

She dropped her hand away from the keys and looked to the house. Had she missed something? Her instincts certainly felt that she had. But Jack Kramer checked out. There was no reason for her to investigate him further. If anything, he had given her more nails to slam into Nick Sanders coffin.

Kate shook the feeling off and started the car. The engine revved and although her mind still reeled toward Richmond she could not help but feel something here had been forgotten.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Mercy could hear footsteps walking outside, and then the sound of a car door opening and closing. She was pretty sure there was a woman driving it. Moments ago, shed thought shed heard a womans voice, very faint as she spoke to her captor.

No, Mercy thought. Please. Help.

She tried to actually give voice to these thoughts but the tape was too tight over her mouth.

Dont start the car, Mercy thought. Dont leave, dont go…

But then Mercy heard the engine start. She closed her eyes and screamed against the tape. The muted sound rattled in her head until it ached, until it felt like her head would split right in two from the force of it.