Straining to hear his movements in the dark, her body tensed, preparing to attack. When he bumped into her, she screamed and swung the pick. Egan grunted, dodged the iron head, and caught her wrist. Ellie tried to fight him, to hang on to the pick, but in the darkness, it was like struggling with a ghost. His grip tightened on her wrist and twisted until she bit back a cry of pain.

“Drop it,” he demanded and twisted harder. “Do it!”

The pick fell from her nerveless fingers.

Egan turned her around and shoved her back the way he had come, and Ellie stumbled forward. A flashlight went on behind her as Egan followed.

Back in the room, he shoved her into the wall behind the mattress, and she went down. Egan set the flashlight on a narrow wooden table, the only other furniture in the room, re-lit the kerosene lantern, and turned off the flashlight.

“Is this where you murdered Heather and Barbara?” Ellie asked, glancing around at what was really just half a room constructed by blocking off part of the tunnel.

Egan sighed. “I didn’t bring them here. I made this place especially for you, sweetheart. Kade Logan’s woman.” His smile turned savage. “You can’t imagine how good it feels to have you here. And I didn’t intend to kill Heather and Barbara. It was an accident.”

“An accident? That’s what you call it?”

He shrugged. “We argued. Things got heated, and I lost my temper.”

Ellie forced herself not to think of the women he had brutally murdered. “What did you argue about?” As long as he kept talking, she stayed alive.

“Heather wanted to end our affair because she wore Kade Logan’s ring.” He scoffed. “Kade didn’t even love her. Not the way I did. Heather told me she loved me, but it was a lie.” He moved a little, and his shadow shifted on the wall, making him look like the monster he was. “I hadn’t planned to kill her, but the minute I put my hands around her neck, I knew what I had to do.”

Ellie’s insides trembled. She realized Rick had forgotten all about Barbara. This was about Heather. Had been all along. Barbara was just a substitute.

She rubbed her injured wrist, which was sprained and starting to swell. Sooner or later, she would have to fight him. The trowel in her pocket was her only hope.

“I’d really like to understand,” Ellie said, playing for time. “What about Barbara?”

Rick’s gaze slid over her like cold grease. “I didn’t mean to kill Barbara. Or maybe I did. I’m not really sure anymore. After spending the weekend together, we planned to meet in Denver the following week.”

“And you did,” Ellie said when he fell silent.