Her attacker stood above her and slightly loosened the noose. “I won’t kill you.” The voice was fake and raspy. It sounded like the voice distorter her nephew had worn with a Batman mask for Halloween last year, making it impossible to know anything about the attacker. “Put your hands down.” When she didn’t comply fast enough, the attacker tightened the rope again.

“Wait,” she squawked, forcing her hands down to waist level. “Stop.”

The rope loosened.

“What do you want?” she asked, her mouth working independently of her brain.

The chuckle was low and creepy, sending terror through her entire body. “I want to kill you, but I just said I would not. So I guess I’ll settle for the next best thing.”

A shudder racked her and she almost reached for the rope, stopping herself barely in time. “Please.”

“Begging doesn’t interest me. You need to solve the Witch Creek murders.”

She blinked as the words registered. “You want me to stop investigating?” The roaring of blood through her head was so loud her ears rang.

“No. I want you to figure out who the killer is, and I’m tired of waiting.” The rope tightened and then loosened. “Leave Laurel Snow alone. Talk about her again, and I will kill you.”

Her fingers curled into her palms to keep from reaching for the rope. The body felt substantial behind her, but she couldn’t be sure. The kitchen was in complete darkness, so she couldn’t see a shadow. “Laurel Snow?”

The rope snapped taut, and she grabbed for it, frantically scratching her neck.

“Down,” the attacker hissed.

Tears streaming down her face, she lowered her shaking hands.

“Don’t ever say her name again. Ever. Tell me you understand,” the attacker hissed.

“I understand.” Terror roared loudly through her head, making her ears ring.

The chuckle was even creepier than before. “I do not think you do. You’re still planning on calling the authorities if I let you live. Don’t. They can post someone at your door, and your news station can give you security. But for how long? Not forever. I will not forget. If you betray your word, I will watch. I will wait. And I will come and fucking kill you. It doesn’t matter when. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she whispered, unable to see through the tears.

“Say it. Say that I will kill you.”

She gulped, trying to take a full breath, but the rope was still too tight. “You’ll kill me.”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter how long I have to wait. Say you won’t call the authorities.”

She sniffed, and the world spun around her. Terror felt like ice sliding beneath her skin. “I won’t call the authorities.” The room started to tilt in defiance of gravity. “Please.” Her mind started to work sluggishly. “Did she send you? Were you hired by her?”