Almost Dead (Lizzy Gardner #5)(80)

“It’s Frank Lyle,” Lizzy said. “That’s his name.”

A flicker of recognition crossed his face. “No kidding?”

Chase didn’t look good. He’d lost a lot of blood. Lizzy wanted him to stay conscious. “Stay with me, Detective.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

“You’ve been shot before?”

“Nah,” he said, wincing. “I’ve been doing this for thirty years and not a scratch. I had a feeling my first time would have something to do with you, Gardner.”





CHAPTER 58

It was seven in the morning. Lizzy sipped her coffee as she watched the men working outside. Last night, crime scene investigators had squared off a large area around the spot where Detective Chase had been shot. A bullet casing had been found. Tests were being done, footprints photographed and documented.

Where the perpetrator’s footsteps ended at the edge of the wooded area behind Kitally’s home, an official police search was about to begin. A group of officers and dogs were going in search of the shooter.

A light drizzle was not helping matters. Everyone was dressed in parkas and rain ponchos. They wore heavy boots.

Thirty minutes ago, Lizzy had been told that Detective Chase was in stable condition. That was a relief. Despite their somewhat hostile relationship, she liked the man. It was obvious he had his own demons to deal with, but who didn’t?

As Lizzy headed outside, she only got a few feet before Jessica came up from behind and grabbed hold of her arm. “Frank Lyle dropped a letter off at the news station on Broadway,” Jessica said in a low voice. “The letter has been turned over to authorities. Jimmy Martin is taking over for now, and he wants you to take a look at it.”

Lizzy knew the drill. Because it was a kidnapping case and probably due to the possible connection to a past serial killer, a joint task force had been formed. For that reason, and because Chase was out of commission, Jimmy Martin, FBI, was now in charge. Despite Jimmy’s continuous attempts at retirement, one more case always seemed to pull him back into the fold before he could make the final leap to sandy beaches and pristine golf courses. Lizzy didn’t ask questions. She just followed Jessica around the house to her car.

The morning air was crisp, her body chilled. Sticks snapped and leaves crunched beneath her feet. A feeling of déjà vu washed over Lizzy. It was happening again. Different players, different surroundings, but in a way nothing had changed.

She couldn’t remember ever feeling as if she was in control of her life.

Life happened to her, not the other way around.

She and her sister used to talk about fate. Cathy believed everything happened for a reason. If that were true, what was all this madness about? What more could she possibly learn from Shelby’s abduction? The girl had been missing for well over a week now. That didn’t bode well for her.

Jessica unlocked the car and opened the passenger side to her SUV.

Lizzy climbed in, then waited for Jessica to start the engine before she said, “We need to find her.”

“I know. We will.”

“I can’t let him get away with this. You know that, right?”

“What do you mean? Are you talking about Frank Lyle?”

“These monsters can’t just do whatever they want. Roam around until they find another victim. Time after time.”

“Lizzy, I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”

“It never stops. Never.”

“Should I take you home? You don’t need to look at the letter right now. It can wait.”

“No,” Lizzy said, an intense look in her eyes. “I need to see that letter.”




Lizzy read the letter for the third time.

Across his desk from her, Jimmy was talking on the phone with someone at the crime scene behind Kitally’s house. From what she could overhear, they had yet to find more than a few footprints and one shell casing.

Jessica had left a few minutes ago to get them both a cup of coffee.

Every five minutes, someone stepped into the office. This time, Jimmy gestured for the person to go away. Every time the door opened, it sounded as if shit were hitting the fan on the other side. Now that the Shelby Geitner case had been pronounced an official kidnapping, the police department was crawling with federal agents. She knew from working with Jared that the FBI had the ability to tap into resources at a moment’s notice when there was a big case such as this.

When she and Jessica had arrived, there were outside broadcasting vans and production trucks at every corner. They all wanted to know the latest scoop on Shelby. And how exactly was Lizzy involved? They heard there was a shooting. Had they found Shelby?

Lizzy pushed her thoughts along with the noise out of her mind.

Focus.

She read the very last line.


Shelby Geitner is alive. She rote most of this leter. She didn’t know it yet, but she will be ded soon.


Lizzy felt nauseous, took a sip of water, and started at the beginning.


I did it. I took Shelby Geitner. The news people are all idiots. When we met before, I told you I was responsible for the deaths of so many girls, but you did not believe me. You stupid journalists treated Spiderman like a god. He was nothing compared to me. This time you will see what I am capable of. You will see. You will all see.