Into the Night(27)

Her stomach twisted. They were in absolute agreement on this point.

“He’s going to kill again,” Bowen replied. “Our job is to find out who he’s going after. Like Macey said, the more we learn about the victims, the more we learn about the killer.”

*

THEY’D GONE BACK to the Remus crime scene. Macey slammed the SUV’s door behind her and turned to look at the remains of the cabin. The fire had burned hot and hard, and the structure was barely standing. The wood remaining was blackened, and the scent of ash hung heavily in the air.

A line of yellow police tape blocked off the area. There was no sign of a crime scene team or an arson investigator. It was just her and Bowen. Macey had her gun holstered at her side as she approached the cabin.

“I want to look around the perimeter,” Bowen announced. “Find out just where the hell our guy was when he watched us go inside.”

Macey nodded and she followed him. The ground was covered in tire tracks and footprints. Dozens of law enforcement personnel had combed the area, and as the firefighters battled the blaze, she feared their hoses and powerful bursts of water might have destroyed any evidence that had been left behind.

Bowen paced away from her and began walking through the line of trees that surrounded the little cabin. His gaze was on the ground as he walked. She knew that he was looking for signs that might have been missed during the darkness. When he paused and then crouched low, she hurried to his side.

“Oil,” he said.

She could see the faint brown stain on the grass.

“He could have parked his four-wheeler here, it would have been covered by the bushes.”

A thick growth surrounded the spot. Perfect for hiding.

Bowen rose. His gaze was on the cabin. “He would have been able to see us perfectly.”

She knew that the search team had found gasoline canisters in the woods near the cabin. The perp had watched them go in, and while they’d been searching the cabin and finding the body, he’d sprung his trap. “We need to get the evidence collection team out here again.” She’d already spoken with the local FBI bureau, too. She wanted more feet on the ground on this case.

She wanted—

Bowen’s phone rang.

The guy had service? Her phone connection had been spotty since they’d made it to Gatlinburg.

He frowned but quickly pulled out his phone. “Murphy,” he said as he put the phone to his ear.

But in the next moment, his eyes had turned to slits of fury. He’d lowered the phone and tapped his finger on the screen so that she could hear...

“There’s someone else...here for you to find.” The voice was low and rasping. Static crackled. “But, really, if you’d done your job right...sooner, you would have found him...by now.”

Macey stepped closer to Bowen—and to his phone—even as her gaze swept the area.

“Who is this?” Bowen demanded.

“I’m the man who beat you...to Daniel Haddox.” More static. The connection seemed to be weakening. “I’m the man who...beat you to Patrick Remus.” A pause. “And if you aren’t good enough, I’ll beat...you to the next one, too.”

“This isn’t a fucking race,” Bowen growled.

“Isn’t it?” His rasping taunt drifted over the crackling line. “I think...it is. And I think you’re...losing. The big, bad profilers. Guess you aren’t so...special. I do your job better.”

“We don’t kill,” Macey said, driven to speak. “That isn’t what the FBI does—”

Mocking laughter broke through her words. “It’s what...he does. Bowen kills. That’s how he got into...the FBI in the first place.”

Her gaze flew back to Bowen’s face and she saw that his expression was a mask of hard fury.

“I learned...from watching you, Bowen.” That distorted voice continued, “But I’m better than you now. Everyone...will know that.”

The line went dead.

“Son of a fucking bitch.” Bowen immediately tapped the screen to call the number again and—

“You’ve reached the Gatlinburg Police Department. If this is an emergency...”

It was an automated voice, one that rattled off instructions for the caller.

Bowen’s gaze glinted as he stared at Macey.

And the robotic voice kept speaking. “If you know the extension you wish to reach...”

*

THEY’D TAKE THE BAIT. He knew it. Bowen wouldn’t be able to resist. He’d studied the other man, that part hadn’t been a lie. Once upon a time, he’d even admired the guy.

Not anymore.

Bowen would hunt because that was who he was. He’d hunt and he’d lose.

Because that is who I am. I’m the better hunter.

And Macey...Macey always thought she was doing what was right. Her self-righteous words rang in his ears. We don’t kill. That isn’t what the FBI does.

Before he was done with her, she would kill. And she’d see exactly what the FBI did—what she would do.

He whistled as he walked down the busy street. Tourists were fucking everywhere, but that was good. It was always easy to disappear into a crowd.

He knew what move Bowen would make next. Bowen would try to trace the call, but that shit wouldn’t happen. He’d planned, oh, he’d planned well. The call would just connect back to the police department. He didn’t leave traces behind.