Into the Night(43)

He should leave, too. But even if he left, he’d carry the guilt with him. “You found thirteen of them.”

She nodded once, and sadness chased across her face. “So far.”

For a moment, his eyes closed, and he found himself shooting up a quick prayer. Don’t let there be more. Don’t let more men have been murdered on my watch.

“Captain?”

His eyes opened. “Do you believe there are more out there?”

“I’m...I’m not an expert on killers. I just—I just find the victims.”

And there were plenty of victims for her to find.

“I would think, though,” Dr. Lang continued softly as she bit her lower lip, “that it would depend on just how long Curtis Zale was killing in the mountains. If he’s been at this for a very long time, then yes...there could be more.”

“He was born in Pigeon Forge.” Because he’d already dug up everything he could find on Curtis. “The guy grew up here. His dad was a factory worker, his mom a schoolteacher. He was a normal kid.”

“Then something happened that made him stop being normal.”

Henry wanted a drink. Actually, he wanted a lot more than just one. “Thanks for your work on this case,” he said, making his voice brisk. “Why don’t you get one of the uniforms out front to drive you to your hotel?”

She nodded and turned away. He waited a few moments and then, shit, he had to get out of there, too. He walked down the hallway and wasn’t surprised that the place was mostly deserted. At that time of night, he normally only kept a skeleton staff in place. He’d used so many officers that day—most of them had finally called it quits and were home sleeping things off.

This is the most excitement we’ve ever had up here.

Henry headed to his office. He grabbed his coat and his fingers slid over his desk. He didn’t have any alcohol stashed in his desk. His life wasn’t some damn TV show. He tried hard to do things right. To be by the book. Fair.

He’d tried...

And those men—at least thirteen—had still died on his watch. The mayor had called him that day, over and over again, wanting an explanation. He had no explanation. No justification. He had nothing.

Henry knew he’d be the one to blame for the deaths. There was always someone to blame. The mayor won’t go down for this. I’m the low man on the totem pole up here. Henry left through the back exit of the station, heading for his Jeep. He was almost there when the keys slipped from his fingers. He’d been tossing them, not paying attention, and they fell right to the ground, sliding near the edge of his tire. He bent down, scooped them up and that was when he was hit.

A hard slam right into the back of his head. Felt like a hammer came at him, and Henry’s head lurched toward the vehicle. He hit the driver’s-side door, but he didn’t black out. Henry fumbled, twisting his body, even as his hand went for his gun.

“Can’t have that.” And he was hit again. He had a fast impression of a jackass in a ski mask, and then...

Then Henry was hit hard again in the head. So hard that everything went dark.





CHAPTER TEN

THE DARKNESS SURROUNDED THEM. Bowen was still caressing her arm, moving his fingers lightly along her scar, and he didn’t want to move. He didn’t want to think about what would come tomorrow or the next fucking day.

He didn’t want to think about the life he’d taken. Didn’t want to keep seeing Curtis’s eyes as death had claimed the man.

He wanted to see Macey. To touch Macey. To feel her.

While there was still time. Because she shouldn’t want me near her. I’ve been living a lie. Hiding so much of myself from her. From everyone around me.

“Will you tell me about Arnold Shaw?”

He’d known this question would come. “Arnold Shaw raped and murdered four women in the Tampa, Florida, area. He abducted them, he kept them trapped for days and, when he was done with them, he slit their throats.” His voice was devoid of all emotion, and as much as he had enjoyed stroking Macey’s skin, he pulled his hand away from her. He rolled away from her and left the bed.

The simple fact was, he couldn’t touch Macey, not while he was talking about Arnold Shaw. Because if he did, then it was almost like that nightmare would touch her.

He didn’t want that to happen.

“He...he killed your fiancée.”

Bowen rolled back his shoulders. “That’s what all the papers said, but actually Cadi and I weren’t engaged. We’d been dating for a while, and yeah, I planned to ask her to marry me. Even had the ring picked out.” But he’d held back. Held the fuck back. Why?

Because I wasn’t sure she was the one?

Because I had doubts?

Or because I was a fucking coward?

“You...you loved her.”

On that, there was no doubt. “Cadi was my best friend from the time I was ten years old. I loved her then, and I loved her the day she died.”

Macey sucked in a quick breath. “I didn’t realize...”

“Cadi and I lived next door to each other when we were growing up. We were friends, we dated in high school, and after college, everyone just expected for us to get married.” But sometimes lines could blur. Sometimes, people made for better friends than lovers.