Shattered (LOST #3)(39)

And the guy on the line was dead silent.

“You want to be like Murphy, don’t you?” Her words came faster. “You’re the one giving the pain, you’re the one—”

“I am nothing like him!” Those words were a roar. Sarah had definitely succeeded in breaking through that guy’s control.

“Aren’t you?” Sarah threw right back. “Then give me proof of life!”

The phone went dead.

“Dammit,” Sarah whispered.

Jax texted . . . No proof. We lost—

Her phone rang again. Same number. Molly’s number?

Calling again, he texted back.

Sarah didn’t answer the phone. “You told LOST what was happening, right?” Sarah asked Jax quietly. “Those are the texts you’re sending?”

He nodded.

“Then they can try to get a lock on the phone. Tell Gabe I’m answering again, and I’ll keep the guy talking for as long as I can.”

Jax sent the text through to Gabe.

Sarah swiped her index finger over the surface of that phone. Then she hit the button for speaker—

“You bitch!” The guy blasted. “You’re the one who should have died all those years ago! Murphy’s daughter. Blood as tainted . . . just like him!”

“Proof of life,” Sarah said. “Give it to me, or I hang up on you right now.”

Silence. Then . . . the rush of footsteps. The . . . lap of water? Yes, yes, it sounded like water, lapping against a dock. The man was running and Jax could hear water. And . . .

A squeak as a door opened. The thud of footsteps, a bit distorted, as if the guy were rushing up stairs. His breath was shuddering over the line and—

“She wants proof that you’re alive.”

A woman screamed then. Loud and long, and Sarah flinched.

The caller laughed. Why are you laughing, asshole? Because you like hurting women? Ah, now that was just one thing that Jax fucking hated.

Yet another reason to kill this guy.

“I just drove my knife into her, Sarah. Didn’t hit an organ, that way she’ll just bleed and hurt, but not die. Guess who taught me that move?”

Sarah didn’t speak.

“Who taught me that move, Sarah? Who liked to keep his prey alive while they bled and begged?”

“Murphy.”

Another long scream filled the line.

“I stabbed her again, Sarah,” he said, sounding almost gleeful. “I stab—”

“How do I know that’s Molly? Put her on the line. Let me talk to her. Let me know it’s her. Because maybe you’ve got an accomplice who’s just screaming on command. Maybe you’re some dumb dick who—”

“Help me!” That was a woman’s terror-filled voice.

“Molly?” Sarah asked. Again, she was like ice. No emotion at all in her voice. But the phone still trembled in her grasp. “I need proof that it’s you. Tell me something that will—”

“I won’t . . . beg . . . like her.” The words were weak. “Won’t go out . . . like my m-mother . . . won’t beg, no matter what he says . . .”

Sarah’s eyes closed. “No, Molly, don’t beg, do you understand? Whatever he does, don’t beg for death.”

Another scream then . . .

“Happy now?” the man taunted Sarah. “You’re the reason Molly bled. But then, you’re the reason Molly’s mother died, too, aren’t you?”

Sarah sucked in a quick breath of air and her eyes opened. “You think you know my secrets.”

“I know where the bodies are buried.” Laughter. “All of them. And before I’m done, Sarah, you’ll be joining them. Another body, buried in a shallow grave. A grave that the police can’t ever find because they believe the lies—”

“Molly, if you can hear me, I’m coming for you,” Sarah said, cutting over his words. “You’re going to make it out of this alive, just don’t give up. Do you understand me? Don’t give up—”

“Molly can’t talk now,” he murmured. “She’s too busy getting stabbed.”

Molly’s scream filled the air once more.

“Hurry, Sarah. Find her fast. Because if you don’t, she’ll always be one of the lost.”

Once more, the line went dead.





Chapter 8

SARAH DROPPED HER TOWEL. IT HIT THE FLOOR and she lunged for her bag. She grabbed clothes as fast as she could, dressing in a whirlwind. Get the lock on the phone. Get the lock on the phone.

Bra. Panties. Jeans. T-shirt. Shoes—

Jax’s phone rang. He’d been standing there, his hard gaze on her. But when it rang, he answered, saying, “Did you get it?”

Her heart stopped for a moment.

“Fuck, yes,” Jax said. “We’ll meet you there.” Then he shoved the phone into his pocket. He inclined his head toward her. “They got it to within one mile of the location before they lost the signal. Gabe and the cops are heading down to the riverfront’s warehouse district—that’s where he’s got her. They’re going to search—”

“And so are we,” Sarah said. Because this was their break.

They ran from the hotel room.