“He’s hit forty-seven states.”
Several gasps and curses exploded in the room. They were experiencing the shock she had felt two days ago. She allowed several seconds for that information to sink in before she continued: “We believe he hasn’t hit Alaska and Hawaii just because of the sheer difficulty of transporting his victims.”
An operative who’d been introduced as Julie Rose said, “What’s the other state he hasn’t hit?”
“Wyoming.”
“Any reason for this?” Jordan asked.
“We have a couple of theories. He either simply hasn’t gotten to that state yet or that’s where he lives and he doesn’t want to hunt so close to home.”
“And that’s where you think he’s going to hit next?” Jordan asked.
“That’s what we’re counting on.” She prayed to God they were right. They were basing this premise on simple math, and because of their limited time frame, they had no choice. They had nothing else to go on.
“We also believe we have a short window before he stops for the year.” Looking back at her list, she said, “His hunting time is early spring through late autumn. If we don’t find him now, it’ll be months before he goes on the hunt again. Months these girls don’t have.”
She drew a breath and continued: “Here’s what we don’t know. We don’t know why he’s doing this or what he’s doing with the girls.”
“So what’s the plan?” Gabe asked.
“Each female operative will go to a campus. I’ll review your covers and locations before we adjourn. Noah will be our point person. We’ll have twelve operatives working the campuses. And six operatives will be backup and assist when needed.”
“What are we looking for?” asked Andrea Johnston, a tall, lanky blond. “Most campuses are ripe with guys trying to pick up girls.”
Honor glanced at Seth, who took up the reins and said, “The MO has been different each year. This time he’s not only targeting college campuses, he’s targeting young girls who are particularly vulnerable. The two girls last year and two of the three missing this year, including my niece, were transfers. We think he’s using a young woman as a lure.”
“How’s that?” Gabe asked.
As Honor reviewed the ruse they believed was being used, Seth observed the women who would be going undercover. Most of them looked young enough to be in college, which surprised the hell out of him. Where had all of these young women come from? What made them willing to risk their lives to rescue others?
He glanced back at Honor. She was probably the oldest here, but of all the concerns he had about her going undercover, looking like a college coed wasn’t one of them. Honor in the right clothes, with the right expression on her face, would look as young as any college freshman. He wished that she did look too old to take part in the operation. Sure as hell would make him feel a lot better.
As she began to make the assignments for each operative, Seth pulled out his map of Wyoming. They’d fallen exhausted into bed last night and hadn’t discussed which campus he and Honor were going to take.
“We have fourteen campuses to cover,” Honor was saying. “A couple of them have a low female attendance, so two of you will cover two campuses each. To stay below radar and have a good pool to choose from, I think he’ll want to target a larger female population.”
She passed out individual assignment sheets to each person, noting, “I’ve included everyone’s name, location, and cell number.” She took a breath and looked around the room. “Our goal is for one of us to get taken.”
Gabe Maddox, who’d been sprawled in his chair, sat up. “So you want an abduction to take place?”
“Yes. We need him to lead us back to where he’s taken the other girls.”
Jordan Montgomery said, “You’re assuming he’s holding these girls in one spot. You got any proof of that?”
“No. However, that’s what we’re hoping he’s doing.” She held up a small wristwatch. “Each operative will be equipped with a watch like this one and an earbud. The watch has a microphone, so you’ll be able to communicate with your ‘go to’ person at all times. And it has a GPS tracking device that will transmit for up to a thousand miles. If you get taken and no one’s around, we can track you.”
A young brunette who’d been introduced as Sherry said, “So, if I’m taken, what’s my agenda?”
“First and foremost, stay alive,” Honor said. “The last thing we want is for anyone else to be hurt. Our biggest advantage will be in tracking you to his location and coming in after you and the other girls. Since you’ll be able to communicate via your watch, give as many clues as you can without being obvious. If you see any of the other girls and can find a way to let us know, that’s fine. But don’t put yourself at risk to do so. You will have accomplished the most important part. Let us do the rest.”
Seth glanced down at the assignment sheet, looking for his and Honor’s names. When he came to his name, he was shocked to see that she had assigned him to a location in Laramie with another operative. She was going to Camden College in the northeastern part of the state. Hundreds of miles from him.
“No.”
Though well aware that his voice had been loud and abrupt, Seth didn’t care. Everyone was looking at him, but he had eyes for only one person. When she slowly turned to face him, he saw the knowledge in her expression. She’d done it on purpose.
“Something wrong, Seth?”
Though Honor had asked the question, he turned to McCall. “I’m working with Honor.”
McCall’s mouth twitched, but he shook his head and nodded at Honor. “Stone’s in charge of the case. Take it up with her.”
“Fine.” Seth stood and approached Honor. The flare of panic in her eyes told him he’d shocked the hell out of her. He was going to do more than just shock her if she didn’t change the assignments.
Stopping a foot from where she stood, he said softly, quietly, so others couldn’t hear, “Reassign me to work with you.”
She shot an uneasy glance around. Seth could feel the stares of sixteen pairs of eyes boring into his back. His intent wasn’t to embarrass her or undermine her authority. McCall was right, it was her case, but he’d be damned if she was in one part of the state, putting her life on the line, and he was in another.
“Do it, Honor.”
“Seth, I don’t—”
“You’ve got two choices, babe. Make the reassignment or I’m going to do something that these LCR operatives will be talking about for years to come.”
Her temper making her eyes gleam like green diamonds, she snapped, “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
She glared for several seconds and then said, “Fine, you’re with me.”
Knowing the argument that would come later, he didn’t feel the least bit of triumph about his victory. He nodded and said, “Thank you.”
He turned back to the room and said, “Sorry for the interruption.” Going back to the chair he’d vacated, he listened intently to the rest of Honor’s instructions. Although acutely aware of the curious glances in the room, Seth continued to ignore them. He had more than enough concerns to occupy his thoughts. And one of the biggest was, why the hell had she separated them?
twenty-two
Camden College
Parkersville, Wyoming
They sat in the dining area of the RV and reviewed their choices. With a student body of less than ten thousand, their options would be limited. Alden wasn’t worried, though. Except for the girl in Pennsylvania, Tabitha had proven herself an excellent judge of female flesh. He had no doubt she’d find the perfect woman for the last trip of the year.
“There are only four school-approved social clubs catering to females,” Tabitha said. “Two of them meet today, one this morning, in about an hour. Another one meets this afternoon. The other two don’t meet until two days from now.”
Alden grunted. “That’ll eat into our time. If we want to be home by the week’s end, it would be better if you could find the girl as soon as possible.”
“I’ll do my best. There are also a couple of non-school social events I think might be worthwhile to check out. Only problem is, the most promising one isn’t until Thursday.”
Alden sighed. No matter how anxious he was to go home, getting the right girl was the most important factor. “Tell me about them.”
She slid two flyers to him. “This one is a mixer. A chance for boys to meet the new girls. The more attractive girls will probably attend. And they’ll look their best to catch the boys’ attention.” Her full, red lips pinched together in disapproval. “As if wearing makeup is what attracts a man. However, it will broaden our choices.”
“It’s tonight.”
“Yes, I’ll go for a little while. If I don’t see anyone in the first hour or so, I’ll return here.”
“What about the other one?”
“That’s the one on Thursday. It’s an all-girl event, about a mile from campus. The description sounds intriguing. I think it might give us our best chance at finding the right one.”
Alden read the flyer, his excitement ratcheting as he saw the event description:
New to Camden? Have trouble meeting new people? Feeling a bit homesick? Come meet other newcomers just like you. Food, music, and a chance to make new friends. What are you waiting for?
Alden nodded. “This sounds ideal.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Even though it’s not until later this week, it should attract the right kind of female for Tranquillity’s needs.”
“Excellent, my angel.” He checked his watch. “You have a few minutes before you have to leave. Would you like to pleasure me? I know that always relaxes you.”
“Actually, I have something to discuss with you.”
His Tabitha had never turned down the opportunity for pleasure. Whatever she wanted to talk about must be of enormous consequence.
“What is it, my love?”
“You know that I will do anything for you, don’t you, Father?”
Alden nodded. “One of the many reasons I love you.”
“And you know that anything I ask from you is only to make your life easier and Tranquillity the perfect home for you and your followers?”
Becoming more curious by the moment, he said, “Yes, I know that. What is it you want?”
An unusual expression hardened the lovely features of her face—one he rarely witnessed, but when he did, something interesting always happened.
“John needs to be put down. He’s a weakling and has caused you nothing but problems since his birth.”
Alden couldn’t say he was surprised by her request. Tabitha and John had never been close siblings. He remembered the time a fifteen-year-old John had tried to crawl into his sister’s bed. Tabitha’s fury had been awe-inspiring. Even Sarah, his third wife, had been appalled by John’s behavior. Having Sarah on Tabitha’s side had been a unique pairing; they’d sparred like two felines in heat most of the time. And while he understood his son’s desires—after all, he had them, too—he wouldn’t share Tabitha with anyone. She belonged to him.
To please her, he had put Tabitha in charge of John’s punishment. She had wanted a public flogging in the town square, but Alden had refused that request. Having the community witness his son’s punishment would make him look bad as a father. His people needed to see him as omnipotent. If he couldn’t control his household, what kind of a leader did that make him?
Tabitha’s second choice had been truly inspired. With his help, she had tied John down and then plucked his fingernails out with pliers. And while he’d been screaming in pain, she’d poured lemon juice over his bleeding fingers. He remembered John’s screams of agony all too well. An excruciatingly painful punishment, but it had worked. John had never crossed Tabitha again. Or had he?
“Has John made advances toward you again?”
“Oh no, he knows better than that. However, his mistakes have caused you problems. And now you’re here trying to find him a woman, as if he is fully forgiven.”
“He still suffers from his punishment. It’ll be at least another week before he’s able to be out in the community. And his attitude is much more subservient than it was before.”
“But that’s not enough.” She moved around the table to sit beside him. Placing her soft hand on his groin, she caressed him lightly. “His demeanor will stay that way until he’s no longer in pain; then he’ll be the same. He’ll never really change.” She leaned forward and whispered softly in his ear, “He’s a bad seed, Father. You deserve so much better.”
Alden swallowed a moan at the magic of her hands, the sound of her sultry, enticing voice, and found himself unable to argue with her profound statement. John was a troublemaker and Alden did deserve so much better. “How and when?”
Her hand continuing to stroke him, she smiled up at him. “I’ll take care of it. No one but you and I will ever know.”
“What about our hunting trip?”
“We still need to add another female. Your goal was four for this year. Brother Baker’s wife died in childbirth last year. I heard that he visited the stable girls the other night. He would probably appreciate a young woman who could bear him children—without dying this time. Don’t you think?”
Alden shook his head in wonder at Tabitha’s brilliance. Not only was she going to make his life easier by ridding him of his wayward son, she was thinking ahead for the community.
“You are a true treasure.”
She blinked innocently up at him. “You know that whatever makes you happy makes me happy.”
She was right. Looking out for his happiness was her gift and her responsibility. Everything she’d suggested was only to make his life easier and better.
“Then you have my permission. You may kill your brother.”
“Thank you, Father.” Her beautiful smile one of extreme satisfaction, she lowered her head to his lap to show her appreciation.
Parkersville, Wyoming
Every available flat surface in the small bedroom suite was covered with maps, brochures, and information about Camden College, whose small campus she and Seth would cover.
Two LCR jets had flown the entire team into Casper yesterday. At the airport, the operatives had dispersed, each taking a rental vehicle that the indispensible Angela, LCR’s receptionist, had arranged. There’d been little conversation during the flight. Each operative knew the importance of the mission, and Honor had left the airport with a secure sense that if dedication and commitment were the most important ingredients for success, they would indeed rescue all of the victims.
Unfortunately, she also knew that luck would play a huge role in this mission. If this guy wasn’t in the right place, at the right time, where a trap could be sprung, then this whole thing would be a wasted opportunity. And they wouldn’t get another chance until the spring.
Tension knotted the muscles in her neck and shoulders. Though much of the anxiety came from worry over whether this was the right course to take, she knew that wasn’t the only reason. She had seriously screwed up with Seth.
She glanced over at the too-silent man sitting by the window, reading a Camden newsletter. They’d both done as much research on the small school as possible, hoping to find the most likely prospects that this creep would target. But since the meeting yesterday morning and that much too public confrontation, he hadn’t spoken directly to her.
So yes, she had screwed up. She should have told him before the meeting that she thought it best to assign him to another location and not with her. Clouded judgment could compromise an operation. Honor had told herself she had made the decision strictly for that reason only, but deep down, she had acknowledged that it wasn’t the only reason.
What was going to happen to them after this case was over? They’d agreed to no promises, no commitments, but how the hell could she separate that agreement from what was going on with her heart? She loved him … had never stopped loving him. Problem was, Seth had given no indication that he wanted more after this was over.
Assigning him to another person had been an attempt at separating herself from him. She hadn’t counted on Seth’s determination or that he’d make his opinion known in front of the entire group. And while she’d been embarrassed and shocked, she had recognized something in Seth’s expression she hadn’t expected.
Hurt
.
Late yesterday afternoon, when they’d checked into the hotel, she hadn’t said anything to him but had told the front desk that they would need only one room, instead of the two that had been booked. Seth hadn’t objected.
Shopping for clothes in Tampa to wear in Wyoming had been out of the question. So while Seth had stayed in their room, Honor had gone out for a few hours. Not only had she needed to find clothes that would help her blend in on the college campus, she had needed breathing space, away from Seth. She had been much more successful in her shopping than she’d been in escaping Seth’s presence. He hadn’t been with her physically, but he’d been on her mind all the same.
She’d returned to the room last night exhausted and tense. Again, Seth had been quiet, speaking only when she asked him something outright. Too exhausted to deal with the argument she knew was coming, she’d delayed its inevitability. Taking only enough time to brush her teeth and wash her face, she’d fallen into bed. Sometime during the night, she’d woken to feel Seth’s arms around her and had fallen back asleep, content.
This morning, she was refreshed and energetic, ready to begin their search. But first, she had to address what she’d been delaying.
Aware that his anger still simmered, she raised the question tentatively. “Can we talk about it?”
Without looking up from the page he was reading, he asked, “What’s there to talk about?”
“I should have discussed it with you beforehand.”
“That would’ve been a nice touch.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
He looked at her then. “But you still think you did the right thing.”
“I just thought if we weren’t working so closely together, our focus would be clearer.”
“You thought I’d be less concerned about you if I was hundreds of miles away from you, as opposed to being close enough to know what was going on?”
Shit. The way he put it made her decision sound not only wrong but downright stupid, too. “Fine. It was a stupid, ill-thought-out decision. Can we get past it?”
That intense blue stare pierced her for several seconds. Finally, he nodded and said, “Yes. And for the record, I apologize for embarrassing you in front of your coworkers.”
“Apology accepted. We both did things we regret.”
“No, Honor, you misunderstood.” He went to his feet, and in one swift movement, pulled her up and into his arms. “I didn’t say I regretted what I did. I said I apologize. Big difference. If that was the only way I could get you to change your mind, I’d do it again. Understand?”
Shivers of arousal dueled with outrage at his arrogance. She opened her mouth, sure that she would come up with a stinging put-down. Instead, no words came, only a sighing moan.
Answering her moan in the best way possible, Seth’s mouth moved whisper-soft along her jawline. Her entire body now a throbbing, melting mass of want, Honor almost sobbed as his mouth finally settled softly on hers. When she tried to take the kiss deeper, Seth wouldn’t let her, continuing those tender, whispering kisses that caused a chain reaction to every nerve ending. Until, finally … oh, sweet heaven … finally, his lips covered hers firmly, drawing her tongue deep into his mouth, where he lashed at it with his, then sucked.
Moments later, Seth drew back and rasped gruffly, “We’d better get ready.”
Ignoring the vehement protest of her overaroused body, Honor pulled away. Seth was right. The fact that he didn’t look any less pained eased her mind. The hard evidence of his erection pressing against her stomach was a clear indication of his need.
“We’ll continue this later,” she whispered.
He didn’t answer, but the hot gleam of promise in his eyes gave her the response she needed. Blowing out a shaky sigh, Honor gestured toward the shopping bags on the floor. “I need to get to work on my outfit. Looking younger might take me some extra time.”
His expression revealing that he was back in mission mode, too, he said, “I’ll order a light lunch for us and then put together an itinerary of events.”
Honor turned to the closet, where she had hung up a couple of her new things last night. At thirty, she knew she wasn’t the typical, age-appropriate college student. With the right clothes and demeanor, she felt confident, she could pull it off.
Half an hour later, she stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom and wondered if she had been a bit too confident.
“Damn, babe, you look good enough to eat.”
She whirled around to see Seth eyeing her like she was a steak-and-lobster dinner and he’d been on a weeklong fast. Grimacing, she turned back to the mirror. “I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.”
“Guess that wasn’t the most politically correct compliment, but it was sincere. If I’d gone to college with a girl who looked like you, I never would’ve graduated.”
A foolish grin spread over her face. Okay, so the comment had been a bit sexist, but when it came from Seth, instead of taking offense, she felt her heart thud and her legs go weak.
Honor ran her gaze over her outfit again. The jeans molded her body like a second skin; the western-style sky-blue long-sleeved shirt wasn’t tight, but emphasized her assets quite nicely.
“You think it’s too sexy?”
“No, the clothes look almost identical to what we saw when we drove by the campus yesterday. My comment was for the woman inside the clothes.”
Her heart made another leap. If he didn’t stop, she was going to have to seriously consider turning around and kissing him again. “What about my hair?”
“I like it pulled back like that. You look sweet and innocent.”
Since that’s what she’d been going for, she felt infinitely better. “What’s on the agenda? Anything other than the three coffee shops, the Internet café, and then the frat party tonight?”
“A couple more. Let’s eat and we’ll talk strategy.”
Ignoring the need to hold her in his arms one more time, Seth pulled out a chair for Honor at the small dining table where he’d placed their lunch. He’d thought that reminding himself at least a dozen times just since he’d woken this morning that she was a trained professional had helped, but when she’d stepped out of the bathroom dressed like a shy innocent, his protective instincts had flared full force once more.
As she nibbled on her fruit-and-vegetable plate, Seth slid the agenda he’d worked up across to her. “Two of the coffee shops are on campus. Since we don’t know how long this guy watches his prey before he pounces or where he’ll be, probably be a good idea to visit these shops at least twice each day.”
Biting into a celery stick, Honor nodded. “I agree. You think about an hour in each one is enough?”
“I think it’s going to have to be. Even though this is a small campus, there’re numerous places kids can hang out around here.”
She glanced down at the list again. “Hmm, the Internet café … that’s the sort of place where Mallory Roland, the girl at Penn State, was taken. Wonder if he might be too skittish to try one again so soon.”
Seth took a bite out of his cheeseburger and nodded his agreement. “Good point. Let’s try it for only about half an hour. There’re a couple of other places I’d like you to try this afternoon. A Laundromat not far from campus that a lot of kids use … it’s attached to a diner. Also, there’s an ice cream parlor in the middle of campus I thought we might try.”
“About the frat party: I never went to one when I was in college. Do I just walk in the door?”
Seth took another bite of his burger to hide a smile. No, he couldn’t see the too serious, totally focused Honor Stone hanging with a frat crowd. His freshman year, he’d done his share of those kinds of parties. While some of them had been fun, most of them were ones he’d like to just forget. Guzzling beer and then puking his guts up hadn’t been the wisest use of his time—something his dad had made clear when he’d seen Seth’s first-semester grades.
“We’ll look for a group going in the door; you can attach yourself to them. No one’s going to question your right to be there. Believe me.”
“That’s one place I won’t have to pretend that I’m ill at ease and nervous.”
“All the better. If our guy is there and sees how uncomfortable you are, you may hook him.”
“Or her?”
Seth nodded. “Yeah, it’s going to be interesting to see exactly how he’s making the selection. Is she doing it for him? Or do they have some sort of camera device and he tells her which one he wants?”
She finished her meal and stood. “If he’s directing her in this, I’ve got to think he’s calling the shots.”
“Since she knows his type, could be she’s an expert at picking the right ones.”
“Except Anna. I still can’t piece together why they would have chosen someone who doesn’t fit the profile.”
“Hell if I know. Kelli fits it to a T.”
“Once you bring Kelli home to your family, what happens then?”
Seth jerked at the unexpected question. “What?”
“Don’t you think it’s time to mend the rift between you and your family?”
“How do you think I’m going to do that? They know the truth. I can’t take back the past.”
“No, but you can give them another chance.”
“Another chance to tell me how I screwed up the whole family? Thanks, but I’ve heard it all before. My only aim is to give Kelli back to them. That’ll give them a hell of a lot more peace than me going back and pretending like nothing happened.”
Her eyes narrowing, she tilted her head. “What happened to you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The man I met five years ago wouldn’t have just given up.”
“I didn’t give up. There’s no point in rehashing something I can’t change.”
“There’s more to it than that. You never really talked about what you had to do while you were undercover.”
Yeah, well, there was a reason for that. Reliving hell and his past sins wasn’t exactly on his “to do” list. “I got the job done.”
“I’ve done undercover work, Seth. I know how easy it is to lose yourself. You had almost six years of being one of Clemmons’s associates. That must’ve had a severe impact.”
“Never said it didn’t.”
Golden-green intelligent eyes speared him. “Why can’t you tell me about it?”
“This isn’t the time or the place to go into a discussion of an old case. But you’re right about one thing: I’m not the same man I was five years ago.”
He could see the questions trembling on her mouth. He had, not so successfully sometimes, pushed those memories to the back of his mind. Yeah, he still had frequent nightmares and, no, he’d never forget. Talking about them would do no good.
He stood and grabbed his keys. “We need to get started.”
The hurt on her face was hard to take. The judgment in her eyes would be a hell of a lot harder. Tell her what happened? What he regretted on a daily, sometimes hourly basis? No way in hell.