Page 153 of Whispers and Wildfire

“What about the car? Did you get a look at it?”

“I keep trying to remember something about the car that might help, but I was so out of it. I saw it for a second when he put me over his shoulder, but I’m not even sure what color it was.”

“And I assume you didn’t see anything when he brought you out again.”

“No, he drugged me before he even unfastened me from the wall. I don’t remember anything. I woke up in the woods.”

“The sheriff’s department has been searching the areas where the victims were found,” Theo said.

“I know, but they’re all random. He left them in different places.” I rubbed my forehead and raked my fingers through my hair. “Melanie could be anywhere.”

“Melanie?” Bella asked. “Is that her name?”

I nodded. “Melanie Andolini.

“That’s so weird,” she said, her tone taking on a tinge of fear.

“What’s weird?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again with a slight shake of her head. Roy put a reassuring hand on her back.

“Sorry, I didn’t remember it until you said that name,” she said. “But he was calling me Melanie. He wanted me to answer to it. It made him angry when I didn’t do it right.”

“He called you Melanie?” I asked.

“I think so. I could be remembering wrong. So much happened and I was so scared.”

I looked past her, my eyes unfocused. “It is him.”

“It’s who?” Roy asked.

I stood, my brain spinning, trying to piece things together. “Anton, I think it’s him. I think it’s the same guy who took her in LA.”

Anton looked up from his map. “Why?”

I walked over to his table. “That’s Bella Lewis. She was one of the victims. He called her Melanie and tried to get her to answer to it.” Leaning closer, I lowered my voice. “And she looks like Mel. A little bit, don’t you think?”

His eyes flicked to Bella. “Similar.”

“Even if you’re right, what does that tell us?” Krista asked.

“It tells us she was the target all along.” I started pacing again while I thought it through. “And it tells us he’s not a local. He followed her here.”

“How?” Krista asked. “And why now? It was eleven years ago.”

“I don’t know. Right now, there’s no way to know what he’s been doing for the last eleven years. But I think he came here to finish what he started.” I kept moving, walking back and forth between Bella’s table and Anton’s. “Melanie moved back in June, and the abductions started after that. But that doesn’t help much. Tilikum is crawling with tourists all summer. One more new face wouldn’t stand out.”

“If he’s an out-of-towner and he followed her here, where’s he staying?” Theo asked. “Rentals book up for the summer at least six months in advance. Just ask Josiah. How did he get a place?”

“Good question. It would have to be something off the beaten path. Not in town.” I stopped and looked at Bella. “You said you woke up when you were still in the car?”

She nodded.

“Any idea how long you were in there?”

“No, I don’t know how long I was unconscious.”

“Do you remember anything else about being in the trunk?” I asked. “Was it big or were you cramped?”

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