Page 86 of Closer Than You Know

But why send her these photos in the middle of his big return to his first career—killing? How was it relevant to what he had planned for her and Eve? Was it just a distraction? A prompt for her to think any less of her sister?

Or a clue?

Vera reshuffled the photos and stuffed them back into the envelope. The bastard’s note went next. It was all she could do not to tear it into a thousand pieces. Then she hid thegiftback in the album and hurriedly returned all twelve to their proper shelves.

She drew in a deep, calming breath, smoothed the too-tight skirt, only then remembering she was still wearing it. First, she had to get out of these clothes. The heels had landed somewhere. She found them by the front door. Grabbed the pair of pain-inducing footwear and hurried up the stairs. It was still a little cool outside, so she dressed with that in mind. Jeans, thick socks, and a tee, along with a sweatshirt. She snagged a baseball cap and tugged it into place. Downstairs she found her sneakers and pulled them on.

She had searched the house. There was nothing else related to the Messenger to find. He’d come into her house at least once, maybe twice before she’d screwed the windows shut. Palmer Solomon had said his grandson had been watching her for months. Since Christmas possibly. So he could have come in numerous times she didn’t know about. But why wait so long to make a move?

The whole thing made no sense. Did it really take him that long to prepare? Maybe so. He’d spent weeks, sometimes months watching his other victims. The amount of time spent might be a part of his process. All serial killers had processes—MOs. A way of doing things from which they rarely deviated.

Then again, maybe he’d just been rusty.

In any event, he would have carefully chosen where to keep Eve—which was Vera’s biggest problem at the moment. Baker had been nothing more than a teaser, requiring far less preparation. Most likely he’d been merely an opportunity that arose from the fake Time Thief business. Eve was the one he would use to hurt Vera. Worry and hatred welled inside her. For Vera he would have planned extensively.

This farm was where she and Eve had grown up. Where they’d played as children. Lived and lost and survived. This was where theirmother had died and then, not even two years later, their stepmother had taken her last breath, here in this very house.

Bent had people searching Fayetteville and the surrounding area. There were official searches with county and city law enforcement personnel as well as civilians in the community simply checking their own property and that of their immediate neighbors’. During this morning’s press conference, Bent had urged folks to check in on their neighbors, particularly the elderly or otherwise vulnerable. To report any suspicious activity in or near abandoned homes or buildings.

The whole county was on alert.

But the evil could be right here on her farm. No matter that Bent had searched the farm. Not once but twice. After the message was left in her house and then again after Eve was taken. But no one was looking here now. Which was likely exactly what the bastard had wanted. Executing his plan here would be in keeping with his previous MO of leaving his victims in a location relevant to their lives. He’d left Nolan at Vera’s barn because this farm was relevant to Vera, and Nolan’s abduction had been about her, not the young reporter.

Anticipation funneling through her, Vera grabbed a coat and a flashlight and headed for the door. She’d just gotten down the front steps when the deputy currently assigned to surveillance duty approached.

“Is everything all right, ma’am?”

“I need to have a look around the property.”

Deputy Mitchell, according to his name tag, glanced about the yard. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, ma’am. Why don’t I call the sheriff and run it past him? It would be better if you stayed inside.”

“Call him,” she agreed. “But I’m having a look around.”

She started around back, taking her time to really look at the house ... the landscape ... everything. It hadn’t rained lately, and the snow had all melted quickly, the moisture immediately absorbed into the dry ground. There was no chance of tracks. A quick peek in the potting shed and well house revealed nothing out of place—just like the last time she’d looked.Had that been yesterday or the day before? Time had blurred into one long stream of consciousness.

The barn was her next destination. Mitchell was right behind her as he ended his call to Bent.

By the time she reached the barn on foot, Bent had pulled up in his truck. He’d taken the narrow dirt road just past the house that led directly to the barn.

That was fast, she decided, even for him. He must have already been en route.

Deputy Mitchell headed back to the house.

Vera entered the barn without a backward glance. She was on a mission. Bent could either join her or wait for her to finish. Her sister was in trouble, and she would do whatever necessary to help her.

“This was the first place I had my deputies look when Eve went missing and we didn’t find her in the vicinity of Suri’s house.”

Vera glanced at him through the building gloom. It would be dark soon. “I know. But I need to do this.”

“All right.” He climbed the ladder and checked the loft while she poked around the lower level.

It only took a few minutes to confirm there was nothing to find. Nothing out of place. Defeat tugged at her, but she refused to give up.

Her grip tightened on the flashlight. “Did they look in the cave?” The thought of going in that damned hole in the ground had her stomach cramping.

“They did. But we can look again if you feel the need.”

Need.That was the reason they’d ended up in bed together last night. Flashes from those moments whispered through her head, sent heat searing through her. The idea that Eve had been taken around that same time ripped her heart to shreds.

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