Page 56 of Her Baby, Her Badge

Because Wilson could have just told a huge lie to make that happen.

They didn’t know if Wilson was the killer, but the man was certainly on the short list of suspects, and if Wilson had indeed orchestrated this nightmare, then he likely wouldn’t hesitate to use Aileen to get what he wanted.

But what the heck did he want?

That was a question that had kept going through Dutton’s mind since the start of these attacks, but this all seemed extreme for someone jealous of Grace’s badge. Still, people had killed for less than that, and maybe Wilson had as well. If so, that could mean he intended to use Aileen to draw out Grace and then murder both women.

Dutton wouldn’t let that happen.

However, he also wasn’t going to be able to keep Grace in place much longer. Both the cop and daughter in her were obviously urging her to do something and to do it now, now, now.

The deputies pulled to a stop near what was left of Grace’s cruiser, and Rory, Bennie and Ellie barreled out. All of them had their guns ready. All fired glances around to try to figure out what was happening.

“Call for more backup and then check the truck,” Grace told them. “But be careful. The killer could still be inside.”

That was true, but Dutton figured those running footsteps they’d heard belonged to the killer. Maybe to Aileen, too, if the killer had forced her out of the truck and into the woods. Still, there was a chance that Aileen had managed to escape and was trying to put some distance between herself and the person who’d taken her.

Dutton watched while Bennie and Ellie kept watch and Rory went to the truck. And Dutton got a jolt of worry for his brother that Grace had almost certainly gotten for Aileen. But no gunshots came, and the truck didn’t roar to life again to try to run them all down.

“It’s empty,” Rory said moments later. “But there’s blood on the seat.”

Grace made a sound, part gasp, part groan, and Dutton could feel the battle she was having with herself. Dutton wanted to remind her that Wilson had said he’d seen Aileen. Alive. But he had no way of knowing if that was the truth.

Not yet, anyway.

“You could stay here with two of the deputies,” Dutton told Grace. “And the other deputy could go with me to look for Aileen.”

She shook her head and stood, remaining hidden behind the tree. Grace motioned for the deputies to come to them. Theykept the whirling blue lights of the cruiser on and made their way toward her. “We’ll all go,” she insisted.

Dutton had no way of knowing if that was the right call. After all, if she had stayed behind with a deputy, the killer might use that opportunity to sneak up on Grace and kill her. Or use Aileen to draw her out. At least this way, Grace would be with him, and he could do whatever it took to protect the baby and her.

“Wilson?” Grace called out once the deputies reached the trees.

No answer.

Dutton didn’t hear any sounds of movement, either.

“How thick are these woods?” Grace asked him.

“Thick,” he assured her. “But there are some trails and a few streams.” Whether or not the killer knew about them was anyone’s guess.

Grace nodded and motioned for them to get moving. They did, and Dutton figured there was no way for five people to stay quiet as they trudged through the trees and underbrush. The killer could be counting on that, too. He or she could be lying in wait for them.

The night air was heavy and damp. Almost smothering. It only added to the desperation and worry they were likely all feeling. Still, they kept moving and continued watching and listening.

Once they were away from the cruiser and were beneath the canopy of the thick trees, it became impossible to see, so Bennie turned on his flashlight to illuminate the way for them. The light would be another beacon for the killer, and if he or she wasn’t on the run, then it would make them easy targets.

And it was indeed possible that the killer was running.

He thought of the blood Rory had seen in the truck. It could have belonged to the killer. Aileen was an experienced cop, after all, and she might have been able to injure the person who’dtaken her. Maybe not a big enough injury to incapacitate, but it could give the five of them the upper hand.

While they moved, Dutton kept glancing behind them, checking for both Wilson and the killer. Who, of course, could be one and the same. But there was no sign of him. No sign of blood, either, as Bennie panned his flashlight on the ground in front of them. However, there were indentations in the ground to indicate that someone had recently gone this way.

They all came to a quick stop when a sound cracked through the woods. Not gunfire. Dutton thought this might be someone stepping on a tree branch. And it had sounded close.

Hell, was it the killer?

Was he or she getting into position to shoot them?

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