Page 58 of Such A Bad Girl

“I discreetly checked with some folks in Austin. The case back there has been closed for years. The killer died behind bars. Nobody is investigating Avett’s death. So, it’s not the cops digging up the past. Have you thought of anyone else it could be?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “West? Any ideas?”

“No,” he growled, anger rolling off his frame. “I have my lawyer trying to find Harlan.”

“Good,” I said. “We should see if any of the neighbors have any footage to try to track which way she drove?”

“I can do that,” Rian offered.

“Thanks, man,” West said. Rian patted him on the back and walked out.

“This is fucking killing me,” I muttered.

West glared at me but didn’t say a word. We all had to keep it together now, but I knew I was in for more than a tongue lashing later.

My phone buzzed. I checked it immediately, hoping like hell it was Everleigh.

It wasn’t.

Instead, it was another fucking photograph.

A snap of a long, curly strand of very recognizable blonde hair, displayed beautifully against a swatch of black velvet.

My blood turned cold and the room started to spin.

Chapter Thirty-Six

EVERLEIGH

In despair, I watched as the scissors flew through the air. They landed in the corner of the room with a loud clang. The woman jumped out of my grip at the same time that she’d tossed them. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a cloth that she pressed against my nose.

The gag in my mouth forced me to inhale, and my eyes fluttered as everything went black.

I didn’t hear the thud my body made when it hit the floor.

But I felt the pain ripping through me when I woke up again.

She’d dragged me back onto the cot, but I was tied up tighter this time. Extra rope dug into my skin and secured me to the headboard. She’d taken the gag from my mouth, though. I could feel saliva coating my chin.

She stood over me, watching as I struggled against the new rope. “I always wanted to be a Boy Scout. They learned how to tie great knots. They gave awards for it and everything, did you know that? I’m not so great at it.”

She shrugged like we were just picking up an old conversation.

“Who the fuck are you and why are you doing this?” I demanded, now that I could speak. My jaw ached. Every bone in my body ached.

“Oh, cute. Angry, are we?” she scoffed, shaking her head.

“Please let me go.”

“Hmm,” she said, mockingly placing a finger on her chin. “Let me think. Um….No! Not yet. Although, I have to say, this is lasting a little longer than I expected. I figured Theo would be chomping at the bit to find you.”

“You won’t get away with this.”

“Like you got away with murder, Everleigh?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” She laughed, shaking her head. “I have to go. I’ll be back soon, though, so please don’t try your shit anymore, okay?”

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