Page 28 of Another Girl Lost

“Chasing stale leads in the Sandra Taylor case.”

“Any luck?”

“Nothing. Sandra Taylor vanished, and no one noticed.”

Margo shook her head. “I worked human trafficking in Northern and Central Virginia. Heard similar stories too many times. And technically she remains a Jane Doe.”

Jane Doe. Margo was right. The wrapped body hadn’t been formally identified as Sandra Taylor. A driver’s license was helpful but not definitive. “You have any doubts she’s Sandra?”

“No. But all the t’s need to be crossed, right?” she asked.

“Right.”

“Keep me posted. That case is going to be hard to forget. Any word yet from dispatch who called in the tip?”

“Caller used a burner phone. They’re trying to pin the call’s location. That might help.” All numbers pinged through a cell tower. Find the tower and then the address.

“I’m here if you need help.” Margo smiled, and when she continued down the street, his gaze drifted to her round, hard ass. She wore fitted slacks, a lightweight collared shirt, and heeled boots.

He couldn’t hide his admiration as she vanished around the corner. “Too much time on your own, Dawson. Too much time.”

Chapter Eight

SCARLETT

Then

A day later in the basement

My entire body hurt. My insides were on fire, and I felt as if I’d been ripped to the core. I was bleeding. The room was dark, and I was glad for it. I wanted to hide, close my eyes, and let the darkness consume me.

I rolled on my side and curled into a ball, and my stomach tumbled. I was aware of thedrip, dripof a pipe and the sound of what resembled breathing. But the inky blackness made it impossible to sort out shapes.

It took several more seconds before I tried to sit up again. This time, I was steadier and my stomach more settled. My left leg felt heavy, and when I ran my hands down my leg, I skimmed the cold, rough edge of metal encircling my ankle. I tugged on the manacle and realized it was attached to a chain. My panic rising, I gripped the chain and pulled. There was a little play, but the slack quickly vanished. I yanked again and the links snapped taut. And again. Panic tightened my chest, and it took effort not to scream.

I was still alive, still breathing, and I knew I would survive this. Somehow. Last night was the past. I had hope.

Finally, I rose on my knees and followed the chain with my hands until my fingers brushed against the brick wall. I pulled at the metal links, but as they continued to hold, my fear grew. Tears welled in my eyes.

I shifted my focus to the link around my ankle. I pulled on the edges, but the forged metal remained stubborn and unyielding.

Above me I heard floorboards creek. Was that him? Or had someone found me? I couldn’t risk not acting on the chance that help had arrived, so I scrambled to my feet and began to yell. I screamed until my throat was raw and my voice so hoarse, I didn’t recognize it.

I reached for the chain again, pulled and yelled until I was breathless. Finally, I collapsed onto the mattress. “Where am I?”

“You’re here now.”

The familiar girl’s voice, whispering from the shadows, startled me. Della. I stumbled to my feet and readied to fight whatever lurked in the darkness. “Where ishere?”

“His basement. He left me here to make sure you’re okay.” She tapped metal against brick. “I have water. You must be thirsty.”

I recoiled. “Get away from me. I don’t want anything from you.”

“You will.” She sounded tired, almost bored. “We only have each other now. You need to live so I won’t be alone again.”

Tanner had come to me in the dark, not bothering with a light beyond what leaked in the open door. I never realized she’d entered the room behind him. My face warmed with shame as I thought about how I’d begged and cried. Tanner had left me a couple of hours ago—maybe it had been longer—and I’d been lying here crying. And she’d said nothing.

“You should drink water,” she said.

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