Page 54 of Silent Neighbor

"Jessica, please," Sheila called, trying to keep her voice calm and reasonable. "We have reason to believe the person responsible for your friends' deaths is targeting you. You need to come down now. We can protect you."

"Protect me?" Jessica's laugh was bitter, carrying clearly in the still desert air. "Where were you when Jake and Brad died? Where were you when Ellen was killed? No, I don't need your protection. I'm going to finish what I started."

Finish what she started? How could she care so much about rock-climbing when lives were at stake?

"Jessica, I know you're hurting. I know you want to do something for your friends. But this isn't the time. Please, just come down and talk to us."

Finn touched Sheila's arm, his voice low. "I'll jog around the cliff, see if there's an easier way up."

Then, just as Finn was about to leave, Sheila caught movement from above. "Wait," she said to Finn. He looked up.

A figure had appeared beside Jessica. And Jessica didn't have the slightest clue.

Time seemed to slow down as Sheila's mind processed what she was seeing. The killer wasn't coming for Jessica. They were already here.

Drawing in a deep breath, Sheila screamed with all the force she could muster, her voice raw with desperation and urgency.

"Jessica!" she screamed. "Behind you! Look out!"

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