Page 3 of A Dark Place

Holden snatched the phone from Asher. “This is Robert Holden, the Director of the FBI. I’m looking for the team of people who was staying outside of Rock Cliff at Collins’ old place.”

The sheriff remained quiet for a long time. Asher imagined the man choosing his words carefully. He would definitely pick up on Holden’s deception.

“Well now, as I recall, that investigation is being handled by your people. My men and I assisted with the initial canvassing, but you Bureau folks are working with the team from Strike Force to bring down that Collins fella. Maybe I should ask you where they are?”

Asher kept his smile to himself. He’d spoken to Sheriff Callahan on numerous occasions and knew the man to be straightforward and knowledgeable. There was no doubt in Asher’s mind the sheriff had kept tabs on what was happening at the former compound of Martin Collins, and he’d know the FBI had left a few days back.

“My people have flown back to D.C. to continue the investigation here. But as you know, the team you referred to have been exposed as traitors and must be brought to justice.” Holden waited for the expected agreement that didn’t come. His anger showed in the flare of his nostrils.

“I’m afraid I have to disagree with you, there, Director Holden. I worked with them for several days and didn’t see anything but a group of patriotic men and women. Now, was there actually something related to the Van Gogh case that I can help you with?”

Holden’s displeasure was carved on his face. “You will contact me the minute you hear from them. Understood?”

Asher glanced over at Olivia. Both knew the sheriff well enough to know he wasn’t going to take kindly to Holden ordering him around.

“Well, I tell you what, Director. If I hear from them, I’ll be sure to tell them you’re looking for them.” Before Holden quelled his indignation enough to speak, the call disconnected.

Asher feared Holden would toss his phone across the room. His face turned a mottled red. Eyes flashing fire. The director set the phone on the table and straightened himself and his suit. He stared Asher down. “The minute you have news from them, I expect to hear. Do you understand?”

Keeping a calm exterior wasn’t easy. “Understood.”

The director held onto his gaze for a long moment before he whirled on his heel and stormed from the room, leaving a shocked room in his wake.

“What was that about?” Declan said in a surprised voice.

Asher shook his head. “Whatever it was has nothing to do with the Van Gogh case.” He motioned Declan and Olivia to the back of the room. “I’m going to reach out to the sheriff and have him warn Will and Lizzy. There’s no doubt in my mind Holden is going to track his and Lizzy’s cell phone. They need to know they have a target on their backs from the people who were supposed to be working with them.”

???

Her eyes shot open. Heart raced. His face was inches from hers. All the terrible things he’d done at the command of his mentor swirled through Lizzy’s frightened mind.

Her husband’s arms tightened around her. “Are you okay?” Will turned her toward him. The concern on this handsome man’s face tugged her back from the darkness.

It was just a dream.Hewasn’t here with her. The man who had hurt her so badly was dead. . . but his apprentice was still out there somewhere. He’d tried to kill her while they were still in Washington. What would he do now that he realized she was gone?

Lizzy’s heart raced, and she placed her hand against it. Tried to reassure him. “Yes, I think so.” She looked up at Will and forced a smile. “Just a bad dream.”

He held her closer. This strong man who had moved heaven and earth to find her again was entrenched in a battle against evil like nothing seen before, and her little problems weren’t worth troubling him with.

Even though she and the team of Strike Force had barely escaped an unimaginable attack from the same people trying to kill them, Lizzy Grayson was grateful. She saw the good in life despite the danger stalking them because she’d lived in darkness for so many years. But God had brought her husband back into her life, and she’d discovered she had a brother. The winter that had saturated her heart was fading. Outside the world was in chaos. But she wouldn’t allow the past or the killer that still remained on the loose to take root in her heart and mind.

“Want to talk about it?” Will asked and she loved him for it. With the world falling apart around them, he was worried about her.

She shivered as she recalled the cold box where they’d kept her. The pleasure she saw in the man she’d learned was her grandfather every time his apprentice tortured her. There was no hint of any human emotions in either of them. “Not really.” She touched Will’s face. “I’m okay.”

Until a week ago, she had no memories of the past. No idea who she was before what she’d been told was a car accident took her memory away. The truth was far darker. She’d been held captive by a two-man team of serial killers known as Van Gogh. Lizzy wasn’t sure what was worse—realizing she had barely escaped with her life—or finding out one of those men was her grandfather.

Will tugged her closer. He had been there with her when she realized the truth about her past. Her family heritage.

As he watched her carefully, his smile disappeared. He was worried about her, and she so loved him for it.

Lizzy ran her hand across her husband’s cheek and still couldn’t believe she’d found him again. For more than five years, she’d lived in limbo because of something that happened to her shortly after she and Will married.

She’d been abducted by a serial killer who was operating in the Washington D.C. area at the time. He was nicknamed the Van Gogh Killer because of his penchant for leaving Van Gogh’sStarry Nightpicture at the victims’ homes, and for the way he cut off part of the victim’s left ear.

Memories of her time in the killer’s possession had been so traumatic that Lizzy had shoved them down deep. She might never have remembered them if it hadn’t been for Will. With him and the help of hypnosis, Lizzy remembered that her grandfather had been the mentor to the man who had taken her.

Thanks to those reclaimed memories, Lizzy was able to assist the FBI agents heading up the task force to identify one of the two Van Gogh killers. She prayed the second would be captured soon. Before he hurt another innocent woman.

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