Page 28 of Seeking Evil

Cooper came over. “You got the go-ahead. Patrick’s sending deputies over to enforce the closure.”

“At least for now we won’t have anyone else in danger. Looks like the one group of climbers came together.” He watched them load up.” I’d prefer we follow them back to town to be safe.”

Cooper agreed.

“Are any of you staying at the Wind River Cabins?”

All the climbers confirmed they were.

“That’s something they all have in common,” Cooper murmured under his breath.

Once it was confirmed the climb site was closed, everyone packed up and headed out.

He and Cooper followed the vehicles back to Pinedale. They passed a deputy’s vehicle with one lawman inside.

“Everyone should be safe for now. No one’s gonna be climbing today at least.” Zeke believed they might have saved someone else from being taken. It was something. But would their efforts to find the suspect be enough to save Sierra? Every fiber in his body prayed for it. Because he wasn’t sure he could handle anything different.

Chapter Eleven

Ahumming sound pulled her out of the cottony darkness she didn’t want to leave. Did she have the strength to face what lay beyond her closed eyes?

The humming continued. Her eyes slowly opened to a light that blinded her. She closed them quickly.

“You’re alive.”

The voice made her sick. Henry. This wasn’t a bad dream.

Reality faded along with his voice. The darkness beckoned.

“Sierra, wake up.”

His voice sounded so far away. No. The words slipped through her thoughts. She wanted to stay here. Zeke’s smiling face appeared before the darkness. “You have to wake up, babe. You have to fight.”

Someone shook her. “Open your eyes.”

Not Zeke. The voice of a monster. One monster. Where was the other?

Babe, keep fighting. I’m coming.

“I will.” The response sounded muddled. She wondered if she’d spoken aloud until Henry answered.

“You will what?”

Her eyes flitted open. The light hurt her eyes and so she closed them again. But it was as if Zeke were standing beside her urging her to fight.

She opened her eyes again. Slowly, the blurred images began to clear.

“I’ve been worried about you, Sierra. I never intended for that to happen. You shouldn’t have tried to escape.”

She focused on his face. Eventually she could make it out. Henry actually appeared concerned. She frowned. Was he crazy? Of course, she would try to escape.

The world came into sharper focus. Henry was seated next to her, wearing a smile. She’d read about and been exposed to some strange killers in her time with the BAU, but Henry’s kindly grandfather persona was something to top the odd chart.

Sierra tried to lift her hand. It was restrained. She glanced down and noticed that Henry wasn’t taking any chances. At least she wasn’t gagged.

“What’d you do with her?” She wanted to know what happened to Dawn.

Henry grew wary. “That’s not your concern.”

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