Page 138 of Montana Manhunt

If she didn’t know for sure that Jeff planned to kill her, this conversation ripped away any false hope for the lawyer’s inclination to let her live. No way would he let her go free after this confession. “Does my aunt know her boyfriend killed Cami and several other women?”

Jeff laughed. “Rosalie thinks my father can do no wrong. She’s head over heels in love with him and has been for more than a decade.”

Violet’s blood ran cold. “Are you saying what I think you are?”

“Dad told Rosalie that sweet Camilla came on to him, then threatened to destroy him when he refused to take her to bed. According to Dad’s story, your sister became violent, and he had no choice but to defend himself.”

Her face burned. “That’s a lie! You know it is.”

His head tilted. “How do you know? You’ve been gone a long time, Violet, my sweet. You don’t know what your sister could do.”

“I didn’t come back to Morrison, but my sister and I met every few weeks away from here.”

He shrugged. “Pretty story that no one will believe. After all, he’s the police chief with a stellar record. No one will believe a mercenary for hire who abandoned her aunt and sister as soon as she graduated from high school.”

Jeff Hanson was crazy. No one in their right minds would believe this concocted story. For goodness’ sake, Violet had proof of her weekends with Camilla.

She twisted her wrists gently, testing the bonds keeping her wrists secured behind the thick slats of the chair. The bonds flexed but didn’t give. The lawyer must have used zip ties. Good. She could work with that. The trick was to keep him talking while she freed one of her knives and worked on the plastic. “That’s not true, Jeff.”

He snorted. “It’s what the good citizens of Morrison will believe when your body is found. Dad will spread the word that you approached the wrong man for sex and got exactly what you deserved.” He shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “You should have paid attention to those stranger danger lectures, baby.”

“Why would I do that? I’m in love with Noah. I don’t need to approach a stranger for sex.”

“Hmm. You’re right. Maybe Dad can spin the story that you and your boyfriend had a fight and broke up, then you went to a stranger for consolation. You just picked the wrong man.”

“It won’t work.”

Another shrug. “We’ll make it work.” Jeff shoved his pistol into the waistband at the back of his jeans and grabbed a knife from his boot. The steel blade glimmered in the overhead light’s beam. “You should feel honored. We saved the knife we used on Camilla for you.”

She twisted her right wrist, trying to position her arm to release the blade strapped to the underside of her forearm without puncturing her hand.

Jeff stalked closer. “Time for a preview of things to come, Violet.” He raised the knife and plunged the blade into her left shoulder.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

NOAH WATCHED HELPLESSLYas Jeff Hanson dragged Violet deeper into the woods and disappeared from view.

Grant sprinted to Rayne and dropped to his knees beside her. “Let me see, baby.” He eased the woman to her back, then used his Ka-Bar to rip her pant leg and give him a better view of the injury. He glanced back at Noah. “Look at the bomb on the kid. We need to know what we’re up against.”

“I have to go after Violet.”

“I know, man. I get it. But that kid is the priority. The second is finding the other bomb in the hotel. Violet can take care of herself. These innocents can’t.”

A figure in black ran toward them. “Noah!”

Relief flooded him. “Brent.”

“Where’s Violet?” Brent Maddox asked as he dropped beside Rayne, grabbed the mike bag, and opened it.

“Gone. Jeff Hanson took her at gunpoint.”

Maddox stared at him for a beat. “You let him take her?”

Furious and sick at heart, Noah’s hands fisted. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Sit rep,” Maddox snapped.

He updated his boss in clipped, terse words, then said, “I have to go after Hanson. He’s going to kill Violet.”

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