Page 43 of The Familiar Stranger

“Keeping busy is a good idea. When I’m trying to take my mind off things, I find traveling to someplace new is a great way to refresh my attitude. Do you travel much?”

“Oh, gosh, no. Don’t have the money, first of all. Second, I’m more of a homebody these days.”

“So, you’re in Jackson Hole right now?”

“Yup. Same place, different me.”

He sure sounded convincing.

“Sounds like you’re doing all the right things,” I said. “I wish you all the best. Thanks for taking my call.”

“No problem. Hey, if you talk to Kris, will you tell her I’m doing better, maybe see if she’ll call me?”

“Sure will. Take care now.”

We hung up, and I sat there for a minute, assessing how I felt. The fact was, if he was in Jackson Hole, there was no way he was here now. Given Cade had once been the chief of police in Jackson Hole, I called one of his old coworkers, a mutual friend. I explained I was working a case and needed to verify if Terrence still lived in the area. He agreed to do a drive-by, and a short time later, he called me back, confirming he saw Terrence through the window of his house, sitting on the couch, watching television.

And we were back to square one.

I got up from the bed, tossed my food wrappers into the garbage can, and set my wineglass on the desk.

I stretched.

I paced.

Maddie chewed on her lip, leaning against the bathroom’s door frame, watching my every move.

I lay back down on the bed and placed the pillow over the top of my head, covering my eyes. “I just need a minute.”

“We’ll find him, Sloane. We’re so close.”

I wanted to catch this killer with an intensity that I’d never felt before. I wanted to crush this person who was taunting me, killing my friends, bringing my past back into play, making me question my entire career …

Then a realization struck.

Even though patience was not my strong suit, it was the only way I’d win this twisted game. A man like my nemesis would be anything but patient. He’d keep pushing and pushing until he’d pushed himself right into a corner.

And that’s where I’d get him.

CHAPTER30

My cell phone rang, and I cursed it, refusing to move from my position of rumination—and plotting.

It rang again and again, and I shot my hand out, searching for the phone in the expanse of the comforter. “Where is the dang thing …” I growled as I whipped the pillow off my face.

“Looking for your phone?” Maddie asked.

I glanced at her and saw my phone dangling from her fingers.

She handed it over, and I looked at the screen.

Cade was calling.

With a guilty wince, I answered. “Hey, honey. We’re in Savannah.”

I thought it best to just get it out there.

I figured he wouldn’t be too happy that I hadn’t checked in sooner, and I was right.

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