Page 59 of Killer Knows Best

The dog races beside me, barking with its breath creating a fog. My legs pump harder, and then I spot something up ahead—a small crowd.

People.

“Help,” I scream, my voice hoarse and wild. “Help me! I’ve been kidnapped!”

I wave my arms up over my head just as a pair of headlights race onto the scene.

39

SPECIAL AGENT FALLON BAXTER

The second we hear the woman’s screams cut through the cold night air, Jack, Nikki, and I bolt in her direction.

A pair of headlights arrive on the scene, and I’m hoping it’s the backup we called for when we left the bar. But it’s not. It’s an older maroon sedan careening this way as it screeches to a halt with gravel crunching under the tires. The door swings open, and Brenda Billings stumbles out, her dark hair wild in the dim light.

“What’s happening?” she shouts, wide-eyed, as she sprints toward Phillis. “I came as soon as you called!”

“Who the hell are you people?” the naked woman screams from behind.

“FBI,” Nikki shouts as she quickly approaches while waving her badge at the woman. “You’re safe.”

Jack takes off his coat and wraps it around the woman, and she begins to shudder and sob.

“Who are you and who did this to you?” he asks just a hair away from shouting at her.

“I’m Marsha,” she sniffs hard. “I’m Marsha Warren.”

“Call it in and stay with her,” I shout to Nikki, who flashes her badge as I hitch my head toward the women standing just behind us—Phillis and Brenda—and both Jack and Buddy fall in beside me as we make our way over.

Brenda’s eyes flick from Marsha to us, then back to Phillis. She looks confused and more than slightly terrified, and yet the tip of her lips look to be struggling from curving into a smile.

“What do you know about the death of Madeline Hazelwood?” I ask, cutting through the tension and straight to the point.

Brenda’s startled gaze lands on me.

“What? Are you talking aboutMaddie?” She glances at Phillis. “I don’t—what’s going on?” she stammers. “What do you think has happened here?”

I step closer and narrow my eyes in on her. “There’s been a rash of homicides in the area. Prostitutes have been targeted. Do you know anything about that?”

Her hands fidget as her eyes widen, flitting from me to Phillis and back.

“Homicides? Prostitutes?” She shakes her head, her expression flipping between confusion and fear. “Oh, Phillis… I knew you weren’t well after you lost Maddie, but this?” She turns, wild-eyed, toward her friend. “Phillis, what have you done?”

Phillis recoils and her face glows white in the night. “I haven’t done anything. I swear I’m innocent!” Her voice cracks, teetering on the edge of hysteria.

“Calm down.” Brenda grabs her by the shoulders and Buddy jumps forward and barks at the woman. “I knew we should have sought professional help when you told me about the dreams.” She takes a moment to brush the hair from Phillis’ eyes.

“What dreams?” Phillis snaps. “What are you talking about?”

Brenda sighs as she looks from Jack to me. “She’s beenhaving nightmares. PTSD from the trauma of losing her daughter. She told me—” She shakes her head. “Oh, I can’t say it.”

“Spill it,” Jack growls and Buddy growls right along with him.

“She said she dreams that she pushed her daughter off that trail herself.” Brenda’s voice drops to a whisper as she glances back at Phillis. “I’m so sorry.”

Phillis’ face twists into shock and fury. “I’ve never said such a thing! What the heck are you talking about? Who are you? And what have you done with my friend?”

“She’s no friend,” I say, stepping closer. “Brenda, your husband was a known philanderer. You were aware of that, weren’t you?”

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