Page 5 of Mistletoe and Malice
Her friend Avery hooked her arm through hers. “Those bright pink stilettoes will be perfect with your gown for the New Year’s Ball.”
“I know, right? I should be all set now.”
A little early to be thinking about New Year’s, but considering everything else she had going on, it would behoove her to plan sooner rather than later. A lot of work went into the charitable ball her family had hosted for three decades, and which she’d directed the past two years.
The crispness in the air hinted at the holidays fast approaching, with Thanksgiving only a couple of weeks away. After several stressful months on a difficult case, she’d planned to concentrate on her charities more than work to close out the year.
Then Shane’s letter had come. And she couldn’t ignore it. Not with her conscience picking at her about that verdict. Meeting with him thirteen days ago had been the final push she needed to right what she perceived to be a colossal wrong.
Caitlyn’s killer was still out there.
Avery pulled Riley to a stop in front of a store window displaying designer holiday dresses. “Ooo, let’s go in here. I love this store.”
“Let’s go after lunch.” She checked her watch. “We have ten minutes to make our reservation, and Fran will start texting us in eleven if we’re not there.” And there was no way Avery would be out of this store in less than an hour. “I think I’ll run these bags up to the car so they’re not taking up space at the table. Wanna go with me?”
Her pretty ginger-haired friend scrunched her pink-tinted lips to the side. “I’ll go see if Fran and Barbara are at the cafe.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there in a few.”
A short stroll to the parking garage, up the elevator to the third level, and she was putting her bags in the trunk of her little BMW sports coupe with five minutes to spare. The trunk closed with awhump,and she started back to the elevator.
Twenty-three stab wounds.According to the autopsy in the case file, an early strike to her heart killed Caitlyn within seconds. Likely dead by the time she hit the floor, at least she hadn’t been aware of the other wounds inflicted on her body. What kind of madman could?—
No. Not today. She wouldn’t think about work today, on this beautiful fall Saturday. Even though every minute she spentnotworking on the case meant more minutes Shane spent in that awful?—
An arm wrapped around Riley’s shoulders, forcing the air from her lungs. Her body slammed against a hard chest. A sharp pain jabbed her in the side.
“Don’t scream, Miss Hudson, or I’ll endyou right here.”
The man’s tone chilled her.
He pulled her backward. Her pulse hammeredin her throat. The heels of her boots scraped along the concrete, fighting to keep her feet under her.Terror pulsated throughout her body. This couldn’t be happening.
Her hands gripped the man’s forearm. Her eyes darted from side to side. Where was everybody?
Lord, help me! Please!
He pulled her behind a large car. The trunk sat open. A cold chill ran down her spine.
No. No. No.She had to fight.If he was going to kill her, let him do it now before he took her somewhere he could do whatever he had planned.
Lord, be with me.
She yelled, hoping to draw attention. Twisting, she threw her weight to one side, then the other. His grasp tightened around her neck. She was losing strength. She needed to breathe.
She drew up her knee and kicked backward. The three-inch block heel of her boot made contact. Her attacker’s grip loosened.
A guttural expletive blew past her ear as he pitched forward. She pulled her arm in. Rammed her elbow into his face. Twisting again, she broke his hold. Her handbag hit the ground, its contents scattering.
She spun, seeing his face for the first time. Bearded, wisps of dark hair under a baseball cap. Eyes dark and piercing. His left hand swiped blood from his lip. He raised the gun still clutched in his right hand.She kicked again. Her boot collided with his elbow. The gun clattered across the pavement.
She turned to run, buthe grabbed her ponytail. Fire shot over her scalp, and she screamed.Clawing at hishand,she dug her nails intohis flesh.“Stop!”
“Hey!” A man’s voice echoed through the parking garage. “Let her go!”
Her attacker released her hair. She fell to her knees. His footsteps retreated behind her. Jumping to her feet, she took off toward the man running in her direction. Avery stepped out of an elevator. Her eyes widened and jaw fell slack.
Riley’s timely rescuer slowed. “You okay?”
