Page 22 of Keeping Ava

So, while Ava sleeps, I can work. Try to solve the pieces of this puzzle that’s been plaguing me since I was given my assignment.

Jason has someone working with him. An accomplice.

Of that I have no doubt, but who? And more importantly, from which department working on this case?

“And what have you come up with?”

“We now know a few things to be certain, Ford.” He sits back and chugs his coffee, the grimace on his face telling me it’s gone cold and nasty. “The main thing is that your theory is correct. Somehow—someone working this case is feeding him information, and Jason is heading this way. The bastard got free, and instead of going south to Mexico, he’s leaving a trail of victims that point straight back here. It’s a fucked-up scene—he knows we have her—but it’s a lead we can approach. We can intercept him.”

I don’t like it. Fucking loathe that they’ll use Ava as bait, but it wouldn’t be the first time this tactic has been used. Especially as the desperation to capture him grows.

I’ll protect her with my life. No one will harm her.

My reactions to her don’t make sense and the sudden attraction is beyond my comprehension, but I don’t doubt either. Something about her calls to me. To my innermost caveman-like tendencies where the need to protect supersedes all else.

“And the other girl?” I ask, trying to remain calm. To not show just how far I’ll go for her if need be. “Has she been found?”

As of late last night, they’re looking into Karla and asking the public to come forward if she’s seen. So far, the missing person’s report has been spread from Texas to the West Coast.

Cap shakes his head, lips pursed. “No. Not a damn sign of her. Not so much as a bogus call.”

“That’s not his usual style, though.” Rubbing my eyes, I sit back and take a sip from my own lukewarm coffee as I work through the chaos in my mind. I’m not seeing something, and it’s eating away at me. “Her pictures are everywhere now along with his mugshot. Why tempt fate and be seen?”

“What were you thinking?” His question forces my eyes back to the morbid shots on the table. His kills. “From the very first victim to the penultimate, they all follow a certain pattern. Upper body bruising, a deep gash across the chest, and his thumb prints embedded deep into their jugular. Each body lays face up and straight, with their hands intertwined over their abdomens and painted red with their own blood.”

“All but—”

“The last,” I finish for him. Picking up Sarah’s photo, I notice right away that this kill was rushed. Unsatisfactory for him. There’s anger in the way she was just left behind with a broken neck.

“How many know the plan? Is it just San Antonio and Lubbock?” Pushing my chair back, I stand and begin pacing the room. Scenarios play out in my mind, each one leading me back here. To his first kill.

“It’s a combined effort, but mainly the two Texas departments.”

“Check relationships. Ripley had or has friends and a family. We need to figure out if any of them have a connection to someone on the force.”

“You think that—”

“I do...” I trail off as my cell phone suddenly vibrates atop the table. My landline flashes across the screen and I grab the device, pressing accept but I’m too late.

“What’s going—”

“Ava.” That’s all I give him before taking off, my finger pressing the redial button when it vibrates again. “I’m almost there,” I say, pulling the door to the stairway open; it bangs against the wall with a loud clang as I take each step two at a time. “Are you hurt? Someone at the door?”

The last is almost impossible with how I watched the entryways, and my app shows no movement there, but I can never rule out anything. As long as she doesn’t open the door, she’s safe.

“It’s probably nothing...” there’s a self-deprecating laugh that follows and it’s carries a hint of panic “...but you said to tell you if anything creeped me out. I’m sorry if I’m bothering you while you work, but—”

“You can always call me. No matter the reason.” Behind me the sound of footsteps running up are loud and heavy, but slower. My head turns slightly, just enough to catch sight of Captain Perez bounding up with arms full of files.

“Thank you.” There’s a pause and then a huff. As if she’s annoyed with herself. “Someone called the house, and it felt off.”

“How?” Opening the door to my floor, I rush through and run toward my door. “Who called?”

“An Officer Denis Meyers.” The fuck. My hand punches the nearest wall, and a chunk of plaster falls to the floor. I don’t say anything, mind whirling in different directions. Looking at possibilities. “Are you there?”

“Open the door.” It leaves me on a harsh growl as I stop, hand on the casing. Ava squeaks on the other end but doesn’t hang up, instead, she keeps me on the line while walking my way and then pausing on the other side.

I can feel her presence through the door. Feel her eyes on my skin through the peephole.

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