Page 18 of Deadly Pride

“So, you do know how to drive fast.” She arched a brow.

“Yes, when the situation warrants. Trying to keep a woman alive is a need for speed.” He squealed tires going around a corner. Horns blared as he came close to crossing the yellow line into oncoming traffic.

A few people milled around on the sidewalk when they arrived at the night club. The news van sat at one end of the parking lot. A cameraman loaded equipment in the back. No sign of Brittney.

Harper shoved her door open before Liam had the jeep in park and hurried to the van. “Where’s Brittney?”

The man shrugged. “Went off to talk to people and hasn’t returned.”

“How long?”

“Maybe half an hour. Is she in trouble?” He crossed his arms.

“It’s quite possible. If you have a way of contacting her, please do and ask her to come back here right away.” An icy fist clenched Harper’s heart. The morning’s coffee ate at the lining of her stomach.

The cameraman placed the call. “It went straight to voice mail.”

“Which way did she go?”

Harper and Liam sprinted in the direction he pointed, ignoring his shouted questions. They’d explain later.

Their feet pounded in unison as they ran down the sidewalk dodging curious onlookers. “Have you seen Brittney Burnes?” Harper asked a man.

“She went that way with some woman.” He pointed to a path across the road.

Harper glanced at Liam. “I would’ve thought Brittney too smart to go into the woods with a stranger.”

“Maybe the other woman promised her answers to the bombing. A woman might not seem as threatening as a man.” Looking both ways, he darted across the street, Harper on his heels.

The overgrown path went into the thick foliage and blocked most of the light from the sun. Again, Harper couldn’t help but wonder why Brittney would follow a stranger. Especially, if they went into the dark woods.

There weren’t many buildings around the nightclub. The town of Oakdale wouldn’t allow the place within its borders, so it had been built between Oakdale and Harrington. While the towns were spreading toward each other, there was still a lot of woods between the two.

The further they ran, the more it looked as if they were on a wild goose chase. Until she spotted the red pump from under a bush. “Liam.”

He peered under the bush. “No body.”

They continued down the dark path until reaching a slow-moving creek. Lying half in the water and half out was Brittney. Her suit made a sharp contrast against the dirt of the creek bank.

“We were too late.” Harper leaned against a tree.

“We tried.” Liam turned the body over.

Lifeless eyes stared heavenward. Blood soaked the white blouse and red jacket she wore.

Nausea rose, burning Harper’s esophagus. “Did the killer cut out her tongue?”

~

“Looks that way.” Liam straightened. “The slit across the throat is what killed her.” He studied the area for the tongue, finding it on a flat rock near the water’s edge. “The tongue has been washed.”

“Why?” Harper’s brow furrowed.

“To wash the lies from her mouth?”

“Makes as much sense as anything. I’ll call the crime scene techs.”

Which had to come from Harrington and would take about fifteen minutes. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. They were being watched. “Harper, mind standing closer to me?”

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