Hunted, page 29
“And you as well,” Ethan replied, squeezing Beth’s hand. “I’m surprised you didn’t drive up yesterday for dinner.”
“I spent the day with my mother-in-law, Sandra. It isn’t an easy time of year for either of us,” Gordon said as Chase scowled and reached for Beth’s left hand. “Congratulations.”
“What is this?” Chase glared at her hand, then at her. “You didn’t.”
Lifting her chin, she narrowed her eyes. “We did, actually. Thank you,” she told Gordon.
She felt Ethan grow tense as Chase shook his head and glowered at them both. “Mom’s gonna have an absolute cow.” But he was fighting a smile, and then he laughed. “Holy shit. I can’t believe this. What am I saying? Yes, I can. Come here.”
Beth smacked him in the ribs when he hugged her. “You scared me to death, you idiot.”
“Hey, you’re the ones who eloped, not me. I told you this was gonna happen,” he said to Ethan, surprising him with a back-slapping hug. “It’s official now. You’re stuck with us crazy Hudsons.”
“I think my fate in that respect was probably sealed that day in high school when you kicked my ass all over the hall,” Ethan said. “What brings you two into the courthouse today?”
Gordon sent them a grim look. “I’m meeting with Wyatt to go over Ormsby’s confession.”
Beth sucked in a breath. “Is he talking?”
“For the most part. He’s holding up his end of the bargain, I’ll say that.”
She met Ethan’s gaze. “Should you sit in on that meeting? Did Wyatt mention it last night?”
“No, he didn’t.” She could tell that omission bothered him.
Gordon shifted. “I only called him this morning to set it up. He didn’t know I was coming. I don’t have a problem with you being there,” he told Ethan. “Shoot, you too, Beth. You were as integral to the resolution of this thing as any of us.”
“Do you want to be there?” Ethan asked her softly.
Swallowing, she fiddled with her brand-new wedding band. “I don’t. Eventually I might want the details, but for now and the foreseeable future, I’m perfectly content just to know he’s locked away for good.”
Ethan placed his hand on the back of her neck and gently massaged the muscles. “Then I say we head home or wherever you want to go and focus on other things. I can get briefed later. That man isn’t even on my list of priorities at the moment. Like my wife said,” he stated, his voice softening, “knowing he’s away from here and behind bars is enough.”
Gordon nodded. “I can’t say I blame either of you. There’s no reason in the world to focus on him now if you don’t want to.”
“Getting back to happier circumstances,” Chase said quietly, “when are you planning to tell the rest of the family about this little surprise you’ve sprung?”
She and Ethan exchanged a look.
“We don’t really have a plan,” she admitted.
“I think your side will take it better than mine,” Ethan said. “I’d prefer to rip that particular bandage off quickly. We might should consider stopping by my folks’ house on the way home.”
“I hope they remember that they’ve always liked me.” She shrugged. “We could just send everyone a selfie with our rings and the marriage certificate.”
Chase snorted. “If you do, let me sit back and watch the conflagration. I’ll bring popcorn and soda.”
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea.” Ethan tilted his head. “We could get food together at my—at our house,” he said around a smile, “send out the picture, and wait for everyone to come to us. Set a time in the message and tell them to not call but to show up if they want more details.”
“And be prepared for them to arrive two hours early,” Beth said dryly. “I’m not opposed to the plan. What do you two say—want in on the fun?”
Gordon laughed. “We missed the ceremony, so yeah, I think we earned the privilege of rubbernecking.”
Beth handed Chase her phone. “You take the picture. What time do you think we should set it up for?”
He snapped a few shots, then smiled and turned the phone around. “Oh, this one is nice. You have to use it. As to when, I’d say five for the meal, three for the announcement and for us to show up to watch the early arrivals. Sound about right to you?” he asked Gordon.
“I can hardly wait.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d best head up to Wyatt. Will you be inviting him?”
“Yes, and Stacy too,” Ethan said, looking at Beth, who agreed. “Thanks for the support, guys.”
“Anytime,” Chase said. “I’ve got some papers to file, and I’d better get to that. See you kids soon. Do try to stay out of trouble until we get there.”
Beth waggled her eyebrows and grinned. “I think we can find something to do to occupy our time.”
When he cringed and covered his ears, she, Ethan, and Gordon burst into laughter.
“Payback, sis. That was cruel. You’ve done it now.” Chase winked at them, then went into the clerk’s office.
She and Ethan walked back to the front of the courthouse with Gordon, who split off and headed for the sheriff’s department.
As they made their way to Ethan’s truck, he laced their fingers together. “So, Mrs. Moore, what would you like to do next?”
She wrinkled her nose at him and smiled. “I adore the sound of that, you know. ‘Mrs. Moore.’ Um, I’d kind of thought about stopping by The Brown Bag and Annie’s Arbor. I don’t want to spring this on them without warning, but I would like to invite them to come over this evening. Or not—they may have the good sense to not want to be there.”
He touched her face. “Then let’s go find out.”
Chapter 55
Wyatt stared at the man sitting across the desk from him, trying to take in what he’d just heard. “Do you want to run that by me again?”
Gordon crossed his legs at the ankles. “Chad Ormsby didn’t kill Amy Hamilton, but there’s an excellent chance that whoever did is also the same person who killed Chase Hudson’s girlfriend in college.”
Having been in law enforcement for a good number of years, not much surprised Wyatt. This did.
“The second serial killer you mentioned a few weeks ago. You think it’s him?”
Gordon nodded. “All the pieces fit. He has a very distinctive pattern when he commits these murders. He’s brutal and one of the most sadistic killers we’ve seen in recent years.”
Wyatt rubbed his forehead. “How many victims does the Bureau think he has?”
“Several. At least four are connected by DNA evidence. He’s careless about spreading that around, unlike Ormsby, who was so meticulous we’d never know the identities of his victims if he hadn’t told us.”
“Do you think this other guy doesn’t care about getting caught or what?”
Gordon shrugged. “He’s a ghost. I’d say, based on what I know about the profile and the crimes, that he’s enjoying running the risk of being caught. We can easily connect him to the crimes once we have someone to compare the DNA to, but so far, he’s managed to evade us at every turn.”
That idea was daunting. “Where did he take Amy Hamilton from? Do you know?”
“She was last seen in Evansville using her ATM card at a gas station to get cash.”
Wyatt swore. “So she could have been picked up anywhere.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Gordon sighed. “It bothers me though, that she’s from here. Leroy’s a small town. It seems like a pretty big coincidence that she just happens to share Chase’s hometown.”
“I don’t even want to think about the implications,” Wyatt said.
“I don’t either, but if my suspicions are correct and this guy is targeting Chase, I’m afraid we’re all going to be thinking about them soon—and in a much more personal way than we ever wanted to.”
Chapter 56
In the end, it wasn’t quite the disaster Ethan had feared it would be. There was chaos, a lot of surprise from some people and not so much from others, and the gathering turned out to be an absolute madhouse Friday evening, but mostly the response was positive.
They’d deliberately not told Ethan’s sisters, not wanting Lina’s negativity to impact the day.
“There’ll be time for that later,” he’d said as they got ready for their guests. “Allie will understand, and Lina can kiss my ass.”
From his parents, it was a mixed bag. They’d been the first to arrive after the messages went out, even beating Chase and Gordon to the house. They did like Beth, as she’d mentioned, but they were concerned about the hastiness with which she and Ethan had said vows.
“I really wish you’d waited a bit longer. Besides, marriages should take place in church,” his mother said. “You two have barely even started dating, and you’re both only just back from rehab.”
“Mom, with respect, a marriage takes place in the heart. The formal recognition on paper is just that—a formality. An important one, but it’s not what forms the bond between man and wife. As to how long we’ve been involved”—he looked at Beth—“I’ve had feelings for her for a long time now. Not just for the last few weeks.”
Beth slipped her hand into his. “We’ll be going to counseling separately and, I imagine, together. That won’t change. We understand that getting married didn’t turn everything into kittens and rainbows. We still have a lot of work to do.”
Ethan winked at her. “Exactly.”
When Jackie and Richard arrived a short time later, Joely and Sampson in tow, their reaction was more positive. It also helped to calm Ethan’s parents.
Once everyone had arrived, Ethan moved to the center of the living room, whistling to get their attention. “Okay, people. Listen up. Beth and I have some things to say.” He looked around the circle of family and friends. “The last few months haven’t been easy in a lot of ways for a lot of people in this room. Hell, everyone in this room has struggled, it seems. And yes, I’m going to be in hock to my mother-in-law’s swear jar. I’m well aware.”
That caused a ripple of laughter to go around the room, and he smiled. “But a lot of good has come out of this strife. A lot of good. We can’t let the bad overtake that. We won’t. I can’t express to you how grateful Beth and I are to each and every one of you.” She slipped under his arm, and he cleared his throat. “We, uh, we wouldn’t be here if not for the rest of you—probably not in one piece at any rate. So thank you all. Now, let’s eat.”
As the crowd headed for the food laid out in the kitchen, Ethan held Beth back. “I love you. Have I told you that lately?”
She wound her arms around his waist and laughed, relaxed and happy. “Not in at least thirty minutes, but I’ve not told you recently either. I do love you.”
“Thank you for saving me, for kicking my butt into gear, for not letting me destroy us with my ruminations,” he whispered.
Shaking her head, Beth touched his cheek. “You’re the one who saved me. I’m more than ready to go forward with you, to stop looking back except when we need to. How does that sound?”
He smiled, finally at peace with all his old ghosts and demons. “That sounds like a life I can’t wait to live.”
Keep reading for a sneak peek
at Vanishing Point, the next book in the Olman County series, available now.
A pretty smile can hide an ugly betrayal. And with murder, the past is never really dead…
Chase learned those lessons the hard way. For ten years, he’s carried the weight of his college girlfriend’s unsolved murder, the memories of Kiely’s death stopping him from living a full life. But now he’s found a woman who speaks to him body and soul. Someone he’s able to trust, someone worth taking a risk for. Someone he loves.
His sister’s best friend, Annie. Wonder of wonders, she might just love him back.
But when the killer makes contact on the anniversary of Kiely’s murder, the evidence he sends her family makes Chase the prime suspect. Innocent of that crime, he isn’t without secrets that he doesn’t want exposed. Worse, now Annie is the target of a madman who’ll stop at nothing to make Chase suffer. If the investigator in charge gets his way, Chase will be behind bars, unable to protect her.
With time running out to identify the real killer, Chase might just end up facing his worst nightmare all over again…
Prologue
The side street he chose to mail the card from was busy, filled with people and hopping businesses. Located in the antiques “district,” if one could call it that, it reminded him of places his ex-wife liked to go and spend his money. He hated the cozy atmosphere and everyone in it on principle.
As he opened the flap on the blue mailbox and dropped the cards inside, a woman pushing a baby stroller walked by. He gave her a quick once-over, smiling with enough appreciation that she blushed. She smiled back, even looking over her shoulder at him once she was past.
If you knew I saw you as a piece of meat, that I fantasize about all the ways I could make you bleed, how loud you’d scream when I cut you, I bet you’d run for your life. He kept a pleasant expression on his face as he headed down the sidewalk in the opposite direction.
He considered the card he’d mailed as he made his way to where he’d parked. He’d waited years to start this game, patiently biding his time until the voice inside his head, the one that drove him, told him was strong enough to win against the man he considered a worthy opponent. Finally, he was ready. He was taking a risk, reaching out like this, but even if they could trace the letter and pinpoint from where it’d been mailed, this street was so busy there was no way anyone would remember him.
“I hope you’re ready, Chase Hudson. This is going to be our best anniversary yet.”
Chapter 1
When he walked into Annie’s Arbor, Richard Chase Hudson II was greeted by warm, humid, slightly earthy air. Thanks to the profusion of blooms and greenery surrounding him, he felt as if he’d walked into a cultivated jungle.
Annie Tucker, the shop’s owner, looked up with a smile. “Chase! What brings you in here?”
She set aside the book she’d been reading and stood to stretch, the move only emphasizing her petite frame. Annie had been friends with Chase’s sister Beth since high school. Together, she, Beth, and Lauren Clark made up what Chase teasingly referred to as the “troublesome trio.”
Although they had long been friendly, his and Annie’s relationship had really developed from “casually friendly” into “good friends” late last year after Beth left for rehab. Lauren had married Annie’s half brother, Charlie Clark, last fall as well. While Lauren’s marriage was a good thing, the circumstances around Beth’s departure had been a bit of a traumatic shock for everyone—she’d been shot, and she’d ended up needing inpatient treatment for PTSD related to the shooting.
Additionally, Chase’s best friend, Ethan Moore—now his brother-in-law—had gone away to rehab for alcohol addiction. Ethan and Beth had been newly involved at the time, and the strain on the entire Hudson family had been enormous.
With their circle of friends so disrupted, Chase and Annie had both been a little lost. It had seemed natural to commiserate with each other. As a result, they’d grown close, and Chase felt they both had come to rely on their friendship more than they wanted to admit.
In a town the size of Leroy, two well-known members of the opposite sex didn’t associate with each other as often as they did without causing comments. Everywhere they went, they were greeted by sly smiles and knowing glances. Almost overnight, rumors were flying—even within the Hudson family.
Chase tried to pretend they didn’t matter, but more often than not, he and Annie either left town if they were having dinner out or stayed in at her apartment or his condo. Neither of them had broached the subject of the rumors or the actual status of their relationship.
He knew why he didn’t want to bring it up, and he had suspicions about her reluctance as well. He’d long since acknowledged to himself that he felt a powerful attraction to her on multiple levels. He knew that someday soon they were going to have to deal with the subject, but until that moment came, he was perfectly content to pretend ignorance.
“I’m here to ask you a huge, huge favor,” he said. He came up to the counter and settled down on one of the stools she kept for customers, then picked up the book she’d been reading. “Pharaoh’s Dream. That sounds interesting. Historical?”
“You could say that, I suppose.” She pursed her lips as he flipped the book over and read the blurb on the back cover.
His eyebrows shot up to his hairline, and he felt his face heat. The book was a collection of steamy romantic tales about an Egyptian pharaoh’s harem. He quickly put down the book. “Oh. Well. Okay.” When he caught her gaze, he squirmed. “So, moving on…”
“Not so fast, Counselor. There’s one particular passage you might be interested in.” She picked up the book to thumb through it. “Get it? Passage? ‘The concubine ran her hands up the pharaoh’s thighs with a light, practiced movement. She could see his excitement as his cheeks flushed, and his male member—’”
Chase closed the book before she could finish the sentence. He glared at her, trying to keep a stern face. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you that reading that sort of thing will stunt your growth?” Flustered, it was all he could come up with on the spur of the moment.
Her laughter rang throughout the shop, the sound drawing her assistant, Stephanie, from the back room. When she saw Chase, she waved, then returned to the other room.
“Is that why I’m only five-three? Come on, you know you’re dying to find out what his male member did.” Her grin was irrepressible.
