Don't Look (Pike, Wisconsin #1) - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,121

wall until he found the small, rusty latch near the low ceiling. There was a sharp squeak and Kir winced. He’d forgotten how noises echoed through the tunnels. Then, after pushing on the wall that now swung free, he entered a hidden escape passage that led down to the bunker room.

If he were a serial killer, that’s where he’d take his victims.

Ignoring the terror that pulsed through his body at the thought of Lynne in the hands of a maniac, Kir slowed his pace to a mere crawl as he caught sight of the faint light just ahead of him. He’d been right. There was someone down here. Which meant he had to be careful not to kick a stray pebble, or worse, trip over something he couldn’t see in the darkness. He couldn’t alert the killer that his evil lair had been discovered.

As he reached the opening, Kir came to a halt. The sound of voices drifted through the air and a vast, overwhelming emotion swept through him, nearly sending him to his knees. Until that precise second he didn’t realize there’d been a deep, terrifying fear that he was too late.

Pressing his hand against the wall, he struggled to regain his balance even as he recognized the voice of the man speaking. Parker Bowen. He nodded, feeling an odd lack of surprise. It wasn’t that he’d suspected the man. Parker Bowen seemed like a typical blowhard who was all wind and little substance. But now that his identity was revealed, Kir allowed the puzzle pieces to fit together.

Parker could travel around town in full view, and yet not be truly noticed. He was expected to be everywhere, even at the crime scenes with his toothy grin and obnoxious questions. And Kir had sensed the man’s interest in Lynne, although he’d dismissed it as predictable male lust.

He cautiously inched forward, absently listening to Parker blather about his reasons for killing Nash and his perverted need to make Lynne suffer. He refused to allow the words to sink into his brain. Not now. Later he would brood and stew over the man’s twisted logic.

In the center of the space there was an oblong glow spilling from the ancient fluorescent light overhead. It allowed him to see Lynne seated on the hard cement floor with a man standing over her.

His jaws locked as fury pounded through him, but once again he battled back his emotions. Later he’d have an epic meltdown. For now he had to remain laser focused on getting to Lynne. Especially since he didn’t dare wait for backup. It would take time for them to drive out to the air base. Assuming they bothered to come at all. And once they were there, it would be a miracle if they could find their way through the maze of hallways and tunnels.

Taking a second to confirm that Lynne was unharmed, Kir shifted his attention to the man standing a few feet from her.

Parker Bowen was wearing his expensive coat and cashmere scarf, and leather boots more suited for the television station than an abandoned air base in the middle of nowhere. But while he appeared harmless, Kir could see the lethal blade he held in his fingers with practiced ease.

That blade had already sliced at least four throats, maybe more. Kir had no intention of underestimating the level of danger this man posed to Lynne.

“Very special,” Parker was assuring Lynne, a smug pleasure in his voice. Obviously, the bastard was taking pleasure in having her at his mercy. “My mother was a stupid woman. It didn’t matter how many times she was beaten or raped or humiliated, she would always go back for more. And she’d take me with her. Then I allowed myself to be attracted to you, only to discover that you were just as stupid. Throwing yourself away on that piece of shit.” His fingers tightened around the knife. “It wasn’t enough to see you bleed. I wanted more.”

“More what?” Lynne’s voice was amazingly steady as she defiantly stared up at her captor.

Kir felt a strange glow of pride at her unshakable courage.

“I didn’t know,” Parker admitted. “I just wanted to see you suffer. I first tried to set your sanctuary on fire. But when I managed to break into the kennels the dogs made such a racket it woke the people in the house.”

That explained the break-in at the sanctuary, Kir acknowledged, bending nearly double as he entered the control room. There was no easy