shuffled across the floor, then he shined a light into her eyes, blinding her.
“Come on, Cathy. I need you.”
She bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood as he yanked her from the cage, dragging her up the steps. The house was so dark she couldn’t see a thing, then he pulled on the choker around her neck. Pain shot through her as he hauled her into another dark room.
Summoning every last vestige of strength she possessed, she lashed out and pushed at him. His hands quickly circled her throat and he wrenched her head back.
“You don’t want to fight me, Cathy,” he hissed.
“You’re a monster,” she cried as she lifted a knee and jabbed him in the groin. He bellowed, releasing her slightly as he reeled with pain, then she grabbed the heavy chain and swung it up, hoping to connect with his face.
It hit him in the chest, and she tried with all her might to crawl away. But he lunged on top of her and pinned her down, his hands tightening around her throat again.
“You’ll pay for that.”
A sob tore from her as he yanked a needle from his pocket and jabbed it in her neck. Seconds later, the scream in her throat died as her body went numb.
Eighty-Three
Crooked Creek
It was the middle of the night by the time Ellie made it home.
Rain had set in, forcing her to crawl around the mountain roads. She’d had to maneuver around a vehicle that had stalled in the road.
Derrick had left a message that he’d uncovered evidence that might pertain to the case. Already they’d found a woman’s hair and blood that appeared to be human. Hopefully they’d find some forensics to lead to the killer and pinpoint if it was Vinny. A local rescue shelter had also picked up the abused animals.
Exhausted, she tugged her jacket over her head to ward off the rain and hurried up to the porch. Her skin crawled as she noticed the lights were off again.
Had the storm knocked out the power or had someone been in her house?
Pulse pounding, she drew her flashlight, gripped her weapon in one hand and checked the door. No blood this time, but the bushes by the house rustled. She pivoted to check it out, but a loud roar came from the boxwoods, a shadowy figure lunging toward her. Big. Brawny. Wet dark hair clung to his bearded face. His crazed eyes looked as if he was high. Swinging her arm up in defense, she raised her gun with the other, but he knocked it from her hand.
The gun fired into the air with a deafening shot then hit the ground with a clatter as he grabbed her around the neck in a chokehold. She clawed at his hands to free herself, but he tightened his grip, shutting off her windpipe. Gasping and struggling against him, she saw stars.
She couldn’t let him win. Self-preservation instincts fueled her, and she rammed her elbow backward into his belly, lifted one foot and kicked at his knee. The blows made him loosen his hold, and she grabbed his arm, flipping him to the ground.
He quickly recovered and kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying backward as she wheezed, winded. Digging frantically at the wet ground, she scrambled for her gun, which had fallen into the bushes.
With an animal-like howl, he pushed up and jumped her again, slamming his boot into her back. Pain shot through her kidneys, blinding her. Sucking in an uncomfortable breath, she rolled onto her back, then used her feet to shove him away. He stumbled sideways, but righted himself quickly, then grabbed her hair and snatched it so hard, her skull felt as if it might split in two.
Still, she pushed past the panic, managing to punch him in the face. Blood spurted from his nose and dripped down his chin, merging with the rain. It was coming down so hard now that she could barely see. Mud and water soaked through her clothing as she threw him off her and ran for her gun. He yelled again and chased her, closing in. Her foot slipped in the mud, and she went down just as she reached the bushes.
He was fast, grabbing her leg and dragging her toward him.
Desperate, she kicked him in the face with her free foot, then groped around and snagged her weapon. A second later, she angled her body and released a round. A shocked grunt ripped from him as his