“Didn’t think you would actually die,” the man murmured. “Not in the first room, though you did make me hope for a moment, Still, I thought you’d get some nice scars on that pretty face of yours. Scars to go show Daddy.”

Jax took out his phone. He had numbers for all of the LOST members. After all, he believed in being prepared. So he sent a quick text to Gabe. The bastard you’re after just called Sarah again. She’s talking to him now.

“I don’t want the cops involved, Sarah.” Now anger rumbled in the guy’s voice. “Molly is still alive, and if you want her back . . . I told you, you have to find her. That’s what you do, right?”

“I don’t believe she’s alive.” Sarah’s voice was flat. “I want proof of life, and I want it now.”

Silence.

“Maybe she did die in that fire,” Sarah continued. He was impressed that she kept her voice so calm. “Maybe you’re just jerking us around until we get the report from the fire marshal. If Molly’s alive like you say, then give me proof now, or I’m hanging up the phone.”

His breath rasped over the line. “She’s alive, bitch.”

“Prove it.” Sarah was staring down at the phone, not at Jax.

A text came through from Gabe. What is he saying?

Jax texted back. Sarah wants proof of life . . . he isn’t giving it to her.

Because Molly was dead?

There was only silence on the phone. No background noise at all that Jax could hear. In New Orleans, it was hard to find a place that quiet. People were everywhere. Music was always playing. Performers were in the streets. Something was happening.

“Do you want to hear her scream?” he finally asked Sarah. “I would have thought you’d heard enough screams when your daddy was cutting people up.”

Jax’s gaze snapped to Sarah’s face. She’d paled even more.

“Is that what he did?” Sarah asked, voice so mild and emotionless. “Did he cut up someone you loved? A mother, like Molly?”

He laughed.

“No,” Sarah said. “It couldn’t be your mother because you wouldn’t do this to Molly if that had been the case. You wouldn’t make her relive this terror.”

She was profiling him.

And the guy on the line was dead silent.

“You want to be like Murphy, don’t you?” Her words came faster. “You’re the one giving the pain, you’re the one—”

“I am nothing like him!” Those words were a roar. Sarah had definitely succeeded in breaking through that guy’s control.

“Aren’t you?” Sarah threw right back. “Then give me proof of life!”

The phone went dead.

“Dammit,” Sarah whispered.

Jax texted . . . No proof. We lost—

Her phone rang again. Same number. Molly’s number?

Calling again, he texted back.

Sarah didn’t answer the phone. “You told LOST what was happening, right?” Sarah asked Jax quietly. “Those are the texts you’re sending?”

He nodded.

“Then they can try to get a lock on the phone. Tell Gabe I’m answering again, and I’ll keep the guy talking for as long as I can.”

Jax sent the text through to Gabe.

Sarah swiped her index finger over the surface of that phone. Then she hit the button for speaker—

“You bitch!” The guy blasted. “You’re the one who should have died all those years ago! Murphy’s daughter. Blood as tainted . . . just like him!”

“Proof of life,” Sarah said. “Give it to me, or I hang up on you right now.”

Silence. Then . . . the rush of footsteps. The . . . lap of water? Yes, yes, it sounded like water, lapping against a dock. The man was running and Jax could hear water. And . . .

A squeak as a door opened. The thud of footsteps, a bit distorted, as if the guy were rushing up stairs. His breath was shuddering over the line and—

“She wants proof that you’re alive.”

A woman screamed then. Loud and long, and Sarah flinched.

The caller laughed. Why are you laughing, asshole? Because you like hurting women? Ah, now that was just one thing that Jax fucking hated.

Yet another reason to kill this guy.

“I just drove my knife into her, Sarah. Didn’t hit an organ, that way she’ll just bleed and hurt, but not die. Guess who taught me that move?”

Sarah didn’t speak.

“Who taught me that move, Sarah? Who liked to keep his prey alive while they bled and begged?”

“Murphy.”

Another long scream filled the line.

“I stabbed her again, Sarah,” he said, sounding almost gleeful. “I stab—”

“How do I know that’s Molly? Put her on the line. Let me talk to her. Let me know it’s her. Because maybe you’ve got an accomplice who’s just screaming on command. Maybe you’re some dumb dick who—”

“Help me!” That was a woman’s terror-filled voice.

“Molly?” Sarah asked. Again, she was like ice. No emotion at all in her voice. But the phone still trembled in her grasp. “I need proof that it’s you. Tell me something that will—”

“I won’t . . . beg . . . like her.” The words were weak. “Won’t go out . . . like my m-mother . . . won’t beg, no matter what he says . . .”

Sarah’s eyes closed. “No, Molly, don’t beg, do you understand? Whatever he does, don’t beg for death.”

Another scream then . . .

“Happy now?” the man taunted Sarah. “You’re the reason Molly bled. But then, you’re the reason Molly’s mother died, too, aren’t you?”

Sarah sucked in a quick breath of air and her eyes opened. “You think you know my secrets.”

“I know where the bodies are buried.” Laughter. “All of them. And before I’m done, Sarah, you’ll be joining them. Another body, buried in a shallow grave. A grave that the police can’t ever find because they believe the lies—”

“Molly, if you can hear me, I’m coming for you,” Sarah said, cutting over his words. “You’re going to make it out of this alive, just don’t give up. Do you understand me? Don’t give up—”

“Molly can’t talk now,” he murmured. “She’s too busy getting stabbed.”

Molly’s scream filled the air once more.

“Hurry, Sarah. Find her fast. Because if you don’t, she’ll always be one of the lost.”

Once more, the line went dead.

Chapter 8

SARAH DROPPED HER TOWEL. IT HIT THE FLOOR and she lunged for her bag. She grabbed clothes as fast as she could, dressing in a whirlwind. Get the lock on the phone. Get the lock on the phone.

Bra. Panties. Jeans. T-shirt. Shoes—

Jax’s phone rang. He’d been standing there, his hard gaze on her. But when it rang, he answered, saying, “Did you get it?”

Her heart stopped for a moment.

“Fuck, yes,” Jax said. “We’ll meet you there.” Then he shoved the phone into his pocket. He inclined his head toward her. “They got it to within one mile of the location before they lost the signal. Gabe and the cops are heading down to the riverfront’s warehouse district—that’s where he’s got her. They’re going to search—”

“And so are we,” Sarah said. Because this was their break.

They ran from the hotel room.

I’m coming, Molly. I’ll find you.

THE NEW ORLEANS airport was filled with people. So many folks coming and going. Weary passengers. Excited kids.

Victoria held her ticket as she glanced around the terminal. Her flight was going to leave in the next thirty minutes. She’d be back in Atlanta, back in her little house, that night. Then she could lock the doors, shut the blinds, and try to forget what it was like to be sealed up in a body bag.

Her phone rang. Frowning, she glanced down. Gabe’s photo and name flashed across the screen. She answered immediately. “Boss, what’s up?” Not a body. Don’t have found that poor girl’s dead body. This time, this case . . . Victoria just needed a win for LOST. They were supposed to be making a difference in the world. That was why she’d joined them. They weren’t supposed to just be watching the body count rise.