Marissa dried her face and tossed the towel aside. “I’m sure your day was awful.”
“Thank you.”
Blake couldn’t tell if Kara’s response was the result of cluelessness or sarcasm.
“I barely got out of the shower and the sheriff was at my door.” She motioned to West, then poured three more mugs of coffee. “Talk about scary.”
Marissa leaned forward with narrowed eyes. “He’s not scary. He’s here to help. Why didn’t you call us back? Or return our texts? Do you know how many times we’ve tried to reach you? We thought you were dead.” She pressed her lips tight and shot Blake a horrified expression.
Kara stepped back as if she’d been slapped. “My phone died. I told you I had to walk home. I’ve been gone all day. I’d already talked to both you and to Mom. You knew I was fine, and I was trying to do what you asked.” She motioned to the packed bag on her kitchen counter beside a Thermos and plastic container of cookies. “I plugged my phone in the minute I walked through the front door, then I got in the shower.” Kara mimed her head exploding. “I’ve had the worst day ever. I’ve only been home for like five minutes, and I’ve been hustling since the moment I walked in. That’s after I was forced to abandon my car and trek like thirty miles. Now, you’re here yelling because I haven’t made more phone calls? The phone was dead!”
“Thirty miles? Where were you?” Marissa asked.
Kara delivered a mug of coffee each to both Blake and her sister. “Blue Ridge Byway.”
Marissa gasped. “What were you doing way out there?”
“Oh, I don’t know. My only sister was attacked yesterday then taken into protective custody. I was a little upset. I wanted to think, but you said it wasn’t safe here, so I figured I’d better choose someplace outside of town to hike. I planned to meet you at Mom and Dad’s for dinner but when I got back into town this afternoon, my gas light was on, and I had to stop to fill up.” She groaned. “Of course my money was in the coozie I wrap my water bottle in, and that was nowhere to be found, so I had to go back to the park and retrace my steps until I found it. When I got back to my car the second time it wouldn’t start. I had to walk all the way back to town. It was getting dark. My phone was dead. It was awful.”
“You could’ve called from the gas station,” Marissa said.
Kara shot Blake a look. “Like I didn’t think of that all by myself? I did. I called Mom and she didn’t answer. I couldn’t remember your new federal agent cell number and your old phone isn’t on.”
Blake joined Marissa on the couch, prepared to stop her from saying something she might regret. He blew casual ripples over the surface of his coffee and changed the subject. “And where’s your car now?”
“In the main lot at Blue Ridge Byway.”
Marissa dropped her head back against the couch cushion. “What were you even doing there? I tell you I was nearly abducted by a serial killer while hiking alone, and what do you do? Get up the next day and go hiking alone!”
Kara’s jaw went slack. “You said fugitive. Not serial killer, and I was trying to clear my head but you had me scared half to death, and everything was fine until I had to walk home.” She made the same exasperated expression as Marissa. “Luckily, your friend’s dad offered me a ride home for the last few miles.”
Marissa froze, mug halfway to her mouth. “You got in a car with a stranger? Who?”
Blake fought the urge to remind Marissa that she’d done the same thing.
“I think he said you went to school with his daughter. Tammy something. He recognized me right away, thought I was you at first, actually.”
Blake slid to the edge of the cushion and traded stares with West. “What’d Tammy’s dad look like? What was he driving?”
“I don’t know. He had a white truck. What’s wrong now?” She looked to Marissa, stupefied. “I figured I was safer in a car than walking by myself straight through a town with a fugitive on the loose.”
“Nash Barclay is a serial killer,” Marissa growled, “and I didn’t go to school with anyone named Tammy.”
A powerful rumble of thunder seemed to underscore the revelation. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the dark world for one long beat.
Blake and West were on their feet.
“How long ago did this man bring you home?” Blake asked.
Kara looked at the clock above her fireplace. “Not long. Maybe an hour? I barely had time to put cookies in the oven and jump in the shower before you guys started showing up.” She rubbed her forehead and chewed her lip. “I came home. Started the coffee and cookies, packed my bag for Mom and Dad’s then jumped into the shower. I planned to call you for a ride to pick up my car, and use the cookies as a bribe.”
Marissa grabbed the remote and turned the television on, then flipped to the evening news. Nash’s face was anchored in the corner of the frame. A line of scrolling text detailed his past kills and recent attacks, followed by a warning that he should not be approached.
Kara watched, stunned. “That’s the man who drove me home.”
Blake tapped the revelation into his phone, informing his team of the development as West informed his. “Nash must’ve dropped her off and driven the mile over to Marissa’s place from here. He probably had something in mind when he removed her porch light, but we showed up and offered him something more appealing.” His chosen victim seated alone in a truck.
Kara made a gurgling sound, but didn’t speak. She
