“Where. Is. Jillian?” She clamped her jaw tight, wanting to reach through the phone and wrap her hand around his throat, rage bubbling in her veins.
“Such manners. Is that how you greet an old friend?”
“We’re not friends,” she ground out through clenched teeth.
“That’s funny. I have fond memories of you.” He laughed, low and evil. “In fact, you’re the reason I changed the way I operate. Your resistance, followed by your escape, showed me the errors I’d been making, and I have made it my mission to perfect my technique since then.” Through the speaker pressed to her ear, he drew in a breath that shuddered with excitement. “Now that I’ve had some time to really dig into why my foray with you didn’t work out, I’m finally ready to give it another go. What a fitting day to do it, don’t you think? Happy anniversary.”
She recoiled, horrified at the fear that gripped her from just hearing his voice. Holding the phone away from her so he couldn’t hear her panicked inhalations, she closed her eyes and struggled to slow her breathing.
You’re not fifteen anymore. You’re a detective, and he doesn’t know what he’s up against now. He will not win.
“Ellie? Are you there, my puppet?” He chuckled, a sound that vibrated deep into her marrow. “Oh my, did I frighten you?”
“I’m here.” When she spoke, her voice was level, her breathing slowed somewhat, though her rapid heartbeats still pounded in her ears.
He was only human. She could defeat him. She had to. Her life had never been the same since that night thirteen years ago, for her, or for her family. His game was about to end, Ellie would make sure of it.
“Show me your face!” he demanded, and although every part of her being screamed for her to run, she lifted the phone until her face appeared on the little screen.
“Happy?” Her voice came out stronger than she felt, and she blinked her eyes, refusing to let the tears threatening fall. “Why don’t you show your face too?”
“In good time, my puppet. It’s good to see you again. I was afraid you’d run away, and I’d have to come retrieve you.” He breathed into the phone, and she could almost feel that breath on her skin. “You can run, if you want, but that wouldn’t make you a very good friend, would it?”
“I won’t play your game. I don’t know how you got Jillian’s phone, but Valerie is safe, and you’ll never find her. You’re a fool for even trying and—”
His sudden laughter cut her off. “It was never about Valerie. I need that woman to testify so Fink can bury himself. But you never could see the forest for the trees, could you?”
Her throat tightened. “Where’s Jillian?”
“She’s right here.”
The phone turned away from the darkness, and Jillian appeared, still tied to the chair. Ellie stared at the screen, trying to take in every detail, but he turned the phone after only a second and the background was darkness again.
He was planning on making her relive the night he’d kidnapped her. Why else would he take Jillian and summon her like this?
He’d waited patiently for over a decade, biding his time until the perfect moment. She’d moved Jillian in with her to keep her safe. And in doing so, she’d done just the opposite. But she’d never dreamed that he would take Jillian, and that was exactly why he’d chosen to. Ellie would have no choice but to play along. She would do anything to save her friend, even if it meant reliving the hell she still struggled to remember.
Flexing her fists, she inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth until she had herself under control. She wouldn’t let him see the terror on her face. The master wasn’t the only one who’d learned a thing or two in the past thirteen years. His was a cold threat, but she’d prepared herself for this every day of her life, since she woke up in the hospital.
“I want to speak to her.”
“She’s resting right now. But I assure you, she is quite alive and in mostly good shape.”
Ellie sucked in a quick breath. Mostly good shape? “What have you done to her?” Flashes of syringes and expertly sharpened knifes bloomed in her imagination.
“She had a little accident.”
The delight in his voice left Ellie’s hands shaking, but she couldn’t risk letting him know how scared she was, so she scoffed, hoping he’d be fooled. “An accident? I find that hard to believe. Where are you?”
“Bold. I like that. But there are some rules you must abide by before I give you the address.”
“I’ll be alone.” She knew that’s what he wanted, and the truth was, she still didn’t know who on the police department she could trust. If she unknowingly brought a traitor with her, she was as good as dead anyway.
“That’s a good start. Go to your car, and I’ll give you directions.”
Filled with indecision, Ellie lowered the phone.
“No! Show your face!” When she lifted it back up, he went on, his tone more pleasant. “You must show your face to me at all times, do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Each time you don’t or if you try anything funny, Jillian will pay for your actions. Understood.”
Ellie gritted her teeth. “Yes.”
“I want you to lay your personal phone on your dining room table, then walk toward your door. I don’t want any of your department buddies showing up and interrupting us before I’m done with you.”
He’s bluffing. But calling his bluff and taking her phone wasn’t worth the risk. She shuddered when she realized if he was telling the truth, he also knew exactly where she lived.
Ellie did as he said. “Done.”
“Turn the phone in your hand so I can see that you did exactly what I told you to do.”
Her fingers shook as she turned the device and pointed the camera lens toward her abandoned phone. “Very good. Now, show your face
