Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“Your idea of experiments with snakes is actually a good start,” Rainier said, returning to the original topic. “I discussed it with Raine, and she’s doing a deep search, hoping to uncover that possibility.”
She took a deep breath, her gaze clinging to Wilder’s. “Could it be a serial killer, Rainier? Someone using a syringe to inject poison into whoever he or she wants dead? They might be covering their tracks, making it look random when it’s not.” She chewed on her lower lip. “Or maybe it really is random and he doesn’t care who his victims are. Maybe he’s in it for the thrill of the kill, of getting away with it.”
She half expected—half hoped—they would make fun of her wild imagination. She wouldn’t have even voiced the idea, but there was Stella with her nightmares and Alek with the original idea.
“That’s an interesting theory,” Wilder ventured, his tone thoughtful. “I wouldn’t have gone there. In fact, it wouldn’t have occurred to me.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time someone was killing and making them look like accidents,” Rainier said. “Knightly and Yosemite have so many possibilities with the trails and lakes, as well as the higher elevations. This area does present a unique opportunity.”
“I think I was hoping you would tell me I’m having flights of fantasy and there was no possible way,” Harlow said.
“Are there links between the victims? Although I don’t see how a woman from out of town matches the others,” Wilder said.
“Unless she wasn’t the intended victim,” Harlow pointed out before she could stop herself. “It’s more likely that Chelsey, Tom or Judy was the target, and the killer, if there is one, was surprised by Edith Shumaker, so he killed her.”
“There is a bit of a problem with Helen McKay’s death fitting into the theory that it’s a serial killer,” Wilder said. “She had all those dogs. How could anyone get close enough to her to harm her when she had a pack of very protective dogs surrounding her?”
It was a good question. Harlow had considered that as well. “Gwen, her alpha female, appeared to have been poisoned, or injected with something. She’d clearly been in a few fights with predators. She must have gone down hard around the same time Helen did.”
“If Helen knew the killer and perhaps expected him,” Wilder said, “she might have told the dogs to stand down.”
“It’s possible,” Harlow agreed. “Helen mentored Zahra when Zahra wanted help training her puppy, Misty. She introduced the dogs to Zahra and let her visit often to observe her training techniques.” She hesitated and then stated what she feared the most. “Helen was very careful around most people. She would never have just allowed anyone onto her property, and she would have kept the dogs on alert with most people, even if she knew them.”
She detested the idea that Helen or Lawyer had known the killer—if there was one. The townspeople had been through enough, having one of their own murdering tourists and friends alike. Not to mention the ritual killings that had occurred after the first one had been caught. Did she really believe there was another serial killer stalking the citizens of Knightly? The idea was insane, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling.
“Has the vet determined what made the dog so ill?” Rainier asked.
“If she has, she hasn’t shared that with me,” Harlow said. “I’ve called several times, and I believe she would let me know if she’s found what nearly killed Gwen.”
Rainier sighed. “Unfortunately, we don’t have much to go on. There’s no way, at this juncture, to know if we’re looking in the right direction. I think it’s best to warn our family and friends and look out for one another. Go in pairs. But, Harlow, you need a full-time bodyguard. We’re going to have to talk about these threats to your life. And you need to start taking them seriously.”
Harlow sighed. The last thing she wanted to discuss was the vile letters she received in her mailbox or through email, but she couldn’t very well act like a petulant child when Rainier and Wilder were going out of their way to help her. It was just that no one wanted to face the fact that someone hated them so much they would threaten their life, or even try to follow through to kill them.
Wilder stood up, a flow of muscle and strength, drawing her attention. He was definitely getting stronger. He crossed the room and took her hand, tugging until her body was close to his.
“I know this is a difficult subject, Harlow, but it’s very necessary.” He tucked her under his shoulder protectively as he walked her back to her chair.
Harlow wasn’t certain how he did it, how Wilder could make her feel safe, surrounded by a fortress, when she’d never felt that way in her life.