Once Taken. Blake Pierce

face reappeared.

      “This time it was Rosemary Pickens, a local nurse,” he said. “Nobody can imagine a motive, not for either of the women. They were both well-liked.”

      Alford slumped wearily and shook his head.

      “Agent Paige, my people and I are really out of our depth here. This new killing must be a serial or copycat. The trouble is, neither of those makes any sense. We don’t get that kind of problem in Reedsport. This is just a little Hudson River tourist town with a population of about seven thousand. Sometimes we have to break up a fight or fish a tourist out of the river. That’s about as bad as things usually get here.”

      Riley thought about it. This actually did look like a case for the BAU. She really ought to refer Alford directly to Meredith.

      But Riley glanced toward Meredith’s office and saw that he hadn’t returned yet. She’d have to alert him about this later. In the meantime, maybe she could help a little.

      “What were the causes of death?” she asked.

      “Throats slashed, both of them.”

      Riley tried not to show her surprise. Strangulation and blunt force strike were far more common than slashing.

      This seemed to be a highly unusual killer. Even so, it was the kind of psychopath that Riley knew well. She specialized in just such cases. It seemed a shame that she wasn’t going to be able to bring her skills to this one. In the wake of her recent trauma, she wouldn’t get the assignment.

      “Have you taken the body down?” Riley asked.

      “Not yet,” Alford said. “She’s still hanging there.”

      “Then don’t. Leave it there for now. Wait till our agents get there.”

      Alford didn’t look pleased.

      “Agent Paige, that’s going to be a tall order. It’s right next to the train tracks and it can be seen from the river. And the town doesn’t need this kind of publicity. I’m under a lot of pressure to take it down.”

      “Leave it,” Riley said. “I know it’s not easy, but it’s important. It won’t be long. We’ll get agents there this afternoon.”

      Alford nodded in mute compliance.

      “Have you got any more photos of the latest victim?” Riley asked. “Any close-ups?”

      “Sure, I’ll bring them up.”

      Riley found herself looking at a series of detail shots of the corpse. The local cops had done a good job. The photos showed how tightly and elaborately the chains were wrapped around the corpse.

      Finally came a close-up of the victim’s face.

      Riley felt as though her heart jumped up into her throat. The victim’s eyes bulged, and her mouth was gagged by a chain. But that wasn’t what shocked Riley.

      The woman looked a lot like Marie. She was older and heavier, but even so, Marie might have looked a lot like this if she’d only lived another decade or so. The image hit Riley like an emotional blow to the gut. It was as if Marie was calling out for her, demanding that she get this killer.

      She knew that she had to take this case.

      Chapter 4

      Peterson coasted his car along, not too fast, not too slow, feeling good as he finally had the girl back in his sights. Finally, he had found her. There she was, Riley’s daughter, alone, walking toward her high school, with no clue at all that he was stalking her. That he was about to end her life.

      As he watched, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned around, as if suspicious she were being watched. She stood there, as if undecided. A few other students passed her and filtered into the building.

      He coasted the car along, waiting to see what she would do next.

      Not that the girl mattered to him especially. Her mother was the true target of his revenge. Her mother had thwarted him badly, and she had to pay. She already had, in a way – after all, he’d driven Marie Sayles to suicide. But now he had to take from her the girl who mattered to her most.

      The girl, to his delight, began to turn around and walk away from school. Apparently she had decided not to go to class today. His heart pounded – he wanted to pounce. But he could not. Not yet. He had to tell himself to be patient. Other people were still in sight.

      Peterson drove ahead and circled a block, forcing himself to be patient. He suppressed a smile at the joy to come. With what he had in mind for her daughter, Riley would suffer in ways she didn’t think possible. Although she was still gangly and awkward, the girl looked a lot like her mother. That would make it extra satisfying.

      As he circled around, he saw that the girl was walking briskly along the street. He pulled over to the curb and watched her for a few minutes, until he realized that she was taking a road that led out of town. If she was going to walk home alone, then this might be the perfect moment to take control of her.

      His heart pounding, wanting to savor the delightful anticipation, Peterson circled another block with his car.

      People needed to learn to put off certain pleasures, Peterson knew, to wait until just the right time. Delayed gratification made everything more pleasurable. He had learned that from years of delicious, lingering cruelty.

      There’s just so much to look forward to, he thought contentedly.

      When he came back around and saw her again, Peterson laughed aloud. She was hitchhiking! God was smiling down upon him on this day. Taking her life was clearly meant to be.

      He pulled the car up beside her and gave her his most pleasant smile.

      “Give you a lift?”

      The girl smiled back broadly. “Thanks. That would be great.”

      “Where are you headed?” he asked.

      “I live just a little way out of town.”

      The girl told him the address.

      He said, “I’m going right past there. Hop in.”

      The girl got into the front seat. With increasing satisfaction, he observed that she even had her mother’s hazel eyes.

      Peterson pressed the buttons to lock the doors and windows. Over the quiet rumble of the air conditioner, the girl didn’t even notice.

*

      April felt a pleasant rush of adrenaline as she fastened the safety harness. She’d never hitchhiked before. Her mother would have a fit if she found out.

      Of course, it served Mom right, April figured. It was really rotten to make her stay at Dad’s last night – and all because of some crazy idea of hers that Peterson had been in their home. It wasn’t true, and April knew it. The two agents who had driven her to Dad’s house had said so. From what they’d said to each other, it sounded kind of like the whole agency thought Mom was a bit bonkers.

      The man said, “So what brings you into Fredericksburg?”

      April turned and looked at him. He was an agreeable-looking, big-jawed guy with shaggy hair and a stubble of beard. He was smiling.

      “School,” April said.

      “A summer class?” the man asked.

      “Yeah,” April said. She certainly wasn’t going to tell him that she’d decided to skip the class. Not that he looked like the kind of guy who wouldn’t understand. He seemed pretty cool. Maybe he’d even get a kick out of helping her defy parental authority. Still, it was best not to take any chances.

      The man’s smile turned a bit mischievous.

      “So what does your mother think about hitchhiking?” he asked.

      April flushed with embarrassment.

      “Oh, she’s fine with it,” she said.

      The man chuckled. It wasn’t a very pleasant sound. And something occurred to April. He’d asked