Killer Insight. Virginia Vaughan

maybe they hadn’t. He glanced at the woman on the seat beside him. What tale would she have when she awoke? Would she be able to describe her attacker? To his knowledge, she was the first to escape, the first who might be able to put a name and a face to the man who had terrorized this town for over a year.

      His eyes fell on his brother’s contact number on his phone, and dread pumped through him. He pushed the speed dial for Clint’s number, each ring sending waves of worry through him. Finally the call rolled over to voice mail, and Bryce left a message telling his brother to call him ASAP.

      He shouldn’t be making so many calls while driving, but reaching his brother was important. The local police had zeroed in on Clint as their prime suspect in the murders because his girlfriend, Jessica, had been the first victim, but his brother was no killer. Would someone from the FBI with no preconceived ideas about Clint have a fresh perspective and see this case for what it was? That had been his hope when he’d reached out to her for help. Would she be able to finally clear his brother’s name? She already had an advantage no one else had had before. She’d seen and escaped the attacker. He’d been burned before by government types who’d promised to help him then did nothing, yet he still dared to hope this time would be different. It was all he could do.

      Police lights in his mirror caught his attention. A police cruiser pulled up beside him and motioned for him to roll down the window. He recognized the officer in the passenger’s seat as Jacob Newell.

      He rolled down his window and Jacob spoke to him over the roar of the road. “Follow us to the hospital. We’ll escort you.” The police cruiser turned on its sirens and roared away. Bryce hit the accelerator and followed, all the while sending up prayers that when this beautiful brunette beside him awoke, she would be able to point the finger at her attacker, catch a killer who had preyed on his town for too long and clear his brother’s name once and for all. It was a lot to ask, but she’d already proven she was strong. Strong enough to escape a killer.

      They arrived at the emergency room, and Lucy was whisked away on a gurney while Bryce was ushered into a curtained area to have his ear examined. He hadn’t even realized he’d been shot until Lucy pointed it out. His own adrenaline had gone on high alert when he’d seen the gunman. It hadn’t been his first firefight by any means—he’d seen plenty during his time as a marine and while working covert security for the CIA as part of the Special Operations Abroad team, or SOA—but his daughter had been with him and his main concern had been getting her to safety...her and the woman who’d pushed Meghan to the floorboards before he could even react. He hadn’t missed that unselfish act. She’d escaped a killer but had thought of another person when the shooting started.

      Meghan stayed close by his side, her worry evident despite his assurances that he wasn’t hurt badly. He put his arm around her and pulled her to him. She was shaking, and rightly so. No one so young should ever have to witness what she had, or experience being shot at.

      “We’re okay now,” he assured her.

      “What about Lucy?” she asked.

      The curtain flung open and Cassidy Summers, Bryce’s longtime friend and a nurse at the hospital, stood there looking surprised and worried. “What happened?” she asked as she walked in and removed the gauze the first attendant had placed over his ear to stop the bleeding.

      “We found a woman on the road,” Meghan told her. “She’d been attacked and kidnapped, but she escaped and flagged us down. Then he started shooting at us!”

      Cassidy shot Bryce a look. “It’s true then? I’ve heard people saying someone escaped the Back Roads Killer. The whole hospital has been in an uproar about it since the call came in.”

      Bryce nodded. “It is true. Her name is Lucy Sanderson. She’s an FBI profiler. I asked her to come to town to help me prove Clint’s innocence. Instead, she was nearly killed by that maniac.”

      Cassidy examined his ear. “It’s only a graze. You don’t even need stitches. I’ll bandage you up, and you can head home.”

      “Daddy, can’t we stay and check on Lucy? I want to make certain she’s okay.”

      He had the same concern. “We will, Meghan. I want to know too. Besides, I’m the one who invited her here. I feel responsible.”

      A commotion in the lobby caused Cassidy to push back the curtain. Several reporters with TV cameras and sound equipment were setting up in the waiting area. Cassidy groaned. “The newspeople are here already. That was quick.”

      He stood and pulled on his jacket. “News spreads fast in this town. Wait until they learn she’s with the FBI.” He turned to Cassidy. “Thanks for patching me up. Do you know where they took Lucy?”

      “Down the hall to the last room on the left.” She grabbed his arm, pulling him back from barreling ahead. “Bryce, Meghan really shouldn’t be here around this craziness. Shouldn’t you take her home?”

      Cassidy was always his voice of reason, but Bryce knew his daughter was too kindhearted to be able to leave without making sure Lucy was okay first. “I will after we know Lucy is okay.”

      The disapproving look on her face told him she didn’t think he was making the smart choice to drag his thirteen-year-old daughter along with him, but she didn’t argue the point.

      He grabbed Meghan’s hand and followed Cassidy down the hallway as Jim Ross, a detective with the local task force set up to find the Back Roads Killer, stepped in front of the reporters and issued a statement about the night’s events.

      Cassidy stopped in front of the door. “Wait here. I’ll go inside and see if the doctor is still with her.”

      Bryce agreed and pulled out his cell phone, trying his brother again while they waited. Once again, the call went straight to voice mail. Where was Clint, and why wasn’t he answering his phone?

      Lucy had been frightened when she woke up in the hospital with no memory of how she’d gotten there. But then the pieces started coming back to her. The blitz attack. Being beaten and dumped into the trunk of a car. Escaping and being shot at. And the handsome marine and his daughter who’d rescued her.

      The nurse spoke in a hushed tone to another nurse, then walked to her bed. “You’ve got some people wanting to see you. Are you up for it?”

      Lucy nodded. She owed her life to Bryce Tippitt and his daughter, and she was anxious to hear if they were both all right.

      Meghan hurried into the room, followed by Bryce and another man she didn’t recognize. Meghan rushed to the bed and threw her arms around Lucy. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

      Lucy was surprised by the affectionate act, but assured her she was fine.

      “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Bryce said, standing beside her bed, his head cocked in a concerned manner as his steely blue eyes watched her.

      “I owe you my life, Bryce Tippitt. You and your daughter.” She reached for his hand and clasped it, a comfortable warmth flowing through her.

      “I’m glad we were there to help.”

      Meghan beamed with pride as the other man stepped forward.

      “Ma’am, I’m Detective Jim Ross, head of the Back Roads Killer task force.”

      She shuddered at the name they’d given this offender. The Back Roads Killer. It seemed to fit. She’d met him and nearly become his latest victim.

      “I’d like to ask you what you remember about the attack.”

      “We should give you some privacy,” Bryce stated, pulling his hand from Lucy’s, but her instincts kicked in and she pulled it back.

      “Please don’t leave me.” It was an irrational request that came out of nowhere, but after what she’d endured tonight, she felt better having