The Rose Reaper: A Thriller (Ryan Strickland) by Jennifer Hunter

Author:Jennifer Hunter [Hunter, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2024-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ryan sat across from Kate at her breakfast table while she watched the recorded interview they’d had with Reed earlier. He didn’t like how quiet she was or how remote she seemed as Reed’s words flowed over her.

The recording ended and silence filled the room.

Kate stared at the screen, but he knew she was in her head, trying to comprehend and second-guessing every interaction she’d had with Reed, analyzing every word they’d ever said to each other.

He gave her the time and space she needed to sort it out well enough that she could speak to him about it.

It started with a headshake. “No. I don’t believe he’s the one doing all this. It can’t be him.”

“Why?”

The simple question sat between them.

Kate squared her shoulders, a resolved look coming into her eyes. “He’s a good man. He’s kind. He’s thoughtful.” She met his gaze with a directness he’d never seen from her. “He’s genuine. I have to believe that, Ryan.”

He knew exactly what she meant by that, because if Reed wasn’t who she thought he was, then their whole relationship was a lie. And how could Kate trust herself to know the difference in anyone else ever again?

“Does it feel right to you?” he asked.

“Yes.” Confidence and a deep need filled that simple answer. “In my bones I know he didn’t do this.”

“What about him being at all the places the victims were prior to their abductions?”

“I’ll admit, that’s too much coincidence to dismiss. It feels too easy to find.” She gave him a questioning look.

“I think so, too. Why be careful about everything else and not that you could be tracked to the women through their records and yours?”

She shrugged. “Then again, if that’s the only thing that connects you to the women . . .”

It’s too circumstantial to stick and you get to make the cops look bad for not being able to find any solid evidence.

He asked about another aspect Reed could manipulate. “What about the cameras on the house catching the killer leaving the roses?”

She pressed her lips tight. This one wasn’t so easily explained away. “Why disguise yourself so completely to do that? You know there’s a camera, so why come at all? But also, if you know there are cameras in those places you met or saw the women, why not try to conceal yourself then, too? If you’re worried about getting caught, wouldn’t you look for the cameras, avoid them, or at least make sure they never got a clear shot of you? Especially with the women. If you found the woman you wanted to take, why not watch from afar? It’s less risky and even more probable you’d not be connected to them so easily.”

All very good points.

Which led Ryan to think of Todd and how he’d already gotten away with one murder without leaving conclusive evidence, while Reed linked himself to four victims on video.

Coincidence? Purposeful? Targeted by the real killer?

“And for that matter, why would Reed, if he is

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