WAY OF THE SHADOWS by CYNTHIA EDEN

Author:CYNTHIA EDEN,
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ROMANCE - - SUSPENSE
Publisher: HARLEQUIN
Published: 2014-08-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“Judging by the way Noelle is looking at me, I guess you told her everything, Agent Anthony?”

They were inside the cabin. Mercer was pacing near the fireplace while the man he’d brought with him—Thomas easily recognized Aaron Black—stood guard near the door.

For Aaron to be there, with Mercer, Thomas knew the situation had to be serious. He’d worked with the ex-SEAL before on cases that didn’t involve hostage rescue. They’d involved cleanup.

Target disposal.

Death.

“You should’ve told me the truth,” Noelle said, voice sharp. “As soon as I came on with the EOD. You should’ve—”

“I thought the past was dead and buried. Part of it was dead.” Mercer waved toward Thomas. “Thanks to Agent Anthony.”

His back teeth locked. Mercer wasn’t exactly helping the situation.

“We thought the man who’d taken you—”

“Justin Hardin,” Noelle bit out. “His name was Justin Hardin.”

Mercer would know that. The man knew everything.

“We thought he was working alone. Our intel was wrong. We didn’t realize just how mistaken we’d been until you uncovered those photographs at the senator’s place.”

Now he understood why Mercer was in Camden. “You identified those girls.”

“Yes.” Mercer turned sharply on his heel and faced Noelle. “They were taken from different states. Two even from different countries, before you went missing. The geographical area was so wide that we never connected the dots together.” He exhaled. “That was a mistake that we have remedied now.”

Noelle’s arms were crossed over her chest. “Those girls were all taken that long ago? Then they—”

“I don’t believe any of those girls are still alive.”

Noelle’s shoulders sagged.

Thomas narrowed his gaze on Mercer. “Since when does the EOD get involved on a serial’s crime?” They didn’t, not unless...

“The girls were taken from different states and different countries.” It was Aaron who spoke. His voice was low and devoid of accent. “The techs at the EOD matched all of those abductions with ports of call that Senator Lawrence Duncan visited while he was enlisted in the navy.”

Noelle shook her head. “He didn’t do this! He’s dead, and Jenny Tucker was abducted after Duncan’s body had already been found. Her mother saw her leave the house that morning, and we know Duncan was killed during the night.”

“Our mistake before,” Mercer said, cutting through her words but sending a sympathetic glance her way, or at least, as sympathetic as Mercer got, “was thinking there was only one killer involved. Obviously, there were two.”

Red flashed on Noelle’s high cheekbones. “Justin Hardin is dead.”

“Hardin was hunting you,” Aaron said. His gaze slid to Thomas. “We, um, learned that from Agent Anthony. He was the man after you in those Alabama woods.”

He wanted to cross to Noelle’s side. This situation was so messed up.

“But Hardin had a partner.” Aaron’s head inclined toward Noelle. “One we missed.”

“You’re still missing the truth!” The red grew darker on her cheeks. “If there was a second killer, there would be more victims.” She pointed at Mercer. “You said the girls were all taken before me. The killer wouldn’t just stop after my abduction.

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