The Hunt

CHAPTER 37

Miranda woke up late, the sun streaming through her picture windows. Below in the valley a gray fog had settled, but it would soon burn off.

The day promised to be beautiful.

She rolled over expecting to find Qui

Miranda-

I didn’t want to disturb you. I’m meeting Colleen down at Big Sky to do a quick walk-through of the cabin. I should be back by lunchtime, or I’ll call if I’m delayed.

I called the hospital. Nick is the same, which is more or less good news. JoBeth Anderson is awake and alert. Ashley was asking for you. She’s going to be okay, thanks to you.

Stay at the Lodge. I have four deputies assigned there. Until I know what’s up with Delilah Parker, I’d rather play it safe.

I love you.

Q.

P.S. Stay off your leg. If you have to shower, make it quick.

She smiled. Just last week, she would have thought police protection was overkill. But today, she allowed Qui

Her smile turned into a worried frown. She couldn’t imagine what Delilah Parker was going through right now, finding out her own brother was the Butcher, a rapist. Miranda was certain Qui

It was sick. Almost as sick as what David Larsen had done.

She slowly maneuvered herself out of bed. Cautiously, she stood. Her injured leg was stiff and sore, but she could walk without crutches if she went slowly. Moving around was the best medicine. In fact, the leg didn’t hurt any worse than the huge bruise on her shoulder from hitting the boulder.

She needed a shower. She’d had one at the hospital, but the water was tepid.

She turned on the water and waited for it to get hot. She wished Qui

Her breasts had been scarred with nineteen slashes, all about an inch long. She had counted them. Over and over. Her nipples had little sensation, her nerves having sustained permanent damage. She closed her eyes, always feeling revolted at the sight of her disfigurement. The scars on her wrists and ankles from being chained and the long one on her i

Then she forced herself to look again, to stare at herself until the mirror clouded with steam and she could no longer see her reflection.

The scars were part of her now. She had to stop feeling sorry for herself. Qui

Anger didn’t bother her; pity did.

No more of what-might-have-been! She was growing more comfortable in her skin each day. The Butcher was gone; Miranda had to bury her self-pity and anger with him. She had a full life ahead of her, with Qui

And he loved her just the way she was.

She stepped into the hot shower and thought about what life would be like married to Qui

It had taken them years to find their way back to each other, and Miranda didn’t want to waste a single minute. As soon as possible, she wanted to get on with their wedding. When Qui

And for the first time in more than a decade, she thought about having a child.

With Qui

She shut off the water and reached for the towel that hung on the hook outside the shower. She didn’t feel it. Odd. She thought for sure she’d put one there. Must have fallen to the floor. Opening the door fully, she stepped out.

And faced a nine-millimeter semiautomatic.

She looked up into the cold, wild eyes of Delilah Parker, who appeared nothing like the society matron Miranda had known.

“Washing my brother’s blood off your hands?”

When there was no answer at Miranda’s, Qui

“I’ve had an APB put out on Delilah Parker,” he said. “She should be considered armed and dangerous. There is strong evidence that she assisted her brother David Larsen in abducting his victims.”

“Good God,” he heard one of the deputies say.

“Check in. Name and location.”

“Jorgensen, main entrance outside and perimeter check every twenty.”

“Zachary, main entrance inside and interior check.”

“Ressler, trails, barns, parking-all clear.”

Silence.

Jorgensen spoke. “Walters, check in.”

Silence.

Qui

He slammed down the radio. “Goddammit!” Why had he left her? He thought she’d be safe. Four cops protecting the Lodge. Few criminals blatantly took out a cop. They waited for a hole, where they couldn’t be seen.

But Walters was down. Delilah Parker had gotten to Miranda.

Qui

He and Miranda had finally found their way back to each other. He wasn’t about to lose her now.