“I would guess if his phone is off at this time, he’s either in an urgent meeting or he’s playing golf,” May decided. For some reason, she thought this man sounded like the type of person who would play golf in a crisis. “Just on a flyer, perhaps it would be worth calling the hotels within, say, a fifty-mile radius of here that are five-star and have golf courses. It might narrow the field.”

  “Good idea,” Owen said.

  “In the meantime, I’ll—”

  At that exact moment May’s phone rang.

  To her astonishment, it was her older sister, Kerry. This case had brought Kerry to top of mind. May had been thinking of her and now she was calling, as if the thoughts had summoned her.

  But Kerry hardly ever called her. What was happening?

  Mystified, she picked up.

  “Hello, May.” Her sister’s voice, loud and confident, rang down the line, and May couldn’t prevent a cold shiver at the sound.

  This was Kerry. Self-assured. Successful. Knowing that life would fall in with her ideas and that she’d end up on top.

  “Hi, Kerry,” May said.

  She had not heard from her sister since Kerry had gone to the East Coast when the FBI had been called in to solve a serial crime.

  “You won’t believe this,” Kerry said. She sounded as if she was laughing.

  That was right, May decided. Whatever her sister was going to say, May probably wouldn’t believe it.

  “I’ve arrived at your airport—the local one—and there are no rental cars to be had! None! I mean, I think they had, like, two in total, and both the tourists visiting Tamarack County already using them!” She laughed, as if this was a really funny joke.

  “Wait, what?” May spluttered. Her sister? Was here?

  This was a bombshell. She’d had no idea she was visiting.

  Or was she somehow involved in this investigation? she wondered with a twist of her stomach. Had the FBI stepped in at the hotel’s request?

  Surely not, May thought, forcing herself to think logically. She couldn’t possibly be here for work, and this hadn’t sounded like a work-related reason either.

  May knew only too well that sharp, brisk, businesslike tone her sister adopted when dealing with work matters. And it wasn’t in her voice now.

  “I’ve come to visit the folks,” Kerry clarified. “And I don’t want to ask them to come out and fetch me because it’s a sort of a surprise.”

  May saw where this was going.

  “You want me to pick you up?”

  “If you have time.”

  May didn’t have time. She was busy with a murder case.

  “Time? To take you to the folks? No, I don’t,” she said, hearing the note of panic in her own voice. “Now? Can’t you call a cab?”

  Kerry sighed.

  “Okay. There’s a reason why I need you to drive me there. There’s a big surprise. I have news.”

  “What news is that?”

  “I’ll tell you when I see you. And I want you to be there when I tell them. It won’t take long!”

  And the airport drive there and back? That would be still more time. May agonized, feeling torn by the demands of her job versus family loyalty.

  “Go,” Owen hissed at her in a stage whisper, waving his arms, clearly picking up on the dilemma she was in. “Don’t stress. I’m busy researching the CEO!”

  “I’m on my way,” she snapped to her sister, wondering how Kerry always managed to get her way. Ending the call, she looked gratefully at Owen.

  “Who knows what this is about? But I’ll be back in less than an hour,” she said.

  She grabbed her keys and purse and was out the door.

  As she drove, May wished she could have felt just a little bit more excited at seeing her sister again. But Kerry always had a strange effect on her. She was always so sure of herself and of what she wanted. She was her parents’ favorite, their golden child and their icon of success.

  Plus, Kerry had aced the FBI entrance exams and gotten into the academy, and today she was an FBI agent working in the Behavioral Analysis Unit.

  May had recently been promoted to Tamarack County deputy, the first female deputy and the youngest ever county deputy, but she knew that her achievements were small-time compared to Kerry’s swathe of success.

  May never felt good enough, or smart enough, or even good-looking enough when Kerry was around. May had always struggled to be taken seriously in comparison to her sister. She always felt small-time. Small-town and small-time, compared to her sister who had made it big. Nothing she did ever seemed to compare. Even solving the community’s recent serial killer case seemed like a minor accomplishment, since Kerry caught serial killers who were terrorizing entire cities or states.

  She’d gotten used to it. She’d even managed to have a sense of humor about it, most times anyway. But right now, she had to get through the next few minutes. Because Kerry had told her there was news to come.

  She pulled up in the pick-up zone where Kerry was waiting. She cut a sophisticated figure with her short blond hair, her wide blue eyes, her flawless skin, and her lean, athletic figure. She was wearing blue jeans and a taupe leather jacket, fabulous-looking ankle-length boots in soft brown leather, and expensive-looking sunglasses that accentuated her high cheekbones.

  “Hi, sis,” she said, as she climbed into the car, stowing her carry-on in the back seat. “I’m so happy you could come and get me. I literally can’t believe this place. No rental cars available? I mean, really?”

  “No problem,” May said, offering a smile that she hoped was warm and friendly. “It’s nice to see you. But why are you here?”

  “I have some news!” Kerry grinned at her.

  “What news?”

  “I’m engaged!”

  May nearly drove off the road as Kerry stuck her left hand in front of her, showing off a massive diamond ring which somehow, amid everything else she’d taken in about her sister, May hadn’t noticed.

  May stared at the ring, feeling awestruck and also, for a moment, horribly jealous.

  Everything in Kerry’s life kept going right! What May wouldn’t give to have a decent, steady boyfriend whom she loved and who loved her back!

  But then her pang of jealousy was swept aside by genuine happiness for her sister.

  “That’s amazing. Congratulations,” she said.

  “It happened on our European getaway. We got back yesterday from a whirlwind weekend trip to Venice.” Kerry was beaming. “Brandon and I have been dating for a year. He’s one of the country’s top business lawyers. You know, he’s been all over the news recently for his work on the economic bailout. He is amazing and I’m so lucky to have him.”

  “Wow,” May said. “I mean, wow. I’m so happy for you both. I know Mom and Dad will be thrilled too.”

  “Well, of course. Mom was asking me last time I was here if I thought it was serious with him. But we’ve both been so busy that even something this important ended up taking a back seat. Anyway, this past weekend, we flew to Venice. It was supposed to be a quick vacation, but he proposed there. It was just unbelievably romantic, and a total surprise to me. On a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs!”

  To Venice?

  May dreamed of going to Venice. And Kerry had been! Not just been, but been and proposed to. May could never match that level of romance.

  She’d been married for a few years at the age of twenty-one. Strangely enough, her ex was also a lawyer, though more of the ambulance-chaser type than the high flyer who’d fallen for Kerry.

  It hadn’t worked out and here she was, divorced, with no new love on the horizon.

  “Anyway,” Kerry said. “I know you’re probably very busy. Early summer in town must mean a lot of drunken students and the like for the police to manage. But I’m glad you were able to give me a ride here, and at least you know now!”

  “I’m so thrilled for you,” May said, turning into her parents’ driveway and parking on the gravel. She decided not to tell Kerry about the murder case. Most likely, she wouldn’t listen anyway.

  May climbed out. Alerted by the sound of her car, her father was already at the door.

  “May, my angel! I always hear you from a mile away. Did you have a chance to get that exhaust pipe looked at? I think it might need some attention.”

  And then Kerry climbed out and May watched, feeling small, as her father’s face lit up.

  “Honey!” he called back into the house. “Kerry’s here!”

  “Kerry?” May heard her mother’s cry from the kitchen.

  A moment later, she rushed out.

  “Kerry, my precious girl, I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, hugging her oldest child. “What an amazing surprise! You didn’t tell us you were coming!”

  “Mom,” Kerry said, sounding pleased. “I have some big news to share.”

  “What is it?” Her mother’s eyes were shining. Glancing at them, May saw how alike they were. Most definitely, Kerry had inherited more of her mother’s slim, blond, beautiful looks. And her perfectionist streak. No wonder she was the favorite daughter.

  “I’m engaged!” Kerry lifted her left hand, the diamond sparkling in the rays of the midday sun.

  “Oh, what happy news,” her mother said, and May saw tears in her eyes. “You must be on cloud nine. Brandon is such a wonderful man!”

  “I sure am,” Kerry said. Her elation was obvious.

  Her mother’s focus was stuck on her oldest daughter. Kerry glowed with delight and her mother was the perfect audience for it.

  May felt a stab of envy.

  Kerry was the golden child. Kerry was never going to have to struggle as hard as she did. She’d never have to feel like a failure.

  “Girls, can you come in for a moment?” her father said. “I want to hear all about this.”

  “May, it’s so good to see you,” her mother said, turning to her at last and looking slightly guilty at having forgotten all about her younger daughter. “Did you know about Kerry’s surprise?”

  “Not a thing.” May smiled. It already felt forced.

  “Is Brandon going to come out here as well?” Her mother turned back to Kerry.

  “Yes. He’s just wrapping up a big case he’s working on. As soon as that’s done, he’s going to fly out. I’m waiting on his phone call to find out when it will be.”

  “And how’s your work going? Do you have any interesting cases on the go?”

  “Yes, we’ve just wrapped up a fascinating case. It’s a killer who struck at five-year intervals. I actually worked out his identity by going back into the archives and analyzing the behavior of everyone close to his victims.”

  “How amazing! You know, we are also busy with a very disturbing case,” May tried, but she could see her parents didn’t even notice.

  “Going back into the archives!” her mother echoed.

  May sighed inwardly. How she wished the conversation would flow two ways, and that she could talk about her work, too, and contribute to the dialogue.

  But Kerry’s news and Kerry’s work had eclipsed it. Her parents were too busy cooing over Kerry to pay any attention to her.

  She looked at her watch.

  “Speaking of work, I have to get going. I took time off to pick Kerry up.”

  “You can’t stay and chat with us?”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, feeling like a disappointing child again. “I’d love to another time.”

  “Well, let’s organize a get-together. I understand work can’t wait,” her mother said.

  At that moment, her father asked, “Hey, May, do you know anything about that local death? I heard something about it on the local WhatsApp group earlier. They weren’t sure if it was a drowning or a murder. Is it even true? I guess if it is a murder, it’ll go to the FBI?”

  “Yes, it is true. We’re handling it.”

  May felt like this question was too little, too late. And they hadn’t yet made any progress on the case, so there was really nothing more to say. She could see Kerry’s curious glance, but ignored it. Instead, she turned and walked back to the car, feeling heavy hearted.

  As she got there, her phone rang.

  It was Owen, and seeing his number, her heart lifted. Perhaps this meant there was progress, she thought.

  Owen sounded excited when she picked up.

  “I’ve found out where Bert Reed is staying,” he said. “Your idea about the golf courses worked out! He’s at a golf resort he owns about twenty miles from here.”

  May felt her heart leap. She was able to derail her thoughts away from the frustrating topic of family and focus on the demands of their case.

  “I’ll be back in five minutes. Let’s head straight out together,” she said.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The killer watched the window through narrowed eyes.

  The target was inside, strolling around the luxury lodge. A woman, wearing an expensive designer dress in sumptuous satin fabric, speaking on the phone.

  She was flawlessly made up. The cosmetics concealed the sour, arrogant set to her mouth. But the killer could see it. Her eyes had a cold look in them, a hard gaze.

  In the stillness of the air, the killer could even hear the words she was saying.

  “I have to go,” she said into the phone. “There are deals to be made. They won’t wait. Yes, I can make eight p.m. That will be fine. Look, I’m not handling that side so much anymore. I’m staying out of it for a while. I’ll give you the number of the person you need to speak to.”

  And then she hung up the phone.

  She turned, looking out the window, and the killer shrank back, because it was taking a big chance to be here now, watching her, although it was necessary for the job that needed to be done. That had to be done.

  But as the killer had suspected, this woman was too arrogant to believe she was in any danger. She probably saw herself in the tinted glass and nothing more.

  She turned, looked in the mirror, and then took off her pearl earrings.

  As she paced about the room, the killer felt a rush of pure loathing for her. In the killer’s mind, the targets were all despicable.

  And this target was the lowest of the low.

  She was a woman who thought of no-one but herself, who lived in a fantasy world of her own making. But within that world, she was evil and corrupt and deserved to die.

  The killer retreated, watching, waiting. The timing needed to be perfect, and it wasn’t yet.

  With her phone call concluded, the woman turned up the music. It wasn’t music the killer liked. This woman had poor taste. The ugly sounds throbbed and pulsed loudly, contaminating the peaceful air. The woman smiled, her mouth twisting. She liked this hellish beat.

  And so did the killer, but only because it would muffle the noise that was needed for the scene to be set.

  The woman took out her phone again and looked at it.

  “I’m waiting,” she said out loud, as if she were expecting a message or an update.

  But then she tossed the phone on the bed, and the killer saw she didn’t really care. She turned the music up even louder. A powerful beat and a screeching voice, like something that would come out of a monster’s throat.

  Then she moved to her jewelry box, selecting different earrings from the massive display.

  There was nothing but the sound of the music, heavy and ugly, throbbing. The killer felt another spurt of rage, because this woman was a monster.

  It was time.

  Nerves of steel would be needed for this next step.

  The killer moved to the patio door. Pulled the handle down. It opened, because the lock had been blocked earlier with a folded piece of paper that the killer now took.

  It was a five-dollar bill.

  The killer opened the door, entered the room, closed the door, and then moved quickly and quietly to the bathroom, because that was the place needed for the conclusion to this revenge.

  In this luxury lodge there was a giant, oval tub. It would be perfect, the killer thought. And with this deafening music blaring, the woman would not hear the tub filling up.

  The killer twisted the knob, and cold water gushed out of the faucet, filling the tub. The tub filled up quickly. The water supply in this place was generous and powerful. That was what the rich expected, of course.

  The killer moved to the door of the bathroom. Waited. The time had to be right, but that time was approaching, and very soon, it would be the moment to make the kill.

  And in the quietness of the pristine white room, the killer could see, quite easily, the target’s reflection in the mirror. That smug, self-satisfied expression that made the killer’s blood boil with rage.

  She was a cold, narcissistic person who had absolutely no empathy. She destroyed people and didn’t care. That was who she was. It was who they all were. Every one of the targets was the same.

  It was too much for the killer.

  The water in the tub began to spill over the edge, and a puddle formed on the floor.

  It was time.

  The killer crept to the bathroom door. This was the most risky part, moving through to the bedroom to actually approach this appalling woman. It needed to be done smoothly, confidently, and fast. Hesitation would mean failure. Resolve would mean success.

  The woman was still preening in front of the mirror, carefully choosing a necklace that matched the earrings. Sifting through her ridiculous, overpriced baubles was all that mattered in her empty life.

  Her appearance, her status, her self-importance were the only qualities that defined her, the killer thought.

  And then, at last, she turned away from the mirror and went to her wardrobe. She opened it and took out an expensive handbag.

  She opened it up and packed a few items inside. Lipstick, Kleenex, cash. Trivial items that marked the meaninglessness of her life.

  Her cold gaze turned to the mirror. She smiled. She was the center of her own world, and the killer could see that in the woman’s eyes.

  The woman’s back was turned. She was standing in front of the window, looking out at the view, probably wondering when to go into the lobby to wait for her limousine to arrive. The killer crept inside, knowing that this was a critical time when everything could go wrong. If the woman turned, she would see an intruder, she would scream, and the element of surprise that was so badly needed would be totally destroyed.

 

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