She looked in the mirror once more. Was he there? Just out of the lamplight? Silently spying from the shadowy foliage? Was there a bit of movement?
Cold sweat appeared on her skin as she stepped on the accelerator.
A horn blasted.
She stood on the brakes, narrowly missing a taxi that was roaring by on her right. She hadn’t even seen the cab. Adrenaline pumping, fingers damp on the wheel, she told herself to pull it together. She couldn’t afford to blow the opportunity of cracking this story wide open. Not when she’d waited for it all of her life.
She gunned it and the hatchback squealed onto the street.
One last peek at the mirror, but she saw no one. No one at all.
Run, bitch, The Survivor thought from the dense foliage on the other side of the hedge. Between the leaves he observed the red taillights as Nikki Gillette’s car disappeared around a corner. You’ll never get away. Not from me.
A thrill skittered down his spine. Anticipation sang through his blood. She was hooked and her interest would ensure more media attention, not just from the rag of a newspaper that she worked for, but from the television and radio stations as well. Not just in that hick town up north, but in Atlanta and here in Savannah as well. The national media would pick it up…yes…
As he’d expected, Nikki Gillette had tailed Reed to this diner and confronted the cop. From outside the window, The Survivor had watched their exchange. It had gone perfectly, according to plan. Standing in the cold air he’d heard nothing of the conversation, but, from their expressions, and by reading their lips, he’d watched the argument ensue.
She wanted a scoop.
Reed wouldn’t tell her a thing.
Which would spur her into delving deeper. It was her nature. Nikki didn’t like to lose.
Now, cop and reporter were both involved.
Perfect.
Their nerves were already stretched tight.
The Survivor smiled. Licked his lips with the tip of his tongue.
For this was just the beginning.
CHAPTER 6
“Okay, Cliff, so give,” Nikki said when he’d finally answered his cell phone. She’d spent the morning in the office, catching up as quickly as she could on her other work, leaving a message for her sister, listening to a little office gossip, but for the most part concentrating on the two bodies found in the single grave in the northern Georgia woods. She’d tried all her contacts in Lumpkin County and a friend with the AP who worked out of Atlanta, but what little information had been given to the press from the sheriff’s department was already widespread. It didn’t give her the edge she needed. Now, seated at her desk, doodling on a notepad, she spoke softly, hoping no one, including Trina, would overhear. “What’s happening with the case up in Dahlonega? Why’s Reed involved?”
“Hell, Nikki, why don’t you ask him?” Cliff was irritated.
“I tried. This morning. Let’s just say he wasn’t overly communicative.”
“Sounds like him.”
“So, why him? Why did he chopper up there? What was the connection?”
“I can’t say.”
“But there was a connection.”
“I said, I can’t—”
“Why not?”
He didn’t answer, but she’d guessed the reason when Reed had been sent up to Dahlonega. “Because somehow Reed’s involved. Either with the victim or the killer or he’s a suspect or—”
“Whoa. Slow down. Don’t overspeculate.”
“But there has to be a reason. Do you know who the victims are yet?”