“I can't believe they gave him bail.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Chloe said quietly.
Knowing exactly where her friend’s mind had just gone, Savannah said, “I can't believe Marcus King got out, either.”
“It’s crazy.”
“Are you worried he’s going to come after you?”
“No, not really. It’s been a long time, and he knows I’m not a little kid anymore. But I am worried he’s going to hurt more kids.”
Despite her outward calm, Savannah could tell Chloe was worried. No victim wanted to know that the person who hurt them was free to come after them again or hurt someone else. She remembered the fear she’d felt when her would be abductor had still been on the loose. She’d had a police guard at the door of her hospital room every minute of the month it took to find and catch him.
Chloe rapped again on the door of Taylor’s parents’ house. Taylor was going to be staying with them while she recovered, and Savannah hoped it helped. It was nice to have the people who loved you around while you were healing; it made the long, painful process bearable.
Inside the house, something went bump.
“Did you hear that?” Chloe asked.
She nodded. “Do you think Taylor is okay? Maybe she fell.”
“Maybe,” Chloe agreed.
“Or maybe he came back for her.”
The look on her friend’s face said she was afraid of that. “Go wait in the car.”
As if. “I'm not going anywhere. I know how to use a gun; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do field work. Give me yourbackup, and I’ll cover you.”
It was clear Chloe wanted to argue, but they didn't have time for that, so she pulled out her backup and handed it over. Then she knocked on the door again. “Taylor, it’s Agent Luckman, open up.”
There was no response.
Chloe’s hand went to the doorknob, which turned in her grip.
That was a bad sign.
Slowly, Chloe pushed the door open.
The house was dark and quiet, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.
Something felt wrong.
Although the sensible part of her brain told her to flee from potential trouble, her instincts were to help someone in need.
It was too quiet. If Taylor was here and able to, she would have let them know before now.
She hadn’t.
That meant she either wasn't here or wasn't able to let them know.
The thump they had heard suggested that someone was in here.
They made their way through the foyer slowly and carefully, searching every nook, corner, and crevice for a potential threat.
Chloe was just moving to enter the first room on their right when she suddenly let out a yelp.
What happened next came so fast, Savannah didn't even have time to process it.