If You Hear Her

t it was possible to hurt l

er agony. All she wanted t

, but she couldn’t—couldn

t

he could just barely make

mean a house. Coul

back over her shoulder an

tance between them. Despe

ts a

ing to die tonight, but

e up. Not wi

as Jolene

led along behind her, a d

ith ease. He knew the fore

en tree limbs or exposed r

these paths for years—so

place in t

irl. Pretty, quick, not qu

fight. Tried to struggle. E

ed and strong. Very stron

eeling the open wound wher

er head into his mouth

ank, that she ate, although

rom hunger or dehydration

he hadn’t been so strong,

even now be running thro

nd that was what gave

making more work for him,

is veins and his dick was

ave even more fun

him, she

lp

ndergrowth. Most likely she was trying to get to the

a bend in the path once m

He would catch her befor

ll. He liked his games

ething glinted on the gr

silvery moonlight reflect

old chain before—it belon

rl

it in his pocket and bit

. It wouldn’t have been goo

ood a

teach her a l

. And speaking of games,

n

his head, he listened for

anches breaking, leave

re was

mpletely and

?” he asked, stopping in

I find you, does

cking his head, he listene

ps as she struggled to bre

ou

he followe

me out, where

ed how much fun it wo

ossibi

ed caution, though. Would

e in his game

as dre

had to admit, it was

see. She had vivid memor

d and sometimes, tho

wasn’t so b

un shone down on her, a b

Tipping her face to it, sh

watered a

n’t stare a

ow, rough … sex

Damn

her in peace, ev

exy voice and he had such

r waist, and then slid ar

hard, st

bout you,” she said, but

ead against his chest and

ite burn

uldn’t look at the sun,”

east. Something hot and li

e

r if I look at it

y n

ing. Those pesky UV ray

away from the sun, she did

to see him, too. See what

go with tha

conscious had del

uspected her sighted mem

wasn’t going to complain.

w, she c

, she cou

ody who wasn’t moved by curiosity or pity, or eve

bunch of his loser fri

d by somebody who very o

f it was only in a dream?

ing he’d call and the

over her body, strippin

pward and stared

golden glow and the fee

o

ace as he guided her to t

th

his shoulders and fist h

to her aching co

e fiery hot pleasure bli

hed inside, one deep, smoot

weetest

ould

lp

gasp. Her heart knocked

ed over her sweat-slicked

the open

ot cold. But sh

ning yip, she held out h

she heaved out a breath.

e and he had

ad dream,” she muttered.

g

to lie back dow

vo

elp

gro

ed her head toward the wi

hat in the hell …?” She c

entr

this time, his voice roug

, her voice sharp, her ow

could hear … something

edge of her property. Th

ately, her dog didn’t like

nt

, please

screams, raw and agoniz

ena’s

d. Her heart slammed aga

the phone

and she dropped the pho

und on the floor. “Damn it,

er spine as she liste

A ragged moan. Th

he fricki

etween a sob and a growl

gh of relief as her fingers

ed her back to the wall and

ha

ied to get her fingers to

um

ng. She didn’t hear anyt

it was quiet … somebody,

h the

farther away from the w

she’d had the radio play

. So, so

sharp scream—one that e

get her frozen fingers t

ow in his throat and nose

he pressed his big, furry

an arm a

e. What’s yo

screaming. She’s s

aybe ten. Logically, sh

sirens, but it seemed like

h t

e woman again … wha

e for thirty minutes. The

e ho

somewhere in between

damned hard tim

creaming

wom

on the side of t

th

a soul, hadn’t fo

d heard

Rid

around the cup of coffee

faint smile. “I guess you’

en

Keith Jennings, i

d in his voice made her

her hair. “When half the

t of help

ink it’s only a quarter …

us

oice. “You mean there are people here who aren’t di

it se

you’r

her hair behind her

was there

n’t find anything.” He w

roat. “Would it be

urse. I’m

. It’s lat

r rocking chair cr

you’ve got there, Ms. R

ai

uc

ce

ngers and it made her smi

“He won’t come to you whi

justed the dark

I’m s

y. You di

aid, “I guess peo

Not so much around here,

im.” She grimaced. “It do

gton or Lo

retty dog, they

was a beautiful dog, tw

d although she couldn’t se

Jennings spoke the truth

e to pet p

, he was also a working d

h, but he preferred her ov

as more than a pet/owner relations

ut for nearly a minute bef

can you tell me more

d quietly, turning her he

of her property. A knot se

ice before she could manag

“Somebody was in the

… screamin

ure it wa

l, no. I can’t be positive

ouple of times, but she

was scr

e suddenly damp, cold w

ma bottoms, she tried to p

I heard her scream. I was

ow it is when something

e what

, ma

was sitting there, trying t

t again. Heard her. She

omebody thrashing around

somebody help me!’ No,

!’ Sounded a little close

ed nine-

the call, did yo

o. Just those few times

cocked her head. “No. Fiv

think her screaming

sure you w

gh as she shifted in the r

t. Very

d under his weight. Pape

use, didn’t s

house.” Lena pinched th

ind her eyes—a monster bi

oods. Did yo

k around. But, as you c

anything.” He paused, cle

er the sun’s up. Take ano

e

n had sounded so desper

here’s nothing e

other one of the deputies

cident or anything like

ent v

dn’t know why, but she was

s … w

ing away with you, she t

it jus

eren’t any car

e, she forced a smile. “W

und in the daytime,