Crucified Read Free Page A

herself to look at him again. She needed to create some
distance between them if she had any hope of regaining some
semblance of composure. As luck would have it, the phone on the
desk rang and she made her getaway.
    Outside, she
leaned against her car. Never, in all her years on the force, had
she let her personal attractions seep into her professionalism. For
whatever reason, the ruggedly handsome biker had her thoughts in a
muddle. It might be a good idea for Seth to handle any further
correspondence with the intriguing biker.
    Taylor came
through the bay doors and sauntered over to her. Dianne forced her
gaze away from his intense blue eyes, but not too soon to see a
mischievous smile spread across his face.
    “ Thank you for your time, Mr. Danson.” She offered her
hand.
    He held her
hand while he responded. “Please, call me Taylor.”
    Her gaze
flitted to his and her breath hitched. She pulled her hand away and
ducked into the safety of the Sedan, only to have him bend down,
his face inches from hers. His musky scent filled her senses and
her body tingled. She fumbled with the keys but managed to fit them
in the ignition, starting the car.
    Taylor tapped
the hood of the car, waving to her through her rear view
mirror.
    ****
    Casey gagged on
a scream that erupted from deep inside of her. Something crawled up
her arm toward her face. The blanket of night made it impossible to
see. She squirmed from side to side in a futile attempt to shake it
off. Her eyes grew big as the long spindly legs of a spider came
into her line of vision. It made its way across her face,
momentarily disappearing under her nose. She shook her head,
catching the spider off guard. It shot a web up above her face and
disappeared into the darkness.
    Laughter gurgled in the back of her throat, bordering
hysteria. Surely she’d go mad if she had to spend much more time in
this place. That is, if she didn’t starve to death first. How long can someone live without food or
water? She hadn’t drank or eaten anything
since being brought to this god-awful place.
    The monster that kept her here hadn’t made an appearance since
taking a picture of her. Did he take it to
show my father? He must be beside himself
with worry.
    The tape bit
into her flesh as she tried to maneuver herself to an upright
position. She knew she needed to keep the circulation moving in her
hands and feet. Each time she tried to move her fingers and toes,
jolts of excruciating pain traveled up her arms and legs.
    The door swung open, the light from a flashlight blinded her.
Cold metal met the skin just above her bound wrists. He’s got a knife .
    Time stood
still as her captor sawed through the duct tape. Her hands fell to
her sides, rendered immobile as the blood rushed to her
fingers.
    Casey lay
completely still. Icy tendrils of fear gripped her body. Gloved
hands brushed her cheek as he tugged at the tape across her mouth
and ripped it from her face in one stroke, taking with it a layer
of skin. Indescribable pain jolted every nerve ending in her body.
She welcomed the void to which her mind drifted as she succumbed to
the darkness once again.
    ****
    Dianne sat in
the diner across from Seth. She couldn’t tell him about her
attraction to Taylor. From day one, they had it drilled into their
heads to stay emotionally detached from a case. What would he think
if he knew that all Taylor had to do was look her way, and her mind
turned to mush? Instead, she sipped on her iced tea as he told of a
very distraught Preacher Adams who immersed himself in prayer since
Casey’s disappearance, unable to eat or sleep.
    “ I don’t know how much more the guy can take.” Seth shook his
head and sank his teeth into a clubhouse sandwich.
    The door to the
diner burst open and a harried chief of police gasped for breath as
he closed the distance between them.
    “ We got another picture!” He leaned over the table. His body
shook as he struggled to regain his composure.
    Both agents
were on