SAFE BY HIS SIDE (MANHUNT) Read Free Page B

his superior, Lieutenant Angus Roper, while visually assessing the area surrounding Lenora’s shop as the phone began to ring. Being on the corner meant no neighbors on one side, allowing access from the front, a side window and the back.
    A street separated the building from the next row of businesses which housed a beauty parlor, barber shop, tack shop and boot store. Midday, cars filled most of the spaces along the streets, and a dozen were parked in a lot beside the diner. People were going in and out of businesses, mothers strolling babies along the sidewalk, a florist delivery man loading the back of his van with flowers.
    The phone buzzed twice while he walked to the corner then to the side and back. An alley ran along the back of the buildings with parking for employees, dumpsters, and loading docks for vendors.
    His stomach knotted as he searched for security cameras and found none.
    The phone buzzed again, then Lt. Roper’s throaty voice echoed back. “Where are you, Hardin?”
    “Outside Lenora Lockhart’s Bridal Shop.”
    “How’d she take the news?”
    “As well as can be expected. She’s worried about her mother and coworker, afraid Simpleton will try to use one of them to get to her.”
    “She’s probably right.”
    “She’s going to warn them. If they can’t stay with a friend or leave town, I want to assign them protection in case Simpleton shows up.”
    “Good idea. If he does, maybe we can catch him and put the bastard back in jail where he belongs.”
    “Do we have any idea who helped him?”
    “We might have a lead. We’ve been studying the visitor logs for the escaped inmates. Some hairdresser named Cissy Cornwell used to visit Simpleton. She might have been helping him.”
    Micah glanced at the beauty parlor, wondering if she’d set up shop there to spy on Lenora. “Did she know him before he was locked up?”
    “No, she met him when she visited her brother in the pen. They started writing, and she became his sole visitor.”
    “Must have her own sadistic side to fall for a man who brutalized women the way Simpleton did.”
    “There are a lot of nutcases out there.”
    “I’ll check her out.” He copied down her address, hoping Cissy might give them information to help find Simpleton.
    “We’re interviewing other inmates and the feds have Simpleton’s cell mate in interrogation. I’ll let you know what we learn.”
    Micah hung up, images of Simpleton’s other victims flashing back. Then an image of Lenora the day he’d rescued her. Lenora beaten and bruised, dehydrated, dirty, traumatized and covered in filth.
    Locking Simpleton up had been one of the best days of his life.
    This time, he might not bother with jail. He’d put the bastard in the ground.
     

     
    Lenora gritted her teeth as she answered her mother’s phone call. “Mom, I was getting ready to call you.”
    “Then you know that monster escaped from prison. It’s been all over the news.” Terror streaked her mother’s shrill voice.
    “Yes, Sgt. Hardin is here with me now.”
    “Ask him how in the hell he let this happen.”
    “Mother,” Lenora said, injecting a calmness to her voice when she felt like screaming at the situation herself. “It’s not his fault,” she said instead. “The police have a statewide manhunt underway now. They’ll find him.”
    Her mother made a sarcastic sound. “But he never should have escaped. And what if he finds you?” She exhaled a shaky breath. “He threatened you in court. He’s probably on his way—”
    “You don’t need to remind me.” Lenora’s voice took on a razor edge as painful memories assaulted her. She could feel the oppressive darkness closing around her. Smell the scent of his sweaty body. Sense his breath on her neck.
    “Pack your bags and stay with me until he’s caught,” her mother said. “I’ll hire a bodyguard for you.”
    “No,” Lenora said emphatically. God help her. She appreciated the fact that her mother had taken care of