Vile Read Free

calm now. A pink dress with a white lacy collar and matching white sandals had Jess picturing her own child at that age. If the baby turned out to be a girl, there would be plenty of lace and pink dresses. Lil would see to that.
    Not the time, Jess .
    “Carry on, Officer Rice,” Dan said, drawing Jess’s attention to him. He ushered Jess into the farthest corner of the supply room.
    “What’s going on?” This was a crime scene but not really? The area had been cordoned off and cops were everywhere but no crime scene techs and no protective wear. Didn’t make a lot of sense. “Is the woman out front the mother? Where’s the father?”
    Dan shook his head. “We don’t know who the parents are. We don’t even know who the child is. She hasn’t said a word.”
    Jess frowned, scrubbed at her furrowed forehead with the back of her hand. “Did she just wander into the shop?” If that were the case, there was probably a dead body around here somewhere after all, or a missing person at the very least. Her frown deepened. This wasn’t Spears’s MO. This couldn’t be him. Even as the words filtered through her brain, the knowing look in Dan’s eyes chilled her blood.
    “She was waiting on the sidewalk outside,” Dan explained. “The clerk noticed her and went out to see if she was okay. There was a note pinned to her dress.”
    Jess didn’t need a crystal ball to predict the rest. “I take it the note was addressed to me.” Outrage rushed through her.
    Dan reached into the pocket of his elegant silk suit jacket. No matter that it was hot as blazes outside, the man always dressed impeccably. Even with all that was going on, Jess resisted the urge to smile. He was ever the statesman. The charcoal suit looked good on him. A blue shirt and darker blue tie set off the color of his eyes. From the moment she’d first met Daniel Burnett at seventeen she had been mesmerized by him. He was handsome, charming, and so very kind. How could she have been so fortunate to have him still waiting for her after all this time? His three failed marriages notwithstanding, of course. To be fair, she had a failed marriage of her own.
    He passed her the evidence bag. Part of her didn’t want to look. It was easier not to see, but that choice wasn’t hers to make. She accepted the piece of paper enclosed in the plastic evidence bag. She read it twice, the words stealing away the warmth and hope being near Dan always prompted.
    Take me to Deputy Chief Jess Harris .
    Jess turned to look at the little girl. Please don’t let this be a sign that he knows . If Spears had learned of her pregnancy, he would use that vulnerability against her.
    Her second thought was the child’s mother could be the third hostage being held by the monster. The child might very well be the notification he loved providing to rattle the family and friends of his latest victim.
    “A representative from Child Services in on the way.”
    Dan’s words nudged her from the painful musings. Jess nodded before moving back to the worktable where Officer Rice spoke softly to the child, reassuring her with kind words. Jess took a picture of the little girl with her phone. She stared at Jess but didn’t seem to mind.
    “Hello,” Jess said. The little girl looked up at her and Jess smiled. “I’m Deputy Chief Jess Harris. What’s your—”
    The little girl abruptly held out her arms toward Jess.
    Startled, Jess looked to Dan.
    “Excuse me, Chief.”
    Jess turned to the officer.
    “I think she wants you to pick her up.” Rice shrugged, embarrassed or uncertain if she’d overstepped her bounds. “I have a three year old at home.”
    “But I…” Jess hoped she didn’t look as startled by the suggestion as she felt.
    “Something about you makes her feel safe,” Rice suggested.
    Feeling way out of her comfort zone, Jess’s attention settled on the little girl whose arms were still outstretched. Jess smiled, shifted her bag higher on her shoulder, and