Chapter 19

I stared at him, raising an eyebrow. "Are you fucking serious? You're questioning me on this?" I asked.

He glowered back at me, just as pissed. "Do I have a reason to?"

"You insolent upstart, of course, you don't. She's my goddamn sister!" I snapped.

He leaned in close so his words couldn't be mistaken. "Look you asshole, you've made it more than clear you don't like me, and frankly, I don't give a shit… but there are some sick bastards out there who it doesn't matter whether blood or not… if you get my meaning."

With a growl, I planted a fist in the man's face, knocking him to the ground. "You son of a bitch," I snarled before leaping on top of him.

Dodging Jarret's fist, I landed a blow on his jaw, and even though it snapped under my fist; I was rearing back to land another when someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me off him.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Courtney roared.

Picking himself up off the ground, Jarret worked his jaw, snapping at Courtney, "Nothing."

Courtney looked at me, before glancing back at Jarret. "Didn't look like nothing to me," he growled.
"Whatever the fucking problem is between you two, take it somewhere else." Then turning his eyes on me, he snapped, "Dammit, we're working a case here—remember?" Shortly, after tossing a heated glare at both me and Jarret, Courtney turned and walked off.

I shot a look of dislike at Jarret, and turned as well, beginning to head back to the scene, however, Jarret was right behind me, following my every move.

Coming to a sudden stop, I whipped around.. snarling, "I don't need you sniffing at my heels, punk."

Even though I was the larger of the two of us, I found Jarret standing toe to toe with me. "Look pecker-head… if you did anything to Ashley, I'll hang your ass out to dry... you got that?"

I stood glaring at him, my arms crossed over my chest, and flipped the tables. "Where, exactly, were you, an hour ago?" I asked, my voice hard.

Jarret's eyes narrowed. "You aren't turning this around on me, you bastard!"

I let out a tired and frustrated breath. "Look, my sister is missing and I have a job to do."

Jarret gave a nod, then turning he began walking away, only to pause as he tossed over his shoulder, "I'm watching you."

"You do that rookie. You do that," I returned, before making my way over to Rylee, where having silently stood watching the interchange, I stated, "Find out what you can on Johnson."

~ASHLEY~

I sat, allowing smells, sensations, and sounds to penetrate my little world behind the eye covering. My throat was raw and aching from screaming. A useless hope that somehow someone would hear had kept me continuing. However, I was alone in my prison, as I could hear no sound from the outside world or my abductor. I couldn’t decide whether I was in a house, building, or even a barn. Yet, it didn’t matter where the fuck I was; I had to find some way to get out of it. My life depended on me escaping. Though bound to the chair, I still had to keep trying.

Curving my wrist once again, I used my fingers to try to find where the rope, was tied. I knew I'd sustained injuries from the impact of my abductor's vehicle as my ribs hurt, but they didn't seem broken: however, drawing a deep breath was excruciating. I felt bruised from the tip of my fingers to the soles of my feet and I knew if they hadn't already appeared, there would be bruises covering my skin soon.

I'd been through too much and had too much to live for. There was no way in fuck I was letting this raving lunatic put an end to my life, or pull Rylee into the possible end of it.

A sound reached me, and I realized he was back in the room with me. Even though I knew he’d disguised his voice, there was something about the way he talked that was as familiar as his walk.

The man was close, and I could smell his cologne, something about the scent tickling a memory within me. Who the hell was he?

Suddenly a white-hot-searing pain shot through my shoulder, wiping all thoughts from my mind and forcing a scream from me. My body automatically recoiled from what felt like the blade of a knife as it sliced across my flesh with a smooth even glide. My skin, muscles, and tendons were no more of an encumbrance to the sharp edge of the instrument than butter. Even through a mist of agony, I could hear the change in the man's breathing, becoming fast and heavy, the sight of my blood exciting him.

Confirmation of my thoughts came a few seconds later, as he breathed, "Oh, God. There's nothing like the smell of fear and blood." Blood was already beginning to seep down my arm and across my chest, causing my shirt and bra to grow wet and sticky with the hot liquid.

For a few seconds, the room was silent before he broke the lull. "Hmm... how should you die?"

~~

BRICE

Fifteen minutes later, I stepped away from the scene again as fear renewed itself within my heart, and I needed a few seconds to myself. My team was good, and I trusted their work, so I left them to it, and pulling out a cigarette, I carried it to my mouth. I was digging for my lighter when my cell went off and praying it was Ashley, I tossed the unlit cigarette into the grass, jerking the phone out of my pocket.

I didn’t recognize the number and disappointment washed through me, but pushing the button anyway, I took the call. At first, I heard nothing, but then I heard a sob. “Brice?”

My heart slammed against my chest at the sound of her voice. “Oh, God, Ash. Are you okay? Where are you?”

More sobs reached my ears, but she said nothing else. Then, I heard a man cursing in the background before what sounded like the sound of the phone being dropped.

I panicked. “Ashley? Dammit, Ash, answer me! Where are you?”

Suddenly the voice of the man I had heard laughing in the background greeted me. “Hello, Brice.”

“Who the fuck are you? And what have you done to my sister?” I shouted.

“Why, nothing yet…” The voice trailed off, then picked back up. “I tell you what, if you want Ashley back—alive—you and Rylee need to follow the clues. Now Clue number one. Bigfoot was here. Better start searching, Sir Galahad, for time is counting. I’ll phone you with the next clue in twenty-four hours. I’ll give you a clue every twenty-four hours for the next seven days, but, if you haven’t found Ashley by the eighth day, I’ll let Rylee watch me kill her. Happy hunting.”

Snapping my phone closed, I let out a roar that had Rylee and Courtney sprinting in my direction. When they came skidding to a stop before me, I was already shoving my way through them. A deep growl erupted from my lips at each one that got in my way as I advanced toward Ashley’s car.

Ethan Blair stood from where he’d been squatted down, dusting the seat of Ashley’s car for fingerprints, and looking at me as stalked toward him, he raised an eyebrow. “What’s up, Rowland?”

“The motherfucker who has her just called me, and as of this minute, I’m taking over here. I need you to find all the fucking Bigfoot shit you can,” I ordered.

Rick, Rylee, and Courtney had come over to Ethan and I as I was telling Ethan what I wanted, and at my words, they all whipped their heads in my direction, then in unison all four of them exclaimed, “What?”

The words had barely left my lips before I was calling the bureau. “Jolene, I need this number traced.” I gave her the digits and barked, “I want it yesterday!”

As what had happened sank in, I felt my limbs tremble. Oh, sweet mother of God, Ashley’’s life depended on what I did next, and I had a measly twenty-four hours to figure out the Bigfoot clue before he called with the next fucked up mind-twister.

I looked at Rylee and Tanner, then my gaze focused on Rylee, and I muttered, “The bastard giving you the visions just called me—gave me a fucked up clue. ‘Bigfoot was here?”

Rick gaped at me, then questioned, “What the hell does that even mean?”

I shrugged. “Shit if I know, but my guess is he’s taken her somewhere known for Bigfoot sightings.”

So, are we supposed to hunt this mythical creature? I mean, I believe, but…really?”

I shook my head. “Fuck no. It’s just another of his mind games. Now we have twenty-four hours before he calls with the next clue, so let’s get to work.”