Beverly Barton 3 Book Bundle

As she sped along County Road 157, Bernie hazarded a quick glance at Jim. He gave her a stern look. She took the deep breaths.

“No law enforcement officer is ever ready for something like this,” Jim said. “Even if he—or she—has experience with this type of killer. There’s no shame in admitting that you’re worried, that you’re concerned, even that you’re scared.”

Jim’s voice soothed her. Odd, she thought. A minute ago, she’d felt as if she were going to jump out of her own skin. Now, her heartbeat had slowed almost to normal and the queasiness she’d experienced subsided. All because of Jim’s calm, even voice and his no-nonsense words.

“You don’t know how difficult it is for me. Not only am I the first female sheriff in Adams County, I’m also the youngest. And—ta-da, drum roll, please—I’m R.B. Granger’s daughter. There’s no way I can live up to my dad’s reputation.”

That’s it, Bernie, admit all your insecurities to your chiefdeputy. That’s the way to earn his respect.

“When you ran for sheriff, how much of that decision was because it’s what you wanted and how much was because it was what your dad wanted?”

Jim had hit the nail on the head. He had voiced the question she had never dared ask herself. Did everyone see through her so easily or did most people not suspect the truth?

“Truthfully, I don’t know.”

“What about now? You’ve been the sheriff for several years. Do you like your job? Are you glad you’re the sheriff?”

“Yes, I like my job. At least most of the time. And yes, I’m glad I’m the sheriff. Just not tonight. Not right now.” She kept the speed at fifty-five, even when the speed limit lowered to forty-five as they passed over Sunflower Creek. “I’m afraid my insecurities are showing. I certainly never thought I’d have to deal with a serial killer. Not here in Adams County.”

When Jim didn’t respond, she instinctively cut her eyes to catch a quick glimpse of his face. He was looking straight ahead, not at her. All of a sudden, she felt vulnerable and even stupid. She had opened up to her chief deputy in a way that surprised her. Why was it that she’d gotten diarrhea of the mouth tonight and with, of all people, Jim Norton?

The silence between them dragged on for several minutes, but those three or four minutes seemed more like hours to Bernie.

“TMI?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“Too much information?”

“No, that’s not it. I just got to thinking that maybe I was being too nosey, that your relationship with your father is really none of my business.”

“Oh.”

Sharing sensitive personal information would change their relationship from strictly professional to more intimate. Bernie cringed. Wrong word. Intimacy implied a strong emotional attachment, romance, even sex. The best she could expect to share with Jim was friendship.

“Hey, look up ahead.” Jim motioned to the right-hand side of the road. “There’s a parked car over there. Maybe it’s Thomasina Hardy’s car.”

Bernie pulled off the road directly behind the Grand Am. She and Jim cautiously exited her Jeep and took a look at the abandoned car.

“Flat tire.” Jim pointed to the tire.

“You look things over while I go back and call this in to make sure it’s Thomasina’s car.”

Jim nodded in agreement.

By the time she’d called in and had verified the tag number, Jim had finished his inspection and they met at the hood of her Jeep.

“It’s Thomasina Hardy’s car,” Bernie said.

“No sign of foul play. The car’s locked.”

“I don’t like the feeling this gives me.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions.”

“I’ve got a couple of deputies coming out to secure the scene,” Bernie said. “In the meantime, we’ll contact the college to see if Thomasina ever showed up.”

Once back in the Jeep, waiting for the deputies to arrive, Bernie placed a second call to the school.

“No, Sheriff Granger, Ms. Hardy isn’t here, but her mother and brother-in-law are. They’re terribly worried,” Ms. Everett said. “They found her car on County Road One-fifty-seven, but Thomasina was nowhere to be seen.”

“May I speak to the brother-in-law?”

“Sure, he’s right here.”

“Yeah, this is Mike Anderson. Have you found Thomasina?”

“No, sorry,” Bernie said. “We’re here where she left her car parked on One-fifty-seven. I’ve called in deputies to secure the scene.”

“You think something bad has happened to her, don’t you?”

“I don’t know.” Don’t get emotionally involved. Act in aprofessional manner. “Once the scene is secure, my chief deputy and I would like to talk to Thomasina’s family, especially her sister.”

“Which sister? She has two.”

“The one who went with her to speak to Chief Nichols this evening.”

“That would be my wife,” Mike said. “Amanda.” He lowered his voice to little more than a whisper. “Look, Inez, Thomasina’s mom, doesn’t know anything about the stalker. Thomasina had just told Amanda this afternoon, and Amanda told me this evening. Is there any way we can keep this from Inez? She’s worried enough as it is.”

“Mr. Anderson, I’d like for you and Mrs. Hardy to go home to your house, tell your wife what’s happened and wait for us. I’m afraid we can’t keep the facts a secret from your mother-in-law. Thomasina was being stalked and now she’s missing. One and one usually adds up to two.”

“I understand. We …” He gulped. “We’ll go home and wait for you. And please, Sheriff, find Thomasina.”

“We will do our best.”

When she hung up, she turned to Jim. “If we formed a search party, we’d have no idea where to look. It seems apparent that somebody came along and gave Thomasina a ride. She could be in Tennessee by now or right under our noses close by.”

“Professor Kelley had better have a damn good alibi,” Jim said.

“You don’t like Dr. Kelley any more than I do, do you?”

“Nope, I detest his type. But just because he’s a cocky, womanizing jerk doesn’t mean he’s a kidnapper or rapist or killer.”

A foreboding chill rippled along her nerve endings. Bernie shivered. “God, I hope Thomasina shows up safe and sound, with some logical explanation of what happened to her.”

“Yeah, that would be nice, but we both know the odds are against a happy ending.”

“You think whoever killed Stephanie and Jacque has abducted Thomasina, don’t you?”