Even though she and the team of Strike Force had barely escaped an unimaginable attack from the same people trying to kill them, Lizzy Grayson was grateful. She saw the good in life despite the danger stalking them because she’d lived in darkness for so many years. But God had brought her husband back into her life, and she’d discovered she had a brother. The winter that had saturated her heart was fading. Outside the world was in chaos. But she wouldn’t allow the past or the killer that still remained on the loose to take root in her heart and mind.
“Want to talk about it?” Will asked and she loved him for it. With the world falling apart around them, he was worried about her.
She shivered as she recalled the cold box where they’d kept her. The pleasure she saw in the man she’d learned was her grandfather every time his apprentice tortured her. There was no hint of any human emotions in either of them. “Not really.” She touched Will’s face. “I’m okay.”
Until a week ago, she had no memories of the past. No idea who she was before what she’d been told was a car accident took her memory away. The truth was far darker. She’d been held captive by a two-man team of serial killers known as Van Gogh. Lizzy wasn’t sure what was worse—realizing she had barely escaped with her life—or finding out one of those men was her grandfather.
Will tugged her closer. He had been there with her when she realized the truth about her past. Her family heritage.
As he watched her carefully, his smile disappeared. He was worried about her, and she so loved him for it.
Lizzy ran her hand across her husband’s cheek and still couldn’t believe she’d found him again. For more than five years, she’d lived in limbo because of something that happened to her shortly after she and Will married.
She’d been abducted by a serial killer who was operating in the Washington D.C. area at the time. He was nicknamed the Van Gogh Killer because of his penchant for leaving Van Gogh’s Starry Night picture at the victims’ homes, and for the way he cut off part of the victim’s left ear.
Memories of her time in the killer’s possession had been so traumatic that Lizzy had shoved them down deep. She might never have remembered them if it hadn’t been for Will. With him and the help of hypnosis, Lizzy remembered that her grandfather had been the mentor to the man who had taken her.
Thanks to those reclaimed memories, Lizzy was able to assist the FBI agents heading up the task force to identify one of the two Van Gogh killers. She prayed the second would be captured soon. Before he hurt another innocent woman.
“I’m so happy that I’m almost afraid. . .” She couldn’t finish. But he understood. Will had been there to hold her through many a nightmare.
“Hey.” He gathered her close. “Nothing’s going to happen. I’m not letting your father anywhere near you again.”
He thought she was worried about her father. Truthfully, Lizzy had made her peace with the man who was her father. After Martin Collins was captured in Afghanistan and brought to their new location in Idaho, she’d gone to see him. Told him that she had forgiven him for the terrible things he’d done in his quest for power, but she no longer wanted a relationship with him.
The one that troubled her the most was the man who had showed up at her safe place and tried to kill her. He’d haunted her sleeping hours for days afterward. A reminder of the torture he’d put her through and the feeling she wouldn’t escape his deadly games so easily. Lizzy held her husband close and willed the dark thoughts away.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Will searched her face.
Lizzie forced a smile. “Of course.” She’d be strong for him. They’d been through so much since the team had been forced to leave the Washington compound and flee to a remote location in Idaho. And now their worst nightmare had happened. The men coming against them had used nuclear weapons on the team. Hiding out in a secured mountain mine, everyone on the team was terrified of another attack.
Will leaned down and framed her face with his hands before he gently kissed her. “I’m going to speak with Victor and the rest of the core team. See how long we must wait before we can venture outside. If you need me, I’m close.”
Lizzy nodded. “I know. I’ll find my brother and see how he’s holding up.” She glanced around at the crowd of people crammed into the mine where they’d been hiding out.
Will was hesitant—she could sense it. He hated leaving her after everything she’d been through. He was her strong warrior. Never once had he given up on finding her through their years apart.
Lizzy struggled against the emotions that were always close whenever she thought about all the time she’d lost with him. Looking into the past wouldn’t serve any purpose now. She had a chance at a future with Will and her brother.
He held her hands near his heart. “I love you, Lizzy. I love you so much.” His lips grazed her knuckles. “Don’t go near the front of the cave until we know how dangerous the fallout will be.”
“I won’t. Go.” She freed one hand and entwined their fingers. Lizzy walked with him a short ways. “Find me the minute you know something.”
“I will.” Lizzy watched him walk away and glanced over to the place where her aunt was sleeping. After everything Aunt Betty had been through with her brother, Lizzy was happy to let her rest as much as possible.
She went back to the spot where she and Will had attempted to sleep and retrieved her phone. Most times, Lizzy kept it turned off because of the people who had tried to kill them. And she had no doubt they would do their best to track them by phone.
While the phone powered up, Lizzy searched the crowd of people scattered around until she spotted Mark speaking to Jennifer Parker.
The message-waiting alarm sounded as soon as the phone was at full power.
Lizzy swiped her thumb across the surface and hit the message button. The second it appeared on her screen, three photos had her stifling a scream. Two were of her . . . at the compound they’d recently left here in Idaho. But the third was the most frightening. She dropped the phone, the scream tearing through her body from deep inside.
It was from him. He’d sent a message meant for her alone. And he’d taken another victim. One Lizzy knew very well. She could imagine the terrible things he’d put her through because she’d been there. She’d once been in that box awaiting the next deadly game of the Van Gogh Killer.
Chapter Two
Asher woke to the shrill sound of his cell phone. The noise propelled him out of bed. Still groggy, he fumbled around the nightstand until he found the phone and brought it to his ear. “Lackland.”
“I got a call from Sheriff Callahan. He received a message from. . . someone.” Olivia caught herself before she said the name aloud. They’d both been careful not to mention Will or Lizzy Grayson in their investigation after their run-in with Director Holden. The man appeared to have his own agenda that had nothing to do with solving the Van Gogh case.
“What did it say?” Asher asked. Right away, his gut tightened. Lizzy Grayson had been the one to break the Van Gogh case wide open by affirming that they were dealing with two separate serial killers working in tandem. The thought was horrifying. The only bright side was the revelation that one of the killers had died at the hands of his own son.