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way that there was nothing delicate about him. But he was definitely for sale.
    Kurt didn’t want drugs yet, though. Not for himself. That would come later, after his entire plan had been carried out and he was ready to kick back and relax on some South American beach. For now, his drug of choice was murder. The street drugs he acquired were strictly for bargaining.
    After he’d snatched Danny and worked out his list of girls, Kurt was finally ready to implement the rest of his plan.
    He’d thought this part out, too. When he was done, he would send a note to the news media and to Carol Jones, the prosecutor, telling her where to find the bodies so that she could see that even though she may have won in court, he was the winner in real life. Once he’d made his point, and the bodies were piled up at her proverbial doorstep, then he might be ballsy enough to follow her home and learn her routine. Being a woman, he was certain she too would stop for a little boy standing beside a lonely road. But that wasn’t a given. That would be like the cherry on top of the sundae.
    Tonight, though, he had to put a few more miles on his buddy Dave’s old car. He’d slept longer than he anticipated, and he wanted to make it to his mountain hideout before morning. It was very near the place where his next victim worked.
    He’d located it with the use of Google Maps. He couldn’t believe how easy everything was now. And since the freaky old broad in the Camaro had sped away, he didn’t even have to give Danny a reward.
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    Completely exhausted, Beth was thankful it was only a few more miles to the cabin. If it hadn’t been, she might have turned around and gone home. Except home—the beautiful split-level for which they had scrimped and saved and finally paid off—was the place she was desperately trying to avoid. It hurt to walk through rooms she had once thought of as sanctuary, and which were now somehow worse than just empty.
    Even sweet little Ladybug was gone. Ladybug was the tiny mixed breed stray that had hung around the elementary school one day. The office was going to call the pound to come and pick her up, but Beth took pity on her, took her home and placed an ad in the paper. No one claimed her so Ladybug simply stayed. Unfortunately, she hadn’t lasted long. The little dog was elderly. But at least she had died knowing she was loved and wanted. Beth thought that was what the little thing had been looking for. In a way, she felt like Ladybug now; tossed aside when she was no longer young and cute.
    She supposed comparing herself to a stray dog was sort of silly, but she’d always had an affinity for animals. It was as if they knew she was trustworthy. As a child, she’d always been the one bringing home the stray dog or cat.
    Beth wished the little dog were still with her. Hard to believe she’s been gone over a year now. If not, she would be right here beside me, offering her own brand of doggy comfort. Perhaps when I get home I’ll adopt another dog. Or just sit out on the front porch and wait for one to adopt me.
    The turn to the driveway of the cabin appeared suddenly through the trees, taking her by surprise the way it always did, even though she had been watching for the opening for two miles.
    It was late now, full dark, but the moon reflecting off the snow lit up the landscape. It made it easy for her to see that the driveway was undisturbed except for the tracks of a small animal, a fox perhaps, going from one side of the yard to the other.
    Beth was so grateful that her father had held on to the small cabin. It felt more like home now than the split-level back in Sandy.
    The short distance from the road to the cabin ended in a circle drive that led right up to the front door. Beth turned off the engine and listened to the silence for a moment. Then she stepped from the car carefully, feeling around with her toe for ice beneath the snow. Apparently, the weather had been mild. The