Read Torn (Second Sight) for Free Online Page A

victims. Whatever fantasy he was enacting hadn’t been satisfied. But Isabelle had been of the same opinion as the sergeant. Though the search for the Priest hadn’t turned up leads, his sketch had been widely circulated and his face had clearly been seen–by her and Esme.  
    And that was one of the reasons that Ben was personally involved with this case. He understood that his daughter might be the only person in the world who could testify against this serial killer and, even now, she was recovering at home with a black-and-white police car parked on the curb and an FBI agent in the house at all times. As they entered the Caras’s living room, Mac saw the tiredness in his mentor’s face and the way he’d seemed to age years in only weeks.
    “Why don’t you head home, Ben,” Mac said. “I’ve arranged for an agent to spell Sharon but, until there’s another call or something turns up on the video, there’s not much more that we can do.”  
    The analysis of the recording in Washington DC had turned up very little. The forensic linguist hadn’t been able to glean any slang that might date the Priest nor any technical jargon that might relate to his work background. Unfortunately, the fact that his grammar and diction were good but that he could get foul-mouthed described a large section of the male population.  
    Neither of Angela’s parents were in the living room. A single uniformed police officer, Sharon, and another Special Agent were the compliment of law enforcement. As requested, Sharon had sent all available eyes and ears to watch surveillance videos at the hospital. Isabelle and Sergeant Dixon hung back, staying near the front door.  
    The chiming doorbell signaled the arrival of Sharon’s replacement. Sergeant Dixon pointed him in her direction.  
    “You know,” Ben said, slowly heading to the front door. “You’re welcome to stay at the house. Anita and Esme would be delighted.”
    “That’s thoughtful of you, Ben,” Mac said, even as his mind scrambled for some excuse not to go. The only place he wanted to be was with Isabelle. “But Sharon and I are already booked into a hotel and I think we’re all pretty beat.” The dark circles under Ben’s eyes told Mac that he’d be able to relate to that. In fact, Ben looked like he’d lost some weight. Despite wanting to be here to see the Priest finally captured, Mac guessed that Ben was reliving his own nightmare. Esme’s slow recovery was his daily reminder. She would need at least two more surgeries to repair the damage to her knee and she would probably never run again.
    “Yeah,” Ben agreed. “It’s been a long day.” Ben nodded at the sergeant and pointedly ignored Isabelle as he opened the front door and turned to Mac. “Thanks again, Mac,” he said, extending his hand. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    As they shook, Mac said, “Get some rest and we’ll start fresh tomorrow.”
    As Ben headed to his car, Mac, Isabelle, Sergeant Dixon, and Sharon gathered in the driveway. Mac’s rental car waited across the street and the sergeant’s SUV was at the curb. But as they approached the vehicles, Mac realized that he and Isabelle really did have to go separate ways. Sharon needed him to take them both to the hotel.
    “I’d be glad to drop Sharon off at the hotel,” Sergeant Dixon said. Startled, Mac shot him a quick look. But the sergeant’s face didn’t betray a thing, as though the suggestion were simply something that made sense. “Do you have a suitcase?” Dixon said to Sharon.
    “In the trunk,” she answered, completely nonchalant, as she and Dixon headed for the rental.  
    Do they know about Isabelle and I?
    Ben had already driven off and, as Mac unlocked the car with the remote, he glanced at Isabelle. She stood close enough to touch, her amber eyes gazing steadily into his.
    “Don’t question it,” she said lowly.  
    He didn’t, not for a moment, but he hadn’t realized how transparent he was. Only