In a flash, the man moved his grip to her throat, squeezing so hard, Kayla couldnt breathe.
She pried at his hands, her fingers tearing at his flesh, frantic to take a breath.
As his fingers tightened on her neck, he leaned close until his mask-covered mouth was close to her ear. You win for now, but it isnt over. He yanked the chain from around her neck, then he let go so suddenly, Kayla slid down the side of the car. Unable to slow her fall, her head hit the pavement with a dull thud.
Dense fog clouded her vision even as precious air filled her starving lungs. Muffled voices, like people shouting into pillows, faded into silence. She could see the silhouette of her attacker sliding away into the shadows of an alley. Then the flashing stopped and night turned to pitch, the fog all-consuming. She couldnt let it claim her.
Kaylas eyes opened and she stared at the light shining on her table beside the bed. As quickly as the dreams came to her, they receded. The only impression she retained was one of terror and golden-brown eyes.
She jerked up out of the bed, her breathing labored as if shed been smothered. Air, she had to get air. Kayla rushed for the window, pushing aside the drapes. She unlatched the lever and shoved the window open, sucking in air as fast as her lungs could take it.
Finally, her heart rate started to slow, and reason took hold once more. She reminded herself that she was far away from Seattle, safely tucked away in her vacation rental in Cape Churn.
Getting away had been her therapists idea, but the small, seaside town shed chosen as her destination had been a whim, the result of a real-estate brochure that had caught her eye. The images of untamed waves, peaceful beaches and quaint, quiet streets had called to her in a way she couldnt explain. It just looked like such a wholesome place to be. A good place to rediscover her inspiration againmissing ever since the attack. A good place to have a child, she whispered.
She rubbed her hand in gentle circles over her belly. It was too soon to feel the baby yet, but she liked to imagine her kicking back in reply. Her babythe only person she had left in the world. When shed woken up in the hospital after the attack, the doctor had told her she was lucky she hadnt miscarried. If she wanted to keep the baby, shed have to take better care of herself, get more rest and not worry so much. And stay away from dark places where bad guys hang out.
The doctor had also asked some pointed questions about her support networkfamily, friends, the babys fatherand hadnt seemed too pleased with the answers. Kayla didnt blame him. As much as shed hated to admit, she didnt have a support network. Kayla didnt have siblings or parents to call and check up on her. Her best friend and the surrogate father of her baby had died three months ago in a car accident. The crash had occurred only two days following the artificial insemination of Tonys sperm.
For all the years shed been on her own since the deaths of her parents, shed longed for a family. She and Tony hadnt been in love, but they had cared for each other deeply, and theyd looked forward to making a family together, raising their child as partners in a home full of warmth and caringa place where Kayla could finally feel as if she belonged.
Well still have that, Baby. Im sorry you wont have a daddy, but youll always have me, and well be okay.
Thoughts of her baby had gotten her through the loss of her best friend and the end of their plans to build a happy, companionable little family together. Remembering her baby had given her the strength to fight off her attacker in the parking lot long enough to signal for help. And it was with the goal of protecting her baby that shed grimly pulled herself together in the aftermath of the attack and found a place where they could be safe.
Kayla peered out the window. Fog had crept in to cloak the coastline. If not for the gentle splash of waves against the cliffs and the strong scent of salt in the air, she wouldnt have known that she was at the coast. Her heartbeat settled into a smooth, steady rhythm, as the last vestiges of the nightmare slowly slipped away.
Sleep. Thats what she and the baby needed. On this quiet edge of coastline, she wanted the peace of the place to wrap around them.
The therapist had taught her this trick of imagining a happy place before she went to bed. It would help settle her mind and avoid the nightmares that had woken her night after night. Now that she was at Cape Churn, it should be even easier. After all, her happy place was here with the ocean, the wind and waves. The nightmares would fade in timeshe had to believe that. Shed get better, stronger. Shed heal in this quiet, peaceful place.
Leaving the window open just a little, she climbed back in bed and laid her head on the pillow.
As she lay there, her eyelids drooped and closed to the darkness, her mind settling into the edge of oblivion. Just as she drifted into sleep, a sharp scream ripped through the night.
Chapter 2
Found her right there. Judd Strayhorn, one of the local retirees, pointed to where the medical examiner squatted beside the naked body of the dead woman. I didnt move her. She looked pretty dead already, what with her face buried in sand and her skin all white and waxy-like.
Gabes gaze raked the beach hoping for clues, articles left behind, footprints, besides Judds and the medical examiners. He searched for anything that would tell him how this woman was murdered, who did it and how the body ended up where it did. Thanks, Judd. If you dont mind coming down to the station later, we can get your statement in writing.
Anything you want. Judd shook his head, staring across the yellow crime scene tape at the girls lifeless form. Hate to think of what the parents of this girl are going to go through. I have a daughter a little older than her. He sighed. Crying shame. The older mans shoulders sagged as he gathered his fishing pole and tackle box and trudged up the steep hillside to the road.
Gabe couldnt help but empathize. He didnt have a daughter himself but, as hed only recently learned, he did have a son. Breaking this kind of bad news to parents had always been the hardest part of his job. Now, as a parent himself, Gabe was pretty sure it was about to get harder.
Chief Tom Taggert crossed his arms over his chest. Think shes the girl from the missing person report last night?
Dark red hair, about five foot fourish. Gabe nodded. Yeah. Got to be the one.
Her friends said she disappeared from the beach down below the lighthouse round midnight. The chief snorted. Shed told them she was going to get a blanket from the car.
Had a high tide last night. Think she waded out and got caught in the undercurrent? Cape Churn was known for its wicked undercurrent. Not many parents let their small children play in the water near the lighthouse, preferring to take them down the coast to a less dangerous beach. But the teens and young people on vacation at Cape Churn didnt always stop to check the conditions or adhere to the warnings.
Have to wait for the M.E.s determination. Cant imagine shed go in alone, though, and not with the water as cold as its been.
Yeah, Gabe agreed. And if it was an accident, that wouldnt explain why shes naked, when her friends described her as wearing jeans and a hoodie.