stairs, her breath coming

iving room, clutchin

f frozen peas pressed against his injured k

terrified expression,

crazy!" Ainsley screamed, tears of rage and fear streaming down

as already turning red, and the faint, white inden

tared at the

the cold, mechanical efficiency of the chokehold in the woods.

r a lesson!" Ainsley demanded, her vo

gainst his ribs. Go upstairs? Face that monster

know he was terrified. He ha

bbed. He put on his best, most serious teacher's face a

oice to a grave whisper. "Didn't you see her eyes? That

ing at him in confusio

own cowardice. "She's showing severe signs of schizophrenia and violent tendencies. If I go up there and

nless eyes flashed in her mind. The idea of her sister stand

ing away, replaced by genuine dread. "What do w

wed. A dark, cowardly p

istopher said softly. "But someone else c

's eyes

currently serving in the military, stationed at a base in Texa

e creeping onto her lips. "Forrest wi

wrist, and hurried over to the small writing desk

the second floor, Alissa

house's ductwork carried the sound from the living room up to her bedroom in muffled, echoing waves. She held her breath, stra

Forrest," a violent shudd

Memories of heavy combat boots, the sharp crack of a leather bel

up, her exp

diately. Kristopher was a weak, untr

direct confrontation with Forrest would be suicide. Worse, if Forrest came back, he ha

a week before the letter reached Texa

get out of

money. Real money.

he bottom drawer and dug through the old school s

it out on t

oving away from the Red Sorghum community, stoppi

fic location. Craw

brother, Rudy Knox, wo

memories told Alissa that two years ago, Rudy had tricked the original Alissa into si

ap. A cold, predatory

on. He cared about his prist

ct target for a

er back pocket. She was going to the city,