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“You see things in black and white They’re not like that, though The world is full of gray” He moved the scalpel away from her cheekonly to slice into her shoulder “And red Lots and lots of red—”
She grabbed the scalpel fro her attack, she ripped it right froers and then she shoved it into his chest as deep and as hard as she could
Daniel staggered back Macey shot up, then nearly fell off the table because her legs were still strapped and her body was shaking She yanked at the straps, jerking frantically against the on the floor
The straps gave way She sprang off the table and iht of her body drove the scalpel even deeper into him
“Youbitch”
“You bastard,” she whispered right back Then she was heaving off hi frorabbed her ankle, but she kicked back, sla crunch as she broke his nose
He wasn’t so perfect any longer
“Macey!”
She yanked open the door Her legs felt stronger Or er She ran out of the s to come after her She knew it She needed help She needed it fast There were no security monitors on that hallway No cameras to watch her No help for her
Her breath heaved out and her blood splattered onto the floor She didn’t look back, too terrified that she’d see Daniel closing in on her The elevator was up ahead She hit the button, s it with her blood She waited and waited and—
Ding The doors slid open She fell inside and whipped around
Daniel was co after her He still had the scalpel in his chest Because he’s a freaking doctor He knows that if he pulls it out, he’s done He’ll have er that scalpel stays in
It gave him the chance to come for her
His lips were twisted in a snarl as he lunged for the doors
She slapped the button to close the elevator, again and again and again, and the doors closed
Macey was shaking, crying, bleeding But she’d gotten away The elevator began to move Gentle instrumental music filled the air
The doors opened again, spitting her out on the lobby level She heard the din of voices, phones ringing and a baby crying somewhere in the distance She walked out of the elevator, naked and bloody
Silence Everything just stopped as she staggered down the corridor
“H-help me”
A wide-eyed nurse rose froht?”
Macey looked down at her bloody body “H-help me”
CHAPTER ONE
“I’VE FOUND HIM” Macey Night exhaled slowly as she faced her teaton, DC All eyes were on her, and she knew just how i, searching, never giving up, and now, finally “I believe that I know the location of Daniel Haddox” She cleared her throat and let her gaze drift around the conference room table “Danielthe serial killer otherwise known as ‘the Doctor’ thanks to the media”
A lohistle caent Bowen Murphy “I thought he was dead”
Macey had wanted him to be dead “I never believed that he died from his injuries That was just a story that circulated in the news Daniel was the best surgeon I ever met He kne to survive”
“And how to vanish,” said Saroup had been her brainchild Samantha had hand selected every member of their unit The FBI didn’t have official profilers—actually “profiler” wasn’t even a title that they used Instead, Samantha and her team were called “behavioral analysis experts” But the people in that conference room were different from the BAU members orked typical cases in the violent crimes division
Each person in that small conference room—each person there—had an intimate connection to a serial killer
Her gaze slid over her team members
Saile in appearance with her pale skin, dark hair and delicate build, but so strong inside Saht him down She’d been the one to realize that personal connections to serial perpetrators weren’t a weaknessthey could be a strength
Tucker Frost The FBI agent’s bright blue stare held Macey’s Tucker’s brother had been a serial killer The infamous Iceman who’d taken too endary—scary stories that children whispered late at night
Her hands fisted as her gaze slid to the next member of their teaaze was intense as it rested upon her Bowen had hunted down a serial killer, a man who the local authorities had sworn didn’t exist But Bowen had known the perp was out there A civilian, he’d gone on the hunt and killed the monster in the shadows
And thenthen there was Macey herself She’d worked side by side with a serial killer She’d been his victim She’d been the only “patient” to escape his care alive
Now she’d found hi over her shoulder and wondering if he’d coht, Saed with a tilt of her head “Daniel Haddox did kno to vanish” Her v
oice was quiet Flat “But I kneouldn’t turn away from medicine I kneould have to return to his patients He would have to pick up a scalpel again” But there had been so one He could have easily stayed under the radar, opening up a clinic that only dealt in cash One that didn’t have any governitimate One that catered to the poorest of communities
Where he would have even greater control over his victims
“I also knew that he wouldn’t stop killing,” Macey said Once aze slid back to Bowen She often found herself doing that—looking to Bowen She wasn’t even sure why, not really They’d been partners on a few cases, but
His gaze held hers Bowen looked angry That was odd Bowen usually controlled his eure out just what the guy was truly thinking He would present a relaxed, casual front to the world, but beneath the surface, he could be boiling with intensity
“Why didn’t you tell h, ru, and she sucked in a breath as she realized that his anger was fully directed at her
“The Doctor isn’t an active case for our group,” Macey said They had h current crimes to keep the and I didn’t want to distract from—”