(3 months earlier)

 I walked into the Blue Lantern Lounge at 8:30pm, just as Deputy Miller had instructed. As I stepped inside the bar, I glanced around the room, spotting Miller sitting in a corner booth near the back.

He waved me over.

I wondered through the crowded club, every step feeling as if I were heading toward the gallows.

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked, still standing.

“Please, have a seat.” He motioned to the other side of the booth.

I hesitated but slipped in across from him. “What do you want Miller?”

“Deputy Miller.” He corrected.

“Whatever.” I shook my head. “What do you want?”

A waitress stepped up beside us, wearing a vibrant. I noticed she was my age, well put-together and happy—all the things I should have been right now. She glanced down at me. “What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll just have water.” 

She smiled and nodded, turning her attention to Miller. “Can I get you another Jameson neat, sir?”

Whiskey? Should a Texas Ranger be drinking if he was on duty?

His gaze never left mine as he answered. “No, thank you, doll.”

 I watched the waitress retreat before turning to face him, squaring my shoulders. “I don’t want to ask again,” I said through gritted teeth. “What’s all this about? Why are we here,” I waved around the room, “in a lounge of all places.”

He swirled his drink and took a sip before sitting it on the table. “As I’ve told you before, Laurel, we believe that someone killed your husband—”

“Ex.” I reminded him. “Ex-husband.”

“Yes, sorry. We believe someone killed your ex-husband and daughter then set up the crime scene to look like a murder/suicide rather than a double homicide.”

“Who would do that?” Even as I asked the question I could think of a number of seedy friends Kevin had who might commit this kind of crime.

“Your husband was involved in numerous criminal activities.”

“I know.”

“I’m afraid you don’t know the half of it.”

I nodded in acknowledgement. He was right. When it came to Kevin’s life, I didn’t know much, and I’d made it that way.

“We believe Kevin owed a lot of money to a lot of people. Dangerous people.”

“And tell me why I’m supposed to care? My daughter is dead. Chasing after another witch hunt dreamed up by law enforcement doesn’t interest me in the least. I’m tired of this. Unless the assholes can bring my daughter back, I couldn’t care less who did it.”

“But you should care,” he said moving around the U-shaped booth to sit next to me.

I followed his movement, every inch of me vibrating with fear. I stared at him and noticed for the first time that his eyes were filled with such darkness and evil, I felt sick to my stomach. I moved to stand but he caught my arm and yanked me back down.

“Sit,” he growled through gritted teeth. “Trust me, Laurel, you don’t want to go anywhere right now. Not without me.”

His Texas drawl had disappeared in that one sentence, replaced with an accent I didn’t recognize. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

“Let go of my arm or I will scream and have you arrested for assault.”

He yanked even harder, sliding me closer. “Don’t threaten me Laurel,” he warned. “I’m not a person you want to upset. Your ex-husband and daughter found that out the hard way.”

I gasped, covering my mouth. “What?”

“You heard me.” His mouth curled in a deviant grin.

“Oh my god,” I whispered, “what are you saying, you sick son of a bitch?” I tried to pull away but he tightened his grip, pulling me closer. I could smell the whiskey on his breath.

“Watch it Laurel,” he said, glancing over my shoulder. “If you draw attention to yourself, I’ll have to do the same to you.”

My eyes went wide with fear. What was this man saying?  Had he really killed Annmarie?  I was petrified, paralyzed with fear.

He saw the moment my terror overtook me. Loosening his grip on my arm, he relaxed into the booth. “That’s it,” he smiled, “you need to be afraid of me, Laurel. Very afraid.”

“What do you want?” I squeaked out with a shaky breath.

He sat silent, staring at me, evil oozing from his being.

“Kill me,” I said, straightening my back. “Right now. Just kill me. I don’t care. I don’t have anything to live for anyway.”

“Yes, I know,” he chuckled as if I’d said something funny. “You have no friends, no family, no coworkers who would miss you. You’re the perfect person for my plan.”

Bile rose in my throat and I swallowed down my fear. “What plan?”

“Keep your voice down.” He stared around the room before turning his attention to me. He grasped my chin and held it firm. “You and that pretty face of yours are going to make me very rich.”

The more sinister he turned, the thicker his accent became. 

“Where are you from?”

He remained silent, only grinning like the devil who’d jest captured a rare soul.

I jerked my head from his grasp and moved to stand. “You’re a fool if you think I’m not going to help you do anything.” 

He yanked me down. “Don’t ever call me a fool. And of course, you’ll help me. You have no choice.”

“Yes, I do. I’ll go to the police. Obviously, you’re not part of law enforcement.”

He laughed, a diabolical sound that chilled me to the bone. “Oh, you’ll help me. Or else.”

My eyes narrowed. “Or else what?”

“Or else you’ll be going to jail for the rest of your life.”

“Why would I go to jail? I haven’t done anything.”

“Well of course you have, my darling.” He reached out and stroked my hand.

I jerked away. “I’m not your darling. And I haven’t done anything.”

“You see, my love, that’s where you’re wrong.”

“How do you figure?”

“You killed your daughter and ex-husband and tried to frame him for the murder.”

I narrowed my eyes and fisted my hands beside me. “What in the hell are you talking about?”

“I have access to the crime scene,” he said. “To all the evidence, the photos, everything. If you don’t do exactly what I say, I’ll put your prints all over that trailer and manipulate the photos.”

My eyes went wide, unable to believe what he was saying.

“Don’t believe me?” He asked as if hearing my silent thoughts. “I’ve already changed the registration of the gun into your name. The local police are trying to figure out why Kevin had a gun registered to you. And several police officers saw bruises on your wrist, similar to what a strong little girl might produce if she were fighting for her life.”

“What?” I shrieked, clutching my throat, willing down the bile threatening to rise. “You can’t—” 

Miller grasped my upper arm and yanked me back down, robbing me of words. “Get control of yourself. The police are looking for you even as we speak. They have a lot more questions for you.”

This couldn’t be happening. He was lying. “Let me go,” I growled, jerking on my arm.

His hold tightened. “Settle down. If you even think about calling attention to yourself right now, I’ll take you downtown to the police station myself and have them book you tonight.”

“You have nothing,” I growled, praying my words were true. “You’re bluffing.”

“Oh, I have something,” he said with an evil grin. Without releasing my arm, he pulled a small photo from his pocket.

I gasped, covering my mouth and recoiling, fighting the urge to vomit.

Kevin was lying on the floor in his closet, his eyes closed, one side of his face swollen and covered in blood along with the carpet next to his head.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing away the image. “No,” I whispered.

“How would I have been able to secure this picture if I didn’t have access to all the files?” Miller whispered in my ear.

I drew in a deep breath to settle my stomach and my racing heart. Slowly, I opened my eyes, staring at the wall across from me to keep from crying. “What do you want?”

“That’s more like it,” he said, releasing my arm. “You’re going to Scotland.”

My head jerked as I stared at him in wide-eyed surprise. “What,” I cried out, recoiling.

His eyes narrowed in warning.

I closed my mouth but shook my head. “No way,” I said quietly, my eyes darting around the lounge. “I’m not going to Scotland.”

“Do you want to see more photos?” Miller asked, grabbing my elbow and pulling me close. “I have some of Annmarie.”

I squeezed my eyes closed, drawing in deep breaths, willing away the images of my daughter’s lifeless body from my mind.

“That’s what I thought. You leave the day after tomorrow.”

I stared, my mouth gaping. “You can’t be serious. I can’t leave that soon.”

He leaned in close to my face, his voice ghosting across my skin. “Oh, I’m serious,” he said. “Deadly serious.”

A wave of defeat washed over me. I was completely and totally screwed. “What the hell am I going to do in Scotland?” 

He leaned back against his seat, an evil smile spreading across his grotesque face. “Why, you’re going to be the sweet, charming little woman that you always are, of course.”

“I’m not sweet.”

“Why of course you are, m’eudai.” He rubbed my cheek with the back of his knuckles.

I slapped him away. “Don’t touch me.”

He laughed.

“And what did you call me? Where are you from?”

He tsked me and shook his head. “Too many questions, m’eudai.”

I had no idea what he was calling me, but I knew whatever the language, I wouldn’t like the word. I narrowed my eyes. “Why Scotland? Why me?”

 “You don’t need to know that right now. Just get your things packed and be ready to leave by Friday morning. I’ll send a car to pick you up. Your flight leaves at 5:20am.”

“And if I refuse? If I go to the police right now?” I asked in what I hoped was a threatening tone.

He reached in his jacket. “Would you care to look at the photo album I’ve created of your daughter’s death?”

I turned away, biting my cheek to keep from crying.

He yanked me to his side, his face hovering near mine. “Don’t ever threaten me, Laurel, do you understand?”

I clenched my teeth, trying to remain as still as possible. 

“With all the evidence I have, there’s not a judge or jury that won’t convict you. You’ll probably get the death penalty. And if not, you’ll certainly be killed inside of prison. Women don’t like convicts who kill their own children.”

“I don’t care,” I spewed out, “I’d rather die.”

He yanked me hard. “I mean it Laurel, watch your mouth. It’s what got Kevin in trouble.”

I pulled back and turned, searching his narrowed eyes for any shred of truth. “Did you kill them Miller?”

“Yes,” he said calmly. “And I will kill you, too if you don’t do everything I say.”

I bit back a scream, my body going limp in his hold.

“I can promise you, your death won’t be as easy though. But I’ll have a little fun first. I’ll enjoy a sweet taste of your—” 

I slapped him. Hard. Then pulled back with a gasp, covering my mouth. Oh, God. What had I done?

He rubbed his cheek, seemingly not surprised that I’d just slapped him in a public place. “Watch it Laurel,” he warned.

My chin trembled and tears burned my eyes. “Did you do anything like that to Annmarie?” The thought of this man touching my baby made me physically ill.

“Dry up the waterworks.” he said, glancing around the room. “People are starting to look.” 

A tall man stopped next to our table. “You all right, miss?” 

Miller pinched my side but I remained still, folding my hands in my lap so he wouldn’t see me trembling. “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”

The man scowled at Miller before his gaze returned to me.

“I’m fine,” I said once more, smiling in what I hoped was a reassuring expression. “Really.”

He nodded once. “I’m right over there,” he pointed to the long bar, “if you need anything.”

“Thank you.”

He stood for a long moment, studying Miller who remained unphased, before finally walking away.

Miller turned me to face me. “Hell, no I didn’t mess with Annemarie like that. I’m not into kids.” His eyes flickered with a deviant look as he perused my body. “But I’d definitely be into you. And so would a lot of other men I’d imagine.”

The hairs on my neck stood on end. What was he saying.

“I’d keep you for myself for a long time before sold you to the sex trafficking world.”

I squared my shoulders and donned my best stoic face, willing my fear away. He couldn’t do this. He was lying. “No,” I finally said.

He laughed, another diabolical sound scraping against my frayed nerves. “It’s funny that you believe you have a choice, m’eudai.”

I sat, stock still, tears running down my face. How had I gotten here.

“That’s more like it. Be very afraid. Have your things ready Friday morning,.” He jabbed a finger in my chest. “And don’t think about telling anyone. We’ll be watching you.” 

We’ll.

Without another word, he slid out of the booth and stalked toward the exit, leaving me all alone...again.