Simon Says Die

her feel like she was doing something to help with the investigation, he’d take her.
    Besides, if he didn’t take her, he figured she’d probably go there by herself.
    His cell phone rang just as he crossed into the next aisle in the parking lot and saw the empty space where Casey had parked his car. Without looking at the phone’s screen, he took off running for the parking lot entrance to catch Casey before he drove away.
    â€œHello,” he yelled into the phone, as he flagged Casey down.
    â€œI got tired of waiting while you and Casey discussed my future,” Madison said. “Don’t worry about me. I found your gun in the glove box. I’ll meet you back at the b-and-b later tonight.” The line went dead before Pierce could respond.
    Casey pulled up beside him and rolled down the passenger window. “What’s going on?”
    Pierce opened the door and hopped in. “Madison stole my car.”
    Casey started laughing. “I suppose that was her on the phone.”
    Pierce shoved his phone into his jacket pocket. “Take me up to the spot off I-95 where the police searched for Damon.”
    â€œIs that where she said she was going?”
    â€œShe didn’t bother to tell me where she was going. But I’m sure that’s where she went.”
    Casey pulled out into the street and headed toward the highway. “What are you going to do when you find her?”
    He tightened his hands into fists. “I’m going to very patiently explain to her the dangers of going off alone right now, of course.”
    Casey laughed. “Of course.”
    T HE INTERSECTION OF the two rural highways a half mile from I-95 looked like any other highway intersection. There was nothing dark or sinister to suggest that Damon had been here yesterday morning, putting Madison’s body into her car.
    She shivered at the thought of him touching her while she was unconscious. The days when she’d fancied herself in love with him were so long ago, and buried under so much hurt, she couldn’t even remember what had attracted her to him anymore.
    Thoughts of Damon had her glancing around, nervously searching the shadows in the trees on the side of the road. Had she really thought she’d be able to find something by coming up here? There wasn’t a spark of memory, no images in her head telling her what direction Damon might have gone.
    She shivered in the chilly air and hugged her jacket to her. Having the weight of Pierce’s 9mm in her jacket pocket was comforting, but she still felt too exposed and was seriously doubting the wisdom of coming here by herself.
    The sound of a car coming up the road had her stepping onto the shoulder, behind Pierce’s car. The other car was coming up fast, a car she didn’t recognize. She stepped farther back, and wrapped her hand around the butt of the gun as the car pulled to a stop just a few feet from the rear bumper of Pierce’s GTO.
    She released the gun, relief flooding through her when she recognized the driver—Agent Casey. She waved a greeting.
    He waved back, an amused smile flashing across his face.
    The passenger door flew open and suddenly Pierce was storming around the car toward her. “Adding grand theft auto to your rap sheet is not a good way to prove your innocence.”
    She opened her mouth to explain, then squeaked in surprise when he didn’t slow down. He just grabbed her hand and hauled her toward his car.
    Madison looked back at Agent Casey, but he was no help. He gave her a cheeky wave and did a U-turn in the middle of the highway, heading back toward town.
    â€œWhat are you doing? Let me go,” she insisted as Pierce opened the passenger door and pushed her inside. She tried to shove back out of the car when something hard and cold fastened around her wrist, followed by a loud click. She gasped in outrage when she saw that he’d handcuffed her to the inside of the car.
    Again.
    She cursed viciously, calling him every name she could think of as he reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out his gun. He put her seat belt on, slammed her door shut, and strode to the driver’s side. He took off so fast the wheels spun in the dirt beside the highway, throwing up a cloud of dust around them.
    â€œUnlock these cuffs.” Madison futilely jerked on the chain.
    Pierce’s jaw tightened. He sped around a curve, then braked hard and swerved down a side road.
    She