Whiskey Rose (Fallen) by Melissa Jones Page A

the gallows. But after the fire was out there was no sign of a body. They still declared him dead, guess that was better than the public panic that was getting stirred up. But I never believed he was really dead.” Captain Henning turned back and looked at him. “What have you got? Is it solid?” Matt hesitated. He almost wished he hadn’t said anything.
    “ A woman, claims she knows him that she knows h e’ s not dead. Truthfully she is terrified of him, hiding from him . ”
    “ Well if she knows him she has a right to be terrified. You believe her ? ”   Did he believe her? Matt had to think about that. Everything she projected was false but she had n’ t directly lied to him and if she had n’ t been intoxicated she never would have told him about Kline in the first place.
    “ Yes, I believe her . ”
    “Well if a woman is the key I would say you are the best one for the job.” Captain Henning walked to a file cabinet in the corner and took out a file. He sat back down.  “I’ve been keeping tabs. Kline is a sick sucker. He kills without regard. Obliterates entire families, killed every person in a church once. Since he supposedly died there have been a few incidents that reeked of him.” He handed the file to Matt and he began reading through it. “The first came about six months after his alleged death. It was a whole family again. Mother, father and two boys. Ten and twelve I think. I don’t know why he targeted this particular family. According to the neighbors they were new to the area and kept to themselves.”
    “ How do you know it was him ? ”
    “ The blood. He has a thing for blood. Douses everything it. The walls the furniture. He drains every drop from the bodies an d … well I do n’ t know how to explain what he does but suffice it to say the places he visits are uninhabitable when he leaves . ”
    “ What are these other ones? More families ? ” Matt flipped to the pages in the back of the file.
    “ No they are women. There have been four in the last four years. Again i t’ s the blood that makes me think i t’ s him . ” Matt read the descriptions of the murdered women and it felt like ice in his chest .“ Brown curly hair . ” One said ,“ Frizzy dark hair . ” Another said. All were in their late teens or early twenties, taller than average height and average body type. All were mutilated beyond recognition.
    “ These women sound very similar . ” Matt said keeping his voice even.
    “ Yes it would appear that his has developed a type. Which is why I am not certain i t’ s him. H e’ s never had a type before it was his methods that were his signature . ”
    “ What if i t’ s not a type? What if he is looking for one woman in particular? What if he is searching for her ? ” Matt said staring at the words in front of him. The Captain leaned forward onto his desk.
    “ Yo u’ re woman matches this description does n’ t she ? ”
    “ Yes . ” Matt said simply. The Captain leaned back again.
    “ You think she can give you enough to find him before he finds her ? ”
    “ I do n’ t know, maybe . ”

Chapter 9
    Rose had been crying. He could tell the moment he saw her. But she smiled at him. She had beaten him to the meeting location. But then she had to reassemble her look. The wig was back in place. She looked just as he expected her too except for the red rimmed eyes.
    "How was your time off?" he asked.
    "Rejuvenating. How is your Captain?"
    "Cantankerous as always." she laughed at that and he realized he had missed the sound. He had missed her.
    "Shall we?"
    "You sure?" h e asked, "We don't have to, we could just run away. Ride off in to the sunset." her expression slipped just for a second and he realized she was tempted. She really did want a new life. Even more disturbing was the fact that he was tempted. He could just walk away from everything. It wouldn't even be a difficult decision.
    “ Come on le t’ s get going . ” She turned her horse and