Shoving the phone into his pocket, he studied Catherine closely, worry clear on his face.
“We’ll need to find someplace safe for you to stay until we can catch this guy. I promise I won’t let him near you again.” The taut set of his jaw convinced her he would do whatever necessary to keep this promise. Would it be enough?
Her gaze swept over his handsome face. Warm brown eyes filled with so much strength calmed the storm raging inside her.
“What happened in the room with the fire?” Sutter asked Dr. Rolland.
Catherine gasped. “There was a fire?”
“Yes. He used it as a distraction,” Sutter said gently. She couldn’t process the depth of rage this man must possess, to go to such extremes to kill her. Why did he want her dead?
“At the time, we had no idea the fire was deliberately set.” Dr. Rolland nodded toward the nurse standing by Catherine’s bed. “Beverly here spotted smoke coming from the room when she was checking on patients. She called for help. Most of the staff hurried to the area, which I suspect was his intent.”
Sutter nodded. “He wanted to draw people away from your room.”
Gathering enough air into her lungs was hard. This man was cunning. He’d risked countless lives to ensure her silence. What was he afraid of? He’d worn a mask. It had been dark and she didn’t get a good look at the house or the neighborhood. She doubted she could pick it out, much less him. Was it possible she somehow knew him?
A man in a sheriff’s uniform came into the room. Glancing around, he spotted Sutter and came over, while Dr. Rolland gently examined her bruised neck.
“I don’t think he did any irreparable damage, though your throat will be sore for a while. You’re safe now. Try and rest, Catherine. This has been a traumatic experience for you. I’ll check back with you soon. If you need anything before then, let Beverly know.” With another kind smile he and the nurse both left her to rest.
Yet peaceful sleep was an impossible wish. Each time she tried, the man’s eyes haunted her, along with the pain he’d inflicted on her and the pleasure he’d seemed to gain from watching her suffer. She didn’t understand how a human could enjoy hurting someone in such a sickening way. And there were other victims. She hadn’t had time to process it before now, but why else would the FBI be called in to investigate her case, unless she wasn’t the first woman he’d hurt? The thought was chilling.
He knew she was alive, and he wouldn’t stop until she was dead.
“There’s no sign of him,” Sherriff Collins said in a quiet voice. “I’m guessing he escaped before the hospital went into lockdown. My people are interviewing the staff to see if someone might have seen him. And we’re canvassing the surrounding area, as well. There’s video surveillance at all entrances. I’ll have my deputy go through them. Hopefully, we can pick him up on one of the cameras.”
Though disappointed, Sutter wasn’t surprised. He glanced over to where Catherine stared out the window, shoulders slumped. Defeated.
“He wore a medical mask and scrubs to help him blend in, and he had a gun. He created a fire in one of the rooms to draw the staff away from Catherine. This guy is smart. We can’t underestimate him.”
Sheriff Collins nodded. “Agreed. We’re interviewing the people working on this floor to see if they recall anything unusual happening other than the fire.”
Sutter didn’t believe they would. The Dead of Night Killer was good at blending in. “He stuck a syringe in my neck. It must have contained something to knock me out because I went down. When I came to, he was trying to suffocate Catherine with a pillow. I managed to pull him off. We struggled. He’s strong and I was groggy from the medicine.” He’d had the killer in his grasp and couldn’t subdue him. Would another innocent woman pay for his failings? “Anyway, he clocked me with the gun and then got away.”
Sheriff Collins pinned him with a look. The wisdom this gentle but tough man presented throughout this ordeal was something Sutter admired. “Don’t beat yourself up. This guy had nothing to lose and you’d been dosed. Sooner or later, he will slip up and we’ll nail him.”
Sutter wanted to believe him, but how many other women would have to die before that happened? “I know, but we sure could use a break. I hate to think of Catherine’s family missing her and worried.”
“I do, as well,” the sheriff said. “Megan’s been canvassing the town with Catherine’s photo, but so far, no one’s recognized her.”
Sutter remembered her reference to God. “Have her ask around the churches in town.” He explained what Catherine had said.
“I’ll do it now,” the sheriff replied, and took out his phone.
Sutter went over to Catherine’s bedside. Every little move he made sent shards of pain through his head. Whatever drug the killer had used to knock him out was leaving him groggy.
“How are you feeling?” he asked Catherine, his concern for her greater than his own pain.
Her blue eyes appeared huge. Haunted. “I just want this to be over.”
“I know you do. We’re doing everything in our power to find this guy.” Yet so far it hadn’t been enough.
“But he got away, didn’t he?” she asked, holding Sutter’s gaze.
He hated telling her the truth, but he had to. “Yes, I’m sorry, he did.”
“He won’t stop coming after me, will he? He can’t afford to let me live,” Catherine said, and shivered at the thought.
Sutter wished he could think of something to ease her fears, but this killer was ruthless and resourceful. He didn’t like the idea of keeping Catherine at the hospital any longer than necessary.
When the sheriff ended his call and came over, Sutter asked him about moving Catherine.
“Until we catch this guy, we need a place he won’t think to look for her. Any suggestions?”
Sheriff Collins never wavered. “I may know a place. I’ll have to clear it first, but I think she’ll be as safe there as anywhere.”
“Where are you talking about?” Sutter asked.
“The West Kootenai Amish community nearby.” The sheriff waited for his response.
That was the last place Sutter expected the sheriff to recommend. “You think that’s wise?” he asked. “The Amish are a private, peaceful people.” Bringing a killer’s target into their quiet environment would not be condoned by the bishop.
“I don’t see that we have many options. We need Catherine safe and I know the bishop pretty well from some dealings in the past. I’ll speak with him and clear it,” Sheriff Collins said. “And there’s another reason why I suggested the community. My former deputy joined the Amish faith several years back. His name is Noah Warren. He and his wife and daughter live on the outskirts of the West Kootenai community.” The sheriff glanced at Catherine. “If I needed a safe place to disappear, it’s where I would choose to go.”
Hearing a former deputy had joined the Amish community was something Sutter was not prepared for. Leaving the modern world behind for a simpler way of life was something Sutter found himself longing for with each new case that came his way. He looked forward to meeting Noah Warren.
Despite Sheriff Collins’s assurances, Catherine appeared worried.
“I’ll be right there with you at all times,” Sutter told her. “I’m not letting you out of my sight for a minute until I know for certain we have this guy in custody.”
She managed the tiniest of nods. The hope in her eyes scared him. She