Once Hunted Read online

  Riley’s despair deepened. She had rescued Jilly at a truck stop when she was just getting ready to try her hand at prostitution. Riley could hardly believe that Jilly had revisited that awful world.

  “Bonnie and her husband went and found her, then grounded her,” Garrett said. “She didn’t take it well, and a day later she was gone.”

  Riley didn’t know what to say.

  “Riley, Bonnie says she can’t deal with this anymore. She was hoping to adopt her, but this whole thing has shocked her out of that idea. Jilly said she just wanted to visit friends, but Bonnie’s afraid that Jilly’s going to wind up a prostitute after all. I’ve been trying to find her to take her back to the shelter. So far I’ve had no luck.”

  Riley drew a deep breath. Her mood sank again.

  “Thanks for letting me know, Garrett. Please tell me if—when you find her.”

  “I will.”

  Riley hung up and sat there staring at the muted TV.

  April said, “It’s about Jilly, isn’t it? She’s run away again?”

  Riley nodded.

  “What are you going to do?” April asked.

  The question hung heavily in the air, as Riley realized she had no idea.

  “Are you just going to leave her all alone and lost like that?” April finally asked.

  Riley was taken aback by the depth of April’s concern.

  “Jilly needs help,” Riley said. “But what can I do for her? Everybody around me gets hurt sooner or later. Besides, the world is full of problems. I can’t solve all of them.”

  “No,” April said. “You can’t. But you can solve one of them. And for that one person, that’s the whole world, isn’t it?”

  Riley stared back at her daughter, in awe of her wisdom, truly floored and impressed by her. Beyond that, touched.

  Riley couldn’t help but nod back.

  “I can help,” April said softly, holding her hand. “You bring her back here, and I can help raise her.” April looked up at her with pleading, desperate eyes. “I need to help,” she added.

  Riley knew in that moment that her daughter was talking about herself; she saw herself in Jilly, and it would be somehow cathartic for her to rescue her.

  Riley sighed, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders.

  “I don’t know, April,” she said. “I just don’t know.”

  *

  Later that night, long after April had fallen asleep, Riley sat up in her bed, unable to sleep. She checked the clock: two a.m.

  She got up and quietly paced the quiet house, all still except for her. April’s words still rang in her head:

  For that one person, that’s the whole world, isn’t it?

  And:

  I need to help.

  Riley dwelled on it.

  And the more she did, the more she realized that she needed to help, too.

  There was a young girl out there who needed her, who had no one else in the world to turn to.

  And if Riley turned her back on her, it would be as good as letting her die.

  Riley took a deep breath, and she knew what she had to do.

  She would go to Arizona.

  And bring Jilly back.

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

  ONCE PINED

  (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 6)

  “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”

  --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

  ONCE PINED is book #6 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)!

  Men and women are turning up dead in the outskirts of Seattle, poisoned by a mysterious chemical. When a pattern is discovered and it becomes clear that a twisted serial killer is on the hunt, the FBI calls in their best asset: Special Agent Riley Paige. Riley is urged to return to the line of duty—but Riley, still reeling from the attacks on her family, is loath to return. Yet as bodies mount, and the murders become more inexplicable, Riley knows she has no choice.

  The case takes Riley deep into the unsettling world of nursing homes, of hospitals, of drifting caretakers and psychotic patients. As Riley delves deeper into the mind of the murderer, she realizes she is hunting the most terrifying killer of all: one whose madness knows no depths—and yet who may just appear shockingly ordinary.

  A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE PINED is book #6 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

  Book #7 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

  ONCE PINED

  (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 6)

  Blake Pierce

  Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which include the mystery suspense thrillers ONCE GONE (book #1), ONCE TAKEN (book #2), ONCE CRAVED (#3) and ONCE LURED (#4). ONCE HUNTED (#5), and ONCE PINED (#6). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series and AVERY BLACK mystery series.

  An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

  BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE

  RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES

  ONCE GONE (Book #1)

  ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)

  ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)

  ONCE LURED (Book #4)

  ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)

  ONCE PINED (Book #6)

  MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES

  BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)

  BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)

  BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)

  AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES

  CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)

  CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)