Once Buried Read online

  And now, she didn’t have to go to Quantico until Monday, but she was looking forward to seeing Walder then. She always enjoyed hearing him choke over the obligatory congratulations after she’d successfully solved a case.

  For the rest of yesterday, Riley’s sleep had only been interrupted by soup and snacks that the kids ferried up to her from Gabriela. This morning, they had just let her sleep in.

  Today there was nothing on Riley’s schedule except a late lunch date with Blaine. She had plenty of time to get ready for that.

  She got up slowly, relishing a familiar satisfaction in knowing that she and her colleagues had done their work well, and the public was safe from at least one more killer.

  Of course, she also felt sore all over after the ordeal in the quicksand.

  She shuddered at the memory, then shook it off. She was determined to let nothing spoil the pleasant day that awaited her.

  She took her time getting dressed and finally made her way downstairs. Jilly apparently heard her footsteps and met her at the foot of the stairs.

  “Mom, you’re up! And are you lucky! There are still some pancakes left!”

  Riley was surprised to realize that she was really hungry. She started toward the kitchen, but Jilly stopped her and planted her on the living room sofa.

  “Just sit down,” Jilly said. “I’ll bring everything right here.”

  “Thanks,” Riley said, smiling. “And some coffee too, please.”

  “Coming right up!”

  While Riley waited, Liam and April came in from the family room.

  Riley asked, “What do the two of you have planned for today?”

  Liam said, “April and I are going to a chess club practice session this afternoon.”

  “We’ve been practicing all morning,” April said.

  “I was giving her a few pointers,” Liam said. “She’s catching on fast.”

  Liam and April sat down in the living room with Riley, and Jilly came back with a hot cup of coffee. She put it down and dashed back to the kitchen. In moments she returned with a dish and silverware for Riley. Gabriela followed with a plate full of pancakes and a bottle of syrup.

  Liam said, “Mmmm. I know we’ve already had breakfast, but I could sure eat more of those.”

  “I’ll make some more,” Gabriela said, exiting into the kitchen.

  April said, “Mom, could I go to chess camp this summer?”

  “I don’t see why not,” Riley said.

  April broke into a broad smile.

  “Good! Chess will make me smarter, and I have to get as smart as possible! I’ve made an important decision, Mom.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m going to be an FBI agent!”

  Riley’s eyes widened.

  “Well, what do you think, Mom?” April asked.

  Riley hesitated, then said, “We’ve got a lot of talking to do, I guess.”

  As Riley stabbed a piece of pancake with her fork, she wondered—did she want April’s life to be like hers? She had always wished a more pleasant and ordinary life for her daughter.

  Don’t get alarmed, Riley thought.

  After all, April might well change her mind—and there was still plenty of time for her to think about it. To apply to the academy, she’d need a college degree and probably some work experience.

  A lot could happen between now and then.

  Jilly laughed and said, “Hey, I’ve got big plans too! There are exactly eighteen days left of school before summer vacation starts. If I survive my exams, I’m going to sleep all summer long!”

  Riley laughed heartily.

  “Well,” she said, “it’s so nice to know that both of my girls know what they’ll be doing with themselves in the future.”

  *

  Awhile later, Riley was sitting on the patio at Blaine’s Grill. The restaurant was busy, as was usual on a Saturday. Riley was enjoying the sun and air, the pleasant bustle of servers, the cheerful conversations of customers around her.

  This was a very different world from the one she inhabited so much of the time.

  And much nicer, she thought.

  Blaine soon freed himself of his restaurant duties and joined Riley at her table. Together they sipped white wine and enjoyed a delicious seafood bisque. Riley hoped that Gabriela would understand if she wasn’t very hungry for dinner tonight.

  Of course, Blaine wanted to know about the case. Riley told him—selectively, as usual. She didn’t get into Bill’s ongoing struggle with PTSD, and she certainly didn’t say anything about what she’d learned about Jenn.

  She also skipped over some of the darker details of the case—for example, the grotesqueness of the buried bodies in rigor mortis, and the hideous expressions on their faces.

  As always, she harbored a worry in the back of her mind—a worry that, sooner or later, this wonderful man would get scared away by the life she lived and disappear from her life altogether.

  He didn’t seem scared by what she was telling her right now, though. When she finished talking, he actually seemed pensive.

  “I don’t know, Riley,” he said. “Maybe there’s something wrong with me. I can’t help but feel at least some pity for the killer. It must have been horrible, carrying that suppressed horror inside of him all those years. And the irony! The whole thing began with him being buried alive in sand—and his life ended that way too.”

  Riley found it to be an interesting thought. And now that she had put her outrage and anger behind her, she couldn’t help but feel the same way.

  Still, there was no question that Felix Harrington had been a monster, even if he’d been a victim as well. He’d made the choice to start killing.

  Not all victims become monsters, she told herself.

  There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Harrington had deserved his fate.

  As she ate and tried to enjoy Blaine’s pleasant conversation, dark thoughts began to intrude.

  For one thing, there was Jenn.

  Riley’s younger partner had gotten a mild reprimand for rushing ahead of Bill and Riley to Felix Harrington’s lair. Meredith had accepted Jenn’s explanation that the closing bridge had complicated her decision.

  But Riley now knew that Jenn’s life was full of dangerous secrets.

  She also was sure that she didn’t know the full power this “Aunt Cora” might wield over Jenn.

  What did it mean for Jenn’s continuing work for the BAU?

  And what did it mean for Riley?

  Of course, Riley knew that she had no right to judge Jenn for all this—not after her own dark involvement with Shane Hatcher.

  Hatcher’s hold on Riley had been hard and ruthless—and he’d forced her to examine darker parts of her own personality.

  And now Riley wondered—was it possible to do this job for long without becoming a bit of a monster?

  And did she really want that kind of life for April?

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

  ONCE BOUND

  (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 12)

  “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 BOUND is book #12 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 1,000 five star reviews!

  In this heart-pounding thriller, women are being found dead on train tracks across the country, forcing the FBI into a mad race against time to catch the serial killer.

  FBI Special Agent Riley Paige may have finally met her match: a sadistic killer, binding victims to the tracks to be killed by incoming trains. A killer smart enough to evade capture
across many states—and charming enough to go unseen. She soon learns it will require all of her faculties to enter into his sick mind—a mind which she unsure she wants to enter.

  And all with a final twist that is so shocking, even Riley could not expect it.

  A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE BOUND is book #12 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

  Book #13 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

  ONCE BOUND

  (A Riley Paige Mystery—Book 12)

  Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!

  Blake Pierce

  Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes eleven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting).

  ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), and A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!

  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)

  ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)

  ONCE COLD (Book #8)

  ONCE STALKED (Book #9)

  ONCE LOST (Book #10)

  ONCE BURIED (Book #11)

  ONCE BOUND (Book #12)

  MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES

  BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)

  BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)

  BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)

  BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)

  BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)

  BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)

  BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)

  BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)

  AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES

  CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)

  CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)

  CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)

  CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)

  CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)

  CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)

  KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES

  A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)

  A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)

  A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)

  A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)

  A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)