Beyond Reach (A Reese Link Mystery—Book Two)

By Molly Black

Small town police officer Reese Link, teaming up with her new Maine State Police partner, is assigned another explosive case: the second warden in the state has turned up murdered. These seem like vengeance killings, but Reese suspects something much darker, more maniacal, and she knows it will take all she has to enter this killer’s mind and outwit him before he strikes again.

“Molly Black has written a taut thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat… I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

Beyond Reach is book #2 of a long anticipated new series by critically-acclaimed and #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Molly Black, whose books have received over 2,000 five-star reviews and ratings.

Reese Link is determined to do right by her deceased older brother, to fill his shoes in the local police department, and to avenge his murder. She also wants to make her father, a local lobsterman, proud. But the local force is male, and close-knight, and Reese soon learns that being accepted won’t be so easy.

Small town life on a harbor in Maine can be rough. Winters can be cruel and stretch forever, while the working class who inhabit the harbor suffer no fools. Reese knows this town like the back of her hand—but when she teams up with a State police officer, she quickly realizes she’ll have to branch out to other areas, way out of her comfort zone. She will have to learn quickly about all regions of Maine, as she hunts deadly killers wherever they may take her.

All along, she must fight her own demons, shake off the heaviness of her childhood, the depression of this town, and ask herself: is she good enough?

A harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured small-town police officer, the Reese Link series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also available!

“I binge read this book. It hooked me in and didn't stop till the last few pages… I look forward to reading more!”
—Reader review for Found You

“I loved this book! Fast-paced plot, great characters and interesting insights into investigating cold cases. I can't wait to read the next book!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“Very good book… You will feel like you are right there looking for the kidnapper! I know I will be reading more in this series!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“This is a very well written book and holds your interest from page 1… Definitely looking forward to reading the next one in the series, and hopefully others as well!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“Wow, I cannot wait for the next in this series. Starts with a bang and just keeps going.”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“Well written book with a great plot, one that will keep you up at night. A page turner!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder

“A great suspense that keeps you reading… can't wait for the next in this series!”
—Reader review for Found You

“Sooo soo good! There are a few unforeseen twists… I binge read this like I binge watch Netflix. It just sucks you in.”
—Reader review for Found You

• Language: English
• Publisher: Molly Black
• Release date: Mar 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094330433

Book preview

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B E Y O N D   R E A C H

(A Reese Link Mystery—Book 2)

M o l l y   B l a c k

Molly Black

Bestselling author Molly Black is author of the MAYA GRAY FBI suspense thriller series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the RYLIE WOLF FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books; of the TAYLOR SAGE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eight books; of the KATIE WINTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the RUBY HUNTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); of the CAITLIN DARE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the REESE LINK mystery series, comprising five books (and counting).

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

Copyright © 2023 by Molly Black. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Sunny Forest used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

MAYA GRAY MYSTERY SERIES

GIRL ONE: MURDER (Book #1)

GIRL TWO: TAKEN (Book #2)

GIRL THREE: TRAPPED (Book #3)

GIRL FOUR: LURED (Book #4)

GIRL FIVE: BOUND (Book #5)

GIRL SIX: FORSAKEN (Book #6)

GIRL SEVEN: CRAVED (Book #7)

GIRL EIGHT: HUNTED (Book #8)

GIRL NINE: GONE (Book #9)

RYLIE WOLF FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

FOUND YOU (Book #1)

CAUGHT YOU (Book #2)

SEE YOU (Book #3)

WANT YOU (Book #4)

TAKE YOU (Book #5)

DARE YOU (Book #6)

TAYLOR SAGE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

DON’T LOOK (Book #1)

DON’T BREATHE (Book #2)

DON’T RUN (Book #3)

DON’T FLINCH (Book #4)

DON’T REMEMBER (Book #5)

DON’T TELL (Book #6)

KATIE WINTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SAVE ME (Book #1)

REACH ME (Book #2)

HIDE ME (Book #3)

BELIEVE ME (Book #4)

HELP ME (Book #5)

FORGET ME (Book #6)

HOLD ME (Book #7)

PROTECT ME (Book #8)

REMEMBER ME (Book #9)

CATCH ME (Book #10)

WATCH ME (Book #11)

RUBY HUNTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

IF I RUN (Book #1)

IF I TELL (Book #2)

IF I LIVE (Book #3)

IF I FORGET (Book #4)

IF I RETURN (Book #5)

CAITLIN DARE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

COME GET ME (Book #1)

COME FIND ME (Book #2)

COME TAKE ME (Book #3)

COME CATCH ME (Book #4)

COME SAVE ME (Book #5)

REESE LINK MYSTERY

BEYOND REASON (Book #1)

BEYOND REACH (Book #2)

BEYOND REPAIR (Book #3)

BEYOND DOUBT (Book #4)

BEYOND NORMAL (Book #5)

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

Winona Marsh stirred, slowly coming awake. Her body felt heavy, as if she had been weighed down, and the concrete beneath her was cold. It seemed to drain the heat from her body, and she found herself shivering.

Where am I? she thought groggily, lifting her head off the floor. Bars of shadow fell across her body, and at first she thought she must be in a cell.

I'm in prison and someone's locked me up, she thought, fighting a rising surge of panic.

But no, it was not a cell but a cage, something...homemade, by the look of it. Rough timber screwed together—and not a particularly careful job, either, considering how the screws had split the wood. There weren't even hinges on the door, but rather a thick, heavy chain wound around it and secured with a padlock.

Terror flooded through her. As her heartbeat accelerated, a terrific pounding started up in her head, causing her to gasp. She pulled herself to her feet and gripped the bars in both hands, peering out.

The only window was set high along the wall, letting in a vague, dusty light through a film of thick plastic. There was no view of the outside world. She was in a low basement room with bare concrete walls, and the only door was at the top of a flight of steps.

A world away.

Who put me down here? she wondered, desperately trying to think how she had ended up locked in a cage in someone's basement.

The last thing she remembered was walking through the parking lot of the soup kitchen at which she volunteered, her mind on the lasagna she was planning to make for her husband and three kids while her hand searched her purse for the car keys that always seemed to find their way to the bottom. She had just texted her husband to say she would be home soon, and as much as she enjoyed volunteering to help care for the homeless, the thought of spending the evening with just her family filled her with a pleasant inner glow.

She had fished the keys out, accidentally dropped them as she adjusted her purse, bent down to find them on the dark asphalt, and then…

Nothing. Waking here.

Someone took me, she thought, shuddering. But why? What were they going to do with her?

Winona shivered and hugged herself. This couldn't be happening. Surely if she closed her eyes and opened them again, she would find herself somewhere else. This had to be a dream—no, not a dream but a nightmare, a terrible nightmare she was trapped inside. If only she could find a way to wake up…

She stared up at the door, her eyes wide and her mouth open, feeling an icy ball of fear and tension growing in her stomach. At any moment, she sensed, that door would open...and then what? Who would come down? What would they do to her?

I have to get out of here. I have to do something before they – whoever they are – come back. But what? Think, Winona, think!

She studied her surroundings more carefully. Despite the slipshod nature of the craftsmanship, the cage was sturdy. There was no way she was going to break one of the bars or slip through the gaps between them.

She turned her attention to the cage's door. There was no handle on the inside, no way to move it. She reached through the bars and grabbed the padlock, turning it toward herself. But what could she hope to accomplish? She had nothing with which to pick it, and certainly no way to break it. Whoever had locked her in here had thought this through carefully.

Growing frantic now, she rattled the door, hoping to attract attention. But who was going to hear her? Someone outside?

Maybe if I scream loud enough, the sound will carry through that window and someone walking by will hear me. It's my only chance.

She took a deep breath and screamed more loudly than she had ever screamed before, gripping the bars with tight fists and not stopping until her breath was spent and her throat was raw. Then she screamed again, and as the sound faded into the cold, featureless concrete walls, she leaned her head against the bars and began to weep.

It was all so useless. Nobody could hear her, and as far as she knew, nobody was coming for her. She was alone, terribly alone, and no matter how much she wanted to believe this was all a dream, it was far too frighteningly real for her to embrace that delusion.

She was not, however, just going to give up and accept her fate.  It simply wasn't in her nature.

Angry now, she kicked at the door. The cage shook and rattled, but it was solid. She kicked at it again and again, her fists clenched and her face contorted with rage.

Let me out of here! she shouted. Whoever you are, whoever's doing this…LET ME OUT!

Her strength spent, she dropped to the floor and curled up, facing away from the door. I'm going to die here, she thought. I'm going to die in this cage, and nobody even knows I'm here.

The thought filled her with despair. She had grown up in a good home, been taught by her parents to be a responsible citizen, and give back to her community as much as possible, which was why she had begun volunteering at the soup kitchen. She gave to charity, took care of her family. Heck, she even reported minor cash transactions on her taxes when she could easily have hidden them.

So why was this happening to her? What had she, of all people, done to be punished this way?

The fear and anger boiled up inside her, and she gave them voice through her screams. I'm not afraid of you! You hear me? You don't scare me, so you can quit playing your games! I'm not going to play them with you!

As the sound of her screams faded, she lowered her face into her hands again, exhausted.

That was when she heard the floor creak overhead.

Her head snapped up. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded in her chest.

Several seconds passed in silence, and she began to doubt her senses. Maybe she had heard only the trick of the wind, or perhaps a creaky pipe. Houses were like living organisms, and they made all kinds of sounds, even when empty.

Still...she sensed she was not alone in the house. She had never been a superstitious person before, but an instinct far stronger than logic told her there was indeed someone upstairs.

But was it someone who could help her...or was it the very person who had locked her down here in the first place?

Listening with bated breath, she thought she heard a faint rattle come from the top of the stairs. Then there was a faint creak as the door opened.

Winona stared up at it, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. Warm, yellow light flooded her eyes, and she squinted, shielding her face with one hand.

There was a hollow knocking sound as someone began to descend the steps with painful slowness. Winona strained her eyes to study the figure, but the light was so dazzling to her dark-adjusted eyes that she could make out no more than a vague, shadowy outline.

Please, you have to help me, she begged. Someone's locked me in here, and I... She trailed off, suddenly realizing how pointless it was. Whoever was coming down those stairs could surely see her, a middle-aged woman crouched in a makeshift cage. What kind of person would walk so slowly? Most people would rush down the steps, overcome by the need to help a trapped, innocent woman.

The only obvious exception was the person who had put her there in the first place.

Dread filled her as the figure reached the bottom of the stairs and began to move slowly toward her, his jeans and boots visible in the light from the window but the rest of his body lost in shadow. He showed no signs of being in a hurry, and why should he be? She was at his mercy, trapped and helpless, with nobody around to interfere. Whatever he had come to do...he had all the time in the world to do it, and nobody could stop him.

The stranger reached the door of the cage and grabbed the padlock.

Jolted into action, Winona scrambled back against the rear of the cage, her heart in her throat.

Hey! she shouted. Stay away! Don't you touch me!

She pulled herself to her feet, her knees suddenly weak and wobbly.

Don't you come near me! I'll gouge out your eyes, claw your face! I'll—

Her voice cracked, and she fell silent as the padlock popped open. Still unhurried, the stranger pulled the padlock free and began to unwind the chain, coil by coil, the metal rattling as it dragged against the bars.

Frantically searching for some way out, Winona's eye caught a shape off to her left. She hadn't seen it before in the darkness, but the light from the open door at the top of the stairs penetrated the room just far enough for her to glimpse the outline of a second cage.

The door to this second cage stood ajar, the concrete at its entrance gleaming with what appeared to be—

Oh, no, she thought with an inward groan. Not blood.

Help! she screamed, cupping her hands around her mouth, and throwing her voice toward the door at the top of the stairs. Somebody, help me! Please!

The chain finally slithered free, and the door began to open.

No, Winona murmured, pressing herself against the back of the cage and wishing she could somehow force herself between the gaps in the bars. Please...

Her voice trailed off as the figure stepped into the cage. Suddenly it moved with terrible speed, rushing toward her, blotting out the light.

CHAPTER ONE

Officer Reese Link stared at the hand-drawn map, trying to make sense of the series of lines and annotations, and fighting the growing realization that she was lost.

She had come out to these woods searching for the hideout of Mason Wagner, a hitman suspected in the killings of at least a dozen politicians, local officials, and police officers—including Reese's brother, Bass, who had been shot down in the parking lot of a bar six months ago while off duty.

Reese, along with the investigative team, had thought the shooting was random until Tuck Lambert, Bass's best friend and the only person who had been with Bass at the time of the shooting, had confided in Reese that he'd discovered the identity of Bass's shooter. Knowing her brother had been killed by a hitman changed everything.

The only problem was, Wagner had gone missing shortly after the shooting, and nobody had seen or heard from him since.

Maybe he's hiding out here again, Reese thought, her eyes scanning the trees lining the path. If I'm not careful, he won't be the only one pulling a disappearing act.

It was spring, and the first bursts of green were popping up in the Maine countryside. Skunk cabbage bloomed along the many streams and brooks that crisscrossed the forest, and the first buds were starting to pop on the hardwoods. The air smelled of mushrooms pushing up through the carpet of damp leaves, pine needles, and occasionally, when the wind was right, the briny scent of the ocean.

Returning her attention to the map, which she had been given by a forester who had recently logged this property, Reese traced with her finger the route she thought she'd taken. She had entered the woods on a backroad about two miles from the seaside town of Cutler. But she had gone the wrong way, she was certain of it, because this trail seemed to lead nowhere.

I thought the forester said these trails were passable. Did he assume I'd brought an ATV?

The only vehicle she had was her department-issued Dodge Charger, and she didn't have to look far along