Where You Hide (A Kelly Cruz Mystery—Book Two)

By Rylie Dark

Bounty hunter Kelly Cruz, with her dark past, is as tough as they come, working solo, given her aversion towards authority, living in a bad neighborhood with her rescue pitbull and refusing to take a fee. The FBI, desperate and impressed by her ruthless tactics, turns to her for help with a deadly manhunt when a violent killer escapes from maximum security prison.

Kelly doesn’t hesitate. But in a shocking twist, when she learns the killer’s destination, Kelly realizes that this time, she may have finally met her match.

A non-stop action thriller, as Kelly Cruz must use her fists and her ruthless, no-holds-barred approach to go to places and use ruthless tactics that even the FBI wouldn’t dare…

“A brilliant book. I couldn’t put it down and I never guessed who the murderer was!”
—Reader review for Only Murder
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WHERE YOU HIDE is book #2 in a new series by #1 bestselling and critically acclaimed mystery and suspense author Rylie Dark, whose books have received over 2,000 five-star reviews and ratings.

A cat-and-mouse thriller with harrowing twists and turns and filled with heart-pounding suspense, the Kelly Cruz mystery series offers a fresh twist on the genre as it introduces two brilliant protagonists who will make you fall in love and keep you turning pages late into the night.

Future books in the series are also available.

“I loved this thriller, read it in one sitting. Lots of twists and turns and I didn’t guess the
culprit at all… Already pre-ordered the second!”
—Reader review for Only Murder
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book takes off with a bang… An excellent read, and I'm looking forward to the next book!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
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“Fantastic book! It was hard to put down. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The twists and turns kept coming. Can't wait to read the next book!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A must-read if you enjoy action-packed stories with good plots!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I really like this author and this series starts with a bang. It will keep you turning the pages till the end of the book and wanting more.”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I can't say enough about this author! How about ‘out of this world’! This author is going to go far!”
—Reader review for ONLY MURDER
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I really enjoyed this book… The characters were alive, and the twists and turns were great. It will keep you reading till the end and leave you wanting more.”
—Reader review for NO WAY OUT
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This is an author that I highly recommend. Her books will have you begging for more.”
—Reader review for NO WAY OUT
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Rylie Dark
• Release date: Aug 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094379098

Book preview

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W H E R E

Y O U

H I D E

(A Kelly Cruz Mystery—Book 2)

R y l i e   D a r k

Rylie Dark

Bestselling author Rylie Dark is author of the SADIE PRICE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books; of the CARLY SEE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books; of the MIA NORTH FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the MORGAN STARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books; of the HAILEY ROCK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the TARA STRONG MYSTERY series, comprising five books (and counting); of the ALEX QUINN FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting); of the MAEVE SHARP FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER, comprising five books (and counting); and of the KELLY CRUZ MYSTERY series, comprising five books (and counting).

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

Copyright © 2023 by Rylie Dark. 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 Rick Lange, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY RYLIE DARK

KELLY CRUZ MYSTERY

WHERE YOU GO (Book #1)

WHERE YOU HIDE (Book #2)

WHERE YOU SLEEP (Book #3)

WHERE YOU RUN (Book #4)

WHERE YOU FEAR (Book #5)

MAEVE SHARP FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

WITH MALICE (Book #1)

WITH ENVY (Book #2)

WITH VENGEANCE (Book #3)

WITH RAGE (Book #4)

WITH YOU (Book #5)

ALEX QUINN SUSPENSE THRILLER

FIRST, MURDER (Book #1)

SECOND, DEATH (Book #2)

THIRD, ENVY (Book #3)

FOURTH, LUST (Book #4)

FIFTH, WRATH (Book #5)

TARA STRONG MYSTERY

GIRL WITHOUT A CHANCE (Book #1)

GIRL WITHOUT A HOME (Book #2)

GIRL WITHOUT A TRACE (Book #3)

GIRL WITHOUT A NAME (Book #4)

GIRL WITHOUT A PRAYER (Book #5)

HAILEY ROCK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

BEHIND YOU (Book #1)

BESIDE YOU (Book #2)

AFTER YOU (Book #3)

WATCHING YOU (Book #4)

JUDGING YOU (Book #5)

FOLLOWING YOU (Book #6)

SADIE PRICE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

ONLY MURDER (Book #1)

ONLY RAGE (Book #2)

ONLY HIS (Book #3)

ONLY ONCE (Book #4)

ONLY SPITE (Book #5)

ONLY MADNESS (Book #6)

MIA NORTH FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SEE HER RUN (Book #1)

SEE HER HIDE (Book #2)

SEE HER SCREAM (Book #3)

SEE HER VANISH (Book #4)

SEE HER GONE (Book #5)

SEE HER DEAD (Book #6)

CARLY SEE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

NO WAY OUT (Book #1)

NO WAY BACK (Book #2)

NO WAY HOME (Book #3)

NO WAY LEFT (Book #4)

NO WAY UP (Book #5)

NO WAY TO DIE (Book #6)

MORGAN STARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

TOO LATE (Book #1)

TOO CLOSE (Book #2)

TOO FAR GONE (Book #3)

TOO LOST (Book #4)

TOO BROKEN (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

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

As Kelly Cruz stepped through the prison's metal detector, a loud tone sounded, and one of the guards held out a hand to stop her.

Sorry, ma'am. You know the rules.

It was true -- she did. Kelly had visited this prison enough times to be well aware that there were no weapons allowed past the security checkpoint. She sighed, reaching for the hunting knife tucked at her side, and dropped it into a plastic bin that the guard offered.

Forgot it was there, she muttered, though that wasn't exactly the case. She'd been hoping that the prison staff wouldn't notice or would at least give her a pass, seeing as she was something of a regular here. It made her feel vulnerable to be completely unarmed.

Kelly stepped past the security checkpoint and made her way down a narrow, sterile hallway. When she reached the doorway to the visitation room, she paused to take a deep, steadying breath. She could see Warren Gardner sitting in the usual place, a table in the far corner. His hair was short, and stubble shadowed his jaw as if he hadn't bothered to shave in a while. As she watched him, he looked up, and their eyes met. A slow, leering smile spread across his face as if he was delighted to see her.

He always seemed delighted to see her, and it made her skin crawl.

Kelly approached the table and took a seat opposite Warren, the chair scraping against the floor. He regarded her quietly for a moment, waiting for her to speak, but she remained resolutely silent. At last, he sighed.

Hello, Kelly. Long time no see. How have you been?

It hadn't been that long. A month, on the dot, as always. Kelly didn't respond.

Warren cocked his head to the side. How's the family?

Her fingers tightened into fists involuntarily. He often asked this. He knew it would get under her skin. She got the sense that he enjoyed watching the anger cloud her eyes; both of them knew that she couldn't do a thing about it, couldn't lay a single finger on him. It was only his willingness that allowed her to speak to him at all; he was under no obligation to be respectful to her.

Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? Kelly did her best to keep her weariness out of her voice. You know why I'm here.

Warren leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. I might have an inkling, but do enlighten me. To what do I owe the pleasure?

Is Alice alive?

Warren grinned, his teeth flashing in the harsh fluorescent light of the visitation room. There it is.

Each time she came to see him, Kelly started with the same question. She'd been doing it for the past fourteen years -- since her sister, Alice, had been kidnapped. And every single time, without fail, she left angrier and more upset, but with no new information. Serge, the warden, was an old friend, or Kelly suspected she would've been asked to stay away long ago; she'd been told by the guards that Warren reveled in her monthly visits, looking forward to tormenting her. Even that knowledge couldn't keep her away.

Kelly clutched the table's edge, her knuckles turning white. Answer me, Warren. Is she alive?

He leaned forward, his face close to hers. What if I told you she was? What would you do? What could you do?

Kelly's heart pounded in her chest as she glared at Warren. She knew he was playing games with her, but she couldn't help the hope that flickered in her chest.

What would she do? Anything. Whatever it took to get her back alive.

After years without closure, of course, most people who had known Alice assumed she was dead. The FBI considered the case cold. Even Kelly's remaining family members, her father and her older brother, had done their best to move on -- putting her at odds with them. She was the only person who hadn't been able to let go of the hope that Alice was still out there somewhere.

Tell me, Warren, Kelly demanded, her voice low and firm. Is she alive or not?

Warren leaned back, his grin still firmly in place. I'm afraid you'll have to be a bit more specific. I've known a lot of Alices in my time. Alice could be anyone, couldn't she?

Kelly's frustration mounted, and she had to resist the urge to lunge across the table and strangle him. Instead, she took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. My sister, Warren. Alice Cruz. The girl you kidnapped fourteen years ago. Is she alive?

Warren shrugged, slouching in his seat. Who's to say?

Kelly breathed in again, deeply through her nose. If he was going to be belligerent, she might as well move on to the next of her questions. Where did you take her?

Warren's grin widened, and he leaned forward again, his elbows on the table. Oh, Kelly. A good magician never reveals his secrets.

Kelly narrowed her eyes, feeling her anger boiling over. "You're not a magician. You kidnapped my sister, Gardner. You took her from us, and no one knows where she is. You owe us some kind of answer."

Owe you? Warren chuckled. I don't owe you anything. In fact, I gave you something already, didn't I? I gave you a reason to come visit me every month. I gave you hope that your sister might still be alive. I'm doing you a favor, really.

Kelly could feel her hands shaking with rage. How dare he twist her desperation and pain into some kind of sick game. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but it was no use. She found herself standing up, the metal feet of her chair screeching on the concrete.

Is that it? Warren raised a lazy eyebrow. Done already?

Kelly turned away, trying to stifle the fury that threatened to consume her. She had to restrain herself from giving into it, from doing something she’d regret. It was a feeling she’d become intimately familiar with over the years, a tightrope she had to walk every time she came to see him. It took everything she had to keep from losing control, to keep from screaming at him.

Sometimes, it was better to simply walk away. Clear her head. Come back next time -- a fresh start to the conversation.

But before she could, Warren's voice from behind her, dripping with satisfaction, seized her attention.

It's a shame, really. Alice was such a pretty girl. I always did like them young and beautiful.

Kelly spun around, her eyes blazing. What the hell did you just say?

The chains clinked around Warren's wrists as he leaned on one hand, smirking. Calm down. Nothing so bad. Your sister was a looker, that's all. But it's been so long, Kelly. Who knows where she is now? Maybe someone else is enjoying her beauty. He shrugged. Or maybe she's dead.

Kelly's fury burned hotter than ever, and she took a step forward, her fists clenched at her sides. She could feel the heat of her anger radiating off of her in waves. You sick bastard, she spat. How can you say that? You took her from us. You have no right to talk about her like that.

No, right? Warren sneered at her. What are you going to do about it, pray to tell?

Walk away, said a small voice in the back of Kelly's brain -- not her own, but familiar nonetheless, though she couldn't place it. Just walk away and go home. Don't make this worse.

But this voice was drowned out by her rage, fierce, furious, and ever-present.

Before she could stop herself, Kelly lunged across the table, grabbing Warren by the collar of his jumpsuit and pulling him towards her. She drew back her fist and slammed it into his jaw, eliciting a grunt of surprise and pain. The chains around his wrists jangled as she pressed herself against him, her breath hot and angry in his face.

You don't get to talk about her like that, she hissed. You don't get to talk about her at all. Do you --

A hand closed around Kelly's shoulder, dragging her away from Warren, who lifted his cuffed hands to wipe at the smear of blood that colored the corner of his mouth. He grinned at her, flashing teeth stained crimson, as two guards grabbed her arms from behind.

That's enough.

Serge's voice, stern and gravelly, came from somewhere to Kelly's right. She turned to meet his gaze. His eyes were disappointed -- and concerned.

Kelly's rage dissipated almost instantly, her body slumping in the guards' grip. Serge nodded to them, and they relaxed their hold on her arms.

Get Gardner to the infirmary, Serge said firmly. This visit is over. Cruz -- come with me. Now.

As the guards approached Warren, Kelly felt as though a hollow pit had opened in her stomach. For so long, she had wanted to hurt him, to make him feel a tiny shred of the pain she felt whenever she spoke to him face-to-face. But now, seeing his bloodied face, she didn't feel much of anything. Except for the sudden flood of guilt. Guilt that she had somehow lost control. Guilt that she had hurt him. Guilt that he had taken her sister and was now laughing about it.

But it wasn't the same. It wasn't the vindication she had felt a few moments ago. It wasn't the same as seeing the fear in his eyes that she was sure she had once seen -- that was probably still there, even now. She had broken the cycle of despair and pain this time. And she wasn't sure she could bear going through it with him again.

She didn't argue with Serge. Instead, she followed him back to his office in silence. He didn't say a word to her until he had closed the door behind them, sealing them off from the echoing hallways.

Wordlessly, Serge gestured to the plastic chair in front of his desk, and Kelly sank into it, her eyes downcast.

Once they were both seated, Serge cleared his throat and leaned forward, his hands folded together. What the hell were you thinking?

I'm sorry, she muttered, her voice small and strained. I don't know what came over me.

Serge regarded her for a long moment, his gaze piercing. You can't let him get to you like that, he said finally. You know he's trying to provoke you. He wants a reaction.

Kelly nodded, numb. I know.

Why do you do this to yourself? He shook his head, sighing through his nose. It's the same story every time. Why put yourself through that?

I.... Kelly trailed off, unable to find the words. She knew the answer, but it was hard to articulate. Warren had something that she desperately wanted, and she was willing to endure anything to get it. Even if it meant confronting him every month, even if it meant enduring his taunts and jeers. Because the alternative was to accept that her sister was gone forever -- and that was unacceptable, a much worse prospect than being burned by her own anger.

Besides, she could take the edge off of this feeling