Come Stop Me (A Caitlin Dare FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 6)

By Molly Black

When victims of a new killer are found on railway tracks, tied to antique handcars, FBI Special Agent Caitlin Dare, teaming with the rail police, must cross the country in a mad race against time to stop 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
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COME STOP ME is book #6 of a brand-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.

The FBI is alarmed by the rash of killings on trains throughout the country, and they realize they have to put together a joint task force to tackle it. Through a partnership with the rail police, FBI Special Agent Cailtin Dare is chosen to spearhead the new unit designed to hunt killers using trains across the country.

But Cailtin remains haunted by memories of her missing sister, her unsolved case, her erratic conductor uncle, and a harrowing fear of trains.

Can Caitlin keep her own demons at bay long enough to face her past—and catch a killer?

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Caitlin Dare 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.

More books in the series will be available soon.

“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“Wow, I cannot wait for the next in this series. Starts with a bang and just keeps going.”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder
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“Well written book with a great plot, one that will keep you up at night. A page turner!”
—Reader review for Girl One: Murder
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“A great suspense that keeps you reading… can't wait for the next in this series!”
—Reader review for Found You
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“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
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Molly Black
• Release date: Sep 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094378947

Book preview

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C O M E   S T O P   M E

(A Caitlin Dare FBI Suspense Thriller —Book 6)

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 six books (and counting); of the REESE LINK mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); and of the CLAIRE KING FBI suspense thriller 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 Nneirda used under license from Shutterstock.com.

Published by Ether Books ®

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

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)

COME STOP ME (Book #6)

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)

BEYOND HOPE (Book #6)

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

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

There was something cold around his wrists. Like icy fingers, grabbing him, holding him. That was what it felt like. It was the first thing Rick Parsons was fully aware of as reality swam painfully back.

His head was throbbing like someone had shoved an ax into it.

And his arms? His arms were in agony. Shoulder muscles screaming. His back was in spasm, and he was shivering hard. He’d never been this cold before. Ever.

He opened his eyes. Darkness all around him. Barely enough light to see where he was. Blinking painfully, he saw that the faint glow from the moon was lighting up a metal structure in front of him.

He was chained to it.

Chained. All his weight dragged down on his protesting arms. No wonder they were sore. He needed to get his weight off them.

Clumsily, on legs that were like chunks of ice and didn't seem to belong to him, Rick scrambled to his feet, nearly falling down again as a wave of dizziness hit, making his head throb anew. But now, the mists of confusion that were clouding his mind were clearing and making way for pure, undiluted terror.

He shouldn't be here. The last memory he had was of climbing out of his car, and someone jostling him.

Now he was here, in the dark and the cold, chained to some kind of metal structure? His parka and jacket were gone. All he was wearing was a flimsy T-shirt that was allowing the icy air straight through, so cold it felt like a vise around his chest and arms.

And he really was in the middle of nowhere. He couldn't hear a thing except for the whistling of the wind - a sound that, after some thought, he realized was the air being channeled through gaps in metal.

Just wind through metal. No cars, no voices, no honking of horns, no dogs barking.

Help! he called, but hesitantly, because someone must have put him here. Someone had chained him to this structure. Was that someone still around?

He listened, but only the whistling darkness could be heard. He was shivering so violently his muscles were in spasm. Now, he was starting to panic. This was weird, spooky, painful, and in no way was it a prank, as he had wondered for a confused moment at first.

Help! he yelled again, louder this time. Still nothing. No help for him. Nobody was coming to the rescue. There were no lights nearby. Although, now that he was in a standing position, he saw there were lights far in the distance. But they were faint, at least a mile away, and nobody that far off could hear his shouts or screams.

He rattled the chain, tugged on it, but it was wrapped tight and firm around his wrists. As he struggled with it, his finger brushed against something square and solid that explained his lack of progress in getting free.

A padlock. The chain was fastened with a sturdy, big padlock that he had no chance of breaking.

Would anything break if he tried hard enough? Because he needed to get out of there. He could die here. It was freezing cold, there was nobody around, and whoever had dumped him here - he guessed he'd been targeted by some crazy – must have gone.

He was a doctor. He knew that in the late-winter temperatures of the Nebraska wilderness, with this wind chill factor, he would not survive for more than a few minutes without shelter or warmth.

He knew he had to try now while he had the strength before the cold got to him.

Rattling the chain again, just in case, he yelled once more.

Help me! Help, I'm stuck here! Please, I need someone to help me!

But there was nothing. Only that eerie whistling was now starting to sound like a death knell to his panicked mind.

Could he tug himself free if he made one last, gigantic effort?

He pulled on the chain as hard as he could, feeling it bite into his already damaged wrists.

And, to his astonishment, something in the structure gave and bent, and he felt the metal platform roll forward in a rusty, protesting way. It was as if, by pulling it down, he'd caused it to move a couple of feet along what he could now see, faintly, were two metal tracks.

So, now it made sense. He was on an old railway, and he'd been attached to a handcar.

This is crazy, he muttered, his lips dry. A handcar? He’d only ever seen them in the movies.

He still had no idea what was going on. But now, at least, there was some faint hope in his mind. Because he could maneuver this thing along the rails. He could keep pulling and pushing, and through sheer determination, he might be able to get himself out of this deadly situation. The first prize would be getting close enough to those lights to shout for help. And at least, if he moved, then he would keep himself warmer. The movement might be the only thing that would save him now.

He shoved down again on the handle. Up again. Down again. If he shifted his hands, he could actually grip the steel rail. It felt icy in his grasp. But operating it, shunting it forward would warm him up.

He would manage to survive this; he knew he would. He'd get out of this predicament. And when he did, he'd find out who'd put him into it, and he'd make damned sure that they got what they deserved.

Up, down. Up, down.

It was strenuous work, alright, he acknowledged. His lungs were already burning. His heart was going into overdrive. He was in his fifties, and right now, he was feeling every inch of his unfit, weak body.

The problem with being a busy local specialist in an understaffed medical center was that he hadn't had too much time to actually practice what he preached.

While extolling the virtues of diet and exercise, he'd mostly seen patients until late in the evening, done paperwork till even later, and then gone home to collapse on the couch with a TV dinner and a large soda before going to bed.

The healthful walks and daily exercise and gym sessions, the physiotherapy to strengthen them and help them fight their debilitating conditions, the portions of fruit and vegetables and building lean muscle mass, all of that was under the 'do as I say and not as I do' section of his kindly advice. But then he'd never thought he'd wake up after feeling like he’d been drugged and have to shunt himself to safety via an old-fashioned, rusty handcar that felt as if it weighed a couple of tons and was fighting him every step of the way.

Up, down. Up, down. His muscles were screaming. This was torture. He could feel his heart galloping in his chest.

But it was his only choice; it was a case of try or freeze.

He couldn't get free. The chains were solid; the wind was icy.

And the only person who knew he was here was someone he didn't want coming back and finding him again. Whoever that person might be, he was strong enough to have carried or dragged him here. Smart enough to have chained him up so that he couldn't get away.

No, the thought made him pump even faster. Up, down. This was burning torture. But he couldn't stop. Go, go, go. His chest was a bellow. Air forcing in and out. His heart was banging audibly now, feeling as if it was going to jump right through his ribs.

He couldn’t stop. If he stopped, he’d freeze. Even moving, he was getting colder.

The lights were too far away. He was getting closer, but not enough. He had to try harder.

Had to.

And then he couldn't. A sudden pain in his chest told him that the breaking point had been reached. He gasped for air, but there was none available. Only a spreading numbness, a painful exhaustion that was swallowing him.

He was so tired. He fell to his knees, then onto his side, hanging from those chains again. A shadow passed between him and the lights. He sensed it more than he saw it, but the tiredness made it impossible for him to open his eyes. Instead, they closed.

Then there was nothing.

Darkness, with no lights ahead.

CHAPTER ONE

The interview room was small; the overhead light was harsh. The chair was uncomfortable.

Worst of all, Caitlin Dare was sitting on the wrong side of the desk. She'd been brought in as a suspect. A lawbreaker.

This had gone so bad. So bad. All she’d wanted were answers about her sister, Ella. But this time, her relentless hunt for the truth had brought a world of trouble down on her head.

She sat straight, biting the inside of her lip, resisting the urge to twine her fingers nervously through her auburn hair. Even though she hadn't been cuffed, she didn't want to move around nervously to show how she felt. It was better just to sit ramrod straight and not reveal anything at all.

She knew the police were going to prolong the waiting time. They were going to get her all worked up, good and ready to talk, to confess to the crime of breaking and entering, and then they were going to make sure she was punished for it. Her FBI agent status wouldn’t help her. But what she’d done would harm her career, that was for sure.

Expressionless, she stared ahead. Yes, the waiting was eroding her. No, she wasn't going to show it. She wasn't going to think of how this one reckless act could compromise her entire career, her role with the railway task force, her relationship with her investigation partner.

Don't show it. Stay calm.

The door banged open with abrupt suddenness, and she jumped just a little, controlling herself instantly.

She stared in surprise.

Only one person was walking in. She'd expected a pair of investigators, for there to be different faces, for a team to work on her to get the answers about why she’d done what she had.

But no. It was the same man she'd faced earlier, in his home, after he'd refused to let her in the front door, and she'd gone around and wrenched open the back door, smashed the lock and stormed in, and confronted him in the corridor. The same one who'd gotten her brought in here by the local police, thanks to that action.

His original name had been Derek Bowen. Derek had been Ella's boyfriend until she’d split up with him after writing a note in her diary that he’d scared her. That had raised all of Caitlin’s suspicions. She’d used the FBI database to hunt for Derek and had found that he’d changed his name and moved all the way down here to Raleigh, North Carolina. That was highly suspicious, she’d thought.

When she’d broken down his back door, demanding answers, Derek had told her a few nuggets of information. He’d said that after splitting up with Ella, he’d joined the police. As a trainee officer,