Somewhere Hidden (A Piper Woods FBI Suspense Thriller—Book Six)

By Molly Black

Former FBI Special Agent Piper Woods, expert tracker and survivalist, left the force behind after a traumatizing case to live far off the grid. But when victims are found buried alive in remote forest graves, only she has the tracking and survival skills to navigate this lethal labyrinth.

“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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SOMEWHERE HIDDEN is book #6 in 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. The series begins with SOMEWHERE SAFE (book #1).

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Piper Woods 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 will soon be 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
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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: Apr 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9781094396507

Book preview

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S O M E W H E R E

H I D D E N

(A Piper Woods Mystery—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 ten 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); of the CLAIRE KING FBI suspense thriller series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the PIPER WOODS mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the GRACE FORD mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the CASEY BOLT mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the JADE SAVAGE mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the TESSA FLINT 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 © 2024 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 Francey used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

PIPER WOODS FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SOMEWHERE SAFE (Book #1)

SOMEWHERE SANE (Book #2)

SOMEWHERE WHOLE (Book #3)

SOMEWHERE FAR (Book #4)

SOMEWHERE WRONG (Book #5)

GRACE FORD MYSTERY

NEARLY MINE (Book #1)

NEARLY SAFE (Book #2)

NEARLY FREE (Book #3)

NEARLY GONE (Book #4)

NEARLY HIS (Book #5)

CLAIRE KING MYSTERY

ONCE HE SEES (Book #1)

ONCE HE LONGS (Book #2)

ONCE HE TAKES (Book #3)

ONCE HE FEELS (Book #4)

ONCE HE KNOWS (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)

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)

RUBY HUNTER 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

Candace Whittaker closed her eyes, but she could not shut out the sound of the shovel hitting the moist forest soil as the man continued to dig.

Thunk. Thunk.

What was he doing? Was he going to kill her and throw her in, or—

He's going to bury me alive, she thought as a thrill of horror ran through her body. She struggled against the ropes binding her against the mossy tree, but the ropes held firm. Whoever this man was, he knew his knots.

It seemed almost inconceivable that just one hour ago, Candace had been exploring the serenity of an old, forgotten trail, the green canopy above filtering sunlight into a warm, dappled glow. Her hiking boots crunched upon the scattered leaves as she moved forward, content amongst the whispers of the ancient trees and the aromatic scent of pine. The forest was her sanctuary, her escape from the buzz and hustle of the city. A place where she could find solace in nature, breathe in earthy fragrances and let her worries waft away with the wind rustling through leaves.

The day had started as a serene antidote to her high-stress job as a forensic accountant. The morning dew still clung to the blades of grass underfoot, and the forest air was crisp with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves. The only sound was the distant hoot of an owl and the rustle of small animals in the undergrowth. Candace had felt a sense of peace, her heart beating in sync with the rhythm of nature around her. But the serenity of the morning was shattered when a sudden rustle behind her caught her attention.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned around slowly, eyes wide in alarm. She was met with the unsettling stare of a bearded man who seemed to materialize out of the shadows of the forest. His eyes, dark and inscrutable, bored into her with an intensity that made her skin crawl and her breath hitch.

Who are you? she asked, her voice quivering.

The man, however, did not answer. Instead, he pulled out a knife. If you run, he said, I will cut you.

Despite the warning, Candace darted away, hoping to lose herself in the forest. But her legs were fatigued from her long hike, and besides that, the man was quick, rushing toward her like a snake and grabbing one of her legs. She fell headlong into a patch of ferns, and then the man was looming over her, the knife close to her face.

With a flick of his wrist, he made a quick cut beneath her eye, so shallow that it hardly bled.

That's a warning, he said. There won't be a second one.

He pulled her to her feet, then gestured toward the woods. Move.

Candace, trembling with a hundred fears of what he might be planning, did as instructed, and somehow they had ended up here, in this little clearing.

Where the man was now digging a hole for some terrible reason known only to himself.

Candace forced herself to open her eyes and study the man. He wasn't particularly large or muscular, but there was a wiry strength in his movements that made it clear he was dangerous. His clothes were nondescript, a formless cloak of earth tones that echoed the forest around him.

Are you going to kill me? she asked, finding her voice.

The man, still digging and ignoring her question, gave a chuckle. He stopped for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow before continuing his grim task. The hole was growing deeper, a pit of despair that matched the dread pooling in Candace's stomach.

I deserve to know, Candace went on with all the courage she could muster. I deserve to know why you're doing this.

But the man only continued digging, the rhythmic scrape of his shovel on the earth echoing in Candace's ears. As he dug, she strained her eyes through the growing gloom of the twilight forest, trying to figure out a way to escape.

Think, she told herself. You have your cell phone in your pocket.

Yes, that was true. The man hadn't taken it. But with her arms bound to the tree, it made no difference—she couldn't reach the phone.

She tried to think of anyone who might know where to find her, but it was a futile effort. She had always been a lone wolf, a wanderer, and though she thought she had mentioned this hike to a coworker or two, what were the chances anyone would remember in time to do anything? Besides, it was a vast forest. How would they locate her?

She thought of the jogger she had run into at the trailhead earlier in the day, how they had exchanged a few words about the unpredictability of the weather. She had not mentioned her path or her destination, but maybe if she was lucky, he would see her face on the news and remember her. It was the best she could hope for.

Tears welled up in Candace's eyes but she forced them back, blinking furiously. This was not the time to grieve, not yet. She had to focus, to plan and to fight whatever was coming.

At last, the man tossed the shovel aside and rubbed his hands together. Then, drawing his knife, he approached and began to cut her ropes. This was her opportunity—to attack as soon as her arms were free.

As the man worked on the knots, Candace steadied her breath and focused on the wooded landscape beyond him. The twilight had deepened into darkness, the only light a meager sliver of moon that did little to penetrate the dense canopy of leaves overhead. An owl hooted mournfully from somewhere in the blackened trees, a chilling reminder of the isolation and bleakness of their surroundings. It was as if they were the only people left in the world.

The man grunted in concentration as he sawed through the final rope with his blade. Candace felt her wrists suddenly go slack, a rush of blood returning to her numbed hands. She hesitated for a moment, waiting for him to step back so she could make her move.

Just as he began to straighten up, Candace lunged forward, using the tree trunk as leverage to propel herself at him with sudden ferocity. She collided with him, knocking the knife from his hand and sending both of them sprawling to the damp, leaf-littered earth. She grappled with him, fingers scraping desperately at the soft, wet ground for any kind of weapon.

Then his hand seized a fistful of her hair, wrenching her head back. She cried out, screaming in the hope that someone somewhere would hear her, and the man slammed her head hard against a tree.

She fell back, dazed, her vision momentarily clouding. As the world swirled around her, she noticed with a stunned sort of surprise that the man had grabbed both her legs and was tugging her toward the hole.

No! Candace thought, panic screaming in her ears, but the words wouldn't form properly on her lips. Instead, they came out as a strangled whimper.

She tried to claw at the ground, to grab hold of anything that might slow her relentless drag toward the gaping hole, a malignant mouth ready to swallow her whole. She reached out blindly, searching for a stone, a stick, anything she might swing at him.

But her hands closed on nothing except leaves.

She thumped down into the grave, which was only a few feet below the surface of the forest. Her head struck the ground, which brought a fresh wave of pain and nausea. She felt as if she were at sea, everything in motion, and she prayed the world would settle down so she could think straight.

Don't do this, she begged, her voice trembling. But there was no mercy in the man's eyes as he began to shovel dirt back into the pit, completely ignoring her pleas.

Each shovelful of soil sent a fresh wave of terror through Candace. She could taste the sharp flavor of pine needles and earth on her tongue as dirt fell onto her, covering her legs first then slowly crawling up toward her chest. The edges of the pit were growing darker, a grave-like silence engulfing her.

The world outside was receding fast, swallowed by the encroaching darkness and the relentless thump of soil hitting her body. With each passing second, she felt as though she was sinking deeper, not just into the earth but into a cold well of despair. Her vision blurred as terror and desperation pulsed through her veins, making her heart pound against her ribs.

Once most of the grave was filled in, the man began to walk on it, compacting the dirt painfully around her legs and torso. Even though the grave was only a few feet deep, the clay-like soil was damp and heavy and acted like a straitjacket for her legs.

I almost forgot, the man said suddenly. His voice was calm and composed, unlike the frantic thrashing of Candace's heart. Stay where you are.

The man stepped away. Candace waited, puzzled. She listened to his footsteps, wondering what he was planning next. She started to prop herself up on her elbows, but a sharp pain shot through her temple. She sank back, stifling a cry.

She was just about to try again when she heard the snap of branches. Then, the man reappeared with a bundle of sticks in his arms. He began to interlace the sticks above Candace's head, making a little tent over her face.

What are you doing? she asked, but he didn't answer. Instead he walked away, and again she heard the sound of branches breaking again.

After layering a number of additional sticks above her face, the man reached through a hole in the sticks and handed her a walkie-talkie. She accepted it, troubled.

What's this for? she asked.

There was no reply. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a second item: a long rubber tube about an inch in diameter. He fed one end of the tube down through the sticks.

At first, Candace was puzzled. Then suddenly it made sense: The tube was to provide her with air. He was going to cover the sticks with dirt—that way she would have a small hollow place in the darkness where she could breathe and use the walkie-talkie. Her legs and most of her torso were already pinned, but her arms and head would be free.

But why was he doing this? What purpose did it serve?

Please don't do this! she cried again as the man began scooping up handfuls of leaves, which he layered across the sticks. The world above began to disappear, bit by bit. The sky vanished, as did the limbs of the trees.

This can't be happening, she thought as her terrified gaze focused on the increasingly narrow circle of gray sky visible through the makeshift lattice. Fear gripped her, a cold, sinking dread that twisted in her gut and tightened around her throat like a noose. She wasn't ready to die; she had so much left to