“We can’t afford to let our guard down till Evigan’s back behind bars.”

  “No, we definitely can’t.” A look of apprehension flashed across Nikki’s face. “So, what now?”

  “I stick around for as long as it takes while the man remains a fugitive.” Gavin jutted out his chin. “If that’s all right with you...?”

  Nikki nodded thoughtfully. “It has to be,” she said in no uncertain terms. “I just want this over so I can get on with my life without needing to look over my shoulder.”

  Or having to deal with me and our shared and tragic history, Gavin mused. “I understand.” He resisted the urge to touch Nikki’s face, imagining how soft it would feel to his fingertips.

  Mississippi Manhunt

  R. Barri Flowers

  R. Barri Flowers is an award-winning author of crime, thriller, mystery and romance fiction featuring three-dimensional protagonists, riveting plots, unexpected twists and turns, and heart-pounding climaxes. With an expertise in true crime, serial killers and characterizing dangerous offenders, he is perfectly suited for the Harlequin Intrigue line. Chemistry and conflict between the hero and heroine, attention to detail and incorporating the very latest advances in criminal investigations are the cornerstones of his romantic suspense fiction. Discover more on popular social networks and Wikipedia.

  Books by R. Barri Flowers

  Harlequin Intrigue

  The Lynleys of Law Enforcement

  Special Agent Witness

  Christmas Lights Killer

  Murder in the Blue Ridge Mountains

  Cold Murder in Kolton Lake

  Campus Killer

  Mississippi Manhunt

  Hawaii CI

  The Big Island Killer

  Captured on Kauai

  Honolulu Cold Homicide

  Danger on Maui

  Chasing the Violet Killer

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com.

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Nikki Sullivan—A successful artist, living in Owl’s Bay, Mississippi, who survived after being kidnapped ten years ago by serial killer Perry Evigan, who murdered her best friend, Brigette Fontana. Could the prison escapee come after Nikki again?

  Gavin Lynley—A special agent for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, he is tasked with protecting Nikki while her former abductor remains at large. The assignment is made more difficult by the fact that Gavin blames Nikki for the murder of his then-girlfriend, Brigette, at the hands of Evigan. Can they bury their differences for a new beginning?

  Brooke Reidel—A detective for the Owl’s Bay Police Department, committed to solving a string of local murders that appear to be linked to the dangerous inmate on the loose.

  Marvin Whitfield—Director of investigations at MDOC, he is resolute in recapturing the escaped convicts, with his own credibility and ambitions on the line.

  Jean O’Reilly—An MDOC special agent who is as dedicated to locating the fugitive Evigan as he is to keeping Nikki out of harm’s way.

  Perry Evigan—An escaped serial killer, dubbed the Gulfport Nightmare Killer, he is determined to claim the life of the one who got away, whatever it takes.

  In memory of my cherished mother, Marjah Aljean, a devoted lifelong fan of Harlequin romance novels, who inspired me to excel in my personal and professional lives. To H. Loraine, the true love of my life and best friend, whose support has been unwavering through the many terrific years together; and Carole Ann Jones, who left an impact on me with her incredible talents on the screen; as well as the loyal fans of my romance, mystery, suspense and thriller fiction published over the years. Lastly, a nod goes out to my amazing editors, Allison Lyons and Denise Zaza, for the wonderful opportunity to lend my literary voice and creative spirit to the Harlequin Intrigue line.

  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

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Renegade Wife by B.J. Daniels

  Prologue

  Nikki Sullivan was admittedly bored to death on this summertime Saturday night as she paced lazily around her cozy, minimally furnished third-story apartment in Gulfport, Mississippi. An artist, one year removed from receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi, she wasn’t especially in the mood to do any canvases. She was single again after kicking her cheating and financially strapped boyfriend, Felix Kovell, to the curb two weeks earlier and was the better for it. She debated whether or not to call her best friend, Brigette Fontana, to see if she wanted to hang out or something. Brigette was currently in a relationship with Gavin Lynley, whom Nikki found to be incredibly good-looking and otherwise drenched in masculinity, while ever attentive to his girlfriend. But one would never know these admirable qualities in the man, based on Brigette—who was stunning herself—seemingly taking him for granted while having a roving eye on other guys, believing there was more than enough of her to go around. And around again whenever Gavin wasn’t looking. Or was otherwise preoccupied. Though Nikki felt bad for him, she thought it wasn’t her place to come between them and expose Brigette. Much less suggest to him that he could do better than her in a partner. Even if he could.

  He’ll find out sooner or later and then can decide for himself, Nikki told herself, fantasizing that maybe they could even wind up together someday—assuming things didn’t work out between him and Brigette. Before she could call her friend, having lifted the cell phone from the back pocket of her midrise skinny jeans, Nikki received a call from Brigette instead.

  “I was just thinking about you,” Nikki confessed truthfully, feeling a tad guilty as well in thinking about Gavin in romantic terms.

  “Hopefully, good thoughts,” Brigette joked, none the wiser.

  “Of course,” Nikki claimed, sitting on her leather sofa, folding her legs beneath her.

  “So, what are you up to?”

  “Not much. You?”

  “I was supposed to go out with Gavin, but something came up and he canceled.” She muttered an expletive in displeasure.

  “Sorry to hear that,” Nikki said, and truly meant it. But she knew that Gavin worked in corrections and sometimes, maybe more often than not, duty called. Even when he might have wished otherwise.

  “Doesn’t mean I need to sit here and mope about it,” Brigette grumbled. “Let’s go out and have some fun.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Nikki switched the phone to her other ear deliberately. “We could hang out here and watch some TV,” she suggested. Or not.

  “I’d rather do a few shots and some dancing,” her friend countered. “Are you game?”

  Nikki considered it for a moment or two before realizing how persuasive Brigette could be. Not to mention feeling antsy herself in wanting to get out of the stuffy apartment. Both were twenty-three, with Nikki having reached that age exactly two weeks ago. “Count me in,” she agreed.

  “Cool. I can be at your place in ten minutes or less.”

  “I’ll be ready,” Nikki promised and disconnected. She stood and shut her blue eyes for a moment as Nikki pulled her long light blond hair out of the low ponytail it was in, before changing into what she believed to be more suitable clothes for going out.

  When Brigette arrived in her white Audi A3—recently purchased after the Arkansas State University graduate landed a job as an event coordinator with a prestigious public relations agency—Nikki hopped in. Taking one look at her gorgeous friend, who had bold apple-green eyes, mounds of wavy raven hair and a stunning body to kill for, Nikki found herself somewhat envious and sad at the same time that Brigette never seemed to appreciate what she brought to the table as a person, and could lose if she wasn’t careful.

  “So, where are we going?” Nikki asked coolly.

  “I know the perfect place,” Brigette answered evasively, and took off.

  Nikki chuckled, ill at ease. “You’re scaring me.” She wasn’t sure if it was from the speed at which her friend was driving, the mystery of where they were headed, or both.

  “Really?” Brigette laughed and seemed to go even faster down the narrow street. “Where’s your sense of adventure, girl?”

  “Guess I’m about to find out,” she relented, sucking in a calming breath.

  They drove to a nightclub on Pickford Street called Johnnie’s Shack in a seedy part of town, again giving Nikki some fresh concern. “You sure about this?”

  “It’ll be fine,” Brigette promised. “Relax. I’ve been here a couple of times. We won’t stay long.”

  “Okay.” Nikki followed her friend’s lead this time and went inside, where they did some tequila shots and then stepped onto a small dance floor and danced together to an upbeat song, before a tall, muscular man joined them and danced with them. He was in his early thirties and not too hard on the eyes, with defined features, dark eyes
, medium-length brown hair in a windblown pompadour and an aquiline nose. He wore a multicolored plaid shirt and black distressed jeans.

  He flashed a crooked smile and said affably, “I’m Perry.”

  Brigette smiled back flirtatiously. “I’m Brigette and this is my friend Nikki.”

  “Nice to meet you ladies.” He grinned again and continued to move his Chukka boots to the music. “Hope you don’t mind if I dance with you?”

  Though Nikki’s radar suddenly went up that he was being a bit too friendly and getting in their space—or putting it simply, he was bad news—Brigette apparently felt just the opposite, seemingly forgetting all about the fact that she had a boyfriend in Gavin, and told Perry enthusiastically, “Why not?”

  After leaving the dance floor ten minutes later, he joined them at their table for more drinks, but didn’t try to put the moves on either of them. Nikki still felt that something was off with the man, even if she couldn’t quite put a finger on it in so many words, and convinced a reluctant Brigette that it was time to go. With no invitation for Perry to join them. When he thankfully put up no argument, remaining at the table as they left, Nikki thought they were home free of the potential threat. It was only when she began to feel light-headed in the dimly lit parking lot, and noticed the same with Brigette, that it became painfully obvious they had been drugged.

  By who? Perry?

  Nikki had her answer, as she watched the man in question picking Brigette up off the ground, where she had collapsed, and tossing her like a sack of potatoes in the back of a black Ford E-250 Super Duty cargo van. Then he did the same to her as, barely able to stand on wobbly legs, Nikki was unable to resist him before she passed out in his muscular arms. The last thing to enter her mind was whether or not she or Brigette would survive the night and the monster who had taken them against their will in a manner reminiscent of the serial killer who had been on the prowl in town.

  * * *

  PERRY EVIGAN COULDN’T help but chuckle with delight as he drove his latest captives back to the house he lived in on Robinson Road. Sitting on two acres of grassy land, it was far enough away from neighbors to allow him to come and go freely without attracting too much attention. He’d been planning on drugging and bringing back a single person for his trouble. He hadn’t counted on two women for the price of one for him to have his way with before killing them and disposing of them as he had his other victims. But there they were, ripe for the taking like apples off the tree—for which he was only too happy to oblige.

  Admittedly, he could tell that the one calling herself Nikki was suspicious of him from the start. For a minute there, he thought with her watching him like a hawk, he’d never get the chance to spike their drinks with gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Thankfully, her attractive friend Brigette was more amenable to them hanging out together—even to the point of allowing him to buy the next round of drinks and pick them up—which, unfortunately, would prove to be a big error in judgment, as both women would soon regret having ever laid their pretty eyes on him once he was done with them. Something told him they were already regretting this, as he glanced at the two still-unconscious women lying in the back of the van. It had been almost too easy to slip the GHB into the drinks and then watch coolly as they sipped innocently on them while laughing at his stale jokes to keep them occupied. All he needed to do was let the two leave of their own accord for all to see and then pretend to leave casually on his own afterward and abduct them as they passed out, with no one being the wiser. He would come back later for the vehicle they drove in to the bar.

  Arriving at the two-story, two-bedroom Greek Revival-style house with a shed and woods out back, he carried the women, one by one, inside the residence, where he lived alone but always welcomed the right company. Soon, the fun would begin. At least for him. For them, he had to admit with a laugh within, not so much.

  * * *

  THE NIGHTTIME RAID by heavily armed FBI agents and Gulfport Police Department detectives and SWAT Team, supported by Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division and K-9 Patrol dogs, on the house on Robinson Road, led to the arrest of suspected serial killer Perry Evigan. The nude body of a woman identified as twenty-three-year-old Brigette Fontana was discovered in a bedroom. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death, barehanded, by Evigan, according to the autopsy report two days later.

  Another woman, Nikki Sullivan, who had been abducted by Evigan at the same time outside Johnnie’s Shack nightclub, and was described as a good friend of Ms. Fontana’s, survived the vicious attack. Upon her full recovery, Ms. Sullivan was expected to testify against her attacker, dubbed the “Gulfport Nightmare Killer,” who was believed to have strangled to death at least ten women over an eight-month span within the city of Gulfport, Mississippi, Harrison County’s co-county seat.

  Chapter One

  During a violent nighttime uprising at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Sunflower County, Mississippi, three hardcore inmates seized on the opportune distraction to stage a dramatic getaway. After quickly overwhelming prison guards, the trio made a daring escape from Area I of the maximum-security prison on Parchman Road known as Parchman Farm.

  The leader of the escapees, a convicted murderer, spotted a red GMC Sierra 1500 parked not far from the prison. Its driver, a lanky, thirtysomething, baldheaded male, was talking on a cell phone, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. Or the potential peril present. Once the inmates had his attention, it was too late for him to deny them what they wanted: his vehicle and the phone. Unfortunately, leaving behind a witness to their car theft wasn’t in the cards. Strangling the man to death with his own leather belt was easy for the ringleader. After all, he’d had lots of experience using this method to kill others. And if things went as planned, he fully intended to pick up where he left off years ago.

  Starting with the pretty one who escaped death before he could squeeze the life out of her.

  The prisoners climbed into the pickup truck and headed west on Highway 32 toward the city of Ruleville, Mississippi. There, they would get a change of clothing, food, money and maybe switch cars, before fleeing the area entirely, ahead of the correctional authorities and other law enforcement personnel’s determined efforts to recapture them. Or do whatever it took to prevent the dangerous fugitives from living in the free world again.

  * * *

  SPECIAL AGENT GAVIN LYNLEY of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Corrections Investigation Division’s Special Operations Unit, removed the FN 509 MRD-LE 9mm semiautomatic pistol from the tactical thigh holster as he cautiously approached the black Hyundai Sonata. It was parked outside a ranch-style home on Frinton Street in Vicksburg, Mississippi. A run on the license plate confirmed that the vehicle belonged to Titus Malfoy, a probation officer for the MDOC, who was wanted for embezzling money from probationers. The victims were working to pay off their debts to the court as required in the terms for regaining freedom. Instead, an internal investigation revealed that Malfoy pocketed what wasn’t his to have at their expense, resulting in longer sentences for those victimized unsuspectingly.

  Gavin glanced at the other side of the vehicle, where Special Agent Jean O’Reilly, her gun drawn, was also prepared to act should the suspect behind the steering wheel make the wrong move. Peering at the probation officer, who was talking on his cell phone, recognizing him, Gavin said with an edge to his voice, “Step out of the car and keep your hands where I can see them.”

  Looking surprised, Titus Malfoy cut the call short and complied with the order. He opened the door carefully and climbed out. “What’s this all about?” he demanded as his brow creased in three irregular lines as though totally perplexed.

  Gavin noted that they were about the same height of six feet and three inches. But he was in better shape than Malfoy, who was African American, a year younger at thirty-five than the man, had darker and shorter hair than the probation officer, who had a bleached high top and textured dreads, and was gray-eyed compared to the brown color of the suspect’s eyes, which were shifting nervously. “Titus Malfoy, you’re under arrest for embezzlement and abusing your position as a probation officer.”