All The Pretty Girls

All The Pretty Girls A Rachel Emery Novel Book Three Copyright 2023 © Deanna Lynn Sletten Kindle Edition This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author. eBook ISBN – 978-1-941212-71-4 Cover Design: Deborah Bradseth of DB Cover Design Novels by Deanna Lynn Sletten All The Pretty Girls Death Becomes You The Truth About Rachel The Christmas Charm The Secrets We Carry The Ones We Leave Behind The Women of Great Heron Lake Miss Etta Night Music One Wrong Turn Finding Libbie Maggie’s Turn Under the Apple Blossoms Chasing Bailey As the Snow Fell Walking Sam Destination Wedding Summer of the Loon Sara’s Promise Memories Widow, Virgin, Whore Kiss a Cowboy A Kiss for Colt Kissing Carly Outlaw Heroes Contents 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 About the Author Chapter One Rachel Emery listened to the evening news as she prepared dinner. It was a beautiful March evening, and she and her boyfriend, Avery Turley, had just spent a lovely day hiking near a local lake. But as she prepared the steak for the grill, Rachel shook her head in disgust over the news. Another murder victim had been found. “Melanie Lopez, age twenty-one, a junior at Florida State University, has been found in a field near her apartment building nine days after she’d been reported missing,” the reporter on TV stated. “That same field had been searched three days ago, leaving authorities to believe her body was placed there over the last seventy-two hours. We’ll have more information as the investigation continues.” “What’s wrong?” Avery asked as he walked inside the kitchen from the patio. “Don’t the steaks look good?” Rachel’s shoulder-length brown hair swayed gently as she shook her head again. “They found the body of another young woman,” she told him. “She was twenty-one and a junior at FSU. They found her in a field near the apartment she shared with another college student.” Rachel sighed. “So many young women being taken and killed, and they haven’t a clue who’s doing it.” Avery walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s frustrating. Those poor girls. The state police and FBI are working on it, but there aren’t any hard clues. They disappear and then show up again, dead.” Rachel frowned. “I know you’re worried about Jules,” Avery said. “But she lives in a gated apartment building, and she’s smart. I’m sure she and her roommate will be fine.” Rachel nodded, but she didn’t completely believe it. The other young women had just been going about their daily lives when they’d been abducted. Even smart girls who were careful could become victims. “I wish you weren’t leaving for so long,” Rachel said. “But I know you have to go. And it’s an honor being invited to lead the investigation. But I’d feel safer if you were closer.” Avery worked for the FBI on homicides and cold cases. He’d been invited to take over a task force in Idaho that was investigating a prolific serial killer. “The case is an interesting one,” he said as he pulled plates and bowls down from the cupboard. “It took a long time to figure out they had a serial killer in their midst.” Rachel’s brows rose. “You mean more interesting than my case was?” she teased. They had met two years before while Rachel was trying to figure out why she’d been considered dead in her hometown since she was a child. Avery had been trying to solve the case of multiple rapes and murders from decades before. Together, they’d solved both cases and had grown close. He grinned. “No case will ever be as interesting as that one.” She smiled at him. He looked just as handsome as he had when they’d met. His brown wavy hair fell perfectly into place, and his brown eyes were warm and inviting. Meeting him after having been alone for years after her husband’s death was the best thing that had happened to Rachel. Avery took the steaks outside, and Rachel finished the pasta salad and set the plates on the counter where they’d eat. Even though Avery lived and worked in Baltimore, Maryland, he tried to come to Rachel’s Tallahassee home often. She’d lived in this home since before her husband died in a terrible car accident and raised her daughter Jules there. Now, Jules was a junior at Florida State University. Avery came back inside. “Isn’t spring break next week?” he asked. “Maybe you could talk Jules into coming to the house for the week.” “I’ve already tried that,” Rachel said. “She’s not leaving town for break but wants to be around her friends and enjoy it. Amber is heading to her parents’ house in Atlanta for the week. So, it will be just Jules in the apartment.” “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” he said. “If this person is a serial killer, he might lie low until the next semester starts.” Rachel rolled her eyes. “Oh, that makes me feel better.” Avery laughed. “Just relax and enjoy our last night together. I might be in Idaho for three or four months. I’ll miss you.” She walked over and hugged Avery. “I’ll miss you, too.” They ate a delicious dinner and then watched a movie on Netflix. Afterward, they snuggled in bed, enjoying their last night together. Sunday morning, they were both up early, and Rachel drove Avery to the airport to catch his plane. “I’ll call