Don’t Hide (A Taylor Sage FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 7)

D O N ’ T   H I D E

(A Taylor Sage FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 7)

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 (and counting); of the TAYLOR SAGE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eight books (and counting); and of the KATIE WINTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eleven 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 © 2022 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 Vlue, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

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)

DON’T HIDE (Book #7)

DON’T BLINK (Book #8)

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)

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

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

The hot, bright sun shone down on the spring field and the people in the park. David felt the heat of Gary’s hand brush against his own, and he smiled, heat rushing to his cheeks. He’d only lived in Washington, DC, for a little over a week and he was already part of a community here. These people were really growing on him—especially Gary.

You’re gonna love this place, Gary said, his eyes brown and bright as they made their way up the path, which snaked through the park. Around them, autumn leaves rested on the ground, creating an array of orange and red.

David smiled. As long as they’ve got coffee, I’m content.

Of course! I always cut through this park, makes the walk easier. A cool wind blew in, and Gary hugged himself and shivered, and David was tempted to wrap his arm around him to warm him up. The less time outside when it’s this cold, the better!

David looked around the park. It really was gorgeous; children played in piles of leaves, elderly people walked around, enjoying their carefree lives.

He could get used to this.

Up ahead, David noticed a crowd had formed near the fountain.

Wonder what’s going on, David mused.

Sometimes we get mimes, or even puppet shows for the kids, out here, Gary explained. Seems a bit early, though . . .

They gravitated toward the crowd. David couldn’t see what they were looking at over the tops of their heads.

You’re really curious, huh? Gary asked, giving David a bright smile. He blushed and nodded.

Hey, I’m from a small town, he said. We never got much action there. I’d love to see a mime or something.

Gary hooked his arm to David and pulled him toward the crowd, grinning. David couldn’t help but smile, teeth and all. They were two men in their early thirties, but he felt like a kid again.

As they made their way to the crowd, David heard voices—whispers. They pushed through a group of onlookers.

What the hell is this? someone said, sounding disgruntled.

Pretty creepy performance art, someone said.

Hey asshole, there’s kids around!

Anxiety grew inside David as they pushed to the front of the crowd, breaking through, and that was when they saw it—

A man, lying face-up on the concrete beside the fountain. An obelisk—like a small Washington monument—protruded from his sternum.

Oh. David felt the wind knocked out of him, loss seeping into his bones. He felt numb.

This looked so real. It couldn’t be an act.

Could it?

Either way, the sight of the blood around the monument—fake or not—freaked him out.

A hand grabbed his shoulder, and he spun around, ready to cuss someone out, when he saw Gary’s freckled face staring back at him, worry lines across his forehead.

David, Gary said, confused. Are you okay?

David took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then he smiled, teeth clenching together.

Y-yeah, sorry, it’s just . . . He looked back at the body. This is pretty freaky staging.

Hey, it’s just a prop, Gary reasoned. Pretty crazy display, but artists are weird in this district. It’s probably a project from the art school up the road.

David’s eyes lingered on the man. The pale skin. The veins. The monument, sticking out. It truly looked real.

Strange interpretive art, Gary said with a sigh. The people around them all whispered similar things, but no one stepped forward.

Are you sure? David asked, his voice shaking.

He needed to slap himself. Of course, it wasn’t real. Someone probably hired some artist who wanted to blow up their name in the district and create controversy.

Gary looked back at him, his face still kind. David’s concern only seemed to make him more affectionate; his smile was open and warm. David couldn’t help but smile back.

I’m sure, Gary said. Art school project, I’m sure.

Thanks, David replied, feeling embarrassed. He looked down at the concrete and noticed a few drops of what he hoped was red paint resting on the ever-rough surface. 

David, if you’re not okay, we can get out of here right now. Gary’s voice was so reassuring—so caring. David felt like he could tell Gary anything right now. Gary gave him a sudden smile. Here, I’ll prove it to you.

With that, Gary approached the man on the ground. People around them whispered. David felt a rush of anxiety. He should stop him, but—

Gary reached down and touched the monument sticking out of the man’s chest.

The body shifted.

The monument was in there, firm.

And moving it caused more blood to pool out from beneath the body, flowing into the concrete around him.

Gary winced and jumped back. He went pale, shaking. David’s heart was pounding.

Gary? he asked shakily.

He didn’t know what was going through his brain right now, but he had to know.

Safety First.

My god, Gary whispered, taking a few steps away from the body. His face contorted.

Gary?

The police, Gary managed. He turned around with panic in his eyes. Everyone in the crowd whispered, talking more intensely. Somebody call the police! Gary shouted, running over to David. He’s dead! That man is dead!

All chaos broke loose. People screamed and scattered, and Gary tried to grab David to pull him away—

But David’s eyes were locked on the body.

The pale, lifeless body of the man, brutally murdered.

David had never seen a dead body before. Now, he knew, this would haunt him forever.

CHAPTER ONE

Taylor’s head spun around like a violent whirlpool in her mind. She stood above Dr. Fabian’s desk, her palms flat on the mahogany wood, as she faced down the man who was taking care of her sister in the psych ward.

There has to be more we can do, Taylor said. She can’t stay here. I’m telling you, it’s making her worse.

Ms. Sage . . . Dr. Fabian trailed off, linking his hands on his desk. Behind him was a wall of accomplishments he’d received as a psychiatrist—his degrees, his awards. Taylor knew he was qualified. She also knew that Angie wasn’t getting any better.

Getting a hold of her temper, Taylor sat back down. It had been two days since she’d last seen Angie—since Angie had threatened to kill her.

Apparently, to everyone else in the facility, Angie was acting like she was getting better. And so, when Taylor told Dr. Fabian what Angie had said, he’d not exactly believed her.

I know you don’t see it, Dr. Fabian said, but Angie is making great progress here.

No, she’s not, Taylor said. She’s acting. I’m telling you, Doctor, she should be somewhere else. Back in the hospital, maybe.

This is a hospital.

It’s a psych ward! Taylor exclaimed. She took a breath.

I’m sorry, Taylor, but I am the expert in this case, Dr. Fabian said. And I believe this ward is exactly where Angie needs to be.

Please, Taylor said. I’m begging you to let me move her someplace else.

Inside, Taylor knew her logic was flawed. What else was better for Angie? But she couldn’t help but think if Angie had even just a window in her room, she’d be better off than here. This place—whatever drugs they were giving her—was changing her into something worse.

The fact that Angie was tricking everyone else here while showing a sinister, violent side to Taylor scared her most of all.

She’s not well here, Taylor said. Just . . . please. Believe me. I suspect she’s biding her time.

Right, Dr. Fabian said. You really think she threatened to kill you?

She did threaten to kill me, Taylor said. She said she was going to try to escape and then kill me. She’s not getting any better.

She can’t hurt you, Dr. Fabian said. We have her on strict surveillance until she shows real signs of improvement.

You’re not listening to me—

That’s enough, Dr. Fabian said. I’m sorry, Ms. Sage. I know you’re an FBI agent, but your parents have more of a say in this matter than you do. They are Angie’s guardians. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more patients to see.

He didn’t look at her as he ushered her from his office. Taylor felt the jolt of betrayal hit her hard as she stood in the long, sterile hallway of the psychiatric ward.

Damn it.

Well, Dr. Fabian was rather stingy with his time, considering how much therapy cost, but Taylor knew time wasn’t always the key factor here. Especially when dealing with someone as volatile as Angie.

She still felt like she had to do something. But there wasn’t anything else she could do today. Taylor left the hospital with a heavy heart and felt defeat descend upon her again like a volcano looming to explode and engulf everything around it. With every step she took, the feeling only intensified like everything was boiling over, and she couldn’t take it another second. She was being swallowed by the lava, and it would burn her alive soon.

There was nothing she could do for Angie.

In fact, the best thing she could do was stay away. Clearly, Taylor’s presence wasn’t helping, so she decided that today, yet again, she wouldn’t physically see her sister.

As she made her way down the hall, she entered the elevator and watched the doors close. They shut her in with her thoughts.

Another person snuck back into her mind. Another person who had been hurt as a result of Taylor’s existence.

Miriam Belasco.

The tarot reader.

Only two days ago, Miriam had been seriously injured after an altercation with a man Taylor had put behind bars years ago. Taylor still didn’t know how he’d discovered her secret—that she, an FBI agent, went to a tarot reader for clues—but she could only assume he had been stalking her.

Still, as far as Taylor knew, Miriam was still in the hospital—it was a different ward and building than this. She’d tried to visit her before, but the nurses had turned her away, claiming Miriam did not want any visitors.

But Taylor wanted—no, she needed—to see Miriam again. To make sure she was okay.

So, although she wasn’t seeing Angie today, she could still go see Miriam.

*

Taylor walked up to the reception desk in the ward Miriam was staying in, and a young, pretty girl in scrubs looked up at her. Can I help you?

Taylor’s palms were sweaty. I was wondering—is Miriam Belasco still here?

Let me check . . . The girl’s fingers clacked over her keyboard.

Yes, she said. She’s in room 234.

Thank you, Taylor said, hurrying down the hall toward Miriam’s room. As she walked into the hallway, she felt as though everyone looked up from their magazines, their novels, and their notes and stared at her.

The paranoia was getting to her.

More than that—the feeling of looming consequences was growing, threatening to swallow her whole. Everything around her seemed on the edge of disaster, like if she didn’t hurry, she’d be too late to help.

It was a familiar feeling. One she’d felt before when solving a case—and often when talking with a loved one who needed protection. She’d always been claustrophobic, like some unseen force was closing in on her, but now it was worse than ever before. Like a snake coiling around and ready to strike.

How had it come to this?

As she approached the room 234 and slowed to a walk, she couldn’t help but think back to her conversation with Dr. Fabian. How was it that he didn’t see what she saw? How was it that he didn’t see that Angie was a threat, an imminent danger to everyone around her?

So much so that she would kill someone. Taylor couldn’t let