“Steve, make sure your people are checking the utility closets and small spaces where he might have put Natalie.”
“Roger that.”
Ren unclicked the mute button. “Tell me where she is, Freihof.”
Natalie had put the tracker on Freihof, so that gave Ren a measure of hope. She had to have been alive when she did that. But it could’ve been moments before her death, realizing Damien would leave once she was gone, and Omega would have no way of knowing where. That they would come to her rather than follow him.
And it was true. If Ren knew where Natalie was right now, he would leave this situation—damn the consequences—and find her. He refused to believe she was dead.
Freihof just laughed. “You know, I came to this place because it held special memories for me. Memories of a time before myrelationship with Natalie became so tainted. She was so innocent when we first got married, do you know that? I thought she could become the perfect wife. I tried to teach her that.”
“By abusing her?”
“Now, Warren.” Freihof tsked. “You weren’t there. You don’t know. Some people might think my methods were a little harsh. But they were necessary. I was trying to make herperfect. Isn’t that what everyone ultimately wants? Natalie would’ve thanked me eventually.”
“Instead, she pretended she was dead and ran away and hid. Doesn’t sound like thanking to me.”
Freihof sighed. “I was feeling sad when I got here. Feeling that now that I was never going to see Natalie again, maybe it was time for me to die, too. That I would also just go out in the chaos I create.”
Ren felt like all the oxygen had been sucked from the room. “Freihof...”
“But the good news is, talking to you has made me realize that it’s not my time yet. That I want to see the fallout of my actions and how they affect Omega Sector. After all, they are the ones who took Natalie from me in the first place. She may have chosen to stay away from me—a sin she is currently regretting, at least for a little while longer—but Omega is what gave her the opportunity to run. You’ve made me realize I need to stay my course. It is not my destiny to die here today.”
“Where is she, Freihof? If she’s not with you, tell me where she is.”
“No, Warren Thompson, you tell mewhoyou are. I could find no record of you at all inside Omega Sector. No pictures in the files. You’re so unimportant that you don’t have a significant file yet. So, honestly, I’m not sure you’re worth my time to talk to.”
Ashton’s voice came in Ren’s ear. “Freihof’s getting agitated. If he moves out of this office I might lose the shot.”
“She chose me, Freihof. This whole plan in the woods may have started just with the intent to catch you, but we fell for each other. She chose me. Natalie is mine.”
“No!” The word came through so loud Ren had to hold the phone away from his ear. “Natalie ismine.”
“No, she’s not, Damien. And you’ve always known that, haven’t you? Tried to make her into something fake. Called it ‘perfect’ so you could justify abusing her. She chose me, you bastard.”
The phone line clicked dead in his hand.
“Okay, it’s working.” It was Ashton’s voice again. “He’s taking off his explosives vest and placing it on... Oh, hell, there are the canisters. The biological contaminant canisters are definitely in the room with him. It looks like he’s setting some sort of timer, but he’s still got the kill switch in his hand.”
Ren had to make his move now. “Steve, I’m going in. I’ve got to stop him. If he gets out we’ll lose our shot and he’ll blow the canisters, anyway. Ashton, be ready.”
“We’ve gotten most of the civilians clear and locals are getting them back to the safety point. Every hazmat team in the state is on their way here,” Steve said.
“Did anyone find Natalie in the building?”
“No, brother. I’m sorry.”
“Okay, get your team out. Once I’m close enough to grab the pressure trigger and give Ashton the signal, he’ll take him out. But we don’t need to risk more lives.”
“I’m staying,” Lillian piped in.
“Me, too.” That was Derek Waterman, SWAT leader.
One by one, the rest of the Critical Response unit chimed in. None of them would be leaving. They’d lost too much at Freihof’s hands.
“I think you’ve got your answer, Ren. We take this bastard down together.”
Ren dialed the number again as he walked down the corridor of city hall toward the office where Freihof was located.
