The swamping anger, both at Mira for killing herself, and now at Colin, for his misplaced grief and twisted blame, gave her strength, dispatched the fear.She wasn’t going to die here, in this bathroom.It wouldnotbecome her tomb.
She crouched, jabbed again.
Holding his bleeding side, he leapt back.
Outside, Sarah heard shouting.
Then came a deafening gunshot as the lock was destroyed.
The door slammed inward.
Ben stood in the opening, his Glock raised.
Snarling, Colin swung around.
Ben shot him in the head.A double tap.
For one long second, he wobbled and then collapsed on top of Sarah.In a tangle of limbs, knives, and her handbag, they both crashed to the floor.
Ben yanked him off her and shoved Colin to lie in a crumpled heap beside the toilet.For what seemed like an eternity he leaned over the body.
Thoroughly dazed, Sarah felt her mind whirling.Everything seemed so unreal, as though she were watching other people in a movie.She felt completely detached.“Wh-what are you doing?”Stunned and light-headed, she was sprawled on the tile.Her bloody knife was still clutched in her fist.
“Making damn sure he’s gone to meet his maker,” Ben said.
“Bu-but you shot him in the head.He has to be dead.Right?”She was babbling and she knew it, completely incapable of stopping herself.“He has to be dead.”
“Can’t be too careful,” Ben said.Reaching for her, Ben pulled her up into his arms, squeezed her tightly.“Thank God you’re all right.”
She swayed, staring at her knife.Bright red fluid oozed between her fingers, dripped onto the floor.The sight made her skin crawl.All at once she grew frantic.“I want it off,” she said.“I want the blood off.Now!”
Ben steadied her and reached back to twist the sink knob.He pushed her hand under the stream, knife and all.“No problem.It’s washing off, see?”
She stared as the blood turned pink, then clear, rinsing down the drain.And still she gripped the knife.Her fingers had turned to hardened steel.
“Sweet Pea,” Ben said in a gentle tone, “let it go.You’re safe now.”
Stupidly, she looked into his face.
His eyes were lucid, intense, calm.“It’s okay,” he said.“I promise.”
She let her gaze fall back to the rushing water.With effort, one-by-one, she managed to straighten each finger.Her breathing came in painful gasps.The knife clattered onto the porcelain.
Ben’s team rushed into the alcove.Alarmed people gathered outside the bathroom, some with weapons drawn.
Still holding Sarah close to his side, he helped her to the door and gave orders.“Until Chief King and his men can get here, block off the area.Don’t let anyone in.”
Franklin’s gaze swept Sarah, took in the blood at her throat, her mussed hair and dazed expression.He gave Ben a hard eyed stare.“There a body inside, Boss?”
Ben gave a single nod.“The threat is neutralized.”
“Good,” Franklin said.“Leave this to us.”
