Ugh, I hate this.I don’t know if I can do this.
As soon as I think that, I hear Lacy telling me,He’s a man, and he makes mistakes.
What would she do if she were here?She’d rely on her training.
I know BK’s profile.He thinks of himself as extraordinary and better than everyone.He liked our small town because he blended in.He was able to move from home to home freely, finding his victims.He seemed ordinary in every way, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
He thinks he’s smarter than everyone else.Even now, he thinks he has the upper hand.
I can work with that.
“That’s why you’ve done all this?”I ask.“Killing victims, entire families?You could’ve just asked me to come to you.”
“Would you have traded yourself for them?”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?”I’m tempted to rush him and get this part over with.Let him blow us both.Relieve the intense pressure.
But then—there’s a flicker of something from the corner of my eye.
This time, I know there’s movement behind me.
BK mumbles something, but I’m only half listening.Is that a crunch of gravel under a booted foot?
It takes everything not to turn and run toward help.I don’t need help, but the family does.
“The family on the first floor—you need to let them go,” I say loudly to cover any other sounds of my backup.Go downstairs,I think, as if I could connect telepathically with them.Don’t try to save me.Get the family out.“They’re innocent.They’ve done nothing to deserve this.”
“No one is innocent,” BK says, but I’m not focused on him.I’m watching the shadow.Please, Rex.Please.If it is him, I’m hoping he’ll get the message.I need him to get the family out.
I need to keep BK talking.
“I was,” I say.“So was my family.”
“They would’ve kept you from me.I watched you in the park but couldn’t get close.Your parents were protective.”
“Is that why you killed them?”It’s breaking my heart to talk about this, but I’ll do anything to distract him.If I have to use my pain as bait, so be it.
The shadow moves away.Hopefully, they got the message to focus on saving the family downstairs.
My work is almost done.
I can hear Lacy Collins saying,You’re going to nail him.
BK is coughing again, a hacking sound that doesn’t sound good.
“Are you alright?You sound like you’re sick.”I concentrate on the conversation but keep an eye out for any more movement.Whoever was behind me is gone.I can sense it.
Maybe the family will be okay.
“The after-effects of smoke inhalation.”
“Smoke inhalation?”Keep him talking.Give Rex time.
“The fire in Elyria.”
I shudder when he says my town’s name.
“It almost took my life.Collins made sure of that, the bitch.”
