His laughing turns into a coughing fit, and the transmission cuts out.I wait, but he doesn’t say anything more, even though I’ve stalled on the steps.
“You’ve already won,” I tell him.“You have me.You don’t even want them, so why not let them go?”
No answer.I keep climbing, moving slowly but steadily.“I surrendered my cell phone, but you can call the police.”
He’s still silent, but I bet he’s listening.I pace around another corner, sending the flashlight’s searching light over every inch of the next flight of stairs before continuing my ascent.
“You have all the power.You can call for help.You’ll still have me.”I’ll gladly trade myself for the family.“And I’m who you really want, right?”
Still no answer, but there’s some movement down below.A shadow darting across the ground floor.Is it Ted, finding his courage to creep inside and free his family?
Or did Rex find me?
I wait, watching for more clues, but there’s no more movement.But it gives me hope that someone is down there, helping Ted’s family.
With that thought energizing me, I finish my climb.I can stall for time and keep BK distracted.
I press the PTT button and say, “Hello?Are you still there?”
“Keep climbing.All the way to the roof.”
Was that a flicker of light on the ground floor?It gives me the courage to try something,
“Not until you admit that I’m the one you want,” I test.“Not them.Me.”Maybe if I act possessive of him, it’ll surprise and excite him.
The silence stretches long enough that I worry I’ve put him off.Maybe he won’t like me jostling for control of the situation?I’m supposed to be the victim, after all.
But something tells me he wants a worthy adversary.Someone worth all the trouble he’s gone through to haunt me.
“All right,” he sounds pleased.“You’re the one I want.”
He’s in a good mood; I can use that to my advantage.
“I’m coming,” I tell him.
The stairwell ends at an open door.The night air is cool on my face as I step onto the gravel-covered roof.
There’s no sign of BK.I set down the flashlight.I don’t need it, not with the ambient light of the city.
“Hello?”I call.“Dennis?”I use BK’s first name.He’s spent all these years obsessed with me and probably feels close to me.I’ll do my best to encourage that.
I let my gun precede me and start clearing the roof.Multiple large HVAC units block my view of the entire surface.
I’m halfway across the roof when I get a sense that someone is behind me.I whirl, gun raised, but there’s nothing but shadows.
“Hello?”I call again.I want to call Rex’s name, but I’m not going to clue BK in that I have help.Please let it be him.
“This way,” BK calls from the opposite direction, the one that will lead me further out on the roof.
I keep walking, inching around a large metal AC unit, and there he is.A slumped form in a chair, shrouded in a dark coat.I can’t see his face, only the top of his head, and even that is in shadow.
I stare at him, my gun raised.
“Put down your gun,” he orders.
“No.”I grip it tighter, aiming for his torso.“I’m here.Just like you wanted.And you’re under arrest.”
He starts laughing, and once again, it ends in a wheezing cough.Even from a distance, I can tell that a sour smell hangs around him.But I don’t know if it’s real or my psychic impression.
