Norm did a sudden turn, zooming toward him. He heard Lydia scream as he jumped out of the way.
He sprinted toward Norm’s car as it reached the edge of the parking area, firing off three more shots. The car pulled out onto the dirt road. Frankie kept pace with him as he ran through a field to try to cut the car off.
He fired more shots, two at the engine and two more at the tires. He had to stop Norm. The car disappeared around a corner. He kept running. When he got around the curve, River didn’t see the car. He wasn’t about to give up. His bullets must have disabled the vehicle in some way.
He heard a car behind him. Lydia in the patrol car. He swung open the passenger’s-side door, commanding Frankie to jump in. Lydia pressed the gas before he’d even closed the door, a look of hard-rock determination on her face.
She floored it, causing the back end to fishtail. She rounded another curve. Up ahead, Norm’s car was on the side of the road. Steam rolled out of the engine. They got to the car and jumped out. River held his gun. “Stay back. Let me check it out.”
The car was empty, and the passenger’s door had been left open. When he glanced across the narrow field by the road, he saw Norm, carrying Elsie, stepping into the trees. Frankie had already taken off across the field. He followed with Lydia close behind him.
When River entered the trees, Frankie had disappeared. Erratic and intense barking reached his ears. With his gun still drawn, he rushed toward the sound.
Frankie circled Norm, who had set a frightened Elsie down. The dog growled and leapt at Norm as he raised his gun to shoot.
“Don’t you dare.” River had Norm in his sight. “Drop the gun.”
Frankie was still circling and lunging toward Norm.
“Get your dog to back off.”
“Drop the gun and I will.”
Norm complied, lifting his hands in the air. River commanded Frankie to stop. The dog sat back on her haunches, but her behind was not on the ground, as if she was ready to spring at any moment.
Norm looked sideways at the dog, clearly fazed by the near attack.
Lydia came through the trees and ran to her daughter, scooping her up and holding her close as she glared at Norm. “This is not how a grandfather acts.”
“You should’ve been a better wife. You drove him to drink.” Norm’s voice faltered. “Sloane was devastated when you got sole custody. We just thought if he could have his child back…maybe he’d get his life back on track.”
River saw in that moment how distorted Norm’s thinking was and how a parent’s love could become so twisted.
Crying, Elsie snuggled close to her mother’s neck as Lydia walked back toward River, who moved in to handcuff Norm.
After River called for another patrol car, he marched Norm through the trees and secured him in his car.
River, Frankie, Elsie and Lydia waited on the side of the road.
Lydia’s hand slipped into his. “It’s over. Thanks to you and Frankie.”
Elsie had come around to his other side. Her little hand slipped into his. She tilted her head up toward him. “Thank you, River. Grandpa was bad.”
He stared down into trusting green eyes, just like her mother’s. “He won’t ever scare you again.”
“Promise,” said Elsie.
“I promise.” As he stood with both his hands being held, he thought that this was the most loved he’d ever felt.
Love? Was that what he was feeling?
Once the other patrol car came to get Norm, River drove to the cabin to get the few things they had there and then headed for Ridge. He’d texted Emmett that Norm was in custody. Emmett texted back right away, congratulating him and asking him if he could be at the Denver FBI office within the hour. Now he’d be able to put his full attention on Mia’s case and finding the culprits who were killing young women.
He stopped in front of Lydia’s house. Elsie was in the back seat with Frankie.
Lydia stared at her house. “I can’t believe we get to go back to our home, Elsie girl.”
“Thanks to the nice policeman.” From her car seat where she sat in the backseat of the car, Elsie raised her arms in the air.
