As Reed continued spewing pious nonsense, Erich finished winding the rope around his chest before dropping to one knee to secure his ankles, tightening it to bind both Reed and the chair.
“Aren’t you listening?” Reed snapped, his voice rising. “What does this bitch have on you? She’s not a virgin. She aborted her child. She’s covered in sin—destined for Hell!”
Erich rose slowly, staring down at my brother through narrowed eyes. Even from where I stood, the tension in his jaw—and the low, dangerous edge in his voice—made the hair on my arms stand up.
“Your God wouldn’t save me, either.”
Reed’s sneer deepened, his head tilting as he locked into the stare. “Why are you so protective of my dear sister?” His lips curled. “I loosened her. Ruined her. There’s nothing left for you. She was made for me—and I took it. She belongs to me. You’re stuck with what’s left of a common street—”
Erich’s pocketknife flashed in his hand and drove straight into Reed’s shoulder with brutal force. I heard the tear of fabric—and skin—before Reed’s scream filled the room.
Erich’s eyes were smoldering, bereft of any humanity or emotion other than pure rage as he yanked the plunged knife out of Reed’s shoulder. A trail of dark red blood spurted out, and Reed shrieked as the blood dribbled to the ground.
“You mother fu—” Reed choked, his voice breaking as he stared down at the blood soaking his shirt. Then his gaze snapped back up. “You’re psychotic. A monster. This is how I die? You deserve my jezebel sister.”
Erich turned away from him, facing me. He flipped the knife in his hand, gripping the blade, blood staining his fingers, and held the handle out toward me.
I hesitated—then took it.
Our eyes met. My lips parted, words catching somewhere behind my teeth.
“Take it,” he said, his voice low and rough. “Do what you need to do. Before I do it for you.”
This was his promise. I was in control. Erich would never take anything from me that was mine. My consent, my free will…
My story to end.
I would’ve loved to do this the original way we planned, but instead I quietly made my way to Reed. Reed’s light green eyes followed my movements, and I tuned out his begging as my tunnel vision drove me to do the one task I set out to do.
The knife trembled in my hand as I raised it to my chest. I drew in a shaky breath—
Then lifted it over my head and drove it down into his heart.
Chapter 31 – June 24, 1994 – Sergeant Aileen Taylor
“I’m sorry—you need to slow down. What’s your name again?” Sergeant Taylor kept her voice even as she took the unexpected call from Mercer, Wisconsin.
“He’s not here. And neither is the girl.”
The voice crackled through the line. Emil glanced up from where he sat beside her.
“Okay, I understand that—but what’s your name?” she repeated.
“Sergeant Hanes. I’m the officer sent to check on your suspect. He’s not here. His car is, though, so I doubt he’s gone far.” There was a pause. “I know the guy. Makes a hell of a Friday fish fry. You sure he’s who you’re looking for?”
Sergeant Taylor glanced at Emil. He shrugged.
“Thank you, Sergeant Hanes. Let’s stay in contact. Keep an eye on the house and call me if he shows up.”
She grabbed her pen, jotting down the number with a slight tremor in her hand.
When the call ended, Emil exhaled heavily. “I’m telling you, Sarg—this doesn’t add up. I don’t think he’s tied to anything beyond the assault. We’re chasing something we can’t prove.”
Taylor didn’t respond. Her eyes tracked over the number again and again as she tapped her pen against the pad.
“Sarg?” Emil pressed. “Did you listen to me yesterday? No DNA on any of the six unsolved murders. Nothing ties him to them. Why are we still pushing this?”
“He has to be involved.” Her voice sharpened. “We didn’t come this far for nothing. It fits too well.”
