She was putting it all together here. What she couldn’t figure out was why the guy had gone off the rails now—it didn’t make sense that a guy would go forty-something years, only to waltz right into the crime lab to attack a bunch of criminalists.
Finally, dispatch came through, connecting her phone to a Major Crimes extension.
“Foster. Miller, what’s going on?”
“Newcomb took our ERT van, number two. I think he has a hostage. I am not sure, but I think it was Madison McAlister. Lila Dodson was injured outside the lab.”
“Dodson already en route to hospital.”
K.J. refused to think about her friend right now. She just couldn’t. “I have visual confirmation of the van heading south down Boethe. We are approximately in the 1200 block now. I am two blocks back, maintaining distance.”
“Keep visual. But don’t engage unless necessary. Assists are on the way.”
“Understood. I’m only going to engage when necessary.”
She just hoped the response team arrived before she had to. And…that Madison could hold on until they got there.
96
“My sonis currentlyin the locked ward at Finley Creek County hospital, hooked up to machines. Where he has been since Detective Kimball attacked him.”
“Steve Wilson isyourson? Like for real?” Maybe not the right words to use, but anyone looking at ErnestNewcomband Steve Wilson would never believe they were related, let alone father and son. The only thing they had in common at all was the lighter hair—Wilson’s was blond, and Newcomb’s was gray and blond—and blue eyes. She looked at him, what she could see in the twilight. The sun would be setting soon.
And that made this even more complicated. Madison…Madison didn’t know how she was going to get away. She just didn’t. Someone had tried to kill her multiple times—this was thefifthtime here. If this was a softball game, she’d have already been out by now. She just had to stay calm.
She could do this.
She was going to get back to her family, her mother, her friends.
Her caveman.
She wanted Dom more than anyone else in the world right now. She wanted to see what could happen between them. She wanted to not have thoseregretsany longer. She should have jumped him years ago. Then…then they’d have had time to build a life together.
Maybe…she’d have not worked nightshift any longer. Maybe they would have both done somethingdifferentwith their lives if they were together. Maybe they would have had three kids by now—and she’d have taken Houghton Barratt up on his offer to run the DNA lab he owned. It was in Wichita Falls. She could have commuted. Dom could have gone into private security or something.
They didn’t have to stay with the TSP. She could have…left the TSP years ago.
Regrets were pretty sour right now. No denying that. “You don’t look anything like him.”
For one thing, eight or nine inches and eighty pounds was a good place to start. Steve Wilson had been in prime physical shape. Strong and well-muscled, broad shouldered and physically attractive, even if the shell hid the soul of a monster. Ernie Newcomb just…wasn’t.
“I assure you, he is mine. I have confirmed it with DNA…through…my eldest granddaughter. I know she’s his child. I confirmed that five years ago.”
If he was Steve Wilson’s father, then he was…Heather’s daughters’ biological grandfather, too. Not that she thought Heather was ever going to claimanyof Steve’s evil relatives as her daughters’ family. But she sure felt bad for that teenage girl out there somewhere right now. “Are you one of the ones causing problems for Heather? Starting the rumors about her everywhere and everything?”
She’d believe it. He’d always come across as such a little weasel to her. He and Pete both.
Yes, she had some serious rancor for Pete right now, that was for sure. But…mostly…terror.
Fear. This man had no intention of letting her get away.
If she was going to escape and get back to her caveman, Madison was going to have to find a way to do that herself.
“Heather has been a thorn in my side for years. Over four years now. All she has done is get in the way and start digging. Get people who I need to keephappyall riled up. Always causing trouble. Do you know how many times I have tried to have that woman taken out in the last four years? And she just wiggles her way right out. Which…now…I am rather glad I didn’t, considering two of my granddaughters…That woman has nine lives. Nine lives. I don’t know how she has accomplished it, but she has escaped me every single time.”
Anger and admiration were at war there. Even this guy was…fascinated…with Heather in his own way. He’d tried to kill Heather. Okay. Fact there. And no, she didn’t know how many times. But apparently definitely more thanonce.
“So…you kill people. For money.” And he obviously had no intention of letting Madison go. Why would he? So she could tell everyone his secrets? Not likely. “And have been for…how long?”
