The light illuminated each wall, the door, before he whipped it back to an empty area beside the dilapidated counter. Was that a hole? He walked closer, peered in. No one could fit through there. It was too small. A better look had him bellowing with rage.
Downing’s shoes slapped against the floor as he came running. “What is it? What’s happened?”
Ramsey pointed to the hole. “The hole, Downing. Looks to be big enough for Kate, doesn’t it?”
“That wasn’t there before.” Downing stumbled backward, his hands outstretched. “I swear that wasn’t there. I checked this house over top to bottom.”
Getting a closer look, Ramsey grimaced. “The wood’s been battered. She sure is a resourceful little thing, isn’t she?” He tapped his chin with one finger. “Well, let’s see. If she got free, who would she run to?”
Realization dawned on Downing’s face and he extended both hands as though to ward off an attack. “I’ll give you the address, but I’m not going to Brad’s house.”
Ramsey smiled. “Sure you are. You’ll be the perfect decoy.”
Brad sat beside Kate on the couch, watching as she sipped her tea. He couldn’t help but focus on the bump on her forehead. “Let me get you some aspirin. That bump looks painful.”
Her hand covered his, stilling his movement. “It doesn’t hurt. Really. I’d tell you if it did.”
He stretched one arm along the back of the sofa and Kate leaned into him again, a move as natural as breathing. When had this become so comfortable, being alone with her like this?
“Do you think once the police catch Downing, this will all be over?”
His hand lowered to her shoulder. “That’s my hope.” He still wasn’t taking any chances, though, not until he knew all danger to Kate had been eliminated.
She sighed, shifted even closer, if that was possible. “Who knew that days after our first prickly meeting we’d be sitting here like this?”
“I did.” He grinned when she looked surprised. “Women have a hard time resisting me. It’s part of my natural charm, and I knew it was only a matter of time before you gave in to it.”
Kate rolled her eyes, chuckling. “Not to try to edge your big ego out of the way, Mr. Jericho, but you didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat when you summoned me to your office. I didn’t see even a hint of charm.”
“That’s because I didn’t trust Ramsey. He’d gone so long without wanting any media attention, and to ask to see you so suddenly, it didn’t make sense. I knew he was up to something.”
The “I told you so” hung in the air unspoken. Kate began to edge away from him but his hand gripped her shoulder. “I wasn’t trying to point a finger.”
“Maybe not, but I heard the accusation in your voice.” She wiggled out of his embrace and turned to face him. “You think if I hadn’t interviewed Ramsey, none of this would have happened.”
“I think Ramsey is clever and conniving. He saw your picture in the paper and wanted you. If you’d refused him, he would have figured out another way.”
“A way that might not have gotten you involved.”
“That’s not what I said.” Brad scooted to the edge of the cushion.
“I’m pretty good at reading between the lines.”
“Dammit, Kate, stop it. This isn’t about who is right or wrong. The situation is here, and we just have to deal with it.” From the corner of his eye he saw her pulling even farther away, backing to the farthest portion of the sofa.
“Why did you get involved, Brad?” The words edged out in a whisper-quiet voice.
He shot her a glance. “What kind of question is that? You were in danger.” Inwardly he was practically begging her not to push the issue, to just drop the subject. He didn’t want to dig any deeper, to go searching for reasons he didn’t want to examine up close.
Those hazel eyes jabbed him. “You didn’t know me and you weren’t a cop anymore. So you had no responsibility to me. That’s why police officers get paid, not you.”
His clasped hands dropped down between his knees. “I’m probably going to regret asking, but where are you going with this?”
“I’m not sure, honestly, just wondering if you’re trying to atone for your guilt.”
His gaze whipped to her face. “What in the hell does that mean?” Muscles knotted so tight they hurt. He didn’t want her to answer the question, already reading the response in her eyes.
She shook her head, lowered her gaze. “Nothing. I should be grateful instead of trying to appease my curiosity.”
“It’s not just curiosity, Kate. It’s your bread and butter.” Bitterness dripped from every syllable as he pushed himself to his feet. “Everything is a story to you, and I’m sure even all of this is going to appear on the front page of The Chronicle once you’re safe.”
“Oh yes, the readers will be on the edge of their seats reading about how I kicked out a dryer vent to escape a serial killer, how I sought shelter with a man I barely knew because I was too scared to stay alone, and the true reason behind that man’s decision to help me.”
He whipped around. “You think this has something to do with Hannah. That because I couldn’t save her, I’m determined to save you.”
“Doesn’t it?” She challenged him, rising to stand in front of him.
“Would it matter if it did? Isn’t your life more important than my reasons?”
“You can’t make up for what happened in the past. And you’re not to blame for Hannah’s death.” Kate tightened the sash of the robe and walked around the couch. “But I’m glad Ramsey afforded you this opportunity.” She left the room before Brad could say anything else.
His shoulders dropped. There hadn’t really been anything left to say. In truth, he would question his motives if he were in her shoes. Regardless of the why, it wouldn’t stop him from doing everything he could to save her.
Maybe he was seeking some sort of redemption. Now that the light had been shed on the darkest part of his past, he couldn’t switch it off. Hannah had meant everything to him. She’d come along at a time when his parents thought they were finished having kids. Eighteen years her senior, Brad had watched over her like she was his own daughter.
Until that one night when he couldn’t. When he didn’t.
Kate blamed her actions on nerves. She shouldn’t have delved into Brad’s past. He’d shared a piece of it with her and she’d thrown it back in his face. In reality, it didn’t matter why he was protecting her. She was grateful, but her reporter’s instincts sometimes got the best of her.
Dropping down on the edge of the bed in the guest bedroom, she lowered her head into her hands for a moment. No, this wasn’t just about her career. She wanted Brad’s reasons for protecting her to be about more now. She didn’t want to be the only one whose emotions had gone haywire.
She’d given up on believing her feelings for Brad were just about gratitude. Something stirred within her each time he touched her, and the time frame didn’t matter. Her parents had married three weeks after meeting, and over forty years later they’d proven time had no meaning when it came to love.
Love? That one word used to scare the world out of her, but here she was actually considering it. And her unrestrained feelings had her lashing out at Brad instead of telling him the truth, not that now was the time for heartfelt conversations. But there was one thing it was time for.
Her heart heavy, she got to her feet. Brad hadn’t deserved the subtle attack. She owed him an apology. He was doing everything within his power to keep her safe, regardless of his own feelings. She’d just have to keep hers under wraps until her life resumed some form of normalcy. Maybe then she could consider her future.
Brad stood at the window only after he’d pried himself away from the door of the bedroom where Kate hid out. He’d listened for any signs of distress. The last thing he wanted was to be the reason she cried any more tonight.
A movement across the lawn caught his gaze and his eyes narrowed, focusing o
n the shadow. He couldn’t make out any solid form. Heading to the front door, he was two steps away when his cell phone beeped.
He tugged it from the front pocket of his slacks, checked the caller ID and for a long moment could only stare. Blinking to clear his vision, he focused on the name showing up above the number, thinking it had to be some kind of joke.
David Downing wouldn’t actually have the nerve to call him. Yet the name continued to blink in pale-green letters.
Brad swallowed the lump of pure fury congealing in his throat and he glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was still alone before answering the call. “Where in the hell are you?”
“Sounds like someone needs to ease up on the caffeine.” David’s voice held a note of uneasiness beneath the affability.
Removing the phone from his ear, Brad stared at it, then returned it to position. Downing didn’t know Kate was safe. That had to be why he was acting as though nothing had happened. Could he really be so oblivious as to think Brad didn’t know about his involvement with Ramsey?
“Hey, you still there?” The uneasiness gave way to obvious nervousness.
Brad played along. “Yeah. Sorry. Long, hectic day. I’ve been trying to reach you for a couple of hours now. Where’ve you been?”
“I had some things to take care of, but I didn’t see any missed calls from you on my cell. Doesn’t matter. I called because I need to talk you.”
“Shoot.” Which was exactly what Brad wanted to do.
“I’d prefer to do it in person if you can get away.”
Not on your life. The odds that Downing knew Kate had escaped were good. Brad didn’t know the exact location of the house but, as far as the timeline went, there was an open window. “I’ve got some things going on right now, so I can’t leave. It’s nothing you can talk about on the phone?”
Downing expelled a loud breath of air. “How about just a walk outside your house?”
Brad knew the answer before he asked. The dumb bastard had actually come to his house. “What are you talking about?”
“I know this is going to sound strange, especially since I didn’t come to the door, but I’m in your front yard.”
“I’ll be right there.” And Downing had better pray Brad got better control of himself before he met his soon-to-be-former deputy warden face-to-face again.
Trying to tame his temper, Brad left through the back door just off the kitchen because Downing would be expecting him to exit through the front door. Common sense told him to call Captain Roddingham first, but he was running on pure instinct at that moment.
He came around the corner of his house, saw Downing dancing from one foot to the other next to the trash cans. His insides churning, he debated giving Downing the chance to tell his side of the story before breaking the guy’s nose, but pure rage won out.
Brad waited until he was less than a foot away before he snapped out each furious word. “Did you come to confess or ask for absolution? Because I have to tell you, I’m fresh out of forgiveness right now, and I’ve never claimed to be a priest.”
“Wh-what? What do you mean?” Downing took several steps back, flicked a glance up at the street light. “I don’t know—”
Brad snatched hold of his collar and jammed him against the privacy fence, his face nose to nose with Downing’s. The sick scents of sweat and cologne that had been left on too long permeated his nostrils.
“Don’t. Don’t even think about standing here and telling me you have no idea what I’m talking about. You’ve been helping Ramsey all along.” His muscles tensed, he fought the urge to wrap his hands around his deputy warden’s throat instead of his collar.
“You don’t understand.” Downing coughed and sputtered, trying to pull Brad’s hands away.
“You’re right. I don’t because where I stand there are so many other options besides working with a murderer.” He held up one finger. “And if you think you’re going to convince me you did the right thing, you don’t know me at all.”
As Downing’s mouth worked, Brad thought about punching his fist in the guy’s face. Only a tenuous hold on his control kept him from doing just that. The odds weren’t in Downing’s favor that it wouldn’t happen eventually.
Downing’s breath hitched and for a moment Brad thought he was going to burst into tears. But he shook his head, gained his composure and met Brad’s gaze square-on. “He has my family.”
“And you thought working for him was the best way to get them back?” Brad shoved him away. His hands felt dirty now. “How long have you worked for the Department of Corrections? You know that making deals with criminals never has a happy ending. What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking I’d do anything to save my family.” Downing shouted back at him then straightened his shirt. “But I didn’t come here to fight with you.”
Brad pinned him with a hard look. If the guy actually thought he was going to walk away now, he couldn’t be more mistaken. “It doesn’t matter why you came, David. Kate’s inside.”
The color drained from the deputy warden’s face. “Sh-she’s here? H-how?” He looked like he wanted to bolt. Just to make sure he didn’t, Brad snagged his collar again.
“How? She escaped from the abandoned house you dumped her in. That’s where you left her to wait for Ramsey, isn’t it?” Brad yanked him even closer. “If we hadn’t caught on to your scheme—” He broke off, rage building within his chest wall. Any moment now it would break free, and he didn’t know if he’d be able to tame it.
“You don’t know what this has been like, Brad. I wanted to tell you.”
“Tell me that you were working with a serial killer? Oh yeah, that’s something I’d like to have known before you almost got Kate killed.”
“I didn’t even know she meant that much to you.” Downing tried to pull away but Brad’s hold was brutal.
“That makes a difference? Would it be okay if I didn’t give a rat’s ass about her? Would that make you feel better about what you’ve done?”
Downing’s shoulders slumped. “I only wanted to save my family. I don’t know where they are. I don’t even know if they’re still alive. Ramsey won’t tell me.”
“And I’m sure you’ve been in close communication with him. Is that why you’ve been so willing to work the night shift the last month? Did that give you and Ramsey plenty of time to work out the details of your little plan?”
“I know you’re never going to understand because you don’t have a family.”
“I do have a family, David, and John Ramsey killed one member of it, or have you forgotten?”
Head dropping, Downing mumbled an apology. Then, lifting his head, he fixed his pleading gaze on Brad’s face. “You have to help me.”
Brad wanted to feel sorry for the guy, but it just wasn’t in him. Maybe much later when David was in jail and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kate was safe, he might be able to summon some emotion beyond fury.
“You’re asking for my help now? After Kate almost died, you actually think I would lift a finger to save you? You could have come to me, David. Any time you could have asked for my help. Instead you took the easy way out.”
“You think it was easy doing what I was doing, knowing I was tormenting an innocent woman? It wasn’t.” He gave Brad’s chest a hard shove but still couldn’t free himself. “It made me sick inside, and I wanted to tell Ramsey to go to hell but he showed me pictures.” His voice broke. “My wife tied up. My little girls crying. Tell me you wouldn’t do whatever it took to protect your family.”
“I’m telling you I wouldn’t put another innocent person in harm’s way, and knowing your wife like I do, she wouldn’t have wanted you to do that. She definitely wouldn’t have wanted you to work with Ramsey.”
“I wasn’t working with him. Stop saying that!” Downing struggled some more, pushing with all his might.
Brad shoved back and the man’s dress shoes scooted over the grass. “We were friends, dammit! You had
to have known I would have done anything to help you.” His heart pumping wildly, Brad drew in several deep breaths of the humid air. Torn between sickness and fury, he whirled away, needing distance.
“You can’t even begin to know how much it tore me up inside to do what I was doing.”
“Is that why you told me to back off, that I was making it personal? Things would have been a hell of a lot easier if I hadn’t stepped in to protect Kate. That’s why you wanted me out of the way, isn’t it?” Betrayal stung but coupled with a twisted sense of right, it made him want to vomit. How could his friend think that doing Ramsey’s bidding was better than going to the police?
“Try to put yourself in my shoes, Brad.” David’s voice was starting to grind on Brad’s nerves. “My family is all I have, and I couldn’t risk them dying because I refused to break a few laws.”
Brad pivoted slowly. “Is that how you really see it? Just breaking a few laws? You tormented Kate with the flowers and notes, destroyed her home, took away the safety she once felt there, and if those weren’t enough, you kidnapped her, holding her captive for a serial killer. I’m sure you had a hand in Ramsey’s hospital visit too. I didn’t realize you were such a connoisseur of mushrooms.”
David hung his head, his hands flexing and relaxing. “You’re never going to understand because it wasn’t your family. I suppose this is the point where you call the police. So go ahead. Call them. Watch them arrest your friend.”
“Don’t turn this around on me, David. You,” he jabbed a finger in the center of David’s chest, “crossed so many lines here, and hell yeah, you’re going to pay for each and every one of those crimes. You’re also going to testify against Ramsey and then you’re going to jail. For your sake, you’d better pray you don’t end up at Marsden.”
A tear leaked down Downing’s face. “It’s too late for testifying, Brad.”
The way the words came out—defeated, resigned—caused the hairs on the back of Brad’s neck to stand on end. “You’re not going to take the easy way out. You’ll face Ramsey in a courtroom if I have to drag you in myself.”
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