She ran again, passing a water fountain. Her dry mouth begged her to stop, but she had to keep going.
A door slammed shut. A man’s and a woman’s voices sound frantic.
Her heart leaped into her throat. She looked around again. There were plenty of empty classrooms, but she’d be trapped if they went inside.
She kept going. Glancing around and listening for anyone. The building may as well have been abandoned. And there were no other exits in sight.
Ariana grabbed for her cell phone. It wasn’t in her pocket. She’d lost it somewhere outside.
The footsteps and voices grew louder.
Chapter 34
Knock, knock.
The door creaked open, and Alex didn’t bother to look up. He didn’t really care who it was. It wasn’t like he was going anywhere anytime soon. And at this rate, the only place he was likely to end up was in jail. Who could argue with the evidence? He would want to charge himself if the roles were reversed.
Whoever entered cleared his throat.
Alex looked up and sighed. “Any news?”
Nick sat across from him and fidgeted with a file.
“That good, huh?” Alex very nearly put his hands on the table to be cuffed and read his rights.
His best friend finally met his gaze. “I wish I had better news.”
Alex placed his hands on the table. “Just get it over with.”
Nick frowned. “You’re going to wish that was it.”
“What do you mean?” Alex’s stomach twisted.
More fidgeting.
“Just spill it!”
Nick looked up at him. “Ariana’s missing.”
Everything spun around him. Being arrested would’ve been much better news than this. “What? How? When did this happen?”
“Damon called when she didn’t show after school.”
Alex tugged on his hair. “Maybe she’s just mad at him. Doesn’t mean she’s missing! You know what girl drama is like.”
Nick leaned over the table and drew his eyebrows together. “You really think this is girl drama? That Damon is concerned over nothing? Look where you are. Who is it that keeps spotting the woman in the red dress?”
Alex drew in a deep breath. Nick had him at every point. Though Ariana could be moody, she wasn’t one to get sucked into drama with her friends. When one of them was dealing with dramatics, Ari was usually the one talking sense into her. And Damon had a good head on his shoulders—the kid was not only book smart, but also world smart, thanks to his dad.
Alex licked his lips and slowly looked back at his best friend. “She’s really missing?”
He nodded. “She was supposed to meet Damon but didn’t. He said—”
Knock, knock.
Alex groaned. Of all the times for an interruption. He was trying to process the fact his daughter was missing—and probably with the same crazy woman who had just abducted him and framed him for murder.
Nick got up and poked his head out the door, but stepped back a few moments later. “You need to hear this, too.”
Alex just nodded, but his mind was far away. He clenched his fists as his thoughts raced faster than he could keep up.
Nick opened the door wider, and Anderson stepped in.
Great. More of Alex’s coworkers seeing him in holding. Why not just invite everyone in?
Anderson gave him a sympathetic look before turning back to Nick. “Like I was saying, a backpack and cell phone were found in a field on the middle school property. They appear to be Ariana’s.”
Alex leaped up from his chair. “Appear to be?”
“Her name was on the papers inside.” Anderson held out a tablet, the screen showing Ari’s bag lying in the grass.
It was like a punch to the gut. Alex leaned against the table. “And her phone? It was inside?”
Anderson shook his head no. “It was closer to the school in a pile of dirt.”
“It was a struggle.” Alex gritted his teeth. “Did the cameras get any of it?”
“There aren’t any out there,” Anderson said. “It’s just a field with some trees. Property for adding onto the building later. The cameras are everywhere else—inside, at the sporting fields, and—”
“Of course they are!” Alex slammed his fist on the table.
“We have half the force headed over there now.”
Alex closed his eyes and took deep breaths, trying to think straight. His stomach lurched and sweat was breaking out around his hairline. “That won’t help if she’s been taken somewhere else.”
“And if that’s the case, people will head over to wherever that is.” Anderson turned back to Nick. “I’ll let you know as soon as there’s another update.”
“Have you let Agent Kutcher know?”
Anderson shook his head. “I can do that now.”
“Thank you.”
Alex turned to Nick as Anderson left. “You have to let me go, so I can help find Ariana!”
Nick gave him a knowing look. “I can’t do that.”
“You’re captain, and I’m not under arrest, so technically, you could.”
“We both know how this works.”
“And we also know that extenuating circumstances happen. You and Genevieve were both looking for Tinsley.”
“Because we were there when she went missing. This is completely different.”
Alex frowned. “I can’t just sit in here while my daughter is out there! Probably kidnapped—again!”
Nick put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “I’ll get out there and look for her personally. You can trust me.”
Alex held back the urge to punch the wall behind Nick. “Of course I do, but you and I both know that isn’t the same thing!”
His friend’s expression told him he did know. “But I can’t let you out. You’re being held for questioning with enough evidence against you that any other precinct would have booked you by now. The only reason the other one didn’t was because I convinced them not to.” Nick stepped closer to Alex. “I need you to trust me. I care about Ariana more than anyone else out there. You’re like family. Our kids feel like cousins, and I think of myself as your kids’ uncle. Let me do this. I’m fighting for both of you.”
“But …” Alex’s voice trailed off. Nick was right, again on all counts.
Nick stepped back. “Thank you. I’m going to take that woman down personally. She’s going to pay for everything she’s done to your family and all the others.”
Alex collapsed onto the chair again. “And get me outta here. ASAP, if you don’t mind.”
Nick nodded. “By the time I’m done with her, she’s going to be begging you for forgiveness.”
“Thanks.” Alex rested his head on the table, his thoughts all running together like mush. Ariana was with the woman in red.
How had everything spiraled out of control so quickly?
Chapter 35
Ariana gasped for air and rounded a corner. A main hall with lots of classrooms. But still no exit to the outside. She’d have a better chance of hiding in a classroom here. With so many choices, they’d have a harder time finding her. And they were getting closer.
She picked a random door and ran inside the room. Struggling to breathe quietly, she looked around for a good hiding spot.
The teacher’s desk. She raced across the room, shoved the chair out of the way, and ducked underneath, moving a stack of books in front of the gap between the carpeting and the bottom of the desk, which left a few inches exposed. But it was her only chance at hiding. The classrooms weren’t made for people to hide. Kind of the opposite, really.
Ariana struggled to get her breathing under control as she waited. But how long? Would they search the whole building? Run into a teacher, who would figure out they didn’t belong and kick them out? Or would they make something up, allowing them to stay and search until they finally found her?
It was her they wanted, after all. She’d been there when Tinsley was taken. The woman kept comin
g to her house and school. Had probably taken her dad. And now was rumored to have killed kids.
All because they wanted her.
A sick realization settled over Ariana. They wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted. In fact, they’d keep doing bad things to people.
Maybe she should give herself up. Then everyone else would be safe. She’d be miserable—probably locked up and mistreated. But then so many others would be left alone.
Her heart pounded. If she did that, there was no going back. She had to be sure.
Tears stung her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to be held captive again. Just thinking about it made the room feel like it was closing in on her. Made her want to claw at everything and scream as loud as she could.
But if she could help keep others from experiencing what she’d already been through, it would be the right thing to do. These people were killing kids.
They had to be stopped. And she had a chance to do just that.
She wiped at her eyes with shaky hands and crawled out from under the desk. The room was dim and seemed to be shrinking. Ari rested her hand on the desk for stability and took a deep breath.
She could do this. There was no other option. It was this or more bodies. And she couldn’t live with that on her conscience.
It felt like hours, but she finally made it back to the door. Stared at the knob like it would bite her.
No! She couldn’t give herself to them. That wouldn’t stop the abductions.
Her heart raced. What had she been thinking? She almost handed herself over to a killer!
The knob jiggled. The door flew open.
She started to scream, but stopped herself.
It was Damon. His eyes widened. “There you are!”
Her legs felt like rubber, nearly gave out.
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. “I was so worried when you weren’t at the parking lot like you said you’d be. I knew something was wrong. Then you didn’t answer your phone.”
She pulled back. “We have to run. The lady in red is here! She’s in the school somewhere.”
He squeezed her hand. “I already called the police. They’re on their way, if they aren’t already here.”
“You called them?”
“I wasn’t taking any chances.” He pulled her toward the back of the room.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“We’re going to wait here until the cops arrive.” He lifted a blind, looking outside. “I can’t see any yet, but maybe they’re sneaking onto the building, not wanting to be seen.”
“Are you sure they’re coming? They’d have had you stay on the line if you really talked with them.”
He pulled out his phone. “I lost my signal in here. This place is a dead zone. I don’t know how you manage to text me as often as you do.”
She shrugged then tugged on his hand. “Maybe my service is better than yours. Let’s go. I don’t want to wait here.”
“They aren’t in the hall. I’d have seen them.”
She frowned. “Maybe you can call and see if they’ll tell you what’s going on.”
Damon snickered. “I doubt that.”
“Want me to?” She reached for the phone.
“You might have better luck, being a cop’s kid.” He handed it to her.
She scrolled through the contacts list. “You have my dad’s work number?”
“Yeah. Hurry up.” He looked outside again.
“Why?”
“We can talk about this later. We have a killer to stop, remember?”
“Right.” She called the station.
It didn’t ring.
She tried again. Nothing. She handed the phone back to him. “Your coverage sucks.”
“They use a jammer, I swear.”
“Doesn’t affect my phone.”
“Not that it helps us now.” He looked outside.
The door burst open.
Ariana stepped closer to Damon and pulled him down. They’d still be visible, but not immediately, squatting behind tables and chairs.
The first thing she saw was a long red dress. Her heart leaped into her throat. Hopefully, Damon was right about having talked with the police and about them sneaking into the building. But they were in one random room.
At least it was two against two now. And Damon was built. He could destroy those two.
“Looky what we have here,” said a feminine voice.
Ariana exchanged a worried glance with Damon.
He held up one finger.
Why did he want her to wait? The woman could obviously see them. She readjusted her weight and prepared herself for whatever she needed to do. If she had to fight, she’d do that. Or if she needed to surrender herself to protect Damon, she’d do that. He might be mad at her, but eventually he’d understand. Maybe even appreciate it.
The man and woman took slow steps toward Ariana and Damon, walking around desks and chairs.
Ariana nudged Damon and whispered, “If we run over by the teacher’s desk, I think we can get around them.”
He glanced over, his expression doubtful.
The evil duo came closer.
“There are things on the desk we can use as weapons.”
Damon chewed on his lower lip, then gave a slight nod. He actually thought her idea would work!
She laced her fingers through his. They both leaped to their feet and hurried over to the desk. Ariana grabbed a large round paper weight, and Damon picked up a stapler.
The attackers turned and hurried toward them. But with the arrangement of the desks, they couldn’t get around easily.
Ari hurried toward the door, her mouth going even drier. Her breaths grew ragged and drawn out. This could go either really good or really bad.
“Stop!” yelled the woman.
Instinctively, Ariana turned toward her.
They were racing for them, the man flipping over desks in his path. The woman reached into the folds of her dress and pulled something out.
Ariana didn’t wait to see what it was. She noticed the fire alarm next to her. The main office would know which classroom had pulled it. The police would know exactly where to find them.
She pulled the lever.
Loud wailing sounded as small round overhead lights flashed.
“What have you done?” screamed the lady.
Damon grabbed her arm. “Good thinking. Let’s go!”
She reached for the knob, but noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. The man was inches from Damon, his fist aiming for Damon’s head.
“Watch out!”
He spun around. Reached out his palm and blocked the strike barely an inch from his skull.
Relief washed through Ari, but it was short-lived. The woman lunged for her, a knife in hand.
Ariana screamed and ducked out of the way.
The man shoved Damon against the wall. Damon wrapped his hands around the man’s neck and pushed him away.
Then the door shoved open. “Police! Freeze!”
The lady narrowed her eyes at Ariana and dug the blade into Ari’s arm.
She cried out in pain as her sleeve turned red.
Armed officers flooded the room. It was chaos as the woman and man were arrested.
Damon rushed to Ari’s side. “Are you okay?”
She glanced down at her soaked fabric. “It looks a lot worse than it feels.”
“She’s in shock!” Damon grabbed an officer. “Get her medical help! She’s Officer Mercer’s daughter.”
“I’m fine, really.” Ari covered the wound, her palm warming from the sticky blood.
“Come with me,” said the officer.
She reached for Damon.
“He needs to stay for questioning.”
“But he didn’t do anything! Those two attacked us!”
“If that’s the case, he’ll be able to join you soon.”
“He’s the one who called for help!”
“Just go.” D
amon gestured for her to go with the officer. “You really need to get that looked at.”
She reached for him, but the officer guided her into the hall.
Chapter 36
Alex held his gun, ready for action. He rounded a corner and came face to face with the lady in the red dress. Then he held up the weapon, ready to pull the trigger.
“Wake up, Alex!” Nick’s voice pulled him from a fitful sleep.
“I almost had her,” Alex mumbled.
“Get up!” Nick yanked Alex to sitting.
He looked around, realizing he was still in the holding room. Drool dripped down his chin. Alex wiped it and turned to his wide-eyed friend. “Did you get her?”
Nick nodded enthusiastically. “The lady in red is in custody along with her accomplice. And the—”
“What about Ariana?”
“Safe and sound. She does have a cut, but it’s nothing to worry about.”
Relief washed through Alex, and he scrambled out of the chair. “Where is she?”
“Here. She’s giving her statement. Damon’s also here, doing the same. Zoey’s on her way. Or she might already be here by now.”
“Tell me I’m free to go!” Alex pleaded with his eyes. “We have the real criminal now.”
“Yes, but—”
“There’s always a but.” Alex threw his hands in the air. “I’m still a suspect.”
“Unfortunately. She’s lawyered up and isn’t saying anything, so we have nothing on her yet regarding any of the other cases. And you were covered in the victim’s blood. We have to give this time.”
Alex muttered under his breath.
“Trust me, I’m just as frustrated. You’re about as guilty as the tooth fairy, but we have to follow due process.”
Alex slumped down. “How much longer?”
“I need to check in with Agent Kutcher. She’s going through the laptop.”
“The lady in the red dress’s computer?”
Nick nodded. “Yes, that and the footage from your neighbors’ doorbell cams. Don’t worry. Something will prove your innocence soon enough. It’s just a matter of waiting.”
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