“Take a right now,” he ordered, indicating the turn coming up.
It was unexpected and she skidded while turning the sharp curve. She realized they were heading into a secluded wooded area. She was only safe as long as she was still driving. Slowing the speed imperceptibly, she glanced over at Wendell.
“I can’t believe that educated people could go in for devil worship.”
“Lionel was right when he said evil is the most potent force in the universe. Should we not worship the greatest power? Lionel actually succeeded in channeling the power of Satan into himself during his ceremonies. He became empowered with demonic strength. I intend to do the same, to become the high priest. I, too, will become a demon with preternatural abilities. Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.”
“Your mind is twisted, demented.”
The nostrils flared again. “You are a naive fool. Speak no more!”
There was no one in the area. She was alone with a crazed murderer. She took a deep, shaky breath and exhaled slowly.
“Pull over there,” he said, indicating a turn into the black woods.
She ignored him and kept driving.
“Did you hear me?” His voice was shrill, incredulous.
“I’m driving,” she told him with as much force as she could manage. Her special sense of awareness warned her that continuing to be in control of the car was her only hope of survival.
Wendell removed the syringe from his pocket and lunged toward her. So he had not actually changed his original plan that much. Using the gun was really window dressing for intimidation purposes, too messy, not his actual weapon of choice. Kim braced herself as best she was able and hit the brakes for all they were worth. She was wearing her safety belt and was not harmed. Wendell had strapped himself in as well. It was not in his nature to ignore any detail. But the forward thrust threw him off balance and gave Kim just long enough time to reach into her handbag to grasp Nick’s knife.
She slashed him in a fast, smooth movement, taking her slight advantage without hesitation. She thought that Nick would have been pleased to know that his knife was used against his killer. Justice could be ironic.
She stabbed Wendell in the hand that held the syringe. With a yowl, he dropped his weapon to the floor of the car. Unfortunately, his unimpaired hand seized on her wrist, and he wrestled the knife from her grasp, eyes glittering with a look of hatred. She elbowed him in the chest causing his grasp on her to loosen.
As Kim jumped out of the car and began running down the road, looking desperately to wave down another vehicle, she heard a car coming at high speed from behind her. Wendell was using her own car to try and run her down! As he bore down on her, for a moment her eyes were glazed like a doe caught in headlights, but her paralysis was over quickly and she reacted by racing into the woods as the car narrowly missed her.
A branch cut across her cheek and her ankle twisted, but she was okay; she was alive. Kim realized that the car had stopped. He was coming after her. She tried to quiet the sound of her breathing; it wasn’t easy. Her heart pounded like an anvil.
She couldn’t see him, yet she could hear him looking for her, moving through the trees. As stealthily as possible, she slipped back toward the road, knowing it was her only hope. Maybe she could make it to the car and then drive away.
She had the Toyota in her sights now and was just about to climb into it when a hand grabbed at her from behind. She screamed, and as she did, another car pulled up, shining headlights on both of them.
She somehow managed to kick Wendell, and then she was running again, this time toward the other automobile, ignoring the agonizing pain in her ankle. A man got out and held his arms out to her and she collapsed into them.
“It’s okay,” he said. Gardner turned to the man standing beside him. “Stay with her. I’m going to get him now.” He removed a bullhorn from the rear of the police car.
Gardner walked on while the thin figure of Wendell Firbin began running in the opposite direction. “We know who you are and what you’ve done. There isn’t any escape. There are cars coming here from all directions. There is no getting away. If you don’t surrender immediately, you’ll be shot.”
As if on cue, two more police cars pulled in behind her car from the other direction. One was university police, the other had city markings. Wendell Firbin surrendered meekly to Lieutenant Gardner, complaining bitterly about barbaric policemen and their brutality. In actuality, no one touched him, except to search him, remove the gun, and cuff him as his rights were read. She wanted to spit in his face.
“Quite a killing spree,” Gardner said. “You murdered a number of innocent people.”
“No one was innocent,” Wendell said.
“You’ve got a decided lack of conscience.”
“Pity was invented by the weak.” He truly would reign in hell.
Firbin was placed into the back of a police car and driven away. Gardner returned to Kim.
She told him about the syringe in the car. “By the way, where was your man? I thought he was going to keep following me.”
“He did. We knew where you were. We placed a device on your car that let out a signal. That’s why he could afford to pull back. You see, we were afraid that if we were spotted, Firbin might try to kill you immediately.”
“He did see the car.”
“That was what we figured when he had you pull off the road out here. It’s the reason our guy let you out of sight for the moment. You’ll notice we all came after you just as soon as you stopped the car.”
“No offense, but it’s a good thing I didn’t depend on the police for help.”
He gave her a wry smile. “We do our best. No one claims we’re perfect. Oh, there is one other thing. You were right about the janitor. We found him dead in his apartment. Same method of death. Apparent heart failure. He’d been drinking heavily.”
“But you found cocaine had been mixed into the drink?”
“Girl’s a genius.” His teeth shined like white porcelain in the darkness.
“No, Wendell was planning a similar death for me.”
“I should have shot him.”
Gardner helped her into his Ford. She was trembling, and he held her tightly in his arms, stroking her hair, until she stopped shaking.
“You’re quite a woman.” He kissed her forehead with gentle concern. “I’ll drive you home. Someone will bring your car back to you in the morning.”
“Why did he kill Frank too?”
“He’ll tell us soon enough,” Gardner responded as he put the car in gear. “My guess is that the janitor knew him, maybe could identify him as being at the house. You did say he cleaned for Forbes.”
She suddenly felt drained, exhausted. Like Dorothy, she wanted to click her heels together and say, “There’s no place like home.” A shame she didn’t own a pair of ruby shoes.
“You feeling okay?” he eyed her critically.
“I’ve been better.”
“Just don’t make this kind of thing a habit,” he said.
“I’ll try not to.”
TWENTY-TWO
The police returned her Toyota the following day just as Gardner had promised, but minus the syringe, for which she was grateful. She needed no reminders of what had happened the previous evening. She’d slept late that morning, and every joint in her body ached. The ankle had swollen slightly and she needed to ice it. But the important thing was that she’d survived the ordeal. It was great to be alive.
She managed the drive to visit Ma, bringing Jen’s diary along with her. Ma viewed her with concern when she first arrived.
“What happened to your face?”
“I walked into a tree branch. It’s nothing.”
“And the ankle? I see you’re limping.”
“I’ll get it taped.”
Ma sniffed at her. “I guess you don’t want to tell me what happened to you?”
She shrugged. “To tell the truth, it was just a small accident and everything’s fine.
”
“I notice that people who want others to tell the truth don’t always do it themselves. But I won’t ask questions you don’t want to answer.” Ma led her to the most comfortable chair in the living room and pushed the ottoman over by her bad foot.
“I guess I ought to reciprocate and not ask questions you don’t want to answer.”
Ma eyed her warily. “Why don’t we trade? What was it that you wanted to know?”
Kim pushed the diary toward her. “I read Jen’s diary again, and this time I was thorough. I have the same feeling about what I read now as I did when I was fifteen. Ma, tell me the truth about Jen.”
“It was so sad; I just didn’t think you needed to know. I thought to spare you any misery I could. Since you didn’t know her, what was the point of telling you?”
“I suppose I do understand. I wasn’t going to give you the details of what happened to me, but since you care, you have a right to know.” She went ahead and told Ma all about Wendell Firbin, how he murdered Lorette and the others then tried to kill her as well.
Ma listened attentively, alternating shock with sympathy. “I’m so thankful that you’re all right!” Ma said finally and hugged her tightly. “Who would have guessed a librarian would behave that way? I’ll say a special prayer of thanks tonight that you were spared.”
Kim realized that Ma’s intentions were good and always had been.
“Ma, I love you,” she said. “I will always love you. But I want to know who my real parents were. I have a right to know, and I’m hardly a child anymore.”
“Your real father was decent and caring, but he couldn’t be a father to you.”
“Yes, I understand that.”
“Do you?” Her face was tense now, worry lines forming between her brows.
“He was just a young boy, wasn’t he? Was Jen my real mother?”
The look of surprise was genuine. “What makes you think that?”
“I read her diary, remember? She wrote about a boy she loved, one who moved away and how it broke her heart. Then she wrote about a secret that she couldn’t share with any of you because it would cause you too much pain. She said that she’d delay your knowing about it as long as she could. Then she stopped writing in her book.”
“Yes, I see how you might think she was writing about having a baby.”
“And then…” She hesitated, knowing it would pain Ma to hear what Carl had said concerning her sister, but now was a time for truth. She continued doggedly. “Carl was drunk and angry the night he told me that he wasn’t my father. He also said I had bad genetics.”
“He told you that?”
She saw the pain register on Ma’s face and felt terrible for causing it. Ma stood up and began pacing the room. “Karen, honey, my sister Jen was not your mother. The secret she was keeping from me and your grandma for as long as she could was that she was sick. It turned out she had a blood disease like leukemia. In those days, they didn’t have the cures they do now. She wasn’t even sixteen when she passed away.” Tears welled up in Ma’s eyes.
Kim rose and went to her mother, throwing her arms around her. “Ma, I’m sorry. I really had no idea.”
“I should have told you. It was just so hurtful. And you do remind me a lot of her. She was my little sister. A kinder, sweeter girl never lived.” The tears streamed down her mother’s face, and then she choked back a sob. “Your grandma was never the same after that. It was hard on her losing your grandpa two years before, but the worst thing in the world is losing a child you love.”
“I didn’t mean to stir up bad memories.”
“You have a right to know everything. I just didn’t tell you because I told myself I was protecting you. Maybe I just was protecting myself. I didn’t want you to think less of me.”
Kim stared at her mother in dismay. “Ma! What are you talking about?”
Her mother lowered her eyes, fixing them on the worn carpet. “When they sent Carl home, he was more dead than alive. The doctors saved him, but there were parts of him that just couldn’t be fixed. Carl Reyner couldn’t father a child.” She sighed deeply.
“Carl was in the hospital for a very long time after he came back. I was very lonely and unhappy. I very badly wanted a child of my own. There was a man I knew, a very kind, caring person who was unhappy in his marriage too. We just sort of comforted each other. After I got pregnant, I told Carl that he could have a divorce if he wanted it. He was angry at first, but then he said he loved me and would be a father to any child that was mine. Poor man. I guess it was just more than he could manage. I’m sorry. Please don’t blame him; he did the best he could. I blame myself for your suffering.”
“I’m fine,” Kim said reassuringly. “No one ever had a better mother, and whether I’d been adopted or born to you, it wouldn’t matter because I couldn’t love you more. I just felt hurt that you wouldn’t trust me with the truth. As for Carl, well, maybe it’s past time I forgave him. I’ve come to realize just how precious life is. I don’t want to waste any more of mine holding grudges. I shouldn’t be blaming Carl for mistakes I’ve made. As to the people he killed, he’s had to answer to a higher authority.”
Ma kissed her and started to cry. Kim hugged her mother tightly; her own eyes misted.
“So what would you think if I came down to Florida this year when I get my vacation?”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Great, because as you know, I’ve never been to Florida. Maybe we can do some sightseeing together.”
Ma gave her a warm smile, tears still glistening in her eyes. “I’d love that.”
When she left the house, taking a final look around, Kim felt differently about many things. Most of all, she felt better about herself. She had finally managed to bury the dead.
* * * *
The phone was ringing as she stepped into her apartment. She scooped up the receiver before it stopped and answered in a breathless voice.
“How are you?”
The velvet voice at the other end brought a smile to her lips. “Better than I expected,” she told Don.
“I had a very interesting call from a concerned party earlier.”
“And who would that be?”
“Police Lieutenant Gardner. He seems to care a great deal about you. But he’s tied up. Wanted me to phone and see if you needed anything.”
“Yes, I like him too, even if he was a little slow on the uptake last night.”
“Maybe you ought to apply for his job.”
“Maybe I should. But he needn’t start to worry quite yet. I ache all over today. I think I prefer a quiet, peaceful job.”
“Odd, I thought that was what you had.”
“Me too, but it didn’t turn out that way.”
“Gardner told me about Wendell. Who would ever have thought it? The man was the embodiment of rectitude.”
“Well, he turned out to be a punctilious murderer.”
“By the way, I’m coming over and cooking you dinner tonight. Expect me around five. My special pasta sauce takes at least two hours.”
“Don, you don’t have to go to any trouble for me.”
“’Course I do! Gardner would never forgive me if I didn’t. Do you want a policeman coming after me with a drawn revolver?”
She enjoyed his good-natured teasing. “I rest much easier knowing that I’ve won the friendship of two good men.”
“Frankly, Kim, my feelings run deeper. And I get the impression your police detective has stronger feelings as well.”
Kim realized she was going to have to give that matter some serious thought.
EPILOGUE
He came to her the following afternoon. Kim hadn’t realized how much she’d been longing for him. It was as if she’d been holding her breath just waiting in suspended animation and nothing else really mattered.
They stood staring at each other.
“How are you feeling?”
Better, now that you’re here.
; “I’m all right.”
“You look beautiful.” He gave her an appreciative smile.
“You’re the only person who thinks that.”
“Not true. What about the professor?”
“Don?”
He gave a nod of acknowledgement. “Yeah, my competition. I know he’s been to see you.”
“We had dinner together last night. We’re just good friends.”
“I don’t think he sees it that way.”
She shrugged. “You can never have too many friends.”
He drew closer. “I don’t want to be your friend.”
“What do you want?”
“That’s a loaded question. I was fascinated by you from the moment we met.”
“I’m not exactly a fascinating woman.”
“Really? Who says? Because I find you very desirable. The only thing that stopped me from telling you before was professional ethics. Now I don’t have to hold back anymore. You don’t either.”
* * * *
He pulled her into his arms with a bold movement and held her tightly against him. His mouth descended on hers, ravaging. She craved his heat. She couldn’t seem to get close enough. His lips were moist, soft and firm all at once. Soon their tongues were mating in a drugging, wildly erotic kiss. Kim felt as if her very bones were dissolving. She was shaken by the potency of the passion. Finally, they came apart, breathless, gasping for breath.
“You and I have a telepathic connection,” he said.
“Prove it.” That sultry voice hardly seemed to belong to her.
“I will,” he said. “Just so you know, I’m off duty. We’re going out for dinner—a double date—you, me and the girls. I told them about you and they’re eager to meet you.”
“You sound awfully sure of yourself.”
“I’m sure of us.”
He proved himself a man of action, drawing her to the couch and sitting her on his lap. She felt his probing erection press hard against her soft core. They kissed again and then his mouth began to roam, tasting her ear, her throat, her neck, following a plundering path, as his hands caressed her breasts. She allowed him free access to her body. His thrilling touch caused her blood to erupt in her veins like a volcano. His fingers circled her nipples and they tightened in anticipation.
The Inferno Collection Page 22