by A. A. Dark
My head cocked to the side, analyzing where it had come from. It still sounded in front of me, which meant she hadn’t made it to the bed.
Another step.
Anger.
Lust mingled with the violence I knew was coming from her lack of obedience.
“I’m getting closer. The bed is waiting. I’m waiting.”
Another step.
Debris scraped the floor, and shuffling filled the dark. My small laugh joined, only for my lips to tighten through the burst of bloodlust that drove me to lunge forward. Heartbeats slammed into my chest as a crazed need for savagery took over. Hair pushed through my fingers, and I dug them deeper until I could feel Lucy’s scalp connect with my knuckles. I swung, spinning and dragging her flailing frame to the bathroom to flip on the light.
Pain sliced across my wrist and my eyes went wide as blood cascaded into her blonde hair and injured faced. Sensation faded in my fingers, leaving them loosening as she pushed to her feet. Wildly, she sliced toward my face with a large chunk of broken ceramic.
The lamp.
I could see the pieces in my peripheral. My head jerked back, barely missing the direct impact of the jagged weapon. Lucy’s long nails followed instantaneously, trying to tear into my skin while her other swung back toward me. I could have killed her with one hit. My god, I wanted to. But my killer wanted more. He wanted her to suffer like no one I had ever taken before.
Warm wetness followed, stinging and rage led me forward. I wrestled her fighting frame to the floor. The ceramic she held slid free at our impact. To think came naturally, but I was already two steps ahead of my thoughts. The monster within knew this game as he grabbed one of the condoms laying loosely on the floor.
With a jerk, I unbuttoned my slacks and pushed them and my briefs down enough to free my cock. Lucy was still fighting. Still screaming at the top of her lungs as I pinned her with my forearm across her throat and slid it on. At my weight, she focused on trying to push my arm free. It was a mistake. I was too strong from her. Within seconds, I forced my way into her pussy.
“Tired of the bed? I guess it would be fitting that trash would want to be fucked on the floor during its last moments.”
“Ahhh! I’ll…I’m g-going—”
“You’re not going to do anything but bleed on my cock, bitch. Then, I’m going to beat and strangled you to death.”
“No! N-n-n-n—”
I reared back, striking across the new cut on her face. The impact sent her head to the side, but she still came back, trying to claw into mine. I barely managed to catch her weak grip as excitement took me away.
“I can’t wait for the morning. When they find your body, how do you think Boston is going to react? Who do you think is going to be by his side?”
Harder, I thrust, almost seeing it. Seeing him. Lucy was getting wetter by the second, and I could feel myself become lost in my long-awaited fantasy. With every inch we slid across the floor, I was a mile farther away. Farther from the aggravation. Farther from all these dilemmas. Anna could wait. Boston and I would leave here. We’d go home to bury this bitch, and then the counseling could begin. I’d warp his mind by using not only his grief, but his wrath. It would be poetic. Fate.
“Fuck,” I moaned, pushing hard against my knees as we slid even more. Blood from my wrist was making it hard to keep steady. I was getting lightheaded, but I didn’t care. I was so close. So—
“Fuck you. Fuck y-you!”
I heard her before I felt it. A thick agony I couldn’t process right away shot through my cheek and gums like lightening exploding throughout my head. My entire body went rigid, and I was falling to the side before I could understand why. Lucy was screaming as she tore at my clothes. My pockets. She was digging. Searching. And me…
With a shaky hand, I reached up, feeling the ceramic protruding out inches between my mouth and ear. Darkness…it was taking me. It couldn’t take me. But Lucy already had the phone and she was running. Running. I should be running.
Chapter 26
Detective Casey
“So, he was here earlier?”
“That’s right. He went up, stayed for about ten minutes, and left with a duffle bag.” The front desk clerk shifted nervously as he stared between me and Boston. Although we couldn’t get up to Dr. Patron’s apartment, we did learn he wasn’t here. Or hadn’t been, often, since he’d come into town. It didn’t surprise me. He mentioned this might happen. He had friends close by. He could be with any of them.
Ringing filled the space, and I glanced over to Boston as his lips twisted.
“It’s him. Should I answer?”
My mouth opened to ask the desk clerk more questions, but stopped to turn my attention to Boston.
“I don’t want him to know we’re here. Not yet.”
“Yeah. I don’t either.”
Boston hit ignore and shoved the phone back in his pocket. I turned, leaning my forearms on the high granite counter.
“Emilio, has the doctor left with anything else that you’ve noticed? Clothes? A suitcase? Anything like that?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know him well. I only started a few months back. He’s not here often.”
“Okay, but think,” I stressed. “Has he ever arrived with anyone? Maybe a blonde girl around eighteen, nineteen years of age? Maybe a man? Anyone?”
“We have the underground garage. He’d probably park there if he was staying for more than half an hour. I told you, the only time I’ve seen him is when he ran up to his room, and then came back through to leave. He had a duffle bag. I think I saw him a few times with his briefcase, but that was it.”
“Of course.” I glanced toward the elevators, sighing as I nodded. “Thanks. That’s all for now.”
I turned to leave, pausing as Boston hit ignore on his phone again and cursed.
“If I talk to him right now…” His head shook. “I don’t think he’s behind Lucy’s disappearance, but at the thought, at the mere chance he knows something…”
“You’re tired. I’m tired. Let’s get back. You can call him tomorrow. He probably just wants to see how you’re doing.”
“He always wants to know how I’m doing,” Boston ground out, following me to my cruiser. Confliction flashed on his face and he shook angrily. “There’s no point even asking. I’m losing my fucking mind.” As we shut the doors behind us, he started again. “When Anna was taken—”
“No. You are not allowed to talk to me about that.” I barely got the car started and was pulling onto the road before he pressed.
“I just need to know how you managed? How did you cope with her being taken? I feel helpless. The world is spinning around me, and all I want to do is tear through every house until I find her. She’s out there, Detective. She’s out there somewhere, and I’m just sitting here, not doing anything. Tell me. I have to know.”
For minutes, I couldn’t talk. And not because I didn’t necessarily want to. I just didn’t know how to put it into words.
“Please. I’m desperate. I say tearing into houses, but you don’t know how hard that is for me to push away or admit to you, of all people. It’s the God’s honest truth. I can’t do this. I can’t be without her. How? Please tell me. How did you not burn this place to the ground looking for Anna?”
Tighter, I gripped the steering wheel, glancing over at his haggard appearance. There was only one word that came to mind, and I saw it embedded in Boston’s features.
“I don’t know. Hell. If there’s a hell, I lived it for months. For eternity. I still live it. Every day was, and is, like what I’m sure you’re feeling right now. I was helpless. Tortured by the son of a bitch. I’m still not back to normal. I won’t ever be again.”
“Because of what he did? He sent you Anna’s finger. And video, I believe.”
I nodded, swallowing hard.
“All I saw when I closed my eyes was her…hanging there. Bloody. Beaten.” Tears burned by eyes. “I blame myself. She blames m
e. I’m a detective, and I couldn’t even find the woman I love. I couldn’t save my child. The videos, he sent more than one,” I said, staring ahead. “What he did to her in those, you couldn’t begin to imagine. He degraded her more than anyone ever could another human being. I don’t know how she survived. Not just physically, but mentally. God, when I think of what she must have gone through. Imagining it isn’t enough. It could never begin to scratch the surface of her reality.”
Boston wiping away his tears had me pausing.
“I’m sorry. You asked how I coped. I just did. I lived every day by the second. I did everything I could to try to find her. Within the laws,” I stressed, looking over. “I’m doing everything I can, Boston. I promise you, I am. We’re going to find Lucy.”
“I know. I just wish it would be right now. God, she’s my life. She is…my life.”
“And I’ll do everything in my power to give it back to you. You just have to trust me, okay? Work with me. Be patient.”
Boston nodded, sniffling and sitting straighter. “I know I get testy with you, but Anna, she’s the only thing keeping me together. Without her, I don’t know what I would have done.”
“She has a big heart. And a hell of a drive. That woman, she’s—” I stopped, glancing at the clock. “She should be done by now. Do you mind?”
I already had my phone in my hand, dialing, before Boston could so much as say yes. Almost midnight. Was it already so late?
Ringing sounded, and the all-too-familiar fear edged into my chest as her voicemail kicked on.
“She’s probably still working or in bed.”
I hung up, sweeping my stare to Boston as I nodded. “You’re probably right. Am I so transparent?”
“I’d be the same way concerning Lucy. I may never let her out of my sight after this. I don’t know how you do it. I really don’t. It’s inconceivable to me. I just…there are too many dangers out there. Once doesn’t excuse something happening twice.” He let out a ragged breath, his brow drawing in. “Let me try her.”
Just as impatient as I was, he brought his phone to his ear, only to hang up mere moments later.
“She’s probably still working. She’ll call back.”
Even as I said it, something akin to a knife twisted in my gut. Faster, I pushed the cruiser, weaving in and out of the traffic leaving the city. The more distance I covered, the worse my anxiety grew. Just as I went to lift my phone, it rang. But relief didn’t last as I squinted through the number.
“Is it her?”
“No. Hold on.” I hit the button, bracing myself. “Detective Wade.”
“Yeah, sorry to call so late, Casey. Were you sleeping?”
“No, not at all. Everything okay?”
There was a pause, and voices buzzed in the background, telling me he was at the station.
“Our guy was bailed out about an hour ago. Some fancy lawyer swept in with his damn connections. Shit pisses me off. There was nothing we could do.”
“Stracht? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I wish I was. We’ll be lucky to ever see his ass again.”
“Fuck!” I bit the insides of my cheeks as I tried to breathe through the anger. “Tell me you put a patrol car on him.”
“I…I didn’t. He left with the lawyer.”
“Son of a bitch. Okay, just—fuck. Send a car to my house. To Anna Monroe’s. She’s not answering her phone. He went after her once. He better pray he doesn’t make the same mistake twice.”
“I’m on it.”
A roar tore from me as I tossed my phone down and pushed my foot harder on the accelerator. Siren’s filled my ears, and I let them engulf me as I maneuvered us through.
“Tell me what I think happened didn’t.”
“Daniel Stracht was released an hour ago.”
Boston fumbled with his phone, but I barely saw. Miles zoomed by, and not once did he stop trying to call. Curse words sounded. He pounded into the dash. I was so focused on the road and my need to get there, I didn’t care. Anna wasn’t going to be taken again. She wasn’t going to be hurt. I’d die before I allowed that to happen.
Chapter 27
Anna
“Come on. Come on.”
I turned at the end of the path, heading back toward the bridge half a mile down. No matter how many times I had passed my car, no one came. Back and forth, I ran, hoping Davis Knight would cross me, but he never did. Defeat was taking over, but my need to finish this wouldn’t allow me to face the fact that he probably wasn’t coming.
Slowing at my car, I let the deep breaths leave me. Maybe I’d wait in there for another half hour. Maybe I should drive the other way. He could have made it a short run. Of course, that would mean he was probably already finished.
“No.” My head shook angrily. “He’s coming. He has to come.”
The timing was just too perfect to miss. He was going on vacation. I was free of Braden and Boston. Of course, they’d know I wasn’t at work if Braden was to open investigation. I could just say—no, I would not use Dr. Patron.
I jerked open the door, sliding into my seat. Of all nights for Davis not to run, why this one? He was habitual. An addict, in truth. He had to run. Yet, he wasn’t coming.
My eyes shut as I took a deep breath. Vibrations brought them back open, and I reached over, grabbing my phone in agitation.
“You have got to be kidding me.” At the sight of Dr. Patron’s name, my head shook. This was going too far. What was he planning to do, call or text until I answered? I had left my vehicle over an hour ago, and he was still at it. I clicked the button, bringing the phone to my ear. “What do you think you’re doing? Can’t you take a hint? I’m not interested.”
“Help me! Oh God, h-help me!”
“W-Wh…hello? Who is this?”
Thudding exploded in my heart for reasons I couldn’t understand, and yet…could. The pure terror. I knew that tone. And the girl’s voice, it was broken up as if she could barely catch her breath to speak.
“Lucy! I’m Lucy Adams. Oh God. I…you’re with B-Boston? He said you were with Boston.”
“Oh my God.” I shoved the keys in my ignition, starting the car. “Lucy, where are you? Nothing else matters right now. You have to give me an address, now.”
“I don’t know. I’m…I’m running. I’m in a dark field. There’s nothing!”
“A field. Okay. It may look like nothing, but there has to be something you can give me to go off of. What do you see? Where were you?”
Sobs followed a deep groan. “A farm? I don’t know. It was a light color, I think? It’s dark, and I only saw it when we got here. It’s surrounded by trees. Like a…barrier or gate around it. High fucking hedge looking things. God, come get me! He’s g-going to find me. He’s going to kill me!”
“Daniel?”
More sobs. More of what sounded like running. “No! Dr. Patron! He took me. He hurt me! Where’s Boston?”
“Dr. Patron?” I could barely breathe. “Boston, he’s with…” I paused, pulling onto the road, not sure where I was going. “Lucy, please, I need you to help me. Every second matters. We’ll worry about Boston later. Tell me what else you can remember. If you were at a farmhouse, I’m guessing you left the town of Rockford. Was it far out of town? Did you head south, east? I need something, Lucy! The faster you can tell me, the faster I can help you.”
“I—I don’t know!” she sobbed. “He drugged me with something. I—s-south? I think we might have gone south. I think I remember a sign.”
“Great. That’s great.” I cut over to the far lane, flipping a U-turn as I sped up. “Are you still in the field, Lucy? Tell me anything you can see.”
“I see nothing. Maybe an outline of trees in the distance, b-but I’m not sure. I can’t…see straight. I c-can’t see,” she sobbed. “My eyes, he hit me. I haven’t been able to see out of one in a few days. I’m not sure—”
At the new round of heavy crying, I tried to hold in my own tears. This was bad
. Really, really bad.
“Wounds heal, Lucy. You have to listen to me and do exactly as I say. I want you to keep your attention on those trees and run for them with every ounce of strength you have. You push yourself more than you ever have in your life. Do you hear me?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Good. Hold the phone down, but don’t hang up. I want you to run for it now. Focus only on safety. When you get there, I’ll be here for you.”
“Ok-kay.”
Even as she said it, more terror eased up my spine. Had Dr. Patron really done this? Where was he if she had managed to escape? Would he be coming for her? Would he get to her before I could? He couldn’t. If he found her, there was no doubt in my mind, she was dead.
I could barely swallow as I turned onto the freeway and headed out of town. So many questions kept coming as I listened to wind gush over the receiver. At one point, it sounded like she fell. Coughing was muffled with more cries, but the rustling whoosh of wind returned. Minutes stretched out. Then what felt like longer. The lights on either side of me faded until the only thing I was faced with was fellow cars and dark fields. I slowed, scanning for clusters of trees. With the emptiness, it was hard to tell.
“An-na? A-nna?”
“I’m here. Catch your breath. You did great.”
“I don’t,” a pause, “feel good. I—”
“Just take slow, deep breaths. You’re stronger than you know. Tell me what you see?”
Seconds passed.
“There’s a road. I’m hiding by some trees. I’m scared.”
“I know, but I’m coming for you. I’m going to find you. I just need your help. You said you were on a road. Lucy, do you see cars in the distance? Do you see the highway?”
“…No. There’s nothing.”
My features drew in at the silent cringe. “Okay, but you’re on a road. I’m going to need you to walk down until you see a street sign. I can use my GPS to try to find it.”
“He’ll find me! I can’t.”
“You can. You have to. Just stay on the edge of the road. If you see lights, you hide. You can do this.”