Runs Deeper

by R. D. Brady

  Nevaeh paused, mentally going through the inventory from the clinic scene. She didn’t remember there being a set of keys, although it was entirely possible she’d overlooked it with everything else. She pulled out her phone and dialed. Her deputy answered quickly. “Chief?”

  “Chris, I need you to check and see if there was a set of keys that was part of the clinic scene.”

  “Okay. Hold on a sec.”

  Chris was gone for two minutes before he reappeared. “There was one set of keys, but it was for the drug cabinet. Is that the one you’re looking for?”

  “No, it isn’t. Go through the evidence and just make sure there’s not another set of keys there, okay?”

  “Okay, will do.”

  Nevaeh disconnected the call. Her gaze met Steve’s. “He took her keys, didn’t he?” he asked.

  Nevaeh nodded. “Yes.”

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Russ dove, managing to catch the edge of Bess’s shirt as she disappeared under the water. But his momentum was too great, and he slid into the water himself. The ice-cold water felt like dozens of knives stabbing him. He managed to keep his mouth shut even though a gasp desperately wanted to burst out. He kept a hold of Bess and shoved her toward the surface, even as he found himself sinking lower.

  No, no! he yelled in his mind as he kicked for the surface. He burst through the water and into the cold air, sucking in a breath that seemed to freeze his mouth, throat, and lungs. His face chilled almost as quickly. Bess was lying facedown in the snow, completely silent, her legs still dangling in the water. She wasn’t moving. Using one arm and all his strength, he pushed her farther onto the ice.

  She still wasn’t moving, but at least she was out of the water. Russ felt his own strength slipping. There was no way he was going to be able to pull himself out of this ice on his own. All his muscles seemed to seize. Oh God, Declan, I’m sorry. He felt his grip on the edge of the ice slipping.

  “Don’t you dare let go!” Reggie’s voice thundered out across the ice.

  Reggie was slowly moving toward them, down on his hands and knees. He gripped the edge of Bess’s jacket and slid her along the ice toward him. He got her behind him, stripped off his fleece, and curled it around her. Then he slowly inched forward, lying flat and reaching out an arm for Russ. “Grab a hold. I’ve got you.”

  Russ’s hands were so cold, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to hold on to Reggie. But he also knew that he was going to try like hell. Counting to three, he reached up and grabbed Reggie’s hand as he kicked toward the surface.

  Reggie’s hand grasped his, yanking him forward at the same time. The edge of the ice cut into his chest. But his upper body now lay on top of the ice, his feet still dangling in the water.

  Reggie started to back up, pulling on Russ as he did so until Russ’s whole body was out of the water. Then he hoisted Bess over one shoulder as he pulled Russ toward the edge of the bank. He didn’t release Russ until he was firmly on the edge. He carried Bess a short distance away and then pulled Russ farther up the bank.

  “Come on, Russ. I need you to walk.” Reggie dragged him to his feet.

  Russ swayed for a moment but managed to stay upright. He was so cold. And if he was this cold… “Bess. Get Bess inside. Come back for me.”

  Reggie met Russ’s gaze before he gave him an abrupt nod. “I’ll be back. You keep walking. You do not stop walking, do you hear me?”

  Russ nodded.

  Reggie wasted no time. He scooped Bess up and started running back for the firehouse. Russ knew Reggie was right. He couldn’t just stand there. He needed to keep his blood moving. He struggled forward, trying to follow in Reggie’s footsteps to make it less difficult to get through the snow.

  But each step felt harder and harder. It was as if each time he moved, another ten-pound weight was added to his legs. He didn’t even see the firehouse in the distance. He could barely hold his head up to check.

  I’m not going to make it.

  He knew if he lay down, the snow would cover him in a matter of minutes. Reggie would never be able to find him. So he forced himself to keep moving forward.

  Just one more step, he promised himself each time he managed to stumble forward.

  But he reached a point where he wasn’t even shuffling. He tried to take another step, but his thighs balked at the suggestion. He sunk into the snow, and he didn’t have the strength to stand back up again.

  I need to get up.

  He blinked hard, thinking he could make out the firehouse in the distance before he tipped over to the side, and darkness washed over him.

  Chapter Sixty

  Steve’s head pounded away in a steady rhythm. He tried to keep any indication of pain from his face. Julie was worried enough. She placed her hand on his forehead, and Steve gently took it in his. “I’m fine. My ankle is a little tender, but I’m fine.”

  Julie turned away from him quickly to hide the tears in her eyes. Steve reached out and grabbed her hand. “Hey, none of that. I’m okay. We’re okay.”

  She wiped away a tear with her other hand.

  “I know. It’s just a lot, you know?”

  He pulled her into his lap. “I know.”

  He rested his head on hers, her warmth seeping into him. Julie took a deep breath, her hands rubbing along his arm. “There’s something I need to tell you,” she said. “I know it’s not the right time, but I’m—”

  Nevaeh bustled into the room. Both Steve’s and Julie’s heads jerked toward her.

  Julie stood up, a frown on her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “There was an incident behind the firehouse. Two people went into the lake.”

  “How long were they in the water?” Julie asked.

  “Not long,” Nevaeh said. “Minutes, if that.”

  Julie reached for her jacket. “They need to be stripped of all their clothes and wrapped in warm blankets to bring their temperature back up.”

  Julie finished buttoning up her coat, throwing Steve a questioning glance. He nodded back at her. “Go on.”

  Julie stepped toward the doorway, but Nevaeh didn’t move out of the way.

  Julie reared back. Steve stiffened, not liking the look on Nevaeh’s face. “What?”

  “I hate to tell you this, but one of the people who went in was Russ. And the other …” She swallowed. “It was Bess.”

  Steve felt like all of a sudden he was in a wind tunnel. There was noise in his ears, and he couldn’t seem to hear past it. “Bess?”

  Julie stumbled back and reached for Steve’s hand.

  Nevaeh nodded. “Russ got to her. He’s in worse shape than she is. He was out in the snow for a few minutes afterwards.”

  Julie took her hand from Steve’s, striding for the door. “We need to go. Now.”

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Snow pelted Death’s face as he reached Main Street. Russ had come out of nowhere. He shook his head. The idea to take Bess had come over him quickly. And when he’d slipped in the back door at the fire station, it was as if it was preordained. The elementary school teacher was walking with Bess down the hall. One quick hit to the back of the head, and the teacher was down. Then Bess was in his arms and he was running.

  It had all been so perfect.

  He growled. Until Russ. He strode down the street, his hands shoved into his pockets. He’d watched as Russ and Bess had gone under the water. He hadn’t realized how close they were to the pond. With the snow, everything looked the same. It was hard to pick out landmarks.

  If I’d gone under the water, everything would be over. That thought chilled him more than the weather. All his carefully laid plans would have been destroyed. Ahead, he saw the reflection of police lights coming down the road. He stepped in between two buildings, watching as the chief’s Jeep tore by.

  He smiled, hoping that Julie was inside. He imagined her terror at the idea of her little girl being hurt, especially after Steve’s death. Of course, there was a chance she didn’t kn
ow yet that Steve had been barbequed.

  He ducked his head out, peeking from the corner as the cruiser came to a stop in front of the fire station. Nevaeh and Julie bolted from the car as soon as it stopped.

  Then the back door opened, and Steve stepped from the car. He was moving slower, but he was moving.

  Death narrowed his eyes. He was supposed to be dead.

  Twice! Twice his plans had been ruined. He screwed up his lips, trying to bite back the scream that wanted to be freed. He took a deep breath, watching Steve until he disappeared into the fire station.

  But perhaps this was for the best. Steve’s death in a fire, where he couldn’t watch, where was the fun in that? And now he’d added a little more terror to both of their lives. No, it was a good thing Steve was still alive. Battered and bruised by the look of him as he walked into the fire station, but alive.

  Which means that I have more time to play with him. His rash decision earlier to set Laura’s apartment on fire could have destroyed his chance to play with Steve. And wasn’t playing with him the entire point?

  Sure, Julie would’ve been devastated, as would Reggie, Nevaeh, Russ and Declan, but there was something about playing with Steve that was just so satisfying. He was the ultimate good guy, always helping a neighbor, always the first one to volunteer.

  And always the first one to be framed for murder.

  Plus, he knew that Steve would take it all to heart. He would feel guilty about the pain inflicted upon others in his name. If given a choice, Steve would offer himself up on an altar to save all those he loved.

  Death paused, leaning against the building, a thought coming to mind. Steve really did have a Messiah complex. He smiled, a new plan forming. No, things had worked out exactly as they were supposed to. Because they were going to lead to the perfect finale for this little story.

  And Steve would be the perfect costar.

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Julie had demanded they stop by the clinic for some additional supplies. As fast as they could, Steve, Nevaeh, and Julie had loaded them all into the back of Nevaeh’s cruiser before they had piled in and headed for the firehouse. Steve sat in the back, trying not to be terrified.

  It didn’t work.

  As soon as Nevaeh pulled to a stop in front of the firehouse, Julie bolted from the SUV. Steve moved as quickly as he could on his ankle. It twinged every time he put pressure on it, but he didn’t care. He needed to see Bess.

  Reggie appeared at the door, and Nevaeh called him over to grab supplies from the back of the SUV. As he passed Reggie, Reggie murmured, “She’s all right, man. She’s all right.”

  Steve nodded his acknowledgment of Reggie’s words but couldn’t say anything due to the ball of fear lodged in his throat. He hurried into the garage, limping past the remaining fire engine. He could hear the voices in the hallway that led to the lounge. He hurried forward.

  A group of people stood huddled outside the doorway of the makeshift clinic that Julie had created at the back of the fire station. They stepped aside when they caught sight of Steve. He hurried in.

  Bess was huddled on the first couch, buried in what look like a dozen blankets. Julie knelt before her, checking her pulse and then opening Bess’s eyes a little wider to look into them with a light. Bess looked up. “Daddy.”

  Steve’s heart nearly broke at the sound of her voice. Tears pressed against the back of his eyes, and he had to grab onto a table for support.

  Julie looked up at him. “She’s okay. Keep her warm.”

  Then Julie hurried to the other cot in the back. Steve followed her as he pulled Bess into his arms, snuggling her tight. Shivering, Russ was buried in blankets too, although even from this angle, Steve could see the extremely pale cast to his skin.

  Arms full of supplies, Reggie bustled in, along with Nevaeh. They hurried over to Russ. Steve clutched Bess even closer as Julie started barking out orders. People hustled around Russ, laying warming blankets on him while Julie attached a saline drip. Steve just sat there feeling helpless.

  For the first time, he noticed Declan sitting next to Russ’s bed, fear on his face. The couch dipped as Reggie sat next to Steve. “I’m just in the way down there,” he said quietly.

  “What happened?”

  Reggie hesitated, glancing down at Bess, whose eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling softly. He lowered his voice. “Someone tried to take Bess.”

  Steve was glad he was sitting down because otherwise his legs would have completely given out. “What?”

  A frown crossed Bess’s face, and she stirred against him. He quickly tried to release some of the tension in his arms and snuggled her a little closer. Reggie quickly explained about Russ finding Melanie and then taking off into the snow after the person who’d grabbed Bess. Steve listened in growing fear about Bess falling through the ice and Russ jumping in to save her. He took a deep, shaky breath, clutching Bess even closer.

  I almost lost her. I almost lost her. The words kept repeating over and over in his mind. He didn’t know how he would survive if he lost Bess.

  His gaze strayed to the man now responsible for saving the two women he loved more than anything in this world. I can never repay him. And finally, he understood what Reggie meant about Micah—it was truly a debt that could never be repaid.

  Steve finally managed to find his voice. “How’s Melanie?”

  “She’s all right. She came to pretty quick. She’s in the lounge. Her husband’s on his way. She’s shook up and feels guilty for letting Bess get taken.”

  Steve shook his head, knowing that feeling all too well. “And Russ?”

  Reggie shook his head. “I don’t know. I got Bess back to the fire station and then ran back for him, but he was already turning blue. His clothes were frozen to him when we got him in. We couldn’t find a pulse at first, it was so sluggish. We threw him in the shower fully clothed to warm him up.”

  “But he … he’s going to be all right, isn’t he?”

  Reggie shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

  Neither of them said anything after that. They just sat and waited.

  And prayed.

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  An hour later, Julie was still working on Russ while she directed other people to tasks that Steve didn’t understand. But Steve’s gaze didn’t stay on her. It kept being drawn back to Declan. Declan, who looked like he himself had been doused in an ice-cold lake. All the color had leached from his face. For once, Declan looked old. Steve had never thought of him that way. Declan was always so full of life, so active. But right now he looked terrified. And every single one of his fifty-one years was showing on his face.

  Julie walked over a few minutes later, her shoulders drooping but a smile on her face. “He’s going to be okay.” She grinned at Reggie. “And he has you to thank for that. You got them in fast and started to warm them up. You did exactly what needed to be done.”

  Reggie shook his head. “No, the only hero here is Russ. He went after that guy and didn’t even hesitate to go into the water after Bess.”

  “I think there’s room for more than one hero.” She turned to Steve. “I need to stay here to monitor Russ. Do you want to take Bess into one of the bunks?”

  Steve shook his head. “No, we’re good here. I don’t really like the idea of splitting up.”

  Julie leaned down in front of the two of them. She pushed some of the hair out of Bess’s forehead. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  She leaned into Bess, and Steve wrapped his arms around both of them. His little family had nearly been destroyed today. A shiver ran through him.

  I hate you, Jack.

  Chapter Sixty-Four

  Phineas ducked his head down against the snow. He trudged to his car and opened it, expecting to feel relief as soon as he was inside.

  But like the rest of the day, it was an unfulfilled expectation. The car was like an icebox. He fumbled for the keys and turned the ignition. The engine was sluggish and didn
’t turn over immediately. Please, please, do not break down on me, he prayed.

  The engine spluttered to life. He quickly turned the heat to full blast, even while knowing that until the car warmed up he’d get nothing but cold air. But he needed to feel like there was a chance the car was warming up. He sat huddled in the driver’s seat, rubbing his hands together and trying to think of his next move. He’d spent the day trying to get background on Steve Davidson from the people in town. He hadn’t told anyone who Steve really was, as he wanted to get their impression before they learned about his backstory.

  But apparently people in Dover weren’t fans of talking to the press. The couple who owned the coffee shop had very politely refused to answer, after giving him a coffee on the house. The woman in the hardware store had given him a complete dressing down before saying she needed to see to other customers in the empty store. Everywhere else he’d gone, no one had been willing to talk. Those had been the highlights.

  Of course, there hadn’t been many people out. The storm was keeping everybody in. The storm and the murders.

  This morning, he’d had to move from the bed and breakfast to a small motel over by the highway. He couldn’t afford to stay in the bed and breakfast until the story was over. And he had a feeling it was going to be at least another couple of days. In the current weather, it took him an hour to get back to town, and of course, that meant he’d missed all the excitement. He could barely believe his eyes when he drove down Main Street and saw the shattered windows above the hardware store.

  He’d reached the coffeehouse a few hours after Steve and Julie had left. He’d taken pictures with his phone of the burnt-out apartment and the last of the firefighters who were pulling up stakes. He’d walked to the coffee shop, and a few people had been inside talking about the fire. He’d sat nearby, keeping his profile to them while surreptitiously listening to their conversation. Apparently Steve had been inside when the place had gone up. He was alive, but that seemed like pure luck.