River tried to speak, but Tony put his fingers on her lips.
“Not now,” he said. “When you’re ready.”
She wanted to tell him that she loved him too, but she was too emotional to speak. As they headed for the door, River was filled with peace. At the same time, she was overwhelmed by the love she felt for the man who had changed her life and taught her what love actually was.
CHAPTER
FORTY-FIVE
It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Driving away and leaving River in the parking lot. They’d set it up, but would he take the bait? Tony drove several blocks away and then turned onto a side street, where he took out his phone and called Arnie. Although they couldn’t be certain, Tony felt in his gut that tonight they would finally stop the Strangler’s accomplice.
“She’s there alone,” he said when Arnie answered him.
“We’re already tracking him,” Arnie said. “He’s still at the office. You know we can’t confront him until he takes her.”
“I’d feel better if she was wired,” Tony grumbled.
“He’s too sophisticated. He would have found it, and River would have been in immediate trouble. Besides, she has her phone on. She’s recording him. We’ll get what we need from that.”
“You’ll tell me when he leaves the parking lot?”
“Yes, but you’ve got to stay out of the way. If he sees you . . .”
“I know, but I can’t just sit around and wait.”
“Okay, he’s on the move,” Arnie said. “Stay where you are, and I’ll tell you where he stops. You’ve got to wait, Tony. We need to take him down before you meet up with us. You got it?”
He sighed, frustrated by waiting, yet he knew Arnie was right. “I’ve got it. Promise you’ll call me immediately?”
“I promise. I’ve got to go.”
Arnie hung up, and Tony sat in his car, the motor running. Every second felt like an hour.
RIVER WATCHED TONY DRIVE AWAY. Although she was nervous, she was also excited. Trapping the man who had tried to kill her and Tony would give her so much satisfaction. But at the same time, she couldn’t get the feeling of Tony’s lips on hers out of her mind. She almost wished he hadn’t kissed her now. That he would have waited until this was over. She was distracted, and she couldn’t afford to be. She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus on the task at hand. She looked around her but didn’t see anyone. His car was still in the parking lot. She fumbled around in her purse as if she were looking for her car keys. No one came out of the building. Finally, she got into her car. Maybe tonight wasn’t the night after all. She wanted to get this over with. She, Tony, and Arnie had worked this out to the last detail. She was confident their plan would work. She fought frustration. Please, God, she prayed. End this man’s evil reign once and forever.
She drove home slowly, checking behind her to see if he was following her, but she couldn’t tell. It got dark early in the winter. There were cars behind her, but she couldn’t be sure if any of them belonged to him.
When she finally got home, she got out of her car and started to call Tony to let him know it hadn’t worked. She was waiting for him to answer when she felt the barrel of a gun pressed into her back.
“Stay quiet and get into my car,” he said, his breath turning to steam in the icy cold. He grabbed the phone from her hand and threw it on the ground, stomping on it. It broke into pieces. River stared at the shattered phone. She’d planned to keep it on. Record his confession. Now it was useless. Her mind raced as she wondered what she should do. But she was an ex-FBI behavioral analyst. Her testimony would be credible. Besides, as a narcissist, he wouldn’t be able to deny his genius. He’d proudly proclaim what he’d done once he was captured. Everything was all right. All she had to do was wait for Tony and Arnie to come. Their plan would work.
“You won’t get away with this,” she told him. “The police are watching my house, and there are cameras recording us right now.”
He laughed softly. “It doesn’t matter. The police aren’t here now, and the two old ladies inside probably don’t know how to check the camera. Besides, by the time anyone sees the video we’ll be long gone. No one will be able to find you in time, and I’ll have vanished again after you’re dead.”
He pushed her hard, and she almost fell.
“Now, get inside the car. If you call out or try to run, I’ll shoot you. And then I’ll go in the house and kill your mother and her friend.”
River had no intention of following his instructions. Surely Tony would be here any minute. Where was he? Where were the police? When she didn’t move, he grabbed her and pulled her around to his passenger-side door. Then he forced her coat open, tearing the buttons off. He ran his free hand over her body and inside her blouse, searching her carefully. There wasn’t a hint of anything sexual in his movements. He was looking for something that might make it possible for someone to trail them. When he was satisfied she wasn’t wearing a wire, he shoved her inside his vehicle and slammed the door shut. While he was walking around to his door, she quickly reached down and made a quick move that he didn’t see. She wasn’t sure it was necessary since they had a plan in place, but her run-in with the Strangler had taught her to be overly cautious. She wasn’t certain she could record him, but at least it was a chance. One she was willing to take. She glanced up and down the street, trying to spot cars that didn’t belong or anyone who might be watching. The neighbors’ cars were parked up and down the street, but they were empty, and she didn’t see anyone. It was so cold, everyone was inside their homes, staying warm. For the first time, she felt afraid. This isn’t what they’d planned.
When he climbed into the driver’s side, he locked all the doors. She was certain he’d used his child locks to make it impossible for her to get out.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
“Shut up.” He put his car into gear and started down the street. The falling snow was illuminated by the streetlamps, which had just flickered on. The beauty of the crystalline white flakes was in direct contrast to the evil emanating from this man. Of course, she knew who he was. There were a lot of things about him she didn’t understand. But she wanted to. Needed to.
“If I’m going to die, I should be able to ask a few questions, don’t you think?” she asked. She wanted him to tell her what he’d done before her time with him was over.
“I told you to shut up,” he growled.
Then he reached over and hit her in the face with his gun. River felt an explosion of pain and then felt herself drift away.
BY THE TIME TONY TRIED to answer River’s call, she’d hung up. What did that mean? Did she hang up because the man they were stalking had approached her? He tried to call back, but his calls went straight to voicemail. He was getting ready to call Arnie when his phone rang. Relief flooded him. River. But when he looked at the phone, he saw that it was Arnie.
“Meet us at this address,” he said, his words clipped and fast.
Something was wrong. “What’s going on?” Tony asked.
“Just get here.” Arnie hung up.
Tony took a deep breath. He felt faint. Then he remembered their prayer. “I’m trusting You, Father,” he whispered. “You’re all she has. You have to protect her.” He put the address Arnie had given him into his GPS and drove as quickly as he could to the location. It was hard to think straight, but he kept going over and over Scriptures about God’s protection.
Finally, he saw Arnie’s car as well as several police cars up ahead, but this was a residential street. Not the kind of location he’d expected—unless it had been River’s house. They’d discussed that possibility, although the parking lot seemed like a better option for him to confront her. But from there he should have taken her somewhere near the river. What was going on?
He pulled up behind Arnie’s vehicle and got out. Arnie came walking up to him. He held his hands up like someone trying to stop traffic. When he reached Tony, he quickly brought him up to speed on what was happening.
“It’s all my fault.” Tony slammed his hand against the door of his car.
