Dangerous Reunion (Love Inspired Suspense) (16 page)

Kate glared at him. How she wished she could rip the tape from her mouth and tell him how despicable he was. He set his mug down and laughed. “You’re wondering about me, aren’t you, Kate? Well, I guess I should set your mind at ease about some things. As smart as you are, I know you’ve already figured out that I’m the man you’ve been looking for. The only thing you don’t know is why I’ve targeted you.”

He got up and walked toward her. She didn’t flinch as he leaned over her. He brought his face close to hers. “You act tough, Kate, but I know inside you’re scared. What am I going to do to you and your sisters? You’ll have to wait a little longer to find that out.” He smiled, reached down and pulled her cell phone from its clip.

Walking back to the table, he sat down in the chair and laid the cell phone on the table in front of him. He took another sip of coffee, laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his chair. “Now we wait for your boyfriend to call.”

B
rock yanked his shoelaces into a knot and scowled. He hadn’t meant to sleep so long, but Treasury had insisted he stay up until she’d served breakfast. While they ate, Treasury had begged him to tell everybody about the latest developments in Jake’s murder case. It had been several hours before he’d been able to get to bed. With the curtains drawn and the room so cool, he’d dropped right off and hadn’t stirred.

He glanced at his watch and groaned. It was already five o’clock, and Kate had probably arrived at the station by now. He needed to call and let her know he was running late. His cell phone lay on the dresser across the room, and he hurried toward it.

Before he reached it, his favorite country music song vibrated in the quiet room—the ring tone for Don Bennett. His heart skipped a beat. There was only one reason the private investigator would be calling him. Kate’s brother.

Brock pulled the phone from the charger and jammed it against his ear. “Hey, Don. I’m surprised to hear from you so soon.”

A chuckle sounded on the phone. “You shouldn’t be. Don’t you know by now that I don’t mess around when I have a case? I get right on it.”

Brock swallowed and closed his eyes. “Then you must have some news for me. Have you found Scott Michaels?”

“I have. He’s sitting right here with me.”

“And where is that?”

“San Antonio.”

Relief surged through Brock. “Does he live there?”

Don hesitated for a moment before he spoke. “No. He’s been in the hospital here.”

Brock’s relief melted. Concern laced Don’s words and sent goose bumps racing up Brock’s back. “What’s the matter with him?”

Don took a deep breath. “Let me get Scott on the phone. He can tell you.”

There was silence for a moment before a man’s soft voice spoke. “Mr. Gentry, this is Scott Michaels. Mr. Bennett tells me you’re a friend of my sisters’.” He paused for a moment. “
My sisters.
I can’t believe I’m saying those words.”

Brock sucked in his breath. There was something about the man’s voice that reminded him of Kate. “Yes. I’m here on Ocracoke with all three of them—Kate, Betsy and Emma.”

“This is the best news I’ve ever had. I’ve wondered all these years if I had family out there, but my aunt always told me my parents were killed when I was a baby. She never told me anything about where my father came from or if he had any family.”

“And you never asked?”

“I did when I was a child, but she convinced me that we only had each other. She died a few years ago, and now I find out she’d kept my father from me.”

“Your sisters found out about you, and they’ve been searching for years. They want to meet you and be a part of your life if you want that. Would you like to come to Ocracoke to meet them?”

He hesitated. “When Mr. Bennett told me I have three sisters, it was the happiest moment of my life. I thought I was alone in the world, and now I find out I have family.” He paused a moment. “I want to meet them more than anything, but they may change their minds about being a part of my life when they find out more about me.”

Brock’s eyebrows arched. “Why?”

Scott exhaled, and in it Brock detected an offer of rejection. “I’m not well, Mr. Gentry. I’ve been a soldier for the past ten years. I’ve spent time in places that most people have never heard of, and I’ve done things in battle that have left invisible but very real injuries to my mind and body. I’ve experienced a lot of horrors that have left me suffering from PTSD—post-traumatic stress disorder. Right now I’m in a research program at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. I still have a lot of problems that my sisters may not want to deal with.”

Brock hesitated. What should he say? If Scott had demons in his life he was facing, it might be better for Kate and her sisters not to meet him. Then he remembered how Kate had talked about her brother and how part of their family was missing. He also thought of her faith and how she placed everything in God’s hands. She had been teaching him that ever since he came to Ocracoke, and that same belief had slowly taken root in his heart.

He smiled. He knew what he had to say.

“Scott, your sisters want to meet you. They have a deep faith in God, and they’ll help you work through your problems.”

A soft gasp tickled Brock’s ear. “They’re believers, too? This is more wonderful than I could have imagined. Then I’m coming to Ocracoke.” He chuckled. “It’s a funny thing, you know. I’d never heard of Ocracoke Island, but something about the name sounds like home. Tell my sisters that Mr. Bennett and I are taking a plane out in the morning. When we get to Raleigh, we’ll rent a car and drive to Swan Quarter. We’ve checked the ferry schedules, so we should arrive late tomorrow afternoon.”

“Good. I’m on my way to see Kate right now. They’re going to be so happy to get this news. By the way, when you board the ferry, have Don call me so we can meet you when you arrive.”

“I’ll do that, and thank you, Mr. Gentry. I appreciate what you’ve done for me.”

“I’m glad Don was able to find you. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Brock closed the phone and gripped it in his hand. Should he call Kate and tell her the good news? He shook his head. This deserved to be delivered in person so he could see her face when he told her.

He rushed from the room, down the stairs and out to the car. Within minutes he was on his way to the police station. He pulled to a stop in the station’s parking lot and glanced around. Kate’s car was nowhere in sight. Maybe she hadn’t made it to work yet.

Smiling, he raced to the porch and through the front door. Lisa sat at her desk, her attention directed to her computer screen. Austin Whitman, holding the day’s newspaper, lounged in a chair across the room.

Lisa stood up from her desk and stretched her arms over her head. “Hi, Brock.”

Brock glanced around. “Where’s Kate?”

“We had a call about a fender bender. She left to take the report. She should be back any minute.”

Brock nodded and ambled across the room to where Austin sat. He dropped down in a chair beside him. “Did the paper get the news about Mike Thornton’s arrest in this edition?”

Austin pushed up straighter in his chair. “They did. Want to read it?” He passed the newspaper over to Brock.

“Thanks.”

Brock read the article, then rifled through the rest of the paper. Most of the news on the island revolved around events and activities that would interest tourists. After a few minutes he’d scanned it from front to back.

He handed the paper back to Austin and glanced at his watch. Standing, he crossed the room to Lisa’s desk. “How long ago did Kate leave on that call?”

Lisa looked up at the clock on the wall and frowned. “About thirty minutes. She should have been back by now.” She reached for the radio mic. “Do you want me to see if I can reach her?”

Brock’s stomach fluttered, and a bitter taste flooded his mouth. He grimaced. “Yes.”

Lisa pulled the mic to her mouth. “One-one-seven, come in.” No answer. Lisa frowned. “One-one-seven, come in.” Still no answer. Lisa glanced up, a frown wrinkling her forehead. “I don’t understand why she’s not answering.”

“Let me try her cell phone.” Brock pulled out his phone and punched in her number. It rang several times before he heard the connection, but Kate didn’t answer. “Kate.” No answer. “Kate! Are you there?”

“Kate’s tied up right now and can’t come to the phone.”

The words trickled through his body like ice water pouring from his head to his toes. He gripped the edge of Lisa’s desk with his free hand and tightened his hold on the phone with the other. “Who is this?”

A laugh rumbled in Brock’s ear. “Someone you know well, Brock. I’ve had a lot of fun on this island. First it was the deputy, then the fire at the theater and the big explosion. Oh, that was beautiful.”

Brock gasped at the cruel tone of the caller’s voice. “Are you telling me that you’re the one responsible for the murder of four innocent people?”

A shrill laugh pierced Brock’s ear. “Guilty.”

A chair scraped across the floor, and Austin Whitman hurried to stand beside Brock. “Is that our killer?” Austin whispered.

Brock nodded and glanced at Lisa, whose face had turned white. Brock took a deep breath. “Let me talk to Kate.”

“I told you she’s tied up, and I mean that literally. Right along with her two sisters.”

Terror kicked him in the stomach. “Wh-what do you want?”

“I want you, Brock,” the caller snapped. “I want you to come to Kate’s house alone. If you bring anyone with you, I’ll kill Kate and her two sisters. Do you understand?”

“Why are you doing this?” Brock yelled.

“Come to Kate’s house alone, and you’ll find out. When you get here, come in the front door and walk to the kitchen. You’ll find us there.”

The call disconnected with a click that left Brock in stunned silence. Austin grabbed him by the arm. “What did he say?”

Brock closed his eyes and swallowed the fear that rose in his throat. “He’s holding Kate, Betsy and Emma prisoner at their house. He says he’ll kill them if I don’t come alone.”

Lisa jammed her fist in her mouth and glanced from Brock to Austin.

Austin pulled out his gun and checked it before replacing it in his holster. “Well, one thing’s for sure. You’re not going alone.”

Brock held up his hands in protest and backed away. “No, you can’t go. He said he’ll kill them.”

“But he’ll kill you, too, Brock.”

Brock shook his head. “No, I can’t risk getting them all killed.”

Austin glared at him. “Think like a police officer, not Kate’s friend. You can’t help her if you go alone. Maybe between the two of us, we can get this guy before he kills them.”

Lisa rose from behind her desk and stared at him. “Austin’s right, Brock. Kate wouldn’t want you to go in there without backup. She would have faith that you would respond like the trained officer you are.”

There was that word again.
Faith.
Even now he knew Kate had faith that God was in control. The strange thing was that he believed it, too. Kate had shown him the way to a faith that would overcome the guilt he’d held onto, and now it would help him face whatever happened at her house. He glanced from Lisa to Austin.

“Okay, Austin. Let’s go see if we can put an end to this crazy killer’s rampage on Ocracoke.”

Kate struggled not to let her eyes betray the fear that crept through her as Dillon closed her cell phone. He replaced the phone on the kitchen table and laughed. Smiling, he walked behind the chair where she was held prisoner and bent down with his mouth next to her ear. His warm breath sent chills up and down her spine.

“I suppose you heard. Your boyfriend will be here anytime now. All of my plans and my actions have led up to that moment. It won’t be long now, Kate. You’ll know soon.”

His taunting voice grated on every nerve ending in her body. Her eyes blinked, and she widened them in hopes that he hadn’t noticed that one flicker of fear.

She cringed as he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently caressed them. “You’re a very beautiful woman, Kate. I don’t blame Brock for caring about you so much. I used to love someone, too, but she left.”

Kate wiggled her shoulders in an attempt to escape his hold, but he laughed and inched his fingers up to her neck. She wondered if the pulse in her neck echoed the erratic cadence of her heartbeat as his touch moved upward until he stopped with his fingers on either side of her mouth.

Kate stiffened as his left hand slowly stroked her cheek. His thumb and index finger grabbed the edge of the tape covering her mouth. Pain exploded in her head at the violent jerk that pulled the tape from her mouth.

He laughed and walked around the chair to face her. “Is that more comfortable?”

Kate rubbed her lips together to stem the tingling pain before she spoke. She tilted her head to stare up at him. “Why, Dillon? That’s what I want to know. What did I ever do to you?”

His eyes grew wide. “Why nothing, Kate. You’ve been very friendly to me ever since I’ve been on the island. You were just the bait I needed to get who I’m really after.”

She frowned. “You’ve killed four people, another is in critical condition and you’ve terrorized a packed theater for what? To use me as bait? I don’t understand.”

He crossed his arms and smirked. “You’re smarter than that, Kate. Who do you think?”

She shook her head. “I have no—” She stopped midsentence as understanding reared its head in her mind. Her eyes grew wide at the reality of what she’d just heard. She did know who he was after, and she could hardly speak his name. “Brock?” she whispered.

Dillon laughed and pointed a finger at her. “Bingo! You win the prize. And let me show it to you.”

He turned to the table where the black bag he’d brought with him lay and unzipped it. He reached inside and pulled out a hypodermic needle and held it up. A clear liquid filled the syringe. The way Dillon held it toward her told Kate some sinister plan was about to unfold.

“Wh-what’s that for?”

Dillon’s face hardened into an angry mask, and he gritted his teeth. “Never mind. Just do as I say, and everything will be fine. When your boyfriend gets here, I want you to call him into the kitchen. Then I’ll take it from there.”

Kate shook her head. “I won’t help you kill Brock.”

An angry snort rumbled from Dillon’s mouth. “You’d better be worried about your two sisters in the bedroom. Do you want them to live? The way I see it, Kate. You have a choice. Brock or your sisters. Think about that until he gets here. Now I’m not talking anymore.”

Dillon sank down in the chair where he’d sat earlier and trained his attention toward the door into the kitchen where Brock would have to enter. Kate studied his body language. He sat straight with every muscle tensed. He looked like an animal ready to pounce for the kill.

He had said she had to choose who would die, but she knew the truth. Dillon had gone to great lengths to plan his attack on Brock, and he had left Ocracoke littered with bodies on his quest. At this point a few more didn’t matter.