Forever Hers (43 page)

***

Amy hurried to the front patio and tried the door, but it was locked. Praying her parents hadn’t started using a different hiding place, she lifted the welcome mat with an unsteady hand and searched for the spare key. It was there. She took a deep breath to calm herself, but her heart still pounded and her hand shook as she unlocked the door. The squeaky hinges pierced the night, sending a shiver up her spine. She hesitated before entering the house on trembling legs.

She reached for the light switch.

“Don’t turn it on,” Nolan snapped from somewhere ahead. “Close the door and come here.” A flashlight flickered on, the shaft of light falling across the dining room table.

Amy gasped when it bathed her parents seated side by side at the dining room table, their arms strapped to their chairs with duct tape. Her father had a cut on his cheek. Her mother’s eyes were puffy as though she’d been crying, her usually sleek bob haircut a mess. Their mouths were taped so they couldn’t speak, but they both shook their heads.

“So sad to see you’re still the dutiful daughter, Amy,” Nolan said from the shadows. “Even after the way they treated you, you run straight into my trap to free them.”

Amy squinted and tried to see him behind the flashlight. Her eyes didn’t adjust fast enough, so she didn’t see the overturned side table until her knee connected with its leg. She hissed as sharp pain radiated up her leg.

Nolan flooded her with the light and she noticed the books on the floor, the empty shelves to her right, smashed photographs and slashed couch cushions—all signs of a break-in—and right then she knew Nolan’s plans. Just like he’d used burglary to cover his other crimes, he was about to do it again.

Nausea hit Amy hard. He was planning to kill them tonight. She swallowed, straightened and faced Nolan. His hands were crossed at the wrists, one holding the flashlight, the other a gun. She forced herself to focus on his face, which was pale under the light and his black clothes.

He smirked when her gaze locked with his. “I’m here, you can let them go.”

“Same old gullible Amy. You actually bought what I said over the phone.
You will help us disappear, won’t you, Amy? Just like you disappeared. This time it will be just the two of us
,” he repeated his previous words with a sniveling lilt then laughed.

He had lost it, which meant she had to keep him talking until she got her chance and disarmed him.

“I don’t want you. I never did,” he continued, sneering.

“I know. I’m not Penelope Digger.”

“How did you… No, it doesn’t matter. You’re not Penelope. She was an angel, the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Amy inched toward him, trying not to make any sudden movements and alert him of her intentions, and at the same time, she was mindful of the books and furniture littering the floor. She almost tripped on something.

“Is that why you killed her?” she asked.

Nolan’s eyes grew fierce and his voice became high-pitched when he spoke. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“There’s no need to lie, Nolan. You killed her then you tried to blame it on your friend Jeremy Blackwell,” Amy retorted, her confidence returning. All she had to do was continue distracting him.

“How do you know Blackwell?” he demanded.

“I met him a few days ago. About the time he confessed to everything the two of you did to me here in Charlottesville and your plans to get rid of me because of what I saw the night Charles died. You and Blackwell attacked us that night, but it was you who killed Charles.” A glance at her parents told her she had their attention too. “All because you wanted a woman who looked like Penelope, and she and I could be sisters.”
 

He didn’t respond. The flashlight danced as if his hand shook and she realized why. He no longer crossed his hands at the wrist. The gun was pointing at the floor. If she moved close enough, she could take him.

“Why did you kill her, Nolan? Did she reject you?”

There was another long pause. “She laughed at me. She’d broken her engagement to Blackwell and I thought she and I could… Why am I explaining myself to you? You’re nothing.” He lifted the gun to point at her. Amy took a step back. “Where’s Blackwell now?”

“Gone, but his confession is with the police.”

“I don’t believe you,” Nolan snarled.

“Why should I lie? Why do you think the police faked my death and sent you the link to the online news article from Blackwell’s e-mail account? Not only did Blackwell confess to everything, he left a crowbar with your fingerprints and a glove with your DNA at the lake house after he vandalized my car. The police have them along with the filters of the cigarettes you smoked the night you tried to kidnap Raelynn.” Amy stopped by the edge of the table and steadied herself. “So if I were you, Nolan, I’d get out of here now and disappear.”

He wiped his forehead and pointed the gun at Amy. “You’re coming with me.”

Mumbled protests came from her parents. He waved the flashlight across their faces. They squinted against the glare. Tears raced down Amy’s mother’s eyes and anguish distorted her father’s face.

“Oh, are those tears for you, Mrs. K? Because I know they can’t be for her.” He jerked his head toward Amy. “It’s a bit too late for motherly concern. Twenty-seven years too late. She’s coming with me until I decide to get rid of her.”

With her parents out of the equation, Amy stood a chance of outwitting him. “I’ll get the car keys.”

“Not so fast.” He pointed the gun at her mother and walked around the table until he reached her side. He pressed the nozzle against her head then looked at Amy. “If you try anything, I’ll shoot her.”

Her mother made a mewling sound.

“Shut up” He shoved her head with the gun. “Parents like you make me sick. You’re blessed with a child, a gift, and you treat him like dirt. Beat him like a dog. Starve him and laugh as he begs for food.” He was yelling by the time he finished.

Amy knew Nolan was talking about himself. “Leave them alone. They aren’t your parents, Nolan.”

“My parents, your parents, it makes no difference. They don’t deserve to be loved.” He glared at her. “Why do you love them after the way they treated you? I fed them lies and they bought them.”

More tears rolled down her mother’s face, muffled sounds coming from her gagged mouth. Amy knew she was sorry. Her e-mail had said it all.

“I know, Mom.”

Her dad’s eyes, filled with remorse, connected with Amy’s too. There was shame in his eyes. He also mumbled something too.

“Shut up. Both of you.” Nolan swung his gun between her parents.

Amy swallowed her panic.
 
Eddie’s teachings flashed through her head. Fool your opponent into thinking you’re helpless then attack.

“Please, Nolan,” Amy begged in a shaky voice she hoped sounded sincere. “Please, leave them alone. I’ll get the car keys and I promise to behave.”

“Stop sniveling. Here.” He thrust the flashlight at her. “Find your mother’s key.” The flashlight almost dropped and Nolan laughed. “You’re still the same spineless woman I married. Hurry up.”

Amy backed away and raced to the kitchen. She shone the flashlight around until she found her mother’s computer bag on the floor next to the kitchen table. She rummaged inside it and found the keys. She closed her hand on it, her mind racing as she plotted her next move.

“Amy?” Nolan called out, stressing the A and the Y like some sick psycho in a slasher film. “The clock is ticking.”

 
“Her bag isn’t in here.”

“Check inside her car. Why do I have to think of everything, you stupid bitch?”

Amy pocketed the key then raced past the kitchen counter when she saw the steak knives and an idea popped in her head. She grabbed one and kept going. She yanked the door and entered the garage at a run, forgetting the step. She missed her step and fell, a cry escaping her, the knife and the flashlight slipping from her grasp.

“What happened?” Nolan called out. “What did you do now?” He sounded like he was moving toward her. Cursing, she crawled under the car to retrieve the knife and the flashlight.

***

“How far?” Eddie asked.

“It’s up this road.” Rod took the corner without slowing down. The FBI’s SUV followed close. “There it is the red-brick mansion at the top of the hill.”

The house had a low-lying brick fence and a pillared entrance with no gate. A winding road led to the house. Rod pulled up along the fence and parked. He and Rod jumped out. Agent Ross pulled up behind them. She was out of their SUV before her partner opened his door.

“Fitzgerald, you’re
not
going inside that house and that’s an order. You have no jurisdiction here.”

“Really? The woman I love is being held by a mad man and you’re talking to me about jurisdiction?” Eddie started toward the gate.

“Damn it, Fitzgerald,” she hurried after him. “We want this man off the street as much as you do.”

“Then go after him. I’m going to get Amy.” A gun cocked behind him but he kept walking. “Go ahead, Agent Ross. Shoot. I will crawl up the damn hill with a gunshot wound.”

She cursed. “Fine. Stop and let’s plan.”

Eddie turned and faced her, impatient to get moving. “Okay, what’s your plan?”

“Agent Carson and I will go to the front door and identify ourselves.” She looked over her shoulder. “The others will be here soon. We’ll have the house surrounded and we’ll give him no option but to surrender.”

“Hell no. Every time you guys have a hostage situation, there’s always a shootout and dead bodies. Not tonight. Give me ten minutes.”

“Detective—”

“Five minutes, Agent Ross. Your people aren’t here yet, so what do you have to lose?” He could see a line of cars zipping toward them.

Agent Ross glanced over her shoulder again and saw them too. “Fine. Five minutes then we’re coming in.”

Eddie took off at a run. He was nearing the gate when he realized he wasn’t alone. “Rod? What the hell are you doing?”

“I made a promise to watch your back,” the Cuban said.

Eddie scowled. “Promised to who?”

“Lambert, Faith, Ashley… Do you want me to continue listing the entire Fitzgerald clan or should we finish this?”

Eddie cursed. “Fine, but no sound and no talking.”

They crept toward the house, Eddie expecting gunshots. They were out in the open on the hilly lawn with no bushes or hedges to hide behind. If Nolan started shooting, they’d be sitting ducks.

Eddie frowned as they moved closer. The house was in total darkness. Maybe he’d made a mistake. Maybe they weren’t here. Even as doubt crept in, he knew Amy was here. His gut instinct had never failed him. They sprinted to the side of the garage and squatted, both of them breathing hard.

“Get the hell up from down there,” a male voice snarled from inside the garage. “I got the spare key.”

“I dropped the flashlight, but I got the keys…” A sharp cry came from Amy.

Eddie started toward the side door and indicated to Rod to follow him.

“You’re worthless. Get up and get inside the car,” Nolan ordered. “You’re driving. I’ll give you directions.”

Eddie hand closed on the handle and slowly turned it.

***

Amy struggled to her feet, her chin and hands scraped from being dragged on the garage floor. Nolan had grabbed her ankle and yanked her from under the car, but the deed was done. She might have slashed only one tire, but it was better than nothing, and the knife was under a pile of cardboard boxes in case Nolan bothered to look.

“Where are we going?” she asked, keeping her voice meek. The hand with the gun was above her.

“As far away from this place as humanly possible.”

“And my parents?”

“They’ll live with the pain of knowing you’re dead because of them.”

She jumped up, grabbed Nolan’s wrist with her right hand and the barrel with her left and
pushed it in towards him, rolling it against his thumb, smoothly disarming him. She pointed the gun at him.

“How did you do that?” Nolan stammered.

“You think I’ve been sitting on my ass waiting for you to come after me again all these months?
Please, Nolan. I’ll get the car keys and I promise to behave,
” she said in the whiny voice she’d used earlier and stepped back toward the kitchen door. “Did you really think that was me?”

A sound came from behind her and Nolan’s eyes widened, but Amy didn’t dare look over her shoulder in case he was attempting to trick her. “Dad? Mom?”

“It’s me, baby,” Eddie said.

Relief washed over Amy. From the corner of her eye, she spied Rod walking around the car. He stopped behind Nolan and crossed his arms, a broad grin on his face.

“You bitch. You set me up.” Nolan rounded on her. He reached for the gun with his right hand and aimed a left hook at her face.

Amy ducked, shifted her weight and caught him on his left side with a roundhouse kick. The force slammed him against the body of the car. He turned and swung. Amy dropped to the floor and pressed the nozzle against his private parts, her grip firm on the barrel.