Spoilt (29 page)

“
Is she worth losing everything for?”

“
Yes and the thought of life without her … I just can’t
....”

There was nothing she could say to him to make it better, so
she did exactly what she had done the night before. She held
him.

Chapter 31

Fate

Saturday

Dawn’s first light spilling through the window woke Lucas. He
opened his eyes tentatively and found he was curled up on Carrie’s
constricting couch. He sat up slowly, feeling stiff and tired from
another sporadic night’s sleep.

Although still desperate to locate Chelsea, he felt slightly
better after obtaining some rest. He decided to go home to shower
and change with the aim of freshening his mind as well as his
appearance, before heading into the station. He called Detective
Smith on route.

“
Hey, Hudson, we haven’t seen any signs of life. We tried
several times last night, but got no answer again at the door. I’m
just about to try again now.”

“
Call me as soon as you know.”

“
Will do either way.”

Lucas tapped his fingers anxiously on the desk, waiting for
his phone to ring, whilst looking over the files he was now
beginning to memorise. He jumped when it rang.

“
Hudson.”

“
Yeah, it’s Smith.”

“
How did you go?” he asked, holding his breath.

“
It’s not Robinson.”

“
Did he answer the door?”

“
Yeah.”

“
Did he see anything?”

“
No, he said he was working.”

“
Did you find out his name?”

“
Yeah, Chad Wilson.”

“
What?”
Did he hear right?

“
Chad Wilson, but he’s not our perp.”

“
That’s either his alias or his accomplice. Didn’t you read
the file?”

Silence followed.

“
Smith?”

“
We read some of it.
I thought knowing the suspect and victims' names
and when the kidnapping occurred would be enough. I asked him what
he saw, if he knew the girls and his name. I thought you would want
to know when he was home. You know more about the case and I
thought you would want to talk to him yourself.”

Damn rookie detective. He knew he should have gone
himself.

“
Are you still at the house?” Lucas asked.

“
No we left when it wasn’t him and we’re getting some
breakfast. Sorry man, we can go back ...”

“
I got it.”

He flew out of his chair and, as he ran from the station, he
called Maggie’s phone.

“
He answered the door,” he said when she’d
answered.

“
Who did?”

“
Chad Wilson.”

“
What?”

“
It’s the right house, Mags. I’m on my way there
now.”

“
I’ll call for backup and meet you there. I’ll be there in
about twenty five minutes. I’ve just left home.”

He hung up, jumped into his car and fired up the
siren.

The drive went in slow motion. When he finally arrived, he
decided he wasn’t going to waste time waiting for back
up.

* * *

The pounding on the door woke Chelsea. She heard someone call
"Police, open up," but it didn’t sound like Lucas. The persistent
knocking and calls to open the door had occurred several times the
previous evening. At least she thought it had been the previous
evening. Was it morning now? Chelsea wasn’t sure but she guessed it
had been several hours since the last knock. The room seemed
lighter despite the blackened windows so she thought the sun must
be up. Each time the knocks came, she called out but knew no-one
could hear her. They weren’t giving up and Chelsea allowed hope to
enter her heart again.

She heard Andrew yell out "Just a minute" from the hall
near the front door. Could someone hear her if she yelled
out?

“
Help! I’m in here.”

Andrew
appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a dark wig and
baseball cap.

“
If you make one more sound, whoever it is will die. Do you
understand?”

“
Yes,” she whispered, her voice almost gone now. Even if she
yelled with all she possessed, no-one would hear her.

He disappeared down the hall. Was he actually going to open
the door to the police? She couldn’t believe it? Maybe there was a
chance after all.

* * *

Andrew
opened the door to the young detective. As he wasn’t Hudson
or his good looking blonde partner, he figured if he kept his face
concealed, it was safe to answer. Perhaps they would cease their
persistent knocking if he did.

“
Good morning, I’m sorry to bother you so early,
Sir.”

“
That’s ok. What can I do for you?”

“
My name’s Detective Smith and we are looking into a
kidnapping which occurred across the street. Could I could ask you
a few questions.”

I don’t think he recognises me.

“
Sure, I’ll do my best, Detective.”

“
Were you home on Thursday night?”

“
Um, no, I was at work. I work night shift
sometimes.”

“
So you didn’t see what happened across the
street?”

“
No S
ir, I was out from about seven until well after five a.m. I
wasn’t aware something had happened.”

“
Do you know the girls who live across the street?”

“
No, I haven’t been living here very long and don’t know any
of my neighbours. I keep to myself and I work a lot, so I don’t
really see much that goes on in the street. I like to mind my own
business.”

“
Ok, Sir. I won’t take up anymore of your time.” He turned
to leave. “Oh, I didn’t catch your name
.
”

“
Chad Wilson.”

“
Thank you, Mr Wilson. Have a nice day.” He left and Andrew
smiled smugly to himself. He was definitely going to be able to
finish what he started with Chelsea now. They wouldn’t be
back.

* * *

No! Please come back.

The detective hadn’t recognised his name. Didn’t Lucas ask her
if she knew a Chad Wilson? Chelsea was sure she’d heard the name
before. He’d shown no recognition, so maybe this wasn’t the name
Lucas asked her about. She couldn’t get anything straight in her
head. Had her last chance for survival just passed her
by?

With a heavy heart she closed her eyes and waited for
Andrew to come back.

Time passed slowly and she even wished he would come back
and finish what he started so it could all be over.

“
Well that should be the last time we see them. I think it
might be time for me to try again,” he said when he finally
appeared.

Chelsea allowed her mind to drift and fade slowly towards the
darkness. Fear and sadness consumed her. The pain seemed endless
now. She accepted her fate and her heart broke for Lucas. Through
the thickening haze she heard pounding.

“
This is the police, open up.”

Lucas? Now I’m hearing things. Maybe I’m dead or
dreaming
.
I
can hear his voice even in ... She drifted towards the darkness
once more.

A resounding crash sounded. Andrew jumped up and she was
shoved back to light.

“
Chelsea?”
Lucas?

“
Here ...I ...” She was cut off by a blow to the face. Her
eyes filled and what she assumed to be blood ran from her
nose.

Something cold pressed against her throat, she lifted her
eyes, blinked away the tears and found Andrew kneeling behind her,
his eyes manic.

Lucas charged through the door with his gun drawn. “We have
police on every exit so there’s nowhere for you to go.”

* * *

Lucas stared at the
man holding Chelsea. Where was Wesley Robinson?
Was he involved at all? Had his hunch been wrong all along? This
man looked like the Chad Wilson from the sketch. He also looked a
little like Robinson?

He stared at the knife pressed hard to Chelsea’s throat,
and the trickle of crimson at her neck caused fear to squeeze his
heart.

“
Drop your weapon.
Tell your people on the back door to move away,”
Andrew growled. “I have a car in the garage and we’re getting out
of here.”

“
You can leave but Chelsea stays here.”

“
No, she’s coming with me.”

“
I don’t think I can let you do that.”

“
If you don’t, I’ll kill her right here, right
now.”

“
You’ll be dead if you do.”

“
I don’t care if I live or die, Detective. Do you care if she
does?” he asked, pressing the knife harder against her throat
producing a solid flow now. The blade pressed close to the vein
which would end her life. If he moved it any further, she would
bleed to death.

His mind flashed back to the shop all those years ago.
There was blood everywhere. He recalled the anguish upon seeing his
parent’s lifeless bodies. His clothes were soaked in their blood.
He remembered now how it felt on his skin. It had been weeks before
the metallic smell of blood left his hands and hair. When the
police took him home to tell Carrie, her cries of denial tore
through his heart. He could not let that happen to Chelsea. He
could not live in a world without her in it.

“
Ok, I’m putting the gun down,” he said, placing it on the
floor. “I’ll get on the radio.”

Not that it matters
.
I’m the only one here.

“
All units, this is Detective Hudson. Could the officers at
the rear stand down.
Wilson has a hostage.”

“
It’s done,” he said.

Lucas hoped Maggie would arrive soon to back him
up.

“
I’m going to cut the ropes so she can come with me. If you go
for your gun, she’s dead,” he told Lucas.

As Andrew cut the ropes holding her wrists and ankles,
Lucas considered reaching for his weapon. Would he have time to
pick it up and fire before Wilson finished his trail across her
neck? Feeling helpless, Lucas watched as he returned the knife to
Chelsea’s throat and hauled her to her feet.

* * *

Once her wrists were free, Chelsea tried to cover herself with
what remained of her clothes. As he pulled her up, her legs shook
and felt unsteady. She was afraid they would give out and push her
throat harder against the knife. She managed somehow to keep her
feet as he dragged her towards the door. She attempted
unsuccessfully to break free of his strong grasp.

“
If you follow me or anyone tries to grab me, she’s
dead.”

“
Lucas,” she gasped as Andrew pulled her through the door
and into the hall.

Lucas dived on his gun and was hot on their tail. When he
heard a familiar voice, relief washed over him.

“
Stop right there and drop your weapon,” Maggie commanded,
her gun trained to the back of Andrew’s head.

“
I’ll kill her right now,” he screamed at them. “Drop your
guns!”

Lucas watched in horror as he began to cut across Chelsea’s
throat. A stream of blood flowed quickly now from the deep short
wound. Her cries felt like daggers in his heart. Maggie took a few
steps back and dropped her weapon.

He
was about to continue his assault with the knife, when a
shot rang out.

Chapter 32

Over and Done

Saturday

Andrew
dropped to the floor bringing Chelsea with him. When his
arms flopped, releasing her from his hold, she knew it was
over.

Lucas took the shot before he even thought about it and
hoped his training wouldn’t let him down. He raced to her and
dropped to his knees. He ensured Chad Wilson was dead before
holstering his gun.

“
Oh God, I’m so glad I found you, babe,” he whispered into her
ear. Lucas tenderly scooped Chelsea up. He kissed her gently on the
lips and stroked her matted hair.

Maggie passed him a towel, which he pressed against the wound
on her neck. She then located a blanket and helped Lucas to wrap
Chelsea securely within it.

“
I thought I would never see you again,” she replied in a
strained voice.

“
Shh, don’t talk anymore. Let’s get you to the
hospital.”

“
Charlotte?”

“
Is in the hospital. She’s alright.”

He took her outside to the awaiting ambulance and stood beside
her as they attended to her.

“
I’ll be right behind you,” he told her as they loaded her in.
“I love you,” he whispered but she didn’t hear him.

Once the ambulance was on its way, Lucas walked around to the
side of the house and sunk slowly to the ground. This was where
Maggie found him sitting with his back against the house, his head
and arms resting on bent knees.