Till Justice Is Served (28 page)

The local hamburger joint drive-through provided one meal. Call him too careful, but he wasn't ordering anything that could be construed as dinner for two.

Casanova couldn't wait to check on Erin. She'd been alone, wearing nothing but a towel and with only a bottle of water for almost twenty-four hours How could she not admit that she loved him? Was she deliberately trying to hurt him? He quickly changed into his jeans and T-shirt, sliding the leather scabbard holding the hunting knife onto his belt. He hoped to use the knife to cut off the plastic tie, but only Erin could make that happen.

He carefully removed the floor molding and folded back the carpet. The door opened easily, but Erin didn't come into view. He'd bent over backward to please her with nothing in return. Tonight would be different.

****

The door to freedom opened. Erin's moment had come. Her ability to play along with a maniac would soon be tested. She stood and smoothed the front of the dress, folding under a few torn edges of lace.

The principal descended the ladder holding a small sack that smelled of food. The second he saw her, his expression shifted from serious to surprise. His gaze roamed from her bare shoulders to her feet and up again, leaving a slimy trail behind. She resisted the urge to wipe off her arms.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you." She tried a timid smile and a little-girl curtsy.

He walked over to her, studying her for a minute. "Why did you put on the dress?"

She'd expected him to distrust her motive. "Because you asked me to." She quickly responded to his arched eyebrow. "And I was cold."

"Both good reasons." His gaze narrowed while he studied her swollen eye. "I hope you learned not to make me angry."

So him striking her was her fault. She'd expected that, too. "I won't do it again." She carefully touched the bruise.

"See to it you don't. If I take you upstairs to eat, will you behave?"

"Yes. Going upstairs would be nice." Stay calm and convince him she was trustworthy.

He studied her for a second before picking up the loose end of the nylon cord and securing it to his wrist. He climbed the ladder first.

Erin considered what would happen if she jerked hard on the cord. Would he fall to the hard floor? Would it knock him out? If she could at least stun him, she might be able to get the knife. It was too risky. If she failed, she might not ever get another chance. Her opportunity would come upstairs.

"I'm waiting." She felt a tug on her ankle.

"Coming." Climbing in that horrible dress wasn't easy. She stepped on the hem a couple of times, tearing the dress even more. Once upstairs, she followed him to the dining room.

His home was nicely furnished. Nothing elaborate, but it was neat and clean. That every window had been covered with heavy drapes troubled her. How long had he been planning to kidnap her?

"The dress doesn't fit." He caught the back of the dress, and the bodice slid down a little. If he'd noticed the torn lace, he didn't mention it.

"It's fine."

He pulled out a chair, and she obediently sat. The tops of her breasts were exposed. The bastard had lowered the zipper. Erin tugged the bodice up higher.

"No need to be modest. Soon, we'll intimately know every inch of each other's body." He leaned over and kissed her cheek, causing her to jump.

"Eat." He pulled a chair close to hers.

Their thighs touched, and Erin forced herself to pretend she wasn't repulsed. The soggy burger had lost its appeal, but her body needed the nutrition, so she took a big bite.

"I thought about you all day." His voice was low.

"You did?" Erin kept her attention focused on the meal in front of her.

"How could I not? You naked, wrapped in a towel, with all those delights barely covered. It drove me crazy. Knowing you're wearing nothing under that dress already has my dick hard."

"I appreciate you bringing me this food." She chose to ignore his statement. "It's delicious."

"Don't pretend there's not a sexual pull between us. Here, in our home, we can act out any fantasy. Tell me how you like it, and I'll do it."

He grabbed her hand and tried to force it to his lap. She jerked her arm away. Dear God, no way was she touching the sick bastard's erection. He caught her wrist and squeezed. The pain was better than touching him.

"I'm not a patient man, Erin. I won't tolerate you pulling away from me. As my wife, you will spread your legs for me whenever I say. Whether or not you enjoy it is strictly up to you."

She couldn't speak. Could not find her words. His personality changed so quickly she didn't know what was safe to say.

"No argument? Good. You're learning. Now finish your supper."

"I'm not hungry anymore."

"Eat it now or tomorrow night. My daddy taught me to never waste food."

Erin battled back tears. Her hands trembled as she picked up the cold burger and forced herself to take another bite. Where was her bravery now? Her plan to escape? Hope was fleeing. The longer she chewed the more difficult it became to swallow. Finally, she forced down the last morsel.

He stood, walked toward the bedroom, jerking the cord and forcing her to follow. He pointed to the bed. Lying across the bedspread was a white bridal veil and a small box.

"Open it."

Erin hands trembled as she lifted the lid. Inside were matching gold bands. "You can't make me marry you."

"You will put on the veil." He grabbed the comb and stabbed it into her hair. "Tonight we'll have a private ring ceremony. Later, perhaps we can have a legal ceremony."

"No," she blurted.

He buried his hand in the veil and her hair, wrapping it around his fingers. He jerked her head back. His lips crushed hers as he tried to kiss her. Erin thrashed her head from side to side. He shoved her onto the bed. The face of evil loomed over her as he straddled her body and wrapped his hands around her throat.

As his grip tightened, cutting off her breath, a calm came over her. She cupped his cheek with one hand and ran the other up and down his back.

He released her neck. "I knew you'd come around."

Erin gasped for breath. "Do what you want," she croaked out the words.

He lifted up and began pulling all the lace up around her waist.

She kept stroking his back until she felt the handle of the blade. She shifted under him to distract him while she freed the knife. Following Rafe's instructions, she lifted it high and jammed it into his diaphragm.

He screamed and collapsed on top of her. She shoved him hard, pushing him to the side. Her feet found the floor, and she started to run but then remembered. The cord.

The principal wasn't moving. Was he dead? No, his breath was labored, but he was very much alive and dangerous. She had no choice but to climb onto the bed, put both hands on the handle and remove the knife. She closed her hand around the handle and pulled. The blade moved but didn't break free. She gritted her teeth and twisted the handle, trying to free the blade. The slurping sound the blade made as it exited his body would forever be etched in her memory.

He grabbed for her. His hand disappeared into the lace skirt, and he pulled her toward the bed. She grabbed the material and jerked. It ripped, freeing her again.

Erin moved as far away as the cord would allow and furiously sawed at the sturdy nylon. The principal shoved himself up, writhing in pain and anger. He was coming for her.

The sharp blade finally sliced the cord. Free, she ran toward the front door.

"You're dead," he said through gurgles.

"You first," she said, opening deadbolts. The night breeze blew across her sweaty face. Freedom was only a few steps away.

Erin gathered what was left of her skirt and ran. She didn't look behind her. Didn't listen for footsteps. She ran. The outside lights were on at the second house down the street. Two teenagers were shooting hoops in the driveway. She'd never been happier to see other human beings.

Both boys froze at seeing her. No doubt, wearing a bloody dress and holding a knife in her hand, she looked like a zombie from a television show.

"Ms. Brady?" one of the boys asked.

She smiled with relief. "Yeah. Call 911."

Both of them ran into the house.

At last, she looked behind her into the night. All she saw was the light from an open door. Was the principal dead? The tears finally came. Poured from her. She dropped the knife to the lawn and sat down on the curb. Once again, she'd faced pure evil and survived.

C
HAPTER 26

Rafe was out of the car and running toward the ambulance before Luke killed the engine. "I'm here, baby. I'm a few steps away," he said into his cell. That she'd called him from somebody's phone meant her injuries weren't life threatening. Nevertheless, he had to see for himself. She'd managed to say she'd stabbed that bastard Mueller, but most of their conversation had consisted of her softly sobbing.

He hurried across the street but was stopped by a couple of patrol officers. He slowed long enough to show his ID.

"Let him through," the officer called out.

The small crowd parted, and Rafe's heart catapulted into his throat. Sitting on the stretcher in the ambulance, Erin looked like a homeless waif. Only this waif was wearing a bloody wedding gown. One side of her face was bruised and swollen, and the dress was a rag.

"Rafe." She handed off the phone and opened her arms to him.

In three strides, he was inside the ambulance and on his knees beside her. He folded her body against his chest, rocking her as her whole body quaked. It ripped his guts open to imagine what she had been through.

"Take me home," she whispered.

He glanced at the EMT, whose eyebrows pulled into a frown.

Rafe smoothed the hair off Erin's forehead. "I'd like nothing better. First, you have to be checked out by a doctor."

She shook her head.

"You're hurt and probably in shock. Please let a doctor take a look at you."

"You'll stay with me?"

"Just try and get rid of me." Rafe nodded to the EMT, signaled to Luke, then moved to the small extra seat. "Put your head right here, so I can talk to you."

She lay down on the stretcher and breathed a big sigh. Rafe stroked her tangled hair. He noticed the bruises on her neck. That bastard Mueller had choked her. 

"How is she?" Rafe asked the EMTs.

"Looks to be superficial bruising. Her vital signs are good."

"Rafe?"

"Hmm?" he said, swallowing the lump in his throat. He leaned over so she could see his face.

"Where's the principal?"

"I don't know." Rafe glanced at the EMT.

"Second ambulance was dispatched to take the dead guy to the morgue," the EMT answered.

"Right where he should be." Rafe kissed her forehead again.

"I'm sleepy," Erin whispered. Her eyelashes fluttered.

"Adrenaline crash," the EMT said. "Sleep all you want. You're safe."

The doors slammed closed, and the ambulance sped off. They were on the freeway before Rafe relaxed. He leaned closer to Erin, resting his hand on her shoulder. She jerked, frowning in her sleep.

"I'm here. Nobody's going to hurt you." He whispered those words again and again, hoping that the sound of his voice would ease her fear.

Once they arrived in the emergency bay, things happened fast. The nurses asked questions he couldn't answer, prompting him to call Jeff.

Luke, who'd followed the ambulance, led Rafe to the waiting room. Less than thirty minutes later, Jeff and Lotty had joined the wait. Rafe found no peace in sitting, so he paced.

Colton's voice pulled his attention to the doorway. "Any word?"

"Nothing. The nurse said somebody would come tell us when the doctor was through with the examination."

"What about Mueller?"

"All I know is the bastard's dead."

"Erin took him out?" Colton asked.

"Yeah. I didn't ask her what went down. She'll have to talk about the entire episode soon enough."

A young doctor joined them. Tall and thin, he wore navy slacks and tennis shoes. The dark circles under his eyes said the good doctor hadn't slept in a while. His appearance was quite a contrast to his crisp white coat. Jeff took the lead, introducing himself as Erin's father.

"The news is good," the doctor said. "Other than a few bruises and dehydration, Ms. Brady is fine. She's dehydrated, so we're keeping her overnight to get some fluids into her. She's being moved to a room soon. It's late, and it would be better if you let her rest. I gave her a sedative." His gaze swept the small group. "She asked for Rafe."

"That's me." He stepped forward. "I'm staying the night. If she wakes up, she won't be alone."

The doctor smiled. "Come with me."

"Call us," Lotty said.

"I will." Rafe followed the doctor down the corridor.

He stopped at the nurses' station. "This gentleman is staying with Ms. Brady tonight."

A nurse stood and walked around the counter. "She's in four-fourteen."

"Thanks." After he'd entered the elevator on his way to the fourth floor, he leaned against the handrail, allowing the band around his chest to relax a little. His cell vibrated. A smile inched its way up his cheeks as he read the text. Beckett had decided tomorrow would be soon enough to take Erin's statement.

He stopped in the doorway to Erin's room. Clothed in a faded blue hospital gown and covered by white sheets, she looked so fragile. A wounded bird who had fought her way to freedom. Her room was dark except for a small overhead light, but he could see her bruises even as he eased into a chair next to the bed. He wanted to touch her, hold her in his arms, and kiss her until she laughed with joy. Instead, he sat silently, grateful she was alive.

Her body jerked in her sleep. He stroked her arm, hoping this wasn't a nightmare disturbing the first peaceful rest she'd had in days.

Even if it was the right thing to do, leaving her was going to be hard. All he could offer her was a life full of loneliness and fear. Fear that every time he went undercover, he'd return to her in a body bag. That kind of anxiety was the last thing she needed. Erin was the bravest and strongest person he'd ever met. She'd been through enough for one lifetime and deserved somebody stable. A man whose job and lifestyle weren't full of danger.