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“Sure.” He paused for a moment. “I’ll be right over.”
A warning scream rattled silent in her throat, begging for release. But before she could voice the warning, Tyler ended the call.
Alex heard the fear ripping in Leah’s voice. Her tone had been clipped, and there’d been an edge. He grabbed his jacket and pushing past the pain burning through his muscles hurried out of his office toward his car.
On the road, his mind grappled with the facts at hand. Logical to assume it was Philip. All the signs pointed to his return. But had he returned, killed his cousin, and reclaimed his possessions? Possibly, but why the four-year gap? Why leave Leah alone when he’d savagely attacked her and left her for dead four years ago? It didn’t make sense.
Alex called the officer on duty in front of Leah’s house. The phone rang six times, but with no answer, the call went to voice mail. Swearing, he dialed Deke’s number. “Leah is in trouble. She just called me, but something’s wrong. I’m en route.”
“I’m calling for backup.”
“Have them come in quiet and stop short of entering Leah’s block. They need to keep their distance. I’m afraid the sight of cops might get Leah killed. I’ll go in alone.”
“And then you’ll get killed.”
“Not today.”
“If this is Philip, killing you will be top of his list. I’m on my way.”
“Deke, no.”
“Yes, Alex. I’ll park down the block. But I’m coming.”
Alex rang off and punched the accelerator. Ten minutes later, he pulled into Leah’s driveway. Her car was parked at the top. Ignoring the pain in his ribs, he moved toward the marked police car and found the officer unconscious.
He climbed the front steps. Blood pumped in his veins. His muscles burned. He tested the doorknob and found it unlocked. Gun drawn, he opened the door slowly and moved inside, seeing Leah immediately. She was sitting in a chair, her hands tied together. Standing behind her was Tyler Radcliff. He had a knife in his hand and was tracing her jawline with it.
“Radcliff.” Shock quickly gave way to understanding. He was the common denominator that connected several sections of the puzzle.
“He killed Deidre,” Leah said. “And he’s going to kill us and make it look like Philip did it.”
Tyler traced the knife along Leah’s neck. “Put the gun down, Agent,” Tyler said. “Or I’ll slice her throat.”
Leah’s watery gaze sharpened. “Don’t, Alex. He’ll kill you, and then he’s going to kill Gail and Charlie.”
“Where are they?” Alex asked.
“Somewhere safe,” Tyler said.
“Where are they?” Alex demanded.
“In his trunk,” Leah said.
“You should be worried about yourself, Leah. Not them.” Tyler gently twisted the tip of the knife below Leah’s eye. “The gun, Alex.”
Alex lowered his body to a crouch and put the gun on the floor.
“Now toss me the backup gun. All cops carry one.”
Alex stilled and then slowly removed the gun from his ankle holster.
“Kick the guns toward me.”
Alex’s jaw tightened. Tyler sliced a deep nick into Leah’s neck. Blood flowed down her white skin. He complied. “Why am I here?”
“Because you butted into Philip’s marriage when you didn’t have a right. To keep this looking real, I have to act like the outraged Philip would.”
“This was all about killing Deidre, wasn’t it? She left you and you couldn’t take it.”
“We promised each other forever. I kept my word. She lied.”
“I guess you just weren’t man enough to keep her. I mean, what kind of man stalks a woman? Keys her car. Plants listening devices in her house. Fuck, you’re pathetic.”
“Shut up!” He grabbed a handful of Leah’s hair and twisted. She gritted her teeth but didn’t scream.
“Hiding behind a woman.”
Tyler jerked Leah to her feet and pressed the knife to her side. “I should gut her like a fish.”
“You don’t have the balls,” Alex said. “You know once she’s gone, I’m going to kill you very slowly. You’re defenseless without her.”
Tyler snarled and then shoved Leah hard, sending her falling to the floor before he lunged at Alex. Tyler was a large man but quick and just as Alex braced for a blow, the man slammed into him. Alex grunted, his bruised and battered body screaming in pain.
Alex drew his arm around to hit Tyler but the man pounded a fist into his ribs. Agony cut through him. Hissing in a breath, he punched Tyler in the jaw and the blow slowed him only for an instant before he hit Alex again.
Leah scrambled to her side and then to her feet just as Tyler slammed his fist again into Alex’s bruised ribs. Alex grunted in pain.
Leah ran to a side table, picked up a lamp and hit Tyler hard on the back of the head. The blow didn’t knock him out but it got his attention. He turned, his face dark with rage and his fists balled.
Alex, his body riddled with agony, grabbed his knife from his pocket and flipped it open. In that split second, Alex lunged, stabbing Tyler in the throat. Blood sprayed on him and Leah as he stumbled toward her. Tyler, his gaze locked on Leah, dropped to his knees.
Leah stood frozen as she stared down at Tyler’s body. Alex reached for his phone and called for backup. He moved toward Tyler and rolled him on his back. The knife had cut through his jugular and he was bleeding out.
Tyler looked up at Leah. He raised a hand toward her, but the loss of blood was too fast and violent. “Whore,” he mouthed.
“Go to hell,” she said.
His hand dropped and his eyes closed.
Seconds later, Deke came through the front door, gun drawn. His gaze swept the scene as Alex rose and moved toward Leah. He reached out to touch her, but she drew inward, as if she were afraid to trust him or herself.
Her gaze settled on Tyler and the pool of blood swelling around his head. “He’s been planning this for months.”
He took her chilled hands in his. “I know. I know. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
She tightened her fingers around his and looked at him, tears streaming down her cheeks, mingling with the blood from the nick on her cheek. “Alex, he said Philip did die in that car accident.”
Deke took Alex’s knife from him and urged the two toward a squad car.
Alex opened the car door for Leah and had her sit down. He limped around to the other side of the car and carefully lowered into the seat beside her. “He was clever. Made us all believe Philip could be alive.”
“He hated Deidre so much. The look in his eyes reminded me so much of Philip that last night. Love, hate, rage. I saw them all in his eyes.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “It’s okay, Leah. They’re both gone. No one can hurt you anymore.”
She met his gaze. Pain telegraphed from the watery depths. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to call you. I knew what he wanted to do to you, and I still called. He said he’d kill Gail.”
“I’m not so easy to kill.”
Gingerly she touched his bruised ribs. “He said she and Charlie are in
the trunk of his car.”
Alex knocked on the window and a uniformed officer crossed to him. “Tell Deke to find Radcliff’s car. He’s locked a woman inside.”
The officer nodded. “Right away.”
The cop and several others fanned out and moved down the street. Minutes later, he returned. “We found them.”
She held her breath. “He’s killed them.”
“No, ma’am,” the officer said. “They are alive. Drugged but alive. We’ve called for paramedics.”
Leah studied the officer’s face. “You’re sure they’re fine?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“They’re okay,” Alex said.
She faced him. “I’m so sorry to have pulled you into this mess.”
He cupped her face. “You didn’t pull me into anything. I’m here with you because this is exactly where I want to be.”
Epilogue
Four months later
Nashville, Tennessee
The half marathon drew record crowds. Runners from around the region and the country had shown up to race on what was one of the prettiest spring days Leah could have imagined. She had been nervous and jittery when the starting horn had blared, and for the first mile, her pace had been too quick. Finally, her nerves had settled and she’d fallen into a steady pace. By the time she’d crossed the finish line, her muscles ached and sweat drenched her body. A glance up at the clock revealed . . . well, not a so-fast run time, but she didn’t care. She’d finished the race. She’d made it.
Her shorts and jogging top did a poor job of hiding the scars on her arms and legs, and, overheated as she was, they looked all the more angry. She’d caught several people glancing in her direction, silent questions sparking in their gaze. But she didn’t try to hide her scars. She’d survived Philip. And Tyler. She’d come through the fire and, as far as she was concerned, a few scars didn’t really matter much.
When Alex and Deke had searched Tyler’s home, they’d found his plans for killing Deidre. He’d pieced together his plan with meticulous detail. Deidre had thought she could outsmart her past and move forward, but Tyler had been quicker. He brought Philip back to life, in a manner of speaking, and begun his plan of terror.
