Page 117 of Statler

“I am. Along with Blue, and SWAT’s best tracker, Amos, who are on my tail. Will you stay put until we get there? Our ETA is sixteen minutes.”

“No can do, Statler. I have some things to take care of.”

“Eliza. Please. I know you’re going after your father, but can you wait? I’ll go with you. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get away. Together.”

Eliza hesitated for a few seconds.

It would be a relief to share this burden; ask for help.

But…no.

She’d done that one too many times in her life. This confrontation had to be done by her and her alone, on her terms.

“I’m sorry, Statler. I have to take care of this myself. That man. William. He’s…pretty much taken everything away from me; my husband, my art, my confidence. He’s made me feel unworthy since I was a child. I hope you understand. I have to show him that I’m stronger than he is; that he can’t take the rest of my life from me. Which means I can’t hide behind anybody for this final face-to-face.”

Statler didn’t argue. He was actually listening, for which she was more thankful than he could ever know.

She went on. “My mother protected me for as long as she could, then Holden did the same. I know you want to protect me, too, and I get it. You don’t want me hurt. But I can’t hide behind other people any longer.”

“Eliza,” Statler sounded like he was reaching for words that weren’t coming easily. “I… I understand. I don’t like it, but… It’s just… Before you go, I need you to know something. I’ve developed feelings for you. I want you in my life. I don’t think I could stand it if anything happened to you.”

It was time for Eliza to confess, as well

Since she was going to take off before Statler got here, and there was a chance she could lose the battle she was about to wage against her father, she had to get this off her chest.

“Statler, I do understand, because I love you,” she rushed out. “I have from the moment I saw you in my office, and those feelings have only grown in the past few weeks. I hate that I might be jeopardizing what we’ve barely explored yet, but I’ll be careful. My father doesn’t scare me, and my plan is to get to him first, just like I got to Jeremy,” she said determinedly.

“You…?” Statler dragged in an audible breath. “You love me?”

“I do,” she answered without hesitation.

“Then… I’m… I’m pretty sure I love you, too,” he admitted. “At least I think I do. I’m not sure what love actually feels like, but if missing you every minute when you’re not with me, daydreaming about you all the time, and wanting to share even the stupidest little thing with you is any indication, then this must be love.”

“I’ll take it,” Eliza told him, her heart warming.

“But…” Statler added.

Why was there always a but?

“…there are things about me—my life—that I have to share with you before you decide if I’m really who you want.”

Eliza was resolute. “I’ll want you, no matter what.”

She heard a long, relieved sigh.

“Then you’ll wait for me before you head to your father’s?” he asked hopefully.

“No.”

With that final word slipping from her mouth, Eliza knew she’d already won, no matter what the outcome with either Statler or William.

Standing up for herself now, meant everything. Including that she trusted in what she and Statler were building, enough to be sure of who he was, and feel comfortable disagreeing with him. It also showed her that she wouldn’t be depending on him to decide the exact path they might take together in the future.

Eliza wanted to gush all that out, but she couldn’t risk getting sappy right now.

She still had her father to confront.

“I am leaving Jeremy for you guys to deal with,” she informed him. “My gift to you and the FBI. And be assured, if he tries to run, he’s only working with one knee, so he won’t get far. If he’s not on the path when you get here, you should be able to follow the trail of blood he’ll leave, even in the dark.”