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FORTY-FIVE
Concerned for Jenna’s safety but following orders and keeping out of sight as she took control, Kane melted into the shadows. The next second footsteps came running toward him and he stepped out of hiding. His breath came out in a rush as Poppy threw herself into his arms, blocking his view of Jenna. He holstered his weapon to untangle her and pushed her away. “Move. Get outside. Rio and Rowley are on their way.”
“Oh, Dave, I knew you’d come to save me.” Poppy leaned against the wall panting. “He has a baseball bat and a knife. No guns.”
Ignoring her, Kane started down the dim tunnel, and as he turned the corner, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of Parsons rolling around the ground with Jenna. The dim overhead lights caught the flash of a blade. Behind them, Susie Hartwig, stark naked and filthy, was trying to crawl away, not toward him and to safety but into a dark corner, searching the floor with her hands. He ran toward Jenna, but in that second, Parsons had rolled her over, dragged her to her feet, and pressed the knife to her throat. A slow smile crossed Parsons’ face when he spotted him. Kane held out his hands. “There’s no way out, Tom. Cut her and I’ll kill you. Let her go and you’ll be able to have your day in court.”
“How about you back the hell off, and I’ll leave and take the sheriff with me?” Parsons’ mouth twitched into a confidant grin. “I’ve always wanted a sheriff.”
“What about your wife and kids?” Jenna’s gaze shifted toward Kane. “Don’t you think you owe them an explanation?” She sagged against Parsons, leaning to his left and keeping him off balance. Her intention to fight clear.
Inside warning bells screamed at Kane. One wrong move and the sharp knife would cut deep. That close to her carotid artery, he’d never be able to save her. What Jenna was attempting was dangerous but when she gave him the tiniest of nods, Kane exchanged a knowing glance with her. They’d trained for a situation like this, but the risk to Jenna would be fatal. One mistake and Parsons would kill her. Distracting him was his only option. “How do you think she’ll feel when she discovers you’ve been raping women?”
“This has nothing to do with my wife and kids.” Parsons wrapped his free arm around Jenna’s waist, but she continued to sag, leaning away, knees bent to unbalance him. “Stand up straight.” He swung his gaze back to Kane. “Move and I’ll cut her throat. Even you can’t draw that fast.”
Really? Time slowed and Kane could see a trickle of sweat slide slowly down Parsons’ temple. As the man tried to get his feet under him, the knife dropped away from Jenna’s throat. In a split second, Kane drew his weapon and fired. The deafening shot shattered Parsons’ right shoulder. The knife spilled from his unresponsive fingers, and he gaped at him, his mouth opening and shutting like a fish tossed onto a riverbank. In an instant, Jenna spun around, kicked his legs from under him, rolled him over, and heedless of his bleeding shoulder cuffed him. Kane dragged him up and sat him against the wall. “Don’t move or my next shot will take out your kneecaps.”
“You can’t just leave me here bleeding to death.” Parsons’ face contorted with pain. “You have a duty of care.”
Disgusted by his whimpering, Kane turned and stared at him. “You’re breathing and, trust me, that wasn’t my first choice. You’re lucky the sheriff is a compassionate woman and I hate paperwork, or I’d have aimed a little higher and to the left.”
“You have the right to remain silent—and as Deputy Kane isn’t in a very good mood just now, I suggest you do.” Jenna read Parsons’ his rights and then looked up at Kane, blowing the tumble of raven hair from her eyes. “Nice shot.” She stuck a finger in her ear and wiggled it. “My ears are ringing.” She pointed into the darkness. “My weapon is over there somewhere. Can you find it for me?”
Kane pulled out his Maglite. “Sure. I can hear a vehicle—that will be our backup.”
“Good. They can take Parsons into custody and we’ll mop up here.” Jenna looked around. “This place is a hellhole.”
“He’s not getting away with killing all those women.” Susie, eyes wide in a sheet-white face, had found Jenna’s gun and was waving it at Parsons. “Move out of the way, Jenna.” Her hands trembled as she aimed the weapon at Parsons’ head. “Did you see what he did to those women? It’s on the laptop, all the torture, the rapes—everything.” She let out a sob and then gathered herself. “He’s a monster. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“Susie.” Jenna stepped away from Parsons. “I’ve known you since I first arrived in Black Rock Falls. Have I ever allowed a killer to get away with murder?”
“No.” Susie hadn’t taken her eyes off the prisoner. “But this is different. This one tried to kill me. Do you know there are other women locked up in one of the tunnels? He keeps us like animals and numbered us so he could murder us in sequence. He doesn’t deserve a trial. He deserves to die. I want my revenge.”
Kane cleared his throat. “I agree he deserves to die, Susie, though if you kill him, it makes you no better than him, does it? A killer is a killer. If you pull the trigger, you’ll be just as guilty as him. It wouldn’t be self-defense. It would be first-degree murder, and me and Jenna would have to testify against you, and we don’t want to do that do we, Jenna?”
“No, of course we don’t.” Jenna moved closer to Susie and held out a hand. “You’re not thinking straight right now. Give me the gun.”
“Not yet and I’m thinking just fine.” Holding the weapon out in front of her, Susie went to where Parsons was slumped against the wall moaning. She pressed the muzzle of the gun into his forehead. His eyes lifted to hers and then closed tight. Susie leaned in. “Are you scared? You should be. How does it feel knowing I could squeeze the trigger? I should release the women and let them deal out their own form of justice. You deserve that but I’m better than you. I have a conscience.” She turned and gave the pistol butt-first to Jenna and, grabbing a blanket from a pile on the desk to cover her nakedness, walked, head held high, out of the cave.
