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From the moment he realized there was something more to the necklaces Julia Prescott had received, John believed this guy’s compulsion would end up being his downfall.
Just like it was Nick’s.
“No, she doesn’t. You don’t have to do this.” John inched closer. The second he did, the man dug the knife deeper into Katherine’s throat, blood seeping out.
“Don’t take another step. And lower your weapons. I’m close to her carotid. Believe me. You don’t want me to keep going, because it’ll get really messy.”
John met Agent Hawkins’ gaze, giving her a nod. They slowly crouched, placing their weapons on the floor.
“Kick ‘em over.”
The agents did as requested, and the man relaxed the pressure of the knife.
“It’s okay, my beautiful Katherine.” He kissed her tears away. “I didn’t want to do it that way, either. Death comes much too quickly then.” There was a creepy sort of awe in his voice as he moved the blade from Katherine’s throat, along her cheek, and up her arm, pausing along the underside of her left forearm. “I much prefer the radial artery. It’s slower. Allows me to watch the life slowly leave your body over the course of what could be hours.”
Katherine released a cry, squeezing her eyes shut as her frame trembled, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“It’s not as easy as it seems. It’s why so many suicide attempts are unsuccessful. You have to know exactly where to cut. And it can’t be superficial, although I certainly make a few shallow cuts before the big one. Makes medical examiners believe it truly was suicide.” He slowly turned his head, his sinister eyes meeting John’s for the first time.
It felt like all the oxygen had been ripped from the room, the truth like a punch to his gut.
“Ethan,” he exhaled, fighting against the dizziness consuming him.
“Crazy, right?” Ethan’s lips twisted into a smile. “Who would have thought the same guy you pretty much handed the investigation to would be the one behind it?” He laughed, eyes brightening with excitement. “Quite the epic twist, isn’t it? You never saw it coming, did you? I’ll let you in on a little secret, though.”
“What’s that?”
Ethan leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Neither did Julia.”
Heat washed over John’s face, dread settling in his stomach. “What did you do?”
“She was so concerned for my safety,” he continued, not bothering to answer John’s question. “Thought Nick had killed me before taking her. But Nick would never hurt me.” There was a frenzied, hysterical quality to his voice, making John believe someone in Ethan’s past had hurt him.
It wasn’t a surprise. After all, childhood abuse was often a common factor in serial killers’ backgrounds. But John couldn’t focus on that. Not right now. His only thought was to get Katherine out of here safely.
And finding out what Ethan had done to Julia.
“Where is she?” John demanded. “Where’s Julia?”
“Where she belongs.” Ethan turned his eyes back to Katherine, running the knife along her arm, her sobs growing louder as he traced her wrist.
“And where’s that?”
“Why, with her family, of course.” He briefly looked John’s way. “I’ve reunited them.” His gaze drifted to Katherine once more. “Just like I’m about to reunite Katherine with hers.”
Katherine wailed as she fought against her restraints.
“It will all be over soon, my darling Katherine.” He dragged his tongue along her cheeks, licking her tears. “After all, you told me how much you missed your family. How guilty you felt that your parents and brother had died in a car crash after coming to visit you at Emory your freshman year. How you’d give anything to see them one more time. Have one more chance to tell them how much you love them. I’m going to give you your wish.”
His grip on the knife tightened as he gouged the blade into her skin. This time, it wasn’t merely a superficial cut. It was deep. Penetrating.
Deadly.
Reacting swiftly, Agent Curran reached into the holster hidden beneath his suit jacket and grabbed his other weapon, quickly firing.
Several seconds passed, the gunshot echoing in the room.
Finally, Ethan collapsed onto the bed beside Katherine, blood pouring from the wound in his back as John watched the life drain from his eyes.
Not Katherine’s.
