AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And Cami realized that, in those circumstances, she couldn't risk it. He could literally jab Dylan's eyes out in an instant. That would be unthinkable. He might do it anyway, but for now, at least, he was using the threat of it to keep her from coming any closer, so they were in a stalemate.
If she took a step toward him and tried to use that stick, he would respond by horrifically maiming his captive. If she stayed where she was, Dylan would be strangled slowly.
There had to be something she could do. Something.
Frantically, Cami thought back over what resources she had available, meager as they were. She had a stick she couldn't use. And she had her phone.
Her phone gave her access to the home's smart functionality. Including the lights, the kitchen appliances, the security.
And the doors!
Suddenly, Cami realized that there was one option open to her. It was her last possible chance, the last card she could play in this dangerous game. But it might just work. Looking at the killer's posture, where he was bracing himself as he held Dylan tightly in front of him, it might just succeed.
"I give up!" she declared. She dropped the stick and turned her back, bowing her head. She didn't want him to see what she was doing and would rather he thought she was just admitting defeat.
Sure enough, she heard his triumphant laugh.
As discreetly as she could, she swiped her phone open. Where were the smart controls? Where was the one she needed?
Behind her, she could hear Dylan choking and gagging. The sound was traumatizing. It was making her hands shake. That made this harder. And now, the taunting voice of the killer rose above those terrible noises.
"Turn around, Baby Bear. You're not getting out of this so easily. I want you to watch! Watch the story end!"
Moving faster and more frantically, Cami swiped the screen again, looking for the control she needed to operate the door.
Behind her, Dylan's gagging had turned into a horrible retching sound. Cami knew that he was choking, being strangled. He was struggling and trying to fight back, but he was no match for the killer.
Here it was. Bathroom Door. With a rush of relief, she found it. She had no idea what would happen, or which way it would open, but it was now her only hope.
"Turn around?" Ragged and high, his voice raged at her again. "I'm waiting. I'm waiting."
Cami turned to face him again. And, with shaking hands, she slid one finger across the screen, holding her breath.
"Now, Baby Bear, now! Watch your Papa Bear die!"
The killer threw his weight back to brace himself, tightening his hands cruelly around the other man’s neck. And then, with barely a sound, the door glided open, sliding back on well installed steel tracks.
The killer staggered, stumbling off balance as he felt the door move behind him. Because, as Cami had hoped, he was leaning hard against the door as he held Dylan tightly in front of him.
With no support left, he fell backward with a cry, losing his footing and sprawling down. His head hit the edge of the bathtub with a dull, audiblethunk. His hands loosened, and Dylan writhed free from his death grip, scrambling to his feet.
The killer made a grab for Dylan, his hand snaking out, but lunging forward, Cami gave him another swipe with her stick. She caught him squarely on the wrist, and he gave a shrill yell of pain.
Dylan had found his breath. Choking, coughing, but looking grim and resolute, he pressed his lips together, choked in a breath, and kicked the killer as hard as he could in the head.
"Take that, you murderer!" he said in a rough, grainy voice, coughing and sobbing as he spoke.
The killer's eyes rolled up into his head, and he slumped down onto the bathmat.
Cami felt relief wash through her as she saw the psychopath crumpled on the ground and lying still. It didn’t seem possible that they had managed to defeat such a relentless monster, who’d fought with the strength of insanity, but at last, the threat was over. And, if Maisie had been able to maintain that pressure on her wound and Connor was okay after that horrific fall, they might just have saved all the lives in this home today.
***
Half an hour later, Cami was standing by Connor's car, watching in satisfaction as two police wheeled out a stretcher. On it, the killer was shouting groggily, but firmly strapped in place. He was being taken to the hospital to get his head injuries treated.
Connor was on his feet again, striding around more slowly than usual, and giving orders in a toned-down version of his usual bark. He’d told Cami that after he’d regained consciousness, he had been too dizzy to stand up for a while. He’d crawled over to Maisie and helped her put pressure on her wound. By the time he’d been able to stand, the fight upstairs had been over. When Cami came down, Connor had already been on his way up, looking pale but determined.
Maisie had already been rushed to the ICU ward, where her stab wound had been stabilized. She was expected to make a full recovery, he'd told her.
