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A gunshot blasted the air—Wahlburg. The shot missed Harvey, but he charged Wahlburg. The two of them traded blows, fighting for the knife. The gun went off again and Harvey collapsed.
Suddenly, on camera, the door to the room burst open and Ellie stormed in.
Derrick cursed. “Deputy Eastwood, phone for ambulances. Let’s divide up and find the victims. I’ll find Ellie and the girl.”
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX
Ellie froze as she entered the room. Harvey was on the floor bleeding out, his body convulsing. Wahlburg had shot him in the chest.
In the struggle, Wahlburg lost his gun. But Lorna Bea had it in her shaking hands. The gun bobbed up and down, her eyes glazed with horror. “You killed my mother!”
“I’m sorry,” Wahlburg said, emotion thickening his voice.
“You’re a monster,” she cried.
Ellie gestured for Wahlburg to let her handle the situation, and she inched closer to Lorna Bea. “Hey, sweetie, it’s Detective Reeves. I know you’re upset and you have every right to be, but please lower the gun.”
A crazed look darkened the girl’s expression and she shook her head wildly. “He lied to me all my life! He killed my mother and lied to me and changed my name and made us move all over the place and never let me have any friends.” A sob escaped her. “I hate you!” she said, pointing the gun toward Wahlburg.
Ellie held her breath. “Listen to me, Lorna Bea,” Ellie said softly. “What he did was awful. I understand what it’s like to be lied to by a parent, I do. But you don’t want to shoot him.”
“Yes, I do,” she screamed. “He killed Mommy!”
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Ellie murmured as she eased closer. “He deserves to pay for what he did. I promise you he will.”
“Lorna Bea, please give the detective the gun,” Wahlburg said calmly. “You don’t want to live with killing someone.” His voice cracked. “Trust me… it eats at your soul.”
“Trust you?” she screeched. “You’re a murderer and a liar.”
His shoulders sagged. “I am, but I swear to you I regret what I did.” Guilt laced his gruff tone. “I wish I could take it back. I… thought by protecting you, by taking care of you, that somehow I could make up for it.”
“You can’t!” Tears streamed down Lorna Bea’s cheeks. “You can’t bring my mother back.”
The poor girl was trembling so hard, the gun wavered all over the place. Ellie lifted one hand and slowly slid it over Lorna Bea’s. “Let me take him to jail,” she whispered. “I promise you he’ll go to prison and never get out.”
Wahlburg raised his hands in surrender. “I will go to prison, Lorna Bea,” he said. “Just give the detective the gun. You can still have a good life.”
Ellie cut him a look, not trusting that he wouldn’t pounce on her if given the chance. “He’s right. He deserves to be punished, and you deserve a future.” Ellie gently pushed the weapon downward.
Lorna Bea began to wail and Ellie trained the gun on Wahlburg. He lunged at her and the gun went off in the tussle. A grunt followed and the bullet pierced his chest. A shocked gasp, then he collapsed onto the floor, blood spurting.
Lorna Bea screamed. The door swung open and Derrick raced in. “Ellie?”
“I’m okay,” she said, angry as she realized Wahlburg had intentionally jumped her to force her to shoot him.
A second later, Wahlburg’s breath rasped out then his body went slack.
Ellie silently cursed. But she would not feel guilty over his death. Not when he was a cold-blooded killer. Not when he’d stolen this girl’s mother from her.
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN
Ellie pulled Lorna Bea against her, her injured arm hanging limply by her side as the girl sobbed against her.
Derrick called Landrum to report in.
“I’ll get Lorna Bea outside,” Ellie said. “Look for the others. Sarah, Beverly and Janie are all here.” Her voice wavered as the fear resurfaced. “And Cord. I’ll come back for him.”
He gave a nod, and she gently coaxed Lorna Bea from the room. By the time she made it outside, she saw Deputy Eastwood. “Stay with her until the ambulance arrives,” Ellie told her.
