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The woman was insane if she thought Ellie would go down without a fight.
Dammit. She should have recognized the signs. Dr. Dansen had known each of their suspects. Though there was no evidence she’d been in touch with Radcliff while he was in prison, it was possible she had kept contact through the others.
The calculating intricacy of her manipulation went deep. She’d damn well set them up.
“Why?” she asked.
Dr. Dansen stepped closer to Ellie. Her breath stalled in her chest. Where was her own weapon?
Derrick had probably taken it last night when she’d been transported to the hospital. It might be in evidence now.
All she had was herself.
She had to stall. Keep her talking. Get answers. Derrick would be here soon.
“Tell me about you,” Ellie said. “What’s your story? Why would an attractive, intelligent woman resort to murder?” Ellie asked. “I know female serial killers are rare. Did you just want to stand out?”
Dansen raised a brow. “You think you’re so smart. But you deal with murder every day so I could say the same about you. That you have a dark side of your own.”
“I try to save lives, not take them or inflict pain,” Ellie said flatly. No way was she going to allow this twisted woman to get inside her head. She crossed her arms. “Most serials have a sad sack story? What’s yours? Your mother beat you? Father kill her? Or did he molest you?”
Dansen’s nostrils flared and Ellie knew she was close.
A second later, Dansen lifted her chin. “He killed my mother and my sister and brother. Massacred our entire family. I’m the only one who survived.” Bitterness laced her voice. “But I didn’t really survive. Everywhere I went, people knew about it. Other girls wanted nothing to do with me.”
Ellie swallowed hard. She had to make certain the same thing didn’t happen to Lorna Bea.
Her eyes darted to the counter in search of something to use to protect herself. The knife block was too far away. Coffee pot as well. A cutting board was propped against the backsplash. Maybe she could reach that.
“Special Agent Fox is on the way,” she said. “We heard a muffled voice on Harvey’s videos and knew someone else was there. It was you, wasn’t it? You were at Lake Haven Apartments the day Amy Dean died. Even if you kill me, Agent Fox will track you down and you will go to prison.”
A maniacal laugh punctuated the air. “No matter. I’ve taught my students well over the years.”
Ellie’s blood ran cold. Was she implying she’d trained a new wave of killers?
“Give it up, Dr. Dansen, there’s no need for you to die,” she said calmly.
Another eerie laugh. “Oh, I’m not going to die. I’ll live on through my apprentices. But you, Detective Reeves, are going to hell.”
Suddenly, Dansen charged like a caged animal. Ellie grabbed the mug and threw it at her. Dansen screamed as hot coffee sloshed in her face. But she was quick and raised the gun.
Ellie threw her arms up in defense, snatched the cutting board and swung it upward to deflect the blow. The gun went flying.
Dansen quickly recovered and jumped Ellie. Ellie fought with all her might, pushing Dansen away and going for the knives in the knife block. Before she could reach it, Dansen caught her from behind, and she stumbled forward. Ellie’s head hit the corner of the cabinet. Pain ricocheted up her temple and the world spun.
She grappled to remain upright, lost the battle and went down. Then Dansen was on her, strong and bellowing like a rabid animal.
Ellie saw Lorna Bea’s face in her mind. Heard the words in her journal—living her life in boxes. Always on the run. Wahlburg had killed her mother because of this woman.
Rage fueled her adrenaline, and as Dansen scrambled for the gun, Ellie delivered a swift blow to her wrist just as she was about to snag it.
Dansen fought, the two of them rolling and banging against the side of the cabinet, trapping her. Then Dansen lurched up and grabbed a knife from the knife block. Ellie cursed as the woman charged her. Ellie dodged the attack, then dove at Dansen.
Her breathing panted out as they struggled. Dansen shoved Ellie to the floor, then dug her knee into Ellie’s thigh as she climbed on top of her. The knife wavered above her heart.
Ellie groaned, ignoring the pain as she punched Dansen in the face, then used her body to flip Dansen.
“Paisley did not deserve to lose her mother,” Ellie snarled. She used every last ounce of strength she possessed and swung the knife down into Dansen’s chest.
