Rushing forward, insane hatred marring her facial features, Bella Marcott shoved Lindsay up against the wall, the gun almost touching Lindsay’s belly. As her shoulder hit the concrete, Lindsay caught a glimpse of the huge red heart painted on the wall behind her. A morbid reminder of a long-ago St. Valentine Day’s dance.
And the music…The song coming from the portable CD player on the floor near the lockers was a familiar tune. “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon. Once upon a time, it had been her and Jake’s song.
When her gaze connected to Bella’s, she saw malicious anger and sheer madness in her eyes. Eyes so very much like Jake’s.
Kristen and Ross crossed paths with Wyatt twice during their frantic search. The first time he’d been with Martina and Craig, but now he was alone. Alone and angry and blaming himself for Lindsay’s abduction.
“You couldn’t have gone to the ladies’ room with her,” Kristen said, doing her best to comfort him.
“No, but I should have insisted that we find you so you could go with her.”
Kristen placed her hand on Wyatt’s shoulder and rubbed reassuringly. “We’re going to find her.”
Wyatt covered his mouth as he drew in a deep breath, barely holding his emotions in check. “If we don’t find her soon…”
Bella will kill her. Kristen knew what he was thinking, what they were all thinking. It seemed unbelievable that Jake’s own sister had been responsible for his death, even if she hadn’t actually released the arrow from the crossbow and nailed him through the heart.
“Come on.” Kristen tugged on Wyatt’s arm. “Ross and I are going to search the side entrance into St. Elizabeth’s that connects to the gym. Why don’t you take a look at the back entrances? I know the police officers have already checked, but they could have overlooked something.”
Wyatt stared at her, a crazed expression on his face as if he were on the verge of unraveling, but he nodded, indicating he had understood her. Then he turned and headed for the back of the old school.
“He’s half out of his mind,” Kristen said.
“I would be, too, if you were the one missing.”
Kristen reached out and caressed her husband’s cheek. How close they’d come to losing each other, to letting their marriage and their love slip away from them.
“We’re going to find her-alive.” Kristen pointed the beam of her flashlight straight in front of her, aiming it toward the covered breezeway between the gymnasium and the school building.
Ross kept pace with her, slowing when she slowed, speeding up when she did. As they walked along the corridor between the two structures, Kristen stopped suddenly.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” She shot a beam of light toward the concrete walkway where something white had caught her eye. “What’s that?” She bent over and picked up the Kleenex, then inspected it thoroughly. “Someone blotted their lipstick on this.”
“Anyone could have dropped it.”
“This is a pink lipstick. Lindsay was wearing pink.”
“Kristen, don’t-”
“She could have dropped it on purpose, as a clue.”
“Okay, maybe you’re right. But-”
“I’m calling Rachel.” Using her free hand, Kristen flipped open her cell phone.
“How does it feel knowing you’re going to die?” Bella pointed the gun directly at Lindsay’s heart.
“I’m afraid. Is that what you want to hear? I’m terrified. I don’t want to die.”
Bella smiled. “Jake didn’t have time to be scared, not until the very last minute when he realized I was going to kill him.”
“You killed Jake?” But how was that possible? Lindsay wondered. Hadn’t Rachel and Dean told her and Kris, in strictest confidence, that a man named Patrick Dewey had killed Jake?
“You couldn’t have killed Jake.” Lindsay spoke without thinking.
Bella glared at her. “What makes you say that?”
“He-he was your brother. You loved him.”
“And he loved me.”
What would Bella do if I rushed her? Would she shoot me? Could I jump her before she could fire? If I did, maybe I could wrestle the gun away from her. I have to do something. I can’t stand here against this big red heart and wait for her to kill me.
Holding the pistol in both hands, Bella kept it aimed at Lindsay. “You thought he loved you, but he didn’t. You were as big a fool as the others.”
“You’re right. I was a fool.” Agree with her. Say whatever you think she wants to hear. Lindsay clutched her small evening bag, holding it against her waist.
“Too bad you didn’t realize that twenty years ago.” Bella smiled, the tilt of her lips bordering on a snarl. “I think you should know that I plan to shoot you more than once. I’m going to start with your legs and then your arms and then…” Bella’s sick laughter echoed in the underground dungeon.
Sour, salty bile rose up into Lindsay’s throat. A rush of pure fear flooded her senses. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a horrible nightmare. She couldn’t die. Not now. Not when she and Wyatt had reconnected. Not when they had just found their son.
“What makes you think I’ll stand here and let you use me for target practice?”
Bella stared quizzically at Lindsay. “Because I have a weapon and you don’t.”
“If you’re going to kill me anyway, what do I have to lose?”
“It’s your choice.” Bella shrugged. “If you try anything, I’ll kill you now. Play by my rules and you might live another hour.”
Their tense gazes locked.
“You think maybe someone will find you if you can just buy enough time, don’t you? It’s not going to happen. No one knows about this part of the basement. It’s my little secret. Of course, once the building is leveled, it is possible they’ll find your bodies in the rubble. Yours and Kristen’s and Rachel’s.”
This basement hideaway, the row of old lockers, the music from the past all blurred together, the entire scene surreal. Lindsay’s mind whirled with thoughts and questions and silent prayers.
When Lindsay shut her eyes as she made a final plea to God-I don’t want to die!-Bella screamed, “Open your eyes and look at me!”
Shivering, fear clutching her fiercely, she looked at Bella.
“Now, that’s better.” Bella glanced at the row of lockers. “I think I’ll put your evening bag and maybe your earrings in your locker.”
It’s now or never, Lindsay thought. While she’s not looking…
Lindsay lunged at Bella, who whipped around, aimed the gun and fired. The bullet barely missed Lindsay’s foot, hitting the floor and blasting shards of old concrete across Lindsay’s leg. As the pieces scattered, several nipped her foot and leg. Yelping in pain, she dropped her evening bag as she jumped and quickly backed into the wall behind her.
As her heartbeat thundered in her ears, Lindsay waited for the next shot-the one that could end her life.
Rachel stared at the brick school, dark and foreboding, looking exactly like what it was-an abandoned old building. Dean had sent the patrol officers in pairs to the front and back entrances but had heard nothing from them. It would take time to do a thorough search of every room, including the basement.
Rachel’s phone rang. She answered on the third ring.
“Rach, come to the side entrance of the school, the one closest to the gym,” Kristen said. “We’ve found something in the open corridor.”
Within minutes, Rachel held a lipstick-stained Kleenex in her hand.
“We found it right here,” Ross said, pointing to the exact spot, only a couple of feet from the side entrance. “We tried the door and it seems to be locked.”
Dean shined his flashlight through the panes of the half-glass double doors. “Rachel, come take a look.”
He kept the light pointing straight down on the floor inside the hallway. There lying on the floor was what looked like another tissue.