Chapter 51
Jane rushed to park by the Greenbelt near the animal shelter where Christian had dropped off the Coatneys’ dog, a brief text to Diego to let him know she’d rerouted.
The boy had been such a help, such a great kid caring for animals, drawing their pictures and doing his best to earn extra money since his family didn’t have nearly enough.
She refused to let his life end too soon.
Normally, she’d call her cousin for help. Or even Jenn. But she didn’t trust Victor not to kill Christian if she broke the rules. Someone had been following her for miles before pulling away a minute ago.
Once out of her car, she hurried to the trunk to grab her weapon and her vest. Tossing the vest on, she raced into the Greenbelt.
The sun remained high, so she didn’t have shadows to hide in until she went deeper into the labyrinth of greenery. It would be a nightmare to find Victor if he didn’t want to be found.
But she had a guide, apparently.
Standing at the mouth of a footpath, a scared boy, younger than Christian, holding a note waved to her. The moment she took the note, he scampered away.
“Wait!”
Too late. He was gone.
But the note had a rough map scaled by paces and a couple of large trees.
She had been through something like this before, back when she’d fought the Red Ribbon Killer. But those woods had been somewhat civilized in a forested area of Bainbridge Island. Not like this tangle of unrestrained vines, shrubs, and trees belonging to the city.
Doing her best to focus on everything around her, paying attention to sound especially, she tuned out the city’s roaring vehicles and heard voices to her right.
There, she spotted a tent and two older men. She held up a gun and put a finger to her lips. Then she pointed to her FBI vest.
One of the men nodded and pointed to his right.
She continued, passing a few other hideaways where people were living, doing their best to exist.
No one bothered her. One woman hurried in the opposite direction with two children.
Jane had to be getting closer.
The cool shadow of canopy overhead blocked the sun and added to the chill sliding over her. With only two weeks until October, Seattle had decided to slide away from summer. She hoped Christian had warm clothes, and that he would have a life to get back to once Jane ended Victor’s killing streak.
She finally found them in a small clearing. A tent and some family belongings had been strewn about, but she didn’t see anyone but Victor and Christian.
Tears ran down Christian’s dirty and bloodied cheeks. But he appeared otherwise unharmed, crouched by a tree and trying very hard to be invisible.
“Agent Cannon.” For once, Victor hadn’t hidden himself behind a hat or coat. He was tall with broad shoulders, but more ropy than muscular. Lean, like a boxer, his hands as large as oven mitts.
He held a serrated knife like a sacred friend and crouched next to the boy. When he drew himself up, he used Christian as a shield.
“Finally. We were getting tired waiting.”
“Let him go, Victor.”
“Fight me for him.” A beam of sunlight shone on Victor’s face. His eyes, a brighter gray than his brother’s, lacked sanity. She could almost taste his bloodlust, could see the way he eyed her up.
One predator to another.
Christian screamed as Victor dug the knife into his neck, not hard enough to kill, but to wound.
Jane aimed her pistol at Victor’s face, prepared to kill him until he shifted Christian once more, peering from behind the boy’s head.
“Drop the gun,” he said, amused. “Come on, little FBI girl. Fight me hand to hand.”
“You have a knife.”
He tossed something on the ground before her. “Now you have one too. Drop the gun. If I have to tell you again, I’ll slit his pretty pale throat.”
She put her gun on safe and crouched to toss it to the ground. Then she kicked it behind her. Away from Victor.
“Better.” He tossed Christian aside. “Don’t move, boy. I let you live because you took care of the dogs. Don’t ruin our friendship.”
Christian froze like a statue, clutching at his neck. He didn’t move, his blood trickling over his fingers to the ground.
“You’ll pay for that,” Jane promised. She picked up the knife, testing its weight. Then she tossed it near her gun and drew her own from an ankle sheath.
“Nice.” Victor smiled with approval. “Well, girl? Come give my knife a kiss.”
She laughed at him, not showing the fear he was probably used to. “I doubt you know what to do with that unless your prey is tied up and vulnerable. But with someone who’s faster than you? I’m going to make you bleed, boy.”
Something she said set him off.
He rushed her like an angry boar, roaring and swinging.
Had she been slower, he might have ended her then and there. But Jane had been battling large men her entire life.
She ducked, grabbed a handful of dirt, and tossed it at his face. Before he could get close again, she stabbed low, slicing into his calf.
He screamed and slashed at her.
She ducked. Rolled. Returned to hit his Achilles and opened herself to a hit to bring him in.
Ready for the knife that glanced off her vest, she bounced up and turned her knife hand upside down. Then she clocked him hard, under his chin.
His jaw clacked. Victor groaned and tottered on his feet. Jane rushed to shove him off balance.
But the giant wouldn’t stay down. He rolled and vaulted to his feet once more.
“I’ll kill you,” came out garbled, bloody spittle flying from his mouth, where he must have bitten his tongue.
He dove for her, and she moved to counter.
It would hurt, but she would take him out.
Except a bulldozer smashed into her, knocking her out of the way.
Crap. A second attacker.
Shots rang out.
Christian screamed, but Jane couldn’t see, because the heavy weight on top of her refused to move.
She stabbed upward, intending to gut her attacker.
But her freakishly fast, gigantic opponent shifted just in time, and she only nicked his abdomen.
His weight grew heavier.
She was in a bad spot, and they both knew it.
She had only one last chance if she wanted to save Christian and herself. She shifted her hold on the knife.