Chapter 31 #2
“Loretta saw me in a way no one else did,” Kyle continued, his words taking on a rhythmic, almost rehearsed quality. “She taught me the meaning of beauty. Life's beauty, and she was taken too soon.”
Brook recognized the deteriorating pattern in Kyle's speech. His fractured logic, the emotional spiraling that preceded either surrender or a final, desperate act. She maintained her aim, hoping for an opening that might not come.
“I wasn't ready to lose her,” Kyle admitted, his voice dropping to an intimate tone that seemed directed at Faith rather than his pursuers. “Or you. I was only trying to recreate her in death. To preserve what made her special. You showed me another way, though. Don’t you see that, Faith?”
Faith's gaze met Brook's across the distance, her eyes filled with horror as the reality of what her husband had done finally penetrated her denial.
Kyle pressed his lips against the side of her head in a gesture of remorse that caused Brook's muscles to tense with anticipation.
The tenderness of the action contrasted sharply with the weapon still pressed against Faith's temple.
“I'm sorry. So sorry,” Kyle murmured into Faith's hair. He was completely fixated on her, not noticing a pair of headlights slicing through the swirling snow or the sound of an engine cutting through the cold air. “I never wanted you to know. You’re everything to me, just like Loretta. I am so sorry, Faith. So, so sorry.”
Kyle’s apology wasn't a prelude to surrender.
It was a goodbye.
They had seconds, perhaps less, before Kyle squeezed the trigger.
Fortunately, Sylvie and Bit realized they needed to approach with caution.
They had left the van on the other side of the row of parked vehicles.
They quickly emerged from opposite sides, keeping at least five vehicles in between them.
“Loretta meant a lot to you, Kyle,” Brook called out, needing to buy them a little more time. “As does Faith, because you didn’t have to kill anymore. You had a living, breathing reminder of the woman whom you admired most in this world. Isn’t that right?”
Sylvie had her weapon drawn, resting her arms on the hood of an SUV.
She had found her window of opportunity, so Brook took another step to her left, widening the distance between herself and Theo.
Kyle adjusted his stance to keep them both in his line of sight, inadvertently presenting his profile to Sylvie's position.
Her breath created small clouds in the frigid air, but they evened out as she prepared to take the shot. The narrow angle would allow a shot at Kyle with minimal risk to Faith.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see,” Kyle whispered, as if he were quoting someone. “I hope you see me the way you have our entire marriage, Faith.”
The pressure of the gun against his wife’s temple increased, causing her to whimper. Kyle's finger tensed on the trigger. Before he applied pressure, the crack of Sylvie's shot split the night air.
Kyle screamed as the bullet struck his shoulder, disabling his arm without risking Faith's life. She lurched forward as Kyle's grip released, her body propelled by both momentum and desperate self-preservation. Theo lunged forward, catching her before she hit the ground.
In one fluid motion, he pulled her away from Kyle and kicked the fallen service weapon well out of reach. Kyle collapsed to his knees, blood blooming dark against the fabric of his shirt.
The side door of the church burst open upon hearing gunfire, revealing Deputy Benz and Sheriff Donovan. They assessed the scene quickly, taking in Kyle's wounded form and the S&E team's defensive positions.
“Deputy Benz,” Brook called out, not lowering her weapon until she was certain the threat had been contained. “Secure the suspect and read him his rights.”
Deputy Benz reached for his handcuffs as he hastily approached Kyle, reciting the Miranda rights, while Sheriff Donovan collected the discarded firearm for evidence.
He came to stand beside her while she holstered her weapon, explaining that backup was on the way, along with paramedics.
The adrenaline that had sustained her was beginning to ebb, allowing the cold to penetrate deeper into her bones.
“I was wrong, Sloane,” Donovan admitted, observing as Deputy Benz helped Kyle to his feet. Sylvie had removed her scarf and was using it to stem the blood flow from his wound. “I didn't think your approach would work. Didn't think exposing the profile to the town would smoke him out.”
“At what cost, though?” Brook asked, not really expecting an answer.
She turned away from the wind, both to preserve some body heat and to give herself the ability to monitor Benz and Sylvie escorting Kyle inside until the medics arrived.
Theo had already led Faith into the church hall, but he would know to keep everyone separate.
“I just exposed a monster in their midst, Sheriff. Going forward, trusting their neighbors won't come so easily. I’m sure you’ll be getting hundreds of calls requesting you check on the most innocent of actions. ”
“Maybe. But sometimes the truth hurts before it heals,” Donovan said as the distant sound of sirens began to cut through the night. “We'll need to schedule a press conference for the morning. Get ahead of the rumors that are already spreading.”
“I'll have statements prepared.” The sirens were closer, but she was much more interested in contacting a local judge to prepare a warrant. Bit suddenly emerged from the church hall with her jacket in hand. “If you could submit for a warrant, Sheriff Donovan, I’ll gather my team to take statements. When you have the proper paperwork in hand, we’ll drive over to Wheat’s residence. ”
“I take you’ll want a federal forensics team to process the scene?”
“Yes. Thanks, Bit,” Brook said as she took the jacket and immediately slipped her arms into the sleeves. She was grateful for the minimal protection against the relentless cold, even if she just had to walk a short distance. “Would you please start taking statements, beginning with Faith Wheat?”
“You got it, Boss.”
Bit jogged back to the side entrance, though she and Sheriff Donovan remained in place. He would undoubtedly direct the medics inside before briefly speaking with his deputies. She wanted to ensure that they understood not to enter Wheat’s residence until she was present.
“I read about what happened up in Alaska with your brother,” Sheriff Donovan said as they waited for the cruisers to come to a stop.
He then raised a hand when she arched her brow in response.
Now really wasn’t a good time to bring Jacob into the conversation.
“I know, I know. I’d just like to point out that you trust your team, that much is obvious.
And if you can learn to trust after…well, after what you’ve been through…
let’s just say that I’m not worried about the folks of Harrowick rebuilding their sense of community. ”
Brook remained silent as Sheriff Donovan turned his attention to the ambulance coming to a complete stop behind one of his deputies’ cruisers. When two paramedics approached him with bags in hand, he explained the situation and directed them to the side door of the church hall.
The sheriff seemed na?vely oblivious to how deeply the town had been subjected to Kyle Wheat's sins, just as she had been exposed to Jacob’s darkness for far too long. Her job had been to remove Kyle Wheat from their community, and she and the team had completed their assignment.
But now, it was time for her to concentrate on shifting the personal balance of power.
Jacob was out there, waiting in the darkness, planning his approach until the moment was right. He wanted nothing more now than to carve away her very identity, to rip the flesh from her face as if erasing her existence.
Brook slipped her hands into the pockets of her jacket, gently pressing her palms against her abdomen.
She didn’t need a test to confirm she was pregnant with Graham’s child.
The signs had been there for a few weeks.
Her sudden craving for sugar, the oddest moments of nausea, the tenderness of her breasts…
The victory of severing ties with Jacob was no longer just about her own survival, and she would move heaven and earth to ensure her child’s safety.