Chapter 68
SIXTY-EIGHT
Immense relief flooded through Katie’s body as she lay on the roof watching help arrive. The headlights sliced through the darkness like a beacon of the best kind of rescue. She breathed a sigh of relief and took a couple of moments to focus on what needed to be done.
Katie managed to find a way to shimmy down the drainpipe.
She saw the killer’s truck and took the appropriate measures to make sure everything was safe.
She ran to the headlights to head them off, just in case they were under scrutiny and then targeted by the killer.
He was most likely gone by another means of transportation.
Everything Katie had seen had shown his ability to plan and then execute.
The succession of cars lit up the night. Red and blue lights flashed to show their strength and unity. No one was going to be left behind.
The first vehicle to reach Katie was McGaven’s truck. Both her partner and John jumped out to greet her.
John hugged her tight and whispered in her ear, “You’re okay.”
She could feel his heartbeat.
“What happened?” said McGaven. “What happened to you?” He regarded her appearance; all the dirt and mud. He gave her a weapon.
Katie sighed with relief. “It’s a long story, but I’m okay.”
“Where’s Chris?”
“He’s in a bunker. The killer tasered us—basically left us to die.”
The sheriff and several police officers arrived on scene. Katie explained everything that had happened to her and Chris, and about Patricia being found.
“All right, I want everyone to search this entire property,” said the sheriff. “The killer might still be here, so be vigilant and go in a two-man formation. His name is Cole Dillon—consider him armed and extremely dangerous.”
“You’ll have to break down the door at the barn to gain access,” Katie told them. “And that big door there is where Chris is. Be careful, he’s injured.”
“Let’s get some tools and break down these doors,” said Sheriff Scott. “Put up lights.”
Katie took a breath and stayed to the side, letting everyone do their work. Her exhaustion was gaining momentum. Soon there were sounds of heavy tools pounding on the doors.
She looked into the truck’s interior and saw the suitcases were still there.
How would the killer have escaped? Maybe there had been another vehicle around back?
Katie didn’t see anything to suggest that.
Thinking back to the murder board, she considered how his desire to have extreme control over others was his way of keeping his own control.
He was thorough, almost clinical about it.
This meant he wouldn’t leave any loose ends.
Katie watched two officers trying to open the door where she and Chris had been left. She thought more about the way the killer had left her notes to let her know he could get to her anytime—and how he looked forward to it.
I don’t want to keep you… I want to kill you…
Katie realized he had another card to play. Another way to maintain his power over others. Everything on the board spun through her head. Until… it suddenly made sense.
“No!” she said, running to the bunker. “Stop! Wait!”
“Katie!” said McGaven, watching helplessly as his partner ran off.
“What’s going on?” said John.
The sheriff, officers, and John watched as Katie ran to the fence line and disappeared behind the bunker.
Katie made the corner and then retraced her steps to the holding area.
She dove onto the ground and squeezed back under the barbed wire.
Her heart was pounding. She pushed her way back through the hole she had dug earlier.
The smell of motor oil was prominent again.
Her eyes had to readjust to the partial darkness.
But what she saw confirmed her worst fears. The killer was standing over Chris, pointing a gun directly at him.
“Nice of you to show up, Katie… I knew you would,” the killer said. There was a maniacal tone to his voice now; his huge smile was macabre.
Katie drew her weapon and pointed it at the killer. “Drop the gun, now!”
He laughed.
“Drop the gun!” she said, knowing he never would. “I’m telling you one last time to drop the gun.” Katie steadied herself.
Chris stayed still and didn’t intervene in any way.
I don’t want to keep you… I want to kill you…
This warning kept resonating in her head. She knew her profile was ninety-percent accurate. He wasn’t going to let anyone take away his control, his dismemberment displays, his killings. She knew what he was capable of—and that’s why he’d chosen her.
“Drop it!” she said again. “You’re surrounded by police. There’s no escaping.”
“Katie,” said McGaven. He was joined by John. They both saw what was going on and pulled their weapons.
“Stay back!” she said. “I’ve got this.” The last thing she wanted was for one of them to get shot.
I don’t want to keep you… I want to kill you…
Suddenly, the killer pulled the trigger twice—shooting Chris. There was no time to react, it happened in that instant.
The deputy screamed out in pain.
Katie instantly discharged her weapon, hitting the killer in the head, dropping him instantly. She knew he was dead by the amount of brain matter that hit the side of the tube. Her training and ability to keep an even temperament kept her focused and in control of the scene unfolding.
McGaven and John were yelling, but Katie didn’t hear them because her focus was on Chris.
“Get the door open now!” she yelled. “Now!” She dropped to her knees, trying to stop the bleeding. “You’re going to be okay. Stay focused on me, okay?”
“I couldn’t…” said Chris.
She heard a lot of yelling as the loud hammering of the door ensued. Within minutes, the entrance opened and several officers were standing by.
“Stay with me,” she said to Chris. To the others, “We need to get him to the hospital now. No waiting.”
There was no time to call an ambulance out here. The helicopter was also out of range and would be more than twenty minutes away.
A couple of police officers helped to carry Chris to a cruiser and put him in the back seat. He looked grim; he was losing blood fast.
“I’m going with him,” she said to McGaven and John, not waiting for their reply. She jumped into the back seat and the police car sped off with sirens blazing.