EPILOGUE
Alison sat by the hospital bed, holding Derek’s hand.
He was drugged up and slept, but he was alive, and that was all that mattered for now.
Alison looked toward the window, the night having descended a long time ago.
They had gone to the right house, and now, she was sitting by a broken Derek in a hospital bed, and her father had retired to his home to have his metaphorical wounds licked by Rex.
A groan came from Derek as he stirred.
"No, don't try to move," she warned.
Derek groaned again, bringing his free hand to those sides that were bandaged. He winced with his eyes closed.
"I don't feel good," he said.
"One broken and multiple bruised ribs," Alison told him. "A sprained wrist and a bump to the head. I would say that you should see the other guy, but apart from your blood on the concrete, the steps are in pristine condition."
"I didn't see him until it was too late," Derek groaned, his eyes still closed.
"Just try and rest," Alison said. "You’re lucky that Dad caught you at the bottom. You were about to faceplant into the concrete and damage that beautiful face of yours."
Derek chuckled, then grabbed his side again as the pain came back.
"I’m sorry," Alison said. "Just rest, and I’ll stop with the jokes."
Derek sank into the bed a little more, his eyes still shut.
"Your injuries are not serious," Alison said, "but they will hurt for a while. A few days in a hospital bed, and we can get you out of here."
"Mills?" Derek managed.
Alison took a breath before she answered. "He’s gone. I tried to follow him, but he disappeared."
Derek tried to sit up again. "I need to be out there."
"You don’t," Alison warned. "You’re no use until you’ve recovered, and I’m not letting you out of here until that happens.
There are officers out there right now, patrolling the city.
And they already searched his home. They’re talking to his wife right now, but it doesn’t look like she knows anything.
Mills running from us was an admission of guilt in itself, but we also found a locked cabinet downstairs in the basement of his home.
He took trophies from each of the women, including Emma. We know he’s the killer, Derek."
"We let him get away," he managed.
"I know, and I hate that we did, but I won’t let myself feel guilty about it, and I won't let you feel guilt either. For twenty-two years, I’ve wondered who killed my sister.
Now, I know. It was Howard Mills, and we know he killed four other women.
For the first time in over two decades, we have a name and a face. "
"But we don't have him," Derek pointed out.
"No, not yet," Alison admitted. "But Howard Mills is a regular guy. He doesn’t have a lot of money or resources. He doesn’t have a job anymore, and the entire city is looking for him. He might be smart, and we know he’s dangerous, but he doesn’t have many options.
We’re closer than we’ve ever been before, and I don't say that lightly. This isn’t a lead anymore.
We know who the killer is. We just need to find him. "
"We will find him," Derek said.
Alison squeezed Derek’s hand. "Yes, we will."