There was an unmistakable scent around him. He knew that he was deep in the swamp. He heard a grunting sound. Like pigs. No…
Alligators.
He twisted his head. There were about five of them. Basking on a hammock maybe a hundred feet from him. He lay on the ground. In mud. Blood from his side oozed into the mud. Bleeding like a stuck pig, yes, that was him.
The alligators were watching him, he thought.
Waiting for movement, waiting to run, to attack?
Stay still, don’t run, don’t let them see that you’re injured prey. Where the hell is Sam?
He narrowed his eyes. Damn, it was getting darker and darker. He would never find her without help, where…
And then, in the midst of the foliage, he saw it.
Far back. Old and rotting, it matched its surroundings perfectly. A man could stare straight at it and not see it. One of those places Teddy had talked about. A lodge for weekend warriors. Most of them torn down by government command, and yet this one so far back and so well camouflaged that no one had seen it.
No one but the killer.
They had been so near it when they were out fishing in the Everglades. So very near, and they hadn’t seen it. All they had done was find the bodies…
But there it was…
Built out of wood, now painted by the wild, overgrown foliage.
Could he reach it before the alligators reached him? Or before another shot rang out? Where the hell was the killer? Where was Sam?
Sam…
Oh, God, she was in there.
He had to rise, had to find her. He had promised that he would die for her.
Perhaps the time had come to do so.
Chapter 24
“Sam!”
The killer had come right to her, he had seen her in the dark. She could still barely focus. She could make out his form, but not his face.
“Sam, Sam, Sam! Leave it to you to get the ropes off.” He spoke affectionately, with admiration, as he had spoken to her so many times before.
She knew him, yes, knew him so well. But she’d been busy worrying about Rowan, thinking that Thayer was a little weird. Thinking that Chapman was an evil murderer.
Well, Chapman might be a murderer.
But he hadn’t killed Chloe Lowenstein.
Joe had.
Joe Taylor. Her own partner. A man she saw almost daily. Tall, dark, and very handsome. Joe, whom she had trusted to check out her own house against a killer.
Joe, who had used that very opportunity, holding her that night, to plant Marnie Newcastle’s cellular phone in Rowan’s yard.
“Joe,” she said it aloud, sickly.
“Hi, baby. Yeah, it’s me. You never liked it when I called you baby, huh? But things are different here, and now.”
Yes, they were. She had never known such terror, or such a tempest of emotion. Rowan, where was Rowan?
Dead, God, no, please, but she’d heard him, heard him coming after her, and if he were alive…
Then there was Marnie. Alive? Dead? So near she could reach out and touch her…
She gritted her teeth. Fought a wave of nausea and blackness.
“Why?” she asked him. “You’re going to kill me no matter what I do.”
“No, no, my sweet! Honestly, you know, you’re different. Different from the others.”
He was suddenly kneeling down before her. She felt his palm on her face. She wanted to wrench away.
She didn’t think it would be wise.
“Oh, good, honey, you are a clever girl. I really don’t like to kill. Sometimes I have to. Sometimes, well, the women make me. I set them up to have some fun, to make some good money, and you know what happens? They go behind my back.”
“Set them up…”
“Sam, you are naive. The club. The strip joint. I’ve got an interest in it, too. More than an interest. I’ve had a side thing going. Sending them out to special parties… but then, sometimes, they think that they can just break free. Prostitute themselves.” The disgust in his voice had a vicious edge to it. “They learn. There are rules here. I make the rules, and even I follow the rules. You follow the rules, and you may live a long time.”
She gritted her teeth, trying not to shiver. Was that it? While he was in control of a woman, she was fine. When she stepped outside the boundaries he had created, did it trigger something inside him? Dear God, she had been working all this time with a psychopath, and she hadn't known it.
She was different, so he had said.
Yes, then she had begun to sleep with Rowan, and perhaps it had seemed the same to him.
She heard a soft moaning, and despite her paralyzing fear, she felt a sudden, soaring elation. Marnie was alive. She was desperate to reach out to her friend. Touch her again. Find out how she was injured. Help her.
Oh, God, she had to help herself somehow!
“Joe, Marnie is hurt.”
“Marnie is drugged. You see, I have to leave her often. When I go, she could hurt herself. So I drug her. It keeps her alive. Oh, she may have a few bangs and bruises. She started off fighting me. But now she knows.”
“Joe, please, she could be really hurt—”
“No, no, Sam. None of that. Marnie is a bitch. We all know that. There are others like her.” Sam couldn’t really see Joe, but she could sense his smile. “I always told you that she was a bitch, and exactly what I thought of her. She thought she could use me. That I was a toy, not quite good enough for always, so I’ve taught her that she’s the toy, not me. There are other women like that. Not so many now that I’ve taken care of a few, but… take Chloe. She thought that her money made her next to God. I taught her otherwise. She didn’t learn well. I gave her lots of chances.”
“Joe, Marnie needs help. She’s learned her lessons well, I’m certain. She can still live.”
“No, she can’t.”
“Why, what have you done to her?”
“Nothing too terrible. Yet. But you see, there are rules, though I had to break them for you. You see, I didn’t really want to take you, but you just wouldn’t let the thing with Marnie go. And then, well, Rowan came into town, and… once, I thought you were just really a good girl when you rejected me, but you’re not, not at all. I watched you, you know. And then I decided that like the others, you should make it up to me.”
Sam fought hard to remain calm, to stay sane. “Joe, where’s Rowan?”
“He’s dead.”
“No… he can’t be.”
“At least, I hope—for his sake—that he’s dead. I shot him, you know. I wasn’t even trying to, but he got in the way of the shot meant to kill Gregory. The kid should die, Sam. He’s dangerous to me. Out here, it’s survival of the fittest. Gregory is not at all fit. And Rowan is wounded now, if he isn’t dead. Weak and wounded. They’ll find him soon. My pets. I keep strange pets. Powerful, like me. On land… they’ll rip him apart. They’ll all get into it, like a frenzy. I’ve taught them to enjoy human meat, you see.”
She was going to throw up. She couldn’t. Rowan had been shot. He was somewhere near. Maybe alive. She had to believe. And Marnie was alive. She couldn’t give up, she had to fight. Play the game, until…
Oh, God.
“Joe, you have to listen to me. I can help you. I understand what your feeling was, but it’s all over. They’re going to find you out—”
“How? You told the police about Chapman and the strip club. Everyone will be looking in the wrong place.”
Sam said, “Joe, you’ve been setting strippers up to work private parties. All the girls stripped—and worked a private party for you, right? And Gregory saw you.”
“The guy who sets strippers up is nothing but a voice on the phone. A pay phone. I’m an alias with a post office box. They can’t trace me. And as to Gregory… he’s an idiot.”
“No, he’s not! He let us know something had happened at the house.”
“Yeah, I can just see him on the witness stand.”
?
??But they found Chloe, and… pieces of another girl. And Marnie is missing—and now me!”
“They’ll find another victim and the remnants of your lover, and assume you’re out here somewhere as well. No, I’m still safe. It’s not your concern, anyway, Sam. From now on, I’m your concern.”
“What do you mean, another victim?”
“Sam, I least want it to be you.”
“Joe, you can’t ask… anything of me if you kill Marnie—”
“I may give Marnie a little more time. But you see, Loretta can be so amusing, too.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “You have Loretta here?”
“Oh, Sam, she really deserves to be here. You should have seen her in action. Such a harlot! Marnie taught her everything she knew, and still… well, I have a soft spot for Marnie. She has learned so well.”
“Joe, listen to me, you know that I’m your friend—”
“No. You rejected me, Sam. You just pretended to be my friend.”
“No, Joe, no—”
“Good. You can make it up to me. You’re going to make me happy, Sam.”
“Joe, I am not—”
“Then I’ll kill you,” he said simply.
“Joe, I won’t give in to you,” she said, trying to be firm but hearing her voice falter with the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. “Don’t you understand? I love Rowan. I loved him before. I was still in love with him. That’s why I rejected you. You’ve got to understand this. If Rowan is dead, then you can’t hurt me. I won’t care what you do to me—”
“Oh, Sam, you think you’re so noble now. But you’d care if I started cutting up Marnie, wouldn’t you?” he asked pleasantly. “Come here, Sam.”
She held very still, in agony.
“First lesson, Sam. Come here. I have a very big knife, can you feel it?”
She flinched. Yes, she could feel it. She hadn’t seen it in the darkness. Now she felt it against her cheek.
“Come here… or I’ll cut off Marnie’s hand. She’s so close. It would be so easy. I could smear you in her blood.”
She had to think of something. Was Rowan dead? She didn’t dare believe it. She would die herself…
She came to her knees. Inched toward Joe. He reached out for her, drawing her to him. She felt the huge biceps in his arms, the knotted power in his chest.
Yes, she had thought that a killer needed strength. Joe certainly had it…
“That’s better, Sam.” His fingers brushed her cheek. They smelled of blood. She was afraid that she would pass out. Was it Rowan’s blood?
“You know where you are, Sam, right? Even if you were to get out… well, the hammock is filled with the alligators that I’ve, er, hand-fed. They’re better than Dobermans.” His fingers threaded into her hair. She felt his lips on her mouth. How many times had she kissed him on the cheek, hugged him, felt safe with him?
She was afraid she would throw up.
No. The important thing now was staying alive.
“Open your lips, Sam,” he murmured against her.
She couldn’t do it…
At her side, Marnie moaned. Alive. Still alive…
He started to kiss her deeply, his fingers moving through her hair. He was pressing her back to the floor. His hands were on her. She started to struggle.
“No, no…” he warned.
She went still.
Where was the knife? She tried to feel on the floor for it.
“Looking for this?”
He rose above her. She saw the blade, so near her own throat.
“No!” She realized that she desperately wanted to live.
“Liar. And for that… for that you have to pay.”
“Please!” she whispered as he brought the blade against her cheek.
He was going to cut her. It was going to hurt. She was going to die a slow and horrible death out here, cut to ribbons, fed to prehistoric beasts.
“No…”
He straightened suddenly. Dead still, she realized that something had disturbed him. Something from outside the cabin.
“Move again, and I’ll slice off your breast when I come back!” he warned.
He stood up, and left her. She saw a flash of light, and then a door slammed. He was gone.
Move again, and I’ll slice off your breast…
But she had to move. This might be her only chance.
She turned, crawling to her friend. “Marnie! Marnie! It’s Sam, we’ve—”
“Sam, oh, Sam!” She could hear tears in Marnie’s voice. “Oh, no, he’s taken you…”
“Marnie, we’ve got to get out of here. Are you tied?”
“No… no… maybe… I don’t know anymore.”
She wasn’t tied. Sam moistened her lips, realizing that Marnie had grown so terrified of Joe that she did as she was ordered. She was barely clad, with nothing on but an oversized shirt. How many times had she been raped, cut, beaten? Had she seen others used up, cut up, cast away to the creatures that roamed the hammock?
“Marnie! We’re going to get up. We’re going to get out of here.” Yes, they had to get out. But then, Loretta was there somewhere. And from what Joe had said, she was still alive. They couldn’t leave without her.
If they could manage to leave.
“Loretta?” She whispered it loudly.
“She’s probably dead. I heard her screaming before.”
“Marnie. I have to get you up. You have to help me help you. Try to stand.”
“I can’t anymore. I can’t…”
“Get up, Marnie.”
She tried to drag her friend up. She almost made it.
Then the door burst open.
Shot, yes, damn it, Rowan thought bitterly, and the bullet was wedged in his side somewhere. He’d lost a lot of blood.
He’d watched the cabin long enough. There was an old shotgun leaning against the front of the weathered shack. Get up, get the shotgun. Get in the shack.
What if the gun wasn’t loaded? Joe wasn’t a fool. It would still make a good club.
Joe was armed.
Then Rowan would have to surprise him.
He had to get into the cabin. That was where Joe had gone. That was where he kept the women before…
Before he killed them.
Rowan carefully ripped up his shirttail and bound his wound. Then he waited, breathing deeply, until he could wait no more. He stood. There was a broken branch at his side. When the first alligator began to move his way, he grasped the branch. Thankfully, it was large.
The effort half killed him, but he let out a growl and threw the branch hard. He thought of a Highland game. Yeah, it was like a caber throw. It caught the first gator smack on the nose. The beast retreated.
The others… watched.
He looked toward the cabin, wondering if the noise had been heard. He started for the door, but realized it was about to burst open. He ducked behind a stand of pines.
Joe came out. Walked to where he had lain. Rowan prayed that he hadn’t left a trail of blood. For several long minutes Joe stared at the spot, his hands on his hips. Then he looked around and shouted, “Dillon, you are dead meat. I will hunt you down. I’ll hand-feed you to them, guts and all, hands and feet first.” He lifted a fist in the air. “I will find you! After I have your girlfriend, Dillon. She’s mine now.”
Joe waited for a response. Then he swore and started back for the cabin.
Sam was in there.
Alive.
For now.
Rowan didn’t dare wait.
“I thought I told you not to move,” Joe snapped.
The door bursting open again had caused her to freeze.
He walked to where she stood, trying to keep Marnie on her feet. He stared at them both, then struck Sam a back-handed blow that sent her spinning. She heard Marnie fall as she plummeted to the ground herself. A second later he was on top of her. The knife was in his hands.
The knife was coming at her. She screamed.
&
nbsp; “No, Joe, no!”
“You won’t behave, Sam.”
“No!”
Miraculously, even as she screamed, he was wrenched from her. Torn from atop her. He was a big man, a heavy man with his rock-hard bulk. He might have been light as a feather. He flew across the cabin.
She lay stunned, but then she knew why. Rowan was there. Light filtered in from the outside. He had burst down the door and come for her. But he was covered in blood. White as a sheet. He was staggering, about to fall to his knees. “Get Marnie and get out,” he roared to her. “There’s a boat.”
“No!” she cried, reaching for him. “I won’t leave you—”
“He’s coming!” Marnie screamed hysterically.
Joe was getting up, shaking his head, finding his balance. Sam saw that Rowan hadn’t fallen flat because he was leaning on a shotgun.
“Shoot him!” Marnie screamed.
“No bullets,” Rowan said, wincing. He gritted his teeth, letting out an awful sound. He managed to rise and spin. He caught Joe in the gut with the butt of the shotgun just as he stumbled back toward Rowan.
And Joe went down again, howling in pain.
But Rowan was staggering. He started to fall. Sam tried to catch him again. Oh, God, he was so heavy, too.
This was life or death, life or death…
She was strong. She had learned strength once to help her mother. She spent every day trying to teach people to keep their bodies fit.
She held Rowan. And she kicked Joe hard when he came to his knees.
Rowan managed to straighten, meet her eyes. “Good girl. Now get out!” He turned away from her, then fell on Joe with all his weight, forcing him down hard. “Can’t keep him down. Get out, get help, the boat’s on the water!” Rowan grated out to her.
“I’ll kill you yet!” Joe bellowed. “You’re just a punk—”
Rowan slugged him hard in the jaw.
“Rowan, come on!” she begged.
“Can’t, he may get up again—”
“No… no!” Sam said. “I will not leave you!”
Joe was down, yes. Rowan had brought him down. But she wouldn’t leave Rowan. She grasped the fallen shotgun and brought it down hard on Joe’s head.