Karen Rose - Have You Seen Her?

This is it. He'll kill me. Then he'll kill Kelly . Her brain froze, then blessed anger surged, loosening her tongue. No. I'm not ready to die yet . "You won't, Joshua. You can't. I am your teacher. I am in charge here."

His eyes flickered wildly. "You are not in charge. You're tied up. I am in charge."

She didn't think then, just acted, planting both her feet against his gut and shoving.

Caught off guard he grunted and stumbled, giving her the precious seconds she needed to work her feet, loosening the knot the millimeter she needed. Then she slipped her foot free and kicked him with all her might.

Stunned, he staggered back and she kicked his thigh where he'd held it. Where her dog had bitten him in a frantic attempt to save her life. His cry of pain told her the kick had been well placed and she jumped from the table and ran. Ran toward the barn door, away from Kelly and prayed he'd follow her. She paused at the barn door, looked right, then left.

Then stopped as moonlight glinted off the shiny barrel of the gun pointed straight at her face.

Saturday, October 15, 2:15 A.M.

Steven stared at the small barn, seeing the muted light through the only window. She was in there . That's where the bastard held her. If she was still alive. Don't even think that .

He pulled his weapon from his shoulder holster. "I know you want him to stand trial in Seattle, Davies, and so do I, but if I have to kill him to get Jenna away, I will."

Davies drew his own weapon. "Understood." Then his eyes narrowed and he pointed to the far corner of the barn. "Thatcher, look. She did know where he was. That bitch."

Steven watched the slim shadow creeping toward the door, a grim satisfaction settling over him. "Harry said Nora asked the farmer to give Josh another chance. She must have known where this barn was all along." Then the satisfaction evaporated when a loud crash came from the barn.

The thin dark shadow ran for the barn door and too late Steven saw the glint of silver.

"Shit, she's got a gun." Steven held his radio to his lips, his feet already moving. "Lennie, keep everyone on standby. We're going in."

Then he cursed again when he looked to his side and saw Davies was no longer there.

Saturday, October 15, 2:20 A.M.

The gun was shiny, almost too perfect to be real. But it was very real. And pointed in her face.

"You've caused enough trouble for my son, Miss Marshall. It's time to go."

Jenna looked down the barrel of the gun to the face of the woman she'd last seen wearing a god-awful nightgown. "Mrs. Lutz."

' 'Mother" Josh said from behind her, angry.

Jenna heard hysterical laughter and vaguely realized it came from inside her own throat. "You're going to help him," she said, incredulous.

"I am his mother. That's what mothers do. Not being a mother, you wouldn't understand. Joshua, take the path to the car. We pulled off as the main road has been closed by the police."

Police , Jenna thought, her knees going weak with relief. Steven .

Mrs. Lutz was frowning at Josh, who hadn't moved. "Run along, son. I'll take care of her."

Jenna shook her head, hardly able to process what she'd heard. " You're going to kill me now?"

"Without fanfare. A simple bullet in the head and both my sons' problems will be solved."

Jenna looked into Nora Lutz's eyes, realizing she was seeing true insanity. "Like you solved all the problems in Seattle?"

Mrs. Lutz's lips bent in a tight smile. "My Rudy was innocent. Any jury would have said so."

"Any jury didn't have a chance. You paid someone to set Neil Davies up, didn't you?"

She lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. "My Rudy was innocent."

"Because your Josh is guilty as hell," Jenna returned, enraged and helpless.

"My Joshua is a sick boy who will get help. You are a bothersome insect who will be a bother no longer. Into the barn, please."

Jenna stared. "You've got to be kidding. If you're going to shoot me, it will be right here. You're insane. Simply insane."

Mrs. Lutz cocked the trigger. "I am armed," she corrected in a calm, genteel voice. "Simply armed. And if I have to shoot you here, I will."

Jenna watched as Mrs. Lutz's arm rose steadily, as if in slow motion. She's going to kill me. Right now. Steven will find me dead. It's too late .

Mrs. Lutz's arm had reached the top of her arc when she flicked her eyes sideways, the gun following. There was a flash of light, two deafening blasts in rapid succession. Then the sick thud of a body hitting the ground. A big body. Steven. No .

With a hoarse cry Jenna spun around, only to see the body on the ground was Neil's. A sick combination of relief and panic coursed through her and she took a stumbling step, falling to her knees next to Neil. But with her hands still tied behind her she was unable to help him. Unable to stem the dark stain spreading on his thigh. He lay bent at the waist and writhing, his face contorted in agony. He clutched one hand with the other and Jenna could see another stream of blood gushing from his right hand. He'd been shot twice, leg and hand. But he was alive.

"That felt remarkably cathartic," Mrs. Lute said from behind her, her voice dry. "Get up, Miss Marshall, or the next one will go between his eyes. And I promise you I'm a very good shot."

Neil looked up at her, his eyes glazed with pain. "Do it, Jenna. Do what she says."

"Oh, to hear those words from your throat after all this time," Mrs. Lutz said, her tone now amused. "Get up, Miss Marshall. Now."

Jenna pushed herself to her feet, trembling from a combination of shock, fear, rage, and utter helplessness. Kelly lay dying inside and Neil lay at her feet, his blood spilling onto the ground.

"That's very wise, Miss Marshall. Now, Josh, go to the car. Dr. Nelson is waiting for you."

"No, Mother. I won't."

You go, Josh , Jenna thought, another hysterical laugh threatening to break free.

Mrs. Lute heaved an impatient sigh. "Joshua, I found the pills under your mattress. I know you haven't been taking them for months. Now go to the car and let Dr. Nelson help you."

"He'll dope you up so you can't think, Josh." Jenna said desperately. "He'll dope you up so you won't be smart anymore."

Mrs. Lutz shoved the gun against her head. "In the barn, Miss Marshall. Joshua, in the car."

Jenna stumbled, the gun at her temple, trying to think of something, anything she could do. Then she heard another click and the voice she'd feared she'd never hear again.

"Put the gun down, Mrs. Lute," Steven said calmly, "and Josh will not get hurt."

Pure relief coursed through her, leaving her shaken. " Steven" Jenna said, wishing she could say everything else that rushed to her lips, but Mrs. Lutz shoved the gun harder into her temple.

"You won't shoot my son," Mrs. Lutz said evenly. "You'll just take him to jail and I'll get him out I, on the other hand, will shoot her with very little compunction. So what will it be, Agent Thatcher? My son or this woman? Decide quickly. I have very little time and very little to lose."

Jenna held her breath, knowing Steven was behind her, knowing he wouldn't, couldn't let a killer go. Knowing Kelly lay inside the barn, her life in the balance. "Steven, Kelly's inside," Jenna said, knowing he needed the full score. "She's alive."

"I have more than one bullet, Agent Thatcher," Mrs. Lutz said, with that same eerie calm. "And I will do anything to save my son. Drop your gun and kick it over to me."

After a pregnant pause, Jenna flinched at the sound of gunfire as Steven released his round.

Into the air. Followed by the soft thud of a blunt object hitting the ground. Mrs. Lutz's gun left her temple and she heard the rustle of clothing as the insane woman retrieved Steven's weapon.