Lisa Jackson - Most Likely To Die

Lockers? The senior lockers from St. Elizabeth’s? Was that possible?

“It took quite some effort to move the lockers in here,” she told Lindsay. “But it was well worth it, don’t you think?” She urged Lindsay forward, forcing her to walk past the lockers to the opposite side of the room.

Lindsay noticed her name on one locker. Rachel’s, Kristen’s, and Martina’s on three others. Those four lockers were open and empty. The others were closed.

“Only four more to go,” she said, smiling at Lindsay. “And then it will all be complete. Just in time for the wrecking ball.”

“Why? I-I don’t understand.”

Wyatt, you are searching for me, aren’t you? You’ve called Rachel and Dean. You’ve told the police that I’m missing.

“All you need to know is that you’re going to die.”

“Why? What did I ever do to you to make you hate me? What did any of us do?”

“Keep walking until you reach the far wall, then turn around slowly.”

Continuing to move toward the wall, her back to her abductor, Lindsay pleaded, “Tell me what we did to make you hate us.”

“You and the others were such little snots, excluding me from everything, shutting me out, making me feel worthless.”

“But we didn’t mean to make you feel that way.” Keep her talking. Buy yourself all the time you can. “I’m sorry. Truly I am. If I could do anything to make it up to you, I would.”

“Did you know that I hated you the most back then? And I still do. I want you to suffer before I kill you. I want you to know just a little of the pain I’ve felt all these years. Now, turn around and look at me. I want to watch your face when I shoot you.”

Lindsay paused, then turned and stared directly at the woman who intended to kill her.

“Will you tell me why you hate me the most?” Try not to think about her threat to make you suffer. You cannot give in to your fears.

“Because Jake wanted you more than he wanted me.”

Rushing forward, insane hatred marring her facial features, Bella Marcott shoved Lindsay up against the wall, the gun almost touching Lindsay’s belly. As her shoulder hit the concrete, Lindsay caught a glimpse of the huge red heart painted on the wall behind her. A morbid reminder of a long-ago St. Valentine Day’s dance.

And the music…The song coming from the portable CD player on the floor near the lockers was a familiar tune. “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon. Once upon a time, it had been her and Jake’s song.

When her gaze connected to Bella’s, she saw malicious anger and sheer madness in her eyes. Eyes so very much like Jake’s.

Kristen and Ross crossed paths with Wyatt twice during their frantic search. The first time he’d been with Martina and Craig, but now he was alone. Alone and angry and blaming himself for Lindsay’s abduction.

“You couldn’t have gone to the ladies’ room with her,” Kristen said, doing her best to comfort him.

“No, but I should have insisted that we find you so you could go with her.”

Kristen placed her hand on Wyatt’s shoulder and rubbed reassuringly. “We’re going to find her.”

Wyatt covered his mouth as he drew in a deep breath, barely holding his emotions in check. “If we don’t find her soon…”

Bella will kill her. Kristen knew what he was thinking, what they were all thinking. It seemed unbelievable that Jake’s own sister had been responsible for his death, even if she hadn’t actually released the arrow from the crossbow and nailed him through the heart.

“Come on.” Kristen tugged on Wyatt’s arm. “Ross and I are going to search the side entrance into St. Elizabeth’s that connects to the gym. Why don’t you take a look at the back entrances? I know the police officers have already checked, but they could have overlooked something.”

Wyatt stared at her, a crazed expression on his face as if he were on the verge of unraveling, but he nodded, indicating he had understood her. Then he turned and headed for the back of the old school.

“He’s half out of his mind,” Kristen said.

“I would be, too, if you were the one missing.”

Kristen reached out and caressed her husband’s cheek. How close they’d come to losing each other, to letting their marriage and their love slip away from them.

“We’re going to find her-alive.” Kristen pointed the beam of her flashlight straight in front of her, aiming it toward the covered breezeway between the gymnasium and the school building.

Ross kept pace with her, slowing when she slowed, speeding up when she did. As they walked along the corridor between the two structures, Kristen stopped suddenly.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She shot a beam of light toward the concrete walkway where something white had caught her eye. “What’s that?” She bent over and picked up the Kleenex, then inspected it thoroughly. “Someone blotted their lipstick on this.”

“Anyone could have dropped it.”

“This is a pink lipstick. Lindsay was wearing pink.”

“Kristen, don’t-”

“She could have dropped it on purpose, as a clue.”

“Okay, maybe you’re right. But-”

“I’m calling Rachel.” Using her free hand, Kristen flipped open her cell phone.

“How does it feel knowing you’re going to die?” Bella pointed the gun directly at Lindsay’s heart.

“I’m afraid. Is that what you want to hear? I’m terrified. I don’t want to die.”

Bella smiled. “Jake didn’t have time to be scared, not until the very last minute when he realized I was going to kill him.”

“You killed Jake?” But how was that possible? Lindsay wondered. Hadn’t Rachel and Dean told her and Kris, in strictest confidence, that a man named Patrick Dewey had killed Jake?

“You couldn’t have killed Jake.” Lindsay spoke without thinking.

Bella glared at her. “What makes you say that?”

“He-he was your brother. You loved him.”

“And he loved me.”

What would Bella do if I rushed her? Would she shoot me? Could I jump her before she could fire? If I did, maybe I could wrestle the gun away from her. I have to do something. I can’t stand here against this big red heart and wait for her to kill me.

Holding the pistol in both hands, Bella kept it aimed at Lindsay. “You thought he loved you, but he didn’t. You were as big a fool as the others.”

“You’re right. I was a fool.” Agree with her. Say whatever you think she wants to hear. Lindsay clutched her small evening bag, holding it against her waist.

“Too bad you didn’t realize that twenty years ago.” Bella smiled, the tilt of her lips bordering on a snarl. “I think you should know that I plan to shoot you more than once. I’m going to start with your legs and then your arms and then…” Bella’s sick laughter echoed in the underground dungeon.

Sour, salty bile rose up into Lindsay’s throat. A rush of pure fear flooded her senses. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a horrible nightmare. She couldn’t die. Not now. Not when she and Wyatt had reconnected. Not when they had just found their son.

“What makes you think I’ll stand here and let you use me for target practice?”

Bella stared quizzically at Lindsay. “Because I have a weapon and you don’t.”

“If you’re going to kill me anyway, what do I have to lose?”

“It’s your choice.” Bella shrugged. “If you try anything, I’ll kill you now. Play by my rules and you might live another hour.”

Their tense gazes locked.

“You think maybe someone will find you if you can just buy enough time, don’t you? It’s not going to happen. No one knows about this part of the basement. It’s my little secret. Of course, once the building is leveled, it is possible they’ll find your bodies in the rubble. Yours and Kristen’s and Rachel’s.”