Cold Judgment (20 page)

CHAPTER 29

She was all alone in the apartment now that the baby was gone. Debra paced the floor and listened to the storm raging outside her living-room window. She was scared. And she still hadn't come to a decision. Should she believe Dr. Elias? Or Mac?

Dr. Elias had saved their lives, in a sense. Why would he kill them now after helping them for so long? It wasn't logical, but Mac had claimed he'd found evidence that Dr. Elias was the killer.

And Dr. Elias had said it was Mac. After five years as Mac's psychiatrist, Dr. Elias would surely know if Mac was in crisis. Debra tried to imagine Mac as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It was possible. She had been living with him for almost a week and she had never seen the killer side of his personality. There had been so many opportunities to kill her. Mac could have slipped poison in her coffee that first night at his house, stabbed her with a knife as she'd prepared dinner in his kitchen, strangled her as she'd slept so trustingly in his arms. But he hadn't. He wouldn't. Mac loved her. He was no killer. Mac couldn't kill anyone! Unless he were truly insane . . .

Debra shivered and reached for her sweater. The thermometer on the wall registered seventy-five degrees, but she was cold with fear. Which man should she trust? Who was telling the truth?

Gusts of wind blew so hard they rattled her windowpane. The old brick building seemed to shudder under the force of the storm. Snow whipped in icy sheets against the glass as Debra peered out anxiously. She could barely see the street.

Who would arrive first—Dr. Elias or Mac? And which one would she let into the apartment? She had to make up her mind soon. One of them could pull up at any second.

A Yellow Cab came around the corner and slowed to a stop outside her apartment building. Debra's breath caught in her throat as the driver got out and opened the rear door. Dr. Elias was here!

He looked old and frail as he got out of the cab. Debra's heart went out to him. She had placed her life in his hands four years ago and today was no different. Of course she trusted him.

His steps faltered a bit as he walked up the sidewalk. Tears came to Debra's eyes. Dr. Elias was dying. How could she have doubted him?

Debra swallowed past the lump in her throat. She heard the elevator rising. In a moment he would be knocking at her door. She had to let him in.

The elevator doors opened. Slow footsteps came down the carpeted hallway. Debra pictured him standing there, alone and desperately ill, outside her door.

The buzzer rang and she jumped, even though she was expecting it. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as she hurried to the door and put her hand on the safety chain to release it.

Debra hesitated, her fingers on the chain. She remembered the love in Mac's eyes, the gentle way he had brushed back her hair and kissed her. He
couldn't
be the killer!

She left the chain in place and opened the door a crack. “Debra? It's Dr. Elias. Let me in, dear.”

His words had the same authority as always. He expected her to open the door. It was very difficult for her to resist.

“I . . . I can't, Dr. Elias. Mac called. He'll be here any minute. I promised him I wouldn't unlock the door for anyone.”

There was a long silence. When Dr. Elias spoke again his voice was filled with sympathy. “I understand, dear. It's only natural that Mac would try to trick you. Did he attempt to convince you that I was the killer?”

“Yes.”

Debra could feel her resolve start to weaken. His voice was so kind, so understanding. She felt like a child, denying her father. Dr. Elias loved her. It was there in his voice.

“Debra, dear. Poor Mac is very ill. He can't consciously accept the responsibility for what he's done, so he's built up a highly systematized pattern of delusions. Now let me in, Debra. We must help Mac while there's still time.”

Debra reached for the chain again. It all made perfect sense. She wanted to do what was best for Mac. She loved him.

Something more powerful than logic stopped her hand. She had promised Mac. It didn't matter whether Dr. Elias was right or wrong. She would not let him into her apartment.

“No!”

Debra jumped back as the door rattled on the end of the chain. He was trying to break in. Mac was right! Dr. Elias was here to kill her!

She whirled and ran to the bedroom. There was no lock on the bedroom door and Debra tugged at the heavy dresser against the wall. Her desperation lent her strength and she managed to shove it over in front of the door. If Dr. Elias tried to get in the bedroom, she'd shoot him.

Debra's knees turned weak as she realized that she had left her purse on the table in the living room. The gun Mac had given her was inside. What if Dr. Elias got past her barricade?

The fire escape! Debra ran to the window and shoved with all her might. It was stuck! There was the sound of wood splintering from the living room. Dr. Elias was breaking in. She had to get out the window!

She shoved again desperately and the window flew up. Debra grasped the icy sill with her bare hands and climbed out on the slatted metal stairs. She knew she couldn't look down. Heights terrified her. Debra stared at her feet, at the pink fuzzy toes of the slippers she wore in the apartment, and climbed down as fast as she could.

The fire escape was narrow and Debra hung on to the metal railing with both hands. Eighteen steps down to the landing on the third floor. Another eighteen steps and she was on the second-floor landing. She had to be very careful not to slip. Her feet were already so numb from the cold that she could not feel her toes. Only one flight to go. The wind whipped at her fiercely and needles of icy snow stung her face as she climbed down to the first-floor landing.

She knelt on the cold metal slats to tug at the ladder designed to drop down to the ground. Her fingers were so cold she could barely grip the handle. Debra pulled and shoved until her knuckles were bleeding, but the ladder was frozen solid. She was trapped!

Debra stared down at the ground and shuddered. It was too far to jump. She turned and climbed back up. There was a bedroom window on each landing. She pounded her fists against the glass on the first floor. Someone had to be home.

She hammered at the window so hard she thought it would surely break, but the double-paned glass resisted her blows. Why didn't Mrs. Chambers hear her?

Mrs. Chambers was gone. Debra gave a sob as she remembered her landlady's bridge club. She had to try the window on the second floor. There was nowhere to go but up.

Debra scrambled up the metal stairs again. Her fingers were burning from the cold. She reached the second-floor landing and shuddered as she looked in the window. There were dust covers on the bedroom furniture. The Nelsons had left town for the holidays.

The third floor. It was her last chance. Debra stumbled as she ran up the stairs. She caught herself awkwardly and rushed on.

The third-floor window was thick with ice. Debra's hands were numb as she pounded frantically. No one was home. She was alone on the fire escape and no one was home!

Debra shivered as the wind whipped past her. The roof. She could hide on the roof, but first she had to pass her floor. Dr. Elias could be waiting for her just inside the open window. She had to take the chance. She couldn't stay on the fire escape, trapped between floors.

Her legs were so numb they felt like blocks of ice. Debra drew in her breath sharply as she climbed past her window. The dresser was moving! Dr. Elias was coming!

Thank God the fire escape went all the way to the roof! Debra scrambled up onto the asphalt and sobbed as the wind blew gusts of icy snow against her face. She had to find a protected place to hide. It was bitter cold and she would freeze to death up here in the open.

There was a small shed on one side of the flat roof that housed the building's physical plant. Debra stumbled toward it and tried the door. Locked. She huddled against the side away from the wind and pulled her sweater tightly around her shoulders. Her teeth chattered with the cold.

Perhaps Dr. Elias would think she'd jumped to the ground. The blowing snow would cover her tracks on the fire escape. She had to be very quiet and hide until Mac found her. He should be here any minute. Debra closed her eyes against the bitter wind and prayed for Mac to save her.

CHAPTER 30

Dr. Elias took in the open window at a glance. Debra had gone out on the fire escape. He crossed the room to the window and leaned out. The ladder at the base of the fire escape was still in the storage position. He had the advantage of knowing his patient's fears, and Dr. Elias was certain that Debra's acrophobia would render her incapable of jumping the last fifteen feet to the ground.

That left one simple conclusion. Debra had gone up to the roof. Dr. Elias shook his head sadly. She was making this very difficult. Because of Debra's resistance, he was forced to climb the fire escape and trap her on the roof. Dr. Elias removed the handgun from his briefcase and slipped it in his coat pocket. No one would hear the shot in the storm.

He hesitated a moment and then took the one remaining syringe out of his briefcase. The trip to Riverside Estates and the effort of breaking into Debra's apartment had exhausted him. He needed another injection. It would be disastrous if he faltered now.

After he had injected the narcotic, he sat on the windowsill and swung his legs out the window. A moment later he was standing on the fire escape landing. There was a smile on his face as he climbed up the metal stairs. Debra was waiting for him on the roof and the drug flowed through his veins, giving him the necessary relief he needed to finish her therapy.

 

 

“Where are you, Debra? Come out in the open, dear. I know what's best for you.” Debra shuddered as the wind blew his words to her ears. Dr. Elias was coming up the fire escape! “Come here, Debra.”

His voice was closer. He was on the roof. Debra bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. Where was Mac?

Then she heard it, the thin high wail of a siren turning on her street. The sound cut off abruptly below her. Mac was coming!

Debra held her breath until she heard the car door slam. She had to let Mac know where she was.

“MAC!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. “THE ROOF! MAC!”

Strong arms clamped around her as she struggled to rise. Dr. Elias had found her. Debra trembled in fear as she saw the gun in his hand. There was cold madness in his eyes.

“That was perfect, my dear.” Dr. Elias's lips turned up in a bitter smile. “Now all we have to do is wait for the last member of our group.”

Debra twisted frantically, but Dr. Elias's arm was like a steel vise around her waist. Mac was coming. She could hear his heavy steps on the fire escape. She had to warn him! Mac was climbing to a certain death!

“GO BACK! HE'S GOT A GUN!”

Dr. Elias's hand clamped over her mouth. Debra tried to break free, but his hold was too tight. It seemed impossible that a dying man could have so much strength. If only Mac had heard her!

“Come up alone, Mac! I've got Debra!” Dr. Elias's voice carried clearly through the sound of the howling wind.

Debra's legs would no longer support her as Dr. Elias pulled her out into the open to face the fire escape. She sobbed in fear and he turned to look at her coldly. Then he smiled. It was the arrogant, condescending smile of a madman. Debra shuddered in horror as they stared out at the blowing snow and waited for Mac.

 

 

“Drop it, Dr. Elias!”

Debra screamed. It was Mac! He had circled around the ledge at the top of the building to come up behind them.

Dr. Elias smiled as he whirled her around to face Mac. It was a smile of derision, of triumph. He knew Mac's weaknesses.

“There's no need to pretend with me, Mac. I know you can't use a gun.”

Mac shivered at the cold judgment in Dr. Elias's voice. It brought back memories of countless therapy sessions where he had been the hotheaded, emotional one and Dr. Elias had been the voice of pure reason. Dr. Elias must be right. He had always been right. It took every ounce of courage Mac had to continue the bluff.

“You're making a mistake, Dr. Elias.” Mac moved a step closer.

“All right then, Mac. Let's put it to the test.”

Dr. Elias was smiling as he raised his gun and pointed it directly at Debra's head.

“In ten seconds I will fire this gun. You can stop me by shooting me first. Perhaps that would be better for all of us. A quick, easy death for me, and life for the woman you love. That's quite a reward for one simple act, don't you think?”

Dr. Elias's smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He stared at Mac with cold, calculating eyes.

“Then there's the alternative. If you fail, you will watch Debra die. And then I'll kill you, of course. It's a simple equation, Mac. Two lives for one. All you have to do is pull that trigger!”

Mac felt his resolve falter as he faced his former therapist. Dr. Elias was so sure. Then he saw Debra's frightened face and everything changed.

“Well, Mac?”

The expression on Dr. Elias's face altered slightly as Mac's hand steadied. There was a hint of uncertainty that grew to shocked realization as Mac's finger tightened on the trigger.

Mac aimed carefully. Then he took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. For Debra. For himself. For the group.

EPILOGUE

 

Mac sat in the leather recliner Debbie had given him for his birthday and a peaceful look settled over his face. He was content. Actually, he was more than content. There was a cheerful blaze in the fireplace, soft strains of Christmas music were playing on the stereo, and he could hear Debbie in the kitchen, singing along with
Silent Night
. She missed the high note, but that was okay. The important thing was that she sounded just as happy and content as he was.

An incredibly delicious aroma was coming from the kitchen and Mac got up to track it down like Winnie the Pooh on the trail of a honey pot. He found Debbie, looking completely adorable in the chef's apron he'd given her, taking a large roasting pan out of the oven.

“That roast looks incredible, Debbie!” Mac started to salivate as he eyed the beautifully browned piece of meat.

Debbie set the roast on top of the stove and turned around to smile at him. “Thanks. It's a standing rib roast. I wanted to make something special tonight. Jackie and Roy don't get out much now that the baby is starting to walk. Jackie says Chrissie needs constant watching or she gets into things.”

“But Jackie's still working at the paper, isn't she?”

“Yes, but only part time. Roy's mother comes over to watch Chrissie when Jackie has an assignment.”

Mac watched while Debbie basted the roast and slid it back into the oven. “I don't know if I can wait until dinner. My stomach's growling.”

“There's a bowl of mixed nuts on the end table by your chair. Have some of those, but don't spoil your dinner. Jackie's bringing an appetizer, something with shrimp, and Marge is bringing a vegetable casserole. I'm making mixed rice with mushrooms and the roast, but just wait until Barb gets here with the dessert.”

“Knowing Barb it'll be something spectacular. Which country did she use this time?”

“France. She said it was something with three kinds of chocolate.”

Mac grinned. This was the first real dinner party they'd hosted, but Debbie didn't seem that nervous even though she was cooking for eight. He liked the way Debbie had become fast friends with Barbara Gunderson. Every once in a while the two women would drag them off to a concert or the opening of an art gallery, and every so often Mac and Fritz would drag them off to a sports event. “Is there anything I can do to help you?” Mac asked.

“Not really, but thanks for offering. I had today off, remember? I didn't want to just sit here and think, so I got almost everything done ahead of time.”

For a moment Mac was puzzled. Then he remembered. It was exactly one year ago to the day that Dr. Elias had tried to kill them. “You didn't want to think about him,” he said and then he wished that he could call the words back.

“That's right. I was afraid that if I thought about him, it would depress me. But the funny thing is . . . it didn't depress me at all. I remembered how he tried to kill us, but I also remembered how you saved me. And then I thought about how much I love you and how happy I am.” Debbie paused and frowned slightly. “How about you? Did you think about Dr. Elias?”

“Yes, but it didn't depress me, either. He
was
a good therapist before he went off the deep end. And I never would have met you if I hadn't joined the group.”

“That's true.”

Debbie gave him a loving smile and Mac knew that this was the moment. He'd been carrying the ring around for almost a week, trying to decide when to give it to her. He'd almost decided on Christmas Eve, but now would be better. Now would be perfect.

“Debbie?” he said, pulling the ring box out of his pocket.

“Yes?”

She turned to look at him and he knelt down next to her and opened the velvet box. “I love you, Debbie. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

There was no hesitation on Debbie's part and Mac wore a happy smile as he rose to his feet to slip the ring on her finger. “Merry Christmas, darling,” he said, kissing her deeply.

“And many more just like this,” Debbie answered, pulling him down for another kiss.