The Survivor (32 page)

1:13 P.M. SATURDAY

K
ariss searched for ways to deter Coach. Stalling him became the focus of every moment. Under knifepoint, he’d ordered them to the left corner of Amy’s yard, where the back door wasn’t visible. Not sure why. Maybe because of Apollo, who could see everything that was happening from the bedroom windows. As though Coach wanted the animal to suffer too.

Amy’s haven had become their death chamber.

If Kariss could inch closer and catch Coach off guard, she’d have a chance to overpower him. Tigo was coming. She knew it. She felt it.

“Your wife must be a wonderful person,” she said.

“She waited for me while I was in a Nam prison. When I came home and everyone treated me like scum, she was proud.” His eyes warmed. “She worked while I went back to school.”

“You made a tremendous sacrifice for your country.”

He lifted a brow. “I know what you’re doing, and I’m not buying. Step back, or Amy here will bleed out in front of you.”

Amy trembled.

“Yeah, you ought to be scared. Remember twenty-three years ago? I let you live.”

“You left me to die.”

Coach leaned closer to both of them, but not close enough for Kariss to do anything without endangering Amy. “I followed your life from the moment I learned you were in the
hospital. I allowed you to get all those fancy degrees. Thank me for your success. No one else.”

“God has protected me,” Amy said.

“Then where is He now? Preparing to watch your life stain the grass red?”

Kariss had to do something, anything to keep him talking. “Your wife wouldn’t want you to do this.”

A hint of remorse passed over his face, but as quickly as she sensed a change, any semblance of a rational man vanished.

“You’re a coward. A sniveling bully. An animal,” Amy said.

“‘From time to time, I do consider that I might be mad. Like any self-respecting lunatic, however, I am always quick to dismiss any doubts about my sanity.’ Koontz is brillant, don’t you think?”

Kariss wondered if she should contradict Coach’s statement with another of Koontz’s quotes, but she feared inciting him.

“You
are
insane,” Amy said. “And you won’t get away with any of this.”

“Amy, please,” Kariss said, but the woman couldn’t read her lips. What would it take to send him over the edge? One of them would be killed while the other watched. “Why did you kill Joanna and Alexia Yeat?”

He smirked. “The bomb was intended for Jonathan. The man has nearly destroyed Curt’s chances for a basketball scholarship by making him be Ian’s daddy. The man has no guts. Joanna knew what the younger kid needed.” Coach slipped the knife into a sheath on his belt and whipped out his gun, a Beretta .40, complete with a silencer. “This will help me keep my distance from you and your fancy martial arts. We’re done talking. Amy, come to me now.”

Amy hesitated.

Where were the sirens?

He pointed his weapon at Kariss. “You choose, Dr. Garrett.”

Amy took a small step toward him, followed by another, and another, until Coach seized her wrist.

The sound of shattering glass pierced the air. Apollo had broken the bedroom window and raced toward Coach and Amy. Teeth bared, the shepherd leaped into the air. The coach whipped his pistol in Apollo’s direction.

Amy screamed.

The pistol fired.

Apollo bit the man’s arm as he fell to the ground. He whimpered, blood streaming from the side of his body.

Kariss rushed forward and struggled for the weapon, but Coach refused to let go of it or Amy. He whipped Amy around, using her as a shield and aiming the Beretta at her head, eliminating Kariss’s opportunity to bring him down with a kick or a punch.

Coach’s left arm bled through his sweatshirt. He had to hurt. A quick glance told her Apollo was alive but of no help.

“Back off, Kariss. Do you want Amy’s death to be your fault? I’m counting to three.”

Amy’s eyes widened, but with it came a look of resolve. “Don’t listen to him,” she whispered. “Come after him. I don’t care about me.”

“One.”

Apollo moved. The poor animal struggled.

“Two.”

Dear God, help me. Kariss heard a door open … Or was it her imagination?

“FBI! Put—”

Apollo lunged at Coach’s leg, throwing him off balance. Amy broke away and stumbled over to her dog, her sobs filling the air. Coach regained his footing and took a step toward Kariss. He raised the Beretta. “This is for you. Amy can watch you die.”

Coach startled. Kariss heard the pop of a handgun. She grabbed his pistol as he fell backward. His lifeless eyes bored into hers while blood pooled on the ground.

It was over.

Tigo raced toward them with other agents. Weapons were drawn, but the danger was past.

Trembling, Kariss tore her attention away from the dead man to Amy, who cradled Apollo’s head in her lap. God had used the dog to save their lives … the animal Kariss had feared.

“Kariss, are you okay?” Tigo’s voice gave her strength.

She handed him Coach’s pistol. “I think so.”

He wrapped his arms around her. She was home. Safe.

FEBRUARY 3

4:30 P.M. SUNDAY

K
ariss snuggled close to Tigo in front of a fire in his living room. Pillows braced them against an old trunk that served as a coffee table. They sipped hot coffee and stared at crackling gas logs. Silence had fallen on the two, but Kariss didn’t mind. Being comfortable without conversation was part of a growing relationship. Questions dropped into her mind about so many things.

“What will happen to Michelle Ofsteller?” she said. “She’s alone and dying.”

“She has a brother in Milwaukee, and he’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Did you call him?”

“Yeah. I feel sorry for her … Anyway, the brother and his wife plan to take her into their home.”

“You’re a good man, Special Agent Santiago Harris.”

“Gonna keep me?”

“Thinking about it.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “Do you think Amy will ever be able to put this behind her?”

“I hope so,” Kariss said, sympathy pouring through her. “She no longer has anything to fear. Her attacker will never hurt anyone again.”

“Sergeant Bud Hanson from the Conroe Police Department spent most of the evening with her and her parents.”

“I met him. He said he’d never give up.” Kariss remembered the older police officer’s determination.

“I’ve felt that way about a few cases. Sometimes the facts keep me awake at night and nearly drive me crazy.”

She took his hand. “Amy told me that Mike McDougal contacted her for an exclusive.”

“What did she tell him?”

“No deal. She’s not a fan of
McDougal Reports.
Not sure why the station still has him on their payroll. Except people tune in to see how obnoxious he can be. Comic relief keeps their ratings up.”

“I’ve wanted to punch his arrogant face a few times.”

“Me too. But not doing it makes us better people.”

“I’ll need to remind myself of that. When we drove Amy home from the veterinarian’s, she still secured all four locks on her door. Her OCD habits will be hard to break. Do you suppose she’ll be all right without Apollo until the vet releases him on Tuesday?”

“Her mother’s going to stay with her,” Kariss said. “Amy’s a survivor. She’ll figure out how to overcome her problems. Have you ever heard her speak to hurting women?”

Tigo kissed Kariss’s nose. “No. Hasn’t been one of my assignments.”

She laughed. “My point is, she knows how to reach out and encourage hurting women to be strong and seek counseling. My prayer is she finally takes her own advice.”

“Helping you write her story should help.”

“Ah, for both of us. I plan to call my counselor tomorrow to work through my part.”

“Maybe you can get over your fear of dogs. Did I see you petting Apollo?”

Amazing how the animal had saved her and Amy. “I changed my mind about him. He’s not so bad.”

“So I can buy you a German shepherd puppy?”

She shook her head. “I’ll take a rain check for now. Tell me about Jonathan Yeat.”

“He expressed his gratitude for all we’ve done to find his wife’s and daughter’s killer. He included you too.”

“I feel sorry for his sons.”

“Curt blames himself for taking Ofsteller into his confidence. Can’t imagine the guilt. But he’s strong and understands what responsibility and maturity mean, and I want to think he’ll make it with counseling. Ian really needs help. We’ll see if Jonathan finally gets it. His favoritism led to their tragedy. They’ll need therapy to survive. But I think the knowledge that Joanna wanted the best for her family—even if it meant being separated by a divorce—is the best legacy she could have left them. All she wanted was to protect those she loved.” He paused. “Loving someone means always being ready to sacrifice for that person’s good.”

Kariss fought against the emotion tightening her throat. “Tigo, you live and breathe to protect others.”

He smiled. “I’ll remind you of that the next time I forget to tell you some thug knifed me.”

She stroked his face, remembering how she’d reached to hug him and learned he had stitches—again. “My hero needs to be more careful, but I know better. I’ll add you to every prayer list I can find.”

“Make sure you’re on the list too.” He kissed her fingers. “You, my dear Kariss, have the same daredevil gene.”

“Maybe so.”

Kariss treasured this time with him. One day she hoped to reveal her heart. “Tell me about Pastor Taylor Yeat, especially since Joanna’s sister accused him of murder.”

Tigo nodded. “She had her own agenda.”

“They were having an affair?”

“Yes. When he chose to work things out with his wife, Darena decided to get even.” Tigo hesitated. “She’s pregnant and says he’s the father.”

“Ouch. That makes the situation even stickier.”

“Especially since Taylor had a vasectomy after his last child was born and he’s agreed to a paternity test.”

Kariss pressed her lips together. “When a man of God falls, people can be unforgiving.”

“He’s resigned his pastoral position and plans to take a secular job in Alabama. Wants to put his family and his relationship with God back together.” Tigo smiled. “I heard him preach, and he’s good. Maybe he’ll return one day.”

“What he’s doing now is biblical. How it should be. Our first priority is our relationship with God.”

“I’m learning. Have miles to go. I heard Taylor say it was ‘time to get off the cruise ship and board an aircraft.’”

Kariss snuggled against him. “We all have a long way to go. And I can see a huge change in you. You went to see Jonathan and talked to his sons. That’s commendable. Then you spent time with Pastor Yeat and his wife. And you were busy until after midnight finding a nurse to take care of Michelle Ofsteller.”

He planted a kiss on her nose. “Ryan told me that when I realized life wasn’t about me, I’d know God had impacted my life.” He took her hand. “What else can you see?”

Her pulse quickened. What she thought she was seeing could be her imagination. Fictionalizing things was her specialty, after all. “What do you want me to see?”

“A reflection of you.” He moistened his lips. “Kariss, I’m in love with you. Am I alone?”

Kariss caught her breath, letting his words encircle her heart. “No, Tigo. We’re in this together.”

APRIL 6

6:30 P.M. SATURDAY

K
ariss lit the candles on the dining room table and adjusted a rosebud stem. Tigo had sent a dozen of the most delicate red roses and baby’s breath in a crystal vase. The scent of rosemary chicken baking in the oven, parmesan risotto, freshly baked yeast rolls, and a spinach salad with almonds, blueberries, and strawberries awaited them. And she’d prepared it all by herself, including Mom’s carrot cake.

Her phone beeped.

She laughed. Since he’d admitted he loved her, their relationship had been sealed. No doubts for either of them.

The doorbell rang, and she hurried to answer it. Would the sight of him always make her this crazy? She hoped so.

“Do you always have to look so good?” he said, and walked inside.

She stepped into his arms. “Every writer has to be onstage at all times. You know, the paparazzi are everywhere.”

“Hey, do I smell real food?”

“It’s for my FBI agent.”

“Me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Smells wonderful. When will it be ready?”

“About twenty-five minutes. Do you want to kiss away the minutes?”

“Nope.” He picked Kariss up and carried her to the sofa. Once seated, with her securely on his lap, he kissed her, taking her breath away. “I had a reason for this, but now I’m having trouble remembering why.”

“That’s okay. I’m comfortable.”

“You’re very distracting.”

“Good. Any other complaints?”

“A huge one.” Not a muscle moved. “This is serious.”

She laughed. “Okay. Bring it on.”

“I love you.”

“I know. I love you too.”

“Would you reach into my right jacket pocket and get something for me? My arms are busy holding you.”

She pulled out a box that had Buzz Lightyear’s picture on it. “Did you get me a watch to match yours?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

Cute idea. “No. All we need are matching T-shirts.”

“Next time. Open it and see what you think.”

Kariss opened the box and gasped. A diamond ring glittered. “Tigo….”

He laughed and planted another kiss on her lips. “This is where I’m supposed to ask you to marry me.”

“Don’t.”

“Kariss?”

“I want to ask you.”

He grinned. “Sounds easier than my way.”

She sat up straight. “Santiago Miguel Harris. Would you make me the luckiest woman in the whole world and marry me?”

“How long do I have to answer?”

“Ten seconds. Then the question self-destructs.”

He kissed her again, his warm lips telling her what she wanted to hear. “If my time’s not up, I’d like to take you up on that offer. I can’t imagine another day without you in my life.” His eyes were glistening. He took the ring from the box. “Before I slip this on your finger, I want you to see the inscription.”

She looked inside the band and read the tiny etching.
To infinity and beyond.
Through tear-rimmed eyes, she fought back the emotions that flooded her heart. “If Buzz approves, then slip it on.”

So Tigo did.

He drew her closer, and she snuggled against him, his heartbeat steady and strong in her ear.

“Now I have a question,” he said.

“I’m listening.”

“How do you feel about a move to Virginia?”

“Are you getting transferred?”

“Not exactly. I’d like to train recruits at Quantico.”

“Honey, don’t do this because of me.”

“I’m doing it for us. I’ve thought about this for the past several months. I like mentoring and training. But what about your family?”

“Our family.” She kissed his cheek. “Hey, you’re not going anywhere without me. I’m ready for the next adventure.”