Page 79 of Chilled
“She went to that damned shrink behind my back, then forced me to go. She signed up for college courses without telling me.”
“Did you ever ask Alice how she felt? The kids were in school and preschool. Maybe Alice wanted more. Did you ever ask her? She loves you. I know she wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Like my mother loved me?” He snorted.
“Your mother was wrong to turn her back on you. Please, Stan, there are people who could help you.”
“People like Dr. Drummond? No thanks.” Stan unlocked the front door and pushed her into the musty old house filled with dust-covered furniture. “Besides, it’s too late.”
This was it. Stan was going to kill her like he’d killed his mother, Dr. Drummond and the others. Her lungs constricted. She hadn’t had a chance to tell Nick she loved him.
Brenna scanned the room for some way out of this mess. But with her hands tied; she couldn’t do much. She’d have to throw herself at Stan and hope for the best.
Her mind made up, she drew in a deep breath and gave her best side kick, knocking the gun from Stan’s hand. Before he could regain his balance, she planted a foot into his chest and shoved him to the floor.
As Brenna raced for the pistol, Stan swept her legs from beneath her, and she sprawled across the floor, the wind forced from her lungs.
Straddling her from behind, Stan yanked her up by the hair. “You’ll pay for that, bitch!”
Brenna struggled to breathe beneath his weight flattening her against the hardwood floor. “Get off me.” She rocked her body back and forth, her arms trapped beneath her, still tied together at the wrists.
Stan slammed her head against the floor.
Turning her face at the last moment, she missed having her nose smashed, but the hard wood sent pain radiating through her cheekbone, making stars dance in her eyes.
No. Don’t pass out now. Must...get...free...stop...Stan.
Darkness claimed her, and she sank into oblivion.
CHAPTER 19
“Getthe NDBCI in Bismarck on the phone. Now!” Nick paced the war room, his heart hammering against his ribs, his chest so tight he could barely breathe.
Paul pulled up the online phone directory and clicked on the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He dialed his cell phone and after a few questions, he handed the phone to Nick. “This guy said he’s Jensen’s boss.”
“This is FBI Agent Tarver. The murderer has Agent Jensen, but she’s got her cell phone on her. She said something about GPS tracking. Can you pull her up?”
“Holy shit. He’s got Jensen?” the man said.
“Yes, sir. It’s her brother-in-law. We need to find her. Now.”
“On it. Give me a minute, and I’ll have that location.”
“She may not have a minute.” The truth of his words nearly knocked him to his knees. He handed Paul’s phone back to him. “Give him your cell phone number. I want to keep mine free in case she calls back.”
“Do you think she will?”
“God, I hope so.” He paced the floor like a caged lion ready to rip into anyone who dared poke his head inside the room. He’d been back at the station less than two minutes when Brenna’s call had come through. At first he’d felt elation, followed quickly by frustration, anger and helplessness. Now all he could do was wait for word from Bismarck. Nick smashed his fist into his other palm. “Where would he have taken her?”
“Does he have a lake cabin like most of the people around here?” Paul asked. “Or maybe a hunting cabin?”
“Hell, we don’t know anything about Stan other than he’s Jensen’s brother-in-law.” Melissa stared up at the whiteboard and pointed at the information about each victim. “Drummond was found on Eagle Lake, Stinson up Highway 7 along the Red River, Carmichael and Gomez?—”
“Highway 7.” Nick pressed his eyes closed and tipped his chin to the ceiling, racking his brain.
“I overheard on the police scanner that they blocked that road due to flooding,” Paul said.
“Brenna had a grandmother who lived out Highway 7—next door to Stan’s mother’s house.” Nick’s eyes opened, and he ran for the door. “I know where he’s taking her.”
