Chapter 202
589 Words
She managed a small laugh. “Ummm. Debatable.”
“Yeah, I bet. Chin up, girl.” Dallas’ eyes were warm. “We got this, OK? You stay close to Jim, and let me do my part. We all hang in there for just a while longer, and we’ll get through it.”
After Dallas had gone, Kat looked at Jim, her face tight with stress.
“God,” she said. “He’s just not giving up, is he?”
“Dallas?” Jim asked, knowing full well who she was actually talking about.
“Well, him too. But I meant – him.”
“Yeah, well, none of us are either. And we’ve got all the advantage here, sweetheart, don’t forget that. He has no idea we’re coming, no idea we’re watching him.”
She took a deep breath. “You’re right.”
“I know I am. Now, go and have a relaxing shower, and get ready for bed, OK? Everything’s fine.”
“OK.”
He watched her go into the bathroom, and he waited until the shower had been running for a few minutes. When he was sure she wasn’t coming out again, Jim picked up his cell and called Dallas.
“I figured I’d hear from you,” Dallas greeted him.
“So what didn’t you tell her?”
“What do you mean?” Dallas’ voice was guarded.
Jim glanced at the closed bathroom door. “Come on, Foreman, I know you were holding back. Don’t jerk me around.”
“OK, OK. Sorry.” Dallas sighed. “It’s just – this fucker’s not at all what I expected from a pathetic coward who beats on and rapes women. He’s smarter than I thought he’d be, more organized and determined. Patient and relentless, way less impulsive than I anticipated. That kind of single-minded commitment to tracking down a woman, combined with his training and ability, is scarily rare. The truth is, man, I don’t think he’ll ever stop… however it all started, finding her and killing her is probably his goddamn life’s mission at this point. An obsession.”
“You’re saying she’ll never be safe,” Jim said in a way that made it clear that it wasn’t a question.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“So what do we do?”
“I have no idea,” Dallas said. “This is the main reason that I want Sully out there – to get a real sense of the fucker we’re dealing with. Maybe we can find something to offer him in exchange for him backing off.”
“Like what? Money?”
“I doubt he’d be happy with cash, but who knows. We need to play it by ear.”
“I hate playing it by ear,” Jim growled. “Too unpredictable.”
“I know, man, but in this case, it’s all we’ve got. I’ll get my people physically with eyes on him, and I think we’ll all be able to sleep better.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Jim ran his hand over the back of his neck, massaging the tight muscles there. “It’ll have to do, ‘cause it’s all we can do.”
“For now, Jim,” Dallas said gently. “We’ll figure it out, OK? We’ll keep her safe.”
“Yeah, OK.” Jim heard the shower turn off. “I’ve got to go.”
“Alright. Take care of Kat, OK?”
“With my life.”
- Writer
