by Sharon Dunn
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Tonight is a special night.” He pulled a knife from his shirt pocket. She shifted so her bound hands were toward him. He sawed away at the rope. “You have to promise me, you’ll sit still.”
“I promise.” She sounded sugary sweet. Who would have thought her acting skills would come in handy yet again?
She saw then that he had placed some rocks in a circle and had a supply of wood already stacked and ready to go. While Martin’s back was to her as he built the fire, she flipped open the photo album.
Shock spread through her as she turned the pages. Martin had clipped the news stories of Jordan’s death. There were photos of Katie at the funeral and standing in the driveway of the Rego Park house. All taken from a distance. There were also drawings of Katie and a poem written to her.
Lani remembered what the psychologist had said about obsession being a twisted, unpredictable condition. The object of desire can just as quickly become the object of hate.
As he built the fire, Martin’s shirt rode up to reveal he had shoved the gun in the waistband of his jeans.
She closed the photo album softly, debating if she should try to grab the gun while he was distracted with building the fire. If she failed, he might become violent. Rage would only make him stronger.
Once the fire was going, he turned to face her. “Why don’t you rustle up something for us to eat.” The shadow of flames from the fire danced across his face and in his dull, dead eyes.
“Sure, Martin, I can do that.” Every muscle in her body felt tight as she rose to her feet and stepped over to where the cookstove had been set on a makeshift table fashioned from bricks and a board.
Somewhere in the distance a bird made a sound that resembled a scream. The brutality of the noise startled her. She remembered reading that North Brother Island was a bird sanctuary.
Her heart pounded as she grabbed a can of beans and the can opener. She lit the stove, raising her gaze slightly to assess her surroundings. Her only hope would be to get to that boat. If she could disable or restrain Martin, she had some chance of figuring out how to operate it and escaping. The only way she could make that happen would be to surprise Martin, and she needed some kind of weapon. He was stronger than her, but she was quicker and understood how to use his strength against him because of her training.
“I know what you are thinking about.” His voice pelted her back like tight, hard balls of hail.
She turned slowly to face him.
He held the gun on her. His lip curled up at one end of his mouth.
She swallowed to get rid of the lump in her throat. “I was only thinking about you, Martin.” Not a total lie. He continued to stare at her in a way that unnerved her. She had to find a way to reassure him, so he would relax and let his defenses down. If his paranoia went into overdrive, there was no telling what he would do. “I’m just going to cook us a nice meal here and we can enjoy it...together.”
He let the gun fall by his side. Her little act of compliance had relaxed him.
She turned her back, put the pan on the stove and stirred the beans. Her stomach was in a tight knot, but her voice had given nothing away.
As she stirred, watching the beans bubble from the heat, she wondered what had happened to her brother. Was Reed alive? Her heart squeezed tight with angst. She massaged her sternum, trying to take in a deep breath. She couldn’t get distracted by such dark thoughts. She needed to stay in the moment. No one was coming for her. If she was to escape, it was up to her.
She wondered too if she could get Martin to talk, would he confess to killing Jordan? That was dicey territory. She knew from having witnessed police interrogations that with a stable person, the desire to confess was almost overwhelming. But with Martin, it was hard to know what his response would be. Martin might want to brag about what he’d done...if he had killed Jordan. Or making him face reality might send him over the edge.
She prayed for guidance.
God, show me how to get away.
SEVENTEEN
Noah and Scotty moved silently through the thick underbrush. He’d commanded Scotty not to bark. Though the barking often intimidated and paralyzed a criminal on the run, Noah thought the better strategy would be to surprise Martin.
He heard the lapping of the water before he saw the shoreline and Martin’s boat.
Noah could see Martin’s boat bobbing at the dock. He hurried over to it where Scotty picked up a scent right away, jerking on the leash.
From the pace that Scotty was setting with his nose close to the ground, Noah knew the scent was hot.
They hurried past dark buildings overtaken by plant life, past piles of bricks and through thick brush.
Scotty stopped abruptly and sat back on his haunches, a hard alert. Noah kneeled beside Scotty, stroking his head and his back. Noah didn’t see anything, but if Scotty said they were close, he’d trust his dog’s nose over his own senses anytime.
He heard birds feeding in the distance and waves hitting the shore and then...the faint sound of voices.
Crouching, Noah moved in toward the sound. He signaled for Scotty to follow. The dog trailed behind as they approached, padding softly. Scotty seemed to instinctually know he needed to be quiet.
They pressed against the brick wall. On the other side just feet away, Lani spoke in soothing tones to Martin. Above him was a rectangular opening that must have been a window at one time in the brick building.
“I see that you put together a photo album of Katie.” There was a long pause. “You know that I’m not really Katie, right, Martin?”
More silence.
Even though a wall divided them, Noah could sense the tension and hear it in Lani’s voice.
Lani prompted. “Martin?”
“Shut up,” Martin shouted.
Martin was wound as tight as a coil. Noah could hear pots and pans being banged together. His feet stomped the ground.
Was Lani trying to bring Martin back to a lucid moment with her question?
“What happened to Jordan, Martin?”
He still wasn’t sure what she was doing. Was Lani trying to get a confession out of Martin? Or she might be trying to push him over the edge to create an opportunity for escape. If he knew anything, it was that Martin was volatile and unpredictable. All of it was dangerous. Lani still thought she was on her own and had no other choice but to take such a risk.
It was time to move closer and wait for the chance to jump in and extract Lani and, hopefully with Scotty’s help, subdue Martin. Noah gave a hand signal for Scotty to follow. He couldn’t wait for backup. They circled around the building using the thick brush as cover. Part of the wall where Martin had Lani was deteriorated.
Scotty pressed in close to him as Noah raised his head and assessed the situation.
“You ruined our nice dinner. I know what you are trying to do. You’re not going to get away.” Martin was in the process of tying up Lani. He bound her wrists in front of her. “I was meant to be with Katie. You’re not Katie. I know you’re not Katie. Katie is soft and quiet. I don’t want anything to do with you. You are a betrayer.”
Martin had a gun shoved in the waistband of his belt. A blazing fire crackled. A pan was overturned in the dirt and beans had been spilled.
Once Lani was tied up, Martin paced, rubbing his hands through his hair, his fingers stiff and clawlike.
He continued to pace and get more and more worked up. “You talk. You talk way too much.”
Scotty was so close Noah could feel the dog’s breath on his cheek. Noah inhaled deeply and pulled his gun. There was never going to be an exact right time. He rose to his feet and aimed his gun knowing that Scotty would jump in at the right moment if needed.
“Put your hands up, Martin.”
Both Lani and Martin looked surprised. Martin reached around to his back but th
en grabbed Lani, yanking her to her feet and holding the gun to her temple.
“Come one step closer and she gets a bullet in her head,” said Martin. “I don’t care about her anymore. It’s Katie I want.”
Noah tensed. The last thing he wanted was for Lani to be in danger like this.
“Put the gun down, Martin,” said Noah, taking a step toward him, weapon aimed at Martin’s chest. Noah didn’t want anyone to die here tonight, but sometimes a police officer had no choice. He just wasn’t sure if he could pull the shot off without risking Lani’s life.
“Come on, Martin, if you kill me—” Lani spoke between jagged breaths “—we can’t be together.”
Martin jerked Lani around. “I don’t want to be with you. I see that now. It’s always been Katie. Only Katie.”
Noah was afraid Martin’s gun would go off accidentally. He was clearly unhinged.
Scotty lunged out of the brush and started barking at Martin. Martin aimed his gun at Scotty.
“No,” Lani and Noah shouted at the same time.
* * *
Heart racing, Lani slammed against Martin by swinging her bound hands against him. The bullet he’d fired at Scotty went wild.
Noah commanded Scotty to back off.
Martin whirled around and aimed the gun at Lani. “You’re coming with me.” Then he turned, pointing the gun at the dog and then at Noah. “Try anything and she dies. Put your hands up. Drop your gun.”
Scotty growled but stood his ground.
As if to make his point, Martin grabbed Lani by her collar, jerking her back. The cold metal of the gun pressed against her temple. Sweat formed on her forehead, and she took in shallow breaths.
“It’s all right, Noah, do what he says.” She nodded. Scotty had almost died for her. She couldn’t face losing either of them. She’d find a way to get away. And she knew Noah and Scotty wouldn’t give up either.
“Drop it now. Toss it toward me,” said Martin.
In the seconds that Noah hesitated to respond, she could tell he was strategizing, trying to figure out the best way to get them out of this situation.
Martin wrapped his free hand around the back of her neck, squeezing tight. He spoke through gritted teeth. “Drop it now.”
Noah tossed the gun in Martin’s direction. Martin kicked it hard, sending it sailing into the brush. No way would Noah be able to find it quickly.
“If you or that dog comes after me, she is dead, do you hear me?”
Noah nodded. Despite his seeming surrender, Lani knew that he was probably already trying to come up with a plan of attack.
“Now go.” Martin pushed on Lani’s shoulder to get her to turn and then pressed the gun in her back. Martin craned his neck to check on Noah. “I meant what I said. Try anything and she dies.”
Lani dared not turn to see Noah. She’d never been so happy in her life when he and Scotty popped up from behind the rubble. She wasn’t in this alone.
“Run,” said Martin. “Back to the boat.”
Lani took off at a jog slowed by her hands being tied in front of her.
She had every confidence that Noah and Scotty would be after them as soon as Martin couldn’t see them anymore. She also sensed that Martin was serious about killing her. Whatever attachment he’d had to her was gone, now that he had experienced the reality of being with her.
Her foot caught on a root and she fell. She twisted to one side to avoid the full impact of falling on her face.
“Get up,” said Martin.
“I’d have better balance if you would untie me.”
“Quit trying to trick me. I see now you are nothing like my Katie girl.” He glanced around nervously and then pointed the gun at her. “I said, get up.”
She managed to stand by anchoring her hands in front of her and pushing up with her legs. Still off balance, she swayed when she straightened her torso.
They took off at a steady pace. Once they were free of the tangle of undergrowth and rubble, Lani broke into a jog. She could hear the waves hitting the shore as they drew closer to the boat. Martin’s footsteps pounded behind her.
They arrived at the dock.
“Get on the boat.” Martin glanced around.
Lani didn’t see Noah anywhere but that didn’t mean he wasn’t right behind them. He and Scotty were probably hidden in the shadows. Once Martin took off in the boat, there was no chance for Noah to get to her. She had to stall for time.
Lani lifted her hands. “I can’t step over that rim with my hands tied.”
Martin seemed distracted. He stalked toward some trees, aiming his gun at one point and then at another. He turned and stared up the path where they’d just run.
“Martin, you have to cut me loose so I can get into the boat.”
He turned back to face her as though seeing her for the first time. He stalked back over to the dock. “I know your game.” His wild eyes seemed to burn right through her. Her heart beat faster, and her throat went dry. He lifted her up and put her on the boat as if she was a feather.
She knew in that moment, he would only keep her alive as long as she was of use to him. Holding the gun to her head and threatening to shoot had been enough to make Noah hold back to keep her from being killed. Once Martin was away from the island and there was no danger of being caught, she suspected he’d shoot her and toss her body in the East River.
Frantic, she glanced around again hoping to see some sign that Noah was close.
After unwinding the rope that kept the boat attached to the dock, Martin got onto the boat as well.
She sat on the deck with the autumn breeze making her skin prickle.
Martin got back on the boat and started the engine.
She leaned forward, praying that she would find a way to escape. Praying that Noah would get to her before it was too late.
EIGHTEEN
Noah shivered as he treaded water underneath the dock in the East River. Had he made a mistake to plan his attack this way? He’d gotten to the boat only seconds before he heard Martin coming with Lani through the brush. They had been slowed by Lani being tied up and she had stumbled. There hadn’t been time to climb on the boat and hide.
Martin seemed to have a sixth sense about when he was about to be caught. Noah wanted to wait until Martin’s defenses were down. There would be no place for Martin to run once the boat was in open water.
He could hear Martin walking around on deck and the boat engine roared to life. As it backed away from the dock, Noah grabbed rope that wrapped around the boat. He’d left Scotty hidden on the shore. He knew he could trust Scotty to stay put until he could come back for him.
The boat putted along. Martin couldn’t go very fast in the shallow water.
Behind him, Noah saw a blinking light descending not too far from where Scotty was hiding. He heard the distant whir of a helicopter. Backup was here, but they would not get to the boat fast enough.
Martin cursed at the sight of the helicopter.
The boat picked up speed.
Noah pulled himself up and peered above the rim of the boat. Both Lani and Martin had their backs to him. Lani was tied up. Martin’s gun was still in his waistband.
He shivered. The wait in the cold water had left his muscles weakened.
The boat was out in the open now, bumping over the waves. It was now or never. The engine was loud enough that Noah thought he could pull himself in without being heard. He gripped the rim of the boat and hoisted himself on deck. He’d been quiet but Lani must have sensed something, because she turned her head slightly sideways.
Still feeling the effects of having been in the water, Noah got to his feet and bolted the short distance to where Martin stood steering the boat. When he was about two feet away, Martin reached for his gun and turned to face him, raising the gun with his finger on the trigger.
Lani kicked at Martin’s legs. He didn’t fall down, but the move was enough to set him off balance.
The gun went flying across the deck.
Martin turned his attention back to steering. He drove like a wild man, zigzagging and tilting the boat from side to side. The gun moved back and forth across the deck, and Noah plunged to his knees. Lani slid across the deck as well.
The gun was on the other side of the deck when Martin stopped the boat engine.
Still on his knees, Noah crawled toward the gun. Lani’s stalker rushed toward him and kicked him hard in the jaw. Pain radiated through Noah’s head and he tasted blood.
The boat continued to sway back and forth. Martin edged toward his weapon.
Noah reached out and grabbed his leg at the ankle and yanked him down. Martin flipped over so he was on his back. He dove toward Noah, who dodged out of the way as Martin, with his almost superhuman strength, came down on him.
Meanwhile, Lani was trying to scoot toward the gun even though her hands were tied.
Noah scrambled to his feet and managed to get a kick into Martin’s ribs before the other man could stand up. Once he was on his feet, the terrible unbridled fury that was Martin Fisher dove toward Noah. Noah knew he could not match his strength. He’d have to use his agility and quickness to save himself and Lani.
Noah stepped out of the way. Lani was within inches of being able to pick up the gun. Martin backed him up to the railing of the boat and clutched his neck beneath his chin, squeezing hard and pushing Noah backward.
Noah gasped for air, trying to find a way to break free and keep from being shoved overboard. He let go of the railing with one hand to get in a punch to Martin’s stomach, which only caused a minor letup in the pressure on his neck.
Martin released his hold and landed a blow to Noah’s stomach and then two to his shoulder in rapid succession. That assault weakened Noah, and Martin pushed him overboard. Noah reached up for the railing as he fell backward.
A gunshot went off on deck. Lani must have recovered the gun. The shot had gone wild. She probably couldn’t aim with much accuracy with her hands tied.
