Ruthann Rawley was first on my list of people who needed killing. The goddamn Rawley family had worked against mine for too long now; no more would I allow this to happen. I would see to it that Dredd impregnated his wife, Patricia – I had seen this, during a leap – and I would see that Ruthann Davis Rawley met her end. Even better, that those she loved met theirs first, so she could witness what her attempts to thwart me had caused. After all, to my understanding there was no more chance for pain once a person was dead. And I intended to cause her pain, this woman connected with far too many people who worked against my plans – Malcolm Carter and Cole Spicer, both names bitter on my tongue; the goddamn Rawleys.
Once I took care of her family I would go after her lover. Once I’d calmed, once I’d searched my memory, I realized I had seen Ruthann during a leap to 1882; a brief leap, in which I was present at a hanging, and her lover was one of those about to be hung. Another Rawley, of course.
Soon, I promised myself.
And as the thought crossed my mind a small rush of air stirred the hairs on my body, a feeling I had come to anticipate, one that meant I was about to depart Between. I crouched in preparation and was simultaneously struck with an odd childhood memory, of hiding in the tall prairie grass near the shanty in which I’d been raised, hearing my brother’s voice as he counted to ten in a singsong rhythm. In my head, Dredd shouted triumphantly, Ready or not, here I come!
I smiled, repeating the words as Between faded away and I was allowed to leap.
I am coming for you, Ruthann. Ready or not.
Way Back Page 36
