Don't Forget Me

by Stacy Claflin

  Nestled in between mumbles and static, he heard “Vassman” clear as day.

  They knew his given last name.

  His stomach dropped to the floor. The authorities knew who he was. Not just his fake identities, but who he really was. Flynn Vassman. A name he’d left behind many years earlier. A name that had died along with the guy so hated by his impossible-to-please father.

  Not only that, but the cops were within earshot. They were closing in on him.

  They knew where he was. They’d found the cabin. Or at least had a general idea where it was. And they knew who he was—obviously, that was something they were keeping from the public. It hadn’t shown up on any of the news sources.

  And Maisie was in the other room, sobbing.

  Could things be any worse?

  He needed more time. The girl needed more convincing. She needed food. Maybe another kitten. Or another girl to give her company? But she was one in a million. It would take forever to find another like her. And even then, he might have two inconsolable kids to deal with.

  The police scanner made more noise. More words came in clearly.

  They were close, and moving closer.

  He needed to get out of the cabin. Now. Maisie would just have to deal with it. He would have to continue trying to pamper her later. After the cops left.

  Flynn turned off the light and went around the cabin, turning them all off. No need to advertise his whereabouts.

  “Why is it dark?” Maisie sniffled, still at the couch.

  “We’re going on an adventure.”

  “Home?” Hope sparked in her voice.

  “This is home now.” Irritation flared in his tone.

  More sobs.

  The police scanner continued making noise in the back. It grated on his last frayed nerve.

  Flynn clenched his jaw. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

  “I want my Mommy!”

  “That’s going to have to wait. We need to leave. Now!”

  “Take me home. I don’t like it here.”

  “You don’t even like the cat? I got him just for you!”

  “I just wanna go home,” she wailed.

  A whole sentence came through the police scanner, clear enough to understand every damning word. They were closing in on Flynn Vassman.

  That name sent a shiver down his spine. Flynn Vassman was dead. Dead! He was now Tony Howell. That wouldn’t matter to the cops.

  All they would see was Flynn Vassman.

  “Come on!” He stepped closer to Maisie.

  “No.”

  “You don’t tell me ‘no’!” Flynn grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet. “We’re leaving, and you’re going to stop arguing. Got it?”

  She squirmed. “You’re hurting me.”

  He squeezed harder. “Do you understand me?”

  “Ow! Yes.”

  “Yes, what?” he snapped.

  “I understand!” Maisie pulled away from him.

  “You need to do as I say, or someone’s going to get killed.”

  She froze. “Y-you’re going to kill me?”

  “That’s the last thing I want. There are some bad guys coming to the cabin, and we need to get out of here.”

  “Bad guys?”

  “Yes. There’s no telling what they’ll do. I want to keep you safe. To protect you. But I can only do that if you listen to me. I’m the only one who can save you.”

  She stopped squirming. “Y-you are?”

  “Yes, but you have to do what I say. Or the bad guys might win.”

  Maisie stepped closer to him. “Okay.”

  She was finally agreeing? Maybe this was all for the best. She was finally starting to trust him.

  “Stay right here. I need to get my gun.”

  Maisie gasped.

  “To keep you safe.”

  “Where’s the kitty?”

  “I don’t know. Just stay quiet.” He released her arm and stormed into the other room to shut off the scanner. They were after him—point taken.

  Then he grabbed a pistol and a revolver from the cabinet. It wasn’t much against the mob of badges headed his way, but he could at least do some damage. They would have on protective vests, but if he aimed for the legs, he could at least put them out of commission.

  His eyes were adjusting to the dark, but he couldn’t see Maisie in the living room.

  “Where’d you go?”

  She didn’t answer.

  He swore under his breath. “Answer me!”

  She didn’t.

  “I’m not playing around. You want the bad men to get you?”

  Why had he let her out of sight? He never should’ve left the room.

  He tucked the guns into his clothes and marched through the cabin. It wasn’t like there were many places to hide.

  “Maisie.”

  Silence.

  “We need to leave, and we need to leave now.”

  Nothing.

  “It’s going to go a lot better for you if you come here. If I find you hiding, things aren’t going to go your way.”

  She didn’t reply.

  He should’ve known better than to trust a female. Didn’t matter the age—they were all the same. Never listened. Never did as they were told. Bossy and arrogant.

  Anger churned in his gut. It bubbled over and pulsated through his body.

  He clutched his gun and crept toward the hall. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

  His skin crawled, knowing how close the cops were. It was almost tempting to leave without the girl, but he wasn’t going to give her up. He’d worked too hard for her. Didn’t matter that she was being obstinate. He could work with that. She’d come around. He’d make sure of it.

  First, he had to find her.

  He flung open the bathroom door. It banged on the wall and bounced back toward him. He stopped it before it slammed into him.

  Flynn used his phone as a flashlight and shone it around the tiny room. Maisie wasn’t there, unless she was hiding. There were two places she could be. Either behind the shower curtain or under the sink. Under the sink would be tight, so he crept toward the tub.

  He flung the curtain out of the way.

  The shower was empty.

  He spun around and yanked open the cabinet door. Only his father’s ancient, decrepit toiletries.

  “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

  The kitten scrambled down the hall. It came from Maisie’s room.

  Flynn sauntered toward the room. He stepped inside and shone the light around. Nothing in sight.

  Haggard breathing sounded near the bed.

  “Found you.”

  Fight

  Flynn stepped into the room, listening to the heavy breathing. He still couldn’t see the girl. She was there. Oh, she was definitely there.

  “It’d be a lot better for you if you come out. I know you’re in here.”

  She didn’t emerge from her spot.

  “So be it. I’ll find you. Then you’ll wish you’d listened. Last chance.”

  Nothing.

  “Have it your way.” He lumbered toward the closet and yanked the door open. Just his collection of clothes and shoes. All things he’d picked up along the way—some bought for girls, others left from girls.

  Flynn spun around. “I’m getting closer.”

  Her breathing grew louder. She had to be under the bed.

  “This is your very last chance. If I find you, you’ll wish you’d showed yourself.”

  Silence. She had to be holding her breath.

  “If that’s the way you want it.” He took small, deliberate steps toward the bed.

  Gasps and heavy breaths sounded from under the bed. Ruffling noises as she scooted over the carpet.

  Time was short with the cops heading his way. But he was going to make her pay for refusing to obey by making her quake with anticipation. She would regret it. Oh, how she would regret it. Both now and later.

  “Are you under the bed,
Maisie?”

  The scooting stopped.

  “Don’t you know that’s where the monsters live? They lie in wait for little children—to gobble them up!” He pulled up the covers.

  She cowered back near the wall.

  “Come out.”

  “No!”

  He shone the light in her eyes. “I told you not to say that!”

  “Go away!”

  “You don’t understand how this works. I’m the boss. You do what I say. Not the other way around. Get out.” He motioned for her to climb out.

  She shook her head.

  Fury drummed through his body. “This is your last warning.”

  Maisie scooted back, pressing herself against the wall.

  “Have it your way, then.” Flynn reached for her, his fingertips barely missing her.

  She cried out and moved closer to the corner.

  He squeezed beneath the bed and grabbed her arm.

  The little brat scratched and hit him.

  Flynn yanked her, dragging her out from under the bed. “I told you you’d regret that!”

  “Ow!” She twisted and squirmed.

  “Now you’re going to listen to me.”

  Maisie struggled harder than ever. Flynn lost his grip for a moment, but managed to grab the collar of her shirt.

  She gagged, then kicked at him.

  He called her a derogatory name, then dug out his pocket knife from his pants and flipped out the blade.

  Maisie froze in place.

  “See this?”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Do you see this?” Flynn shouted.

  The girl nodded and swallowed.

  “Should I use this on you?”

  She shook her head furiously.

  He pressed it to the front of her neck. “I don’t want to, but if you force me to, I will. Understand?”

  “Y-yes.”

  “Finally.” He closed the blade and stuck it back into his pocket. “We’re going outside, and if you don’t do what I say, you’re going to find out just how sharp that knife is. Got it?”

  Maisie nodded.

  “Good.”

  Bang!

  Flynn froze.

  Maisie screamed.

  Bang!

  It took him a moment to realize what the noise was. At first, it almost sounded like a tree falling on the cabin. But it was the door.

  And they weren’t knocking.

  Bang!

  They were going to break down the door.

  Flynn swore, tightened his grip around Maisie’s arm, and dragged her out of the room.

  Bang!

  She screamed again.

  He covered her mouth.

  The brat bit him.

  He pulled away and shook out his hand.

  She hollered. It was the most high-pitched sound he’d ever heard.

  Bang!

  Shards of wood flew in all directions as the door shattered. Uniformed men burst inside.

  Maisie yelled out.

  Flynn had two choices. Leave the girl and run, or threaten her life. She was nothing more than a bargaining chip now.

  The cabin had to be surrounded. That left him with only one option.

  He whipped out the knife and held the blade to the girl’s neck. “Make another move, and she dies!”

  Several men pointed guns at him.

  “Don’t believe me?” He dug the blade into her skin just enough to draw blood.

  She screamed like he was killing her. In fact, some of those he’d killed had made less noise. The sound would be soothing if it weren’t for the guns aimed at him.

  Flynn shoved her back, dropped the knife, then reached for his two guns as he jumped behind a wall.

  He wasn’t sure who shot first, but gunfire rang out through the air. His bullets went straight for limbs. Several men went down, but that didn’t stop them from firing at him from the ground.

  Flynn used up all his bullets before spinning around and running away. If he could just make it to the kitchen, he could escape. Run outside into the trees and never be seen again. He knew the hiding places. He’d used them to hide from his dad during his drunken rages.

  A sharp, hot pain exploded in his shoulder. It radiated out in all directions.

  Flynn stumbled, but kept going. They weren’t going to take him down. He would die before he would go to jail.

  Another burst of agony shattered his right knee. Then his arm.

  Warm liquid soaked into his clothes.

  This was it. Everything was over.

  He spun around and smirked through the torment. His knee threatened to give out, but he wouldn’t let it. Not yet. He wasn’t going to the hospital, and he certainly wasn’t going to prison.

  “You think you’ve won? You haven’t!” He aimed an empty gun at the cops.

  Searing pain shot through his chest. The breath left his lungs. He couldn’t stand up any longer.

  The ground sailed toward him. He landed with a great crash. Everything hurt all the more.

  Warm, sticky blood pooled on the floor with a metallic odor.

  Shouting and chaos ensued around him.

  Everything faded away into whiteness.

  Nothing hurt anymore.

  Illusion

  Alex closed his eyes and held the peppermint mocha in his mouth for a moment before swallowing. He opened his eyes and looked around the table. Zoey sat next to him, and Nick and Genevieve sat across from them, holding hands.

  In the next room, the kids all crowded around the TV, watching a live concert and singing along.

  He couldn’t believe Flynn was actually dead. That meant no more texts or phone calls. No more people thinking Alex was crazy for claiming the guy was walking around free.

  It all made sense now that they knew the truth about Lloyd and Flynn Vassman, the serial killer twins.

  But even more important than Flynn being out of Alex’s life was the fact that Zoey was now off bedrest. The bleeding had stopped long enough for her to walk around, but she still couldn’t go to work or do much else. Hopefully soon.

  Someone’s phone rang. Nick pulled out his and looked at the screen. “What does Garcia want? I told him I’m not going in under any circumstances today.” He groaned then tapped the screen and held it to his ear. “Fleshman here.”

  Nick nodded a few times in response to who he was talking to, then his face paled.

  “What is it?” Alex exclaimed.

  Nick thanked Garcia, then turned to Alex and Zoey.

  “What’s the matter?” Genevieve asked.

  “Lloyd hanged himself after hearing about his brother.”

  “He’s dead?” Zoey asked.

  Nick nodded. “Now that whole twisted family is gone.”

  Alex’s mind raced as he tried to take in the news. Both of the murdering psychopaths were dead.

  That meant with Dave safely in prison, Alex and Zoey could get married and rest easy. They would have nobody else to worry about.

  Alex would soon be a police officer with a steady job and income. They would be married and raising a family together. One child wouldn’t be his, but only biologically. The child would need a father. A family. And he or she would get that, and hopefully enough love to make up for screwed-up genetics.

  Genevieve shuffled the deck of cards in front of her. “Anyone want to play a new round? It’s pretty quiet around this table.”

  They agreed to play. Alex couldn’t have been happier about the quiet afternoon.

  Zoey looked at Nick. “Have you heard how that little girl who was abducted is doing?”

  “I spoke with her mom yesterday. She says Maisie is doing great now. Bounced back after a couple days. That little kitten she got from the cabin has really helped a lot.”

  “Oh, good. I’m so glad.”

  “What about Flynn’s other victims? Have they been identified? I hope their families have closure.”

  Nick nodded. “All but one. We have one Jane Doe that we’re wo
rking on.”

  His phone rang again.

  Alex frowned. “Maybe you should put that thing on silent.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” He reached for the screen, but his thumb froze in place as he stared at it, his face paling again.

  “What now?” Alex put his arm around Zoey. “More good news?”

  Nick glanced up, a mixture of worry and anger crossing his expression.

  Alex’s chest tightened. “What is it?”

  He held out the text message. “Mason. Nobody knows where he is. He’s probably headed out this way.”

  “Mason?” Alex exclaimed. “As in, Dave’s son?”

  Nick glanced over at Ava, who Mason violated while thinking she was going to be his stepsister. Nick nodded.

  Alex closed his eyes. Mason was also the half-brother of Zoey’s other child. Corrine and Dave’s son. “Are you sure he’s headed this way?”

  Nick turned to him. “Can you think of anywhere else he’d go?”

  Alex exchanged a glance with Zoey. The kid would be half-brother to one of Zoey’s babies. Alex turned his attention back to Nick. “What are we going to do?”

  “I’m going to let everyone at the precinct know to keep a lookout for him. I’ll have to keep Ava close to me and let her know what’s going on. In the meantime, we’ll have to come up with other safeguards.

  Alex took a deep breath and nodded. “For all we know, he’s not coming here. Maybe he has some girlfriend he’s moving closer to.”

  “Maybe.” Nick didn’t look like he believed it any more than Alex did.

  Dex Preview

  If you’re enjoying the Alex Mercer series, you’ll probably also really like my novel, Dex. I think that if Dex and Alex were to meet, they would become fast friends. They’re similar in many ways—though in very different life circumstances! One thing they do have in common is that they have both spent time in Silverly. Remember the mental hospital where Saige took Alex? You’ll find it in Dex, too, though a little more dilapidated. (I enjoy throwing in Easter eggs like that into my stories!)

  Excerpt

  Dex Sheahan held his breath and readied his bow. He stepped back, inching away from the dozen or so insatiable wanderers. They growled, hissed, and reached out, scratching one another but not finding Dex. The rancid odor of rotting flesh and exposed internal organs made his eyes water, but he held still. They would soon forget about him and move on as long as they couldn’t find him.