Treading lightly so as not to be heard, Rylan moved closer to the opening. His heart soared when he recognized Bree’s voice.
“If I’m the problem, and you have to get rid of me, what do you plan to do?”
“Kill you, of course.” The matter-of-fact way in which David said the words made Rylan want to burst out from his hiding place and confront the other man. But he couldn’t, because he had no way of assessing the situation beyond his viewpoint. David could have a gun to Bree’s head, or a knife to her throat. He could have Kasey in a similar situation. Challenging him could have dire consequences.
“But I’m going to have a little fun with you first.” The lustful note in the other man’s voice made Rylan’s insides grow hot and tight with rage. He bowed his head, breathing deep. Losing control wasn’t going to help.
“I’d rather you just shot me.” Bree. As much as he admired her bravery, Rylan wanted to warn her against antagonizing an adversary.
But her words had told him something important. David had a gun.
“You don’t get to choose,” David said. “Now come here.”
Rylan held his breath. If David touched her, the rule book would be ripped up. He would be forced to act.
“I can’t leave Kasey. She needs a doctor,” Bree said.
“You really don’t get this, do you? If I’m going to kill you, why would I care if she dies as well?”
While David’s voice was raised, Rylan risked a glance into the other part of the basement. What he saw chilled him. Kasey, who appeared to be unconscious, was lying at the bottom of the stairs. Bree was on her knees next to her with her arms wrapped around Papadum. David was squatting nearby with his back to the wall. His hands were hidden between his knees, but Rylan was willing to bet he had a gun in one of them.
The choice was simple. Would Rylan be able to take David by surprise before the other man could shoot Bree? He would only get one chance to find out.
Stepping forward, he adopted his military fighting stance, knees flexed, arms extended straight out, raising his weapon.
“Get down flat, Bree.”
Although he spoke to her, Rylan kept his gaze trained on David, who was glaring at him with fury in his eyes and his lips drawn back. Bree obeyed him instantly, pulling Papadum with her into the space under the stairs. David scrambled to get to his feet.
“Don’t move.” As soon as Rylan uttered the words, David raised his gun. There was the sound of a shot, the splintering of glass and the basement was plunged into darkness.
Rylan muttered a curse as something brushed past him. At the same time, he heard the battering ram breaking open the interior door. Seconds later, Trey was framed in the doorway at the top of the stairs.
“Careful,” Rylan called out to him. “The suspect is armed, and there’s an injured woman at the base of the stairs.”
Someone handed Trey a flashlight, and he moved to the top of the stairs. “This is Sheriff Colton. Place your weapon down, and step forward where I can see you.”
Nothing happened. As Trey began to slowly descend the stairs, one of his deputies took his place at the top and shone a more powerful light, illuminating the scene below. There was no sign of David in the basement.
Chapter 15
Kasey regained consciousness in the ambulance, her eyes filling with tears as she clutched Bree’s hand. “I thought David was a nice guy.” She managed to make herself understood, despite the injury to her jaw.
“So did I.” Bree gently smoothed the hair back from Kasey’s forehead.
“What happened after I blacked out?”
Bree hesitated. Kasey had been through enough. She didn’t need to know that after he had shot out the single bulb, David had used the cover of darkness to escape from the basement. He must have always intended to exit via the delivery chute. Rylan had pointed out the pulley system that he could have used to make a quick getaway. That was why he had also removed the lock and oiled the hinges on the trap doors. His careful plan was just missing one minor detail. He had never intended to leave Bree alive.
“Rylan and Trey are still finalizing things.” The truth was that a Bradford County deputy was following them in his own vehicle. Even more importantly, at least from Bree’s point of view, Rylan was also close behind. Trey had remained at the gallery and was using Bree’s office to coordinate the search for David.