Page 38 of Forgotten Girls

“Okay, I’ll grab my things.” Styles stood. “Ready, Jo?”

“Yeah.” Jo smiled at Beth. “He won’t slip away from us, Beth. I have a tracker with me as well to drop into his bag if I can. Styles can distract him.”

“Just don’t get caught.” Carter frowned. “If he discovers a tracker, he’ll shut down everything.”

“I won’t.” Jo followed Styles to the front door, grabbing her coat on the way.

Beth finished her coffee and placed her cup in the dishwasher. All night she’d tossed and turned, making plans and then dismissing them. She must get to the doctor and remove him from the equation. Once he was dead, there’d be no need for search warrants. His property would be open for them to legally peruse. She’d have full access to his files, but not his patients, although she doubted he’d have a list already. She’d make sure their confidentiality was preserved. The rest, his links to the dark web, would lead her to Shoebridge, the one she considered to be his second in command, and hopefully, Shiloh Weeks.

The network of monsters would crumble, each section removed from the ring by the FBI, but first she needed to take out the doctor. Cutting the head off the snake was her only option. Arrest and a long time in custody before trial would see his ring moved into oblivion, and left to continue with another monster in his place. His people would be scrambling to take over the empire. Setting up a plan and making it work would be difficult under the scrutiny of three special agents, but she’d been in worse situations. The false bottom in her FX bag would supply everything she needed for a swift and fatal encounter. Determination strengthened her spine and she straightened with conviction. She’d make it work, whatever the outcome, she must stop this monster.

“It’s been good getting to know you, Beth.” Carter rinsed his plate and added it to the dishwasher. “When this is all over, we should all go out and let our hair down.”

Surprised, Beth looked at him. “Yeah, well letting our hair down in Rattlesnake Creek is dinner and a game of pool at TJ’s Bar and Grill.” She chuckled. “I hear Snakeskin Gully isn’t much better and has tumbleweeds rolling up Main.”

“Ah, I forget you’re a city girl.” Carter grinned. “TJ’s is fine dining where I come from and a night drinking beer and playing pool would be my idea of bliss.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “Talking Jo into coming would be difficult. She’s a mom and, with Jaime at home, she rarely takes any time for herself.”

Beth headed for the door and pulled on her coat. She turned to look at Carter. The brown contacts made him look so different. “That’s a shame. I’m good to go. My wig is in my bag along with your mustache. Don’t forget your other hat.”

“It’s in the truck.” Carter pulled on his coat, pushed on his old brown Stetson, and followed her out the door. “I’ll wear my old hat until we go see the doctor.”

Beth climbed into the truck. “That sounds like a plan.”

After driving for half an hour, they arrived in Helena and easily found the hotel. They parked a ways away, where they could make out people coming and going. The streets were relatively quiet. Still being so cold and kind of between seasons, tourists were fewer at this time of the year. It was two hours before the doctor’s appointment with Jo and Styles. Beth yawned and Carter tossed a toothpick in his mouth and slid down in his seat.

Beth waited for ten minutes and then groaned, clutching her belly. At once Carter looked at her and she shrugged apologetically. “Sorry, it’s cramps. Just what I need right now and two weeks early.” She peered out of the window. “I need to find a convenience store and a restroom.”

“There’s one down there, same side as the hotel.” Carter frowned. “That diner will have a restroom. Do you want to head there, and I’ll grab what you need and bring it to you?”

Touched by his consideration, she shook her head. “No, you might miss the doctor and that’s our priority right now. I’ll be fine.”

“Do you figure it was caused by that animal trying to kill you yesterday?” Carter frowned. “Maybe you need to see Nate for a checkup?”

Beth reached for the door handle. “I’m okay but I must go. Now. I’ll be back as soon as I’m able.” She hurried along the street checking her watch. Time was moving way too fast.

FORTY-THREE

Once inside the convenience store, Beth purchased a packet of feminine products and a pair of panties. She might need proof she’d actually purchased them. After pushing them into her pocket, she dashed out of the door and into the diner. It was reasonably busy serving breakfast and she slipped through the dining area to the restrooms and then to the back door. She dragged it open and wedged it with one foot to examine the mechanism. It would lock when she left. After searching her pockets for the small roll of tape she always carried for similar situations, she placed a strip over the mechanism. The door now shut but didn’t lock. She slipped outside and moved along the alleyway. It serviced the hotel as well and she soon located the open kitchen door. Cigarette butts surrounded the entrance, and the dumpsters filled the space with the stench of rotting food. She peered inside the back door of the hotel, finding a small space with coats, hats, boots, and a large chalkboard with names scribbled against times. Ahead, she could see a pair of swing doors with glass circles giving a view of a busy kitchen. To her right was a passageway with room service carts, piled high with clean linen on the top and on one side a holder for dirty linen.

She checked her watch, Carter would have seen her leave the convenience store with a paper sack, and she doubted he’d be timing her, or mention what had happened to anyone. The front counter was empty and she made out brass signs with numbers written on them. After pulling on latex gloves from a box on the cart, she grabbed the handle and pushed it down the passageway toward room twelve. She needed a fast-acting and silent weapon, and during a recent undercover mission, Nate had given her the idea by supplying her with what looked like an EpiPen but filled with a tranquilizer. Inside her pocket, she’d obtained something incredibly lethal from the dark web. A similar device that delivered a dose of anesthetic drugs combined with enough fentanyl to kill a horse. It was small, effective, and easily dropped down a drain. Her hand closed around it, flipping off the lid. She knocked on the door. “Housekeeping.”

The door opened and the man who hurt kids stood in front of her in a waft of cigars and sweat. He didn’t resemble a monster. He looked like someone’s dad. Out of shape, with a greasy combover and a large belly hanging over the belt of his pants. She sucked in a breath waiting for a reaction. He should recognize her if he had her on his hit list, and she hadn’t even removed her coat. “I was just heading home and the manager told me to make up your room.”

“Are you sure?” The doctor looked at her and frowned. “Can it wait? I’ll be leaving soon.” He held the door open, with one hand exposing one side of a clean blue shirt, with the cuffs rolled up to the elbows.

Shaking her head, Beth stepped forward. Excitement at facing him at last made her heart race. Time was running out and she needed to act now. Forcing her words to remain calm, she lifted her chin. “No, I need to get home to my kids. I can make up this room now or leave it if you prefer.”

It was as if recognition hit him in a flash. He stared at her and took two steps back. In her time in the FBI, she’d come to the conclusion pedophiles were usually cowards. His face drained of color and his eyes flicked to the shoulder holster on the bedside table. The handle of a Glock poked out. She wanted to smile as the psychopath in her rose. Time slowed to the seconds between heartbeats as he telegraphed his next move and turned, diving onto the bed. As one of his pudgy hands reached for the weapon, heart pounding, Beth dived after him, landing heavily on his back. The doctor’s hand closed around the gun, and with his superior weight, he tossed her off him like a ragdoll, almost knocking the device from her hand. He was more agile than she’d imagined, and in the next second the gun came up and he straddled her, his huge belly crushing her bruised ribs. One knee pinned her left hand. She couldn’t risk losing the dispenser. It was her only escape. Remaining still, she glared at him. “Get off me.”

“I’m going to kill you, Agent Katz, and no one will ever know what happened to you.” The doctor’s lips stretched wide between flushed cheeks, covered in spider veins. “Coming here without backup was a big mistake.”

Gasping for air, Beth glared at him. “I’m never alone. You won’t be either when you’re burning in hell.”

“Not me.” He chuckled. “My cleanup crew will have you swimming with the fish by tonight. One prick of a needle and you’ll be asleep, but I’ll make sure they wake you before they toss you into the middle of the lake.” He pressed down hard on her, pushing the air from her lungs. “It’s dark in that lake and you’ll try to hold your breath, but death is inevitable. I wish I could be there to watch you die.”

As he reached for a pillow to push over her face, to no doubt use to render her unconscious, Beth pressed the dispenser onto the bare flesh of his arm and pushed her thumb down hard on the plunger.

“What have you done?” He stared at his arm, mouth hanging open and eyes wide in disbelief.

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