Page 142 of I'm Watching You

He got in the front seat of the van and turned on aGPSsystem. The system tracked a bug he’d put under theback bumper of Lindsay’s car. Since he’d seen the article about her in May and realized who she was he’d been determined never to lose sight of her again. At any given moment, he could find her.

TheGPSbeeped and at first he thought it was broken. Then he realized she was parked in the hospital deck. He turned on the engine and started to patrol the decks. He found her car on the bottom level. With the van still running, he got out and checked her car. It was locked. He scanned the deck but there was no sign of her.

Something was wrong.

The feeling was as intense as it had been those years Debra had lived with her husband. He’d known she was in danger then but he’d bowed to her will and left them alone as she’d begged him to.

He got back in the van and pulled a disposable cell from his pocket and he dialed Lindsay’s number. It rang six times and then went to voice mail. Something was very wrong. She always answered her cell.

He closed his eyes.Think. Where could she be? Think.

The Guardian’s mind raced. This morning when Lindsay had been in Ruby’s kitchen, Ruby had spoken of the San Francisco murder. The Carmichael woman. She’d also mentioned that Nicole’s husband, Richard Braxton, was from San Francisco.

It made sense that Richard would eventually find Nicole. But he hadn’t thought it would be so soon. If Richard was in the area, he’d not likely find her, because she was safely hidden at the Kiers’. But Lindsay was an open target. He’d go after Lindsay first and use her to get to Nicole.

How could he have been such a fool?

He’d been so consumed with Kendall that he’d ignored a critical danger. He’d made the same mistake he’d made with Debra all those years ago, when he’d underestimated his brother-in-law’s rage.

The Guardian felt a rush of panic as he tightened his hands on the steering wheel. He had to think. Think like a hunter. What would he do with Lindsay if he were Richard?

He might kill her in front of Nicole as some sort of lesson. Richard would need a secluded place. The scenarios made the Guardian sick but also gave him hope. There might still be time.

Nicole was at the Kiers’ and there was the possibility he could beat Braxton there. He dialed the Kiers’ home number.

‘Hello.’

He suspected the young voice belonged to Zack’s sister, Eleanor. She was a sweet kid and Lindsay had great affection for her. ‘This is Dr Begley at the hospital. I’m calling to speak to Lindsay.’

‘Lindsay’s not here.’

‘Is her friend Nicole there?’

‘She’s in the bathroom.’

Good. She was still there. ‘Don’t bother her. I’ll just call back.’

‘Okay.’

He hung up and threw the car in drive. He still had time, but how much he didn’t know. He raced out of the parking deck and cut through city traffic and onto I-95 north.

His heart pounded as he wove in and out of the traffic. He couldn’t screw this one up. He couldn’t.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled onto the rural road leading to the Kiers’ and slowly drove past their house. He parked in a driveway down the street, climbed out of the van, and hurried through the woods that separated the houses. Staying low, he moved toward the house. At first he saw only Mrs Kier, who was at the kitchen sink washing dishes. He needed to move closer to get a better look but feared being detected.

His pulse raced. ‘Get out of the way,’ he whispered.

And then she stepped aside and he was able to see into the kitchen. Nicole was at the table playing cards with anther woman and an older man.

He breathed a sigh of relief. There was still time. He hurried back to his van and prayed Braxton hadn’t hurt Lindsay.

The drugs in Lindsay’s system made it hard for her to concentrate. She was aware of strong hands supporting her as she stumbled forward. She couldn’t seem to lift her feet or keep her balance.

The area around them was quiet. Wherever they were was far from the main road. She opened her eyes and saw she was being taken toward an old barn.

The air was thick with humidity and sweat had dampened the back of her shirt. ‘Where are we?’ she muttered.

The man holding her laughed. ‘We are in a very private place. Where no one will bother us. Where no one will hear you scream.’

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