Page 15 of Criminology of a Character

“You’ll be with me,” she argued.

“That’s not the point. Your video is evidence enough for a warrant. Call Barry. It’s a few hours’ plane trip, and if Kinley is here for an operation, he’ll be incapacitated for the rest of the day. If you charge in there without jurisdiction, you’ll ruin the case against him.”

“Right.” Bel pulled up Jameson Barry’s contact info, but it was of little use. She had no service.

“Get on my back.” Eamon tugged her behind him.

“But what if he leaves?” she protested as he lifted her into position. “One of us needs to stay here to watch.”

“You aren’t capable of running down the mountain fast enough, and there’s no way in hell I’m leaving you here.” Eamon launched into a run. “Even if this building has nothing to do with plastic surgery, Alex Kinley is a man who locked girls in his basement. I have no intention of letting you confront him without a bulletproof vest and an army of FBI agents helping me shield you.”

Agent Jameson Barry cursed,paused for a long moment, and then cursed again. “Alex Kinley was being watched. How on earth did he slip his detail?”

“He got away with murder because he threatened cops into evidence tampering. I suspect he still knows people willing to look the other way,” Bel said as she paced their bungalow living room. Being unable to monitor the hidden jungle compound had her anxiety through the roof, but Eamon was determined to keep her far from harm. She secretly loved that he was taking her safety so seriously, but Alex Kinley had destroyed dozens of girls’ lives. She couldn’t let him escape to ruin more.

Barry cursed again. “Emerson, I have to go. You did well getting us this video. Sit tight, and whatever you do, don’t go back to that building. I’ll see you soon.”

He hung up without a goodbye, and Bel tossed her phone onto the mattress.

“You should eat something,” Eamon said from where he watched her at the food-laden kitchen table. They’d agreed toact normal upon their return to L’Oasis, and ordering lunch at lunchtime seemed like the smartest move.

“I’m too anxious.”

“Isobel, please eat.” He shifted a plate closer to where she paced. “I can’t have you passing out on me. The FBI won’t arrive for hours, so all we can do is wait. Kinley got off because protocols weren’t followed. Let’s not repeat that mistake.”

“Is this how every day is for you?” she asked as she snatched a turkey slice off a bulging sandwich. “Knowing you have the power to do whatever you want, yet having to hold back because you won’t be able to explain the fallout?”

“Yes.”

“And it doesn’t make you insane?”

“I’m used to it.”

“Well, I’m not.” She shoved the cold cut into her mouth and chewed aggressively.

“Isobel, what do you need from me?” Eamon asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re panicking, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because this man killed girls in his basement.”

“And you think I’m freaking out because Abel locked me in his?”

“I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I just don’t want him getting away with his crimes again.” Bel spoke too quickly, and with a phantom ache in her ankle, she begrudgingly realized Eamon was right. Of course, she wanted to arrest Kinley because her job was to serve and protect, but the desire went deeper. All but one of Kinley’s victims never escaped his basement. Dozens had died down there alone in the dark. Bel had been one of the lucky ones. She’d escaped her captor, and she couldn’t let this monster go free to torture more women.

Eamon said nothing, but he picked up the sandwich and held it out to her. The fight fled her muscles, and she accepted it as she collapsed into the chair opposite him.

“You speak to your therapist about it, but you can talk to me if you want,” he said.

“Alex Kinley’s case was a few years ago,” she said. “I wasn’t involved, but every law enforcement officer sat glued to the news for updates, so when we learned he got off because of sloppy police work, we were devastated. I was livid that cops let him walk, and I felt sympathy for the victims, but in an abstract way. This was before Alcina cursed you to attack me. It was before Abel kidnapped me. I didn’t truly understand evil then, but now I know what it’s like to be a prisoner. My kidnapping was only a fraction as traumatic as what Kinley’s victims endured, but I understand them. I’m not just sorry for them and their families. I’m back in that basement yanking on that chain to escape. I know waiting for the FBI is the right thing to do. You’re powerful enough to invade that building alone, but it won’t hold up in court, and we need that unless you plan to hunt down and kill everyone associated with whatever is happening on this island, which I would prefer you didn’t. I don’t want you to change your name and disappear because you can’t explain what happened, but my brain still wants you to charge after him so I can take Kinley down myself.”

“How do you want me to react?” Eamon asked, his face so emotionless he looked carved of stone.

“What do you mean?”

“I want to know what you need from me,” he said carefully. “Because my first reaction is to climb that mountain and rip Kinley’s limbs from his body for you, then return home to do the same to Abel, but it’s more important I give you what you need, not what I want.”

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