Page 88 of Cold Threat

“Did you ... deliver justice to the woman downstairs?” River asked, her voice quivering.

“Of course. That’s what I’m talking about,” Wilson said, his voice tight. “I didn’t plan for her.”

At that moment, Tony wanted nothing more than to put his hands around Wilson’s neck and squeeze the life out of him. He was too angry to speak.

“But she didn’t do anything wrong,” River said.

Wilson looked at her like she was crazy. “If she wasn’t guilty, she wouldn’t be here. I have to set the fire soon, and I don’t allow anyone to burn alive. It’s inhumane.”

Michael Wilson was clearly insane. Tony could see that trying to reason with him was impossible. To save himself, River, and his family, Tony had to get his hands on River’s gun. It was the only way.

“This is taking too long,” Wilson said. He waved his gun at them again. “Lie down on the bed. Now. I’m tired of waiting. If you don’t do what I say, I’ll shoot one of you.” He hesitated a moment and then pointed his gun at River. “Either you get on the bed, or you can watch your girlfriend die. It’s up to you.”

“Have you used a gun before?” River asked.

Tony could tell that she was frightened. He was too. He had no intention of allowing this man to hurt River. No matter what.

Wilson shook his head. “Most of the time I put the guilty to sleep before they know what’s going on. I only use this when I have to. It makes them do what I tell them to do.”

“Shooting people isn’t easy,” River said. “Are you sure you can do it?”

“If I have to. I...”

The wail of police sirens began to grow in the distance. As Wilson looked away for just a moment, Tony took the opportunity and grabbed River’s gun. He stepped away from her and pointed it at Wilson. But before he could fire, Wilson turned back andaimed his gun at Tony. A second after Tony pulled the trigger, River stepped in front of him. Tony heard another gunshot and River slumped to the floor. Tony cried out the only two words he could find in that moment.

“Jesus, help!”

CHAPTER

FIFTY

Ican’t believe the chances you took,” Beth said. “If something serious had happened to either one of you...”

“Mom, we’re fine,” Tony said. He looked across the table at River. “I can’t believe what you did. It was so reckless.”

River shrugged and then winced in pain. The bullet had only grazed her arm, but she was still pretty sore. Thankfully, everyone was fine. It seemed that Wilson had purchased diluted insulin from a new source. Besides that, he’d had to adjust to an extra person being in the house. Aimee’s presence had helped to save her family’s lives. River believed God had arranged things to protect them all. Although it had taken a long time to get Aimee, Ray, and Beth to the hospital that night because of the storm, the amount of insulin in their systems wasn’t enough to kill them. If it had been, they might not have made it to the hospital on time. As it was, after an overnight stay, they were all home. River’s wound had been treated, and she was released as well. It really was a miracle that all of them had made it through.

Beth got up, picked up the coffeepot, and warmed up everyone’s cup. Then she put more cookies on the plate in the middle of the kitchen table before sitting down again.

“I feel bad about Angie,” Ray said. “I had no idea she knew we’d thought about fostering her. No one at the station should have told her that. What were they thinking?”

“Everything turned out okay for her, Dad,” Tony said. “I think Wilson built up things in his mind because of his anger. I doubt that Angie is upset about that now. She loves her family.”

“Still, we intend to visit her,” Beth said. “Maybe we weren’t there for her back then, but we plan to make up for that now. We may not be her parents, but we can be her friends.”

River was certain Angie would welcome people like Ray and Beth in her life. How could she not?

“I realize I keep apologizing to you,” Aimee said to River, “but I really am sorry for doubting your commitment to my brother. You took a bullet for him.”

“Well, I didn’t actuallytake a bullet,I kind ofmissed a bulletfor him,” River said, smiling.

“You didn’t know that,” Ray said. “What you did was brave.”

“What you did was stupid,” Tony said. “Please don’t ever do that again. I can take care of myself.”

“I know you’re worried about this Strangler person’s accomplice, River,” Beth said. “But please don’t leave my son’s side. He needs you. You both need each other. I truly believe you’re safer together.”

“Mom...”

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