Page 63 of Saving Her Heart
"He's taunting us," Jax says. "Showing us he has her."
"Wait." Declan zooms in on the photo. "That's the country club pool house. See the logo on the equipment?"
"He left her there alone?" I ask.
"Or it's a trap," Jax points out. "He shows us where she is, waits for us to go get her... or that photo is hours old and she's already dead."
"Either way, we can't leave her if she's still alive," Captain Ramirez says. "SWAT will clear it first."
"We need to move," Captain Ramirez continues. "SWAT's ten minutes out, but?—"
"We can't wait that long," Jax interrupts. "If William hasn't killed her already..."
"I'm coming," I say.
"No," Jax, Declan, and the Captain say simultaneously.
"She's there because of me. Because of this whole sick game. I'm coming whether you like it or not."
Jax looks ready to argue, but Captain Ramirez nods, recognizing a losing battle. "Stay with the officers. Don't take unnecessary risks."
Twenty minutes later, we're at the country club. The main building is dark—closed for the season—but there's a light in the pool house. Through the grimy window, I can see Valerie tied to a chair. Still alive, thank God.
"No sign of William," Declan reports through the radio. "Thermal imaging shows she's alone."
"This feels like a trap," I whisper to Jax.
"Everything about this feels like a trap." He checks his weapon. "Stay behind me."
SWAT goes in first, fast and professional. Within seconds, they have Valerie and are checking for explosives.
"Clear!" the team leader calls.
We rush in. Valerie's a mess—mascara streaked, clothes torn, duct tape marks on her wrists.
"He's insane," she sobs. "Completely insane. I thought we were just trying to force you out, get the properties condemned. I didn't know about the bombs, the plan to kill people."
"Where is he now?" Captain Ramirez asks.
"The marina. His yacht. He's leaving tonight." She looks at me, and for the first time, I see genuine remorse. "I'm sorry, Kendall. I was jealous, angry about my life, and he used that. Manipulated me."
"We need to get to the marina," Jax says.
"It's covered," Captain Ramirez assures him. "Coast Guard's been alerted. He's not getting out of the harbor."
My phone rings. William again.
"I see you found my wife. How touching."
"It's over, William. Turn yourself in."
"I don't think so. You see, I've had a change of plans. Instead of waiting, Building 2 goes up in thirty minutes unless you're standing at a podium announcing your resignation."
"You said I had an hour?—"
"That was before you involved SWAT. Thirty minutes, Ms. Greene. The community center's right next to Building 2. There's a children's event tonight. How fast can you evacuate them all?"
The line goes dead.
