Page 78 of Stalked

Maybe she could get him to understand that. Make him think that she could understand the importance of his research so he would let her go.

“Yes. The baby is an unforeseen variable with me, I’m sure.” Rosalyn nodded. “It must mean I can’t fit into the conceived categories and corrupt your data analysis.”

He nodded, obviously glad she understood. “I forgot you majored in accounting. So you are familiar with data and experimentation.”

“Yes. You’re obviously the expert, but I do have some knowledge. I know the baby changes things.”

“You’re absolutely right. He does. I had to really think about what needed to be done when I found out you were pregnant.”

“Dr. Zenger, now that you’ve explained it to me, I see how important your research is. Like you said, the baby changes things for me. I can never be truly isolated from people when I have a little person growing inside me.”

“That’s exactly right, Rosalyn. I’m so happy you understand.”

“So you’ll let me go? You know I will never tell anyone about your research. Unless you want me to, of course.”

She meant it with every fiber of her being. If she could get out of this with both her and the baby unharmed, she would do whatever Zenger wanted.

Steve would hunt him down to the ends of the earth, but Rosalyn would stay out of it.

“No, I can’t let you go, Rosalyn. I’m sorry.”

She tried not to let the disappointment crush her. She needed to reason with him. “But what about the baby? Like you said, I don’t fit any categories anymore. I’m not useful for your research.”

“Rosalyn, you were an outlier even before the baby. I’m not sure you would’ve ever been statistically useful.”

“Then why are you taking me to Mobile?”

“I’ll keep you there until you have the baby. Then, unfortunately, I’ll have to kill you. Like you said, you’re not useful for my research anymore.”

“What about the baby?”

“Oh, he will give me a lifetime worth of data. Just think of what I’ll be able to do.”

Suddenly there wasn’t enough air in the car. Rosalyn reached for the handle of the door. She didn’t care that they were on the interstate. She couldn’t stay in this car a moment longer. She would have to take her chances with jumping.

Zenger swung the car toward the shoulder, slowing rapidly, grabbing her arm tightly to keep her from jumping out.

She fought him. Slowing was what she wanted him to do. It gave her a better chance to survive.

“Stop, Rosalyn.”

She kept fighting.

He pulled the car to a stop, both of them slamming forward as he hit the brakes hard. Now he had both hands to hold her with.

She didn’t care if she had to stay here and fight him for the rest of her life. She was not going to let him drive her somewhere where he could keep her baby and do experiments on him.

She felt a sharp sting on the side of her neck. It took only a few moments before all her movements began to feel slushy.

“No...” she whispered. She felt tears leak out of her eyes, but her arms were too heavy to wipe them.

“You fought the good fight. Now go to sleep.”

She tried not to, but in just moments the darkness pulled her under.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Steve did what he did best: worked the problem.

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