Brad glanced around the small living room. "No, I think I want Carlin to come to me. It'll be safer that way." He looked down and smiled again; it was not the innocuous smile he'd put on for her when he'd been standing on her front porch. It was evil, his eyes shining. "You're going to call and ask her to come over. Tell her you need a little girl time, tell her to come alone."

They'd both be dead, that way. Kat gathered all her courage and said "No."

He hit her in the face. There wasn't a lot of power behind the blow, given her position on the floor and his, kneeling; maybe he pulled the punch a little, not wanting to knock her out, but it was enough to make her see stars.

"Did that change your mind?" he whispered.

Kat shook her head. She closed her eyes and waited for another blow. Instead he laughed. She opened her eyes just in time to see him stand and move away from her. Her brain screamed Run! Run! but her body didn't respond. She could barely move, much less actually run. but her body didn't respond. She could barely move, much less actually run.

But if he moved far enough away, if he thought she was down for the count- But he didn't go far. He saw her purse sitting on an end table, picked it up, and pawed through it, smiling as his hand came out with her cellphone. He began to punch b.u.t.tons, stopping his search and smiling when he found what he was looking for.

"Zeke home," he read aloud from her Contacts list. He came back and stood over her, one booted foot on her aching midsection, as he hit one more b.u.t.ton.

CARLIN JUMPED WHEN the phone rang. d.a.m.n Brad for doing this to her all over again! She was alone in the house. Zeke was working-the ranch didn't shut down for Sunday, or any other day of the year. Patrick was at the back door, just in case, occasionally walking the perimeter and making sure all was well. Another hand-she didn't know which one-was watching the road in. They both had radios. She didn't think Brad would show up so soon, even if he had been monitoring Google searches for her. He wouldn't fly, because traveling that way would leave a paper trail and Brad was nothing if not careful. She figured it would be several days before she had to worry about the possibility that he might actually show up. the phone rang. d.a.m.n Brad for doing this to her all over again! She was alone in the house. Zeke was working-the ranch didn't shut down for Sunday, or any other day of the year. Patrick was at the back door, just in case, occasionally walking the perimeter and making sure all was well. Another hand-she didn't know which one-was watching the road in. They both had radios. She didn't think Brad would show up so soon, even if he had been monitoring Google searches for her. He wouldn't fly, because traveling that way would leave a paper trail and Brad was nothing if not careful. She figured it would be several days before she had to worry about the possibility that he might actually show up.

She'd need to warn Kat to be on the lookout for strangers in town. If he didn't come straight to the ranch, he'd go to The Pie Hole. Just about everyone in town knew she used to work there. Maybe Kat should come here and stay, just close the cafe until this was over.

She didn't answer the phone. It was never for her, and whoever was calling Zeke could leave a message on his voice mail. The ringing stopped; just a few seconds later it started all over again.

Well, this could get annoying if it went on and on. Carlin grabbed the kitchen phone off the cradle and looked at the CID. Kat! Talk about coincidences. Strange that she'd just been thinking about calling Kat, and Kat had decided at the same moment to call her. She thumbed the "On" b.u.t.ton and lifted the phone to her ear.

"Hi!" she answered brightly. "Sorry I didn't answer the first time." She waited for Kat to say something, but for a long moment all was silent. "h.e.l.lo?"

She'd begun to think Kat's cell had dropped the call when she heard the breath, the sigh. That wasn't Kat That wasn't Kat. The fine hairs on her arms stood up. Even before he spoke, Carlin knew who was on the other end of the line. fine hairs on her arms stood up. Even before he spoke, Carlin knew who was on the other end of the line.

"h.e.l.lo, Carlin." Brad sounded so happy, so smug and content. "I'm at your friend's house. Come join us and come alone or things will get very ugly for Miss Bailey. No police, no ranchers, just the three of us. Understand?"

Her knees gave way. Carlin sank down to the floor, phone in hand. What she'd been so terrified of happening was actually happening...again. A friend was in mortal danger because of this crazy d.i.c.khead, and- She stopped herself. She had to think. "Is Kat okay? Did you-" Hurt her, kill her, oh G.o.d not again... Hurt her, kill her, oh G.o.d not again...

"She's alive, for now. Whether or not she stays that way is entirely up to you."

Carlin could feel her heart beating, too hard, too fast. She reached deep inside for some control. She couldn't allow Brad to steal her reason, her ability to function. He'd stolen far too much from her already.

"I'm not going anywhere until I know Kat's all right. Put her on the phone. Now."

Instead of handing the phone to Kat, there was a pause, then a muted thump followed by a scream. His smug, vicious voice came back on the phone. "Do you really think I'm going to let the two of you cook something up on the phone? You heard her. She's alive, for now. Now get your a.s.s over here and maybe she'll stay that way."

It was Brad who ended the call, leaving Carlin sitting on the floor with the phone in her hand.

She wasn't going to be responsible for another friend's death. No matter what, she had to save Kat.

Carlin went to her room. Zeke had given her a pistol for Christmas and she kept it there, close by her pillow when she wasn't with him. There were several things she had to do, other than get the pistol. She would have to leave by way of a window, and the window in her room would allow her to slip away without Patrick seeing her.

She'd check to make sure he was at the back door, before slipping out, and not walking around the house-and maybe right past her window at the same time she was crawling out. There was nothing to be done about whoever was watching the road, but she'd be on her way by then, and with luck they'd think one of the other hands was headed to town. She'd check to make sure he was at the back door, before slipping out, and not walking around the house-and maybe right past her window at the same time she was crawling out. There was nothing to be done about whoever was watching the road, but she'd be on her way by then, and with luck they'd think one of the other hands was headed to town.

She bundled up, dressing warmly and thanking her lucky stars that there was no ice on the road today.

Yeah, lucky stars. She was real lucky.

She unlocked and opened her window, letting in a rush of cold air. The window was close enough to the ground and she slipped out-one leg, then the other. A quick glance to either side a.s.sured her she was alone. She tried to close the window, but now that she was on the ground it was too high for her to reach. She didn't waste time with the window, just headed for the garage with her head down against the wind. A part of her wanted to run toward Zeke, not away. A part of her wanted to believe that she was no longer alone in this. But she couldn't take a chance with Kat's life, not even for Zeke-not even for the chance to say good-bye.

Chapter Twenty-nine

ZEKE WAS ALREADY distracted when the radio clipped to his belt crackled with a puzzled sounding, "Who's headed to town?" distracted when the radio clipped to his belt crackled with a puzzled sounding, "Who's headed to town?"

Zeke s.n.a.t.c.hed up the radio and spoke. "No one."

Micah responded. "Sorry, boss, but someone's headed toward the main road like a bat out of h.e.l.l."

"Which vehicle?" He had a bad feeling about this. He was already wheeling his truck around, back toward the house.

"The old blue pickup."

That was the one Carlin occasionally drove to town.

He was there in minutes. He pushed past Patrick, who was still posted at the back door. The time it took to take out the key and slide it into the lock seemed to be minutes wasted, when in fact it was only seconds-but seconds that might count.

"What's wrong?" Patrick asked.

"Tell me you didn't let Carlin get away."

"I thought I was here to keep some man out, not keep Miss Carly in?" Patrick's voice was touched with horror.

Zeke called her name. Once, twice. Nothing. He headed down the hallway into her bedroom, and stopped dead one step into the room.

The window was open, and Carlin was gone.

His first thought was that she'd bolted. She would change her name, get another job that paid cash, and he'd never find her.

Then common sense kicked in. He knew her; she wasn't a coward. If she made up her mind to leave, she'd do it straight up, so he wouldn't worry. She wouldn't run away, not without talking to him first. And she would have taken her Subaru, not one of his ranch trucks.

By the time he returned to the kitchen, Patrick and Spencer were there, waiting. They looked as scared as he felt.

He couldn't just take off, not knowing where she was headed, or why. He couldn't just stand there, either.

And then he spotted the cordless phone, not sitting in the cradle charging, as it should've been, but lying on the floor beneath the table. He grabbed it and immediately checked the last calls recorded on the CID.

Two calls from Kat's cell. One missed, one a couple of minutes long. He checked the time-there were less than five minutes from the time the call had ended until Micah had seen Carlin headed for town like a bat out of h.e.l.l.

Sunday. Kat would be at home.

He started to hit redial, then stopped, thought. He said to Patrick, "Let me see your cellphone."

Patrick handed it over. Sometimes service was spotty, but the phone showed two bars. Not great, but good enough. He called Kat's cellphone. After a couple of seconds he heard the call go through; it rang and rang, then went to Kat's voice mail.

CARLIN GRIPPED THE steering wheel and pushed the pedal to the floorboard, testing the limits of the old truck. She hadn't had a chance to save Jina. She'd never really had a steering wheel and pushed the pedal to the floorboard, testing the limits of the old truck. She hadn't had a chance to save Jina. She'd never really had a confrontation with Brad at all. He'd scared her; she'd run. If she'd stayed, if she'd fought him instead of going to Dallas, Jina would still be alive. She'd likely be dead herself; she'd known all along that Brad was dangerous, but this time- confrontation with Brad at all. He'd scared her; she'd run. If she'd stayed, if she'd fought him instead of going to Dallas, Jina would still be alive. She'd likely be dead herself; she'd known all along that Brad was dangerous, but this time- This time she would not not let that happen. She'd save Kat, somehow. Even if it meant she died, even if it meant her life was over, she would not lose another friend to the man who'd stolen her life from her. let that happen. She'd save Kat, somehow. Even if it meant she died, even if it meant her life was over, she would not lose another friend to the man who'd stolen her life from her.

Carlin kept her eyes on the road, willing the miles to pa.s.s more quickly, wondering if Brad had hurt Kat again after their call had ended.

It was true that Brad had stolen her life from her, but that was her old life; she'd found a new one here, with Zeke and Kat and Spencer and all the guys-it was new, and d.a.m.n it, it was good. It was a better life than the one she'd left behind. Not that she'd ever thank Brad for putting her on the run, but he'd been a big part of giving her something worth fighting for.

Her pistol lay on the pa.s.senger seat, fully loaded, one in the chamber. Thanks to Zeke, she knew how to use it. And she would, by G.o.d, fight for her life and the lives of everyone she loved. Brad knew her as a woman who would run rather than fight. He knew her as an easily frightened, manipulatable, scared mouse.

That wasn't who she was anymore. She'd changed-and she was more than willing to fight for what was hers.

THE PSYCHO WASN'T taking any chances. Kat could barely move, but he'd insisted on moving her into a kitchen chair and tying her to it, using a length of rope out of her own kitchen and her own d.a.m.ned duct tape. He placed that chair in the middle of the living room where she'd have a front-row seat for what was to come. taking any chances. Kat could barely move, but he'd insisted on moving her into a kitchen chair and tying her to it, using a length of rope out of her own kitchen and her own d.a.m.ned duct tape. He placed that chair in the middle of the living room where she'd have a front-row seat for what was to come.

Brad was almost giddy. He acted like a child on Christmas Eve, too excited to settle down. He'd checked his weapon, an automatic pistol, three times already, though she didn't think he planned to shoot Carlin the moment she walked through the door. That would be too neat for him, too quick.

Good. If he delayed, there was a chance she and Carlin might come out of this alive.

She knew Zeke had taught Carlin how to shoot a gun and how to fight dirty. The question was: would she panic and come here unprepared? Would she forget everything she'd learned and put herself at Brad's nonexistent mercy, or would she have a plan?

Brad was getting antsy. She'd told him it was a long drive from the ranch, but apparently he wasn't good at waiting. The antsier he was, the more likely he was to make a rash move when Carlin arrived. As much as Kat wanted to fade into the background and hope the f.u.c.k-wad would forget about her, she didn't want his impatience to make him act too soon.

She lifted her chin, took a deep breath that hurt, and asked, "Why her?"

Brad spun around, looked down at Kat, and c.o.c.ked his head. "What do you mean?"

"Why Carlin?" She would have shrugged, even tied up the way she was, but with her ribs injured shrugging wasn't something she wanted to tackle. "You know the saying, fish in the sea and all that. I mean, she's cute and all, but there are lots of prettier women in the world. Isn't there a Miss Texas out there somewhere who would incite this kind of devotion?" She chose the word "devotion" over "obsession" or "psychotic break" because she didn't want to get hit again.

A creepy smile bloomed on his face. "Jealous?"

Oh, h.e.l.l no. "Just curious."

Brad didn't answer for a few minutes. He checked his gun again, looked at the front door as if willing Carlin to walk through it. Finally he said, "She needed me. I saw that the first time I looked into her eyes, the first time she smiled. She was so...fragile. I wanted to take care of her, to shelter her from the world and...keep her."

Yeah, in a jar.

"That's actually kind of sweet." Gag. "Have you ever told her that? Have you explained how you feel? I know how guys can be. They bottle up their feelings and sometimes a girl just doesn't understand." And if this nut thought he had a chance with Carlin, maybe he wouldn't blow her away the minute she walked into the house.

"She didn't give me the chance to explain anything." Brad sounded kind of sad, as if he were feeling sorry for himself. "I took her flowers, left them on her bed so she'd be surprised when she got home from work. I rearranged her closet for her, put her prettiest things, the ones I liked best, in the center and separated from the rest. I called her at night, just to hear her voice and make sure she was okay. I watched her to make sure she was safe." He shook his head. "She didn't appreciate any of it."

"You need to tell her, you need to explain explain." And maybe, while he was trying to explain, Carlin could blow the psycho's head off.

Creep. G.o.d, how sick was it to break into her apartment and rearrange her closet? Carlin must have freaked; Kat knew she would have.

She heard the truck pull up outside. Carlin must've driven like h.e.l.l from the ranch to get here so quickly! Surely Zeke was with her. She could have stopped down the road and let Zeke out, so he could approach on foot.

Brad heard the arriving truck, too, and stepped to the front window to pull back the curtain. Brad heard the arriving truck, too, and stepped to the front window to pull back the curtain.

"Carlin," he said softly. And then he turned to look at Kat. "You're lucky, Miss Bailey. She came alone, as instructed."

You hope, you stupid s.h.i.t.

Chapter Thirty

BECAUSE THE CALL had come from Kat's cellphone, Zeke couldn't be sure that she'd called from home. It made sense to him that she'd be there, but it wasn't a given. She might've called from The Pie Hole, or from some other place in town. Common sense narrowed the possibilities to those two places, though. He and Spencer were headed toward Kat's house; Micah and Patrick were going to check out The Pie Hole. Kenneth and Walt were at the ranch, just in case Carlin returned there, alone or not. had come from Kat's cellphone, Zeke couldn't be sure that she'd called from home. It made sense to him that she'd be there, but it wasn't a given. She might've called from The Pie Hole, or from some other place in town. Common sense narrowed the possibilities to those two places, though. He and Spencer were headed toward Kat's house; Micah and Patrick were going to check out The Pie Hole. Kenneth and Walt were at the ranch, just in case Carlin returned there, alone or not.

He was tempted to dial 911 and get every sheriff's deputy to Kat's house right now, but more than the fact that he wasn't sure where Carlin had headed stopped him. If he was right and Brad had Kat-and would soon have Kat and and Carlin-blaring sirens and flashing lights and more guns weren't going to help matters at all. Carlin-blaring sirens and flashing lights and more guns weren't going to help matters at all.

Carlin had been so sure Brad would show up at the ranch. So had he, and that had been a mistake-the worst kind, because now two people he loved were in danger.

Spencer, who usually talked nonstop when they were driving anywhere, had been ominously quiet. They were more than halfway to town, maybe fifteen minutes behind Carlin, before he spoke. "Boss, do we have a plan?"

"Can't make a plan until I know what we're going to find." Fifteen minutes. find." Fifteen minutes. Anything Anything could happen in fifteen minutes. He did his best to make up some of that time, but he knew Carlin hadn't driven at a leisurely pace. Still, his truck had a more powerful engine than the old one Carlin had taken. That would help-it sure as h.e.l.l wouldn't hurt. could happen in fifteen minutes. He did his best to make up some of that time, but he knew Carlin hadn't driven at a leisurely pace. Still, his truck had a more powerful engine than the old one Carlin had taken. That would help-it sure as h.e.l.l wouldn't hurt.

When had Carlin become so important to him that he couldn't imagine life without her? He'd gotten along just fine on his own for years, and now after just a few months he was in a near panic at the thought of losing her.

"I'm a good shot, you know," Spencer said, his tone serious. "Never shot a person before, never wanted to shoot a person before, but if it comes to that I'll do what has to be done."

"Same here," Zeke said, though that wasn't strictly true. He wasn't going into that now; it was ancient history.

Fifteen minutes was a lifetime.

CARLIN SLIPPED THE pistol into her waistband at the small of her back, concealed beneath her parka and a long sweater, then turned off the ignition and got out of the truck. She didn't recognize the pickup she'd parked behind, but it had to be Brad's. It wasn't the car he'd been driving when she'd met him. Like her, he'd made changes. Living on the road would do that to anyone, she imagined, even Brad. pistol into her waistband at the small of her back, concealed beneath her parka and a long sweater, then turned off the ignition and got out of the truck. She didn't recognize the pickup she'd parked behind, but it had to be Brad's. It wasn't the car he'd been driving when she'd met him. Like her, he'd made changes. Living on the road would do that to anyone, she imagined, even Brad.

She'd only been to Kat's house once before, one Sunday afternoon a while back. The house was a neat one-story house on a quiet road of similar houses just outside of town. She had neighbors, but no one really close. On a normal day, she probably had no more than a fifteen-minute drive to the cafe. When it was icy, though, she stayed in the upstairs room where Carlin had once lived and saved herself the trip. If it had been icy today, would Kat be safe? Would Brad have found her at The Pie Hole or would he be on his way to the ranch, without a hostage, and walking straight into the buzz saw that was Zeke Decker? Kat be safe? Would Brad have found her at The Pie Hole or would he be on his way to the ranch, without a hostage, and walking straight into the buzz saw that was Zeke Decker?

It didn't matter. Kat was here; Brad was here. And now Carlin was here, too. The gun pressed into her spine, cold and hard. She knew how to use it, but she wasn't a quick-draw artist. Her advantage was that Brad wouldn't expect her to be armed. He saw her as weak, always had, otherwise he would never have fixated on her.

She saw the curtain in the front window move. Up and down the road, all was quiet. It was too cold for kids to be out playing on their lawns, too cold for folks to be barbecuing or washing their cars. She was effectively alone. Once bullets started flying, that would probably change...

Halfway between Zeke's truck and Kat's front door, Carlin stopped. If she just walked through the front door, she and Kat would both be dead. Inside that house, Brad would be the one in control. Kat would have served her purpose, and he'd have Carlin right where he wanted her. Maybe she'd die today and maybe she wouldn't, but she would not not sacrifice Kat. sacrifice Kat.

She didn't say anything, didn't have to. The front door to Kat's neat little house opened, and there he was, the man of her nightmares. Brad was still big, but oddly enough not as big as she remembered. Her imagination had made him more than he was, had made him a boogeyman when in fact he was just a man, and a sorry one at that.

The storm door hung crooked. He pushed it open, and it squealed. No, it shrieked shrieked, as if warning her to go no closer. "Come on in, darlin' Carlin," Brad said calmly, using the sickening cutesy name he'd called her before.

She took a deep breath. Her feet were planted a couple of feet apart; she was as steady as possible, given the circ.u.mstances. "No. Not until you send Kat out, not until I see that she's alive and well." circ.u.mstances. "No. Not until you send Kat out, not until I see that she's alive and well."