DiNolfo had called about an hour ago, letting them know that they had gotten a confession from Amos saying that Catherine’s death was Kendricks’ fault and they had squad cars searching the area. She was almost entirely certain that if Tristan was back, that Kendricks would be out looking for her. A chill shot up Bridgette’s spine as she thought about it.
“Come on, Tristan, let’s try to get some rest.” Reluctantly, Tristan followed her aunt into the den, eyes looking back on the windows suspiciously.
*
She is dangerous alone, much less with others to back her up and guard her. It’s time to take out the reinforcements. For me, they are just road blocks. People to get in my way. I already took out Jack. He would never be a bother to me again. Time to immobilize the big guy and separate the girl from the nurse, Kendricks thought.
She was so close within his reach now that he could almost taste victory. He had already locked up those annoying boys in the barn. They were already in there, talking to the animals, as if there was nothing to worry about.
Stupid children. I put the padlock on the barn and clamped it shut. Even the Piedmonte boy. No need to harm them. They were annoying and bothersome students, but they never posed a risk. But then there was that cop lurking around.
Bernard had taken measures to make sure that she wouldn’t be a bother to them too, at least for a little while. Bernard Kendricks hid in a blind just beyond the orchard where he would wait for Frank to make his rounds surveying the property. He knew their routines. He had watched their nightly comings and goings at great length. The fishing hut had proven to be resourceful once again. He could pick them off one by one until Tristan had no one to defend her. He would take her, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
He watched through his binoculars as Frank stepped heavy footed down the porch steps, eyeing the perimeter of the farm, his flashlight slicing the darkness as he looked for anything out of the ordinary. If Bernard Kendricks was a snake, he would have bit him. Just fifty feet away, Kendricks had Frank centered in his scope. Bernard followed him, watching his movements, waiting for the perfect moment. He was armed, rifle swinging by his side. If he spotted Kendricks he could easily take him down, but Kendricks had the benefit of disguise. Frank wouldn’t see him until it was too late. He was less than twenty feet away now. Kendricks would need to do something soon. As he watched his target trudge past the blind and into the orchard, he pulled his trigger and watched as the pop of the gun scared the black birds away, and Frank Kilpatrick fell to the ground with a thud.
*
“Did you hear that?!” Tristan asked Bridgette, wide eyed and alarmed.
“I most certainly did… Wait here! I’m dead serious, don’t move!”
Tristan wanted to spring into action but reluctantly did what her aunt told her. She watched as her aunt grabbed the hand gun off the table and ran out the front door. In the silence of the dining room she realized she was alone in the house. Suddenly every window and door was a threat, an entrance that he could sneak into, and creep out of easily and undetected. As the quiet of the house engulfed her, a creaking floor board beneath her sent goosebumps rising on Tristan’s skin.
*
Blake and Tommy kicked against the barn door hoping to break free, but the door didn’t give enough room to get through. Shane, barreling from twenty feet back charged at the door, but doing so only hurt his shoulder.
“What the hell are we going to do?! He’s going to get her!” Blake protested, close to tears.
“Move” demanded Cole as he pulled a hand gun out of his back pocket.
“Where’d you get that?!” asked Shane curiously.
Cole smirked, “Your Dad. Now move.” Cole took two shots, one after the other at the lock but missed. He took a deep breath and took another shot; sparks flew, bullet grinding against the lock and finally breaking the chain lock off of the door.
“Go! Now!”
*