But the van was empty. Both Meredith and Wyatt had disappeared. Don’t panic.
The airbag had deployed. On the passenger seat was Nash’s service weapon. He reached through the window to scoop up the gun. Quietly he dropped the clip from the magazine. Fully loaded. He pressed the clip back into place, making as little noise as possible, then dropped the gun into his coat pocket.
Isenberg gave him a sharp look. ‘Wait for backup,’ she mouthed.
But then an echoey voice drifted up from somewhere farther down the embankment.
‘It doesn’t matter if you fight or not. You’ll be just as dead.’
Hanson. Adam’s heart stopped. But he forced his feet to keep moving around the van. Oh God. He held back a curse. Because he didn’t see her. But he did see a trail of blood in the snow leading to the underpass. Fueled by instinct and sheer terror, he ran down the hill, sliding more than once, picking himself up to run again. And then he saw her.
Knee-buckling relief warred with mind-numbing panic. She was alive, standing on her own two bare feet on the icy concrete of the underpass, the flash of relief in her eyes mixed with abject fear. Because Wyatt Hanson stood behind her, the fingers of his right hand wrapped around a handful of her beautiful hair, pulling her head back. With his left hand, he held a knife to her throat.
Her head was bleeding and her right arm hung loosely at her side. Her left hand was bent into a claw. But her chin was steady, as were her eyes as she met Adam’s gaze. He wanted to run to her, but he didn’t dare.
Wyatt’s nose was bleeding, his right sleeve was soaked with blood, and he had an oozing gash in his cheek. With the wound Linnie had made in his left arm, he should be vulnerable.
Except for the knife in his hand. And the mocking smile on his face. ‘Detective Kimble,’ he said. ‘So nice of you to join us.’
Meredith’s mouth was moving, but no sound emerged. I love you. I’m sorry.
Adam’s heart broke into tiny pieces. She thought she was going to die. And she’s apologizing. To me. He gave her a steady nod, then made his lips curve.
‘Me too. And not today,’ he told her quietly, ignoring Hanson’s barb and hoping she understood.
‘How very sweet,’ Wyatt drawled. ‘You got here in time, Adam. You can watch her die. Just like Paula.’ He pressed the sharp blade against Meredith’s throat, drawing a thin line of crimson. ‘Drop your weapon.’
Meredith was leaning back, trying to get away from the sharp edge of the knife. Adam knew he couldn’t shoot Hanson like this – even if he’d been able to draw his weapon fast enough, an instant killshot would cause Hanson’s arm to jerk and Meredith could bleed out before help got there. He wondered where Isenberg was. Probably mobilizing a rescue crew. But Adam couldn’t have waited. Hanson looked like he’d been ready to kill Meredith right then, whether he’d had an audience or not. Maybe I can hold him off long enough for Isenberg to save the day. It was the best plan he had at the moment.
Adam made a show of dropping his weapon to the ground, grateful he’d pocketed the one he’d found in the van. ‘There. Let her go. You know it’s me that you want.’
‘True,’ Hanson agreed amicably. ‘But I also need to get away and she makes a most excellent hostage. The Dr Fallon, admired and respected by all.’ He lifted his brows. ‘And loved by you?’ Adam’s composure must have flickered because Wyatt smiled. ‘Thought so. I haven’t decided if she’s more valuable to me as a ticket over the border, or as my last fuck-you to you. What do you think, Adam? Do you think I should kill her now so that you can be a part of it – like sweet little Paula – or should I take her with me and leave you to wonder what I’m doing to her? Because there are so many things I’d like to do to her.’
Meredith’s eyes slid shut, her throat working as she tried to swallow. Hanson repositioned the knife, drawing another thin ribbon of red just under her chin.
He’s baiting you. Don’t rise to it. Adam tilted his head, making his expression impassive. He hoped. ‘Funny, I thought you only liked them young.’
Hanson laughed. ‘Well, I may not enjoy them as much when they get to be as old as your Dr Fallon, but that doesn’t keep me from being up to the task. Rita and I have two children, after all.’
‘If you kill her, you’ll still have to get through a roadblock.’
‘True.’ He shrugged. ‘So I’ll take her with me.’
Over Hanson’s shoulder, Adam saw Deacon slide down the embankment on the other side of the overpass. He was still thirty yards away – probably the first place he could safely descend.
Deacon began to run. Twenty yards, ten, running fast and soundlessly, slowing to silently approach the mouth of the overpass.
Adam just needed to distract Hanson long enough for one of them to pull the knife from his hand, because shooting him was still out of the question. I need a distraction. Think. And then he almost smiled because Deacon stood at the mouth of the overpass now, using sign language to communicate those very words.
I need a distraction. One fucking distraction.
And then Adam knew what to do. Money. Wyatt’s true love. ‘Then what?’ he said to Wyatt. ‘What’s your plan if you manage to get away?’ he asked, moving a few steps closer.
Wyatt smiled, revealing a mouthful of bloody teeth. ‘I intend to live very well.’
‘On what?’
Wyatt’s smile faltered for a second before becoming arrogant again. ‘I have enough.’
‘I’ll bet you do. But you have five million less than you think you do.’
Bingo. Yes. Wyatt visibly paled. ‘What are you talking about?’
Meredith’s gaze flew up to Adam’s, her eyes narrowing. Smart, she was. She knew something was coming. And she’d be ready. Please be ready, baby, he thought desperately.
He somehow kept the desperation out of his voice. ‘I’m sorry to tell you, but an unauthorized person recently changed your password. Your bank should really notify you of things like that.’
Wyatt shook his head. ‘You’re lying.’
‘No, I’m not.’ Adam lifted his brows. ‘KingTriton89.’
Wyatt’s left arm, weakened by Linnie, dropped momentarily in shock. Meredith took that moment to throw herself sideways, but he still had his hand tangled in her hair and she didn’t get far. She was on her knees and Wyatt was bent over her.
And raising his knife in the air.
Adam didn’t think. He just pulled Nash’s weapon from his pocket, aimed at Wyatt’s knife arm, pulled the trigger, then launched himself at the man he’d called friend for so many years. Wyatt’s scream echoed in the enclosed space, as did the clatter of the knife as he dropped it on the concrete.
Wyatt grunted when Adam’s shoulder made contact with his chest, knocking them both to the ground, Meredith’s agonized cry slicing through Wyatt’s cursing. The fucker had dropped the knife, but still had her by the hair.
Adam shoved the barrel of Nash’s service weapon up under Wyatt’s chin. ‘Let her go,’ he growled. ‘Now.’
Wyatt smirked. ‘You won’t kill me. Not in cold blood like this.’
Adam didn’t want to. Not because he thought Wyatt should live, but because he still had too many questions. Mostly why? And why Paula? Where had she come from?
But I’ll kill him if I have to. Of that Adam was certain.
Refusing to respond verbally, Adam grabbed Wyatt’s upper arm and dug his fingers into the man’s flesh. He wasn’t sure where the arm was wounded, but the sleeve was soaked in blood so he hoped he was close. Wyatt bucked as his body spasmed, his eyes rolling back in his head. Yes. Wyatt’s hand opened and Adam freed it from Meredith’s hair.