Mortal Pursuit

76

Cain hustled Ally out of the Porsche. She struggled fiercely, her bound hands thrashing. He hardly noticed.

His thoughts were on the final stage of the night’s operation, so long delayed.

Mr. Kent would not like hearing his daughter raped and murdered just outside the closet doors. He’d told Cain to do her quickly, painlessly. But after all the trouble she had caused, she wasn’t going to leave the world without a scream or two.

Anyway-Cain smiled-it would do Charles good to eavesdrop on the girl’s death. The experience would put him in the appropriately grief-stricken frame of mind. He would cry real tears in the presence of the police.

Up the flagstone steps with Ally. Into the foyer.

Cain paused to retrieve his roll of duct tape.

“For you, sweetcakes,” he said, twirling the spool.

He was feeling fine. The plan had worked, actually worked. In spite of every imaginable setback, he would complete his assignment and earn his pay.

Five million dollars … split three ways now, not five.

He stepped out of the foyer, then froze. Ally stiff at his side, both of them staring at the doorway of the den.

Charles Kent stood there, gun in hand, standing guard over his wife and the Danforths.

There was a moment when mother and daughter locked gazes, a moment electric with a shared thrill of anguish, and then Ally sagged in Cain’s arms, resistance sighing out of her.

Charles ignored the girl. His frightened stare was focused on Cain.

“They got free, found a phone.” The words spilled out in a panicky jumble, his voice an octave too high. “I had to stop them.”

Cain pushed Ally effortlessly into a slashed armchair.

“Very resourceful, Mr. Kent.” He spoke in a monotone, aware that everything had ended for him, his hopes and plans, his grand dreams-all of it ashes now. “Where did you get the gun”

“From your duffel bag. In the kitchen.”

Cain nodded slowly. “From my duffel bag …”

“I checked the clip. It’s loaded.”

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

He was very calm. He breathed in, out.

In. Out.

The little ritual he always performed before a kill.