Page 55 of Save Me
“Yeah,” his dad joked. “Which is why, after this, I’m ready to retire and appoint you chief of police. Of course, there’s some red tape we’ll have to go through first, but after today, I think everyone will be on board with my decision.”
“Dad,” he started to say but stopped. How many years had his dad egged him to take the job? For so long, he’d turned it down because it didn’t suit him. Now, however, he couldn’t think of anything better. “Thanks,” he finished with a smile.
“Sure thing.” His dad sighed. “Now, since I have to spend the rest of the night here being checked out, why don’t you take your family home?” He motioned to Amber and Emma. “Get some rest. I’m sure there will be more answers in the morning.”
He gently took Emma from Amber’s arms and then walked hand in hand with her out of the hospital. Since his Jeep was still at his parents’ place, they hitched a ride with Officer Myers back to their place. Amber wanted Emma to be able to wake up in her own bed.
When they stepped into the house, Amber followed him as he carried Emma up the stairs.
“Here,” she said, turning on a low light. “Let’s get her in some pajamas.” She stopped. “What?”
He turned to where Amber was looking. There, on the left side of Emma’s bedroom, was a brand-new bookshelf that filled the entire wall. He smiled when he saw it was completely full of books.
“I’d say my mother’s birthday gift to Emma came a little early,” he said softly. “She’s going to love this when she wakes up.”
Amber stood there, her bandaged hands over her mouth as her eyes teared up.
Leaving Emma asleep and fully dressed on the bed, he walked over and wrapped his arms around her.
“You’re okay,” he said to her again. “She’s okay. We’re okay.” He rocked her slowly in his arms.
“I know,” she said softly. “I now have something I’ve always wanted.” She pulled back and smiled up at him. “A family.” She kissed him.
He looked down at her and felt his heart swell at the thought of a future with her.
Then he stepped back, bent down, and held her hand in his. “I don’t have a ring. I should, but I don’t. We can get one together. The three of us.” He shook his head, feeling suddenly very stupid. He should have thought of what to say. He should have planned this better. “I should have planned this better,” he said, kicking himself and causing Amber to smile.
“You’re doing fine. Go on,” she encouraged him.
He cleared his throat. “Okay.” He took a deep breath. “Amber…” He frowned. “I don’t even know your middle name.”
She laughed. “Neither do I. I forgot to ask.”
He nodded. “Amber, middle name to be filled in later, Oswald, I want to make a new life with you. Here, in the Keys. With you and with Emma. Will you marry me?”
She smiled and then tugged on his hands until he stood up next to her. “Yes, I will.”
“Does this mean I have a daddy now?” Emma’s voice had them both turning.
“Yes,” Amber laughed. “It does.”
EPILOGUE
Answers did come in the following day. Loads of them.
First off, Corey John Willingham, aka CJ Willy, had first been arrested at the tender age of thirteen. The arresting officer was none other than Daryl Collins, who not only bailed CJ out several more times that year but had seemingly taken him under his wing.
It was reported that CJ, having no family of his own, had been in and out of foster homes until the time that Collins and Alcott took him in.
They had even matched DNA left in the shipping container with CJ’s. Even though the kid liked to use condoms on his victims, there was enough there to prosecute him for a few more murders besides the recent ones.
The stolen car supplied enough evidence to put CJ away for life. There was obvious evidence of the murders of the two women, including video of the heinous acts. There were several more videos of women they had yet to find. Four more to be exact.
CJ explained how he targeted runaways. It was easy to lure them away since they had that in common.
They were matching the duct tape found in the back seat and the rope with fibers left on both of those bodies. He liked to burn his victims. Enjoyed the smell of burning flesh. He even talked on one of the videos about how wonderful it tasted. The kid was a complete psychopath. Just like Collins and Alcott had been.
The tire iron in the back seat was in fact the murder weapon used to kill Mike Rowlett, a twenty-year-old student who had just been hired on at Oscar’s for the summer months.
