Page 43 of Dark Angel
“Copy. I guess I have to trust you sometime.”
Snorting, Beth shook her head.“That would be nice.”
“If you two will stop arguing for a few minutes, maybe we will be able to take this guy down.”Ryder’s voice boomed in her ear.“Get your heads back in the game.”
“Moving in now.”Styles’ voice was just a hiss in her ear.“Stay back until we need you, Beth.”
Shaking her head, Beth slipped through the trees until she had an almost uninterrupted view of the clearing. She took out her binoculars and searched the face of the Warlock, but zebra shadows falling across him from the trees disguised his identity. The Warlock had spotted the little girl, and slid into the forest, crouching down out of sight. A few moments later Lucy came down the trail, eagerly looking in all directions. She walked into the middle of the clearing and turned around slowly.
“I’m here.” Lucy stared into the dark trees. “Warlock, Warlock, I summon you to come to me.”
Excitement at seeing her prediction play out before her trembled Beth’s hands. If Styles and Ryder kept their nerve, they would have enough evidence to prove that this suspect was the Pied Piper. If the killer fled the moment the others appeared, he would run straight to her, seeking escape in his truck, and she’d take him down and cuff him.
Mesmerized by the scene unfolding in front of her, she watched as the Pied Piper slipped out of the trees, looking all around as if confused. It was obvious he had played this part many times before. She tapped her com. “Open your com, Styles, so I can hear what he’s saying.”
The two taps on his speaker told her he’d heard her communication. She listened carefully, and the Pied Piper’s voice came through the earpiece as if from down a well.
“How did I get here and who are you?”The Warlock looked all around.“Was it you, my lady?”
“Yes, it was me. Take me to meet the Fairy Queen at once.”Lucy made some unusual hand gestures.
“First, you must drink the magic potion.”The Warlock pulled a small silver bottle from the folds of his cloak and handed it to her.“Where is your friend?”
“She isn’t coming. I want you all to myself.”Lucy grinned.
“Your wish is my command.”The Warlock smiled.“But first, you must drink the potion.”
“Go, go, go.”Styles’ voice blasted Beth’s eardrums.“FBI. On the ground. Hands on your head.”
Tree branches cracked, as Styles and Ryder came crashing through the forest, weapons drawn. As predicted, the Pied Piper took off through the trees, zigzagging in the direction of the fire road. He moved faster than she’d predicted. He’d obviously planned his escape and was heading straight for her, tossing his hat and cloak along the way. Assuming he’d veer back onto the fire road and make a break for his truck, Beth headed in that direction. Once she reached the fire road, she propped her rifle against a tree and waited. As he broke through the perimeter of the forest at a run, Beth stepped out from behind a tree, stuck out her boot, and tripped him. He crashed to the floor and his breath came out in a whooping sound. He lay stunned, gasping for breath, but wasn’t finished yet. To her surprise, he rolled over and jumped to his feet, pulling out a knife.
Beth took a step back and, moving slowly around him, watched his eyes, waiting for him to strike. She rested one hand on her pistol. It would be so easy to take him down and it would be a righteous shoot, but she needed to know what had happened to the other girls.
“I’m going to cut you up good.” The Pied Piper waved the knife back and forth. It glinted in the dappled sunshine, lethally sharp.
Heart pounding, Beth waited for the right moment and then spun and kicked the knife from his hand. As he yelped in pain, she landed a second kick to the side of his knee, taking him to the ground. In that second, she was on him, pinning him to the forest floor with her knees. “How do you like playing with the big girls?”
“It’s her fault, she made me come here.” The Pied Piper moved his head, his chin digging into the damp forest floor. “They’re all the same. They want to play the game. You figure they’re nice but they’re evil. Can’t you see that?”
Beth pressed hard into his spine, enjoying his whimper. They were all the same when they came up against her, like worms caught on the blade of a shovel. “You’re never going to kill again. She slid from the Pied Piper’s back, dragged his arms behind him, and cuffed him.
“I didn’t hurt Susie.” Rice tried to push onto his knees.
“Lie still, you sack of shit.” She looked over one shoulder as Styles thumped down the path toward her and smiled. “Oh, there you are.”
FORTY-FOUR
Unable to believe his eyes, Styles gaped at Beth. His attention snapped to the man wriggling under her knees. “It’s Ainsley Rice. Who would have believed that a travel nurse who specializes in pediatrics would go around killing young girls.” He offered Beth his hand and hauled her to her feet and then bent down and grabbed Rice’s arm. “Get up. I figure you’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Mr. Rice.”
“Just keep her away from me. She’s got crazy eyes.” Rice took two steps away from her, his eyes wide and staring. “She looks like a wolf just before it goes for your throat.”
Taking a firmer grip on the deranged man, Styles gave him a little shake. “There’s only one human predator in this forest today and that’s you.”
“I’m not a predator. I was just out for a walk, is all.” Rice indicated with his chin toward Beth. “Then she came flying at me out of the forest. I figured a bear had gotten hold of me.”
“What, can’t you handle a grown woman?” Beth’s glare was deadly. “Heck, you couldn’t even handle a child without drugging her first, could you? You’re a sorry excuse for a man.”
Turning Rice away from Beth’s glare, Styles urged him along the track toward the clearing. He slid his attention back to Beth. “Ryder is with the girl. We’ll head back. He’ll take her home and explain what’s happened to her parents. We’ll keep Rice in custody inside my truck and then take him to the Rattlesnake Creek Sheriff’s Office.”
