Sinclair raised a questioning brow. “What are you waiting for?”
He tried the door and discovered it was locked. Stepping back, he shoved his shoulder into the door. It bowed and groaned but didn’t give. His shoulder stinging, he hit the door a second time, and this time wood splintered and gave way. The door swung open to a neat kitchen outfitted with avocado green linoleum floors, a green countertop, and white appliances.
Rokov flipped on the lights. He studied the room, which looked as if it hadn’t been used in a long time. As he crossed the room to the door that led to the front of the house, he heard the flip of a deadbolt and the slam of the front door.
Rokov raced toward the front of the house while Sinclair ran out the back.
Blood now racing, he yanked open the front door as a hooded figure dashed toward a truck across the street. Rokov chased the suspect, his long legs quickly eating up the space. He grabbed the guy by the hood and yanked back just as Sinclair came up, gun drawn. The man teetered off balance and fell to the ground. Rokov grabbed his cuffs from his belt, handcuffed him, and rolled him over.
Grady glared back up at them, his breathing sharp and quick. “Get the hell off me.”
Rokov hauled him to his feet. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t have to tell you shit,” the old man spat.
Rokov pushed him against the side of the truck. “Old man, I don’t have time for you. I’m trying to find Sooner and Charlotte, and if you know something, tell me.”
Thick brows knotted. “Charlotte and Sooner are missing?”
“Sooner twelve hours ago. Charlotte just this morning.”
“That son of a bitch Levi took them,” Grady ground out.
“How do you know about Levi?” Rokov said.
“Because he’s the bastard that killed Mariah.”
“How do you know?”
“When I saw his wife at the carnival. She was wearing an angel necklace. I recognized it. It’s the one I gave Mariah.”
“There are a million angel necklaces in the world.”
“Not like this one. I had it made for her. I know it was hers.”
“That doesn’t mean he killed her.”
“The bastard that drowned her in that lake took the necklace. It wasn’t on her when I found her.”
“You’re the one that moved her body?”
“I couldn’t bear to leave her like that. It just wasn’t right.” Old eyes filled with tears before he coughed and wrestled his emotions back in check. “When I saw the necklace, I started digging. That’s what I been doing the last couple of days.”
“What did you find out?”
“That he was in this area going to school eighteen years ago.”
“Thin.”
“Other women have died like Mariah. Raleigh. Ashville. Greenville. I got a look at Levi’s credit card statements. Levi traveled to all those cities around the times of the murders.”
Rokov would find out later what Grady had done to dig up the information on Levi. “Do you know where he is?”
“He’s not in that house. I searched every inch of it.”
“Then where?”
“There’s another house. In Alexandria.”
“Who told you this?”
A bitter smile tipped the edge of his lips. “I don’t worry about legal channels. I know how to get around and ask questions.”
“Where is the house?”
“First you’re gonna have to promise me something.”
Levi reached behind Charlotte’s head and tested the strength of the ropes. “Since you are so anxious to die, let’s get started.”
Charlotte stared at Sooner’s tear-streaked face. She was doing her best to be brave, but Charlotte only saw a young frightened girl. “So you want me to confess?”
“The faster you do, the faster this will all be over.”
And the longer she held out, the more time they might have for help to arrive.
“Don’t, Charlotte. I don’t care if he kills me,” Sooner said.
“I do, honey. I do.” She jerked at her chains. “I have nothing to confess to you, you son of a bitch.”
“I was hoping it wouldn’t be too easy.” Levi moved behind her, where he retrieved a large flat board, which he laid over her body. The weight pressed down on her chest, and though she could still breathe, the increased pressure made the effort more conscious.
Smiling, he moved to the pile of cinderblock and hefted the first. He laid it on the center of the board. “Are you ready to confess? No? I didn’t think you’d give up so early. The tough ones are the hardest and most satisfying to break.” He placed another cinderblock on the board.
How long could she last? A half hour? An hour? Fresh tears welled in her eyes. They were not for her own life but for Sooner and for the fact that she wouldn’t see Rokov again. For a moment, she nearly let despair wash over her. Surrender beckoned.
She closed her eyes and in that instant heard Mariah scream. “Coward! Baby! Quitter! ”
“I’m not a quitter,” Charlotte whispered more to herself.
Levi leaned closer studying her. “What did you say?”
She met his gaze. “I said I am not a quitter.”
“We’ll see about that.” He laid another block on the center of the board.
She struggled to breathe but still managed a grin. “So what is your story, Levi? When did you become the protector of the faith?”
He hesitated, the fourth cinderblock in his hand. “It’s a duty I was born to do. I’ve know it since I was very young.”
“So you always knew?”
“I had glimpses of my destiny. But I didn’t see the clear vision until eighteen years ago when you read my palm and told me to follow my heart.”
“What is it with you nut-jobs and destiny?” Sooner said. Her fists clenched, she glared at him. “I mean, who told you that your destiny is such hot shit?”
He glared at Sooner. “Shut up!”
“It’s a valid question,” Charlotte said. The longer he talked, the longer he delayed, and the better their chances. “Most of the crazies either think they are destined for greatness, or they hate their mothers.”
“I’ll bet he hated Mommie Dearest,” Sooner said. Levi swung around and leveled his gaze on her as he clutched the block. “Shut up.”
Charlotte felt no humor but forced a laugh from her laden lungs. “Hit a nerve.”
He stared at Sooner, and then as if wrestling a demon from his own shoulders, he turned and placed the block on Charlotte’s chest. “Keep talking. Soon enough the weight is going to crack your ribs, and you will barely have the weight to confess.”
Breathing now was deliberate and a struggle. Soon her body wouldn’t be able to tolerate the weight. And when she died, he’d go after Sooner. A tear trickled down her cheek, and Levi leaned forward and gently swiped it away with his index finger.
“How many women have you killed, Levi?” Charlotte whispered.
“Not women. Witches.” He retrieved another block. “After tonight, twelve.”
Charlotte struggled to breathe. “Levi, I’ve met your wife. This would break her heart.”
“My wife has no heart.”
And then it made sense. Levi’s wife’s tense manner at the carnival. The slight fear in his children’s eyes. “She left you.”
“Not for long. Soon she will burn. I plan to take a page from Samantha White’s book. Nail the windows shut and set the house on fire. I offered the five-year plea agreement because I knew I could wait to kill my family. I planned to make it look like she did it to get revenge on me. And when she’s arrested again, there won’t be anyone to save her.”
Levi laid another cinderblock on Charlotte’s chest. Five blocks now weighed down her lungs. Her ribs had bowed to the point of cracking and breaking. Sweat dampened her brow as she labored to pull in breath after breath.
He laid another and then another on her chest. Her breaths were short and shallow an
d her chest burned with pain.
Death, she imagined, stood in the shadows, and she sensed he wanted her but couldn’t take hold of her soul because Mariah stood in his path.
“Mariah,” she whispered.
Levi leaned toward her. “Who did you say?”
In that moment the basement door exploded open. Levi reacted instantly, snatching a gun from his workbench.
Charlotte, dazed, watched in horror as Levi turned, raised the weapon, and pointed it at Rokov. However, Levi shifted his aim and fired at Sinclair. The bullet hit her squarely in the chest and she dropped to the ground.
Rokov’s face darkened and instantly he fired and hit Levi in the chest. Levi stumbled back, raised his gun a second time. Rokov fired again twice. The bullets sliced into Levi’s chest, knocking him dead to the ground.