The Lake

“Mill Valley PD?”

“No. I’ll do it now…”

“Stay right there, Leigh. I’ll phone the cops from here, and I’ll be over in a coupla minutes. Don’t touch a thing.”

“He left photographs, Warren,” Leigh went on, sobbing.

“The bastard!… I’ll be right over, Leigh…”

Sheena turned to Warren. “I’m coming too. I need to know what’s going on.”

“Best stay put, Sheena. Might just complicate matters, you being over at Leigh’s house.”

Leigh gave a heavy sigh and shivered. She felt chilled to the bone.

Pulling her robe around her, she found the belt and tied it tight. Thank God for Warren, she thought. Deana was right. He’s such a sensible, capable guy…

She glanced toward the front door, wanting, willing him to be there. To tell her everything was going to be okay. He’d find Deana… Bring her home…

She looked at the prints scattered at her feet. She bent to pick them up.

A hand slipped around her waist.

She gasped, jumped.

Froze.

SIXTY

The hand tightened.

Another clasped her arm.

They brought her up.

Pulled her around.

Lips closed on hers. Gently…

Mace.

“Why, hello, sweet thing,” he said softly. “How ya been?”

“YOU! You BASTARD! What’re you doing here…? And where’s Deana? Tell me where you’ve hidden her. TELL ME!” Shaking off his hands, she grabbed his biker jacket, jerking him close. “Just tell me what you’ve done with my daughter. You’ll never get away with it. TELL ME—WHERE IS SHE?”

“Hey, steady on, there. And let go a’ me. Can’t tell you where li’l Deana is, but I do know she’s alive and well…” He thought about it, blew out breath slowly, and shook his head. “Y’could say she’s several country miles from bein’ all right. But she’s okay. At the moment,” he added with a grin.

“Where? Just tell me where she is, Mace!”

He backed off, into the shadows, his eyes glittering in the half-light. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he had a knife in his hand.

His eyes narrowed.

Pointing the blade at her, he whispered, “That’s for me to know—and our little friend Warren to find out.”

“Warren? Why Warren? All of Mill Valley PD is looking for Deana… never mind Mattie…” She looked at him uncertainly… Where is Mattie? she wondered.

Her heart froze.

She must’ve picked up my message by now…

“Really?” Raising his eyebrows, he sent her a chilling smile. “Wouldn’t count on that if I were you!”

He turned. Disappeared into the kitchen.

She heard the back door open, then snap shut.

Stunned, she wondered what Mace had meant.

I wouldn’t count on that if I were you…

Surely he hadn’t…

SIXTY-ONE

The doorbell rang. She leapt. Her stomach clenched…

Who…?

She looked around, half expecting Mace to appear…

“Leigh, Leigh! It’s Warren. Open up!”

Sobbing with relief, she ran to the door, slipped the chain from the catch, and opened it.

She stood there, swaying, tears making silver trails down her cheeks. For the second time in the last half hour, she felt her knees fold under her.

Warren lunged forward. Grabbed her waist. Kicking the door shut behind him, he guided her to the living room and helped her onto the sofa.

It was almost daylight, but not yet light enough to see clearly. Flashing a brief smile at Leigh, murmuring, “A little illumination wouldn’t go amiss,” he turned on the TV lamp. Its warm yellow glow lit their part of the room.

He asked gently, “Feeling better now?”

“Warren,” Leigh said in a small voice. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you. Did you call the cops?”

“Yeah. They should be here any minute now.”

“I didn’t want to get you involved like this.”

“I am involved, Leigh. With Deana.” More than you know, he thought grimly. “Try not to worry—we’re gonna get her back in no time.”

“I’m not so sure, Warren. You may change your mind about that. Take a look at these…” Leigh jerked her head at the photographs spread on the table. Tears welled up again.

Warren’s face darkened as he scanned the pictures. He went cold with shock and anger. “My GOD!” he breathed, his voice rising. “He left THESE? The guy’s a psycho, a sadistic fuckin’ maniac! How could he do this—to her… then take pictures… and bring them here…” His voice broke off.

“You’re telling me. I couldn’t sleep… came into this room—and found these here on the floor. As well as one he’d stolen earlier. I called Mattie. She wasn’t around… so I left a message on her answering machine. Then I found the two officers… God, it was just too awful.”

“You need a drink.” He went over to the wet bar.

They heard thumping on the door.

“Police, Ms. West. Open up!”

Warren left the bar. “I’ll get it. You stay here.”

Leigh nodded dumbly.

She heard Warren open the door, introduce himself. Then men’s voices. One said, “Where are they?”

Leigh got up. She met the cops coming down the hall.

“They… they’re…” She cleared her throat. “One’s in the kitchen—the other’s in the den… Through here, Officer. And you are?”

“I’m Officer Craig and this is Officer Bronson, ma’am.”

They showed their IDs and disappeared into the kitchen.

Warren looked at Leigh’s pale face, her dark-ringed eyes, and wondered if he should call her doctor.