I cleared my throat. “I am now.”
After interviewing me, the police left to find Patrick with the directions I somehow managed to give them. I also gave them Marcy’s number and was soon told that she was on her way.
“Is there anyone else you’d like us to call?” asked one of the officers.
I thought of Mitch and my eyes filled with tears. I shook my head.
An hour later, I sat in a hospital examination room, still feeling nothing and yet everything. My mind kept racing back to the look on Patrick’s face right before I drove into him. At the time I’d felt such a relief to have finally beaten him. Now I felt sick to my stomach for taking a man’s life.
But he had killed Mitch and John. Plus, he’d almost killed Marcy.
Still, I felt guilty. I was a nurse. “Life” was something I’d made a pledge to try and save. Not only had I murdered Patrick, but had taken some pleasure in doing it.
What kind of a person did that make me?
There was a sudden knock at the door.
I cleared my throat. “Come in.”
A medical examiner and a nurse stepped inside of the room. After asking me questions, they examined my injuries, which were minor, and then instructed me to try and get some rest.
“I bet your boyfriend is excited to see you,” the nurse said, after bringing me some more water.
“Boyfriend?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I saw him interviewed on the news awhile back. He vowed to never give up looking for you. I think his name is Mitch, right?”
A burst of joy rushed through me. I was so excited, I literally almost peed myself. “Wait, he’s alive?”
She gave me a funny look. “Yeah. I believe so. Haven’t heard otherwise.”
Mitch was alive!
I couldn’t believe it.
My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. “Can I use a phone?”
“Yes, of course.” She brought me the landline phone from the counter. “Just dial nine before you call anyone.”
My fingers shook as I dialed Mitch’s number. I almost didn’t remember it, I was in so much shock.
He answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
Hearing his voice, I began to cry.
“Sophia?”
“Yes,” I choked.
“Thank God you’re okay. We’re coming for you, baby. I’m with Marcy right now and we’re headed your way.”
I couldn’t believe it. I prayed that I wasn’t dreaming. “Mitch, I thought he’d killed you.”
He laughed grimly. “No. He came close… but I refused to die. Not when I knew your life was in danger. I’m so glad you’re safe now. I love you so much, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too.”
“We should be there soon. Is there anything you want us to bring?”
Smiling, I wiped the tears from my face. “Just yourselves.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
“Yes.” I closed my eyes. “See you soon.”
19
Sophia
Six months Later…
It was early morning; Mitch and I sat in my father’s old Yamaha boat, our lures floating in the calm water.
“Here.” He handed me a Thermos filled with warm coffee.
“Thanks.”
I took a sip and let out a sigh of content. I couldn’t imagine being any happier at that moment. Here I was, sitting on the lake with my man, not a care in the world. Quite a change from last November, when I’d been stuck in a cage and planning my escape. Fortunately, things were finally getting back to normal. Mitch and I were closer than ever. Marcy had broken up with Robbie, but was now dating a local artist and seemed to be deliriously in love. As for the psycho, Patrick, he’d died from his injuries. They later found evidence in the house he’d been renting, proving that he’d killed Leah—a diary entry confessing to the murder. They still didn’t know where he’d left her body, but Leah’s family finally had some kind of closure.
Mitch opened up a white bag. The smell of vanilla made my stomach growl. He reached inside and pulled out a sprinkled donut. “You want one?”
“Nah. I’m okay. Maybe later.”
“They won’t be as fresh later,” he replied, taking a bite of his. “Mm… you’re missing out.”
I chuckled. “Fine. If I catch a fish, though, you’re the one getting your hands dirty. So, you’d better eat quickly.”
“No problem.” He handed me the bag just as another fishing boat puttered by slowly. Two were in it, a boy around ten and an older guy I’d seen in town but couldn’t quite recall the name.
“You know them?” I asked after we waved at each other.
“Yeah. That was Rocky and his grandson, Kevin.”
The names sounded familiar. Both of them. I’d heard them brought up in a victim’s support group for women I’d recently joined. Rocky’s family had been terrorized by some crazy psycho, a couple of years ago. Strange how Summit Lake, a nice, quiet town, could attract such craziness.
“Do you know Rocky well?”
“I’ve known him for years. He used to be a paramedic and friends with my dad. Good guy. A little rough around the edges, but he’s got a heart of gold.”
I’d met Mitch’s parents, who lived in Florida, shortly after the incident with Patrick. They were incredible people and it was easy to see why Mitch turned out so well. Both had been teachers in Summit Lake before retiring down south.
I pulled out the other donut and was about to take a bite when I noticed something glittery sticking out of the side.
“What is…?” My eyes widened in surprise as I pulled out a diamond ring. Stunned, I looked at Mitch.
He grinned. “I swear, it looks much better when it’s clean.” He pulled out a wet-wipe and handed it to me.
Dumbfounded, I just stared at him.
His smile fell. “You don’t look happy. Maybe I’m jumping the gun too quickly.”
“Jumping the gun on what?”
He took the ring from me and cleaned it with the wet-wipe. Then he held it up. “You know, I was actually going to shove it inside of a fish and have you find it later while
