Have You Seen Her?

Je

Mrs. Lutz cocked the trigger. "I am armed," she corrected in a calm, genteel voice. "Simply armed. And if I have to shoot you here, I will."

Je

Mrs. Lutz's arm had reached the top of her arc when she flicked her eyes sideways, the gun following. There was a flash of light, two deafening blasts in rapid succession. Then the sick thud of a body hitting the ground. A big body. Steven. No.

With a hoarse cry Je

"That felt remarkably cathartic," Mrs. Lute said from behind her, her voice dry. "Get up, Miss Marshall, or the next one will go between his eyes. And I promise you I'm a very good shot."

Neil looked up at her, his eyes glazed with pain. "Do it, Je

"Oh, to hear those words from your throat after all this time," Mrs. Lutz said, her tone now amused. "Get up, Miss Marshall. Now."

Je

"That's very wise, Miss Marshall. Now, Josh, go to the car. Dr. Nelson is waiting for you."

"No, Mother. I won't."

You go, Josh, Je

Mrs. Lute heaved an impatient sigh. "Joshua, I found the pills under your mattress. I know you haven't been taking them for months. Now go to the car and let Dr. Nelson help you."

"He'll dope you up so you can't think, Josh." Je

Mrs. Lutz shoved the gun against her head. "In the barn, Miss Marshall. Joshua, in the car."

Je

"Put the gun down, Mrs. Lute," Steven said calmly, "and Josh will not get hurt."

Pure relief coursed through her, leaving her shaken. "Steven" Je

"You won't shoot my son," Mrs. Lutz said evenly. "You'll just take him to jail and I'll get him out I, on the other hand, will shoot her with very little compunction. So what will it be, Agent Thatcher? My son or this woman? Decide quickly. I have very little time and very little to lose."

Je

"I have more than one bullet, Agent Thatcher," Mrs. Lutz said, with that same eerie calm. "And I will do anything to save my son. Drop your gun and kick it over to me."

After a pregnant pause, Je

Into the air. Followed by the soft thud of a blunt object hitting the ground. Mrs. Lutz's gun left her temple and she heard the rustle of clothing as the insane woman retrieved Steven's weapon.

"Take your son," Steven said. "But let the women go."

Je

"Into the barn, Dr. Marshall," Mrs. Lutz commanded.

"But you said-" Je

Shaking her head clear, Je

Breathing hard, Je

Not today, Je

"Just lean on it, honey," Je

Je

And felt the knife slide, the sharp tip nicking her own wrist. Pain pricked and blood flowed and Steven and Josh still struggled. So Je

And this time the blade stayed put as Kelly somehow summoned enough energy to lean on the knife. "Good girl, Kelly." A few jerks and another deep nick and Je

She ran to where Steven was still locked in struggle with Josh, his brown eyes wide, his face mottled red from exertion and lack of oxygen. Standing behind Josh, Je

But Josh fought hard, dropping his hands from Steven's throat and grabbing at Je

"Seven, six, five…" she muttered, then cried out when Josh dug his fingernails into her wrists, ripping at her already abraded skin. Just when she thought Josh would break free, an arm reached around her and pressed the mask across Josh's mouth. Neil. His hand dripped blood, but still he used the flat of his arm to hold the mask in place, forcing Josh to breathe the ketamine.

"Four, three…" Je

For a moment no one said anything, their labored breathing the only sound.

Steven pushed himself to his knees and looked at her through the sweat pouring in his eyes, his heart beating so hard he thought it would break free from his chest Her hair was gone, she had a new purple bruise covering the side of her face and her wrists were smeared with blood. But she was alive. And still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

"Are you okay?" he rasped out, choking on each breath he forced down his sore throat

She nodded. "You?"

"I've had worse." He grabbed his radio. "Officer down. Neil's been hit"