Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [30]
Was there any other way?
Toby howled again.
If there was another plan, she had no time to discover it. She had to get to Toby.
She moved quickly to the edge of the lake, took off her shoes, and waded into the cold water.
Jane!”
Eve jerked upright in bed, her heart pounding.
Joe opened his eyes, totally alert as he always was when he woke. “What is it?”
“Jane.”
“Is she having another dream? Did you hear something?”
“I didn't hear—or maybe I did.” She threw the covers aside. “I'm going to go check on her.”
Joe sat up on one elbow and watched as she grabbed her robe and headed for the door. “I didn't hear her call—” He stopped, tilting his head, listening. “Go check on her.” He swung his legs to the floor. “Now.”
She was already flying down the hall.
Empty bed.
No Jane.
She ran to the bathroom. “Jane!”
Jane's nightgown lay in a pool on the floor.
“She's gone?” Joe was behind her. He'd pulled on his jeans and was shoving his arms into his wool sweater.
She nodded numbly. “He's got her. He just came in and got her.”
“I don't think so. He would have to be pretty stupid to try to get by Mac and Brian.” He pulled the sweater over his head. “Get your clothes on. I'll meet you outside.”
Eve didn't argue. “Where are you going?”
“To the squad car. They might have seen her.” He headed down the hall. “Or Toby.”
“Toby?”
“I didn't hear Jane call out, but I thought I heard Toby howling.”
Terror iced through her. “Oh, God.”
“Maybe I was wrong.” He opened the screen door. “Toby doesn't often—”
And then they heard the howl.
The dog was staked out at the edge of the glade. All four legs were tied and his left hind leg was bleeding in several places.
Trevor muttered a curse. Christ, he hated those bastards who preyed on the helpless. Children and animals should be exempt from the cruelty of the world.
Yeah, sure. No one was allowed a free pass. He should know that by now. Close out the anger. Where was Aldo?
He had to be somewhere close to Toby to make the poor animal howl.
Trevor adjusted his infrared glasses and then studied the nearby trees.
Nothing.
His gaze shifted to the left.
Noth—
Maybe.
Yes!
A blurred shadow but definitely a human shape.
Aldo.
He moved silently forward through the underbrush.
The cold wind struck Jane's soaked clothes and sent a shudder through her body. She scarcely noticed as she crept through the sparse trees toward the glade. Be careful. The full moon that enabled her to see would also allow her to be seen. So far her memory had served her well. The glade should be right ahead. . . .
And then she saw him.
Toby!
Tears ran down Jane's cheeks as she caught sight of Toby's bleeding leg.
Hurt. That son of a bitch had hurt him.
And was going to hurt him again.
Someone was coming across the glade. It was too dark to distinguish anything about his appearance except that he had a large, powerful body, medium height and shoulder-length hair that could be sandy.
But there was nothing blurred about the glitter of the knife in his hand.
He dropped to his knees beside Toby.
“No!”
She didn't even realize she was running toward him until she'd almost reached him.
“Don't you touch him!”
He swiveled on his knees. “You're here.” His voice was exultant. “I knew you'd—” He screamed as the knife in her hand entered his shoulder. “Bitch!”
His own knife lunged upward.
A hand closed on her shoulder from behind, spinning her away from that deadly knife. “For God's sake, get out of here. Now!”
Trevor?
A crashing in the underbrush. Voices. A dozen flashlight beams pierced the darkness of the trees surrounding the glade.
Aldo cursed and leaped to his feet. “Whore. I told you not to bring anyone. Did you think I wouldn't kill him?” His knife plunged down toward Toby.
“No!” She leaped forward but Trevor was already there, knocking Aldo to the ground and then rolling sideways to protect Toby.
“Stop! Lay down your weapons.” Joe's voice. Joe running out of the forest toward them.
Aldo