The Next Accident - Lisa Gardner [137]
“Because you found me!” Kimberly spat at her captor.
“Because you fell into my fucking lap!” Andrews roared. “Nearly twenty years after that man took my own daughters from me, and here you are! Beautiful, smart, poised to become everything a father could want for his girl. Why should he be so lucky? Why should he have everything that I deserved? Goddamn interfering shrink!”
His gaze suddenly shot back to Rainie. She froze, having made it two steps closer to her gun, and wanting that to be progress, while knowing it wasn’t enough. Andrews was frowning at her. Had he figured out that she’d cut the distance to her discarded handgun? He studied her hard.
“You were one of Quincy’s patients,” Rainie said quickly, seeking to distract him again, and holding perfectly still now that his attention was back upon her.
“I was not!” Andrews replied indignantly. “My stupid ex-wife was. She went to him for help. She had all sorts of outlandish stories that I was an unfit father and that my children were terrified of me.”
“You abused your kids?” Your turn, Kimberly, she thought frantically. I’ll keep him talking, you think of something brilliant.
“I did not, I did not, I did not. They were my girls! I loved them, I wanted what was best for them. It was their mother who could not appreciate their potential. She wanted to coddle them, give them time to play, give them time to grow. For God’s sake, you do not get anywhere in life by playing!”
“Quincy testified against you in the custody hearing, didn’t he?” Rainie persisted. “His opinion helped sway the judge.” Come on, Kimberly. We have to do something here. Fast.
“He told the judge that I suffered from severe personality disorder! He told people that in his professional opinion I was manipulative, egocentric, and totally lacking in genuine ability to empathize. In short, I exhibited psychopathic tendencies, I used my children as pawns to get what I wanted, and should they ever try to exert their own personalities, he couldn’t vouch for their safety. And I never saw my children again. Do you realize what that does to someone? One day, I’m a highly respected family man. The next, I’m a name on a restraining order! If I so much as said boo, they would’ve taken my license from me. I would’ve been totally ruined!”
“You haven’t done too badly since then.” Rainie shrugged dismissively, working on prolonging Andrews’s diatribe.
“After I moved from California to New York and started all over again,” Andrews countered. “All alone. With no one. Having nothing. You know, I might have had a second chance with Mary Olsen. She was pregnant with my child, maybe we could’ve been happy. But Pierce fucked even that up for me. Forced me to kill her before I ever knew.” Andrews’s voice changed. “Son of a bitch. Everything I ever wanted, he’s taken from me. No more! I’m the one calling the shots, I’m the one in control. He wants an expert opinion? I’ll give him an expert opinion. An expert in explosives. Goddammit, it’s time!” He suddenly yanked on Kimberly’s right arm. The girl had just raised her foot to stomp down on his instep. Now her foot fell to the floor harmlessly as he jerked her off balance. She grimaced and sagged despondently against him. Rainie grimaced along with her, her gaze going longingly to her Glock, so visible beneath the glass tabletop, and yet still so far out of reach.
They had to do something. No more time. Think, think. Come on, come on . . .
“Oh thank God! Luke!”
Rainie jerked her eyes to the space behind Andrews. It was a desperate act, a stupid gamble. Andrews twisted around, feeling the breeze for the first time and thinking he’d left himself vulnerable to a flank attack. No time for digging around under the coffee table for a gun. Rainie darted left and grabbed the best