Page 105 of Fatal Vision

Chapter Nineteen

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AGLASS OFwater and one of her angina pills and Shelby’s mother was feeling better. After all the stress, the doctors felt it was a good idea to put her in the cardiac ward and keep an eye on her overnight.

Colton, her mother, Sabrina. All three of them in the hospital.

All three of them here because of me.

Shelby wasn’t one for pity parties, but the truth was the truth. She no longer believed Colton was the reason for all of this—she was.

The killer may have started with the three vets, but now he was after her. Somewhere along the way, he’d decided to not only target the team that had rescued Connor, but to take it from a cool, removed act of picking off the players, to a personal vendetta.

Why?

That was the real question.

If she could only figure out the killer’s motivation, all of this would make sense.

The chapel was on the first floor at the far north end of the building. Daniel had brought her a cane—a fancy one decorated with blue and pink roses. It was a little flashy, although she still felt like an old lady using it.

Down the hall she walked, dragging her leg like some horror movie heroine struggling to get away from the monster as she made her way past the cafeteria and closed gift shop. Nickelback followed, giving her a little bit of space but keeping a close eye on her just the same.

Tending to her mother had at least given Shelby a break from thinking about the revelations she’d uncovered in the past hour thanks to Colton. She still couldn’t believe she’d let him take the blame for Quan’s death. He was a slick talker, but she’d never before let him convince her to do anything she hadn’t wanted to do herself.

Did I want him to do it? Was I that shallow of a person that I would put my career ahead of the truth?

The thought made her sick to her stomach.

His voice rang in her ears.You’ve stopped a dozen different killers since that night. You did the right thing, letting me take the rap.

The chapel was cool and quiet, the lights dim. A cross with Jesus on it hung in the alcove, various saints forever eulogized in the stained glass windows.

Her heart hurt over everything; her head throbbed as she tried once more to bring the memories up from her brain. The truth, the pain she had caused, even the life she’d taken—regardless of the fact Iman Quan had himself, taken countless innocent lives during his time as the leader of 12 September—would forever be on her soul.

Killing him hadn’t stopped the group. Another egomaniac had taken his place and they continued to wreak havoc all over the world.

You saved me. Saved the rescue mission.

Why couldn’t she believe that was enough?

She wrestled her leg into a pew and sat. Candles flickered at the feet of the crucifixion statue. Shelby bowed her head and prayed.

SHE MUST HAVEfallen asleep, because she woke to the sound of male voices, low and earnest, arguing at the back of the chapel.

A yawn kicked up from her chest, and Shelby rubbed the back of her now-kinked neck, turning to see who was arguing.

Nickelback stood in the middle of the aisle blocking Theo’s way. “I said no.”

“Do you really want me to arrest you too?”

“On what? False charges like you brought against Colton?”

“Oh, I’ll find something, Jon Wolfe.” Theo looked crazed. His usually tidy hair stuck out in all directions. His normally tucked shirt hung outside his belt. “That’s right. I know who you are. You were a juvenile delinquent just like Bells. Joined the Navy so you didn’t end up in jail. Then you got quietly asked to leave. Why is that? Screwed something big up, didn’t you? And you’re still a screw-up. That’s why you can’t get a real job and have to hide behind Rock Star Security. I bet I don’t have to dig too deep to find something to arrest you for.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I left the Navy to take care of my sick mother.”