Page 27 of Scent of Death (Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue #5)

W hen Tyler roughly shoved her into the cabin at gunpoint, Alexis was surprised to see the glow of a lamp on inside.

She frowned in confusion. A quick glance at the windows made her realize they were blackened out in some way.

As she crossed the small kitchen area, she could see that black plastic covered every single window, blocking the ability to see any of the wooded landscape surrounding them.

Her heart sank. This must be where he brought his recent victims to kill them. And even worse, there would be no way to know when Griff arrived. If he and the deputies had figured out where she was.

She was completely on her own with a sick, deranged man who enjoyed hurting women.

A shiver of fear rippled over her, but she did her best not to show weakness. Tyler was mentally unbalanced. There was no telling what would set him off.

A low moan caught her attention. Someone else was here! Maureen? She turned to see an open doorway leading to what she presumed was a bedroom. She instinctively moved that way, but a sharp command stopped her.

“Stop! Stay where you are. Sit on the sofa,” Tyler said. “I didn’t give you permission to go anywhere.”

Permission? He almost sounded like an overly controlling parent. Remembering what the FBI profiler had mentioned, she grimly realized Tyler fit the profile as predicted. Including the part where he had likely been abused by his mother when he was younger.

Was he echoing the orders she’d given him as a child? Was he killing his mother over and over again when he strangled a young girl to death? And if so, why the sexual assault? Had he been sexually assaulted by his mother as well?

The very idea made her feel sick. Especially as she had never realized Tyler was being abused.

She didn’t remember seeing any bruises or obvious signs of physical harm during their tutoring sessions.

Granted, he’d been a shy child who was severely behind on his education.

When she’d asked him about school, he’d muttered that he’d missed a lot of classes due to being sick.

She hadn’t pressed for more, but she should have.

Especially when she discovered that despite being in eighth grade, he read at a fourth-grade level.

Now she understood his knowledge gap was due to his tumultuous upbringing.

“Sit down,” he repeated, interrupting her thoughts. “I won’t tell you again.”

Moving slowly, she turned and lowered herself onto the sofa. She made sure to keep her hands where he could see them. “If Maureen is sick, I can help.”

“Shut. Up.” He overemphasized each word. “You are not to speak unless I ask you a question. Understood?”

“Yes.” She used her voice rather than nodding. If that was Maureen in the other room, or yet another of his victims, she hoped the girl would hear them and realize she wasn’t alone. “I understand.”

Tyler raised the gun so that the barrel was pointing at her face. Swallowing hard, she held his gaze. Was this it? Would he just shoot her now and be done with it?

Lord Jesus, please protect me and the woman in the other room. If You choose to bring me home to You, so be it. Let Thy will be done, Amen.

The prayer helped her remain calm. She did not fear death, but she had regrets. She wished she’d told Griff how much she cared about him.

How she’d fallen in love with him.

But maybe it was better this way. If she died in this cabin, she wanted Griff to find a woman to love. Someone to build a life with.

To have a family with.

Ironically, now that she faced her own mortality, she realized just how much she wanted that too. She would miss Griff, Denali, and her brothers and sisters.

But it seemed as if God had other plans.

As she watched Tyler staring at her with his cold, dead eyes, she decided that if she had to die today, she’d take him down with her. To do everything possible to save the woman who was in the other room.

No matter how this night ended, she would not allow this man to kill another young woman.

A renewed strength coursed through her. She could do this.

She slowly dropped her gaze. Antagonizing Tyler may not be the best approach. She needed him to drop his guard. To give her an opening that she could use against him.

What that looked like, she had no clue. Especially since he wouldn’t let her talk. She’d wanted to remind him of their tutoring sessions. To see her as someone he could trust.

Yet she sensed he was too far gone for that.

The seconds stretched to a full minute. Beneath her lashes, she breathed a sigh of relief when Tyler lowered the gun to his side.

It was the first time since he’d abducted her from the hotel that his weapon wasn’t pointed at her or pressing into her ribs.

Yet he was still too far away to make a run at him.

Patience was a virtue. The longer she could hold him off, the sooner Griff and the others would get there.

Another moan came from the bedroom. She lifted her head just enough to see Tyler glance that way. Her stomach churned at the thought of him heading inside to assault Maureen.

Would he keep the gun? Hold it on the girl? Alexis wasn’t sure, but if he entered that bedroom, she’d go after him.

As if reading her mind, Tyler moved backward a few steps to open a kitchen drawer. He pulled a length of rope and came toward her. “Stand up. I want you to sit in that kitchen chair.” He used the tip of his gun to indicate the hardback wooden chair.

She didn’t want to obey his command, but she didn’t see a way out. Rising to her feet and willing her shaky knees not to collapse, she took three steps toward the chair.

Another moan from the other room, louder this time. Again, Tyler’s gaze darted in that direction.

Taking advantage of the brief distraction, Alexis threw herself at Tyler. He tried to bring the gun around to shoot her but was a second too late. The sharp report of gunfire was so close it made her ears ring as her body slammed into him, sending him stumbling backward.

They landed on the floor in a tangle of limbs. She’d hoped he’d drop the gun, but he didn’t. Stretching out, she tried to grab it from him.

It was no use. He wasn’t as muscular as Griff, but anger made him stronger than he looked.

Tyler grunted and shoved at her to get her off him. She did her best to hang on. Then he slammed the gun into her temple. Fierce pain ricocheted through her head. Her vision clouded, and she feared the worst.

“You’re going to die,” Tyler threatened.

She blinked, trying to see past the pain, knowing he was right. Her efforts to take him down with her hadn’t worked. Her death would be for nothing. Once he’d eliminated her, he’d turn his attention to the girl in the other room.

The sound of a dog barking from outside the cabin had Tyler shoving her aside and scrambling to his feet.

He cursed and kicked her in the ribs. Another wave of pain exploded in her chest, and she instinctively curled into a ball to protect herself.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the bullet that would end her life.

Instead, she heard the thudding sound of footsteps. Confused, she rolled over, wincing at the pain, to see Tyler disappearing from the room.

No! He was getting away!

Alexis pushed herself to her feet, her ribs screaming in protest. Then the door to the cabin burst open. Griff and Denali rushed in, followed by Paul.

“Alexis! Are you okay?” Griff grasped her shoulders, his gaze raking over her. “Are you hit?”

“No, but you need to hurry.” She gestured to the bedroom. “He went that way. He’s dressed in a black T-shirt and black jeans. Please, don’t let him escape.”

Griff glanced over at Paul, then darted into the next room. She heard him gasp, then say, “Call 911 and get an ambulance here ASAP.”

“I don’t have my phone.” Alexis watched with a keen frustration at her inability to help as Paul used his phone to make the call as he followed Griff.

Denali rubbed against her, licking her fingers.

Seeing her K9 partner filled her with relief.

She wanted nothing more than to lower herself to the floor and wrap her arms around the dog.

Instead, she forced herself to stay on her feet. The woman in the other room needed medical attention. Alexis managed to cross the room, the pounding in her head making it difficult to see.

Or maybe that was because of the blackened windows. It was a little like being stuck in a cave.

“He’s getting away!” Griff shouted. “Hurry!”

The rumble of an engine reminded her of the four-wheeler Tyler had used to transport his victims. She fumbled on the wall for a light switch, then had to shield her eyes against the abrupt brightness.

“Help me,” a feeble voice croaked.

“I’m here. You’re safe.” Alexis squinted at the girl on the bed. Recognizing Maureen, she gave a prayer of thanks. God had guided her here in time.

The teenager was still alive.

“You’re safe,” she repeated as Denali followed her into the room.

A cool breeze hit her face, and she belatedly realized the window was open.

That must have been what Tyler used as an escape route.

She focused on Maureen with an effort. “The FBI and sheriff deputies are outside trying to find Tyler.”

“Is that his name?” Maureen asked. “It sounds so normal.”

Alexis rested her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but he’s not normal. He’s very sick and has killed other girls.”

“Other girls?” Maureen’s eyes widened in horror. “Really?”

“I’m afraid so.” She tried to smile. “But you’re safe now. He won’t touch you again.”

“Thank you.” Maureen’s expression crumpled as reaction set in. “I want my mom,” she sobbed.

“I know you do.” Alexis sat on the edge of the bed and focused on removing the strips of fabric that had been used to tie her to the bed.

Denali pushed her nose into Alexis as if to say, I’m here if you need me .

When she finished untying Maureen, she stroked her dog’s fur.

Then she looked at the girl. “Can you tell me your name?”