Page 90 of You Can Make Me

That is the truth.

“It is.”

As the words leave me, my heart is ripped to shreds.

Denny, I’m sorry. I love you. I’ll find you if it’s the last thing I do.

“Well, then. You’ve made yourselves clear, and there will be consequences for denying me. Take a look.”

He gestures with his hand, and when I turn to look, we’re standing in front of Dane and Walter’s house.

The police are spread out in front of the place and Dax is back on the porch once again. They have their weapons trained on him.

“Detective Brown, drop the device!”

“Dax. Please, buddy. Don’t do this. Let’s talk.”

“Walter, I’m sorry. I am. I can’t resist him.”

Evans snickers. “This was quite a setup. I’ve collected some talented people along the way, and they possess skills for all occasions. For example, when you need to have a good old-fashioned smoke out.”

He points to Dax, and I see that there’s a wire leading from Dax’s hand to the bushes in front of the house. In his other hand…

Dax holds a dead man’s switch.

“I’m sorry,” he calls out, his voice thick with tears. “I never meant to hurt any of you. I love you, Walter, like a brother. I’m sorry I’m not strong enough. Please tell my wife I love her.”

“Dax!”

Evans chuckles. “Three…two…one…”

Dax lets go of the switch. There’s an explosion, and he’s immediately engulfed in flames.

Walter runs forward, but he’s caught by two policemen.

I hear Dane and Kal gasp.

The flames travel along the wire and we all watch as they reach the potted plants on either side of the entrance andwoosh!The front porch erupts, the fire licking up the door.

Walter falls to his knees and screams.

“Are we having fun yet?” Evans rubs his hands together. “Hey, how does it work when you’re on the scene, Mr. Harris? ‘Now, back to you at the station,’ or somethin’ like that?”

The depraved old man gestures the other way with his arm and a new scene travels toward us.

“And…go Camera Two.”

My heart sped up.

Denny. Crouched on a floor, his eyes wild.

Baby! I call out to him, but a man steps out of the shadows carrying a lighter.

He flicks it on and grins like the devil with a new toy.

Twenty-Three

Denny