Brad screamed into the floor, trying to reach behind him and stab, but the position made it impossible. She kept the ankle lock in place while Byford ran in and pushed his foot against Brad’s wrists. She pulled the submission harder, and it was clear that both Brad’s energy and willpower were fading away.
His hand outstretched, dropping his weapon.
“Go,” Ella shouted.
Byford cuffed the boy’s hands. Then his feet.
Ella collapsed against the wall, catching her breath. She studied the wound on her arm, knowing it would get worse before it got better. She crawled over to Ace, wounded but still breathing. Brothers in battle, she thought.
“Ace, are you okay? We’ll get medics here in a second.”
“Been better, been worse,” he said with a smile.
“You saved my ass,” Ella said. “Big time.”
Ace denied it. “No, your partner saved your ass. He distracted the kid, I just smacked him. Team effort.”
“My coin,” Brad said as he rolled onto his back. “You have to give it to me.”
Ella looked at Ace, telling him the truth with a simple glance.
“Brad,” Ace said. “That coin isn’t worth shit. You got played.”
Brad went to make a sound, but Byford stood over him with his pistol trained on him. The killer fell quiet.
“Game over,” Byford said.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Ella Dark and Nigel Byford packed up their equipment and readied themselves to leave Delaware. Sheriff Hunter walked into the room, a little less tired than he looked before. He must have gotten some sleep the night before, Ella thought.
“I’m sad you’re leaving us,” the sheriff said. “Mighty fine work on both your parts.”
“Don’t thank me. Ella’s the one who figured it out,” Byford said.
Ella appreciated the admiration, but it always came with embarrassment. “Thanks, guys. I’m sorry to be leaving too.”
Sheriff Hunter put his hands on his hips. “Sorry for doubting you. I feel an awesome fool.”
Ella stuffed her laptop, cables, and paperwork into her bag and zipped it up. The thrill of the chase was why she agreed to these jobs, but the feeling of packing up following a successful case was unbeatable.
If only there weren’t just as many problems awaiting her when she got back.
“Don’t mention it. I made enough mistakes myself. I got through three suspects before I found the right one,” she laughed.
“Not a bad average, all things considered,” said Sheriff Hunter. “Anyway, our killer is singing like a bird. Looks like he’s been waiting a long time to wax lyrical about his plans.”
“What’s he saying?” Ella asked.
“Well, his name’s Brad Callis, 24 years old. His old man, Donald Callis, was pretty strict on him as a kid. Used to beat him black and blue. He was planning on killing his old man, but he woke up dead a couple of weeks ago. Heart attack. It sent the kid down a spiral.”
“Of course,” Ella said. “His father died in his sleep. That’s why he had to kill these men in their sleep. That’s why he flew into a rage when Barry Windham woke up.”
Sheriff Hunter pointed at Ella. “Good thinking. All our victims were friends of his dad’s too. Part of the same coin collecting circles.”
Ella thought about the three lost lives, and now one more young life that would never see the outside of a prison cell again. Brad Callis was never given a chance, so he took away other people’s chances in a futile attempt at redemption. He had tried to erase his past through violence and instead ended up erasing his future. A tale as old as time, Ella thought.
“Meet me downstairs when you’re done. I’ll drive you to the airport,” Sheriff Hunter said. He saw himself out.
Byford unplugged the last of his cables, put it in his satchel and threw the strap over his shoulder. “Looks like there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “You’ve caught a killer.”
“We’ve caught a killer,” she corrected. “If you’d have been a second later, I might not be here right now.”
“What else are partners for?” Byford asked. “Some great moves you had back there. I’ve never seen a cop put someone in an ankle lock before.”
“Oh yeah,” Ella laughed, “that’s my secret weapon.”
Byford opened the door and held it for his partner. “Look, I’ll be honest, before I got here, I was worried.”
Ella shouldered her bag, checked the room for anything she’d missed. “You were?”
“Yeah. I’d never been partnered with a rookie before, and I didn’t really like the idea of it. But you’ve taught me a few things. If you want my honest opinion, Mia Ripley is a fool for letting you go.”
There came the embarrassment again. Ella felt her cheeks flush red. “I appreciate it, partner. I was hesitant too, and I judged you a little bit, but you proved me wrong. I can’t wait to get on the next case with you. If you’d be willing, of course.”
Byford held his hand out for a high five. Ella took it.
“Without a doubt. But hopefully we’ll get some rest before that day. Let’s get out of here.”
Ella shut the door behind them and headed out of the precinct with her new partner. Home was only a few hours away, and she couldn’t help but think of the trials and tribulations that awaited her. Mark, her father’s mystery, Tobias’s notes. Suddenly, this successful murder investigation felt like a minor victory.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Tobias Campbell lay on a stretcher outside McLean Hospital in Maine, around two miles from the prison grounds. After collapsing to the floor of his cell and coughing up blood, concerned officers ordered immediate medical assistance. McLean Hospital was the prison’s dedicated medical facility.
Campbell had spent the past thirty-seven minutes spluttering, convulsing, and rolling his pupils into the back of his head. Only the whites of his eyes were visible, like he was some kind of hellish demon.
The whole time, he’d manipulated his pulse to give the impression his internal organs were failing him.
“About time this happened,” one of the guards said.
“Tell me about it,” the other replied.
Two nurses wheeled Campbell up the ramp, through the hospital doors and into an elevator. One nurse stayed behind. In a few minutes, Campbell would be taken to a secure hospital room of which escape was impossible.
He couldn’t let things get that far.
One nurse. Two guards. Three total.
He squeezed the ball in his armpit, cutting off the blood supply to his pulse. The monitor around his arm began to beep. All eyes in the elevator turned to the dying man.
One nurse grabbed the monitor and checked the data. “He’s fading,” she shouted. “He needs midazolam.”
“He’s on his way out,” the guard said.
“Leave him be,” the other laughed.
Tobias felt the moment in his bones. His vision was impaired due to his method acting, but he could always sense the right moment to strike. Another trick from the magician. You just felt the best moment to misdirect the participant.