Orion's eyes bulged against the field glasses when across the street, the light flared across the window blinds and two silhouettes jerked together and separated. And then the room went dark.

Lloyd entered. "What's going on?"

"There's some kind of engagement."

He squinted at Kelsey's bedroom window. "I can't see them. Can you see anything?"

She shook her head. "What's ETA for SWAT?"

He checked his watch. "Twenty-five minutes."

"Probably longer," she said gravely. Her shoulders sagged.

Across the street, the ceiling light illuminated Kelsey's bedroom. A single figure stood near the window, the silhouette more distinct. Orion put down the field glasses.

Patrice texted: Is that him at the window?

A minute later came the reply: Y

Lloyd said, "Is she okay over there?"

Patrice withdrew her Glock from its holster.

"Treece. What are you thinking?" He stared at her, his mouth half open.

She couldn't look him in the eye. "I'm thinking if I get a clear shot, I'm taking it."

"With your Glock? Have you lost your damn mind? You're gonna fire across the street into that bedroom? At a silhouette? Come on now. SWAT's on the way."

"We don't have time."

Aghast, he, stared her down. "And suppose he returns fire."

"He doesn't own a gun."

"Really?" He cocked an eyebrow. "You're absolutely positive about that."

"We searched his room, the Schmitzer's house. The guy's a pack rat. He saves everything. We would've found a receipt for ammo, a holster, something."

He gave her a skeptical look. "That's one helluva risk you're taking."

"If you're not comfortable with this," she said with a slight edge to her voice. "I get it. Go."

"I'd be more comfortable kicking down the damn door and rushing–"

"And by the time we get up to that bedroom, it'll be too late. I do not want to find that girl and her mother in pieces all over her bedroom floor. Not an option."

He threw his hands up in frustration. "SWAT's on the way. Just sayin'."

Her voice shook. "I gave the McKenzies the 'all clear' after we took down Jonathan Bowman. I'm not gonna let that family pay for my poor police work."

"Jesus, Treece. This isn't all on you. On us."

She watched the silhouettes across the street, her Glock at the ready.

"You really think you can hit that moving target from this distance?" he said in a sharp whisper. "With your pistol?"

"I got my deer rifle."

They turned to find Mr. Washington standing in the doorway wearing an elfish grin. "Winchester 70," he said. "With that rifle, you could put down a deer at two hundred yards. No problem."

"We're not deer hunting," Lloyd said to his partner, brutally serious. Once Lloyd was certain the old man was out of earshot, he said, "Now let's make a move or sit tight for SWAT."

She gave him a look that could cut glass. "I only saw two figures over there. One of them is missing. I'm not gonna stand here twiddling my thumbs while that son-of-a-bitch..." She couldn't finish her sentence. She went back to her phone and texted.

You and Kelsey okay?

There was no answer.

Lloyd cleared his throat. "I'm going across the street and evacuate the next-door neighbors before SWAT gets here. You coming?"

"Negative." She saw the hard look in his eye that said he barely recognized the woman with her hand on her Glock. She was beyond reason and she couldn't argue that point. She put the field glasses to her eyes.

On his way out of the room, Lloyd said, "Don't do anything you'll regret."

........

Skyden scrambled to her feet and shrieked when Walter climbed onto the bed, the box cutter blade raised above Kelsey's carotid artery.

"No! Walter!" she shouted. "Please don't! Please, Walter."

Kelsey fought her way out of the Ketamine's grip, her eyes wide at the realization of Walter on her bed. Panic trapped a scream in her lungs.

He jabbed the blade against her throat.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Skyden howled.

"You're ruining it again!" he roared at Kelsey then turned toward her mother. "So now you finally see me. We had to go through all of this before you could see. You never did. You don't listen to me! I should get rid of you both. Both of you!"

"Walter, please. Don't. Please, don't. Let's just calm down, okay?"

He squinted at the ceiling light. "Turn that off. It's hurting my eyes."

"You broke the... the desk lamp is broken. I can't help you if I can't see."

"I asked you to help make her pretty for me. That's all." Tears welled in his eyes. "Is that too much to ask? Just make her pretty for me."

"Get off me, you freak!" Kelsey reached for his face and then winced and cried out when she felt the point of the blade against her neck.

"Please, Walter," Skyden begged. "Please. I'll help you. I promise. I'll do whatever you want. Don't hurt her."

He stared down at Kesley with raging eyes. "Don't ruin this again. Don't do that. Be nice."

"Kelsey," said Skyden. "Do what he says."

"You almost ruined everything," he said. "You shouldn't have run away. We could have spent time together. We could have gotten to know each other. We didn't need to rush into anything. It could have been nice. Really nice. I would have brought you presents. It didn't need to be like this."

"Let me go!" she said, struggling to free her wrists.

"Stop that!" he shouted at Kesley and then turned to her mother, his face twitching. "Don't just stand there. We don't have time for that. No more distractions. Do it! Now!"

"Kelsey. Listen to me," said Skyden. "Walter wants me to brush your hair."

He pointed to the Scrunchie. "And put that in her hair."

"Mom," Kelsey bawled. "Do something."