Phillips and another agent had just left when Gil returned. “Sorry about all this,” he said.
“Nothing you could have done,” Tony replied. “Besides, we heard the entire video. Unfortunately, Fisher ran out of time. We still don’t know why he was here, and why Gerard came to Shelter Cove.” He looked at Kate. “Wish we both knew more.”
“We’ve got a BOLO out for Fisher,” Gil said. “Maybe we’ll nab him and get some answers. There are a lot of unanswered questions.”
“You won’t find him,” Tony said.
“I have a feeling you’re right, but maybe we’ll get lucky.” He frowned. “By the way, his truck is still here. Have any idea how he got out of town?”
Tony shook his head. “Not a clue. Sorry.”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done, Gil,” Kate said. “I don’t know what we would have done without you.”
Gil nodded. “I was happy to do what I could to help. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through so much. Hope things turn out right for you.” He glanced at Tony. “Do we need to get protection for Miss O’Brien?”
“I don’t think so,” Tony replied. “I seriously doubt she’s in any danger, but let me get back to you on that.” He looked at Kate. “Let’s go to your house. I’m tired and hungry. I’m sure you feel the same way.”
“I do,” Kate agreed. “And I’d really like to soak my feet.”
Gil looked at his watch. “Wow, it’s getting late. We’ll probably be here another hour or so. Just call me. . . .”
“Whoops,” Tony said. He reached into his pocket, then handed Gil his cell phone.
“You can use my phone until you get a new one,” Kate said.
“Okay. And thanks again, Gil.” Tony shook Gil’s hand.
“Oh, wait a minute,” Gil said. “Almost forgot. Agent Phillips gave me his card and asked me to give it to you.”
Tony took the card from his hand. “Couldn’t be bothered to hand it over himself, huh?”
Gil grinned. “Hey, he’s with the FBI. We’re all supposed to be impressed.”
Tony laughed. “I know I am.”
“Me too,” Gil said, rolling his eyes. He nodded at them and left.
Tony looked at Kate. “Your house?”
She nodded, and they left the office. They were on their way to Tony’s car when someone called out to them.
Tony turned to see the fisherman who had helped him after he’d been drugged.
“Sorry to bother you,” the man said as he approached, “but I’m wondering what’s going on. I went to the office earlier to check out and Bobby wasn’t there. I noticed the police presence in the middle of town. . . . Is there something I should be concerned about?”
“It’s . . . Steven, isn’t it?” Tony said.
The man smiled. “Yes. I’m surprised you remember. You were pretty out of it when we met.”
“Yes, I was. Thanks again for helping me.” Tony turned to Kate. “This is my friend, Kate O’Brien.”
Steven put his hand out and Kate took it. Tony hadn’t been able to get a good look at the man the first time they’d met. He was younger than Tony had originally thought, and he was quite good-looking. Dark hair and blue eyes. Good strong build.
“Nice to meet you, Kate.”
“Look, Steven,” Tony said, “there’s been some trouble, but everything’s okay now. The authorities will be leaving soon. Nothing for you to be concerned about. We’re looking for . . . Bobby, though. Do you have any idea where he might be?”
Steven shook his head. “Sorry, don’t really know the guy. Just rented a room from him. Besides, I’ve been out on the lake all day since it stopped raining. Just got back a little while ago.”
“Why don’t you stop by the park before you leave and let the officers there know you stayed at the resort? Just in case they have questions for you.”
“Sure. I can do that. Not much I can tell them, though.” Steven looked puzzled. “Did Bobby do something wrong?”
“Yeah, he did, but it has nothing to do with you.”
“Not sure how to pay him for my stay.”
Tony grinned. “I would say this visit’s on him. Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks. Guess I’ll get going.” Steven smiled at Kate. “Again, it was nice to meet you. I’m glad you’re okay, Deputy.”
Steven started to leave but then stopped suddenly. Tony was reaching for his gun but he wasn’t fast enough. Steven turned and pointed a gun right at Tony’s chest.
He sighed dramatically. “Almost made it, didn’t I? I wasn’t supposed to know you’re a U.S. Marshal, was I? No one would have told me, especially if I was out most of the day.” He used his other hand to gesture toward Tony’s holster. “Lift it out slowly and put it on the ground. Now, or I’ll shoot her.”
“Darrell wouldn’t like that, would he?” Tony asked. “His last little psycho ended up dead when he crossed his mentor.”
Steven shrugged. “Hey, doesn’t matter to me. I’m just starting out. I can plead ignorance. Put your gun on the ground. Now!”
Tony could tell Steven wasn’t playing around. Reluctantly, he put his gun down and kicked it a few feet away.
“I don’t understand what’s happening, Tony,” Kate said softly.
“This is Darrell’s new protégé,” Tony said. “Right, Steven? The new Blue-Eyed Killer.”
“Yeah, that’s right, and this time the title actually fits. Now, let’s all get in the car like we’re good friends, just in case someone’s watching.” He waved the gun toward Kate’s car. Not knowing what else to do at that moment, Tony took Kate’s hand.
“Let’s go,” he said to her. “You stay close to me. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”
“Well, how sweet is that?” Steven said, making a face. “But I’ll decide what happens to both of you. Let’s go.”
Tony and Kate walked in front of him to the car.
“You drive,” Steven said to Tony. “I’ll sit in the back seat with Kate.”
As they got into the car, Tony looked around, but all the LEOs were over near the park. No one was anywhere near them.
Tony was quiet as he drove to Kate’s, trying to come up with a way out of their situation. He thought he understood Darrell Fisher, but he didn’t know this guy. Steven was a wild card. Darrell believed in destiny, and he was convinced it wasn’t Kate’s destiny to die. Did Steven have the same beliefs? Or was he more independent than Barney Clevenger had been? He had to come up with a plan.
He looked in the rear view mirror, worried about her. Was this the final straw? Would it be too much for her to bear? But the expression on her face wasn’t the one he’d expected to see. She looked angry. And determined. If they weren’t in so much trouble, Tony would have welcomed her new attitude. Unfortunately, Kate’s triumph over fear wasn’t enough to save them. They needed God’s wisdom. Tony prayed silently, asking God to show him what to do. How to play this.
When they got to Kate’s, Steven ordered them out of the car and into the house. Tony obeyed his instructions, but he watched carefully for a mistake. A chance to overpower him and get his gun.
After they got inside, Steven told them to sit on the couch in Kate’s living room.
“When Darrell finds out what you’ve done, he’s gonna be mad,” Tony said. “He never ordered anyone to kill Kate—or her sister. If you hurt her now, he’ll kick you to the curb. Just like Alan. You’ll never become the Blue-Eyed Killer.”
Steven laughed. “But don’t you see? The only thing that can really stop me is you. You know who I am. You have to die.”
“But what about Darrell?” Tony asked. He realized that Steven’s reasoning was a death sentence. He had to find a way to change his mind.
“He told me my destiny was to become the Blue-Eyed Killer. That means I can’t allow anything to stop me. It makes perfect sense.”
Tony could see the madness in his eyes. It was clear there wasn’t any way to talk him down. Tony had to do something and he had to do it quickly, or he and Kate would die.
“How will you explain our deaths?” Tony asked.
“B.E.K. lives,” he said softly, echoing B.E.K.’s website. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He slowly unfolded it and showed it to Tony and Kate. A song sheet. For “Blue-Eyed Angel.” “You’ll both be dead. Usually B.E.K. doesn’t kill men, but hey. Something new isn’t always bad.”
“You’re not wearing gloves,” Tony said. “Crime scene techs will find your fingerprints. Hard telling how many things you’ve touched since you walked in here.”
Steven grinned at him. “My mentor has a lot of rules to protect us, but I don’t have to worry about fingerprints.” He held up one hand and turned it palm out. His fingertips were red and scarred. He put the song sheet and the gun in that hand and held up his other hand. The same scarring. “See, no fingerprints, and before you ask, my DNA isn’t in any database. That’s something Darrell insists on. I’ve been a good boy. Up until now, that is.”
Still holding the gun, he reached into his jacket pocket and brought out a knife. Just like the knife used in previous B.E.K. killings.
Tony looked at Kate. For the first time since Steven grabbed them, she looked afraid. She turned to stare at him, and suddenly that same determination he’d noticed earlier washed over her features.
“So how are you going to do this?” she asked Steven. “I mean, if you try to hurt me, Tony will happily kill you. And if you attack him, I’ll tear your heart out. You see, I’m a little tired of being ambushed and pushed around by crazy people.”
Steven seemed surprised by her reaction. “I’ll shoot him, and then I’ll take a little more time with you.”
“But the Blue-Eyed Killer doesn’t shoot people. Plus, you’ll leave behind at least one bullet. And that can be traced back to your gun. Unless that gun is unregistered. Is it?”
For the first time, Steven looked unsure of himself. Finally, he smiled again. “I’ll dig out the bullet and take it with me.”
Tony shook his head. “Bullets don’t always go just where you want them to. Besides, you can’t get out of town without being stopped and checked. If you’re soaked in blood, I think someone will notice.”
Steven sighed as if Tony’s attempts at reasoning bored him. “I’ll cover myself with plastic bags. Then I’ll toss them inside a clean plastic trash bag. When I’m away from here, I’ll throw the bags away. Believe it or not, no one checks plastic trash bags for evidence. They assume it’s just trash.”
So that was how B.E.K. was able to walk away without attracting attention, Tony realized. It had worked before, and it would work again. Smart.
“I find this confusing,” Tony said. “Your boss tells you it’s your destiny to be the Blue-Eyed Killer, but he tells Kate it’s her destiny to live. How can they both be right? Doesn’t make sense.”
“You’d better call him, Steven,” Kate said, picking up on Tony’s strategy. “Something’s wrong, and you need to find out what it is.”
“No, I don’t. I know who I am.”
“I don’t care who you are,” a voice said from behind Steven. “Now put the gun down. I won’t tell you twice.”
Steven turned around and found Gil Bennett pointing a gun at him. He hesitated for a moment but then lowered his own gun. Gil took it from him, and Tony grabbed him from behind, putting Steven’s hands behind his back. Gil handed Tony a pair of handcuffs, and he secured the would-be serial killer.
“How did you know to come here?” Kate asked, getting up from the sofa.
“I noticed Tony’s car at the resort. Wondered why it was still there. Imagine my surprise when I found his gun lying on the ground and he was nowhere to be found. Came here to see what was going on. Looked through the window and saw this guy holding a gun on you. What the heck is going on?”
Tony nodded toward Steven. “Meet Darrell’s new protégé. He was supposed to be the next Blue-Eyed Killer. We were going to be his first victims.”
Gil grinned at Steven, who obviously didn’t find the situation humorous. “Guess you’ll have to find another job. You’re going to be busy for a while. Pointing a gun at people and threatening to kill them is a no-no. Guess your friend Darrell will have to move on and find someone else to fill your position.”
Gil got behind Steven and pushed him toward the front door. Tony and Kate followed them outside. Gil had just turned around to say something to Tony when a shot rang out. Tony grabbed Kate and threw her to the ground. Gil dropped down behind his car and pulled Steven along with him. But it was too late for Darrell’s protégé. He’d been shot through the forehead. He was dead.