Kat was breathless by the time she made it to the third floor. Running up two flights of stairs wasn’t something she wanted to make a daily habit.
She fished her cell phone out of her pocket as she hurried down the corridor. As soon as the burning sensation in her lungs subsided and she felt capable of speech again, she would place the call to Andrew.
She pulled up Andrew’s contact information with one hand while she slipped her key into the apartment lock with the other. She was only half paying attention when she pushed open her door.
Both Matty and Tom streaked by her, nearly knocking her to the floor. She lost her grip on the phone, and it skidded inside her apartment.
“Fiddlesticks!” Kat raced after the cats, who were hustling toward the elevator. “No treats for either of you!”
She was just formulating a strategy for wrangling two cats back into her unit when the elevator dinged. Kat’s heart lurched. If both cats made it outside, they could easily separate and get lost.
“Lucy, hold the elevator!” Kat yelled, refusing to take her eyes off of the runaways.
Both cats slipped through the elevator doors before they even finished opening. Luckily, Kat caught up with them a second later.
She stuck her hand between the doors, holding them open. “Lucy, you . . .”
Kat broke off, her words fading away when she realized it wasn’t Lucy in the elevator at all.
“I see you’re still letting your mangy felines run loose,” Mr. Peterson said, his lip curling up.
Kat didn’t reply. Her mouth had gone dry, and her tongue felt frozen. What was Mr. Peterson doing on the third floor?
“It was fairly obvious from the look on your face downstairs that you’ve figured me out. I decided I ought to make sure what you know doesn’t go any further.”
Kat struggled to muster up some saliva. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.” He glared at her, the steel in his eyes turning Kat’s body cold. “You’re not good at hiding your emotions, Kat.”
She started to take a step backward, but Mr. Peterson grabbed her hand before she could pull it away. Panic exploded inside her. She kicked her foot out, bracing it against the wall. She expected him to fight her but, although he didn’t let go of her hand, neither did he attempt to drag her closer.
“I’ve already got your filthy animals, so you might as well join us,” he said. “Otherwise, there’s no telling what I might do to them.”
Kat sucked in a breath. He was right, of course. There was no way she could leave Matty and Tom alone with this madman. She would never forgive herself if he hurt them. And she knew if he were capable of killing a man he wouldn’t hesitate to harm an animal.
Her gaze drifted toward Lucy’s door. Maybe if she screamed Lucy would hear and call for help.
“She’s not home,” Mr. Peterson said, as if reading her mind. “When I was at the post office I saw her heading to work.”
Kat’s lungs felt as if they were collapsing. With nobody else around, she was pretty sure she was doomed.
Mr. Peterson gave her hand another tug. Kat slid her foot away from the wall and slunk toward the back of the elevator. He seemed to have sensed he’d won. He let go of her and pressed the button to bring them to the lobby.
Kat felt sick as she watched the doors shut. Needing something to steady herself, she leaned against the elevator. Her knees felt so wobbly she thought she might fall over without the support.
Matty and Tom ambled over to her. Matty arched her back against Kat’s leg, and Tom rubbed her shoe with his chin. She considered reaching over to reassure them but thought any movement might make her vomit. Just the feel of the elevator shifting beneath her feet as they descended was causing bile to rise up her esophagus.
Mr. Peterson turned toward her. “Who else have you told about me?”
Kat forced herself to look at him. If she could keep her cool, there was a chance she could convince him she didn’t know anything and he would let her go. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mr. Peterson’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t insult my intelligence. I saw your expression when the black girl mentioned seeing me at the dog park.”
So much for playing dumb, Kat thought, her throat closing up.
Tom grew bored with Kat’s shoes and moved over to inspect Mr. Peterson’s. Ignoring the way her stomach was roiling, Kat grabbed the feline before he could get himself injured.
Mr. Peterson regarded her. “You’re really attached to those things, aren’t you?”
Kat didn’t reply. Instead, she cradled Tom against her chest. She could feel his body quaking, but she wasn’t sure if he was trembling or if that was the effect of her holding him with shaky hands.
“I can’t imagine what you see in them,” Mr. Peterson went on, his eyes zeroing in on Matty. “They’re nothing but flea magnets.”
Feeling a sudden burst of strength, Kat stepped in front of Matty. She would die before she let Mr. Peterson hurt her cats.
The elevator stopped, and the doors began to separate. Kat craned her neck, searching for any signs of life in the lobby. If she spotted someone, she was going to yell at the top of her lungs.
But there was no one. The lobby was empty.
Matty nosed around Kat’s ankle, making her way out of the elevator. For once, Kat actually hoped she made a run for it.
Without warning, Mr. Peterson reached over and snatched the tortoiseshell off of the floor. “This is just a little insurance to make sure you do as I say,” he said to Kat. “You disobey, and I break its neck.”
Matty hissed and squirmed, but the little eight-pound cat was no match for Mr. Peterson.
Kat’s heart pounded. She yearned to lunge at this vile man and claw out his eyes but held herself back. An attack would endanger Tom and Matty.
Mr. Peterson jutted his chin toward the lobby. “After you.”
Kat inched toward the elevator doors. As much as she didn’t want to go anywhere with Mr. Peterson, she had no choice as long as he was holding Matty hostage. Her best bet would be to do whatever he said and hope they would run into someone who could help her.
Mr. Peterson nudged her in the back. “Head for the exit. And don’t try anything funny. I’ve still got your cat.”
Kat ignored how weak her legs felt and continued across the lobby. When she reached the door, she nearly collapsed against it.
“Open it,” Mr. Peterson commanded. “Head for the dog park.”
Kat did as she was told, but each movement felt forced. Her whole body had turned to ice.
When they reached the sidewalk, Mr. Peterson fell into step beside her. “If you see anybody, smile and nod like you’re having a good time. Otherwise, say goodbye to this pesky creature.”
Matty hissed at him again, her legs and tail flailing. Kat willed her to escape. If Matty got away, Kat wouldn’t hesitate to run herself.
“Stop that.” Mr. Peterson wedged Matty under his arm, still holding firm with both hands. “This should immobilize you.” He looked at Kat. “I learned this from Dorothy.”
“Dorothy?” Kat asked, hugging Tom tighter.
“Muffin’s owner. I believe you were the one to return that annoying little dog to her.”
Kat frowned. “How did you know that?”
“She told me.”
“You’re friends with Lady Fairchild?” Kat never would have guessed a woman who loved animals so much would associate with someone so far on the opposite side of the spectrum.
“We’re involved. Romantically.”
His statement froze Kat in her tracks. He couldn’t have shocked her more if he’d announced he wanted to start volunteering for Furry Friends Foster Families.
Mr. Peterson elbowed Kat in the ribs. “Keep walking. We’re almost there.”
She looked up, seeing that he was right. The dog park was only one block away.
She shivered, remembering the scene that had greeted her in the park yesterday. She prayed she figured out a way for herself, Matty, and Tom to avoid the same fate as Jeff Parr.