Larger Than Life by Alison Kent (read the beginning after the end novel .txt) 📕

"I don't know. What I do know is that for over a year now, I've been threatened with exposure. I let the killer get away. I told the police I didn't know what happened. I didn't want anyone to know that I'd sat back and let Ronnie do what he'd done. That I didn't lift a finger to stop him. That I'd been a part of it."

He faltered, struggled to breathe. "Liberty's parents lived in San Francisco when my parents died. I thought the notes were from them."

"Notes?"

"The threats. To expose me."

"So if you married Liberty—"

"They'd have to leave me alone. Harming me would be harming their daughter."

God, she was so confused! "But if they were members of Straight's church, why would they want to hurt you?"

"They didn't." At the sound of Ed's voice, Neva turned. He met her gaze and moved toward her, loosening the bindings securing her. "The notes were from me."

And she'd thought she couldn't hate him any more. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I needed a fall guy for the murders of the girls. I made Wagner nervous and he came after you." Ed bent, untied her feet, leaving only her hands bound at her back. Next he moved to release Holden. "The evidence will make it obvious that he bungled his attempt to put a stop to your efforts. You came after him. The two of you tangled and fought. To the death, of course."

It was like listening to a bumbling cartoon character. She couldn't even believe this was the same man she'd worked with and respected, whose advice she'd so often sought. God, but she had to get away.

What was it Mick had said? The cleanest kill is right between the eyes. Simple and direct. Just like the only option it looked like she was going to have.

She struggled to her feet and took it. "You know, Ed, I never figured you for an idiot. But you're the biggest one I've ever known." Another deep leveling breath, then, "I'm leaving."

Slowly, he stood where he'd finished untying Holden's ropes. "You're not going anywhere, Nevada."

"Oh, but I am. You're not going to get away with this, Ed. You're not accomplishing a thing." Bile rose like lava to boil in her stomach. "Holden's hurt. Since you're not helping him, I'm going for a real doctor. And for the last time," she added, "don't call me Nevada."

She turned her back on him, choking, her stomach heaving, smelling her fear in her sweat. She took her first step, took her second, took a third that seemed like the longest she'd taken in her life.

"Nevada! I'm warning you. I will shoot."

Then shoot! she wanted to scream. But she kept walking. And walking. Even when she heard the unmistakable sound of his gun's slide being cocked, she kept walking, and walking, feeling the warmth of the sunshine now, smelling air that was free of mold and dust, walking, walking . . .

He shot. She ducked, hurled herself to the ground.

She waited, felt nothing, no pain. No pain. Rolling to her side, she looked back. Ed stood staring at his gun, Holden lying at his feet, blood pooling on the ground from the gaping hole in his chest.

Dear Lord! Oh God! "You shot him! Ed! My God! What are you doing?"

Ed didn't move. He continued to stare, finally raising his glazed eyes to meet hers. "The bullet was meant for you, Nevada. I told you. I'm not going to let you go. And now you can add Wagner's blood to all of that already on your hands. I don't know why he thought he could save you."

He raised the gun. She tucked her body into a ball. Ed took a step toward her. She heard his footsteps. She couldn't move. Couldn't get up. She was going to die and she couldn't even swallow. And then she heard a thudding sort of ping.

Ed stopped, startled, a red circle appearing between his eyes, blood dripping down his face. He staggered a step in reverse then fell back. She screamed, scrambling backwards, sobbing as she got to her feet. And then she turned because she knew what had happened. She knew Mick was there.

She only had to wait a few minutes before she saw him in the distance, walking toward her, a monster of a sniper rifle held in his hand. His steps were long and sure, and he rolled from his hips as he moved. A fluid motion, graceful and lithe. She wanted to run toward him, but stayed where she was in the mouth of the cave, watching, waiting.

It took him forever, but she couldn't even mind. All she could do was watch his body in action. His broad shoulders, his chest, his powerful arms and legs. The sun glinted off his glasses. When he drew closer, she saw that his mouth was grim. And then he was there, holding her, hugging her, letting her sob against his chest as she asked, "How did you find me?"

He spun her around, cut the ropes from her wrists. "I called to make sure you got home. Candy told me Ed had picked you up hours ago. That you were supposed to stop by the market. She called there. No one had seen you."

His hands shook as he pulled her free and pocketed his knife, turning her and drawing her near. "The sheriff's secretary told her you left with Ed. Then Ed showed up for his afternoon house call. I caught him while he was there. And followed him here."

What? Followed Ed? "From New Mexico?"

He shook his head. "1 choppered in. Picked up my Rover from the house my partner rented. It's got a lot of yard for that fucking mutt of mine to roam."

She cried. She couldn't help it. "And Liberty's there?"

"She is. So's Jase."

"What? Oh, Mick. Oh my god! You found him?"

"Not me. My partner, Rabbit. Harry van Zandt. He took over my assignment in New Mexico. Ran into a bit of a hassle