The Child's Plan by Audrey Walker (books to read this summer .TXT) 📗

chest. She had been arrested. It was all over.

Chapter Seventeen

Robin couldn’t let it end like this. She just couldn’t. Not when Abby’s life was on the line. She knew that she would not escape this time, but she had to risk it. She wrenched herself free from his grasp and elbowed him in the nose. He heard the crunch of his bone-breaking, and then she twisted around to knee him in the groin. She made a run for it, even as Gary shot at her.

“Leave her alone!” she heard a familiar voice shouting. “Stop shooting, Gary! That’s an order!”

Robin looked around and found the Captain standing there, a sad expression on his face.

“Robin,” he said softly. “What are you doing?”

The Captain looked tired like he hadn’t slept in weeks. His hair was grey, and he looked thin, his face wrinkled with dark circles resting under his eyes. Her boss looked like he had shrunk since Robin had last seen him, and she realized how horrible all of this must be for him.

He lost Robin, his best detective, someone he treated like his daughter. She knew that he had loved her and cared for her ever since she joined the team. The Captain treated every member of the team like they were family. He probably blamed himself for what had happened to her ─ all this time, believing that she was the killer and, at the same time, unable to stop caring for her. And to make matters worse, he lost Kyle, too. No wonder the Captain looked so tired and sick, almost as if he was broken.

“He has Abby,” Robin said. “I need to get to Abby, please. He has taken her to the basement.”

“She is just hallucinating again,” Gary shouted. “Now, Abby is gone! Huh! As if!”

“We can run a check on her house, see if she is missing,” the Captain said. “We can send a backup team–.”

“If she is missing, it’s probably because this crazy killer took her!” Gary shouted, his gun still pointed toward Robin.

“Look, there is no time,” Robin said. “I have a few more minutes to be there otherwise, he will kill her!”

“I will send a team–,” the Captain said.

“No!” Robin said. “It has to be me. Please! Please, Captain!”

“Don’t make another move!” Gary said. “I am arresting you now!”

“I am sorry,” Robin said. “I am so sorry.”

She turned around and ran, knowing full well that she would not make it far. But she had to get to Abby at all costs. A shot rang out behind her, and she waited for the bullet to penetrate her back. Robin braced herself for the searing pain that followed, but none came.

She turned around and froze in pure horror at the sight in front of her. The Captain lay in front of her, blood oozing from his chest. He had jumped in front of her, taking the bullet and saving Robin.

“Damn!” she heard Gary shouting, the gun falling from his hands. “Damn! Damn it!”

He ran off, and Robin kneeled next to the Captain, tears streaming down her cheeks. She quickly dialed 911, asking them to send an ambulance.

“No,” she whispered. “No, this can’t be. Captain, please!”

“Robin–,” he gasped. “Listen to me! Listen!”

Robin looked at him, sobbing as she grabbed his hand in hers.

“I am sorry–,” he wheezed. “I should have believed you.”

“No,” Robin said. “Don’t talk. Everything will be okay.”

“They will be here soon,” he gasped. “And they will arrest you. You have to get away.”

He stopped here, taking deep breaths as Robin clutched his hand.

“I am not leaving you,” Robin said, sobbing.

“I am sorry I let you down, Robin,” he coughed. “I hope you can forgive an old man like me.”

He wheezed, taking painful breaths as his lungs struggled to expand.

“You have to get away,” he said. “Go, save Abby! Save her! Find the real killer and take him down!”

“I will,” Robin whispered. “I promise.”

“You are like a daughter,” he gasped. “And my best detective–.”

“The ambulance will be here soon,” Robin whispered. “You will be alright. You will be okay.”

“No,” he said. “My time has come. Find the killer, Robin. Find him for me.”

His hand, which had tightened around her hand, loosened, and his head slumped to the other side. His eyes closed, and Robin screamed loudly.

“No! No!” she sobbed. “Please! No!”

She doubled over, clutching his hand and sobbing, her body shuddering.

“I am sorry, Captain,” She said. “I am so sorry.”

The sound of the ambulance resonated through the air, and she knew they were about to come. She let go of his hand and stood up, anger and sorrow dominating her heart.

“I will find him, Captain,” she whispered. “I promise.”

Chapter Eighteen

Robin was exhausted, she had constantly been running for the last ten minutes, but she had finally made it to the Butcher’s house. It was gloomy and desolate looking. She quickly used a window to get in, her legs trembling as she stood there. Her heart was still aching for the Captain who had died in front of her. She couldn’t believe he died saving her, and tears threatened to fall from her eyes again.

Not now; Robin couldn’t let herself break down right now. If she broke down, she would not be able to do anything else. Abby had to be saved, and then Robin would let herself cry. Then she would give in to the grief that threatened to explode.

She slowly crept down the stairs of the basement, which was lit by a lantern. The dim light allowed her to see very little, and she could only make out the silhouette of a man standing across from her.

“Who are you?” she whispered.

“Robin?” she heard Abby’s voice. “Robin! Please, help me!”

“Abby!” Robin said, realizing that her sister was tied to the same pole that she had been.

“So, you managed to come here in time,” the man said softly.

“What do you want from me?” Robin whispered. “Why did you call me here? Why are you doing all this?”

“It’s sad that you didn’t believe Jim,” he