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

spotted Kyle hiding in the distance, and she had been quick to act. While Robin distracted the police, Kyle threw the tear gas. If he hadn’t been there, Robin didn’t know what she would have done.

“Thank you,” she said after a pause. “If you hadn’t come, I would have been arrested. But you shouldn’t have. They will suspect you now.”

“They already do,” Kyle said. Robin’s eyes continued to sting and water, and she pressed the rag onto them again.

“They know I am the one that helped you escape. Or at least, they suspect it. I am officially suspended from the task force. They are doing an internal investigation on me. I am off the force until they can decide if I am guilty or not.”

“I am sorry,” Robin whispered. It was like a domino effect. Her actions caused more and more damage to those around her. It seemed as if it would never come to an end. She sighed and clenched her hand into a fist. She didn’t know what awaited her or what she was going to do next, but she knew if she didn’t end this soon, the damage would be irreparable.

“Don’t worry,” Kyle whispered. “I got your back, Robin.”

Now that she thought about it, he always did.

Chapter Seven

“How are you feeling?” Kyle asked.

“Well, I can finally see you again,” Robin said. Her eyes still stung, but at least she could keep them open now.

“What were you doing there, Robin?” he asked. “Why were you even there? Don’t tell me you didn’t suspect that they would be keeping tabs there.”

“I knew there was a risk,” she said. “In hindsight, I should have been more careful, but I had to go there. I needed evidence, and I had a feeling that I would find it there.”

“We swept the place clean when we investigated it,” he said, frowning. “There was nothing there.”

“You didn’t know where to look,” Robin said with a smirk and then threw all the evidence she had taken onto the bed.

The two of them had found a cheap motel to hide in for a day, and Kyle had paid for a room. The owner thought Robin was some hooker, and Kyle, the client, and Robin hadn’t bothered to correct her. It was the perfect disguise.

“What’s all this?” he asked.

“Do you remember how we expected to find mementos when we searched the place? How serial killers have the habit of keeping souvenirs, but we didn’t find any? It’s because they were hidden. The pictures are of all the women he killed. Look at the names and dates at the back. There is also a picture of a woman we don’t know.” Robin then relayed the rest of the information to him, including everything she knew about the child.

“His son?” Kyle asked, shocked. “We never found any evidence of anyone else living there.”

“How could you? The Butcher must have cleaned the place before leaving,” Robin said. “Plus, the child was so neglected there. It’s not like you would have found a room, or toys, or some pictures. The Butcher was a maniac, but he was intelligent. According to his son, the child was too. He probably got it from his father. He must have made sure he left no evidence behind.”

“A birth certificate?” he said. “That means we can track it down. Get the identity of the child and maybe start a search. We can have you recount how the child looked, and we have software to show how he would look now.”

“He was around ten when I was kidnapped,” Robin mused. “He must be around twenty by now.”

“And you think he is behind this?” Kyle asked.

“Who else? Who else would know so much about what happened to me in the basement? He knows about me, about my tattoo, and he could help with my memories. I must have told him–.”

Silence fell, and the two of them sat there, lost in their own thoughts.

“What were you doing there?” Robin asked. “How did you know where I was?”

“Just because they have suspended me doesn’t mean that I still don’t have my connections,” he said with a smile. “Someone tipped me off that you were spotted there. I knew the police were going to arrest you, so I headed straight there.”

“You got suspended because of me,” she whispered. “Why? Why are you doing all this?”

“Because you are not the murderer,” he said.

“But you didn’t believe me before,” Robin said. “What changed your mind?”

“I remembered how no one believed me either,” he said. “When I found out who killed Rose, everyone thought I was crazy. They thought I was going mad because I couldn’t deal with her death. But you believed me. And even though that filthy man was still at large, I wouldn’t be where I am without you. I am sorry I didn’t trust you earlier.”

“Kyle–,” Robin said, but he stopped her by holding his hand up.

“No, Robin,” he said. “Let me finish. When you were arrested, I felt so guilty. I thought it was my fault, that I should have helped you somehow. I had been down this path before; I should have seen the signs. And that was all I could think about is how I had failed you. We all thought that way. I don’t think you realize exactly how much we all care about you. Even now, the Captain just wants you back alive. He thinks you are just ill. I should have trusted you and helped you earlier. We all should have investigated the things you asked us to, but the guilt clouded my mind. By the time I started thinking about it, it was too late. I knew I could face a suspension or, worse, be released from my position permanently for helping you, but I had to do it. I needed to be there for you like you were there for me when I lost Rose. And I am sorry I wasn’t there sooner.”

“I am sorry,” Robin whispered. “I am sorry for