Deadly Pursuit - Chapter 20
Professor Garland wrapped his arm around Serena’s neck and pushed the gun into her side until she gave a small cry of pain.
“I’ll kill her!”
“You’re surrounded. Let her go,” Tyre commanded.
Ryan stepped out of the darkness in front of them. A rustling sound came from behind them and Professor Garland turned, taking her with him. Two more men, one with a badge dangling from a chain on his neck and a blue police windbreaker, stepped onto the lighted pathway.
“I mean it!” Professor Garland yelled, his voice quivering. His arm clamped down harder against her windpipe, cutting off her air supply further. “Back away or I will kill her.”
Professor Garland’s body shook against hers. His fear was almost as terrifying as the gun shoved into her side. Desperate men made mistakes and mistakes in this instance could cost Serena her life.
She wasn’t going to let him shoot or strangle her without a fight.
Without warning, she let her body go limp, as if she’d lost consciousness. The sudden shift in weight did exactly what she’d expected. It caught Professor Garland off guard. He stumbled, trying to hold her up. The arm around her neck loosened, and she fell onto the pavement.
The men were on Professor Garland in a moment, taking him down to the ground roughly and slapping handcuffs on his wrists.
“Serena, are you okay?” Tyre was at her side.
She didn’t answer the question, still too caught up in everything Professor Garland had told her about his scheme to focus on anything else.
“Professor Garland confessed everything to me. He had Charley write the back door into the code. They were stealing the money together until Charley’s conscience started getting to him. That’s when Professor Garland killed him to keep him quiet.” She choked on a sob. No matter what Charley had done, he hadn’t deserved to be killed.
Tyre wrapped his arms around her again. “Don’t worry. We’ve already called the police. They’ll get Garland to talk, I’m sure. I’m more concerned about getting you to a hospital to be checked out.”
“I’m fine, really. He scared me half to death, but he didn’t hurt me.”
Tyre pulled her to her feet and then into his arms. “You scared me half to death. When I saw you fall, I think my heart literally stopped for a moment there.” He looked down at her, his eyes searching hers.
She pressed her hand against his chest, over his heart. “Well, it’s beating now. Nice and strong.”
“It’s beating for you,” he said, pressing his forehead against hers.
Warmth bloomed in her chest. “Good,” she said. “Because you promised me a romantic dinner and I’m ready to collect.”
*
Look for the next book in K.D. Richards’s West Investigations series, Catching the Carling Lake Killer , available now on our website!