Chapter Ten
Eliza had forgotten how cool and crisp the mornings could be in Alabama. She shivered as she quickly slid behind the wheel of the jeep David had used on their trip to the ravine.
He had been such an attentive and gentle lover last night, and it had taken every ounce of resolve she had to leave the warmth of his embrace as he slept next to her this morning.
She glanced at her watch 3:30 a.m.
Carrington's message had been clear. Give the BAU a false location and time, and meet him at the Wallace National Wilderness Preserve. It was on the opposite side of town and far enough away from the ravine, that even if David and his team figured out where she was it would be too late for any real help. Eliza couldn't make up her mind what was worse, the lying, obstruction of justice, taking a government issued vehicle, or her determination to end John Carrington's life, all of which were warring against her conscience.
Eliza checked the pocket of the dark warm-up suit she'd decided last night to wear. The small caliber handgun David had given her at the ravine was nestled safely there. She had determined again once she had Elizabeth Crowing in the jeep and out of harms' way would she kill him.
She pulled up to the designated area of the Reserve and waited. John Carrington was nowhere to be seen, but Eliza knew he was here. She could feel the evil that enveloped him.
Something stirred in one of the paths and she instinctively reached into her pocket, but the deer was only interested in crossing the path and making her way to whatever thicket was her home.
She knew he was near – she could feel the darkness that was John Carrington. She turned as he emerged from another corner of the reserve.
Elizabeth Crowing was stumbling as he half pushed, half pulled her along.
Eliza forced herself to remember how she felt when she'd escaped. She quickly assessed Elizabeth. Could she drive the jeep to safety?
Eliza waited until they were closer and eased out of the jeep. For one brief moment her eyes met Elizabeth's, Eliza smiled at her. She recognized that determination to live.
Carrington towered over her. His six-foot frame was thin – prison did that to men. She watched him lumber out of the dark woods. The muscle shirt he wore looked as if he'd pull it from a dumpster. It was stained and torn like the jeans he wore.
Her stomach rolled. His smell of a mixture of dumpster and blood.
"Eliza," he held a large hunting knife to Elizabeth's throat, "It's good to see you again, but let's loose the accessories shall we?" He motioned to her pocket and Eliza pulled the gun and placed it on the ground.
"Phone too."
She reached into the other pocket and placed the phone on the ground next to the gun.
"Let her go, John. This is between you and me."
She watched him grin.
He pushed Elizabeth towards her and Eliza bent to check the damage he'd done.
Elizabeth barely whispered, "I'm okay, but don't go with him – he's going to kill you."
Eliza took a deep breath, "I know, but I need to know if you can drive." She whispered.
Elizabeth nodded.
"Listen to me," Eliza whispered, continuing her inventory of Elizabeth's wounds as if Carrington wasn't there.
"There's an extra set of keys under the car mat. As soon as we're gone I need you drive out of here and contact the police."
Elizabeth slowly nodded.
Eliza turned and stood over Elizabeth, blocking Carrington from her.
"I'm here John, now let her go."
He moved slowly towards the gun.
She watched his jerky movements. His health had deteriorated since the last time she'd seen him. She noted the way one side of his face was drawn and remembered she'd heard he'd suffered from Bell's palsy while incarcerated. The mini prelude to a stroke had caused his left eyelid to drop slightly.
"Hand me the keys Eliza."
Eliza did as she was told.
"Now, give me the one's you hid in the jeep."
Eliza gritted her teeth, but did as she was told.
Carrington fired two shots into the back tire, then turned the gun towards her. He motioned her towards the path the deer had been on earlier.
"Let's go, Eliza. I've been waiting on this for a long time."
Eliza's hands shook and she felt the familiar fear snake around her legs. John Carrington was going to finish the job he'd started ten years ago. She knew it.
Eliza prayed as she made her way to the path. Dear God don't let David be the one to find me when he's finished.