It was an usually warm 52 degrees outside. Lucy pulled on the black leather gloves and western hat Kevin bought her in town. Kevin came in and she turned. "How do I look?"
He straddled her with his arms against the counter. "Like a soon-to- be bride." He took off her hat and kissed her. "Ready to go?"
"Yep. Hopefully my leg is strong enough and Alderbaran's is too."
"You'll do fine."
They went out to the stable and Destiny stood ready to go.
Kevin smiled. "He's waiting for you."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Kevin, I don't know..."
"After all that harassment?" He put on a falsetto, "I can ride him myself Kevin, just let me try."
She slapped his hand for making fun of her, but he was right. She mounted and noticed Kevin wasn't following her. "You coming?"
"No. I have work to do."
"All right." She urged Destiny into a trot and left. Nothing could stand in her way. She let Destiny run in the open meadow and then they went down by the frozen stream. She left the woods and found Kevin at the pasture and stopped next to him
"So how is it?"
"It's wonderful." She leaned down and kissed him. "Why are you fixing the fence."
"A mountain lion scared the horses last night and they kicked it up."
"A mountain lion! Do you think it will come back?"
"Probably. But don't worry, it's only after easy prey. You would be to much work."
She stuck out her tongue and he laughed. "Are you done riding?"
"I would like to go a little more, but my leg is really hurting."
"Okay, I'll be done in a bit. I'll drive you back to the house."
"Don't worry about it, I'll just ride Destiny down."
"All right."
She rode Destiny back to the stables and then put him in the stall. She heard to sound of tires on the gravel and wondered if Kevin had finished the fence so soon. She went out, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun on the snow and she froze.
"Hello Lucy."
A nightmare. Her mind had to be playing a trick on her. Her heart pounded. Jeremy.
Her throat went dry and her breath quickened. Would her leg hold her if she tried to run? If she screamed, would Kevin hear her?
Jeremy grabbed her hands and she cried out. "Stop it Lucy. I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to talk to you."
"Did my dad tell you where I was?"
"No. I found you through your artwork. It's beautiful Lucy, I'm very impressed. It's been to long." He stroked her hands with his fingers.
She tried to pull away. "Kevin!"
Jeremy pulled her to his car. "Stop it! What do you think you're doing?"
He jerked open the car door. "Why are you acting like this? What is wrong with you?"
She kicked him, trying to escape. He cracked his fist against her head she fell down into the snow. She screamed, but he kicked her side and her stomach. He picked her up and shoved her into the car. He pulled out a gun from the armrest. "I'll use it Lucy." The look in his eyes convinced her.
He pointed the gun at her as he walked around the car and got in.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin looked up from the fence. He walked down just enough to see the stables and saw a gray sedan pulling away. His heart beat faster in his chest. Had he heard a scream?
He ran to his truck and flew down the meadow and stopped at the stables. "Lucy!" There was no answer. He ran to the house. "Lucy!" It was Jeremy.
He got back into his truck and fishtailed into town. There was a fork in the road and there were tracks going both ways.
Left would take him to the mountains and right to the national park. "God please help me." He went to the right and reached for his cell phone. He told the dispatcher the emergency as he headed right. He prayed that he or the state police would find her in time.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jeremy lowered the gear on the car and skidded around the turns. He pressed the accelerator and rounded the turn and then swerved. A deer hit the hood of the car and the car slammed into a drifted snow bank. Jeremy landed on top of Lucy. They couldn't stay there. He grabbed him arm. "Let's go."
She thought about fighting him, but she saw the gun and decided against it. He pulled her out of the car and held the gun to her temple. "Don't fight me Lucy." She stood still, afraid he really would kill her. He began up the slope, dragging her behind him.
"I only wanted to talk to you. Why did you have to go and panic. I wasn't going to hurt you, but you made me do it." He continued pulling her up the slope until she collapsed, exhausted and out of breath. "Get up!"
"I can't" she gasped, holding her side.
He yanked her up by her arm. They had to get out of this public area. He drug her further and further up the mountain until he saw a boulder. That would work.
He let her go of Lucy and she fell to the ground. She lay on the ground in a tiny ball. Had he hurt her that badly? He only hit her once or twice... or was it more? He didn't meant to hurt her. He dropped beside her. "Lucy, I didn't want to hurt you." He said, stroking her hair.
She didn't move or answer.
"I just wanted to talk to you. Then you called that guy... who was it you yelled for?"
Again she didn't answer.
He jerked her up, "Who did you call?"
"My fiancé," her teeth were clenched and angry tears fell down her cheeks.
"So you lied to me. There is someone else." Fury surged through him.
"There wasn't then, but there is now."
He slapped her. "Liar!"
She fell to the ground and her breath became ragged. Why was she doing this? It was starting to scare him. He shook her. "Stop it Lucy."
"Why? Will you rape me again?"
"What in the hell are you talking about?" He held so tightly onto her shoulder, she flinched. "Rape you? You're crazy!" He had hit her when he lost his temper, but rape?
"Listen to me Lucy, I never raped you."
"Yes you did. Don't touch me."
She was crazy. Anguish overwhelmed him. He had destroyed her. The one perfect thing in his life. People would believe her, even though she lied.
Rape. Was it possible? In his blind fury, was it possible he had? Was she the evil monster she thought he was?
He would be ruined. That sort of charge would send him to prison. Lucy couldn't be trusted, she would make false claims. Maybe he should kill her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin sped down the highway. He passed so many side roads that could lead him to Lucy; but he stayed on the main road. God please help me, he thought.
There –off to the left- was the gray sedan. It was on it's side in a snow bank. He jammed on the brakes and jumped out of the truck. The car was empty.
He turned and saw snow tracks leading up the mountain. He pulled his rifle out of the truck and started up. About 100 yards up he heard voices below him. He turned and saw four highway patrol officers starting up the slop. Jeremy Fallon had better hope they found him first.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jeremy had been pacing around Lucy. He was contemplating his decision on whether to kill Lucy. It made sense. She wouldn't be able to make false claims anymore. He hadn't raped her... he couldn't have.
He heard someone coming up the mountain, their feet crunching in the snow. Four highway patrolmen and another man. He grabbed Lucy and pointed the gun to her head.
"I'll shoot her. Stop right there."
Kevin saw Lucy standing motionless in Jeremy's grasp. He raised his rifle to shoot him. The deputy tackled him and he fell to the ground.
Jeremy pushed Lucy away and ran. He was getting away. Kevin yelled a the deputy, "Go, I won't follow." They took of chasing Jeremy.
Kevin crept up to Lucy. He took her in his arms, holding her face to his chest. "Are you all right?"
She didn't respond. She just grasped his shirt collar tightly.
The officers that were left motioned for Kevin to bring her down the mountain. They had to get her to a hospital. Kevin raised her to her feet, but she could hardly stand. Her leg was probably damaged again. He would have carried her, but it was to steep.
His fury turned to cold rage. If he ever saw Jeremy, he would crush him with his own hands.
Lucy sat in the truck. Her mind was boggled with thoughts. Her police escort allowed her to go straight to a curtained cubicle. A man helped her onto the bed. Was it Kevin? Or God?
"Sir, we need you to wait outside."
He hesitated. Lucy looked up. It was Kevin.
"Sir?"
"I'll be right outside."
A woman came into record Lucy's injuries. She noted the bruises on her face, the cut on the side of her mouth and the swelling and bump on her temple. Then she recorded the bruises and cuts on her abdomen and ribs.
"Any other injuries I should know about honey?"
Lucy knew what she meant and shook her head. Not this time.
"All right, then take these. They'll help with the pain."
As she swallowed them thoughts came into her mind again. "Are you God?" "Sure kid, I'm God. Don't tell," God said, "He's everywhere and he knows everything. If you tell, he'll find you."
She swallowed them and trembled.
"Okay," the nurse said, "They'll finish up the report outside." Then in a whisper Lucy heard her say, "I'll pray for you."
"Please don't." She didn't want God to know anything about her.
Lucy got dressed and then was led to another room. Kevin stood by the door and a detective stood by a table.
"I'm Detective Brewer. We need to get a statement from you. You'll be recorded and you need to be as specific as possible. I know how hard this is, but it will give us a better case."
"Okay" Lucy said as she nodded.
She sat in a plastic chair across the table from the detective. Kevin still stood by the door.
He pushed to button the recorder. "Please state your name."
"Lucy Camden."
"Please explain the events of today, January 6th, 2004."
"I went to the stable this morning..."
"Where?"
"At Kevin's ranch."
"Kevin?"
"Kevin Kinkirk."
He nodded. "Please continue."
"I finished riding and then went to unsaddle Destiny. When I came out..." her voice shook, "He was there."
"Who was there?"
"God." No it wasn't him. She saw the glance the detective sent Kevin.
"I'm sorry Miss Camden, could you repeat that?"
"Jeremy. Jeremy Fallon."
"Did you say anything to him?"
"Yes, I asked if my dad told him where I was."
"Where you were?"
"Yes, I ran from him last time."
"Had he assaulted you before?"
She trembled, "Yes."
"Did you report it?"
"No, I ran away."
"Ok, what happened after you saw him?"
"He hit me and put me in his car. He had a gun. Then we drove up into the national park. He swerved and hit a deer. Then we ran."
"What was your relationship with Jeremy?"
"We were engaged to be married."
"He assaulted you and you agreed to marry him?"
"Yes. No. I left when he got violent."
"Did you sexually assault you?"
Jeremy's face in the woods. "You're crazy. I never raped you."
She sat in silence for a moment. "I don't know."
Detective Brewer paused. "Think about it for a moment."
"I'm confused."
He turned off the recorder. "Miss Camden, it is very important that you describe everything that happened, both this time and last." He turned the recorder back on.
Kevin sat down next to Lucy. "Tell him everything you told me Lucy. Tell him about the hawk."
He was trying to help her remember, but she couldn't. "It doesn't makes sense. I can only remember pieces of things." She could almost feel the closet walls surrounding her. She had never felt so small. But was it Jeremy who locked her in the closet? She couldn't remember. The picture of the hawk was real, but she couldn't remember what happened when she saw it.
"When did you first leave Jeremy."
"It was sometime in July. I don't remember the exact date." She could tell be the detective's face that he was getting frustrated. "I called my dad and left a message on his machine."
"We'll check that out. Is there anything else you can tell us?"
She shook her head and he turned off the machine. "Thank you very much."
She stood and Kevin led her out to his truck. The ranch was dark when they got back.
"Can I get you something to eat or drink. Maybe some tea?"
"No. I'm tired and just want to go to bed."
He helped her up the stairs and into her room. "Have they found him yet?"
Kevin sat down next to her. "I don't know. They haven't told me anything. But there are officers outside, he can't get to you again." He rested his cheek on the top of her head. "Lucy, is there anything I can do?"
"No." She pulled away and lay down on her side.
"All right, I'll let you rest. If you need anything, just call me."
She had screamed his name before when Jeremy was there, but he didn't come. She closed her eyes but images crowded her mind. "I'm sorry Mr. Camden, I just don't know. Sometimes after child abductions, the memories get locked away. Sort of a protection mechanism. Locked away until something triggers them."
What were these memories? Why was she just now remembering them?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin went back down to the kitchen. He was to tired to think or pray and he just sat. The phone rang and he jumped in his chair. "Hello."
It was Detective Brewer's voice. He sat an listened to everything he had to say. "Yes, I'll tell her. Thank you."
He went upstairs to Lucy's room and cracked the door. She was asleep and he didn't want to wake her. It could wait until morning. He went back down to the kitchen and watched another five minutes tick away on the clock.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next morning Lucy showered and then went downstairs. Kevin leaned against the counter holding a cup of coffee. He offered her one but she refused. He tried to take her hand, but she pulled away. "Detective Brewer called last night," he paused, "They found Jeremy right after we left the mountain. He... shot himself before they could apprehend him."
"He's dead?"
"Yes."
Dead. She felt no sense of victory, nor any sense or sorrow. Jeremy was dead. It was over. It felt like this chapter in her life never happened. "It's over then."
He tried to hug her. "Lucy..."
"Kevin, I need to go home."
He took a deep breath, "All right, I'll get us-."
"Alone." She didn't want him to argue and make this any harder.
"Lucy..."
"Please, just call my dad."
He didn't answer.
"Kevin, just do it for me please."
She went upstairs and packed her things. He came up later. "How will you stay there?"
"I don't know."
She left him alone in the room and took her bags downstairs. Two hours later they were in the airport.
"You can just let me out at the curb."
But he didn't. He parked and carried her bags to the checkpoint. He stood with his arms by his side, but he wanted to embrace her.
"Good-bye." She passed through the metal detector and left him behind.
A/N: All your reviews mean so much to me. I love reading your reactions to the story. I know people will be mad that she's leaving him, but you'll just have to wait and see how things turn out. Please review!
He straddled her with his arms against the counter. "Like a soon-to- be bride." He took off her hat and kissed her. "Ready to go?"
"Yep. Hopefully my leg is strong enough and Alderbaran's is too."
"You'll do fine."
They went out to the stable and Destiny stood ready to go.
Kevin smiled. "He's waiting for you."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Kevin, I don't know..."
"After all that harassment?" He put on a falsetto, "I can ride him myself Kevin, just let me try."
She slapped his hand for making fun of her, but he was right. She mounted and noticed Kevin wasn't following her. "You coming?"
"No. I have work to do."
"All right." She urged Destiny into a trot and left. Nothing could stand in her way. She let Destiny run in the open meadow and then they went down by the frozen stream. She left the woods and found Kevin at the pasture and stopped next to him
"So how is it?"
"It's wonderful." She leaned down and kissed him. "Why are you fixing the fence."
"A mountain lion scared the horses last night and they kicked it up."
"A mountain lion! Do you think it will come back?"
"Probably. But don't worry, it's only after easy prey. You would be to much work."
She stuck out her tongue and he laughed. "Are you done riding?"
"I would like to go a little more, but my leg is really hurting."
"Okay, I'll be done in a bit. I'll drive you back to the house."
"Don't worry about it, I'll just ride Destiny down."
"All right."
She rode Destiny back to the stables and then put him in the stall. She heard to sound of tires on the gravel and wondered if Kevin had finished the fence so soon. She went out, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun on the snow and she froze.
"Hello Lucy."
A nightmare. Her mind had to be playing a trick on her. Her heart pounded. Jeremy.
Her throat went dry and her breath quickened. Would her leg hold her if she tried to run? If she screamed, would Kevin hear her?
Jeremy grabbed her hands and she cried out. "Stop it Lucy. I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to talk to you."
"Did my dad tell you where I was?"
"No. I found you through your artwork. It's beautiful Lucy, I'm very impressed. It's been to long." He stroked her hands with his fingers.
She tried to pull away. "Kevin!"
Jeremy pulled her to his car. "Stop it! What do you think you're doing?"
He jerked open the car door. "Why are you acting like this? What is wrong with you?"
She kicked him, trying to escape. He cracked his fist against her head she fell down into the snow. She screamed, but he kicked her side and her stomach. He picked her up and shoved her into the car. He pulled out a gun from the armrest. "I'll use it Lucy." The look in his eyes convinced her.
He pointed the gun at her as he walked around the car and got in.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin looked up from the fence. He walked down just enough to see the stables and saw a gray sedan pulling away. His heart beat faster in his chest. Had he heard a scream?
He ran to his truck and flew down the meadow and stopped at the stables. "Lucy!" There was no answer. He ran to the house. "Lucy!" It was Jeremy.
He got back into his truck and fishtailed into town. There was a fork in the road and there were tracks going both ways.
Left would take him to the mountains and right to the national park. "God please help me." He went to the right and reached for his cell phone. He told the dispatcher the emergency as he headed right. He prayed that he or the state police would find her in time.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jeremy lowered the gear on the car and skidded around the turns. He pressed the accelerator and rounded the turn and then swerved. A deer hit the hood of the car and the car slammed into a drifted snow bank. Jeremy landed on top of Lucy. They couldn't stay there. He grabbed him arm. "Let's go."
She thought about fighting him, but she saw the gun and decided against it. He pulled her out of the car and held the gun to her temple. "Don't fight me Lucy." She stood still, afraid he really would kill her. He began up the slope, dragging her behind him.
"I only wanted to talk to you. Why did you have to go and panic. I wasn't going to hurt you, but you made me do it." He continued pulling her up the slope until she collapsed, exhausted and out of breath. "Get up!"
"I can't" she gasped, holding her side.
He yanked her up by her arm. They had to get out of this public area. He drug her further and further up the mountain until he saw a boulder. That would work.
He let her go of Lucy and she fell to the ground. She lay on the ground in a tiny ball. Had he hurt her that badly? He only hit her once or twice... or was it more? He didn't meant to hurt her. He dropped beside her. "Lucy, I didn't want to hurt you." He said, stroking her hair.
She didn't move or answer.
"I just wanted to talk to you. Then you called that guy... who was it you yelled for?"
Again she didn't answer.
He jerked her up, "Who did you call?"
"My fiancé," her teeth were clenched and angry tears fell down her cheeks.
"So you lied to me. There is someone else." Fury surged through him.
"There wasn't then, but there is now."
He slapped her. "Liar!"
She fell to the ground and her breath became ragged. Why was she doing this? It was starting to scare him. He shook her. "Stop it Lucy."
"Why? Will you rape me again?"
"What in the hell are you talking about?" He held so tightly onto her shoulder, she flinched. "Rape you? You're crazy!" He had hit her when he lost his temper, but rape?
"Listen to me Lucy, I never raped you."
"Yes you did. Don't touch me."
She was crazy. Anguish overwhelmed him. He had destroyed her. The one perfect thing in his life. People would believe her, even though she lied.
Rape. Was it possible? In his blind fury, was it possible he had? Was she the evil monster she thought he was?
He would be ruined. That sort of charge would send him to prison. Lucy couldn't be trusted, she would make false claims. Maybe he should kill her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin sped down the highway. He passed so many side roads that could lead him to Lucy; but he stayed on the main road. God please help me, he thought.
There –off to the left- was the gray sedan. It was on it's side in a snow bank. He jammed on the brakes and jumped out of the truck. The car was empty.
He turned and saw snow tracks leading up the mountain. He pulled his rifle out of the truck and started up. About 100 yards up he heard voices below him. He turned and saw four highway patrol officers starting up the slop. Jeremy Fallon had better hope they found him first.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jeremy had been pacing around Lucy. He was contemplating his decision on whether to kill Lucy. It made sense. She wouldn't be able to make false claims anymore. He hadn't raped her... he couldn't have.
He heard someone coming up the mountain, their feet crunching in the snow. Four highway patrolmen and another man. He grabbed Lucy and pointed the gun to her head.
"I'll shoot her. Stop right there."
Kevin saw Lucy standing motionless in Jeremy's grasp. He raised his rifle to shoot him. The deputy tackled him and he fell to the ground.
Jeremy pushed Lucy away and ran. He was getting away. Kevin yelled a the deputy, "Go, I won't follow." They took of chasing Jeremy.
Kevin crept up to Lucy. He took her in his arms, holding her face to his chest. "Are you all right?"
She didn't respond. She just grasped his shirt collar tightly.
The officers that were left motioned for Kevin to bring her down the mountain. They had to get her to a hospital. Kevin raised her to her feet, but she could hardly stand. Her leg was probably damaged again. He would have carried her, but it was to steep.
His fury turned to cold rage. If he ever saw Jeremy, he would crush him with his own hands.
Lucy sat in the truck. Her mind was boggled with thoughts. Her police escort allowed her to go straight to a curtained cubicle. A man helped her onto the bed. Was it Kevin? Or God?
"Sir, we need you to wait outside."
He hesitated. Lucy looked up. It was Kevin.
"Sir?"
"I'll be right outside."
A woman came into record Lucy's injuries. She noted the bruises on her face, the cut on the side of her mouth and the swelling and bump on her temple. Then she recorded the bruises and cuts on her abdomen and ribs.
"Any other injuries I should know about honey?"
Lucy knew what she meant and shook her head. Not this time.
"All right, then take these. They'll help with the pain."
As she swallowed them thoughts came into her mind again. "Are you God?" "Sure kid, I'm God. Don't tell," God said, "He's everywhere and he knows everything. If you tell, he'll find you."
She swallowed them and trembled.
"Okay," the nurse said, "They'll finish up the report outside." Then in a whisper Lucy heard her say, "I'll pray for you."
"Please don't." She didn't want God to know anything about her.
Lucy got dressed and then was led to another room. Kevin stood by the door and a detective stood by a table.
"I'm Detective Brewer. We need to get a statement from you. You'll be recorded and you need to be as specific as possible. I know how hard this is, but it will give us a better case."
"Okay" Lucy said as she nodded.
She sat in a plastic chair across the table from the detective. Kevin still stood by the door.
He pushed to button the recorder. "Please state your name."
"Lucy Camden."
"Please explain the events of today, January 6th, 2004."
"I went to the stable this morning..."
"Where?"
"At Kevin's ranch."
"Kevin?"
"Kevin Kinkirk."
He nodded. "Please continue."
"I finished riding and then went to unsaddle Destiny. When I came out..." her voice shook, "He was there."
"Who was there?"
"God." No it wasn't him. She saw the glance the detective sent Kevin.
"I'm sorry Miss Camden, could you repeat that?"
"Jeremy. Jeremy Fallon."
"Did you say anything to him?"
"Yes, I asked if my dad told him where I was."
"Where you were?"
"Yes, I ran from him last time."
"Had he assaulted you before?"
She trembled, "Yes."
"Did you report it?"
"No, I ran away."
"Ok, what happened after you saw him?"
"He hit me and put me in his car. He had a gun. Then we drove up into the national park. He swerved and hit a deer. Then we ran."
"What was your relationship with Jeremy?"
"We were engaged to be married."
"He assaulted you and you agreed to marry him?"
"Yes. No. I left when he got violent."
"Did you sexually assault you?"
Jeremy's face in the woods. "You're crazy. I never raped you."
She sat in silence for a moment. "I don't know."
Detective Brewer paused. "Think about it for a moment."
"I'm confused."
He turned off the recorder. "Miss Camden, it is very important that you describe everything that happened, both this time and last." He turned the recorder back on.
Kevin sat down next to Lucy. "Tell him everything you told me Lucy. Tell him about the hawk."
He was trying to help her remember, but she couldn't. "It doesn't makes sense. I can only remember pieces of things." She could almost feel the closet walls surrounding her. She had never felt so small. But was it Jeremy who locked her in the closet? She couldn't remember. The picture of the hawk was real, but she couldn't remember what happened when she saw it.
"When did you first leave Jeremy."
"It was sometime in July. I don't remember the exact date." She could tell be the detective's face that he was getting frustrated. "I called my dad and left a message on his machine."
"We'll check that out. Is there anything else you can tell us?"
She shook her head and he turned off the machine. "Thank you very much."
She stood and Kevin led her out to his truck. The ranch was dark when they got back.
"Can I get you something to eat or drink. Maybe some tea?"
"No. I'm tired and just want to go to bed."
He helped her up the stairs and into her room. "Have they found him yet?"
Kevin sat down next to her. "I don't know. They haven't told me anything. But there are officers outside, he can't get to you again." He rested his cheek on the top of her head. "Lucy, is there anything I can do?"
"No." She pulled away and lay down on her side.
"All right, I'll let you rest. If you need anything, just call me."
She had screamed his name before when Jeremy was there, but he didn't come. She closed her eyes but images crowded her mind. "I'm sorry Mr. Camden, I just don't know. Sometimes after child abductions, the memories get locked away. Sort of a protection mechanism. Locked away until something triggers them."
What were these memories? Why was she just now remembering them?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin went back down to the kitchen. He was to tired to think or pray and he just sat. The phone rang and he jumped in his chair. "Hello."
It was Detective Brewer's voice. He sat an listened to everything he had to say. "Yes, I'll tell her. Thank you."
He went upstairs to Lucy's room and cracked the door. She was asleep and he didn't want to wake her. It could wait until morning. He went back down to the kitchen and watched another five minutes tick away on the clock.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next morning Lucy showered and then went downstairs. Kevin leaned against the counter holding a cup of coffee. He offered her one but she refused. He tried to take her hand, but she pulled away. "Detective Brewer called last night," he paused, "They found Jeremy right after we left the mountain. He... shot himself before they could apprehend him."
"He's dead?"
"Yes."
Dead. She felt no sense of victory, nor any sense or sorrow. Jeremy was dead. It was over. It felt like this chapter in her life never happened. "It's over then."
He tried to hug her. "Lucy..."
"Kevin, I need to go home."
He took a deep breath, "All right, I'll get us-."
"Alone." She didn't want him to argue and make this any harder.
"Lucy..."
"Please, just call my dad."
He didn't answer.
"Kevin, just do it for me please."
She went upstairs and packed her things. He came up later. "How will you stay there?"
"I don't know."
She left him alone in the room and took her bags downstairs. Two hours later they were in the airport.
"You can just let me out at the curb."
But he didn't. He parked and carried her bags to the checkpoint. He stood with his arms by his side, but he wanted to embrace her.
"Good-bye." She passed through the metal detector and left him behind.
A/N: All your reviews mean so much to me. I love reading your reactions to the story. I know people will be mad that she's leaving him, but you'll just have to wait and see how things turn out. Please review!