The scene in the police station later that week was a grim one. Though a team had swept the forest for the living twin, his trail had run cold after coming to a long stream, one that ran through the length of the reserve. The man must have walked through the water for a time before fleeing elsewhere. They were stuck at another dead end.
There was a positive note, however. The dead man had been identified as Bryce Jones, a well-known professor at the local college. His twin brother Brian was a fisherman, generally liked by the people he knew. How they had managed to fool people for so long baffled Nathan's mind. There had been serial killers mingling with the people of Kauai for more than two decades. No one would have suspected them of their crimes.
Wanted posters had been published and posted throughout the island. Brian's place of residence was being watched carefully, as was his workplace. He hadn't shown his face since Nathan shot him. Every police station on Kauai was on high alert as the manhunt continued.
Much to his relief, since the press was now aware of the search and the reasons behind it, Nathan was finally able to tell Elizabeth everything. That alone had lifted a weight from his shoulders. His wife was able to share in his burden, and she was an ever-present source of comfort and hope to him. He was thankful for her steadiness throughout their search. Rather than show the fear he expected, she had been the strong one over the past week.
Now, with only a few hours left before being done for the day, Nathan was determined to figure out what Brian's next move might be.
"The scheme has been unearthed," Nathan said, looking at Bill and Lee. "I'm guessing Brian and Bryce were in this together from the beginning. The only question is who the mastermind was. If it was Bryce, then Brian will be liable to make a big mistake. If it was Brian, then he could easily stay hidden for some time before striking at another target." He sighed. "But I'm afraid he will strike again, either way." He paused. "And it could be anyone. His MO was uncovered. He might target another blonde female, or he might target anyone he considers to be easy, especially with his injury. We're going to need to be extra vigilant until he's caught."
Lee crossed his arms. "Where do we search next? There are miles and miles of forest on this island. Brain could stay hidden for years if he wanted to."
Bill tapped his pen against the desk. "Then we need to hope he makes a colossal mistake soon," he said. Nathan had noticed his boss softened a bit since learning of Bryce's death. It was as if a weight had been taken from his shoulders as well. Ironically, he also seemed to become more tense at the same time, knowing one of his fiancee's killers was still out there.
Nathan and Lee nodded in unison. It would likely take a mistake for them to find Brian. He had to be in pain with his wound. Nathan guessed he'd shot Brian in the arm, and the man hadn't checked in to any hospital or health clinic. That meant he'd attempted to clean and stanch the wound on his own. He was going to become desperate, especially if the bullet wound became infected.
Deciding it would be more prudent to reconvene in the morning, Bill told his detectives to go home a little early. Nathan didn't have to be asked twice. He made his way to the house, where he found Elizabeth, Allie, Anthony, and the twins in the backyard.
"Nathan!" Elizabeth stood, walking to him and giving him a kiss in greeting. "You're home early."
He kissed her back, holding her close for a brief moment. "Bill gave us the afternoon off. Thought we'd be better off if we're fresh in the morning."
Elizabeth smiled, leaning her head against his chest. "My thanks to Bill. You've been working so much lately."
Regret pierced Nathan. He hadn't wanted to spend so much time at the station, but it had been unavoidable. He had committed to being home by five o'clock each day, no matter what. Time with family, especially a newborn, was important.
Allie came over, holding Anthony in her arms. "Hey, Uncle Nathan," she said.
"Hey, sweetheart," Nathan replied, ruffling her hair. "How are you doing?"
"Good." She offered him the baby. "Do you want to hold Anthony?"
Nathan chuckled. "Of course I do. Hey, buddy," he said, taking his son into his arms. Anthony was now four months old and growing steadily. Nathan remembered thinking Arianna and Cecilia ate a lot; Anthony seemed to eat twice as much as his sisters had at his age. Elizabeth had the baby at her breast every couple of hours. He was sleeping better during the night, allowing his mother at least five uninterrupted hours of sleep each day, sometimes more. Nathan nuzzled the baby's cheek, earning him a sweet baby smile.
Elizabeth peered over his arm, cooing at their son. "He's been such a good boy today, haven't you, Anthony?" she said, using her baby voice. Nathan grinned. There was something sweet hearing how she talked to the baby. It was the same voice she used still with Arianna and Cecilia. He found it endearing.
"Since we're all here, why don't we go to the beach?" Nathan suggested. "It's a hot day, and the water will feel good."
"Yes!" Allie cheered, earning her squeals from the twins. "Let's do it!"
Within ten minutes, the Grant family was ready for their walk to the beach. Nathan pushed the twin stroller while Elizabeth carried Anthony strapped to her chest in a baby carrier. Allie toted the beach bag. Soon they were standing on white sand, listening to the waves roll against the shore. Allie took the twins' hands and helped them wade into the water. Nathan stayed nearby, playing with the three girls. Elizabeth sat in the shallows and dipped Anthony in and out of the warm waves. The little boy was delighted, kicking his legs and waving his arms with each dip.
They spent a relaxed afternoon at the beach. When their stomachs began rumbling, they packed up and headed back home. Allie kissed everyone goodbye before getting on her bike and riding to her house. Nathan prepared dinner while Elizabeth bathed the twins. When the girls were fresh, clean, and dressed in their pajamas, the family sat down to dinner.
"We're going to need a third high chair soon," Elizabeth commented, feeding Cecilia a bite of mashed potatoes. "Anthony will need one before the girls outgrow theirs."
Nathan shook his head, chuckling lightly. Anthony was sound asleep in his crib, exhausted from the beach excursion. Their son was still small, but Nathan knew Elizabeth was right. In about two months, Anthony would be ready to sit in a high chair and sample baby foods. The thought boggled his mind. "I still can't believe our three children are only nine months apart."
"Me neither," Elizabeth said, eating some of her own food. "But my body certainly knows it." She rubbed at her back. "This might have been easier if I'd had them so close together in my twenties. I'd heard having children in your thirties is more taxing physically, and I don't have anything to compare it to since I was over thirty for all their births, but I think I can safely say this was quite an experience."
Nathan eyed her midsection. "And you're certain you're not pregnant again?" He was half-teasing, half-serious.
Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head. "I'm definitely not pregnant. I think Anthony's conception was a rarity. Since I'm breastfeeding him, we should be safe for a while." She grinned. "If at all possible, I'd like to wait a year or two before we try for another child."
Nathan paused, a fork halfway to Arianna's mouth. She squawked at the delay in being fed, and he quickly deposited the bite between her lips. "You're already thinking about more kids?" he asked, brows raised.
She smiled. "We did say five would be ideal." A playful look entered her eyes. "That means two more."
Nathan chuckled. "I won't object to that. I love each and every one of our children, and I know it would be the same for any more that come our way. But I agree - a year or two with the three kiddos we have would be ideal."
"Then we'll just have to be careful," Elizabeth said, winking at him.
He laughed. "I guess so."
They had nearly finished their supper when their door banged open. Lee ran inside, his eyes half-wild. Nathan stood, alarm filling him. "Lee! What's wrong?"
Tears poured from Lee's eyes. "He has her," he gasped, holding a piece of paper in the air. "He took Rosie!"
Lee paced back and forth in the police station, unable to stay still. Elizabeth had taken Lucas, Jesse, and Clara so Lee and Nathan could go to the station to plan a course of action. Bill was there as well.
"Calm down, Lee," Bill ordered. "We'll find her. Brian is a desperate man, but I don't think he'll hurt her. Not yet."
"How can you be so sure?" Lee shrieked, running his hands through his hair. "Rosie is my life! How can we be sure she won't be harmed?"
Nathan looked at the note once more. I HAVE YOUR WIFE. CALL OFF THE SEARCH AND NO HARM WILL COME TO HER. The missive had been left in the Coulter's mailbox, with no sign of Rosemary anywhere.
"I think Bill is right," Nathan said slowly. "He knows if he hurts Rosemary, we will never stop hunting him. This is the move of a desperate man. He lost his brother and he's running scared and hurt."
The sentiment didn't comfort his friend. Lee's pacing increased. "She matches the descriptions of all the other victims. Who's to say he won't kill her when he has what he wants?"
"We can't think that way," Bill said earnestly, placing a hand on Lee's shoulder. "We'll think of a way to rescue her."
Mike Hickam came running into the room. He was clearly out of breath, but hope filled his features. "We might have something!" he exclaimed, making his way to a computer. "Look at this."
With a few strokes of the keyboard, he'd brought up an image of an old cabin tucked away in a forest. "This cabin belonged to a Kenneth Davidson," he said. "The man passed away a few years ago, and the cabin has sat deserted ever since. But get this - he's the uncle of the Jones twins. I'd be willing to bet Brian Jones has made that his hideout."
Nathan clamped a hand on Mike's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Mike, you very well might have saved a life," he said. "Come on! We have no time to waste!"
They piled into two squad cars with plenty of backup. Using the GPS coordinates Mike had procured, they cautiously made their way to the cabin. About a quarter mile out, they killed their engines and silently got out of the cars. "We make the next leg on foot," Nathan whispered. "We'll need to fan out and surround the cabin. If Brian is startled, he might harm Rosemary. We need to figure out how to lure him out so he can't harm her."
Lee nodded, his face still bearing the tension of his fear. Nathan looked hard at him. "Maybe you should stay here," he suggested, already knowing what Lee's answer would be.
His friend gave him a hard look and shook his head stubbornly. Nathan couldn't blame him. If Elizabeth was the one trapped in that cabin, his response would have been much the same.
They snuck up on the cabin, surrounding it completely. Nathan, Lee, and Bill held the side by the door. Nathan glanced around, wondering what he could use to draw Brian's attention. All the police remained hidden from sight. Nathan's gaze landed on a large bush. Maybe that would hold the key. He walked over to it, shaking it vigorously. It was big enough and close enough to the cabin to make a rustling noise. With any luck, Brian would hear it and think a wild boar was caught in the bushes.
The door to the cabin opened. The curly haired man who had been leading Vanessa to her death peered out. Nathan continued shaking the bush. Brian slowly walked down the steps, his gun in hand, staring at the rustling branches.
Lee gritted his teeth. "Now!" he whispered. All three men stood up, guns trained on Brian Jones. He froze, fear flitting across his face. He started to turn for the cabin, but Nathan's voice stopped him in his tracks. "I'd stay right where I was if I were you."
The other police stood from their hidden positions as well, weapons aimed at the serial killer. His mouth drooped, and he dropped his gun, hands going into the air. He winced as he did so. Nathan could see blood seeping through his shirt sleeve. Apparently the gunshot wound was still paining him.
Stepping forward, Nathan gripped the man by his uninjured arm. "Brian Jones, you're under arrest for murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping, among other things. You have the right to remain silent…"
As he read him his rights, Lee rushed into the cabin. Nathan could hear his voice even from outside. "Rosie! You're alright!"
Rosemary's exclamation of happiness brought a smile to Nathan's lips. He hadn't expected things to go this smoothly, but he was incredibly grateful that they had.
Elizabeth was still awake when Nathan finally came home. She heard his car pull into the drive and felt a rush of relief. All six children were soundly asleep. Jesse, Clara, and Lucas had been so worried for their mother, it had taken them hours to fall into fitful dreams. She had tucked all three of them into her own bed, praying that Nathan and Lee would be able to rescue her friend and that she would be unharmed. As Nathan walked into the house, Elizabeth rushed to him. "Did you find her?"
"Yes," Nathan breathed, pulling her to him. Elizabeth sagged against his chest in relief.
"Thank God," she murmured. "Was she hurt?"
"No," Nathan said. "She was fine." He smiled, taking her by the hand. "Why don't we sit? I have a lot to tell you."
They settled together on the sofa. "You were gone for a long time," Elizabeth said, glancing at the clock. It was nearly midnight. "What took so long?"
Nathan rested an arm around her shoulders. "We caught Brian Jones several hours ago," he said. "He was injured and barely able to move his right arm. It was a rather easy arrest, to be honest. I think he was so on edge, he was bound to make mistakes." He sighed. "But it also sounds like Bryce was the mastermind behind their murdering spree. Brian claims he never actually killed anyone; Bryce was always the one that swung the bat. But Brian was the one to woo or befriend the women and gain their trust. He would take them on the hike as either a date or a friendly outing. But he always led them to Bryce, holding their attention until it was too late." He sighed. "I will never understand why some people are capable of such evil. I see it often in this line of work, but it never makes sense."
Elizabeth pressed closer to him, knowing her physical proximity was something that he found comforting. "Did he give a reason for why they did what they did?"
Nathan stared at the ground for a few moments. "No," he said finally. He sighed again. "Sometimes, there's no reasoning or explanation. As much as we want one, want a reason for them being the way they are...sometimes people are just evil. It sounds like Brian had a bit more of a conscience than his brother, but he still was actively involved in the deaths of eight women and the attempted murder of one more." He shook his head. "That man will spend the rest of his life in prison."
"Then justice prevailed," Elizabeth said quietly, leaning her head against Nathan's shoulder. Maybe there was no explanation, but at least her husband had been able to put the bad guy in jail. It was comforting to know that for every bad person in the world, there were many more good people.
She and Nathan sat together for a long time, resting in each other's presence, until finally they fell asleep cuddled together on the couch.
