Chapter 35
He brought Robin into Emma's room and set her on the bed. Moving quickly, he pulled her pills out of his pocket and set them on the dresser before walking out of the caged area and locking the entrance.
Looking at the dog he gave a command. "Lucy – guard." The Doberman sat at attention by the door.
He took a few moments to watch Robin and smiled. She was so courageous and tough, so willing to do anything to protect her daughter. So much like Anna.
Flashback
He was hiding in the kitchen when he heard Anna and Emma come through the front door.
"How much longer until Mommy and Daddy get home?" Emma was practically jumping up and down with excitement. Patrick had called and told Emma that he and her mom had a surprise for her when they got home.
"Not much longer luv, I promise." Anna started going down the hall. "I'm going to the bathroom and then we can play a game. Pick something out and I will be right back."
Emma headed over to the cabinet to get a game. As soon as Anna was out of sight, he left the kitchen and grabbed the little girl. He picked her up as she began kicking and screaming, fighting him ferociously. Anna came running back down the hall only moments later. "Emma!"
He turned around and smiled at her. "Hello Anna. Long time no see."
"You let her go you son of a bitch!" Anna was cursing herself for not having her gun on her. "There is no way in hell you are taking her out of this house."
He struggled to hold on to Emma. "She reminds me of Robin when she was this age - so strong and willful. Do you think this little girl is as resilient as Robin was? What do you think she'd do if you went the way of dear Filomena right in front of her?"
Suddenly Emma threw her head back and knocked him in the chin. He dropped the girl and she ran over to her grandma. "Emma hide!"
Emma ran down the hall but didn't get very far before she heard a fight break out in the living room. Worried about her grandma, Emma ran back out to the living room and saw Anna lying on the floor unconscious. "Grandma?"
He reached down and picked up Emma once again just as Robin walked in the door.
"Mom, I…" Robin saw a man holding a struggling Emma in his arms and her mother on the floor. Acting on instinct, she threw herself at him and he dropped her little girl. "Run Emma! Hide!"
"Mommy!" Emma was crying but Robin would not be stopped.
"GO! Don't come out until Daddy comes for you!" Robin continued fighting with the man as she watched Emma run up the stairs to one of her hiding places. He threw Robin to the side and she hit one of the end tables, momentarily getting the wind knocked out of her.
Robin was still getting her breath back when he ran back down the stairs and picked her up. "Where is she?!"
For the first time since she entered her house, Robin saw his face clearly and gasped in disbelief. "No, it can't be..."
"I will ask you again – where is your daughter!" He threw Robin again and she hit the other end table, crashing through it and hitting her head. He stalked over to her and saw she had been knocked out by the blow. "Damn it!"
He ran his hands through his hair and paced the living room for only a minute before leaning over Robin. "You know this actually may work out for the best anyway. You were the target all those years ago and you are the goal now. I'll get Emma another time."
Moving quickly he picked Robin up and took her out of the back of the house.
End Flashback
He smiled as he watched her slowly start to come to. Robin looked around at her surroundings and then noticed him standing by the door. "Grant? Grant Putnam?"