Chapter Twenty-Two
"Bill, we have to get back to your house and protect Elizabeth, Wickham is there." Chief Goulding said, "Until Wickham is in custody, you will be in protective custody."
"You can't let him hurt her."
I'm sending a detail to the house right now." Goulding assured Bill.
"Thank you, just keep her safe."
Elizabeth didn't know how long she had been laying on the floor crying but a pounding on the door finally drug her out of her stupor.
She knew who it was, Wickham come to gloat; her tears flowed freely as a shudder ran through her body. Oh, Bill. She picked herself off the floor; she had to see Wickham so she could finish what they started. Bill…
Tears were cascading down her cheeks when she opened the door to Wickham. She didn't take the chain off and the door was opened just a crack, "What are you doing here?"
Wickham voice was soft and threatening, "I am concerned about your children."
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth demanded as her voice grew stronger.
"My dear Elizabeth," Wickham smiled malevolently, "We can't have a civilized conversation with the door between us." He pulled his leg back and pushed his flattened foot against the door with enough force to break the chain, open the door and send Elizabeth stumbling backwards.
Wickham caught Elizabeth easily by the arm before she fell to the floor and pulled the door shut behind them, "Now that's much better." He grabbed the top of her other arm and pinned her arms to her body as he held her, "Now let me take a look at you." He scoffed, "Are these tears for good ole' Darcy? A beautiful woman like you should not be crying for Darcy because now you have me and I have you."
"You are not even half the man that Bill was, you bastard." Elizabeth eyes flashed, "You will never be worthy of me."
"Oh, my dear Elizabeth," Wickham crooned, "I think you had best reconsider your position because as I told you before, I am concerned about the safety of your children." Wickham cocked his head to the side, "Saunderson is not as gentile as I am and he knows only one way to handle a situation like this one… through violence."
"Stop being coy and tell me what you are talking about." Elizabeth cried with frustration.
"Saunderson at this very moment is at your sister Jane's apartment." Wickham smiled, "Now I personally don't care what he does to your sister…" He gazed at her with a meaningful smile, "It is the children who are my concern. Dear Anne Marie, already like a daughter to me and you know how much I want David as I encouraged Lydia to get custody of him." His eyes widened in mock horror, "I'm sure you don't want any harm to befall those wonderful children."
Elizabeth sobbed quietly as she tried to maintain her composure. She just needed to make him talk, to incriminate himself for both murders. Fresh grief washed over Elizabeth as she tightened her hands into fists. "What do you want from me?" She asked although she was sure she knew the answer.
"We're going to be married, my love." Wickham lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, "As soon as we have possession of Darcy's death certificate, you will be free to marry me."
"Why… why would you want to marry a woman, who so obviously hates you?"
"For your money, of course." Wickham answered, "You will have all of good ole' Bill's money and custody of the golden goose, sweet little Anne Marie." Wickham's brow furrowed in thought, "There is no real reason to keep little David, other than to make you happy. If you make me happy with boat loads of money, then I will be willing to make you happy by keeping your nephew David alive."
"Stop it." Elizabeth wailed as she pulled away from his grip, "Don't talk about such things."
Wickham studied Elizabeth for a moment with a lascivious gleam in his eyes, "Of course there will other compensations as well. You are one fine piece of ass." He laughed cruelly, "Lydia told me all about her older sister that vowed to be a virgin until her wedding day." He shook his head, "I don't like virgins so it's just as well that Darcy took you first." He studied her face, "After Darcy's dismal sexual prowess, you must be panting to be bedded by a real man. I can't wait until I have you legs wrapped around me, screaming my name."
Elizabeth shook her head trying to dispel the horrific images, "I don't understand why you hate my husband so much."
"Oh, sweet Elizabeth," Wickham crooned, "Are you in denial, as I'm sure you meant your late husband." His eyes flickered with amusement, "You shouldn't hold out any hope that he is alive because I can assure you that he is good and dead. I should know because I personally watched his truck crash down into the ravine just as I watched Sara's car crash into the ocean." Wickham growled, "I would have had all of the money then if Sara's meddling mother hadn't interfered." Wickham's eyes were far away in a distant place, "Of course, in Sara's case, I had to bludgeon her to death before I pushed her car off that cliff. She begged me to spare her life as she had decided she wanted to live to see her baby grow up." His eyes grew more focused, "What a pathetic little thing she was begging me for her lowly little existence. She had not one ounce of spirit or backbone." His gaze shifted to Elizabeth, "Now you on the other hand, you are not a pathetic creature at all. You will fight me tooth and nail like a feral tiger and I will love every minute of it as you finally surrender."
Elizabeth felt a sense of relief wash over her a she spotted one of Chief Goulding's officers as he silently crossed the room and he moved into position to capture Wickham. She saw him signal others and she drew Wickham's attention back to her as she snarled at Wickham, "I will never let a sick son of a bitch like you touch me, you can count on that as I will fight you until the day I die."
Wickham stepped toward her with a malicious smile, "It will be fun to teach you some respect and I will teach you if it's the last thing you do."
A shot rang out in the room and Elizabeth saw the impact against Wickham's leg as he stumbled and fell to the ground.
Once he was down, officers converged on him as they handcuffed him and dragged him to his feet.
Elizabeth saw Chief Goulding walk across the room and he began to speak, "George Wickham, you are under arrest for the murder of Sara Darcy and the attempted murder of William Darcy. You have the right to…"
The rest of his words blurred out of focus as Elizabeth saw there was a man who walked in behind Chief Goulding and it was Bill.
"BILL!" Elizabeth screamed as she launched herself at her husband, "You're alive." She sobbed uncontrollably, "Bill, you're alive, I thought you were dead."
"I know, I know, Baby, I'm sorry…" Bill cried as he lifted her tight into his arms, "There was nothing I could do."
Elizabeth noticed Wickham's nasty glare as Chief Goulding escorted the handcuffed man out of the room. "Wait a minute, Bill, there's something you need to know." Elizabeth exclaimed in horror as she pulled back from her husband, "Detective Saunderson has Jane and the kids. We have to go get them before he has a chance to harm them."
"Elizabeth, darling." Bill crooned softly, "Everything is alright. Wickham didn't know it but Saunderson was picked up by the police before he ever got off the mountain." Bill cradled her, "He never completed the plan Wickham had set in motion." Bill laughed, "In fact, when Saunderson realized I had lived, he got out of there as quickly as possible."
"Bill," Elizabeth cried, "What the hell happened on that mountain? Tell me!"
"Well, let's just say that Wickham wasn't going to take any chance of me walking away alive."
As Elizabeth got over her shock that Bill was alive, she began to take in his appearance. The cuts on his arms, his ripped clothing, a small gash on his forehead and lastly she noticed that he was favoring his left leg.
"Bill Darcy, you are hurt, let me down."
"Not on my life." Bill laughed, "Now that I have you where I want you."
"Bill Darcy that is not funny."
"I beg to differ with you," Bill smiled and kissed her, "I think it is very funny. Besides there is nothing wrong with me that can't be fixed."
"Bill…"
"Elizabeth, I am fine." Bill winked, "Just a few scrapes and bruises, nothing to stop me from taking you to bed and ravishing you."
"I love you with all my heart, Bill Darcy." Elizabeth whispered as tears of relief and joy flowed down her cheeks.
"Elizabeth Darcy, you are the love of my life and my soul mate." Bill said softly, "You are mine forever and I will never let you go." Bill lowered his head, captured his wife's lips and drank deeply of her sweetness. Elizabeth wound her arms around her husband's neck and kissed him passionately.
"See David, when Mommy and Daddy kiss like that it means we will be soon having a baby sister." Anne Marie said loudly as she watched the adults kissing.
Bill reluctantly released Elizabeth's lips when he heard his daughter speak. He lowered Elizabeth lightly to the ground and knelt beside her as they opened their arms wide. Anne Marie and David didn't need any more encouragement as they raced into their parent's arms.
"I guess I am not needed any longer." Jane smiled as she made her way toward the door, "I think I will call Charlie."
Elizabeth winked at Jane as her sister pulled out her cell phone and closed the door behind her.
Jane grinned when she heard Anne Marie ask; "So what about that baby sister?"