Page 31 of Dart to Me
A muffled voice, slurred and disoriented, comes through the speaker. “Ellie? Don’t... don’t listen to him.”
“Shut up,” Rick snaps, and there’s a thud followed by Miles’s grunt of pain.
Ellie’s eyes meet mine, wide with panic. I mouth “trace call” and reach for my phone, dialing 911.
“What do you want, Rick?” Ellie asks again, her voice stronger now, buying time.
“I told you. I want to see you. Alone, of course. Your new boyfriend isn’t invited.”
“Leave him out of this.”
“That depends on you, doesn’t it? Meet me at the old boathouse. One hour. Come alone or Miles gets a swimming lesson.”
“Rick—”
“One hour, Ellie. And leave your phone at home. I’ll know if you bring it.”
The line goes dead.
JULIAN
Ellie dropsthe phone like it’s burned her. “He’s been watching us.”
I finish my call with 911, explaining the situation as quickly as I can. “They’re sending officers to Miles’s place and here. They want us to stay put.”
“I can’t.” Ellie is already moving, pulling on clothes. “You heard him. He’ll kill Miles.”
“And he’ll kill you if you go alone,” I argue, catching her wrist. “This is exactly what he wants—to isolate you.”
She pulls away. “I don’t have a choice! Miles may be my ex, but I can’t have his death on my conscience.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“No.” Her voice breaks. “I’ve already put you in danger just by being with you. I won’t risk your life too.”
I grab my own clothes. “That’s not your decision to make. We’re in this together.”
“You don’t understand what Rick is capable of,” she says, her eyes haunted. “He doesn’t just want to hurt me. He wants to destroy everything I care about.”
I cup her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. “That’s exactly why I’m coming with you. I’m not letting you face him alone.”
“But—”
“No buts,” I interrupt. “I know you’re scared for Miles, and for me. But Rick is manipulating you, using your compassion against you. If we go, we go together.”
A tear slips down her cheek. “I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t.” I pull her close, feeling her heart racing against mine. “We’ll follow the police instructions. They’ll be close by. We just need to keep Rick talking until they arrive.”
She draws a shaky breath against my chest. “He’s smarter than you think. More dangerous.”
“Tell me what I need to know,” I say, grabbing my keys. “Everything about him, while we drive.”
Forty minutes later, we approach the turn-off for the lake.
The old boathouse sits at the far end, partially hidden by overgrown willows. I pull over before we reach the final bend.
“I’ll park here. We’ll walk the rest. Less chance of him hearing us approach.”
