Page 21 of No Room to Breathe
But she dreamed of the hunt, of the man who had stolen so many lives.When she had looked deeply into her abyss, The wisps of information and awareness told her that only catching him alive would bring closure to the other families.
Because aside from Charlene, he had used his family resources to destroy the bodies of his victims.She had done her best to find the man’s name for detective Hoffman.But he hadn’t used his real name during his crimes.
Stretching herself, pushing so hard in this unusual way, she had to leave herself open to more of the evil perpetrated by a man who had once promised to protect and serve his community.That kind of darkness didn’t wash away with a shower, wasn’t easily forgotten with food and wine and entertainment.
In the violence of the nightmare, she struggled to take control, cried out for help, and searched for a calming current she could ride back to the surface.
And then as pressure built up in her lungs, her throat burning she realized there was no calm to be had and she wasn’t just in the violent nightmare she was under attack.
She smelled the sweat on his skin, the rotten stench of his breath.There was illness here as well as madness.
In theory, she could use her gifts to reflect his nightmare back on him, but a bridge like that would leave her vulnerable.Had to find another way.She couldn’t bear to be that close to his sickness if there was another way out.
A name filled her mind: Lionel Dowdy.
Silently, she screamed it over and over in her head.Maybe Marlene would hear her and justice would still prevail even if she died here tonight.
But she wasn’t dead yet.Wouldn’t go down without a fight.She clawed at his arms and wrists, catching his watch.There would be evidence for the police to work with.Bucking and shoving, she desperately fought for every sip of oxygen.He howled when her nails dug into his fleshy cheeks and he reared back out of her reach.
She gulped in a breath, lost it as he threw her to the floor.He kicked her ribs and then dropped on her again, his brutal hands squeezing her neck.
Then there was a crash, shouting voices, and the thunder of gunfire.
Dowdy collapsed, his eyes wide and glassy.She stared at him until she was sure the last thing he saw in this life was her face.
And then Cade drew her back, away from death and pain.She could hardly talk, her injured throat burning after the assault.“Dee?”
He nodded vigorously.“We’ll have news any second now.”He fished his phone from a pocket under his tactical vest.His frown eased.“Here we go.Yeah.Here we go.Hoffman’s got her.Alive, just as you said.”He showed her the text messages on his phone.
“I’m sorry he did so much damage before I caught up with him.”His gaze cruised over her.“Your friend will have my hide.”
Devyn shook her head.“No.She’ll be thankful.So am I.”
It shocked them both when she hugged him, holding tightly until the paramedics moved in to check her over.
“Tell me all of it.Please?”She wasn’t ready to be alone with strangers.
Cade stayed with her.“We had officers on Dee’s location,” he said.“But I couldn’t shake the feeling that Dowdy knew aboutyou.”
“The Archers.”
“Exactly.Her recovery has been too well publicized and they keep mentioning your name.”
It happened.She gave a shrug that only made her ache more, inside and out.
“Anyway, as you’ve said, Dowdy knows the system.If he had to give up on Dee, I figured he’d be furious and come after you.As payback or leverage.”
She appreciated the truth, though it sent a shiver down her spine.“Done now.”
“Yes,” Cade agreed.“Thanks to you, he’s done.”
