He looked at her for a second and then raced back in the direction of Maggie.
Chapter40
Maggie’s gaze landed on the knife.Tony held the knife beneath Cindy’s chin, the blade glinting under the light of the flashlight from her phone.
Despite her face, streaked with dirt and fear, Cindy looked at Maggie.“I’m not going with Tony.I’d rather die than go with him.”
“Don’t come any closer!”Tony snarled, his voice raw and shaking.Sweat broke out across his face and Maggie could smell him from where she stood.
Walker stood his ground.The dog barked ferociously, echoing off the thick trees.Though nearly blind, he moved with purpose, circling and snapping, every hair on his back raised.
Cindy whimpered as Tony jerked her closer.The blade nicked her neck.A small drop of blood trailed down her skin.
“Shut that damn dog up!”
From the corner of her eye, she could see Mac edge slowly to Tony’s side.She knew she had to distract him so Cindy’s father would be in a better position to take Tony by surprise.
“Let her go, Tony!”Maggie yelled, her voice breaking.“This is over.You don’t want to do this.”She took a step forward.
“I said, stay back!”Tony shouted, pressing the blade harder.Cindy cried out.
Walker’s bark turned guttural.Every hair on his back raised upward as if he were ready to pounce.
Tony’s eyes narrowed on her.Maggie had never seen someone’s eyes so full of hate until she stared into Tony’s.
A man like Tony was incapable of redemption.He was pure evil.
“Please,” Maggie said, as she lifted her hands trying to calm him down.She tried to keep her voice calm and soft.“You’re scared.I get it.But this won’t end the way you want.You’re surrounded.The police are on their way.You don’t have to do this.”
Tony faltered.His eyes widened and his breath turned ragged.For the first time, his eyes showed something close to panic as reality set in.He knew there was no way out for him.
Walker darted forward, baring his teeth.
Tony flinched.
In that split second, Cindy stepped down hard on his toe and yanked herself free.She stumbled away.
Cindy’s father tackled Tony to the ground.The knife skittered across the dirt as they hit the forest floor.Maggie grabbed it just as a police officer emerged from the brush with a drawn taser.Joy Miller was right behind him.
Cindy ran to her mother and collapsed into her arms, sobbing with relief that the ordeal was over.Mac went to embrace his family.
Three more police officers came out of the woods, and they quickly handcuffed Tony.
As he was being led away, Maggie felt all the adrenaline rush out of her body, and she collapsed to the forest floor.
Walker walked over.Maggie pulled her dog into her lap and let her tears soak into his fur.“I was so scared he was going to hurt you, Walker.”
Walker looked up at her and wagged his tail slowly.He licked her across the cheek.Maggie laughed and held him tighter.
“Ma’am, there is an ambulance on the way,” the officer addressed Cindy.“After they assess you, we are going to need a statement.”
Cindy nodded.“I’ll do whatever you need.As long as that man gets locked up and won’t ever come near me again.”
The officer looked at all of them.“That’s not going to be a problem.He has a warrant out in Arkansas for attempted kidnapping of a minor.With your statement, we hope this guy gets locked up for a long time.”
Maggie felt her heart drop.Tony was more dangerous than she originally suspected.
“You found her,” Maggie whispered as she hugged Walker close.“You brought us right to her.”
