Ahysterical howl burst from my lips, as I nodded, crying through a coalescenceof fear and relief. “Oh, God,” I cried, as Finley worked a small knife againstthe ropes. “Oh, my God.”
“Ye'reokay,” he kept saying,over and over again, but he waslying. Just a few feet from where we were, Alec was wrestling against Sharp.The fat man had managed to slip from Alec's hold on him and now he was dodgingquickly toward the black duffle bag he had by the fire and reached inside.
“Alec!He has a gun!” I screamed, as Inspector Finley helped me to a sitting positionand wrapped me in his coat.
“Giveit up, Sharp!” Alec shouted, lunging again for the Constable, but the man dodgedhis attempts and scooped a heavy looking branch from beside the flames.
Heswung and Alec jumped out of the way, before swinging his fist at Sharp's face.His knuckles made impact, crashing hard against the man's cheekbone. Sharpcursed angrily and swung again, this time cracking the branch against Alec'sshoulder.
“Sonof a bitch,” Alec groaned through gritted teeth, while trying to grab thebranch and missing, as it came down on his head.
“No!”I screamed, jumping from the stone to help the man who had saved my life. ButFinley's arms were around my waist before I could get to him.
“No,lass. Ye'vegottaget out of here,” he instructed.
“No!I need to—”
“Rosie,go!” Alec shouted, as Sharp hit him again.
Alecdropped to his knees and another scream ripped through my throat as fresh tearswetted my face. He cursed, as he reached up to the back of his head and cameaway with a fresh sheen of blood coating his palm.
“G-G-Getu-up, A-A-A-Alec,” Sharp taunted, snickering before kicking Alec in the leg.
Alecshook his head, wobbling and blinking slowly, as he said, “F-Finley, get herout of here.”
Finleygrabbed my wrist and pulled, urging me to go with him, but my feet wouldn't letme move. Not when we could still help Alec, swaying on the ground and strugglingto stand, while being kicked again and again by Sharp. I ignored Finley'sbegging voice, as I screamed at Sharp to leave him alone, but the bastard wasrelentless.
“Doye remember that day, Alec?” Sharp growled, as he hit Alec again over theshoulder. “Do ye remember my brother, tyin' ye to that tree?”
Alecdropped face first into the dirt and grunted as Sharp kicked him in the ribsbut made no attempt to get up. I pleaded with Sharp to stop and I demanded forAlec to get up. I begged them both, as I fought against Finley's grasp aroundmy waist.
“Stopit, Rosie,” Finley warned harshly, as he pulled me toward the entrance of theclearing. “We need to go!”
Sharpgroaned and threw the branch to the ground. With a sigh, he said, “This isgettin' old,” and then, with a swift flick of his wrist, hepulled the gun from his back pocket.
Iwas now blinded to Alec's unmoving body, as I stared into the black barrel ofthe pistol. Finley shoved me toward the entrance of the clearing, and I trippedon unsteady legs, as he shouted, “Rosie, run! Runnow!”
Hewas gone from my side, and I turned to watch as he dodged as quickly as hecould toward Sharp. The man was cold-blooded and didn't hesitate for a secondas he pulled the trigger. Finley went down, hitting the dirt heavily withoututtering another word, and I screamed until the sound died in my weakenedthroat.
Now,with the two men who had come to my aid,layingmotionless on the ground, I stared at Sharp, the monster who had taken mysister's life. He turned the gun on me and seemed to hesitate. I could havetaken that opportunity to do or say anything. I could have cursed his life orrushed toward him in one final attempt to save myself. But I did neither ofthose things, as I stared into his cold, unfeeling eyes. They were the lasteyes to see my sister alive, and the last eyes that would see me.
Atear slipped down my cheek as I shook my head and asked, “Why?”
Heconsidered the question with a cock of his head, then shrugged nonchalantly.
“Whynot?”
Bang!
Hepulled the trigger, and I felt nothing. I dropped to the ground and feltnothing. Then, looking up at the stars speckling the Scottish sky and stillfeeling nothing at all, I imagined I could see my sister's face, her smile, andher bright and beautiful eyes, until I saw … nothing.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
ROSIE
Thebeeping and whirring of hospital machines woke me from a slumber I couldn'tremember falling into. My eyes blinked open to stare not at the stars but at awhite, tiled ceiling and blinding fluorescent lights. My back was flat againsta soft mattress, and my head against a pillow, as I breathed in and out insidethe confines of an oxygen mask. Then, all at once, the calm of restful sleepwas stolen, as a tsunami of recollection and questions bowled me over with anurgent gasp.
Alec.
