One Step Ahead, Audrey Walker [best book club books of all time TXT] 📗

“They look so happy,” James said. “Makes me wonder how it feels to have a love so pure.”

“Yes, it does,” Robin said.

“Well, one could hope,” James said. “That what maybe a friendship might develop into something more someday.”

Robin looked into his gorgeous eyes and said, “You mean us?”

“I don’t know what I mean,” James said. “I just met you. But I like you, Robin. Who knows? Maybe, someday that may be you and me.”

“Maybe,” Robin said, laughing. “Someday. Very far away.”

“We will see where things go, won’t we?” he said with a smile and then leaned down to press his lips to hers. Robin kissed him back, her heartbeat picking up. She looked around and saw Abby smirking at her. Her sister winked, and Robin rolled her eyes as she continued to dance with James. Robin was happy and relaxed, but little did she know what was yet to come.

Chapter Eight

Robin looked down at the dead body in front of her, a shudder running through her. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t. How could this have happened? How could this even be possible?

“This is horrible,” the Captain said with a shudder. “I don’t believe it.”

Kyle stood next to Robin, looking pale and broken. Robin could hear shouts in the background as the dead woman’s husband shouted, “No, it’s not my darling! It’s not her! You are all lying. She said she would come home to me. She promised me! Today was our anniversary! She said she would come to me!”

“Oh God,” Kyle whispered. “Poor Bella.”

Bella was one of the officers who worked at the station. Robin would meet her every day in the morning. She remembered how Bella would cheerfully wave and smile at Robin. And now, she lay dead in front of them all. A simple message lay in front of her, “It’s all going to come to an end.”

“I should go and talk to her husband,” the Captain said.

“Kyle,” Robin stammered. “It’s Bella. He is going after people I know. He is not going to stop. He is going to keep killing until he breaks me or until I end up insane. He disposed of her at the same site that my parents died. Why is he doing this? Why? Kyle –”

She stopped, unable to continue.

“She died because of me, Kyle,” Robin finally whispered. “Because she had a little resemblance to me. That’s why! Because of me! For God’s sake, she just had a baby! He is never going to know his mother because of me! Me, Kyle!”

“I know,” Kyle whispered. “And it’s on you to bring this man to justice. It’s on you to make sure that he is caught. You need to concentrate on the case. You have to solve it, Robin.”

“Whoever he is,” Robin whispered, “he is from my past. He has something to do with the Butcher, but I can’t remember. I can’t remember anything.”

“You have to,” Kyle said. “Robin, you have to remember. For the sake of Bella. For every woman that has died, you have to remember.”

“I can’t,” Robin said. “I can’t!”

“Do it, Robin! Think back to it! Think back to when you were there! Remember!” Kyle said, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. Robin closed her eyes and forced herself back. Back to ten years ago when she was walking down the cold, lonely road. Back to when she felt a sudden blow to her head, and then she blacked out, back to when her eyes opened in that horrible basement. She remembered the fear and the pain she had felt as she lay there, tied up to a pole. She remembered the sound of the door opening and footsteps echoing as the Butcher climbed down the stairs.

She remembered the first time she saw his hideous face and the snarl that was spread over his face.

“Aren’t you a pretty little pet?” he whispered, kneeling in front of her. “You will do nicely, won’t you? You have been rather attentive, Detective. You did so well. I didn’t expect you to get so close to catching me. But I guess I was careless. No worries, I finally got you. Do you know why you are here, Detective? It’s because you are going to purge me. There is only one way that one can atone for their sins. They must suffer. They must burn in pain. Or at least that’s what I thought. But I was wrong. There is another way. You can purge the sins of those around you, and in return, you will be redeemed. I will make you suffer. I will break you, but you have to understand; I am purging you, I am freeing you. I am cleaning your soul, Detective!”

Robin tried to speak, but the gag in her mouth prevented her from saying anything.

“You will do beautifully,” he whispered. “And when I am free of this earthly burden, I will transcend into heaven. All you have to do, Detective, is to cooperate. Scream for me. Just scream and scream. And I promise I will put you out of your misery eventually.”

He got up, laughing before turning around and walking away. Robin lay there, shivering in the cold, trying to keep herself calm and think of a possible escape. She turned around and looked at her surroundings, thinking of all the possible things that might help her. There was no window, and she was tied up with ropes. There seemed to be no weapon within her reach, so she couldn’t cut herself free or attack him. As she looked around, her eyes turned toward the corner, under the dark stairs. She suppressed a scream as she saw a hand extending from the darkness.

Robin’s eyes shot open, her head throbbing so badly she felt weak. Kyle looked at her, holding onto her to prevent her from collapsing.

“Robin, are you okay?” he asked.

Robin nodded, pushing him away so she could stand up. Her head hurt, and her ears rang, and she