Rules of Survival(72)

“Enough,” Mick growled. He grabbed hold of Shaun’s arm and dug deep into his front pocket, producing the knife. “If you don’t move along and cooperate, I’m going to simply slit her throat and let her bleed out here while you watch. Is that what you want?”

Beside me Shaun stopped struggling, and a part of me screamed for him to continue. I wanted him to keep at it because anything would be better than drowning.

Mick smiled. He had Shaun figured out now. “Good. Now move.”

Together, the three of us walked the last few yards to the edge of the dock. The hollow, clanking sound our feet made as we moved across the deck turned my stomach. Suddenly I was sure he’d never get the chance to drown me. I was going to puke and choke to death on it.

He went to work in silence, wrapping the rope around the cinder blocks and then tying it tight to Shaun’s right leg with a series of intricate-looking knots. I glanced at Shaun, intent on trying to make a break for the woods, but he shook his head. He was right—we’d never even get back to the tree line—but I still almost wanted to try.

After a few moments, Mick stood, apparently satisfied with his work. “My previous threat still stands. I’m going to remove the tape from your mouths so you can speak.” He winked. “Final words and all. Do not scream.”

His fingernails scraped skin as he grabbed the corner of the tape and yanked back hard. My eyes watered and I bit back a yelp. It felt like most of my skin peeled off along with it.

“There’s no reason to do this,” I whispered as he went to remove Shaun’s gag. But Shaun wasn’t so restrained. He cursed under his breath, spitting at the ground by Mick’s feet. “You’re right. I have no idea where the evidence is. And I’ll never go looking for it. I swear.”

Mick rolled up the tape and stuffed it into his back pocket. “I believe you. But this is about more than the evidence. This is about revenge.”

“You killed Melissa,” Shaun spat. “You got your revenge. What could hurting your own daughter possibly do for you?”

He smiled but said nothing.

“He killed Gerald, too,” I added. “Or had him killed. But why? I mean, I get why—he screwed up and let us get away—but why play up a witness and call the cops?”

“You didn’t inherit Melissa’s brains, I see.” He rolled his eyes. “I knew you were looking for me. But I started worrying you’d just give up and go back into hiding. I had to flush you out. Make sure you thought I was your only chance.”

It was actually kind of brilliant. I’d wanted to find him anyway after learning he was my dad, but when Patrick told us about his specialty, and then we saw the news about Gerald… I had felt like he was my only chance. The timing worked out perfectly in his favor.

“Please,” I said. If I had to drop to my knees and beg I would do it. “Just let us go.”

Mick bent to test the knot around Shaun’s leg. He gave it a good pull and a wiggle, then stood to look me in the eye. With an expression of utmost seriousness, he asked, “Tell me, Kayla, what would you do if the person you loved most on this earth betrayed you?”

Mom always told me I could talk my way out of anything. It was time to put that to the test. “You didn’t love her, Mick. If you had, no matter what she’d done, you couldn’t have killed her. But you did. And it doesn’t even matter anymore because it’s over. But I’ve never done anything to you. Killing me won’t hurt her. She’s already gone. So why do it?”

“Maybe because you’re the last remnant of a life I’m trying to forget? Or possibly,” he said with a smile, “because after I shot her, as she lay there dying, I promised her I’d kill you next—and I never break a promise. Then, of course, there’s always the chance that you’ll go back on your word and take the evidence to the police. There are a lot of reasons. I don’t see the point in ticking them all off. They won’t make you feel any better.”

What the hell had my mom ever seen in this nut job? “Shaun has nothing to do with my mom. At least let him go.” I felt horrible about having dragged him into this, but my plea wasn’t entirely selfless. I was hoping if he was freed, he’d pull some of those ninja moves I’d seen him rock on Deeds, and back at the junkyard, and find a way to spare me from taking an icy—and permanent—swim.

Mick laughed. “Oh, I don’t think so. It was a nice try though.” He patted me hard on the back and I stumbled forward, dragging Shaun with me. I caught myself right before pulling us both over the edge of the dock. “A for effort!”

“Patrick knows where we are,” Shaun said. “This is gonna sound seriously cliché, but you won’t get away with this, man.”

As if right on cue, I noticed movement in the brush beyond the path. “Mick!” a frantic voice shouted.

“And now the fun can begin. I knew he’d show. That’s why I didn’t off you earlier,” Mick whispered, turning to greet Patrick with a grin. “Pat! What took you so long? We’ve been waiting. You’re just in time to say good-bye.”

He stopped at the edge of the dock, eyes darting from Shaun to me. “Stop. Just stop for a second and let’s talk.”

“Okay. Let’s talk.” Mick didn’t seem the least bit concerned over his arrival. In fact, he seemed giddy. “Long time no see, buddy. How’s tricks?”