Can't Forget You (Psychological Suspense Thriller) Summit Lake Series Page 8

  But he had killed Mitch and John. Plus, he’d almost killed Marcy.

  Still, I felt guilty. I was a nurse. “Life” was something I’d made a pledge to try and save. Not only had I murdered Patrick, but had taken some pleasure in doing it.

  What kind of a person did that make me?

  There was a sudden knock at the door.

  I cleared my throat. “Come in.”

  A medical examiner and a nurse stepped inside of the room. After asking me questions, they examined my injuries, which were minor, and then instructed me to try and get some rest.

  “I bet your boyfriend is excited to see you,” the nurse said, after bringing me some more water.

  “Boyfriend?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. I saw him interviewed on the news awhile back. He vowed to never give up looking for you. I think his name is Mitch, right?”

  A burst of joy rushed through me. I was so excited, I literally almost peed myself. “Wait, he’s alive?”

  She gave me a funny look. “Yeah. I believe so. Haven’t heard otherwise.”

  Mitch was alive!

  I couldn’t believe it.

  My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. “Can I use a phone?”

  “Yes, of course.” She brought me the landline phone from the counter. “Just dial nine before you call anyone.”

  My fingers shook as I dialed Mitch’s number. I almost didn’t remember it, I was in so much shock.

  He answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

  Hearing his voice, I began to cry.

  “Sophia?”

  “Yes,” I choked.

  “Thank God you’re okay. We’re coming for you, baby. I’m with Marcy right now and we’re headed your way.”

  I couldn’t believe it. I prayed that I wasn’t dreaming. “Mitch, I thought he’d killed you.”

  He laughed grimly. “No. He came close… but I refused to die. Not when I knew your life was in danger. I’m so glad you’re safe now. I love you so much, sweetheart.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “We should be there soon. Is there anything you want us to bring?”

  Smiling, I wiped the tears from my face. “Just yourselves.”

  “Okay. See you soon.”

  “Yes.” I closed my eyes. “See you soon.”

  19

  Six Months Later

  SOPHIA

  IT WAS EARLY morning; Mitch and I sat in my father’s old Yamaha boat, our lures floating in the calm water.

  “Here.” He handed me a Thermos filled with warm coffee.

  “Thanks.”

  I took a sip and let out a sigh of content. I couldn’t imagine being any happier at that moment. Here I was, sitting on the lake with my man, not a care in the world. Quite a change from last November, when I’d been stuck in a cage and planning my escape. Fortunately, things were finally getting back to normal. Mitch and I were closer than ever. Marcy had broken up with Robbie, but was now dating a local artist and seemed to be deliriously in love. As for the psycho, Patrick, he’d died from his injuries. They later found evidence in the house he’d been renting, proving that he’d killed Leah—a diary entry confessing to the murder. They still didn’t know where he’d left her body, but Leah’s family finally had some kind of closure.

  Mitch opened up a white bag. The smell of vanilla made my stomach growl. He reached inside and pulled out a sprinkled donut. “You want one?”

  “Nah. I’m okay. Maybe later.”

  “They won’t be as fresh later,” he replied, taking a bite of his. “Mm… you’re missing out.”

  I chuckled. “Fine. If I catch a fish, though, you’re the one getting your hands dirty. So, you’d better eat quickly.”

  “No problem.” He handed me the bag just as another fishing boat puttered by slowly. Two were in it, a boy around ten and an older guy I’d seen in town but couldn’t quite recall the name.

  “You know them?” I asked after we waved at each other.

  “Yeah. That was Rocky and his grandson, Kevin.”

  The names sounded familiar. Both of them. I’d heard them brought up in a victim’s support group for women I’d recently joined. Rocky’s family had been terrorized by some crazy psycho, a couple of years ago. Strange how Summit Lake, a nice, quiet town, could attract such craziness.

  “Do you know Rocky well?”

  “I’ve known him for years. He used to be a paramedic and friends with my dad. Good guy. A little rough around the edges, but he’s got a heart of gold.”

  I’d met Mitch’s parents, who lived in Florida, shortly after the incident with Patrick. They were incredible people and it was easy to see why Mitch turned out so well. Both had been teachers in Summit Lake before retiring down south.

  I pulled out the other donut and was about to take a bite when I noticed something glittery sticking out of the side.

  “What is…?” My eyes widened in surprise as I pulled out a diamond ring. Stunned, I looked at Mitch.

  He grinned. “I swear, it looks much better when it’s clean.” He pulled out a wet-wipe and handed it to me.

  Dumbfounded, I just stared at him.

  His smile fell. “You don’t look happy. Maybe I’m jumping the gun too quickly.”

  “Jumping the gun on what?”

  He took the ring from me and cleaned it with the wet-wipe. Then he held it up. “You know, I was actually going to shove it inside of a fish and have you find it later while cleaning it. But, I thought it might get lost or even damaged.”

  “Mitch, what exactly is this ring for?” I asked, wanting him to say it before I made a fool out of myself. In case I was wrong.

  He searched my face. “It’s exactly what it looks like. I’m asking you to marry me.”

  Tears filled my eyes.

  Mistaking my reaction for sadness, he suddenly looked worried. “I know you once said that you were terrified of trying it again, but I swear… I would never hurt you. And as for Greg… he was a complete idiot. But, I’m glad he was, because… I’m pretty sure I’d be lost without you.”

  I laughed and swiped at my tears. “I’d be lost without you, too.”

  He perked up. “So, does that mean you’ll be my wife?”

  I slipped the ring on my finger. “Yes. Of course! I’d love that more than anything.”

  Mitch’s face filled with so much emotion, I almost thought he was going to start crying himself. He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. “I love you, Sophia, and I promise to show you just how much, until the day I die.”

  “I love you, too,” I whispered, closing my eyes. I was so happy he’d asked, especially in my favorite spot. I could almost feel my father here with us, nodding in approval and giving us his blessing.

  Suddenly, a large fish jumped out of the water and back in, startling us both.

  Laughing, Mitch and I pulled apart.

  “I guess we have a thumbs-up from the fish,” Mitch joked.

  In my heart, I felt it was much more. That it was a sign from my dad—he approved of Mitch and was sending us his blessing. I told him what I thought.

  “Then that settles it. We’re getting hitched, having a boatload of kids, and naming the first one Cal. After your old man.”

  Tears filled my eyes. “He would have loved that.”

  We both looked out at the water, half expecting the fish to jump again. Instead, everything remained calm.

  “What if it’s a girl?” I asked.

  A thoughtful look spread across his face. After a few seconds, he smiled. “What about Callie?”

  This time, two fish jumped out of the water simultaneously. It gave me goosebumps.

  “Did you see that? I think that means we’ll have twins,” Mitch said. “Callie and Cal.”

  I smiled at the thought, but then the painful memories of my miscarriage resurfaced.

  Noticing the sudden change in me, Mitch asked what was wrong.

  “What if I can’t have children?”


  He slipped my hand in his. “We’ll have children, even if it means by adoption. I don’t care one way or another, honestly.”

  I knew that Mitch meant every word. It was another thing I really loved about him—his honesty. At times he was even too blunt, but at least I always knew where he stood.

  “How in the world did I get so lucky to find a guy like you?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “It only took a psychopath and a bad marriage. Nothing too out of the ordinary.”

  We both laughed.

  The End

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  Four stand-alone crime thrillers written by USA Today Bestselling Author, Kristen Middleton. Includes - Searching for Faith, Looking for Lainey, Forget Me Not, and Hear Them scream.

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  "If you read it at night, you'll not be able to sleep! Highly recommend." - Amazon reviewer for Forget Me Not.

  "I'm rarely ever actually shocked in a book, but this one did it to me enough to make me gasp out loud." - Amazon reviewer for Hear Them Scream.

  Excerpt: Forget Me Not

  HIM

  May 20th, 11:14 p.m.

  Summit Lake, Minnesota

  Fairfield Rest Stop

  I WAITED IN the shadows, my heartbeat in sync with a lone cricket chirping nearby. The night was cool, but I found myself sticky with sweat for what was about to unfold. After weeks of planning, revenge would soon be mine; I’d waited so long for it. Too long.

  Headlights approached in the distance and a rush of excitement roared through me.

  He’s here.

  I backed further into the darkness, knowing the fool would soon be getting out of his car. I imagined what was going through his head, which made it so much easier. He believed he was meeting up with an eighteen-year-old high school football player. A confused young man exploring his sexuality, without his peers finding out and casting judgment.

  I watched, my heart pounding as he parked his sedan in the vacant lot. He turned off the engine and climbed out. From the distance, I could see he’d gotten flabby and it pleased me considering how vain the prick used to be.

  You’re So Vain…

  The lyrics from the song echoed in my head and I began to whistle the tune softly as he turned toward me. His eyes scanned the empty rest stop until locating my gray mountain bike, which I’d left in clear view, by the picnic tables.

  “Come on,” I murmured under my breath, my stomach swirling with excitement.

  He remained frozen for several seconds—more than likely wondering if it was a trap. But as I anticipated, his deplorable appetite overrode caution, and soon he was moving toward the pavilion.

  And me.

  “Hello?” he whispered loudly, stopping at the entrance.

  I could see his silhouette almost perfectly under the light of the moon; he had not aged well. His face was pasty white, there were jowls running along his jawline, and he had puffy circles under his eyes. It was pleasing to see that his bad habits had caught up with him. If he only knew how much.

  “Terence?” he called out, his voice echoing in the pavilion.

  “I’m here,” I replied.

  Relaxing, he smiled. “Why are you hiding? Why don’t you come on out?”

  “I’m nervous. I’ve never done this before,” I replied. For this to work successfully, I needed to lure him closer.

  “It’s okay,” he said in a soothing voice. “Neither have I. This is all new for me, too.”

  Liar.

  I knew very well that he’d met up with others. I’d followed him to another rendezvous, just a couple of weeks earlier. He’d met someone behind a bookstore. It had been another young man, definitely in his teens. They’d gone to a motel, where it hadn’t taken long to do their business. Ten minutes to be exact. I’d clocked it.

  He looked over his shoulder, toward his vehicle. “Let’s go to my car. We should get out of here before someone approaches.”

  “I thought that maybe we could just stay here? I skateboard in this area all the time. Nobody ever comes out this way,” I replied.

  He turned my way again, not looking too convinced.

  I decided to try a different approach. One that he wouldn’t be able to resist. “I have something for you. Something you’re going to love,” I said with a smile in my voice. I’d sent him nude photos of a stranger just the night before. A randy young man I’d found posing on the Internet. Someone he now believed to be me. I’d labeled the email, “Something You’re Going To Love.”

  He grinned and stepped toward me. “Oh, Terence. I have something for you, too,” he replied, moving his hand toward his fly.

  Repulsed, I ran my finger over the blade of my knife. Any hesitation I may have had vanished completely. He deserved what was coming to him. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for this moment.”

  “I’ve been anticipating it, too. It’s all I could think about today. Come out, Terence.”

  Ironically, I was now aroused by the thoughts running through my head. All of them dark, but not sexual.

  “Very well.” I stepped out of the shadows.

  His eyes widened in confusion as he stared at my face. He looked down at the knife and my gloves. “What the hell is going on?”

  “Don’t you recognize me?”

  He squinted. “No. You don’t look like the guy in the photo. Are you even Terence?”

  I felt like he’d punched me in the stomach. How could he not remember me? “Yes and no.”

  He looked down at the knife. “What is this about?”

  “Look at my face. How can you not recognize it?” I asked sharply.

  “Look, man, I didn’t sign up for this,” he said angrily. “Obviously, there’s been some misunderstanding. I’ll just be on my way.”

  “On the contrary. There’s no misunderstanding. You came here to meet with me and here we are. Now, look at my face,” I ordered again, the vein in my temple throbbing. “You should know exactly who I am.”

  “I’ve never seen you before in my life.” He began backing away.

  Maybe he did remember me and was now panicking? No, that’s not it. I smiled coldly. “You’re lying.”

  He raised his hands in the air. “I swear to God, we’ve never met. You’re confusing me with someone else. Take it easy with that knife now, man.”

  Maybe he had forgotten?

  The thought sent me into a rage.

  Growling, I lurched forward with the knife and slashed it across his Adam’s apple.

  Shocked, he let out a strangled cry and his hands flew to his neck. Blood gushed from between his pudgy, bloated fingers as he stared at me in horror and disbelief.

  “No. This isn’t right,” I said, biting my lower lip as he staggered backward.

  He was dying, but I wanted much more. The bastard needed to suffer. He needed to pay for what he’d taken from me.

  Thankful I’d chosen thick wool gloves, I reached down, grabbed his flaccid penis, and yanked it upward. Staring into his eyes, I told him my name and then buried my knife deep into his sack.

  His eyes widened in recognition and horror. He let out one final gargled scream and then collapsed down onto the concrete.

  I leaned down, cleaned the knife off on his jacket, and grabbed his car keys. I had much to do and felt only slightly appeased. He wasn’t the only one on my list. There was another… and she would pay, too.

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