For a second, Nicky was worried hed killed himself just to escape. But she and Ken rushed over and looked down. Darren was inside of a dumpster, and hauling himself out of it, and Nickys resolve burned back to life.

"He's gonna get away!" Nicky shouted.

She couldn't let that happen. And Ken must have sensed her plan, because he said, "Lyons, don't you--"

Too late.

Nicky jumped out of the window. A rush of adrenaline surged through her chest, and she landed with a hard thud in the dumpster, surrounded by stinking filth. It hurt a bit, but she was fine.

She tore out of the dumpster and got herself back on the ground. Ken wasn't behind her, but she didn't care.

She darted after Darren.

He was sprinting along the alleyway, looking over his shoulder every so often to see if Nicky was following. She wouldn't let him go, her feet pounding the pavement below.

Stop and put your hands up! Nicky shouted.

Darren was at the end of the alley. There was a street up ahead. He wasn't getting away, and Nicky was closing in fast.

But then a car screeched down the street. Nicky reached out to grab Darren, but the car honked and blocked her way. The driver was a well-dressed asshole in a suit. He flipped her off.

"Damn it," Nicky said. She looked over at Darren, who was running down the street as fast as he could. She chased after him.

Darren made it onto the sidewalk, but his foot caught on something and he tripped, falling to the ground. Nicky stormed up to him, shouting, "Darren McMillan, stop! You're under arrest!

Fumbling to his feet, he reached into his pants--and pulled out a knife. "Oh, hell no! I'll kill you, bitch!"

Nicky stopped where she was. On instinct, her hand went for her gunbut something stopped her. Flashbacks from Frank, the man whod took Masie, flashed through her mind. Nicky didnt want another repeat, but Darren was facing off against her, knife gleaming in the street lights.

Stay back! he yelled, his arm shaking. Come any closer and Ill

Suddenly, Darren froze.

There were footsteps behind them. Startled, Nicky looked over her shoulder to see Ken hurrying over with his gun out, pointed right at Darren. Darrens hands flew up, and he dropped the knife.

Relief flowed through her. They could apprehend him without gunshots being involvedthank God for that. Nicky pulled her cuffs out and walked over to a now trembling Darren. As Ken kept the gun on him, Nicky grabbed Darren's wrists and slapped cuffs on him.

He was caught, and no one had to die for it.

CHAPTER NINE