His crazed eyes gleamed against the moonlight, pointed right at Nicky. She held her gun firm, directed right at his face.

"Don't you fucking move," she said.

He was vile. His hair was greasy and bone-white. His eyebrows bushy and black. His skin was gray, his clothes stinking. And he was covered in coal dust, which made him look even more disgusting.

The woman in the wedding dress looked at Nicky. Her eyes were still wide with fear.

But when Nicky locked eyes with her, she recognized her immediately.

This really was Meghan. And Nicky wasn't too late.

But something was wrong.

Meghan looked like she was in an awful lot of pain. Her face was covered in bruises, and her eyes sunken. She looked like hell. Nicky gritted her teeth. But before Nicky could make a clear shot at him, he spun Meghan in front of him, still holding her throat with his hand.

"You wouldn't shoot my bride," the man said. "If you do that, you'll kill her."

Meghan made a gurgling noise as he clamped harder on her throat.

"That's enough," Nicky screamed. "I'll shoot you!"

But he was using Meghan as a human shield. That damn coward.

"If you kill me," he said, "you'll kill her too. That isnt what you want, is it?

Nicky kept her gun aimed at him, but she couldn't pull the trigger. She was frozen, too afraid of what would happen if she shot--and missed. It was too risky. She had to buy time for Ken to get in here with backup. She had to keep this guy talking.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"Because..." He sniggered, making Nicky's skin crawl. "Because I needed a bride. You know, you aren't so bad yourself... why don't you step into the light?"

Nicky's eyes squinted as she looked at him. "I'm not a bride," she said. "What are you talking about?" This man was a lunatic.

"I know you," he said, his eyes wandering over her body in a pervy way. "You look perfect..."

Sufficiently creeped out, Nicky prayed Ken would show up soon.

"Let her go or I'll put you down," Nicky said.

"You won't," he taunted. "If you do, I'll snap her neck."

Damn it. He had her pinned. Nicky had dealt with many intense situations in her lifebut none had been as disturbing and nerve-wracking as anything shed seen on this case. She just wanted it all to be over. She wanted everyone to walk away with their lives.

"Who are you?" she said, "and why do you want her?"

"I'll tell you," he said. "My name is Roy. You know, the way I see it, I'll get you to love me. And I'll get you to stay by my side. You'll have your family. And I'll have my bride. And we'll have a happy, simple life together."