“Wait for backup.”

“The woman I love is with a killer. I don’t have time to wait for backup.”

Eban was running now, slipping down the bank and onto the frozen lake. Noises like deep groans rang through the night as the thick ice expanded and contracted with the plummeting temperature. Even though the ice was over a foot thick, he still balked at the thought of going out there.

“Why the hell would Gleeson confess if it wasn’t him?” asked Signy breathlessly.

“People falsely confess for lots of reasons—for attention, to protect someone they love.” Was this someone Gleeson was close to? “I have to go. I need to be quiet and concentrate. Tell the patrol units to come without sirens. Let’s not spook this sonofabitch. I’m going to follow the tracks.”

“Eban, wait. There’s a boat launch about half a mile south of you. The UNSUB might have parked and walked from there.”

He could hear Signy’s sirens now over the line. She was on the move.

He looked south back along the shore, but the tracks went east across the lake itself. He could go back and get the SUV but what if the wind blew away the footprints in the meantime? They were already disappearing fast.

“I’ll follow the tracks. You guys check out the boat launch and bring in the dog unit.”

He hung up and started jogging into the darkness, his footing slippery on the icy surface that was being polished by the wind which was getting stronger the farther he moved away from shoreline.

How could he have been stupid enough to assume the danger was over and leave Darby unprotected? He hadn’t even told her he loved her for fuck’s sake. Too worried about waiting for the right moment. The right moment was every moment. He should tell her constantly. Shout it out at random strangers. If anyone deserved it, it was Darby. He should bombard her with it until she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stand him saying it even one more time.

Instead, he’d worried about the logistics of a future together, about where they’d live or whether or not she wanted a family. A future that was looking more and more unlikely because once again Darby had been kidnapped and could die.

And, with blinding insight, he realized he didn’t give a damn about anything except Darby. He just needed her, safe and alive.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

As I watched Darby stumble on the ice, I had to wonder if she was naturally clumsy or deliberately trying to slow us down. She’d had a difficult few days, but then, so had I.

“If I can walk without falling over, Darby, I’m sure you can.” Searing pain radiated through my chest. The exposed skin of the hand with which I held the gun tingled painfully—the precursor of frostbite. I switched hands, fumbling a little, movements awkward, stuffing my cold hand deep into my pocket.