Amy was absorbed in packing. He stood and walked back to the place where he had gone over the side. He was not surprised to see she was leaving the rope and the knife behind. She was not smart when it came to details. Of course she would have a story for the police to explain how she had escaped the evil and cunning Matt Connor. Too bad no one was going to get to hear it.

Matt picked up the knife and walked toward the car. He made no attempt to hide his approach. He was too exhausted and disgusted to bother. She did not look up until he stood at her back. Perhaps she smelled him; she had always had an incredible nose.

She raised her head and turned around. He smiled.

“Hi, Amy. What’s happening?”

There was pleasure in the moment. Her pupils swelled like camera lenses. A hailstorm could have struck—she looked both frozen and bruised in the same instant. Her legs seemed to turn to sand. He thought he would have to reach out to catch her to keep her from falling, not that he would have bothered. She staggered and bumped against the trunk of the car. Jimmy was inside, probably asleep, secure in his infant seat. His mother was a ghost. As her eyes darted to the knife in Matt’s hand, she must have thought he was going to kill her. Still, she was Amy and she had a story ready.

“I was just going to go back for you,” she said.

“I know. You would never have left me. You love me.”

“Matt. I do.”

He offered his free hand. “Can we go for a little walk?”

She trembled. “Where?”

“To the edge of the cliff.”

“Why? What are you going to do?”

He grabbed her arm. “I’ll show you.”

“Matt! No!” She struggled but it was useless. “Don’t do this!”

He pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “Trust me. It’s your only hope.”

There must have been something in his tone. Perhaps it was absolute conviction. She had never heard that coming from him before. Perhaps it was the blade he put to her neck. She went limp and he was able to lead her back to the edge of the cliff. He nodded to the spare rope on the ground. There was a full three-hundred-foot bundle they had not used.

“Take that and tie it to the webbing,” he said.

“Why?”

“I want you to climb down to the ledge.”

She shook her head quickly. “I’m not doing that.”

He tightened his grip on her arm. “You have no choice.”

“You’re hurting me!”

“Amy. If you don’t climb down to the ledge, I’ll throw you off the side.”