Lila pulled the pepper spray from her pocket and turned.

Chapter 59

He had planned to keep his distance as he followed her home, but when she neared the middle of the bridge, she stopped. The rain had settled enough that he dropped the newspaper he’d been holding up to keep the rain at bay. He slowed his pace as he closed the gap between them.

She stopped at the rail and looked out over the river, her body at an angle that kept her back to him. She was all but begging to be thrown off that bridge. He had big plans for Lila, true, but he also had a gift for improvising. There were no cameras on the bridge. No people. The view from shore would be frustrated by the misty rain. He could steal her umbrella to cover his face as he escaped. One simple shove and his troubles would be over.

Be smart. Be bold. Strike when they expect you to retreat.

He slowed down even more, to let the plan gel. It would work.

She closed her umbrella.

He was almost there.

She reached into her pocket, and before he could charge, she spun around to him.

Gavin saw a flash of black in her right hand, and the way she thrust it out made him think it was a gun. He stopped in his tracks, even stumbled back a step before he realized that it was only pepper spray.

“Get back!” she yelled.

She held the umbrella in her left hand the way a child might hold a toy sword. The absurdity of it nearly made Gavin laugh. He took a step closer.

“I said get back!”

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Gavin glanced from side to side to make sure they were alone. He thought about charging her and being done with it, but his curiosity got the better of him. How much did she remember? Did she know about Jack? What had she told the cops? Find that out before you kill her.

He said, “What was that about—up there in court?”

“You raped me.”

“I what?”

“I remember everything.”

“I don’t even know you.”

“I know the truth.”

Gavin looked hard at Lila, unable to mask his contempt. “You wouldn’t know the truth if it walked up and spat in your face.”

“You and your buddy.”

“What buddy?”

“Silas Jackson. He was with you.”

“Silas—?” Gavin could no longer suppress his laughter.

“He confessed.”

“Who the hell is Silas Jackson?”

“He was with you that night. I remember.”

Gavin subtly checked both ends of the bridge again—still no travelers. He took a small step forward and dropped his voice to a deeper register, drawing his words up from a cold, dark place. “You can’t bluff after you’ve shown me your cards, Lila.” She stood with her back to the rail. Foolish. No escape. “Silas Jackson? You overplayed your hand. We both know you’re lying.”

Lila’s eyes narrowed on him. “But you wouldn’t know that unless you were there, would you?”