Chapter 22

"Change of plans," said Fred, coming into the room. 

For the past ten minutes, he had been on the phone coordinating with the police here. 

Already fifteen minutes had passed since my last message to Kol. I had told him that I would be there in an hour. 

I had tried to bring this to Fred's attention, but he seemed to be more stressed about something else. He was not telling me what, but now after talking with the Emberhill's police as well, he seemed much calmer and surer. 

"What?" I asked. 

Fred gave me a sympathetic smile. "You're not going to his house." 

My hands grew numb. "Then? How is this going to work? What am I supposed to do? You can't change the plan at the last minute." 

Fred sighed. "I understand your worries and confusion. But both I and the chief detective of Emberhill believe that this is not the right course of action for now." 

When I was quiet, he continued. 

"Our initial plan was to send you into the house, well equipped with a mic, a small knife and other such things. Once he had taken you hostage, you could use all these things to free yourself and most importantly inform us through the mic if B was not in the room with you both. Then we would rush inside and take things under our control," he said.

I nodded, having heard it enough number of times already.

"But I was rushing to make a plan and formulated our own on an already overused model. There are many, many things that could go wrong with this one and each mistake would inch all of us closer to another death—either Kol's or yours. I am thinking more clearly now, and I can recognise all the mistakes in this current plan. Emberhill's chief detective agrees with me, and he has extended his full support," said Fred. 

"Less than forty-five minutes," I said, glaring at him. "If I'm not there before this time is up, B is definitely going to catch up to all of this. He will become warned that something's going on. We don't have time for a new plan." 

"Yes," said Fred, "but we do have time for a new one." 

I sat down heavily on the couch.

"Look, Zuri, what if you're unable to break out of your gags and ropes and inform us? What if—” 

I cut Fred off in between. "So, I'm the reason you guys are discarding this plan? You don't trust my abilities." 

"No," said Fred, "what if he keeps you and Kol in different rooms? What if he sedates you so heavily that you can't function? What if he kills you on the spot? What if he shoots himself once he hears us entering? What if you just can't be sure that he's far enough from you and Kol to not rush back in as soon as he hears us come in? If he's successful in reaching you both before us and takes you hostage, then the basic core of our plan would crumble down." 

"He should not kill himself?" I asked.

Fred sat down next to me and patted my back. "This is not the only crime he's committed. There are a lot of cases against him and if he dies before confessing, there won't be closure for those cases. They might be closed but not with satisfaction." 

"So, what's the new plan?" I sighed. "Time's running out." 

"We are going to bait him," said Fred. 

I stared at him blankly. 

"We're going to use his own plan," he said, "instead of him luring you into his trap, we're going to lure him into ours." 

"How?" I frowned. 

"In the safest possible way," said Fred. 

And then he began to narrate the entire plan. 

My confidence grew with every second. This new one seemed much more achievable and possible than the previous one. This could work well. Fred was right. There were much less loopholes in this one. 

We're coming to get you, Kol. Just hang in there for a little while more.

***

We were on our way to the spot that Detective Tyler had asked us to be at. He was the detective assigned to help us by the chief to whom Fred had spoken to.

Although my hopes were high and my faith was strong, if I asked my heart to be honest, then I was not hundred percent positive that both Kol and I would emerge unharmed from this ordeal. We hoped to, definitely. That was the plan. But would we?

The realisation that I could probably be dead tonight, that there were good chances that I would never see the morning light again had settled in my heart without any fuss. I would not be able to hug mom again or have dad ruffle my hair.

However, I would be able to meet Blake. That was at least one comforting thought. If I died, I would not be alone. And I would be able to get rid of the guilt that I carried. The guilt of being a significant part of the reason that my brother was dead.

There were ten more minutes left for the hour to get over when Fred told me to text Kol again.

I nodded with determination and picked up my phone. 

"This will work, right?" I whispered, unlocking the screen, "He will take our bait?" 

Fred was quiet for a moment, then he said, "You will see Kol again. Alive." 

I hope to. 

Wiping away the tear that had rolled down my cheek, I typed the message. 

Kol, I'm in trouble. 

I was on my way to Twinkle Treats to buy your favourite ice cream. And since I was already running late, I took this shortcut, but my car broke down and I'm stranded on the side of the road now. 

I'm alone. There's no one around here. I've been waiting for any other vehicle to pass so I can ask for help but there's not a single sign of life here. 

I'm so scared. I'm freaking out.

I can't even call my parents. They're out of town. What do I do? 

Crap, crap, crap. 

My phone's also dying. 

Reply! 

Fast, Kol. Help me.

I hit on send and even the last message was gone. 

"Done," I said, "now he has to reply." 

"He will—” said Fred, but before he could complete his sentence, Kol's replies came pouring in. 

What the hell! 

Why do you always get yourself in trouble? 

Where are you? 

I took in a deep breath and sent him the address. 

There was a pause. 

My palms itched with anxiousness, and I bit my lip. "He's not replying." 

"Because he's thinking," said Fred, "Contemplating. B is falling for our bait." 

Another message popped up.

Is there seriously no one around? 

I sucked in a sharp breath.

No. I'm alone. Help me.

A few moments passed and then he replied again.

Fine. I'm on my way. Don't worry and don't move. Stay where you are. I'm coming.

I sucked in a sharp breath, wanting to jump with joy and cry out of fear at the same time. 

This was going to end now. There would be no more suffering for anyone. We were going to take B down.

"He's coming," I said, a small smile playing on my lips. "He took the bait."