Written in 60 minutes.

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Greystone: Living Room

“I’m feeling a little relieved, to be honest, that Robin’s staying in the penthouse,” Sonny said, his fingers clenched around the glass tumbler of bourbon. “I don’t like the idea of this guy targeting them.”

“Any chance of us getting that short list from the PCPD?” Jason wanted to know. “We could do our own eliminating—” He tugged out his phone, even though it hadn’t vibrated or made any a sound. He didn’t like letting Elizabeth out of his sight. Not now.

But she was home, no plans to go out, and no one could get to her.

“I’m working on it, but Robert’s keeping everything locked down. Especially after the bullshit with Lucky.” Sonny made a face. “I don’t think he’s gonna work with us, even for the greater good.”

“No—” Jason grimaced, glanced down at the phone again. “Listen. I’m gonna head back. Anything comes up—”

“I’ll come to you. Go home. And stay there until this is over. We don’t take any chances.”

Harborview Towers: Elevator

Elizabeth watched as the numbers above the double doors lit up in descending order. 14, 13, 12—

Robin stood beside her, the killer’s had wrapped tightly around her arm, a gun shoved into her side. Elizabeth had tried to send Robin to safety — a mistake, she realized now. There was no way she was leaving Robin alone to face this lunatic on her own. Not when she was pregnant. Not when he’d killed so many — five women who’d never had a chance.

And all along it had been a man working for Jason and Sonny. God. Their own security company—her stomach roiled with the realization. The guard had only scared this maniac the other night because he knew Frankie. The guard would have known his name. What was it? Elizabeth had met him in passing when they’d moved in. Something short. Common.

She looked at the floors again — 9, 8, 7—

They’d get to the parking garage and there’d be other guards. But how many at this time of night? The elevators were secured by an access key. One, maybe two? And if Elizabeth tried to get help, would Robin pay the price? Would he murder Robin right in front of her?

And where was he taking them? Oh, God. He needed to do it in public. But would the parking garage be public enough? It had been for Emily and Leyla—

6, 5, 4 —

Was Jason on his way home? Please let him be downstairs. Let him be parking. Waiting for the elevator.

Because if this man got them downstairs, if he got past the guards—

3, 2, 1—

The elevator doors slid open, and the man yanked Robin forward, practically shoving her towards the door. For a brief moment, Elizabeth considered trying to get the doors to close — but would that doom Robin? Would she get them closed in time? Or would he shoot her before they could? Would he be angry that Elizabeth had ruined his plans and go upstairs to get to her boys?

Oh, God, what was she supposed to do?

Trembling, hoping it was the right decision to keep them both alive, Elizabeth followed when the man gestured with the gun.

Spencer House: Living Room

“All right, I want to head over to the Towers,” Robert said, gathering up the documents. “You think Morgan will talk to us about this guy?”

“I think if we’re not accusing him of murder he will,” Lucky said dryly. He closed his laptop, dropped it in his bag, then looped the strap over his shoulder. “I talked to Elizabeth earlier today. I think maybe I can ask her if I need it, but Jason was cooperative at every step when it was Georgie we were investigating. Even when Spinelli turned over that footage he’d hacked.”

“Okay.” Robert made a face, stopping at the door. “I’d better let Mac know where I am and the lead I’m following—”

“Maybe I should stay back—”

“Now’s not the time, Spencer. I need your computer skills. If our guy is in security, we’ll need someone to work that angle, and I’m not enlisting Spinelli,” the older man muttered. He tugged out his phone. “My brother will just have to deal with it. You’re on the team until I say otherwise.”

Morgan Penthouse: Living Room

In the playpen, Jake was beginning to fuss. He’d thrown out the stuffed rabbit three times, and Spinelli had dutifully returned it —

But it was when he finished the level on the video game that Spinelli realized that Elizabeth hadn’t returned. And that she’d been gone longer than was probably necessary for a quick conversation in the hall.

And Elizabeth wasn’t the type to just leave Spinelli alone with the boys without making sure it was okay.

It was, of course, Spinelli thought, as he set down the controller and returned the rabbit again. The kids were his family now. They were all a family, but Elizabeth hadn’t wanted to take advantage of him living there. He was entitled to a life, she’d told him when he’d offered to watch the boys.

Spinelli opened the door, frowning when neither Robin nor Elizabeth were in the hallway. He glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, Little Dude, don’t move from the sofa, okay? I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” Cameron furrowed his tiny brow. “Snelli good?”

“I’m fine. Just gonna see when your mom’s coming back. She probably went across the hall with Doctor Robin.”

He left the door open in case Cameron needed him, expecting to find the women in the other penthouse — the door knob twisted easily in his hand — but the room was empty.

“Fair Elizabeth?” he called out hesitantly, his heart beginning to pound. “Doctor Robin?”

The penthouse was dark, eerily silent. Spinelli closed the door, stared blindly at the hallway. Robin and Elizabeth were gone. Vanished into thin air. But that couldn’t be—the Towers were safe.

Weren’t they?

Harborview Towers: Parking Garage

As Robin stepped out of the elevator — well, as she was shoved — the guard in the little stone office stepped to the doorway, his brow knitted together in confusion. “Dr. Scorpio? I thought—” He stopped. “Ben, what’s going on?”

“Emergency,” the killer — Ben, he had a name now— said. His grip was tight on Robin’s arm now. Was the gun pointing at Elizabeth? They were in a parking garage. Just like Emily. Just like Leyla. Was this where it ended?

“What kind?” The guard stepped out, hesitation in his features. “Jason’s not back yet. He didn’t say—”

The words cut off abruptly as Ben’s other arm appeared, raising the gun. There was a flash and a bang—an explosion of noise that deafened Robin for a moment—she heard screams, a grunt—

And then the guard was on the ground, writhing in pain, his hands clutched around his middle. “The fuck—”

“Sorry,” Ben said flatly. He aimed again—and Robin looked away, her hands flying to her face—she heard another shot—

And then silence.

Was this how it ended? Right now? Here? He’d killed the guard, and now it was their turn—

Robin felt lighter fingers wrap around Robin’s elbows, and she turned to Elizabeth, knowing her face was identical in that moment. Eyes too wide, skin icy pale. Body trembling. Elizabeth could have run. Could have done a thousand things to keep herself safe. But she was here, in this moment, to save others. The boys. Spinelli. Robin.

And now maybe here they stood together at the end.

“Don’t look so worried,” Ben said. He turned to them, smiling. “It’s not over yet. I don’t repeat myself. My girls deserve better than that. You’re the finale.”

“What—”

“Now, Dr. Scorpio—” He reached into his pocket, drew out a set of keys. Pressed a button. Lights flashed nearby, and a trunk popped open. “Get in the trunk so I can take you to our final destination.”

He strode forward, grabbed Elizabeth by the arm. “Or I can get rid of this one right now,” he told Robin, the barrel nuzzling Elizabeth under her chin. “And then I’ll go back upstairs and clear the penthouse—”

“They’re just—they’re babies—”

“Obstacles. Leverage. Get in the trunk,” Ben repeated. “Or have more blood on your hands. Sweet Leyla? That wasn’t supposed to be her. You know that. You sent her to die. And Sam McCall? You did that. If you’d been where you were promised to be—where you said you’d go—they’d both alive right now.”

There was a truth to that — an unfair, terrible truth — and Robin swallowed hard. It was supposed to be her three weeks ago. And this man wouldn’t stop until he’d accomplished his mission. If Robin refused — it wouldn’t change anything.

But if she got in the trunk, maybe they’d have a chance.

“Okay. Okay. Don’t hurt her, okay? Don’t—” Robin hurried to the car, shoved the trunk all the way open. “I’ll do it.”

“There’s a good girl. I knew you’d understand.”

Morgan Penthouse: Living Room

Spinelli returned to the penthouse, closed the door, then flipped the locks, his heart pounding. If Elizabeth and Robin were gone, then they weren’t safe. Not down here. He’d call Stone Cold, sound the alarm, then he’d take the boys upstairs to their room and find a way to bar the door until reinforcements came.

“Snelli?”

“Hey, Little Dude.” Spinelli turned, flashed a smile he hoped wasn’t wavering. “Go play the rabbit game with your brother. Mommy is chilling with Doc Robin, so I’m gonna call your dad. We’re out of orange soda.”

“Okay.” Cameron slid off the sofa, headed over to the playpen where Jake had tossed the rabbit again.

Spinelli took a deep breath, and went for his cell phone. His finger was hovering over the send button when the phone on the desk began to ring, the shrill sound filling the room. Spinelli yanked it off the base. “Stone Cold?”

“We’re locking down,” came the tense reply of Wally down at the front desk. “Shots were fired in the parking garage. Elevators are turned off—”

“Shots—” His stomach dropped. “Elizabeth and Robin are gone. They went into the hallway and never came back.”

“Oh, fucking hell—”

Harborview Towers: Parking Garage

Robin crawled into the trunk, and Ben shoved the lid down hard as soon as she’d curled up. Relief warred with terror as Elizabeth absorbed they had more time. He was taking them to another location —

But with Robin trapped in the trunk, if Elizabeth tried to escape, she’d still be leaving Robin behind. And escape wasn’t guaranteed—

Ben’s fingers dug into her upper arm as he jerked her forward towards the driver’s side of the car. He shoved her across the front seat, and she winced as the gear shift hit her stomach. He pushed her again, and she hit the other side of the car hard, her head rapping against the door, jolting her.

By the time she’d regained her sense, he was in the car, the engine was switched on, and he was pulling out of the parking space.

She could fight him in the car — she was still considering it— but there was the gun — and they were still in the Towers —

Even if they locked down the elevators, wouldn’t Ben have a way inside’? Wouldn’t he be able to go pass it—

No. Get him away from the building. Away from her boys. Jason would know by now he was missing, and he’d find her.

He always did.

The car squealed out of the garage, making a hard right out of the garage — taking them further up Harborview Road, towards the hills that rose of the lake.

It nearly hit an SUV waiting to turn into the lot, and Jason’s fingers clenched around the wheel, as a terrible feeling of dread filled him.

His phone rang. “Yeah?”

“He’s got them, he’s got them!” Spinelli cried. “Shots in the parking garage. Robin and Elizabeth were gone and I was going to call you, but—”

Jason swore, then hit the gas, hoping like hell he could catch up the headlights disappearing rapidly behind him. “Spinelli, I think I’m following the car. Does Elizabeth have her phone?”

“N-no—it’s here—”

“Then Robin. Robin’s phone. Don’t call it. But you can find her signal can’t you? With her number?”

“I—” He heard the other man take a deep breath. “Yes. Yes. I can try. Don’t get off the phone. I’ll try.”

“Okay. Call Sonny on the other line. I’m driving north on Harborview — and he’s headed out of town.” Somewhere public, Jason thought, but without interruptions.

And if Robin had her phone, then maybe —

Car: Trunk

She did have her phone, a fact which had occurred to her as Ben was ordering her to crawl into the trunk. If she was alone in the trunk, then she could do something —

She had it in her hands, but couldn’t see anything in the dark car. Patrick was in surgery. So that speed dial was out of the question. But her father?

Robin felt the keypad with her fingers, painstakingly feeling out the 1, the 2, then 3—she held down 4.

“Robin?”

“Dad! He’s got us! Ben — his name is Ben—” She sucked in a sob. “Dad, he works for Jason. He was at the Towers—”

“Shit—where are you? Where does he have you?”

“Trunk. Elizabeth up front, I think. He didn’t check me for a phone. I don’t know where we’re going, but I felt the car go right, so I think we made that turn and we haven’t turned again. Harborview Road.”

“I’m coming Robin. You stay on the phone with me. Don’t hang up.”

“I won’t.” Tears slid down her cheeks. Her father was on his way, and Robert Scorpio had never failed her when it mattered most. “But you need to tell Patrick. And tell him I love him, and that—”

“No goodbyes, baby. We’re already on the way. We’ll call Patrick, but you’re going to see him soon. I’m coming. Don’t hang up. Keep talking to me.”

“O-Okay. I’m scared.”

“I know. Damn it, Spencer—you better not kill us before we can catch up—who taught you to drive?”

“Never lost anyone yet,” Robin heard Lucky’s dry voice through the line and nearly laughed. “Dad taught me everything I know, so just hold on to something and stop complaining. He always said you were a terrible passenger.”

Now Robin did giggle, the sound strange as it mixed with her hiccups.  “He’s not wrong, Daddy.”

“No, he’s not,” Robert muttered. “I’m coming, Robin. Don’t give up. You keep talking me.”

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