My Heart Belongs To You: A Psycho Thriller by Michael A. Walton Page A

command room that had d eveloped a low buzz of activity .  Stri ding forward he noticed the 2009 file was in Stephanie’s hand. It made his heart swell with pride and triggered a wry smile to form on his lips as his eyes fell on Turner who was busy with Donald . Between them , they had pinned up photos from the police files and put the coloured fe lt pens to good use , creating a time line that chronicled Tom and Karen’s known movements until their disappearance . Also there were various scribbled notations that John never bothered to read, he had his own task to focus on.
    ‘Jane how are you doing?’ he asked coming up behind her.
    ‘Just printing off a load of news sheets , John. ’
    ‘Give them to Stephanie as you get them out.’
    ‘Will do.'
    Hanson knelt down by his sister.  ‘How you doing , sis?’ he asked gently . He couldn’t help but notice she was now rocking gently back and forth as she read.
    Without lifting her head, she answered in a barely audible voice, ‘ H e´s a bad man , John. ’
    John swallowed hard ; he shouldn’t be putting her through this.  ‘You can stop if you want to, Steph . You don’t need to carry on with this.’
    His sister lifted her head and looked at her brother, looking at him for a full five seconds, longer than she had looked at him since they were children.  ‘We need to get Tom and Karen away from this man , John.  You have to find them.’  With that, she lowered her head and continued to read.
    John simply nodded . He was so proud of her, so proud.  Standing , he moved quickly over to the two men deep in conversation.  ‘Speak to me guys.’
    ‘You need to go to The Spinning Wheel in Park W alk Avenue , John . It’s the restaurant where Tom and Ka ren was last seen ,’ John informed Myers .  ‘ Sp eak to any staff who might have seen Tom and Karen last night . We’ll feed you fresh Intel , as it becomes available .  Blue Eagle is doing a b ackground check on each of the staff and also the owner s for any priors .’
    ‘ Go find this bastard , John , ’ hissed Turner , ‘ F ind Cupid. ’
    John strode back to his sister, kissed her lightly on the head, ‘I'm leaving now , sis . Jane will be looking after you , okay ?’
    Stephanie simply nodded without raising her head.  John strode out of the building with purpose , locking the main door as he exited.
    Setting the Sat Nav for the restaurant, he pulled out of the car park in his four-wheel drive people carrier; its blacked out windows ensuring a degree of privacy . As the command centre faded in the rearview mirror, he offered up a whispered oath.  ‘ I ´m coming for you , Cupid . I will find you. As sure as night follows day , I will find you .  I just pray it’s before 7 p.m. tomorrow.’
     

 
    Chapter Ten
     
    13 February - 11 : 20
    ( L ife remaining 31 hrs 40 mins)
     
    ‘We enter the world with nothing, we leave with nothing.’
     
    ‘Please calm yourself , Karen , ’ soothed Cupid , lowering the table .  As it became level , h e move d to stand behind the couple, stroking their head s with a lover’s tenderness .
    Karen was whimpering . Her breathing coming in small snatches as Cupid ’ s hand stroked her brow. She closed her eye s , trying to put herself somewhere else , but the feel of Cupid ’ s palm touching her, caressing her as if he were her lover, her protector , ke pt her chained to this moment, to this place.
    ‘ Get the hell away from her you p sy c h opath , ’ spat Tom , bucking against the straps . His explosion of exertion caused t he veins in his neck to bulge and a trickle of blood to ru n down his ankle where t he strap s had cha f ed through his skin.
    ‘Tom, Tom , I ’ m here to help you and Karen , ’ smiled Cupid , ‘I`m here to save you both.’ Cupid lowered his mouth close to Tom’s left ear and whispered , ‘ B ut if you disrespect me again, I will cut out your tongue and then hers.’
    Tom d idn’ t speak, never said a word , but his eyes