The Christmas Stalking by Lillian Duncan Page A

rocky path, but she wasn’t ready to go.
    She had a few things she wanted to say to Robby. She wasn’t going to sneak away like some scared little rabbit.
    He’d shot Mark.
    She pulled away from Len.
    “I won’t let him hurt you, Destiny.” Len grabbed her arm again and pulled her towards the steps up the hill.
    “Holly, you need to stay calm.” Robby blocked them. “What photography collection?”
    She twisted her arm, but Len didn’t let go, so she planted her feet and pointed. “The one in there.”
    “There’s a photography collection in the fishing shack? Of you?”
    Len tugged her again.
    “There’s hundreds of pictures of me on the wall. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
    “I haven’t been in there in years. Even before I sold the property to Len. He’s the fisherman, not me. Ask him.”
    “He’s lying.” Len’s tightening hold hurt her arm.
    “I’m not lying.”
    “I can’t believe anything you say. You acted as if you didn’t know I was Destiny. You pretended that was such a surprise when I told you. And the whole time you’d been following my every move for years. Are you going to lie about that, too?”
    Robby’s gaze met hers. “I admit that. I knew who you were as soon as I saw your driver’s license, but I figured you were tired of people liking you because you were famous. I just wanted to get to know you, my childhood friend—Holly Stone. Not the famous country music star.”
    And she’d wanted to get to know him. Holly stared at this man. The man she’d thought was her friend.
    She looked between the two men.
    The earnest flicker in Robby’s gaze reminded her of the day long ago when they were twelve and he’d pulled her out of the rushing water she’d fallen into. He was trying to reach for her now, in a different way.
    Robby was her friend. He wouldn’t hurt her.
    She took a step away from Len.
    “Let’s go. We need to get out of here before he shoots you like he did Mark.” Len reached in his pants pocket and pulled out a handgun. He grabbed her arm and tightened his hold. “Don’t believe him, Destiny. He’s lying. It’s him. I’ll protect you. I’ll take care of you.”
    She tried to step away, but he yanked her closer.
    God, help me.
    Len aimed the gun at Robby.
    No, God, please…
    “Don’t hurt him, Len. Please.”
    “Only I can make you happy.”
    Holly twisted out of his grip and lunged at him, hoping to push him to the ground.
    In one quick movement, Len’s hold strangled her neck, and he pointed the gun at her head. “She’s mine.”
    Robby took a step. “Len, you need to let her go. So I can help you.”
    Movement at the side of the fishing shack caught her eye. Two more policemen walked closer with guns aimed at Len…and her.
    Robby motioned for them to stay back.
    She tried to breathe, but Len’s arm pressed against her throat. The world blurred as she fought for each breath.
    “I don’t need help.” Len walked backwards, dragging Holly with him.
    “Len, nobody’s going to let you leave. Surely, you can see that. I need you to put the gun down, buddy. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Robby’s voice was unruffled—almost soothing.
    Her gaze met Robby’s calm one.
    He had this under control.
    She forced her muscles to relax—to not fight against Len.
    Keep him calm.
    Just the way Robby was doing. Let Robby do his job.
    “I knew I could get her here. She just needed to remember she had friends in Serenity. I only wanted to help her remember. Help her remember she had friends here.”
    “I remember, Len.” Holly’s voice rasped against his hold. “And I’m happy to be here, so you can let me go now.”
    “You’ll sing at the Christmas Eve service for me, won’t you, Destiny?” His hold around her throat lessened. “I promised everyone a surprise. You’re the surprise.”
    “I can do that, Len.” Her voice was a whisper. “I’ll sing. So you don’t need the gun. Put it down.”
    His arm