The Christmas Stalking by Lillian Duncan Page B

tightened on her neck once again, and she gasped for air.
    “I know what you’re doing—what you want. You just want to go to him. I brought you here. I worked so hard to get you to town. I know I can make you love me. You just have to give me a chance.”
    Robby’s gaze locked on her as if trying to give her courage.
    The gun pressed against her temple. “I promised Renee that we’d have a surprise at the Christmas Eve service. Destiny’s the surprise.”
    “Did Renee know that?” Robby’s voice was calm—strong.
    “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise. I asked you to sing for us, Destiny, but you wouldn’t. You think you’re too good to sing at our tiny church. I saw you holding his hand. You didn’t even give me a chance.”
    Her pulse rate escalated along with the anger in his voice.
    He wasn’t calming down.
    “Len, please don’t shoot me. If you do, I won’t be able to sing.”
    “You don’t want to sing for me. I asked you to, and you said no.”
    She put a hand on his arm, the one squeezing her throat. “I do want to sing, but I can’t sing while you’re choking me. Please let me sing.”
    His arm around her neck relaxed once more. “Sing for me. Sing for me, Destiny. Not for the world, or for anyone else. Just me.”
    Robby took a step.
    “Don’t come another step closer, Robb. I’ll shoot her. I swear.”
    The pressure of the barrel against her temple increased.
    She looked at Robby and shook her head. Holly took a deep breath. “Silent night, holy night...” Her voice shook, but the words came out.
    Len’s grasp loosened ever so slightly and the gun moved away from her head.
    “Round yon virgin, mother and child.”
    Even though her voice trembled, she kept singing and slowly moved out of Len’s grasp.
    Len stood as if mesmerized, his gaze never leaving her face.
    Holly stared right into his eyes, singing for him, for her, for Robby, for the two policemen who were waiting in the distance.
    Please God, make my voice strong. Don’t let him shoot.
    She poured her heart into it, her voice lifting as it strengthened.
    “Sleep in heavenly peace…sleep in heavenly peace.” Holly’s voice rose, the song’s final blessing soothing, reverent.
    Len fell to his knees.
    Holly’s legs trembled, and she could barely stand up.
    Robby moved forward and took the gun from Len’s hand.
    Len sobbed. “I just wanted her to sing for us—for me.”
    “I know, buddy. I know.” Robby grabbed Len’s hand and gently placed it behind his friend’s back, then took the other and latched the handcuffs.
     
     
     
     

15
     
    Another Christmas Eve alone.
    There’d been a moment when she believed she wouldn’t be alone any longer. A minute when she’d thought there might be a future with Robby, but the hope flickered and then died out, like the embers of her grandparents’ ruined cabin.
    Holly held the curtain apart and stared down as last-minute shoppers graced the snow-covered streets, hurrying home to finish up holiday preparations.
    The Village of Serenity & Peace. Definitely false advertising. The past two days had been a nightmare.
    The only good news was the doctors said Mark would survive his injuries. In spite of the snowstorm, he’d been life-flighted to the nearest trauma center. And even though his wounds were serious, the doctors were optimistic.
    She’d phoned every fifteen minutes until the nurses asked her not to call until after the Christmas holiday.
    Putting him out into the cold had actually saved his life. It had slowed his metabolism and stopped the blood loss.
    The authorities had questioned and re-questioned her so many times she’d lost track. A trial might be held, but it was dependent on Len’s mental state.
    And during all that time, Robby didn’t come to check on her.
    Letting the curtain drop, she wished she was anywhere but Serenity.
    The roads were closed, making it impossible to leave. The forecasted five or six inches of snow had turned into fourteen, but the