Free Wolf Island by Cheryl Gorman Page B

to peel open and spoil. Devlin shifted his gaze back to hers.
    The
kitchen door breezed open, and Otis stepped inside, along with the sheriff and
a petite woman with auburn hair, dressed in a police uniform. Otis slipped off
his long brown oilcloth coat and hung it by the door.
    Devlin
rose from the chair to shake the sheriff’s hand. “Morning, Jake.” He’d be glad
when he could meet Jake on a purely social level.
    Jake
introduced the policewoman as Beth Lowell, and Devlin offered them both coffee.
Otis ran his hand over the thatch of gray hair on his head, scattering
raindrops. His black eyes fixed on Devlin and Abby. “Guess you waitin’ on breakfast.”
He gestured with his right hand. “Sit down. I’ll have some French toast ready
directly.”
    “Thank
you, Otis.” Abby set her mug of coffee on the counter. “Would you like some
help?”
    “Sure,
you can mix the eggs.” Otis looked at Devlin. “What about you, Mr. Dev?”
    “I
can never pass up your French toast, Otis.” His empty stomach rumbled. He
looked at Abby. “I need to speak with Jake and Officer Lowell. We’ll be right
back.”
    ·          * * * *
    Devlin
ushered Jake and the policewoman down the hall to his office. In the hallway,
he heard Abby’s laughter drift down from the kitchen. He liked hearing her
laugh. Seeing her afraid last night, the worry clouding her eyes, made him sick
to his stomach. This had to end. Soon.
    Jake
took a seat in front of Devlin’s desk, and Officer Lowell sat in a chair next
to him. She was a slip of a woman, probably not an inch above five feet. How
could she possibly help capture a big, strong madman?
    “Dev.”
Jake motioned to the officer. “Officer Lowell and I have come up with a plan to
capture him once and for all. We think it has a good chance of success. Go
ahead, Beth. I’ll let you explain.”
    Devlin
looked at Officer Lowell. She regarded him with quiet gray eyes. Her features
were delicate, her skin fair. “Mr. Morgan, I obtained some photos of your
mother from when she lived on the island. I brought some clothes similar to the
ones she wore in the pictures.” She paused for a moment, as if letting her
words sink in.
    Devlin
nodded for her to continue.
    “I
plan to dress in these clothes, walk through the village, up the castle road,
and onto the castle grounds. If he has indeed come back to the island, we’re
hoping he’ll see me and think I’m your mother, returned to Wolf Island. And
maybe he’ll make a move.”
    Devlin
shuddered inside. “Officer, I mean no disrespect, but you’re a small woman,
even if you are a trained police officer. What kind of defense could you
possibly use again him? You could get hurt or possibly killed!”
    Jake
held up his hand. “I understand your misgivings, Dev, but Officer Lowell will
have backup. I’ll have several deputies and officers stationed at various
points in the village, along the castle road, and on the grounds. I won’t be
far away myself. If he shows himself, we’ll be on the bastard.”
    Devlin
rose, placed his palms on the desk’s surface, and moved his gaze from Jake to
Officer Lowell and back again. “You don’t have a clue who you’re dealing with
here. Victor Morgan is a paranoid schizophrenic. He’s not only delusional, but
his level of strength is abnormal, especially when the voices scream louder in
his head.” He leveled his gaze at Officer Lowell. “He’s fast as hell, Officer.
You could be dead before anyone reaches you.”
    Jake
shook his head. “I promise that won’t happen. Besides, Beth is a trained police
officer, Dev. This is her job.”
    Devlin
straightened and glared at the sheriff. “Dammit, Jake, you don’t get it, do
you? If there’s a screw up and she dies --” He pointed a finger at Officer
Lowell. “-- guess who gets blamed? Me! Victor’s on this island because of
me. In case you’ve forgotten, the bastard wants me dead.”
    “Mr.
Morgan,” Officer Lowell leaned forward in her