Before the Dawn(102)

Anthony's face twisted in disgust.

"Then I realized she was so much more. Dawn made me want to be a better man. She brought me into her light. She filled the holes that I had inside." And the darkness had eased. "She fit me." He'd been unfinished and then Dawn had changed him.

Made him into a better man.

Hell, yes, he'd kill to protect her.

Once more, he turned away. Another deliberate tactic. He took a few steps toward the door.

"You're a killer, too! Deep inside! I know you are! I know you have to be! I read about what you did while you were a SEAL. Your confirmed kills. You liked it, didn't you? You liked that rush, you liked-"

"No, I didn't. I never enjoyed taking a life." He glanced back. "Because I'm not you and I'm not Jason and I'm not fucked in the head."

Anthony jumped to his feet. The guard tensed.

"We found your case files, by the way," Tucker said.

Anthony paled.

"Did you think you were clever, hiding them at Torez's cabin? I mean...he was selling the place to you. Probably thought it was the perfect spot, didn't you? A cabin in the swamp, one just like the one Jason had used." Disgust tightened his mouth. "Case files," he said again, shaking his head. "As if those poor people were criminals. You took their pictures, you listed their death dates... I counted five of them. Five kids, all just like Rowan. Drug addicts. People who-when their bodies were discovered-didn't even have autopsies performed on them because you were the investigating detective and you ruled them as ODs."

"I got away with killing them," Anthony boasted. "For years. Not like Jason. I was better. I killed them and no one noticed. I-"

He'd gotten a confession for those five victims. He'd done his job. "You're not better than Jason. That's what's sad. You could have been. But you're just as screwed up as he was. You're just as much of a monster." And there was nothing else to say. This time, when he turned away, it was because he truly was done.

Tucker headed for the door.

"So are you!" Anthony yelled after him. "You can pretend all you want...but I know the truth! You're just like me! You're a killer inside! You're a monster! The Frost curse! We're all fucking monsters! So. Are. You! You think you get to live happily-fucking-after with Dawn? What if you have a kid? Huh? What then? The baby would wind up like me-or Jason! You're one of us. You can't ever escape that!"


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Tucker entered the hallway. He heard a door open a few feet away, and Samantha appeared. She came toward him, her heels clicking on the floor. "You all right?"

"Of course. Never better. I got the confession, didn't I?"

She nodded.

"Then I'm done for now. I'll be taking the vacation time I have coming." And he'd be spending that time with Dawn. Away from killers and crime scenes. He started to walk away, but Samantha moved into his path.

He stilled.

"You know he was wrong."

Do I? "Nature or nurture," he murmured. "The eternal debate. What makes a killer? Sometimes, though, it can be both. Nature and nurture, and when you've got both working against you, is there even a fighting chance?"

"There is. Absolutely there is. Look at you. You put killers away. You help people. Nature, nurture...maybe it's more about the soul inside. And your soul, Tucker? It's a good one. I could see it the first time I met you."

She sounded as if she meant that. "Thanks, Samantha."

Her expression didn't lighten. "If you ever need a friend to talk with, I hope you know I'm here. Everyone faces the darkness sometimes. It's just easier when you know you're not alone in those shadows."

Yeah, it was easier. He'd realized that truth when he'd met Dawn.

Tucker didn't rush out of that jail. He took his time, collected his weapon and then he headed outside. He drove back through New Orleans and parked across the street from Dawn's PI office. He climbed from his SUV, the heat from the city immediately surrounding him, and he turned to look over at the big stone building.

A man was in front of that building, a man close to Tucker's height, with his build and with his dark hair.

The man was turned away from Tucker, but he seemed so familiar in that instant...

Jason?

Tucker stepped forward but a car horn honked, blasting loudly, and he realized he'd nearly gone straight into the street. At that horn, the man glanced up.

And it wasn't Jason. It was a stranger.

Because his brother was dead. The nightmare was over.

* * *

DAWN WAS SLEEPING in his arms. She was soft against him. Warm. Her hand was over his heart, just where it belonged.